Just as the King had predicted, the other leaders had also received the message from the observatory. But what he hadn't foreseen—was how they would react.
Unlike the King, who had already been awake and prepared, the others were still lost in dreams. For them, waking to such a message was like being dragged straight into a nightmare.
While they slept soundly, urgent knocking echoed through their halls.
"Leader, something's wrong," a servant called out. "You need to see this for yourself."
"What could be so urgent that it interrupts our rest?" one of the leaders muttered groggily.
"Sir… it's a red message."
"…What?" The leader jolted upright. "Say that again."
"It's a red message—from the observatory."
Those words sent a chill down his spine.
"You're sure you're not mistaken?"
"I wouldn't dare lie to you, sir," the servant replied, trembling. "It's real. It's glowing red."
No longer able to dismiss it as a dream, the leaders climbed out of bed and opened their doors. Outside, their servants stood waiting—pale, shaken, visibly disturbed.
"Let's go," the leader ordered.
"Yes, sir."
They walked briskly down dim corridors, lit only by moonlight and the faint glow of embedded magic stones. Shadows clung to the walls, whispering unease.
They soon arrived at the leaders' office—a door that now seemed to separate them from something far worse than reality.
With a trembling hand, the leader reached for the doorknob and slowly pushed it open.
The room was steeped in darkness—but one thing stood out: a red message glowing on the desk, like a predator's eye watching them from the shadows.
A heavy silence fell.
No one dared move.
They approached cautiously, every step laced with hesitation. No one wanted to touch it—not out of superstition, but out of fear of what lay inside. Was it a glitch? A prank? Or something much worse?
Someone forced a shaky smile. "It's probably just a bug… there's no way anything could threaten Utopia."
But the moment the message activated, that hope was crushed.
Screams—agonized, distorted—blared from it. Trembling voices. Desperate cries. The chaotic pounding of footsteps. A final plea for help—drowned beneath maniacal, deranged laughter. Then came the sickening sound of stabbing, again and again… and finally—
Silence.
The message ended. But the horror remained.
Everyone stood frozen. The air grew heavier.
"…What the hell was that?"
"Is that really the message we were sent?"
"Am I still asleep…? Is this a dream?"
No one had answers—only fear. Even the servants collapsed, some unable to stand as panic spread like wildfire.
It took a long time before anyone could breathe again.
"Alright… calm down," someone whispered. "Everything's going to be fine…"
But before they could steady themselves, another chime rang out—from the same direction.
No one moved.
"Another one? Is fate mocking us now…?"
"It must be a hallucination… right?"
But avoidance was useless. Sooner or later, the truth had to be faced.
They turned their heads slowly—some trembling, others too afraid to open their eyes.
Thankfully, this time… it wasn't red.
It was yellow.
The color of the King's message.
A collective sigh of relief swept through the room.
At least this time… it wasn't from the abyss.
The leader reached out and touched the message. A voice rang out:
"A message from the King, requesting all leaders to immediately gather in Atlantis."
The message ended.
"It seems this won't be easy," the leader sighed. "Wake the remaining servants. Tell them to prepare—we're going to Atlantis."
"Yes, sir."
The servants rushed to prepare.
The leader stood alone in the room for a while, then walked to the window. The sky above was now scattered with stars. Below, the city lay quiet, its lights dimmed in peaceful slumber.
"Everything is so peaceful…" he murmured. "It should have stayed like this forever."
A call from the entrance interrupted the stillness.
"Sir, everyone is ready. Just waiting for you."
"…Okay. I'll be there right away."
His gaze lingered a moment longer—then he turned away and walked toward his waiting servants.
Together, they departed for Atlantis.
They soon arrived at the royal palace, where the other leaders had also begun to gather.
"It's been a long time," the Spirit Queen said with a soft smile. "The last time we were all together was when we unified Utopia."
"I didn't expect you to still be smiling in a situation like this," the Dwarf King grumbled.
"Come on, everyone, calm down," the Mermaid Queen said cheerfully. "If we panic now, we won't solve anything."
"Not everyone was calm when I arrived," the Deep Sea King said coldly. "Some were still hiding in the closet."
"You didn't have to say that!" the Mermaid Queen blushed, covering her face.
"You're scared of that?" the Phantom King and Dragon King said in unison, laughing.
"It's really noisy," the Elf King muttered.
Despite the tension, they spoke as if old friends reunited, trying to mask the unease in their hearts.
Their chatter ceased when royal soldiers lined up in two perfect rows.
"The Queen of Atlantis has arrived!"
The leaders turned as the Queen approached with grace and composure.
They bowed.
"Thank you all for coming so quickly," she said kindly. "You don't have to bow—you're all older than me."
The leaders straightened up.
"No, this is our duty," the Dragon King replied, patting her head. "Besides, you finally look like a real queen."
The Queen froze, unsure how to respond.
A hand grabbed the Dragon King's.
"Stop patting her head," the Elf King frowned. "We're here for urgent matters."
"Alright, alright. I was just excited," the Dragon King chuckled, withdrawing his hand.
The Queen quickly fixed her hair and gestured forward.
"Please follow me to the Throne Room. Time is of the essence."
They were escorted down a grand corridor, carpeted with flowers from across Utopia. The walls were adorned with stained-glass windows bearing symbols of each race.
"Who designed this?" the Dwarf King grumbled. "This is ridiculous."
"My husband built it to honor all races," the Queen replied with a faint smile.
"I think it's beautiful," said the Mermaid Queen.
"Maybe, but we've got more pressing matters," the Dwarf King huffed.
Eventually, they reached a massive door carved with scenes of Utopia—both its golden age and its scars from war.
"This is… not a good omen," the leaders muttered in unison.
The Queen remained silent, smiling faintly.
The door opened slowly.
Inside stood the grand throne room—lined with towering pillars, banners of each race, and rows of ceremonial chairs. At its heart, the throne of the King of Atlantis loomed, majestic and dignified.
The leaders took their seats, with trusted advisors standing behind them.
Despite their composed expressions, unease rippled beneath the surface. Their eyes searched one another, silently asking questions no one could answer.
The King had not yet arrived.
Minutes passed. The silence deepened.
Then, the doors behind them opened.
"His Majesty, the King of Atlantis, has arrived!"
All eyes turned. The King stepped in—his presence instantly commanding attention.
There was no fear in his gaze. Only resolve.
Behind him walked his most trusted magicians, scientists, and the few surviving astronomers—witnesses to the horror.
The leaders stood and bowed.
"Really? There's no need for all this," the King said, waving a hand. "Let's save the formalities for later."
He took his seat on the throne.
"I apologize for the delay. Before I came, I sent a force to the observatory to confirm the truth."
His words weighed heavy in the air.
So it was real.
What they heard in that red message was not a fabrication. It was only the beginning.
But now was not the time to retreat—it was time to act.
Seeing their readiness, the King raised his voice.
"Let the meeting of the leaders begin."
But this was no ordinary council.
This was a meeting to decide the fate of Utopia.