The Atlantic Ocean, between the United Kingdom and Iceland.
Bardi and Diana stood upon the sea. The ocean sparkled in silence as a salty breeze blew gently across the waves.
Beneath their feet, in the vast blue waters, a massive shadow slowly emerged from the depths.
The dark figure, like a colossal sea beast, surged up from the abyss below.
A massive naval-air battleship, gleaming as if newly forged, surfaced. A curtain of seawater rolled off its deck, glistening under the sunlight.
Its black armored hull and deck rose like a deep-sea leviathan, powerful and chilling.
White waves splashed around it, churning in concentric circles.
A mothership over 1,200 meters long floated on the sea, carrying Bardi and Diana at the front of its deck. The two figures glowed beneath the brilliant sun.
Diana was stunned. As the deck trembled, she steadied her graceful posture and turned to look.
Behind Bardi, the black, glossy carapace opened like a silkworm's cocoon emerging from the water. The massive machinery twisted its serrated structure as it rose, like a butterfly spreading its wings. The sea-air battleship, over 1,200 meters long and 600 meters wide, was now fully revealed.
On the exposed deck stood more than 20,000 Kryptonian high-level genetic soldiers. Each was dressed in a sleek black anti-magic trench coat, arranged in perfect formation with one meter of space between them. Their blazing eyes stared straight at Bardi's back with fervent devotion.
"Your Majesty!"
General Ott's expression was stern, his gaze filled with bloodlust. With his right fist pressed against the deck, he knelt on one knee behind Bardi in salute.
"Your Majesty!"
Behind him, the 20,000 Kryptonian high-level genetic soldiers all dropped to one knee, lifting their heads to look at Bardi.
Their collective roar shook the skies like thunder, the sheer volume shaking the surrounding air.
This was an army trained to the pinnacle of discipline.
Diana's face turned rigid. Every soldier radiated power akin to the sun, exuding a terrifying aura.
That overwhelming presence, combined with their order and burning gaze...
This was an army capable of crushing any kingdom.
Even the Amazons couldn't win in a battle against them.
Not every Amazon was as strong as Diana or Artemis. Most were only marginally superior to ordinary humans, maybe seven or eight times stronger. Against these genetically enhanced Kryptonian troops, they had no effective resistance. There was no contest.
"Atlantis. Is it done?" Bardi did not tell them to rise, his gaze shifting to a small dot in the distance. Paradise Island lay ahead.
His eyes were cold, devoid of sentiment.
"Atlantis has fully surrendered and is now a part of the Barmulodi Empire. Government officials are already being dispatched to take over operations. Headcounts are underway. Seawater technology is being accepted. Communications are being established, and the consulate is being formed," General Ott responded in a voice as firm as steel.
Diana felt a chill run through her.
Atlantis was a nation passed down from ancient times, a city bestowed by Poseidon, god of the sea. Even Paradise Island, by comparison, might not be able to defeat Atlantis in combat.
Though the king of Atlantis had been slain by Bardi, the matter was not so simple. Atlantis had been conquered.
Yet before her eyes, Bardi made no effort to act or prove anything. It was unnecessary.
That was what made Diana's heart turn cold.
If she was not mistaken... this army, this battleship, was heading toward Paradise Island.
Diana's head snapped up. Her gaze shifted from the army to where Bardi looked out.
The blue sea and sky merged at the horizon. A black dot grew closer, slowly being drawn toward the battleship.
The battleship advanced at high speed, the frigid sea breeze slapping against them. Bardi's trench coat flapped, his black hair flowing in the wind.
Diana's heart sank into silence.
This was the final stop in Barmulodi's conquest of Earth. It could not be stopped.
She understood. This was a mission to destroy the Amazons who refused to accept Barmulodi's rule.
All that remained was to see how many Amazons she could persuade and save.
"It's only been two days, and Atlantis couldn't hold out?" Bardi smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with Ott's efficiency. "Ott, rise. What method did you use?"
Ott rose from his kneeling position, his eyes flashing with a cruel red glint. The sea wind cut across his ruthless face as he spoke.
"Following Your Majesty's orders, I used the most unforgettable method to make Atlantis surrender completely."
"Seven thousand soldiers excavated all of Atlantis from the depths, raised it from the ocean floor, and dropped it into the Sahara Desert—the hottest place on Earth. Within just a few hours of sun exposure, they surrendered."
General Ott grinned. His expression was bloodthirsty and harsh. For him, this was trivial. He hadn't even killed anyone, so it didn't count as war.
Bardi laughed. This scene was eerily familiar.
In Injustice, Superman had ruled the Earth, and Aquaman had resisted.
In the end, Superman, with his overwhelming power, lifted Atlantis from the sea and dropped it into the desert. The civilians of Atlantis, unable to bear the scorching sun, howled in pain, forcing Aquaman to submit.
Unexpectedly, Ott had now taken a similar approach. After drying out a few fish, shrimp, and crabs, the entire Atlantis was forced into surrender.
"This is the final stop."
Bardi smiled as he looked ahead at the approaching Paradise Island. Towering trees and a grand white palace came into view.
Diana felt another chill, her heart heavy. That Atlantis had been so easily subdued by the two of them was deeply unsettling.
Her eyes fixed on the increasingly close Paradise Island. She suddenly turned to General Ott.
"General Ott, I have a few plans that require your cooperation."
Ott's cruel face turned cold. He harbored many suspicions about the woman standing beside His Majesty.
His eyes flicked toward Bardi, then returned to Diana, cautiously questioning her identity.
"I am... Madame Bardi. Diana."
Diana paused, her expression uneasy.
Even acknowledging herself as Bardi's lover made her uncomfortable. Yet she now referred to herself as his wife, which clearly didn't align with Bardi's earlier statement.
She glanced at Bardi nervously, but saw that he showed no reaction to her words, which brought her relief.
Upon hearing her and seeing Bardi's indifferent response, Ott understood it to be true.
Even if she wasn't officially his wife, a lover was more than enough for Ott to show respect.
He bowed slightly. Seeing that His Majesty didn't object, he respectfully said, "Understood, Madame Diana."
(To be continued.)