Inside the newly constructed council hall of Eterna, torches flickered against the carved stone walls. The air still carried tension—the aftershock of Milim's explosive "lesson" to the arrogant visitor.
Phobio, Carrion's Black Leopard Fang, sat rigidly in his chair, arms folded across his chest. His lip was split, a dark bruise spreading across one cheek, yet the fire of his pride burned hotter than the pain. Even seated, he radiated hostility, his tail lashing with barely contained irritation.
Across from him, Atem stood calmly at the center of the hall, his aura subtle but undeniably imposing. The Oracle of Eternity whispered quietly within his mind, <
Atem's crimson eyes glimmered. "Indeed. Let us see how this one measures himself against reason."
Shion and Benimaru flanked him, standing alert yet restrained, their expressions calm but ready to act if needed. Rigurd sat nearby, fully healed by Atem's precise [Divine Restoration], though lingering shame still shadowed his gaze for having been caught off guard.
The silence stretched, heavy with anticipation, until Atem broke it, his voice smooth yet commanding.
"Let's begin. Your attack on Rigurd was unacceptable. However, Milim has already… remedied the imbalance."
Phobio's ears twitched, his eyes narrowing. "…Hmph. I misjudged you. That was… my error."
No apology passed his lips. Pride refused it. But swallowing the words, even silently, burned.
Atem's gaze swept across the hall. "Good. Now, explain why you are here. Carrion-sama sent you to evaluate Eterna, yes?"
Phobio straightened, pride coiling like a spring. "Correct. Demon Lord Carrion has heard rumors of a new monster nation forming in the Forest of Jura. My duty is to assess whether you are a threat—or a potential ally. And yet—" His eyes flicked toward Milim, perched casually on the far end of the table, legs swinging as she sampled a jar of honey, completely unbothered. "—you have her at your side…"
Milim's eyes sparkled innocently. "Mhm! Atem's my bestie now! So don't mess with him, got it?"
Phobio's expression twitched violently. Outrage, disbelief, and the weight of undeniable truth warred across his features.
Atem's voice cut calmly through the tension, steady and measured. "Yes, Milim is present. But let me be clear: my relationship with her is personal. National policy will not bend for friendship alone. What matters is this—Eterna seeks coexistence. Trade, mutual support, trust. That is the foundation I offer."
Phobio's claws rapped against the armrest, his golden eyes narrowing. "Hmph. You speak boldly for one of your… form. But Eurazania does not bow easily. If you prove useful, perhaps Carrion-sama will recognize your nation. If not…" His voice hardened. "…don't expect mercy."
Shion's hand twitched toward her sword. Atem's gaze softened, yet the Oracle whispered: <
Atem inclined his head slightly, commanding through presence alone. "Understood. Tell Carrion this: I do not seek mercy. I seek only a chance to demonstrate Eterna's worth. If he witnesses what we have built… I believe he will reconsider under reason."
Phobio leaned back, jaw tight, gnawing on the subtle uncertainty creeping into his thoughts. The bustling city outside, the disciplined warriors behind Atem, and Milim's gleeful grin—all spoke louder than threats or insults.
Finally, Phobio growled. "…Very well. I will relay your message."
The meeting concluded with no handshakes, no alliance forged—only a thread of understanding. Yet it was enough.
As Phobio stormed into the night, pride battered and simmering with unresolved humiliation, one thought consumed him:
Damn them… damn that girl…
And somewhere in the shadows of the Jura Forest, eyes unseen and waiting, were already plotting.
Night had fallen thick over the Forest of Jura, shadows stretching long across the underbrush. The cool air did little to calm Phobio's smoldering anger.
His paws dug into the dirt as he stormed through the trees, muscles taut, tail flicking like a whip. Every step thudded with frustration.
Damn that Master… damn that pink-haired Demon Lord… damn Eterna!
His voice cracked like a whip. He had arrived confident, backed by Carrion, only to be humiliated—first by Milim's explosive fist, then by the composure of that wretched Master who called himself Atem. His pride as a Black Leopard Fang burned fiercely in his chest.
"Cursed brat… cursed…!" he hissed under his breath, baring his teeth at the moon.
From deeper in the forest, a soft, almost musical giggle echoed. Phobio froze, ears twitching.
"…Who's there?" he growled, crouching low, ready to strike.
A rustle of leaves revealed two figures stepping into the moonlight. One squat and grotesque, his painted face frozen in a permanent grin. The other, slender and unnervingly graceful, silver hair flowing like liquid starlight.
Footman. Tear.
"Looking angry, little beast?" Tear's voice floated like a song, sweet and sharp at once. "I can smell all that wounded pride. Delicious~."
Footman wheezed, jiggling in place. "Buhihi! Look at him! A tiny little fury-ball, so frustrated… so easy to… manipulate!"
Phobio's fur bristled, claws digging into the forest floor. "Step back! Who are you?! And what do you want with me?!"
Tear tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, we just… noticed you storming out of Eterna. That temper of yours is a perfect catalyst. Such anger, such frustration… it cries out for power."
"Power?" Phobio spat, voice trembling with rage and curiosity. "I already have Carrion's backing. What more could I possibly need?"
Footman waddled closer, giggling through his wheeze. "Hahaha! Oh, you misunderstand, little Black Leopard. That's just it! Carrion's influence only got you this far. But we… we can give you something more. Something that can crush that pink-haired brat, that Master… Eterna itself."
Tear's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Deep in the lake, a beast sleeps. A creature of unimaginable strength. If you offer yourself to it, it will grant you power to exact vengeance. Imagine it: Milim humbled, Atem kneeling before you, Eterna… broken."
Phobio's chest heaved. Anger, humiliation, and ambition tangled into a tight knot in his heart.
"You… you're saying I could…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "…I could get the power to destroy Milim? To destroy Eterna?"
Tear clapped her hands, twirling on her toes. "Ehehe~! Exactly! But only if you accept. Only if you're willing to let the beast make you its vessel."
Footman bounced closer, jiggling grotesquely. "Buhihi! Yes, yes, yes! Your pride, your fury… all of it will fuel the awakening!"
Phobio flexed his claws. He imagined the feeling of power overwhelming Milim, Atem kneeling, the humiliation of those who had wronged him. Pride surged anew, ignited by the promise of revenge.
"…Tell me how," he growled, teeth bared.
Tear's eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Footman let out a wheezing laugh that echoed eerily through the forest.
"Excellent," Tear said. "Follow us. Everything you need to awaken your true potential… everything to make them pay… waits for you."
And with that, Phobio, once a proud envoy of Eurazania, became a pawn in a far larger game—one orchestrated by the Harlequin Moderate Alliance, and ultimately, Clayman himself.
Far beneath the dark waters of the lake, something stirred. Charybdis had sensed the arrival of its new vessel, and the pulse of ambition and wrath drew it closer to awakening.
Phobio trudged behind Tear and Footman, each step heavy with anger and pride. His body still bore the bruises from Eterna, but his mind burned hotter than ever. I will not be humiliated again… I will be stronger… I will make them pay!
They reached a secluded glade, where the ground itself seemed to pulse with life. At the center of the clearing, a vast, shadowy lake reflected the stars, but its waters were darker than any night could create. A presence emanated from the depths—something ancient, vast, and hungry.
Tear's silver hair shimmered in the moonlight as she knelt beside the lake. <
Footman bounced grotesquely beside her, painted grin stretching wider than ever. <
Phobio's chest heaved. His claws dug into the dirt as he stared into the inky waters. "I… I'm ready."
Tear extended her hand toward him, a pulse of dark magic connecting his body to the lake. The water rippled violently, swallowing the moonlight, and a low, resonant growl rose from its depths.
From below, a voice echoed—deep, guttural, and terrifying:
"I hunger… I seek…"
Phobio staggered backward as the energy surged, but Tear's hand held firm. <
The ground shook violently, trees bending as though recoiling from the force. A black mist rose from the lake, twisting and writhing like living shadows. Phobio's body convulsed, claws digging into the earth as his form began to warp.
Pain tore through him, searing through muscle and bone. His ears flattened, tail lashing uncontrollably. His eyes glowed deep crimson, as if the darkness had taken root in his very soul.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!" Phobio's roar echoed through the forest, mingling with the sound of the lake itself roaring back.
The water erupted. Shadows coalesced into a monstrous, serpentine form that dwarfed even the largest dragons. Black scales shimmered, eyes like molten gold, gaping maws appearing along its body, jagged teeth glinting.
Phobio's consciousness wavered as he felt Charybdis's will intertwine with his own. It was overwhelming, infinite, yet seductive:
"Take what is yours. Crush your enemies. Feed on their weakness. Become the storm that they cannot withstand."
He screamed again—not in pain, but in exhilaration. His body, now fused with Charybdis, radiated a terrifying aura that bent the very forest around him.
Tear clapped her hands, her smile wide and unhinged. <
Footman bounced in ecstatic approval. <
From the depths of the lake, the creature that had slept for centuries stretched its massive form toward the sky. Its roar rolled like thunder, shaking distant mountains, echoing across the world.
Phobio's mind and Charybdis's essence were now one. His rage, his humiliation, and his desire for revenge coalesced into a single, unstoppable force.
Far to the north, Atem's senses flared. The Oracle of Eternity spoke urgently in his mind: <
Atem's crimson eyes glimmered in the darkness. "Then I will not waste time. Eterna will stand… and Milim and I will face this storm together."
As the shadows of Charybdis stretched across the forest, the world itself seemed to shudder. The first storm of the coming conflict had begun, and at the center of it all, Phobio—no longer merely a Black Leopard Fang—had become a vessel of catastrophic power, poised to challenge Eterna, Milim, and Atem alike.