As soon as the meeting ended and the King's order was issued, all the leaders immediately returned to their kingdoms to prepare for the execution of the plan.
Meanwhile, the King walked down the grand hallway, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone. His voice was weary as he addressed the system.
"System, broadcast the announcement across the entire kingdom. Though we may not wish to, it is time to wake our people."
"Understood. Linking to all sound systems now."
Instantly, the announcement network of Atlantis connected. Though the hour was late, time was a luxury they could not afford.
The King stepped onto the balcony overlooking the central square, gazing down at the sleeping city below. Then, his voice echoed through the streets, carried by the speakers across the kingdom.
"People of Atlantis, the King has an urgent announcement. Gather in the square immediately."
The message repeated, its urgency slicing through the quiet of the night.
All across the kingdom, people stirred. Some jolted awake in confusion, while others grumbled in frustration. Children's cries filled the streets as families hurried to dress and leave their homes. Despite their annoyance, they knew—if the King himself had issued a direct announcement, it could only mean one thing.
Something was terribly wrong.
As the citizens made their way toward the square, whispers spread through the uneasy crowd.
"This is the first time I've seen the King like this…"
"What could possibly trouble him so much?"
"I hope it's not another war…"
From above, the King watched them gather, their faces etched with concern. A pang of guilt struck him.
Is it cruel to wake them in the middle of the night? he wondered.
But when he saw their anxious eyes fixed on him, he realized—it was his own expression that unsettled them.
For a moment, he forced a smile and gave a reassuring wave.
Will that ease their worry?
Before he could dwell on it further, a voice spoke beside him.
"Everyone has gathered."
The square was now packed with people, their hushed voices merging into an anxious hum.
The King took a deep breath. His next words would change everything.
"First of all," the King began solemnly, "I apologize for waking you at this hour. But what I must tell you concerns not just Atlantis, but all of Utopia. I ask you to remain calm as I speak."
A ripple of tension passed through the crowd.
"If possible, shield the children from what you are about to see."
A murmur spread as parents hesitated, then quickly escorted their young ones home. The atmosphere grew heavier.
When the square had settled once more, the King continued.
"Now, I must ask all of you to steel yourselves."
A massive projection screen activated above the square, casting an eerie glow over the gathered citizens.
And then, they saw it.
A monstrous form filled the screen—an abomination with soulless eyes, a maw that devoured light itself.
The Star Eater.
Terror erupted.
Screams tore through the night. Some collapsed on the spot. Others fainted. A few suffered heart attacks. Panic surged like wildfire, and for a moment, chaos threatened to consume everything.
The King clenched his fists.
"Soldiers!" he barked. "Assist the wounded! Help those in shock!"
His forces rushed into the crowd, stabilizing those who had collapsed. But even as the fear spread, the King refused to let it fester.
If reason could not reach them, then he would have to do what the Dragon King had suggested—ignite their emotions.
A powerful voice rang through the square, cutting through the hysteria like a blade.
"Listen to me!"
It was not just the King. The leaders of the allied nations stood beside him, their voices firm and unyielding.
"We, too, felt fear when we first saw this creature. But fear is not weakness—it is a test. And we will not fail."
The crowd fell silent, their frantic breaths slowing.
"Do you remember what we fought for?" the King continued. "How many lives were lost to build the peace we cherish today? Will we surrender that peace without a fight? No! We will stand! Whatever this creature is, it will not take our home! Utopia will not kneel!"
His words struck deep.
The people trembled, but this time—not from fear. From purpose.
"We are not helpless," the leaders declared. "We are strong. We are united. We are Utopia!"
The King raised his fist. "Let that creature see our strength!"
A battle cry erupted from the square. The fear that had nearly broken them was now reshaped—into resolve.
With spirits rekindled, the King wasted no time.
"Now that we are united, I will share our plan to defeat this creature."
Eager murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Listen carefully—here is what we must do."
As he spoke, roles were assigned, strategies put in place. The people, once paralyzed by fear, now moved with purpose. The city buzzed with newfound determination.
Though exhaustion clung to them, they refused to rest. Even as dawn painted the sky, they pressed forward—until the leaders themselves intervened.
"Calm yourselves. Your spirit is admirable, but we cannot win if we fall before the battle even begins."
The people hesitated, then nodded. They would rest—for now.
As the square emptied, the King retreated to his chambers, activating a communication link with the other rulers.
"How are your people?"
"Not easy," one admitted, "but we managed to stabilize them."
The Dragon King chuckled. "We've faced worse."
The Elf King, however, frowned. "Wait… where is the Mermaid Queen?"
A silence fell.
Then, the Deep Sea King stood. "I'm nearby. I'll check on her."
Moments later, his screen flickered back on, filled with screams.
"It's chaos here," he sighed. "She's still too inexperienced. I'll stay and handle things."
The rulers exchanged glances. Then, unexpectedly, they burst into laughter.
"Just as we thought."
"It's been too long since we've had a good laugh," the Dwarf King smirked.
"Alright, enough," the Spirit Queen chided.
"Yes, yes, my dear queen," the Phantom King teased—only for the screen to suddenly cut off.
The meeting was over.
Now, it was time to act.
For years, Utopia moved as one.
Stone giants thundered across the earth. Angelic wings stirred the skies. Machines roared, and magic circles glowed in preparation.
The people toiled without rest. Scholars and mages studied the Star Eater, enduring its maddening presence. Warriors trained relentlessly. The rulers prepared themselves—even if it meant turning to forbidden techniques.
Yet, amid it all, the King stood alone on his balcony, watching.
Will this plan work?
His wife approached, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
"You need to rest. Even the strongest must."
The King smiled. "Perhaps you're right."
He turned and walked toward the chamber's entrance. But before stepping through, he stopped.
"It's time."
A portal tore open before him.
He stepped into darkness.
From the shadows, three colossal red eyes opened—followed by countless smaller ones.
The King smiled.
"Awaken, Guardians of Utopia."
Then, the ground trembled. From within the darkness, three giant red eyes slowly opened—followed by countless smaller ones, blinking into existence like stars in the void.
The King stood in silence, watching. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"It seems you are ready," he murmured.
Without another word, he turned and walked through the palace gates, his figure vanishing into the distance. The eyes did not blink, did not waver—they simply watched until he was gone.
Years passed. Countless days of effort and sacrifice, all culminating in this single moment—the completion of Utopia's last great hope: the Abyssal Breaker.
A weapon forged from desperation, science, and ancient sorcery, designed with only one purpose: to bring destruction to the Star Eater.
Across Utopia, weapon systems were deployed. Satellites equipped with space jammers drifted into position. Gravity cannons stood ready to fire at a moment's notice. Thousands of underground energy cannons, linked to the King's portals, locked onto predetermined weak points.
Magic circles, etched across every kingdom, pulsed with protective enchantments—barriers against the Star Eater's psychic horrors.
But at the heart of it all, standing atop Utopia's tallest mountain, was the true embodiment of hope: the Abyssal Breaker.
A weapon as vast as a kingdom itself, its twin barrels stretched skyward, piercing the heavens like the lance of a god. Forged by the greatest dwarven hands from the strongest materials known to Utopia, it stood defiant, unyielding.
Its core pulsed with boundless magical energy, refined by the greatest minds and blessed by the spirits. Runes, carefully carved by rangers, redirected excess power back into the system. Magical stones embedded in its frame enhanced the cannon's speed and force, ensuring every shot would strike with the wrath of a dying world.
Beneath the cannon lay a special platform, absorbing magic—and life force—from those who stood upon it. But hidden within was a horrifying secret—an override function known only to a select few. When activated, it would drain everything: magic, vitality, even the soul itself.
A desperate failsafe. A price that, in the face of extinction, no one hesitated to pay.
Additional defenses are placed around the mountain, ensuring that no impact from the Abyssal Breaker can affect the surrounding environment.
When the final adjustments were made, Utopia erupted into celebration.
People wept with pride. Others cheered with newfound courage. They had done it. They had built a weapon that could stand against the Star Eater.
For the first time in decades, they allowed themselves to believe.
Yet amidst the celebrations, the King stood alone on the platform, gazing down at his people.
For a moment, even time seemed to hold its breath.
"How ironic," he murmured, placing a hand on the cold metal. "You, a weapon of war, were born from their unity… and yet, you are their greatest hope."
He chuckled bitterly.
"They call me a wise king, but it's all an illusion. I am not as wise as my father. Not as strong as the Dragon King. Just a man who loves his family… and the one who brought them the most pain."
He fell silent, his fingers tracing the ancient runes.
"Still, it's comfortable… talking to you," he admitted. "At least you don't judge me."
His gaze turned toward the distant sea.
"Maybe I should visit the Mermaid Queen after this," he mused, forcing a smile. "That is… if we survive."
He turned to leave, but a sudden chill gripped his spine.
An unease, primal and suffocating.
Then—
A sound.
Not from the wind, not from the mountains, but from deep within his own mind.
A transmission.
Urgent.
"It's here! The Star Eater has arrived!"
The King's body turned to stone.
"…Impossible," he breathed. "It's too early! Where is it now?"
"It has entered the galactic belt. But… it's slowing down."
A cold sweat ran down his back.
"How much time do we have?"
"Five minutes until it reaches Utopia's atmosphere."
The King clenched his fists.
"Damn it…!"
He slammed his hand against the control panel, then immediately activated the city's broadcast system.
"Everyone, move to your positions! There's no time left!" The King immediately connected to all the sound systems in Utopia.
The King's hurried voice stopped the entire festival and fell into a complete silence.
And then in a moment it exploded not with joy but with the haste and urgency of the people's positions.
"The leaders prepare everything that has been discussed," the King continued to command.
"Understood!" The leaders spoke together.
The celebration ended, and everyone scrambled to get into position. Magic circles were activated. Missile systems were armed. Cannons were powered up.
The Phantom King and the Spirit Queen teleported to Abyssal Breaker and began to channel energy, standing on the pedestal and channeling their magic into the cannon.
"Receiving magic power, charging," the system rang out.
Elsewhere, the mages activated the protective barriers, the missiles locked target and all systems ready.
The king glanced at the sky anxiously.
"…It's coming."
The sky darkened.
Thunder roared.
Winds howled.
The ground shook beneath the weight of something vast, something monstrous. And then—through the clouds—came a mass of writhing flesh.
It was still distant, yet its very presence bent the planet to its will.
Countless eyes stared down.
Arms, grotesque and endless, reached for the world.
"Deploy the satellite jammers!"
A rocket streaked into the sky, deploying a swarm of satellites. A barrier formed around the Star Eater, disrupting its ability to warp space.
The monster barely flinched.
It surged forward.
"Step one complete!"
"Proceed to step two!"
Gravity missiles launched, creating dense energy fields around the creature, slowing its advance. Then—explosions erupted across its body as magic-infused warheads detonated, severing limbs, obliterating eyes.
The Star Eater screamed—a sound that shattered the sky.
But then—
Screams erupted across Utopia.
The monster's gaze, impossibly vast, pierced through the magical barriers, filling minds with horror.
"Sir! The illusions can't fully block its sight!"
"How much longer until the Abyssal Breaker is charged?"
"Still charging!"
"We're running out of time!"
The King's gaze locked onto one of the beast's remaining eyes.
And then—
Darkness.
A void, suffocating and endless.
He was no longer in Utopia.
He stood within a realm of black liquid, thick and suffocating. Twisted shapes slithered through the abyss—manifestations of his deepest fears.
"Idiot," he growled.
A sword materialized in his grip. Without hesitation, he swung.
The creatures shrieked, their forms splitting apart.
"I may be a coward," the King whispered, "but for my people, for my family—"
His blade flashed.
"Even the gods will fall before me!"
The abyss shattered.
Light flooded his vision.
He gasped, stumbling back into reality.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine…" He shook his head—then froze.
"Wait… look!"
The Star Eater had stopped.
Hovering, motionless, near the moon's orbit.
"…What happened?" he whispered.
"We don't know. But something is holding it back."
The King exhaled sharply, then smirked.
"Perhaps the gods are on our side today…"
He raised his hand.
"All units, prepare to fire!"
The cannons roared.
Portals opened.
The King locked onto the creature's remaining eyes—
"Fire!"
The blasts streaked through space, warping through portals and striking true.
A blinding explosion engulfed the sky.
When the light faded—
The eyes were gone.
The Star Eater let out a final, ear-splitting howl. The King, exhausted, fell to one knee, using his sword for support.
Bu still, he raised his sword towards Star Eater and smiled provocatively.
"Do you feel it, monster?" he whispered. "That is the price you pay for challenging Utopia!"
The Star Eater's massive, eyeless form turned toward him.
And then—
A low, mocking growl.
The King's grip tightened.
"Go to hell, you bastard."
And with that—
The battle for Utopia had begun.