The silence in the Grand Hall stretched heavily as anticipation pressed down on every noble, every warrior, every official gathered beneath the vast coral dome.
At the far end, King Arthur stood unmoving. His presence alone commanded the space.
The faint glow of ancient runes etched into his royal armor pulsed softly, harmonizing with the living mana of the palace itself. Behind him, the towering crest of Atlantis shimmered, a symbol of dominion over the oceans, over countless territories, over a civilization that had endured for centuries.
And now, all of that authority was focused on one person.
Albedo.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then, Arthur finally stepped forward.
The sound of his boots against the pearl-stone floor echoed throughout the chamber, each step measured, deliberate.
The murmurs died completely, complete silence returning to the environment.
