Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System

Athena swallowed hard, her fingers curling around her staff as they stepped forward in unison. The air shifted as they passed through the threshold, and in the blink of an eye, the chill and stark whiteness vanished. When their eyes adjusted, the contrast left them breathless. They found themselves standing in the middle of a lush, vibrant jungle. Towering trees with sprawling canopies painted the sky in hues of green and gold, while luminous flowers in every imaginable color glowed gently in the underbrush. Streams of crystal-clear water crisscrossed the landscape, and an otherworldly mist hung lazily in the air. But it wasn't just nature that captured their attention—it was the dwellings. Hundreds of houses, woven seamlessly into the environment, dotted the jungle floor and perched among the trees. The structures were beautiful, their designs a harmonious blend of organic and architectural, as though grown rather than built. The three froze as they caught sight of the inhabitants. People. Or, at least, they looked like people. Every single one was impossibly beautiful, their appearances striking enough to leave the trio uneasy. Their tan skin shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy, and their angelic wings were adorned with intricate patterns of feathers and foliage, seamlessly fused with the jungle's vibrant aesthetic. Black tattoos twisted in elegant, abstract patterns across their skin, and their verdant eyes seemed to pierce through the soul. Hair the color of deep green vines cascaded down their backs or was bound in elaborate braids. The stillness of the jungle shattered as one of the inhabitants leaped gracefully from a porch high in the trees. They landed lightly before the trio, the movement fluid and predatory, like a jungle cat stalking prey. Standing at eye level, the figure—a woman—was no less striking up close, her beauty almost overwhelming. Her wings twitched slightly, catching the sunlight, and her piercing gaze settled on them, unblinking. Sylus, Cyrus, and Athena immediately stiffened, their muscles coiling like springs. There was an unspoken aura of danger in the air, something far more ancient and powerful than mere appearances could convey. Before they could speak, Athena's voice cut through the tense silence, low and uncertain. "Jesua says…" She hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "They're Swan Maidens." Cyrus turned toward her sharply. "Swan Maidens?" Athena nodded, her expression troubled. "She says they were forced into the jungle by the Warlock of Wisdom. He destroyed their home—the Plateau of Beautiful Hot Springs. And…" She faltered, glancing at the woman before them. "Everyone here, men and women alike… they're supposed to be the most beautiful beings in existence." The Swan Maiden tilted her head, her expression unreadable as if waiting for some acknowledgment or explanation. Her wings spread slightly, feathers rustling, and her piercing gaze bore into each of them in turn. The silence stretched, charged with tension. Cyrus cleared his throat nervously, breaking the moment. "Uh… hi?" he managed, his voice cracking slightly. The woman's gaze lingered on him, her lips curling into the faintest hint of a smile. It was unclear whether it was welcoming or predatory, and it did nothing to ease the chill running down their spines. Without any warning, the Swan Maiden moved faster than the eye could follow. One moment she stood before them, her wings shifting in the gentle jungle breeze. The next, Cyrus was hoisted into the air, tucked under her arm as though he weighed nothing. "Wait, what—HEY!" Cyrus yelled, flailing as much as her iron grip allowed. With an effortless leap, she sprang into the trees, her wings spreading to catch the air. The pair disappeared in a blur of green and gold, Cyrus's increasingly distant screams echoing through the jungle. Sylus and Athena just stood there, stunned into silence. The jungle seemed to grow even quieter around them, as if it were holding its breath. Finally, Athena broke the silence, pointing in the direction they'd disappeared. "Uh… we should probably get him… right?" Sylus sighed, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face deadpan. "Yeah. We should." Without another word, the two of them sprinted into the jungle, chasing the fading sound of Cyrus's protests. Athena and Sylus darted through the jungle, their boots pounding against the uneven ground as they leapt over roots and ducked under low-hanging vines. The air was humid and thick with the aroma of flowers, but they had no time to take in the beauty of the vibrant jungle surrounding them. The only sound guiding them was the fading echo of Cyrus's voice, punctuated by his indignant shouting. The chase led them through a maze of hanging bridges and winding paths, each turn more disorienting than the last. Eventually, the trail ended at a grand structure—a sprawling town hall carved from ancient trees. The wood seemed alive, its surface shimmering faintly with emerald-green light as if the jungle itself was protecting the building. The roof was a canopy of intertwined branches, and luminous flowers grew along its edges, casting a soft glow. Athena and Sylus shared a glance before cautiously stepping inside. The interior was breathtaking yet imposing. The walls were lined with intricate carvings of winged figures—Swan Maidens, no doubt—interwoven with scenes of lush landscapes and battlefields. The light inside was dim, filtered through crystalline emeralds embedded in the wooden walls, casting a haunting green glow. At the far end of the hall sat a woman on a throne made entirely of living wood, its twisted branches curling and shifting like they had a mind of their own. Her presence was commanding, to say the least. Massive black wings, shimmering with encrusted emeralds that caught the faint light like stars, framed her like a dark halo. Her entire body was adorned with emerald accents—necklaces, bracelets, even small shards embedded into her skin, which glinted as if part of her being. Her dark, piercing eyes seemed to bore through Sylus and Athena the moment they entered. In front of her, on his knees, was Cyrus. His hands were bound behind his back with glowing green vines, and his expression was a mixture of defiance and confusion. "Fuck man, that bitch is strong as hell," he muttered when he saw them. "Took you long enough." The Swan Maiden who had captured him stood at his side, her angelic visage unreadable, though her wings bristled slightly as Sylus and Athena approached. Athena whispered to Sylus as they moved closer. "Any idea what we're walking into?" Sylus shook his head. "No clue, but we should tread carefully. That one on the throne… she's no ordinary monster." As Sylus and Athena cautiously approached the throne, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense. Around them, Swan Maidens began to appear, stepping out from hidden alcoves and shadows. They carried spears and swords, their weapons crafted from shimmering emeralds and wood, as deadly as they were beautiful. The warriors moved silently, their faces devoid of malice yet filled with an undeniable resolve. Sylus's hand went to the hilt of his sword, and Cyrus, still bound, glanced between his companions and the approaching warriors with a grimace. "Oh, great. More pointy things," he muttered under his breath. The circle of spears tightened, the tips mere inches from Sylus and Athena. The woman on the throne raised a hand, halting her subjects, but her eyes remained fixed on Athena. Her gaze was unnervingly sharp, as if she were searching for something buried deep within. Before anyone could speak, a sudden ripple of energy pulsed through the room. Athena clutched her chest with a gasp, doubling over. "Athena!" Sylus took a step toward her, but a spear barred his path. Cyrus's eyes widened. "What's happening to her?!" Athena's body convulsed, and from her chest, a black, viscous substance began to seep out, oozing like ink from an invisible wound. The goo moved unnaturally, pooling around her feet before suddenly surging upward, enveloping her entire body in a cocoon of shifting, shadowy liquid. The air grew cold, and the once-green light in the hall dimmed as if the room itself recoiled from the transformation. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, the cocoon exploded outward. Where Athena had stood now stood Jesua, her form identical to the one they had seen back in the apartment. Her ebony hair framed her face perfectly, and her pale blue eyes sparkled with amusement. Her slick, eerie smile returned as she surveyed the stunned crowd. "Miss me?" Jesua said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she stretched her arms lazily. The room was silent for a heartbeat before the Swan Maidens reacted. They shouted in alarm, their weapons snapping to attention. The tension in the air thickened like a storm about to break. Jesua glanced at the weapons pointed at her, then turned to the woman on the throne with a grin that was equal parts mockery and menace. "My, my, such a warm welcome. Is this how you greet all your guests?" The throne woman's expression hardened, her wings flaring slightly. "You…" she began, her voice a mix of awe and dread.