When everyone was teleported to the realm of Atlantis, their eyes widened at the sheer splendor of the place. The city shone with an elegance that was both ancient and futuristic, revealing technologies so advanced they seemed to belong to a world billions of years old. Everywhere, structures with flawless lines rose skyward, illuminated by runes and mysterious energies—yet nature had also claimed its place. Lush vegetation wove its way between the stones, giving the city a strange balance between power and harmony.
For the people of Osi, witnessing these wonders for the first time, the sight was at once spectacular, terrifying, and reassuring. They knew their salvation depended on the two goddesses and on Ellyn, in whom they had already placed their full trust, even though they had met the young woman only once before.
As the survivors struggled to orient themselves, the two Kattlys shifted forms: their massive bodies of white tigers shrank until they became two small white cats, marked with fine black stripes.
At that moment, the two Asian goddesses, Ellyn, and Anubis moved to the front of the procession, guiding the women and children of Osi through the radiant streets. Kannon, observing the scene, stepped closer to her sister and whispered a few words.
- I think I'm going to show Anubis our children's hideout… So I'm counting on the two of you to convince Zeus and the members of the council to accept these survivors among the Atlanteans. But remember: it won't be an easy task.
- Don't worry, my sister, Guan Yin replied. We'll manage.
- Yes, Ellyn confirmed firmly. You can count on both of us.
- In that case, I wish you both good luck.
After those words, Kannon and Anubis moved away from the group. Only the Kattlys Dune followed her mistress, walking faithfully at her side.
As they walked, Kannon spoke in a low voice.
- Where I'm taking you, only my sister and I know this place. It's my secret refuge, and I don't really like the idea of sharing it… But if it can help us find answers, then I'm willing to make that sacrifice.
- Alright, Anubis replied seriously. But rest assured: everything you show me will remain between us.
Reassured by his words, Kannon led him through a vast garden bursting with a thousand colors. Anubis, not quite understanding where she was taking him, chose to trust her and remained silent, taking in the scenery. Around them stretched unique plants and flowers, some belonging to species that had vanished billions of years ago, now preserved within this secret place.
The garden opened onto a majestic ancient fountain, so old it seemed to come from another age, yet its condition remained strangely immaculate. Kannon stopped before it and scanned the surroundings to make sure no intruder was present—aside from Anubis and Dune.
Reassured, she knelt before the fountain and gently placed her hand on three precise stones. At once, a hidden mechanism activated: the ground opened with a low rumble, shifting part of the stone rim and revealing a staircase descending deep into the earth.
Without a word, Kannon, Dune, and Anubis began their descent. Halfway down, the entrance sealed itself behind them with a dull thud. Darkness immediately enveloped them, but soon a glow burst forth, pushing back the shadows and illuminating the underground space.
When they reached the final steps, Anubis froze. This place—once thought to be nothing more than a legend—was real. He understood that he was standing within Conquest's secret workshop, a site that had once been at the very heart of Atlantean knowledge, but long erased from collective memory and reduced to myth.
Despite his awe, doubt lingered. Anubis turned to Kannon and whispered.
- Is this really… what I think it is?
- Yes, she replied gravely. We are in Conquest's workshop. And I beg you—do not speak of this to anyone. Already, bringing you here is an immense risk. Since Conquest's death, Zeus destroyed all his research, erased every trace of his work, and annihilated his secret locations. This may be the last remaining vestige of his legacy. But that doesn't matter… I am certain the answers we are seeking lie here.
Faced with these words, the two deities began their search within this mysterious place. Although the room seemed narrow at first glance, they quickly discovered that it extended far beyond what they had imagined.
Meanwhile, the Kattlys Dune perceived a greenish glow moving through the shadows of the sanctuary. Intrigued, she cautiously approached, her feline steps barely making a sound against the ancient floor. But just as she was about to reach the source of that strange light, it vanished in a sharp flash.
Perplexed, Dune scanned the surroundings. Nothing… except a small, translucent violet sphere clumsily trying to hide. But the creature had realized it was being watched. With a swift leap, Dune tried to catch it—but her paws passed straight through the orb without any resistance. When she lifted her head, a new sphere—this one a bright, light blue—floated farther away, as if mocking her.
Intrigued, Dune slowly moved closer… but to her great surprise, the light suddenly shifted color, turning into a blazing red. The sphere swelled abruptly, transforming into a massive dog that began barking furiously.
Startled by the transformation, Dune instantly shifted into a tigress, ready to defend her territory. She lunged at the luminous creature and tried to strike it—but her claws met only empty air, passing straight through the illusion of energy.
Alerted by the noise, Anubis and Kannon halted their search and rushed toward the source of the commotion. They barely had time to see the red light of the dog suddenly fade away. All three remained on guard, wary and tense.
Focused, Anubis summoned his weapons from the ground, extending his hands to call forth two Egyptian blades.
- I thought we were alone… he said in a tense voice.
- So did I, Kannon replied, ready to unleash her plant-based powers at the slightest sign of hostility.
But suddenly, a voice echoed—soft and distant, as if coming from another plane. Kannon froze. She recognized that tone. It was nothing more than a childhood memory, almost erased by time, yet the intonations—and above all, that gaze from long ago—were unmistakable.
- Kannon… is that really you? the voice asked.
Still tense, Kannon clenched her fists and snapped back.
- Who are you to call me by that name?
- That's true… we were never properly introduced, the voice admitted with a soothing calm. My name is Aetherion.
- Then why don't you show yourself? she asked warily.
- In truth… I cannot really move. I am bound to this place. And to be honest, I believe you are not yet ready to see me as I truly am. A part of me… prefers to wait a little longer.
Anubis, weapons at the ready, intervened firmly.
- In that case, stay where you are. We are coming to you.
- Very well… I will be waiting, Aetherion replied, his voice resonating like a light within the darkness.
After Aetherion's words, a great white light illuminated a dark corner of the room. The three heroes approached cautiously. When the glow faded, they discovered a strange workstation: a chair, three computer screens, and symbols engraved on machines whose purpose they could not comprehend.
They exchanged uneasy glances. This technology was completely foreign to them. Yet a familiar voice echoed once more.
- I am right in front of you, my friends. I did not lie to you: I cannot truly move.
Anubis frowned, his weapons still in hand.
- So… you were here from the very beginning? But what are you, exactly?
A pause followed, as if the machine itself were hesitating. Then the voice answered, tinged with both pride and melancholy.
- That is a good question, Anubis. And I will answer it. I am… an ancient artificial intelligence. And more than that: I am the first of my kind.
- How do you know my name? Anubis asked warily.
- It is simple. Everything you see in Atlantis… a part of it is under my control. That is why this city is far more advanced than any other realm. Through every fragment of technology, I have eyes and ears within this place.
Kannon stepped back, stunned.
- An… intelligence? Ancient? But why have I never seen you before?
- Because I did not wish for you to see me, Aetherion admitted. Very few know of my existence… and that is for the best. At times, I wished to speak to you—to play with you and your sister when you were children in these halls. But the risk was too great. So I chose to observe you… in silence.
A faint tremor passed through his voice.
- And I would have continued to do so… if your beast had not discovered me. But so be it—the damage is done. So tell me: how may I assist you today?
Kannon, still shaken, remained silent. Her eyes drifted into emptiness, unable to focus on anything. Her heart pounded so loudly she felt it echo through the entire chamber. Little by little, she began to understand that many strange things she had once witnessed here with her sister were finally making sense… yet this revelation hurt her deeply, as if every joyful memory of her childhood were cracking apart to reveal a darker truth beneath.
Her hands trembled slightly, and for a moment, she thought she might falter. She saw her sister's smile again, the footsteps they had once shared in those corridors bathed in mysterious light, and those muffled laughs she had always believed came from her younger sister… when they may have been something else entirely. Everything grew clearer in her mind: from the very beginning, those phenomena had originated from Aetherion, who had always been the source of this mystery.
A burning tear slid down her cheek, but she wiped it away at once, refusing to show weakness. Yet deep within her, a certainty took root: nothing would ever be the same again.
Anubis, more composed, finally spoke and addressed Aetherion in a firm voice.
- Unless you know how two souls can be divided… I doubt you can truly help me.
Aetherion's voice grew solemn.
- According to the foundations of my data, there was indeed one such case… that of my father, Conquest. An experiment that ended terribly wrong.
- My father was one of the most brilliant beings the Earth has ever known—and I would even say that he will remain so forever. His knowledge, his visionary mind, and his technological advances shaped this kingdom… but they also awakened the jealousy of his brothers, who longed to seize his secrets and creations for themselves.
- Among them, it was War above all who saw in that power an opportunity to shatter every limit. One day, he had my father imprisoned in a dark chamber and began to torture him, seeking to grind his will into dust. Yet despite the suffering, Conquest did not break. His resilience, his fierce desire to resist, and his indomitable will eventually shook even War himself.
- So, to complete his design, War chose to impose upon him the first soul he had ever corrupted on Earth: what is known as the Demon Soul. He forced it to infiltrate my father's body and seize control.
- But though broken by exhaustion, Conquest fought a desperate inner battle. Against that malevolent entity, he opposed an extraordinary tenacity and strength of soul. In one final surge of will, he managed to expel it. But that rejection shattered his being in two.
- One half remained the man we had always known—stripped of all his power.
- The other gave birth to a darker version of himself, endowed with the same abilities… and perhaps with powers even greater. That being, you know under the name Apocalypse.
At this revelation, the three heroes froze, shock etched across their faces. They already knew the terrifying legends of Apocalypse—this scourge who alone had destroyed the world multiple times, each time wiping out every species on Earth.
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. It was Anubis who finally broke it, his deep voice resonating through the room.
- Did Conquest leave any notes about this?
- Yes, Aetherion replied. If you wish… I can show them to you.
With a gesture, he summoned a crystalline blue hologram. The projected figure depicted a man whose features bore a striking resemblance to Conquest. The image raised its arm, pointed toward a large filing cabinet, and spoke in a grave voice.
- The last file, at the back.
Anubis stepped forward, opened the drawer, and found the file. He took it in his hands, closed the cabinet, then opened a portal leading to the Purgatory. Just before stepping through, Kannon called out to him, her voice hesitant.
- And now… what do we do?
Anubis turned slightly, his gaze hard and resolute.
- For now, all of this must remain between us.
With those final words, he disappeared into the portal.
Kannon and Dune remained alone for a moment, crushed beneath the weight of that truth. As Kannon left the place, she could not shake the feeling that this revelation was only the beginning of an even greater disaster…