The days following Shizu's passing were quiet—almost too quiet. The air still carried the memory of her flames, yet life pushed forward.
Atem walked the village in his tall, regal human form, his cape brushing lightly against the dirt paths. His golden eyes glimmered beneath the sunlight, and his very presence drew reverent stares from goblins and Direwolves alike.
The dwarves had thrown themselves into work with renewed fire. New homes rose where fragile huts once stood. Blacksmith shops hammered from dawn till dusk, and sturdy wooden gates began to shape the village into something more than just a camp.
Kaijin wiped soot from his brow one morning, his arms heavy from swinging tools.
"Lord Atem, this is going well—but if we keep building at this pace, we'll run out of supplies fast. Timber, ore, food—we'll need more of everything."
Atem folded his arms, his expression firm.
"You're right, Kaijin. A kingdom cannot grow without reaching beyond its borders. We cannot stay hidden forever. If we want resources…" He glanced toward the distant horizon. "The outside world will eventually find us."
The adventurers who had traveled with Shizu remained in the village for a time.
Kabal, the tall warrior, was often found gawking at the dwarves' craftsmanship. Gido, the opportunist, kept making awkward passes at goblin women, only to be laughed at and shoved aside. And Eren, the sorceress, kept her sharp eyes fixed on Atem whenever she thought he wasn't looking.
One evening, the firelight flickered across their faces as the group sat together. Eren finally spoke, her tone serious.
"Atem… what exactly are you? You fought alongside Lady Shizu, absorbed Ifrit's power, and now you carry her will inside you."
Atem looked into the fire for a moment before speaking.
"I am Atem. Once a king, once a duelist. Now, I lead those who believe in me. Shizu entrusted me with her final wish, and I will not fail her."
Kabal chuckled nervously but quickly grew serious.
"Whatever you are, you saved us and this village. But…" His eyes darkened. "When we report back to Falmuth, they'll hear about you. They'll want to know what's happening here."
The fire popped loudly, filling the silence.
Atem's gaze narrowed, his voice calm but unshakable.
"Then let them come. I will not let anyone threaten what we are building here."
That night, as Atem stood alone under the moonlight, the voice of the Oracle of Eternity stirred within his mind.
<
Atem's fists clenched at his sides.
"I knew their eyes would turn to us. But I will protect this place, no matter who dares to test us."
<
Atem's eyes burned with determination as he raised his head to the sky.
"Then let history remember me not as a destroyer—but as the one who gave these people a future."
Weeks later, the adventurers left, bidding heartfelt farewells. Atem watched them vanish into the forest with a steady gaze, though in his heart he knew what would come next.
Far away, in the golden halls of Falmuth, the report reached King Edmalis. His ministers whispered feverishly, the nobles' eyes glinting with greed. A monster-led village, working alongside dwarves… and at its center, a man who carried the power of Shizu Izawa.
The king leaned forward, his voice dripping with cold resolve.
"A monster king with Shizu's power? This cannot be ignored. If he gains influence, our trade and our dominance will be shattered."
The nobles nodded, already plotting schemes of suppression, manipulation, and conquest.
Life in the village continued to bloom.
The dwarves paved stone roads and built stronger defenses. Goblins, once timid, now stood proud, training under Kaijin's apprentices. Direwolves patrolled the outskirts, their howls echoing across the night sky like a warning to all who would dare approach.
Standing at the gates one evening, Atem watched the horizon where smoke rose faintly from distant lands. His voice was low but filled with iron.
"The world is coming for us. But when they arrive, they will see not weakness… but unity."
The wind caught his cape as his eyes hardened.
"This village will not fall. Not to fear. Not to greed. And not to any kingdom that thinks us easy prey."
And so the seeds of the next conflict were planted—Falmuth's greed, the whispers of greater powers, and the rise of a new force in the world.
No longer just a gathering of monsters.
No longer just a village.
But the beginning of a nation, led by Atem, the King who walks among them.
____---____
The forest was too quiet.
Atem had grown used to the life around his village—the steady footfalls of patrolling Direwolves, goblins chatting noisily as they worked, and the rhythmic pounding of hammers from Kaijin's forge. But now, the silence was heavy. It pressed down on the air like a storm waiting to break.
One of the Direwolves growled low, fur bristling.
"Master… something comes."
Atem's eyes narrowed. Not one… but several. He could feel them even before the Direwolves confirmed it—strong presences, sharp and heavy, moving with purpose.
<
Atem straightened, his cloak fluttering faintly with the energy gathering around him. He didn't shift to a defensive stance yet—he wanted to see them with his own eyes first.
From the shadows of the treeline, six figures emerged.
They were tall, proud, and terrifyingly imposing. Horns curved elegantly from their foreheads, their auras blazing like wildfires. Even battered armor and travel-worn clothing couldn't hide their strength. Every movement they made was sharp, like the bite of a sword.
At the front stood a crimson-haired warrior, his blade gleaming faintly with aura. Beside him was a pink-haired maiden, regal even in her tattered robes. A kunoichi-like woman lingered in the shadows, eyes cold, while a towering lavender-haired warrior held her massive sword as if it weighed nothing. Behind them, an aged swordsman radiated calm lethality, and finally, a blacksmith-like ogre clenched thick arms hardened by battle and grief.
The leader's voice rang out like a blade cutting through air.
"Monster! Are you the one commanding the Orcs?"
Atem blinked, confused. Orcs? What the hell were they talking about?
Before he could answer, the lavender-haired warrior roared and charged. Her massive blade cleaved downward, splitting earth and rock where Atem had stood a moment ago.
He appeared a few feet away, cloak fluttering. His voice was calm but firm.
"Wait. I am not your enemy."
But his words were swallowed by the sound of steel leaving scabbards.
Kaijin and the goblins scrambled, the Direwolves snapping into formation. The clearing erupted with tension.
The aged swordsman stepped forward, his aura sharp as lightning. "Do not be deceived. That creature radiates immense magic. It could be the Orc Leader in disguise."
Atem exhaled slowly. His gaze was steady, but irritation flickered across his features.
"So that's how it is… you've mistaken me for your enemy."
The kunoichi flickered into motion, daggers flashing as she struck for Atem's vitals. He raised his hand, threads of golden energy weaving into a barrier that clanged against the steel with sparks. She vanished back into the shadows, her eyes narrowing.
<
The crimson-haired leader finally moved, blade igniting with crimson aura. With one swing, a wave of fire shot across the clearing like a tidal wave of flame. Atem raised his palm, his aura spiraling outward. The flames shattered harmlessly against his barrier, fragments of burning embers scattering into the air.
The ground trembled with the force.
Atem's patience snapped. He lifted his hand, energy gathering like a storm, and his voice rang across the battlefield.
"Enough!"
The force of his aura exploded outward, shaking trees and forcing goblins, wolves, and even the Ogres themselves to falter. Dust whipped across the ground. For an instant, everyone felt the crushing weight of his presence.
"I am Atem. I do not serve Orcs. I do not even know these Orcs you speak of." His voice was calm, but steel lay beneath every word. "I built this village to protect those who sought peace. If you keep swinging your blades at me, then I'll have no choice but to show you why that's a mistake."
The Ogres froze. The pink-haired maiden raised her hand softly. "Brother… wait. His words… they do not feel false."
The crimson-haired leader gritted his teeth, lowering his blade slightly, but suspicion still burned in his eyes.
"Then explain yourself. Why gather monsters under your banner? Why forge a village in this forest?"
Atem's cloak shifted as he stepped forward, his aura no longer hostile but heavy with authority.
"Because all people deserve a place to live without fear. Goblins, wolves, dwarves—it doesn't matter who. I give them safety, and in return, they give me loyalty. If that makes me suspicious in your eyes, then so be it. But I've done nothing to harm you."
The aged swordsman's grip loosened, his gaze searching Atem's eyes. "Then… you know nothing of the Orcs?"
Atem shook his head.
"No. But tell me."
The crimson-haired warrior's face twisted with grief and fury. His voice broke as he spoke.
"Our homeland… was consumed. Our people devoured. An army of hundreds of Orcs. They grows stronger by consuming all in their path. We came to slay them… and believed you were the one behind it."
Atem's jaw tightened. Hundreds of thousands? A single Orc that strong?
<
Atem straightened, his voice calm but heavy with resolve.
"Then we share a common enemy. You want vengeance. I want peace for my people. Let us face the Orcs together."
The Ogres exchanged looks. Doubt wavered in their eyes, but so did hope.
The pink-haired maiden whispered softly, her tone fragile but filled with light. "Brother… perhaps this is fate. Alone, we cannot win. But with him…"
The crimson-haired leader's grip loosened. Slowly, he sheathed his sword. His voice was stern but no longer hostile.
"Very well, Atem. We shall test your resolve. If you prove true, then our blades are yours to command."
Atem smirked faintly, exhaling in relief.
"Good. I'd rather not waste energy fighting those who could be my allies. Come—rest in my village. We'll plan our next move together."
As the tension lifted, the goblins cautiously lowered their weapons, and the Direwolves relaxed. The Ogres, still wary, followed Atem's lead into the village.
<
Atem's eyes hardened as he glanced toward the horizon.
The Orcs… a true enemy was coming.