The forest was quiet. Too quiet. Only the hum of insects and the rustle of leaves filled the night. Then—laughter.
Not warm laughter. Not joyous. It was the laughter of children tearing wings off butterflies.
"Kufufufu… ohhh, what a face he made, that Phobio boy! Did you see it, Tear? He really thought he could control Charybdis!"
The voice belonged to Footman, the plump clown, his painted cheeks slick with sweat even in the cool air. His stubby fingers twitched with excitement, as though still savoring the chaos.
On a branch above him sat Tear, graceful, her mask tilted just enough to show the curve of her smirk. Her voice was sweet as honey, but sharp enough to cut.
"Mmm… it was delicious, wasn't it? The despair when Milim swatted him aside, the panic as Charybdis swallowed him whole… ahhh, it's beautiful when proud men break into toys."
Her giggle chimed like a bell in the dark.
Footman's fat belly shook as he laughed again.
"And now, Charybdis is gone! Atem destroyed it, and the Beast King Carrion owes him a favor. Everything is falling into place! Kufufu… Clayman-sama will be so pleased!"
At the name of their master, Tear's eyes gleamed under her mask.
"Pleased? No, Footman. Clayman will be ecstatic. The Pharaoh of Eterna is far more interesting than we expected. He tore through Charybdis and even kept Phobio alive. He's not just strong… he's clever."
"Hmph!" Footman spat, licking his lips. "Interesting or not, Atem is just another pawn. Clayman-sama is the one holding the strings. Always has been, always will be."
Tear leaned back against the trunk, gazing at the starry sky, her tone dreamy and poisonous.
"Perhaps. But don't you think this 'pawn' could become something more? A king, perhaps? A ruler whose every move reshapes the board. Wouldn't it be fun, Footman, to let him believe he's in control—when in truth, every step he takes is exactly where we want him?"
Footman tilted his head, drool glistening in the moonlight.
"Kufufufu… whatever happens, more toys for us to break! Hee-hee-hee!"
Their laughter melted into the shadows, stretching unnaturally long through the trees.
And so, unseen by Atem, unseen by Carrion, the gears of the Moderate Harlequin Alliance turned on—mocking, patient, and cruel.
The world had no idea yet how deep their strings already went.
Interlude — The Marionette Master
A grand hall, draped in crimson and violet silks. Chandeliers flickered with ghostly light, shadows crawling across the marble floor.
At the far end sat a throne. On it lounged a man too beautiful, too flawless, his smile as delicate as porcelain.
Clayman. The Marionette Master.
In one pale hand, he swirled a glass of crimson wine. His lips curled faintly, but his eyes remained cold.
From the darkness, two clowns stepped forward—Tear and Footman—bowing with exaggerated theatrics.
"Kufufufu! Clayman-samaaa!" Footman squealed, his whole body wobbling as he knelt. "Phobio danced just like you said! He begged for strength, and we gave him Charybdis! Watching him squirm was sooo fun!"
Tear's voice followed, smooth and sweet.
"It was flawless, Clayman-sama. Just as you predicted. Charybdis revived, the Beast Kingdom shamed, and that Pharaoh revealed his true strength. Every piece moved as you planned."
Clayman let out a soft laugh, low and musical.
"Kukuku… splendid. Truly splendid. My precious puppets, you never disappoint me."
He rose from the throne, robes flowing behind him like living shadows. His eyes glittered as he spread his arms in mock theater.
"Phobio, the foolish cub, returns to his master in disgrace. Carrion, that arrogant beast, now owes Atem a debt. And Atem himself…"
Clayman paused, savoring the words. His smile sharpened like a blade.
"The name of Atem spreads across the land. Whispers of his power reach every corner. The rulers will watch him closely. The Demon Lords will grow wary. And in time… he will dance for me too."
He twirled suddenly, like an actor mid-performance, voice echoing through the hall.
"This is the beauty of it! Kings, heroes, rising stars—none of them are free. With every thread I pull, they stumble deeper into my web. Until they are nothing more than marionettes dangling before me!"
Footman clapped his stubby hands, squealing. "Kufufufu! Dance, little Pharaoh, dance!"
Tear tilted her head, her smile hidden but clear in her voice.
"As expected of you, Clayman-sama. None can escape your stage."
Clayman raised his glass high. The liquid within caught the light, shining like blood.
"To the grand game, my darlings! The board is set, the pieces move… and soon, all the world shall belong to the Marionette Master!"
He downed the glass in a single motion. His laughter rose, high-pitched, theatrical, echoing into the shadows like the promise of chaos.
"Kukukukukuku!"
Interlude — Ripples Across the Continent
Blumund — The Guildmaster's Burden
Inside the Guild's headquarters in Blumund, the heavy oak doors were shut tight. Guildmaster Fuze stood at the head of a long table, reports scattered before him. His brows were furrowed, a rare sign of unease.
"So it's true…" one of the older nobles muttered, trembling slightly. "The fledgling nation in the Jura Forest… they felled Charybdis? With their own strength?"
Fuze's jaw tightened. He had seen Atem's potential firsthand, had witnessed the precision, the overwhelming command of his aura—but even so, the reports still shocked him.
"Yes," Fuze admitted, voice firm but weighed with caution. "Not only did they defeat Charybdis, but Demon Lord Milim Nava has chosen to make Eterna her home. Their strength now rivals entire kingdoms. This is no minor threat. We cannot treat them as a small tribe any longer."
The nobles exchanged pale, uneasy looks. A human-led nation, with monsters and powerful allies in the heart of the Jura Forest… it was unheard of.
Fuze exhaled slowly. <
"Yes…" Atem had said quietly when Fuze first reported, "we have made our stand. That is all that matters for now."
Far below the mountain halls of Dwargon, King Gazel Dwargo sat with his ministers, listening to the latest intelligence.
"Your Majesty, confirmation has arrived. Eterna has crushed Charybdis, and Demon Lord Milim herself resides within their borders," one general reported.
The dwarves shifted uncomfortably. A rising power so close to their mountain kingdom… it was a source of unease.
But Gazel raised a hand, halting the council. His sharp eyes gleamed beneath the crown, a rare smile touching his lips.
"Do not forget," he said quietly, "I have met this Pharaoh, Atem. I've seen him in action. He is not a mindless monster, nor a tyrant. He values strategy, loyalty, and bonds. So long as that does not change, I believe he will not become our enemy."
The council bowed, tension easing slightly, though whispers of caution lingered.
<
"Yes," Atem had replied softly, "but we act to protect Eterna, not to rule the world."
In the golden halls of Falmuth, King Edmaris lounged upon his throne, his fat fingers tangled in jeweled rings. Around him, merchants and nobles brought their latest trade reports.
"Eterna," one merchant said nervously, "has become the hub of commerce through the Jura Forest. They maintain peace with Dwargon and Blumund… their influence is spreading."
Edmaris sneered, voice thick with scorn. "Influence? Monsters ruling humans? A Pharaoh commanding monsters? Bah!" He slammed his scepter on the marble floor, the sound echoing like a warning. "If they are left unchecked, they will strangle our coffers and our power. That cannot happen."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing, calculating. "Prepare forces. We will either bend Eterna to our will… or crush it."
On a cliffside, Demon Lord Frey spread her wings, eyes narrowing toward the forest.
"Milim… what are you doing?" she muttered, sensing the Destroyer's presence lingering in Eterna. "A Pharaoh leading a nation… how curious."
And in the Beast Kingdom Eurazania, Carrion leaned back in his throne. His gaze was sharp, though a rare smile crept across his face.
"Atem… he spared Phobio and overcame Charybdis. Hmph. He is no ordinary monster. Perhaps… one day, we might share a drink."
Each Demon Lord took notice, each for their own reasons, each with their own schemes forming.
Across the continent, the name Eterna spread like wildfire.
Some whispered of opportunity.
Some trembled in fear.
Others sharpened their blades.
But one truth was clear: the age of Atem, Pharaoh of Eterna, had begun.