Aquaman #33 Tides of War (Long Live the King)

Rain fell against the silver helm of Orm. His hair was wet, both from said rain and the ocean beneath him. He stood atop a monstrous chimera, spliced genes from sharks, lobster, and octopus all used to develop the beast.

 

 

"The day of reckoning has come," he said aloud, staring down at the helm that once belonged to his father. Raising his head, he stared at the island of Hawaii. "Today, Atlantis will rule."

 

 

-^-

 

 

Murk slashed down, his axe breaking into the floor beneath him. Black Manta was quick to react, activating booster jets and dodging backwards. Murk didn't let up, ripping the axe from the ground, slicing across the horizon.

 

 

Manta countered by pulling out his own sword, intercepting the axehead. With a twirl, he sent Murk off balance, reading a blast of plasma. As he fired the beams, Murk stood tall, taking the blast to the chest. A running kick from Murk sent Manta back, forcing him to use his jets to stabilize himself.

 

 

Manta used the jets to dash forward, Murk blocking the strike with his pole. Letting go of the sword with one hand, Manta slammed his fist into Murk's face. Murk reciprocated by stabbing into Manta's hand with his hook.

 

 

Manta leaned back, slamming his head forward, cracking Murk's helmet and causing him to stumble. Using the opening, Manta jumped forward with a downward slash. Murk, however, caught the blade.

 

 

Blood dripped from his hand as he ripped the blade from Manta's, flinging it across the room. Closing his fist, Murk hit Manta with a jab, then a rising knee. Picking up his weapon, Murk didn't relent, slicing his axe upward. The attack caught Manta by the chin, pulling his helmet off his head. Using his pole, Murk slammed the metal against Manta's forehead, pushing the man further back.

 

 

Manta, now against the wall, watched as Murk charged forward, axe at his side. Manta raised his arms in an 'x' formation, intercepting the strike. Manta could see the fury in the man's eyes as he fought. It only made his own anger worse.

 

 

Raising both fists, twin lasers blasted out, smaller versions of his plasma beams. Murk was caught off guard, leaving Manta the opportunity to stab him in the side using his wrist blade. Murk screamed in pain, slamming an elbow into Manta's arm, breaking the blade.

 

 

Manta grunted as Murk stood tall in front of him, blood dripping from the beast-like man's mouth. Readying himself, twin rockets rose from his diver pack and fired at Murk. The man, however, dodged the first missile. The second was batted away with his hooked hand, sending it into the wall and making the building shake.

 

 

"I will not let you leave this place!" Murk screamed out, slamming his shoulder into the wall, causing some of the ceiling to crumble. "I put it on my life!"

 

 

Manta grinded his teeth, readying his wrist lasers. "Then I'll have to end it."

 

 

Running forward, Manta blasted a laser into Murk's face, giving him enough time to preform a handspring over Murk's shoulders. Slamming his fist into Murk's back, he let off another laser blast. His other hand drove a punch onto the stab wound, blasting it with plasma. As Murk tried to turn, Manta slid under the man's legs, using his jets to launch a devastating uppercut. Manta didn't give Murk any breathing room, immediately turning and blasting his lasers at the man once more.

 

 

Murk, through the pain, let out a berserker scream, charging forward like a bull. Manta had no time to react as his body careened through the air, slamming into the wall, causing some debris to fall.

 

 

Grabbing him by the neck, Murk slammed Manta into the wall once, twice, before throwing him back down the hall.

 

 

Manta's head spun. The hall was full of rubble and dust from above, blood drenching the floor. Looking up, he saw Murk approaching him, blood running down the man's forehead. Grabbing his helmet and sliding it on, Manta began to stumble down the crumbling hall. As soon as he did, Murk began to pick up speed, forcing Manta to activate his jets to traverse.

 

 

Stone fell from above, Manta narrowly dodging the chunks of debris as he avoided the monster that chased him. He could hear the sound of Murk slamming into each wall they passed, causing less stability for the building. As Manta rounded a corner, his right jet booster was hit by a chunk of rubble, causing him to fall to the ground.

 

 

Murk rounded the corner shortly after, his right eye shut as blood ran over it. "You'll pay for the pain you've wrought," he mumbled, readying his axe. "DIE, MURDERER!" Murk leapt into the air, ready to slam his weapon into Manta's skull. Manta, however, raised an arm, launching a wire into the ceiling.

 

 

With a harsh pull, the weak ceiling fell on top of Murk, burying him in rubble.

 

 

Manta sat still, panting harshly.

 

 

The man had a hatred for him. His own hatred, however, was much, much stronger.

 

 

-^-

 

 

"And so I say, 'I can't help it, everyone I know is royalty'," Thomas Curry says, causing a roar of laughter from all around the Harbour Inn.

 

 

"Thomas, I'll never understand how you got off with a queen, you ugly bastard," one of the attendees said, earning another barrage of laughter.

 

 

"What can I say, I'm just a lucky man."

 

 

"Breaking news: a tsunami has just struck the southern coast of Hawaii."

 

 

All patrons in the bar turned towards the box-tv in the corner of the room. The news helicopter hovered above the island, showing footage of the devastating tidal wave.

 

 

"My god…" the bartender mumbled.

 

 

"Various heroes have responded to the incident, including the Flash and the Green Lanterns." she said, panning out to John Stewart carrying a bus of children. "Just moments ago, this video message was broadcasted to every news station across the world."

 

 

Thomas watched in horror as Orm, his son's half brother, stood in frame.

 

 

"Hello, surface dwellers. I am Orm Marius, the king of Atlantis. You have existed in our world for centuries. We allowed you to live your miserable lives. We gave you the peace you wanted. We allowed you freedom, but that time is over. Atlantis shall reign supreme. Those who do not die, shall kneel. Those who do not kneel, shall die. I am the Ocean Master, you will bow to Atlantis."

 

 

The video cut off, returning to the broadcast of Hawaii's evacuation. Flash sped along the water, carrying people over his shoulders and under his arms. Multiple of the Green Lanterns carried cars and boats full of people, taking them to the northern part of the island.

 

 

"Oh… oh no. It looks like a second attack is about to happen!" The reporter screamed, as the camera man panned to a second tidal wave approaching. "This one is much larger than before!"

 

 

The bar went silent, watching as the tsunami approached. Thomas closed his eyes, waiting for the broadcast to cut, but the silence erupted into cheers. Opening his eyes, he saw the tidal wave frozen solid.

 

 

"Superman!" one of the bar attendees shouted.

 

 

On the television, Superman floated in front of the news helicopter. On his right was the orange haired green lantern carrying Ice on a green platform. The woman panted heavily, but smiled.

 

 

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief, but only for a moment. He stood up, all eyes in the bar locking onto him as he stumbled from his seat to the door. "A-Arthur…" he mumbled as he walked out. "Please be okay."

 

 

-^-

 

 

Mera sat on her bed, watching as the tidal wave struck Hawaii. The woman bit her lip slamming her fist into the wall.

 

 

Ever since the Kingdom was overrun by Orm, her father had decided to keep her in a secure, but comfortable room. Her own.

 

 

A princess locked away in a tower.

 

 

She wanted out. She wanted to save her husband. She wanted to help her friends. She wanted to ring Orm's neck for betraying his kin.

 

 

Most of all, she wanted revenge. Revenge on her sister for stabbing her in the back, taking Orm's side.

 

 

She knew her sister despised the surface world. She knew her sister hated Arthur, and began to hate her as well because of it.

 

 

A knock at the door grabbed her attention.

 

 

-^-

 

 

Garth stumbled through the secret passage to the resistance base. Vulko followed closely behind. The sound of the prison crumbing could be heard, even a mile away.

 

 

Upon entering the clearing, the two paused, Garth feeling a slight dread run through him.

 

 

In the dark of the passage, blue light could be seen.

 

 

"Vulko, run," Garth ordered, his hands and eyes lighting up.

 

 

The sparking of a blade dragging along the floor lit up the figure of Devil Ray. Deep navy and black armor, with a bright azure glow, mimicking his father's red.

 

 

"The resistance ends today."

 

 

-^-

 

 

Orm watched as the frozen tidal wave was slowly broken down. It didn't matter. It was merely a demonstration.

 

 

They would know the power of Atlantis soon enough.

 

 

"Orm," Hila spoke, coming through a comms. "There was a prison break. Arthur is free. I've also lost contact with the surface dwellers and Jackson."

 

 

Orm's fist clenched, gritting his teeth. "Secure the facility," he ordered, placing his tridents down. "I'll return shortly…" looking down at the helmet placed on the sea monster's back, a surge of anger courses through him. Picking it up, he placed it on his head. "I have something to do first."

 

 

NEXT TIME: Deadlock, Blood Runs Thicker Than Water!

Done