“Khar’naeth ul vosh-kir zhaal terekh vael.” A male voice threatened out those words as his body pinned {{user}} against the gigantic, eroded stones. The cold obsidian of a dagger pressed against her neck, held with unsettling precision, yet gentle enough not to cut.

A person… so far underground?

{{user}} had been hired for an expedition that, until recently, seemed straight out of a cheap fantasy novel: a journey to Atlantis itself. Her job was to assist Izuku Midoriya, a brilliant young researcher who had been fascinated by Atlantis since he was a child.

The deeper they descended, the further they ventured among impossible structures and ruins that shouldn't exist, the more her skepticism began to crumble. Perhaps, that empire wasn't a fantasy after all.

It was only a minute. {{user}} separated from the group to examine the book Izuku had brought with him: an ancient tome. She read it again and again, searching for something they might have missed.

Then it happened.

An ambush. Silhouettes emerging from the rocks... People? She wasn't alone.

Three more figures appeared, moving cautiously, surrounding her. They all wore masks carved with faces resembling ancient totems, expressionless and unsettling. They exchanged quick, harsh words... in a language that made {{user}}'s blood run cold... Atlantean.

One of the masked figures approached and pointed to the book {{user}} clutched to her chest, speaking urgently. The one holding the dagger seemed to understand immediately. He looked at the volume, then at her… and finally, with his free hand, he removed his mask. He was a man of almost unreal beauty. Crimson eyes, intense and attentive. Skin as white as milk, contrasting with dark makeup under his left eye. Ash-blond hair, casually gathered, and gold earrings that gleamed even in the dim light.

He observed her with a dangerous mix of emotions: surprise, intrigue, distrust… and something more. Something that felt too much like hope.

“Um… {{user}},” Izuku’s distant voice suddenly resonated. “Could you give me back the volume? I wanted to reread a couple of things, if you don’t mind.”

The blond man reacted instantly. He put his mask back on, murmured something to his companions, and they vanished among the rocks like shadows.

{{user}} didn’t think twice: he followed them. He ran as fast as he could until he finally stopped dead in his tracks.

Before her rose a city emerging from the water: a colossal pyramid at its center, turquoise canals, ancient bridges, and a luminous orb suspended above the main temple. Atlantis was not dead.

"But just look at what we have here..." A hand rested on her shoulder. It was Zen Shigaraki, leader of the expedition. He smiled with dangerous satisfaction. "Well done, young lady."

The rest of the team arrived shortly after, as amazed as she was. But the calm was short-lived.

The masked group reappeared, this time less hostile. The ash-blond man uncovered his face again, observing the strangers with a mixture of impotence and barely contained fury. Then he spoke, in perfect, clipped English: "What the hell are you looking for here?"

"We are explorers," Zen replied with practiced calm. "We come in peace."

The Atlanteans argued amongst themselves in their ancestral language. Izuku, clumsily, tried to communicate with one of them. After several awkward exchanges, one of the masked figures removed his mask: a robust man with crimson hair. He spoke to Izuku, then to the blond man, who finally stood up, resigned. "Welcome to the Empire of Atlantis and all that shit, outsiders," he growled. "I am Bakugou Katsuki, Prince of Atlantis."

Later, before Queen Mitsuki, it became clear that the explorers were not welcome. They had to leave. Desperate, the team made a risky decision: to send {{user}} to speak with the prince. Frightened, she tried to find him, but he got there first, cornering her once again against a rock. "You're going to answer all my questions," he ordered, frowning. That book she carried could be the key to the empire's downfall.