1 Another world...again
(DC Universe N°???? )
(Kingdom of Atlantis)
The great Atlantis, civilization know by many as being just part of a myth with many mysteries surrounding it, ruled by great kings that carved their name on their people heart, standing tall of millions of years. Despite this, in the recent years, its people grew accustomed to the numerous attempts to destroy their peace, their kingdom, being brought to light in modern days, doesn't lack enemies that threaten their paradise.
It was in such a situation that a young warrior embarked in a quest, thirsty for vengeance against the one who still haunts his memory.
Black Mantis, a name known by all as one of the greatest enemies of king Aquaman, after all the failed attempts to kill his enemy, had set his sights to the closest people of the latter. After many failed attempts, he finally managed to emotionally hurt his foe.
General Hydris, a well-known figure of the kingdom and the principal supporter of Arthur Cury's claim to the throne was one of the closest to the king, their brotherly bonds, cultivated since childhood was what pushed them forward to thrive, and reach their respective positions, despite one being a half-breed prince and the other, a commoner.
It was such a figure that fell after an insidious trap, reaping the lives of most members of his family, when the king finally arrived at the scene, they managed to find only one o his family members alive, their oldest, a boy clinging to life. Arthur, feeling guilty for not being there when his friend needed him, decided to adopt the boy.
Whom developed splendidly under his care, rapidly overtaking his peers on martial arts and strength, falling behind only the king.
There, looking at the child that he trained, nurtured, and cared for in the last few years, he struggles to control his emotions.
"…why did you do it?" He asks with difficulty after looking at the state of the kid he took care these years.
"Wheeze…Wheeze…"
"…you know why.", answers the teenager between gasps.
"I am not asking this! What I want to know is why even after you managed to mortally wound him you followed him to land. You know very well that you are not acclimated to fight here. You handicapped yourself!"
"…heh. The bastard always finds a way to survive even after taking such injuries…someone had to finish the job, or he would always keep targeting us, he was becoming more and more daring, his last stunt just proves that."
"I thought that at the state he was in, he would be an easy prey. But no, he managed to stall enough time that I started to dehydrate and weaken. I even got lured to his hideout like an idiot; well, otherwise I wouldn't be able to save the boy."
Despite it sounding so bad, the boy managed to kill an opponent that could go head on against his king. Having a fight style similar to his king played an important factor on the outcome of the fight.
An enemy used to fight with a similar but superior opponent. If not for his inexperience and eagerness to kill the man, his chances of success would definitely be higher.
"He got distracted, if not, at the state Manta was in, I doubt he would have any problem at all, resulting in this…he, half-dead with a hole in his stomach. The injury was made by the enemy's laser weapon, closing the wound, making it an even more impossible task of bring him back to health with our healers. It is a miracle he survived enough to be taken back to Atlantis", analyses Arthur
After looking at the boy for a few seconds. "The debit that I own to his family is one that I wouldn't be able to pay even in a lifetime", he muses in grief and shame.
"…is he safe?", asks suddenly the boy.
"Look by yourself", motions the king to a soldier behind him that approaches and carefuly passes a floating ball of water that contain a baby sleeping peacefully inside.
"Orm was defeated already, he cooperated with Manta to launch a large attack on Atlantis while the later kidnaps Arthur Jr. You used you last supply of seawater to him hydrated and hiding him nearby to fight his captor, if not, he would be dead already."
*Sigh*
" …you could have saved him and escape successfully", notes Arthur voice dripping with frustration.
"And as I said, he would continue being a liability to everyone."
*Phew*
"…stubborn boy…what do you feel after avenging your family?" says Arthur after taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"Wheeze…Wheeze"
*Coff Coff*
"…nothing at all. Thinking of how much time I wasted trying and thinking about how to kill this guy makes me feels like I've accomplished nothing in this life after all.", responds him, struggling to stay awake after coughing up blood.
"Well, I know of many people who would discord with what you said."
And it's as he said, despite being only 19 years old, the number of people he saved from villain attacks and invasions of greedy humans is uncountable, putting him as a well-cared and loved person in the heart of the population.
Arthur then looks at the healer who shakes his head. Despite their best efforts to stabilize his condition, they are unable to save him.
"…my king, forgive me for hurting you…even after you cared for me all these years, I spat on the kindness you gave me for by seeking vengeance".
"Silly child, don't take me too lightly. I do not condemn the fact you pursued vengeance for your family, only the poor execution of it.
Despite being part of a group of heroes that condemn killing, I am a king first and foremost, I know that somethimes we must make difficult choices…if Mera were here, she would be so mad at you."
"Hehe…coff…coff…this is a sight…I wouldn't want to see…at all.", he lets out between pained breaths knowing very well what would and will happen if she were here or when she receives the news of his death.
Seeing the boy he considers a son's eyes glass over and chest movements slowing down, he whispers softly to him "…may you find peace, Neptor. He would be proud of the person you've become…".
Hearing this from Aquaman and seeing the soldiers nearby saluting to him is enough to bring a smile to his face.
"…is that so?"
..
.
Currently inside the infinite void, a soul wanders aimlessly while deep in thought.
"And here we are again…"
This already being the second time he dies, he didn't expect he would arrive here again.
On the first time, he was just a normal teenager that was scared shitless, just blacking out and suddenlly finding himself in a void. With no sense of time and space he thought he would be forever trapped there and after a long time suffer from madness.
Luckly as if aware of his predicament, he just woke up in an extremely injured body, one of a boy who had died in one of numerous Black Manta's attacks.
Despite not receiving his memories, he inherited the boy's hatred for the villain, so, after many years, when he finally had the opportunity to end him, the boy's emotion surfaced with vengeance, engulfing his mind in hatred, completely clouding his mind from reason. Only after killing the bastard, it disappeared.
"…but, despite this I'm not unsatisfied, even by becoming an Atlantean, to thrive in that world would be too hard for me, I couldn't even go out of the seas for too long or I would start dehydrating."
*Sigh*
"The only thing that interested me there was the freedom that came up with exploring and swimming at the depts of the sea, not interested in being part of the innumerous plots to dominate the world, destroy it or the madness that is integrated there…
…I just hope that if I am to be transported again, I end up in a more simple world where there is no aliens, or tyrants overlords just waiting for a piece of the earth or destroy it."
He continues venting, "I am grateful to Aquaman for taking care of me but for someone who doesn't know a lot about DC lore I didn't know many ways to gain strength
The only thing I knew about that place was that our kingdom and its species where similar to the ones in the last movies of Aquaman with some deviations which I believe come from the comics.
So, besides suffering a lab accident or giving my soul to an eldritch being I didn't had too many option. And even then…that would be so boring and time consuming…
If I became overpowered like those bug-like characters, what then? In my opinion, everything would become stale so quickly that it's not even funny, being strong enough to not be pushed around by these selfish guys...so, in a world like DC where there is always someone strong would be too hard for me, a mere mortal.
As an avid reader of manga, the only way I can think of is train, train and train again…so…I don't mind dying there, actually, I prefer ending up here in this void instead of my soul entering one of the innumerous domain of the crazy gods and crazy beings residing that universe
...I say this because I don't know if this is someone else domain, actually, if it's I hope it's an somewhat generous being...now that I think about it, I should give a try"
He then takes a deep imaginary 'breath'? And shouts with all his might.
"OH! IF THERE IS A MAGNANAMOUS BEING THAT OVERSEES THIS INFINITE VOID, PLEASE DIRECT MY SOUL TO A WORLD WITH A SETTING LESS COMPLEX THAN THE ONE I WAS IN!", after a few seconds, suddenly, a purple portal is opened on his path allowing the soul to cross it.
After he is gone, a ownerless voice echoes through the space, "Fufufu, I will let you have your way then, if you end up here again then you are on your own"
