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DC X Rider Ch 66
🕑 Added 2024-11-12 13:13:40 +0000 UTCHila's voice wavered, the strain evident as she finished recounting her harrowing ordeal. "After I lost consciousness, I woke up and found you here."
Haruka's expression grew pensive as he mulled over the events leading up to him rescuing Hila. A hijacked submarine, black-armored assailants pursuing Hila, the looming threat of war between the sea and surface world - the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on his mind. His brow furrowed in deep contemplation.
Haruka's brow furrowed as he considered the implications of Hila's harrowing ordeal. Someone clearly wanted to provoke a war between the surface and the sea, and they were using Hila as a pawn. He knew the surface world was vastly outmatched by Atlantis' might, unless the Justice League intervened. And if Hila were to die on the surface, that would provide the perfect catalyst for Atlantis to retaliate.
"Someone in Atlantis must be the one orchestrating this," Haruka muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. "They need a reason to start a war, and Hila's death on the surface would give them that." He glanced over at the Xebelian princess, her regal features now etched with exhaustion and pain.
Haruka couldn't help but feel a twinge of responsibility for her safety. He had been tasked with preventing a war, and he wouldn't let Hila become a martyr for someone else's agenda. "I have to find out who's behind this," he said, his voice laced with determination. "I won't let them use you to ignite a conflict that could devastate both our worlds."
As he contemplated his next move, Haruka knew he needed more information. Hila's account had provided valuable clues, but he needed to uncover the deeper machinations at play. Who in Atlantis would benefit from a war with the surface? And how could he stop them before it was too late?
Haruka's gaze hardened with resolve. He would not let the fragile peace between the two worlds be shattered, not if he could help it. Hila's life hung in the balance, and he would do whatever it took to protect her and prevent the looming conflict.
Hila studied Haruka's expression as his brow creased in deep thought. "I appreciate you coming to my rescue." She paused, sensing his mind was racing with the implications of her ordeal. "I should be going now."
Haruka raised a hand, halting her. "You shouldn't go just yet. Those armored men are still out there, searching for you." He met her gaze, his expression earnest. "It's safer if you hide for a while."
Hila's jaw tightened. She longed to return to Atlantis, to the safety of her home. But Haruka had a point - if those assailants found her again, she may not be able to escape a second time. "Very well," she conceded, moving to sit on the bed.
Hila fixed Haruka with an imperious stare. "Fetch me a meal, then."
Haruka blinked, momentarily taken aback by her commanding tone. "Why should I-"
"I am a princess," Hila interrupted, her voice brooking no argument. "My servants wait on my every command." She leveled him with an expectant look. "Now go."
Haruka suppressed a sigh, rolling his eyes as he turned to do her bidding. "What a prideful princess," he muttered under his breath.
Haruka turned to leave, but Hila's imperious voice stopped him in his tracks. "Make sure the food is the best. I have a refined palate."
Haruka suppressed a sigh, her haughty tone grating on his nerves. "Alright, Princess." He shook his head, slightly annoyed by her demanding manner, but knew better than to argue with royalty. Squaring his shoulders, he headed out, determined to find the most suitable meal for the Xebelian princess.
…
Black Manta, the feared pirate and relentless assassin, stood before his elite cadre of enforcers, the Manta Men. His imposing figure, clad in the iconic black wetsuit-like exoskeleton, exuded a menacing presence that struck fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals.
The Manta Men, his loyal and deadly soldiers, shifted uncomfortably as their leader's piercing gaze swept across the group. Black Manta's large, bug-eyed helmet, with its glowing red lenses, only added to the sense of dread that permeated the room.
"Why have you failed in your mission to eliminate the Xebelian princess?" Black Manta's voice was laced with barely contained rage, each word dripping with a cold fury that made the Manta Men wince.
The leader of the group, a seasoned mercenary with cybernetic enhancements, stepped forward. "My lord, we had the princess cornered near the surface. We were so close to eliminating her, but a man in strange armor interfered. He managed to spirit the princess away before we could finish the job."
Black Manta's fists clenched at his sides, the twin energy blades on his forearms humming with barely restrained power. "A man in armor, you say?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Describe him to me."
The Manta Men leader swallowed hard, his enhanced cybernetic body unable to hide the tremor of fear that ran through him. "The armor was sleek and black, with purple accents and a spider-like design. He wielded some kind of advanced weaponry, and his movements were swift and precise."
Black Manta's mind raced, processing the information. "Kamen Rider," he hissed, the name dripping with venom.
Black Manta's eyes narrowed behind his menacing helmet as he contemplated the implications of the Kamen Rider's interference. This remote fishing town of Amnesty Bay was far from the usual battlegrounds he had encountered the masked hero. What could have drawn the Kamen Rider to this seemingly insignificant place?
"This changes everything," Black Manta murmured, his voice laced with a hint of unease. Turning to his assembled Manta Men, he barked out his orders. "Find the Xebelian princess and eliminate her. Failure is not an option."
The Manta Men, spurred by their leader's ominous tone, quickly scattered, disappearing into the shadows to carry out their mission. Black Manta watched them go, his fists clenching at his sides. The Kamen Rider's presence was an unwelcome complication, and he would not tolerate any interference in his plans.
As the Manta Men vanished from sight, a faint beeping sound emanated from Black Manta's wrist console. He pressed a button, and the holographic image of a familiar figure materialized before him.
"My lord," Black Manta acknowledged, his tone guarded.
The mysterious figure, his face obscured by shadows, spoke with a commanding presence. "Manta, I trust you have eliminated the Xebelian princess by now."
Black Manta hesitated for a moment before responding. "No, my lord. The princess got away. Someone interfered."
A flash of irritation crossed the lord's features. "Someone interfered? Was it an Atlantean?"
"No, my lord," Black Manta replied, his voice betraying a hint of unease. "It was a man in strange armor, one I believe to be the Kamen Rider."
The Ocean Master's expression darkened. "The Kamen Rider, you say? This complicates matters." He paused, considering the implications. "Very well, Manta. I will not tolerate any further delays. I am sending the Trench People to eliminate the Xebelian princess and the Kamen Rider."
Black Manta's eyes widened behind his helmet. "My lord, the Trench People? That is a reckless move. They will not discriminate, and the consequences could be disastrous."
"Do not question me, Black Manta," the Ocean Master snapped, his voice dripping with authority. "You will follow my orders, or you will suffer the consequences. Eliminate the Xebelian princess and the Kamen Rider if necessary. Once the deed is done, you will receive your reward."
Black Manta clenched his jaw, his discomfort evident. "As you wish, my lord."
The hologram flickered and vanished, leaving Black Manta alone with his thoughts. He knew better than to defy his employer's commands, but the idea of unleashing the savage Trench People upon Amnesty Bay filled him with unease.
"This is a dangerous game you're playing, my lord," Black Manta muttered under his breath. "The Trench People are a wild card that even I cannot control."
Nonetheless, Black Manta knew he had no choice but to comply. The lure of his promised reward was too tempting, and his own thirst for vengeance against Aquaman and the Atlantean kingdom burned brighter than ever. With a resigned sigh, he turned and made his way back to his submarine, already formulating a plan to track down the elusive Xebelian princess and the Kamen Rider.
As he descended into the depths of the ocean, Black Manta's mind raced with the implications of his employer's actions. The Trench People were a force of pure destruction, and their presence in Amnesty Bay could spell disaster for the unsuspecting town and its inhabitants. Black Manta knew he would have to tread carefully, lest he find himself caught in the crossfire of a war between the surface and the sea.
