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DC X Rider Ch 87
🕑 Added 2024-12-01 14:35:14 +0000 UTC"Maybe we could talk this out?" pleaded Kingfish, his webbed hands raised in a gesture of surrender.
Atlanna leveled her spear at Kingfish's neck. "Where is Arthur?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
Kingfish raised his webbed hands. "I swear, I don't know where Aquaman is."
Mera stepped forward, her expression skeptical. "You expect us to believe that?"
Haruka moves in front of Kingfish. "Tell us what you know or else…"
Abyssodon looms over Kingfish behind Haruka. "My friend here is pretty hungry. And fish is on the menu."
"Okay, okay! I'll talk. But I don't really know where he is. All I know is that a man named David Hyde was gathering weapons. He has an army of men with black suits and I suspect he was the one who attacked the King of Atlantis."
Hila's eyes narrowed as she listened to Kingfish's words. When he mentioned the men in black suits, her mind immediately connected it to the attackers who had ambushed her before. She stepped forward, her regal bearing commanding attention.
"Does this David Hyde go by another name?" Hila asked, her voice steady.
Kingfish nodded slowly. "Yes, he calls himself Black Manta."
Haruka glanced at Hila, seeing the realization dawn on her face. "Hila, did you discover something?" he asked.
Hila turned to Haruka, her expression grave. "This Black Manta must have been the one responsible for my ambush," she said. Haruka's eyes widened as he connected the dots, understanding the gravity of this new information.
Mera's brow furrowed as she pressed Kingfish further. "Where has this Black Manta taken Arthur?"
Kingfish hesitated, his webbed hands fidgeting. "I've only heard rumors, but..." He swallowed hard. "There's said to be a prison, deep in a forgotten island. That's where Black Manta and his men have been stationed, heavily guarding the place."
Atlanna's grip tightened on her spear, her knuckles whitening. "Then that is where we must go." She turned to the others, her eyes narrowed with determination.
Mera nodded, her expression grim. "We'll bring Arthur home, no matter what it takes."
Atlanna, Mera, Hila, and Haruka left the Sunken Citadel, their focus now fixed on the island where Black Manta had taken Aquaman. As they neared their destination, they spotted the perimeter swarming with Manta Men, the elite soldiers loyal to their adversary.
The four huddled together, brows furrowed in concentration as they plotted their next move.
"A direct assault is too risky with our small numbers," Mera said, shaking her head. "We need to find a way to slip in undetected."
Hila's lips pressed into a thin line. "But we don't even know where they're keeping Arthur. Searching blindly could take precious time we don't have."
Atlanna's grip tightened on her spear. "Then we'll have to divide our forces. Some of us will create a distraction, while the others search for Arthur."
Haruka's eyes narrowed. "That's dangerous. We could end up spread too thin."
The four fell silent, each weighing the pros and cons of their options. The stakes were high, and the path forward was unclear. But they were determined to bring Arthur home, no matter the cost.
Haruka stepped forward, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"I think I can use my power to scout ahead and search for Aquaman," he said, glancing between Hila, Mera, and Atlanna.
Hila's eyes narrowed. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
Haruka's lips curled into a small smile. "By entering the Mirror World." He turned to a nearby mirror, placing his hand against the surface. With a shimmer, his form seemed to shift, and in an instant, he had vanished into the reflective surface.
Mera and Atlanna watched, eyes widening, as Haruka reappeared moments later, stepping back out of the mirror.
"You see?" he said. "I can move through the mirrors, unseen. I'll be able to search for Arthur without being detected."
Hila nodded, impressed. "Then that's what we'll do. Haruka, you'll scout ahead and try to find where they're holding Aquaman."
Mera turned to Haruka, her eyes pleading. "Please, Haruka, you must find my husband. Bring Arthur home to us."
Haruka nodded, his expression resolute. "I promise, Mera, I will find Aquaman and bring him back safely." With that, he stepped up to the mirror, took a deep breath, and stepped through the reflective surface, vanishing into the Mirror World.
Haruka swims to the island and gets on its shores. Because it was the Mirror World, there was no one there but himself. He scours the island and found an entrance to a cave. Haruka enters the cave and sees the base of Black Manta.
The cave was dimly lit, with only the faint glow of bioluminescent algae providing illumination. Haruka moved cautiously, his footsteps echoing against the damp, rocky walls. As he ventured deeper, the air grew thick with the scent of saltwater and the metallic tang of machinery.
Rounding a corner, Haruka caught sight of the sprawling base. Crates and equipment were stacked haphazardly, and the faint whirring of computers filled the air. In the center of the cavernous space, a massive, sleek submarine rested, its dark exterior reflecting the dim lighting.
Haruka watched from the nearby reflection as the Manta Men bustled about, carrying out their leader's orders. A tall, imposing figure emerged, his black armor gleaming in the dim light. Haruka recognized him as the man Kingfish had referred to as Black Manta.
"Are the ships ready?" Black Manta demanded, his voice gruff and authoritative.
"Soon they will be, Boss," one of the Manta Men replied, his posture deferential.
"I want those ships loaded as soon as possible," Black Manta growled, his fists clenching at his sides.
Black Manta approached the guard, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the dim cell. "How is our prisoner doing?" he asked, his voice laced with a sinister edge.
The guard stood at attention, his posture stiff. "He is still locked in his cell, sir. No food or water has been provided, and we've raised the temperature in the room." He paused, a hint of unease in his tone. "He is under constant surveillance. Not even a rat will go undetected."
Black Manta's lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile. "Good. Keep torturing him. I want him broken by the time I'm ready to make my move."
The guard nodded, a shiver running down his spine at the sheer malice in Black Manta's words. He knew better than to question his leader's orders, and he hurried away, eager to carry out the cruel instructions.
Haruka heard their conversation and guessed the prisoner must be Aquaman. He must be deep within the facility, so Haruka began searching.
Haruka found what seems to be the prison area. The cells were empty, save for a few scattered pieces of debris. As he ventured deeper, he came across a heavily fortified door. Peering through the reflection, Haruka spotted two armed guards stationed outside, their posture rigid and alert.
Haruka peered through the mirror, his eyes narrowing as he studied the fortified door. Two armed guards stood watch, their weapons at the ready.
"This has to be where they're keeping Aquaman," Haruka muttered under his breath. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Aquaman's life was on the line, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
Haruka glanced around, searching for any potential weak points or openings he could exploit. If he could slip past the guards undetected, he might stand a chance of finding and freeing the captive king.
Haruka peered through the mirror, his brow furrowing in frustration. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't find a way to slip past the guards undetected.
"There's no easy way in," he muttered, his gaze shifting from the fortified door to the armed guards. Haruka's lips pressed into a thin line as he realized his reconnaissance had hit a dead end.
Turning away from the mirror, Haruka took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. "I'll need to regroup with the others and come up with a new plan," he said, his expression grim.
Haruka made his way back to the craft, where Hila, Mera, and Atlanna waited anxiously.
