The rumors spread like wildfire.
"The Monarch… is dead," someone whispered.
In a tavern nestled on the outskirts of the capital, the crackling fire in the hearth struggled to match the fervor of the conversations rising above the clinking of mugs and plates.
"Aye, I heard the wyvern fell—torn from the skies by the Phoenix empire," a mage said, slamming his mug down. "The skies themselves were torn open, they say. The ten highest peaks of Sky Mountain? Gone. Flattened. Sky Mountain is no more."
Another leaned forward, voice hushed. "They say the peaks turned to dust. That one clash shattered the heavens. Phoenix Empire… no one can stop them now."
"Who was it that landed the final blow?" a young knight asked.
The mage grinned. "Who else the emperor but it is said that reyon phoenix played vital role for victory . The boy who carries lord leywin's legacy."
Whispers grew, until no one in the tavern doubted it. The Monarch of Monsters was dead. And Reyon Phoenix had survived a battle against an enemy that even strongest feared to face.
But the truth… was darker.
Back at the Main palace in capital, there was no celebration. The battle had ended in silence, and that silence was now filled with dread.
Inside the white-marble halls of the Palace's infirmary, Reyon lay on a grand bed, unmoving. His body, although healed, trembled under the grip of something far more sinister.
Black smoke oozed from his chest, writhing like a living thing. Mana suppressants and sacred seals lay shattered on the floor, unable to subdue it.
Healers backed away with pale faces.
One of them murmured, "It's not physical… it's his soul that's under siege. The dark mana won't leave."
Edward Phoenix stood near the window, arms crossed, his back rigid with tension.
Evelyn entered, her voice solemn. "Any change?"
"No," Edward said without turning. "The best healers… nothing. They've stabilized the body, but the corruption—"
He stopped, his eyes finally settling on Reyon.
Black tendrils coiled around Reyon's wrists, disappearing into the veins under his skin.
Evelyn walked closer, her gaze darkening. "It's happening again."
Edward nodded. "Just like when he fought cerberus. But this time…"
He turned around fully, voice grim. "Mother still hasn't awakened. It's been three weeks. I fear… we'll lose her soon."
Evelyn's shoulders shook. "Three weeks… the strongest mage on the continent, and reyon. We weren't ready for what lies beyond the wyvern."
Edward's eyes narrowed. "Now Reyon's trapped inside his mind. Do you remember what Father once said?"
Evelyn nodded slowly, her voice a whisper. "When the dark mana invaded him, he said it dragged him through every mistake, every fear, every moment of guilt. A never-ending loop of suffering. He nearly died from it."
Edward's jaw tightened. "Reyon has to overcome it on his own. There's no spell, no healer, no relic that can help him now."
A flicker of the black smoke brushed Reyon's brow. His fingers twitched, but he did not wake.
Meanwhile, beneath the crumbling corridors of the Royal Brook Palace.
The underground dungeon stank of blood, rust, and rot.
Chains clinked, echoing off stone walls as Arthur Brook, crown prince of the brook kingdom, paced before a massive iron cage.
Within, something stirred—an abomination of muscle and bone. Its flesh pulsed with unnatural veins, and its mouth dripped saliva onto the floor.
Robed and hunched beside him, Ferek, a dark mage, stared into the cage with wild eyes.
Arthur snarled, "How much longer do you need? Finish it. Now. My father won't tolerate another delay. Especially after that damn Phoenix brat killed the wyvern."
Ferek didn't flinch. "Crown Prince… haste could kill us. It's still unstable. If it wakes before the seal completes—"
Arthur's hand shot out, grabbing Ferek by the collar and lifting him from the floor.
"I don't give a damn!" Arthur's voice cracked with fury. "Do you think you still breathe because of your skills? If not for me, you'd be rotting in some noble's torture chamber. Now do as I say, or I'll feed you to that thing myself."
And don't worry about his rampage we would transport it to pheonix empire
The beast behind them growled low, its breath rattling through the bars.
Ferek trembled, but nodded. "I… I understand. I'll begin feeding it the S-rank beast cores immediately. With enough cores, it'll fully develop in three months instead of three years."
Arthur released him and turned, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Good."
"But Crown Prince," Ferek added carefully, "how do you plan to move it to the Phoenix Empire? Their borders are sealed tighter than ever. No one gets in or out without inspection."
Arthur smiled, his lips curling with venomous glee.
"There is a secret… one the Phoenix Empire has long forgotten. Lord Leywin, in his final years, was losing his mind. He made a pact with dark mages—my grandfather among them."
Ferek's eyes widened.
Arthur continued, pacing. "Together, they formed Cerberus. In the early days, they built tunnels beneath the Dark nation—secret paths only known to Leywin, our family, and the dark mages who served him."
A grin stretched across his face.
"Leywin is dead. The dark mage circle is scattered. Only the Brook family knows the entrance now. I'll use that tunnel to deliver this beast directly into the Phoenix Empire. They'll never see it coming."
He turned to the cage, watching the creature stir.
"By the time they realize it, it'll be too late. This monster will be their end."
Inside Reyon's mind…
Darkness.
Reyon floated through a void of memory and pain. His body, though intact, felt distant. It was not his injuries that weighed him down—it was the scenes playing endlessly around him.
His younger self screamed in horror as Ray's body fell, torn open by dragon claws.
"Brother!!"
Blood poured like a river. No matter how fast he ran, he never reached him in time.
Then came Alice, with eyes full of rage, shoving him away on the academy field.
"You're a failure, Reyon! A disgrace to the Phoenix name!"
Next, Leywin's cold eyes, staring down at him from atop a mountain of corpses.
"You are not worthy of my legacy."
Reyon's breath trembled. He clutched his chest, trying to steady himself.
"It's not real…"
But the voices kept coming.
"You couldn't save anyone."
"You're nothing without your magic."
"You only regress because you failed once."
"I… I didn't…" Reyon's voice cracked.
"I fought. I grew stronger. I defeated the wyvern…"
The void laughed at him.
"Then why are you still here?"
Reyon collapsed to his knees, black chains wrapping around his arms. The orb of infinity floated above him, pulsing slowly.
"No," he whispered. "I'm not done. I still have people to protect."
He clenched his fists.
"I'm not… done!"
The orb flared. The chains cracked.
And somewhere, far away, Reyon's hand twitched again.
Back in the physical realm…
Evelyn noticed it first.
"Edward! His fingers moved!"
Edward turned, his heart skipping a beat. "That's the second time. He's fighting back."
Evelyn took a step closer, her voice soft but hopeful. "He's still in there."
Edward's voice lowered. "Hang on, Reyon. Whatever you're seeing… break through it."
The black smoke hissed.
And the battle inside Reyon's mind raged on.
Meanwhile, in the darkest depths beneath the palace…
Ferek watched as the beast inside the cage devoured the glowing beast core. Its flesh trembled, then pulsed.
Horns burst from its head.
Its eyes turned crimson.
Ferek stepped back in awe. "Crown Prince… it's growing."
Arthur laughed. "Perfect. In three months, this dragon will trample over the Phoenix Empire."
He looked up at the stone ceiling.
"And no one… not Reyon, not even the Emperor… will be able to stop it."
He turned to the shadows.
"Begin transporting it. Use the tunnel. It's time Phoenix pays for everything."
And with that, the wheels of ruin began turning.