Back to Atlantis.
Not long after everyone was transported, the city fell into chaos, overwhelmed by the sheer number of refugees.
Soldiers under the command of the Queen of Atlantis rotated shifts to control the situation, but things weren't going well. People were panicking — shaken by the tremors, forcibly brought here without understanding what had happened.
All the soldiers could do was check on them one by one, but the numbers were too great to manage.
The leaders weren't doing much better.
Some were injured while defending the kingdom. Some had fallen into comas. Others died before even making it to safety.
Now, the survivors — or rather, those still sane enough — gathered in the throne room, repurposed as a shelter, desperate for answers.
"So what should we do next?" someone finally asked. "If we keep going like this, nothing will change."
"And what do you expect us to do?" another snapped. "We don't even know what's happening on the battlefield. What can we possibly plan for?"
"Then think of something!" a leader shouted, raising his voice.
"You think it's that easy?" the other retorted, just as loudly.
The conversation spiraled into a shouting match. No one listened. No one knew if they were right or wrong. Their voices echoed off the cold stone walls, infecting the already fragile crowd with panic.
Fear spread like wildfire. The throne room grew heavy, suffocating.
To stop it from escalating further, the Elf King stepped forward.
"Hey! Stop it. You're scaring the people."
"Got any better ideas?" the leaders shouted back at him, then returned to their argument.
"These lunatics," the Elf King muttered, clicking his tongue. All he could do now was watch them argue in circles.
His eyes scanned the room.
People trembled in corners, clutching each other, eyes wide with terror.
"This is really not good." He frowned.
Then — thuds. The sound of bodies hitting the ground.
He turned. Several leaders had collapsed mid-argument — taken out by none other than the Dwarf King.
"What are you doing?" the Elf King approached.
"Silencing them. What else?" the Dwarf King replied, calm as ever.
"Well... that's one way to do it."
The two kings then ordered the unconscious leaders be taken to another room to rest.
Only a handful remained now — those still truly conscious.
"So what now?" the Elf King asked.
"What are we doing? Nothing," the Dwarf King replied.
"That's bad," The Ranger said. "We're just spectators now, watching it all fall apart."
"A bit dramatic… but true."
"And what about the Mermaid Queen?" the Underground King asked. "After losing her people and the Deep Sea King, she's… not right. She looks insane."
"Honestly? I don't know," the Elf King sighed. "Since she got here, she's locked herself in her room, muttering like she's cursed."
"She's pitiful. Just ascended the throne, and now this..."
"We all have to endure it. Who could've predicted this?"
Then the Elf King grew serious again.
"So back to the old question — what should we do next?"
"The same question again," the Dwarf King shrugged. "Communication's cut. No word from the battlefield. All we can do is wait... and pray for news from my King."
Everyone fell silent, sighing in quiet defeat.
And then — the tremor struck.
The kingdom shook violently. Cracks spread across the walls. Buildings trembled as if moments from collapse.
"What now?!"
The leaders braced themselves as the people screamed and clung to each other, the panic reaching new heights.
And then... silence.
"It's over," someone whispered. "Finally—"
But before they could finish, a space gate opened behind them. Instinctively, everyone prepared for combat.
From the portal stepped the King.
But he looked nothing like before. His regal presence was gone — replaced by the hollow shell of a man who had lost everything. No light remained in his eyes, only despair.
He dragged his feet through the gate before collapsing in front of everyone.
The leaders rushed to catch him.
"Are you okay?" one asked in confusion.
No response.
"Hey, say something."
Still nothing.
"Damn it, answer us!"
Frustrated, one of them grabbed the King's collar, shaking him. Others intervened, pulling them apart.
But the tension only escalated.
"Please speak, Your Majesty!" one leader screamed. "What the hell happened out there?!"
The shout echoed through the chamber, stunning the room into silence.
Still, the King said nothing.
"Fine! Stay silent, then die!"
Magic burst forth from the enraged leader's hand, firing at the King—
—but the Giant King threw himself in the way, shielding him. The force of the blast wounded him too.
The attacker was quickly restrained.
"Are you all just going to stand there?!" he roared. "Look at him! He's no different from a coward now!"
The words stung. They hung in the air.
And somehow… they reached the King.
"I… am a coward," he finally muttered. "I've failed all of you… failed everyone…"
His voice cracked. His body trembled.
The Elf King stepped forward. "What do you mean?"
"I… I…" But the King couldn't finish.
All he could do was raise his hand and connect to the system.
Across the city, every screen flickered on.
And then — horror.
Screams. Roars. Flesh being torn. Godlike beings overwhelmed by walking nightmares.
It was all real.
Whether intentional or not, the King had shown the truth to everyone.
Panic erupted.
People screamed, stampeded, trampling each other to flee from a nightmare that wasn't even in the room.
"What are you doing?!" someone shouted. "Turn it off!"
But the King didn't react.
Then — a distant explosion.
"Damn it… what now?"
"It's… coming," the King muttered.
The Dwarf King froze. "It…? No… it can't be..."
He turned to the Underground King.
"How far can you dig, fast?"
"Alone? I can reach my kingdom. But—"
"Then start. I'll help."
"Wait—what are you saying?" the Giant King asked.
"What do you think? We're going to hide," the Dwarf King snapped. "The three Titans are gone. This kingdom won't hold. They haven't adapted to attacking underground — not yet. This is our last shot. Run, or die."
With no time to argue, everyone moved.
Evacuation began. Tunnels were dug.
But the chaos made it nearly impossible.
So the leaders made the hardest choice — only evacuate those who were still conscious and able to move. The rest… had to be left behind.
Gradually, people poured into the tunnels — including the Mermaid Queen, who was barely brought along, seemingly out of pity more than reason.
The King was carried by the Queen and her children. Some protested, but there was no time for debates.
Then the Star Eaters arrived.
They clashed with the remaining Guardians, who unleashed their last reserves of energy in a final stand.
But the light was soon smothered.
The fate of the Guardians has been decided..
The Star Eaters attacked the final shield of Atlantis.
The Underground King had no choice — he collapsed the tunnel behind them, sealing off the path, hiding all trace of escape.
Those left behind were doomed.
The shield fell.
The feast began.
Screams echoed. Blood flooded the streets. Flesh was scattered like broken dolls.
Buildings collapsed into heaps of gore and ruin.
From the sky, a shape descended — slow, silent, watching.
The one that had brought ruin.
It hovered, still and cold, as the Star Eaters devoured what was once Atlantis.
Utopia was no more.
Heaven had fallen to hell.
And hope—
Did it still exist?