Athanasios Perseus Apollyon - The Forgotten Tide

Chapter 20: The Rise of Hydlona

I was summoned to Atlantis. The call came from the depths, a summons to join the fight against the trenchers—scum of the seas, monstrous, two legged creatures with the heads of Dragonfish, who had been ravaging the oceanic kingdom. I gathered my personal army, including my childhood friends, and prepared for the next battle.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a grim scene. The trenchers had pushed the frontlines back, and our forces were now reduced to a mere twelve commandants out of the original twenty. The battle for trench was fierce, the trenchers relentless in their assault. My friends, Aegon, Thalossios, Kyra, Melia, and Zerek, stood by my side, their faces etched with determination.

The underwater realm of Atlantis was a war-torn landscape. The once-grand structures were now scarred by the conflict, the ocean depths illuminated by the glow of battle. I could see the trenchers advancing, their grotesque forms a stark contrast to the beauty of the underwater kingdom.

As we engaged the trenchers, the battle raged on. The trenchers were fierce, their attacks savage and unrelenting. I fought with my trident, my spear, my saber and my axe, each weapon a different facet of my combat prowess. My friends fought beside me, their skills complementing my own.

During the battle, I discovered a reef hidden in the depths—a massive expanse of coral and rock, large enough to hold an entire kingdom. The reef was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, a potential sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the conflict. As I explored the reef, I encountered another child of Pontus and Thalassa—a majestic island turtle named Aegleon.

Aegleon was a colossal creature, his shell adorned with intricate patterns of coral and seaweed. His presence was both calming and powerful, a symbol of the strength and serenity of the ocean. We formed an immediate bond, recognizing in each other a shared heritage and purpose.

Aegleon offered to merge with my shield, his essence melding with the divine armor. The fusion was seamless, the turtle's strength augmenting the shield's protective abilities. The merged shield now bore the resilience of Aegleon, its surface etched with the symbols of our unity.

With Aegleon's aid, the battle against the trenchers turned in our favor. The turtle's defensive power and the combined strength of my army pushed the trenchers back, reclaiming lost ground. The tide of battle shifted, and Atlantis began to emerge from the shadow of conflict.

As the battle came to an end, I stood amidst the wreckage of the conflict, my personal army and childhood friends by my side. The reef, now a symbol of hope and refuge, had become a testament to our victory. The trenchers had been defeated, and the underwater kingdom of Atlantis had been saved.

With the immediate threat dealt with, I took a moment to reflect on the events that had transpired. The battles, the alliances, and the discoveries had all shaped the course of the conflict. As I prepared to return to my duties, I knew that the challenges ahead would test my resolve, but with my friends and allies by my side, I was ready to face whatever came next.

The reef, now a symbol of our triumph, held the promise of a new beginning—a sanctuary amidst the chaos of war. And with Aegleon by my side, it was time to make a new City. The battle against the trenchers had left its mark on Atlantis, but it had also revealed an opportunity—a chance to establish a new stronghold in the depths of the trench, a sanctuary where the ocean's secrets could be safeguarded. As the dust settled and the trenchers were driven back, I knew that the time had come to act on this vision.

Standing amidst the remnants of the battle, I sent a message to the leaders of Atlantis. My words were clear and resolute, a call to arms for the creation of an outpost in the very heart of the trench. The message outlined the strategic importance of this new outpost, a beacon of strength and security in the depths of the ocean. The message was sent with urgency, and the response came swiftly.