The battlefield was quiet now, though the forest around Eterna bore the scars of Charybdis's rampage. Uprooted trees lay scattered, smoke rose from smoldering fires, and the lake churned weakly where the Leviathans had surged. Atem hovered above, crimson aura flickering softly, scanning the aftermath with a calm, unshakable gaze.
Phobio, bruised and pale, struggled to his feet in the clearing. His chest rose and fell rapidly, adrenaline and relief fighting within him. He turned toward Atem, eyes wide.
"I… I don't know what to say," Phobio stammered, voice cracking. "You saved me… even though I—"
Atem's crimson eyes softened slightly. "You were not the enemy. You were a tool manipulated by others. That doesn't make you guilty."
Phobio lowered his gaze, shame and gratitude warring on his face. "I… I misjudged you."
Atem's voice was firm, almost regal. "Then learn from it. Now, tell me everything. How did you end up inside that monster?"
Phobio rubbed his jaw, trembling. "I… I didn't do it on my own. Two masked figures—with weird drawings on their masks, one was fat and the other sounded like a little girl, they forced me inside. They said if I followed their instructions, I'd gain power… but it was a trap. I was their vessel… nothing more."
Milim, who had been watching quietly, her violet eyes sharp, stepped closer. "Two masked beings… controlling you to manipulate Charybdis?"
Phobio nodded, shame reddening his face. "Yes… I didn't know their names… they just watched as the monster rampaged. I… I was trying to survive."
Before Atem could respond, a subtle ripple of air drew attention. Milim's grin returned, sharper now. "Carrion. I know you're there."
The grass bent unnaturally, shadows twisting against the remaining sunlight. From the treeline, a tall, composed figure stepped forward, aura radiating menace tempered with elegance. Carrion.
"Impressive restraint," Carrion said smoothly, eyes scanning Atem with a calculating calm. "Many would have struck without hesitation. Many would have killed him and called it justice."
Atem's crimson gaze met Carrion's, unyielding. "There is no merit in killing someone who isn't the enemy. Even if manipulated."
Carrion gave a slight nod, almost approving. "Wise. That is why you are already more than a threat. Your reasoning… your foresight… it will carry weight beyond Eterna."
Carrion's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Phobio. "You are fortunate. Not all receive mercy. Remember this lesson: power and responsibility are not the same. Restraint… most fail to choose it."
He turned back to Atem, voice carrying a subtle edge of intrigue. "The world is watching you, Pharaoh. Today's actions… they echo farther than you know. Some will admire, some resent, some will seek to manipulate. Remember that."
With that, Carrion's form shimmered, blending with the shadows, and he retreated into the forest edge, leaving a ripple of uneasy awe behind.
Atem exhaled slowly, voice calm and commanding. "I will keep that in mind. No one will threaten Eterna while I stand."
Phobio's voice was small, barely above a whisper. "I… I don't know how to repay you. I… I owe you my life."
Atem's eyes softened, but his presence radiated authority. "Live wisely. Learn from this day. That is repayment enough."
Around them, the forest slowly returned to silence. Atem's mind, however, already shifted forward. The battle was over, but the world was watching. Powerful eyes—like Carrion's—were noting Eterna's growing influence. Forces beyond the village would inevitably act. Alliances, rivalries, and future threats were already forming.
As he moved to coordinate the villagers' recovery, Atem's aura stretched across the battlefield, calm yet imposing. The people of Eterna felt it: their Pharaoh had not only saved lives but commanded the world to notice. Strength alone would not protect them; foresight, diplomacy, and the careful management of those who watched from the shadows were now just as vital.
<
Atem's crimson eyes scanned the recovering troops, voice steady and regal. "Let them watch, Oracle. Let them learn. Power without direction is meaningless. Eterna's future is ours to guide."
The village of Eterna was alive with celebration. Fires burned bright along the streets, illuminating the smiling faces of goblins, orcs, lizardmen, and every species that called the village home. Music and laughter mingled with the scent of roasted meats, sweet breads, and spiced wine.
Shuna had truly outdone herself. Tables groaned under the abundance of food—whole roasted boars, platters of grilled fish, fresh vegetables, and desserts that glimmered like jewels under the firelight. The villagers were eating with abandon, some dancing between tables, others singing along to the music of traveling minstrels.
Milim, true to form, had claimed the largest platter in the center of the gathering. Her pink hair glowed in the firelight as she laughed, grabbing drumsticks and fruit in equal measure. "Hehe! Shuna! You've outdone yourself again! This… this is paradise!"
Shuna bowed slightly, a calm smile on her face. "Master Atem requested a feast. I merely obeyed. I only prepared what I would serve my master himself."
Atem observed quietly from a small rise overlooking the celebration. His crimson eyes reflected the flickering firelight, and his posture radiated calm authority. Even amid laughter and chaos, the weight of his presence was undeniable. He allowed himself a faint smile as he watched his soldiers and villagers enjoy themselves.
Benimaru raised his mug toward Atem, his grin wide. "Master! Tonight we feast like we've earned it! You've guided us through impossible odds—without your wisdom, Charybdis would have swallowed us whole!"
Atem inclined his head slightly. "This victory is ours because every hand, every mind, every heart in Eterna acted as one. This night belongs to all of you, not me alone."
Gobta, leaning back against a tree with a half-eaten loaf of bread, smirked. "So that means I can let my guard down tonight, right? Enjoy without worrying about drills?"
Shion's laugh was light but sharp. "Don't get used to it, Gobta. Master Atem still expects discipline… but perhaps for tonight, a small reprieve is allowed."
Souei, shadows flickering around him, chuckled softly. "Even warriors need a night of peace. Otherwise, we risk losing the joy that makes all this worth protecting."
Gabil and Geld were tossing pieces of roasted meat to goblins, orcs, and lizardmen alike, their laughter mixing with the booming voice of dancing orc bards. Music swelled, drums beating rhythmically as villagers cheered and sang. Even Milim, halfway through a second platter, looked up and waved her hands dramatically. "Everyone, eat more! Tonight, we're unstoppable!"
Atem's calm gaze swept over them. "Enjoy tonight. Eat, dance, sing… but remember, vigilance is always part of freedom."
As the night wore on, laughter softened to murmurs and quiet chatter, and the moon rose higher over Eterna. Atem stepped away from the crowd, finding a small hill that overlooked the village. The lights of the fires flickered below, and the sounds of celebration drifted gently on the breeze.
Then, as always, the Oracle appeared—not in form, but as a presence inside his mind, calm and deliberate.
<
Atem's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, his voice steady. "Go on."
<
Atem tilted his head, a small frown crossing his face. "Go on."
<
Atem's eyes widened slightly. "Evolve…?" The word hung in the air like a thunderclap.
<
Atem's mind raced. "So… can I evolve now?"
<
Atem's thoughts churned. This was beyond normal limits. Too fast. Too unprecedented. Yet the Oracle's analysis was always precise. "And what… exactly will happen when I evolve?"
<
Atem's gaze drifted toward the distant silhouette of Veldora Cave. "Fair enough. That will be the location. There, I wont need to worry about destroying Eterna with my energy… and with this new power, I can protect my people fully."
The Oracle's tone shifted slightly, carrying weight. <
Atem's eyes narrowed, the hint of a smile forming. "Interesting. So my evolution strengthens not just me, but all those I have named… connected to."
<
Atem exhaled slowly, letting the weight of the Oracle's words settle. "Alright… Oracle, do not begin the evolution until I command it. Not yet."
<
The Oracle's presence faded into the recesses of his mind, leaving Atem alone on the hilltop. Below, Eterna thrived in celebration, oblivious to the monumental change looming over their Pharaoh.
Atem's crimson gaze swept across the village, soldiers and civilians alike, and his voice, quiet but firm, whispered to himself: "Soon… I will evolve. And when I do, no threat will ever endanger Eterna again. No force, no monster, no scheme… will touch what I protect."
The night wind rustled through the forest, carrying with it a sense of anticipation, a calm before the storm of power yet to be unleashed. Atem remained seated on the hill, eyes closed, mind already calculating, already feeling the pull of the new tier that awaited him.