It was a calm morning, the sun casting golden rays over the grand Autumn Estate. Birds chirped lazily in the distance, and everything seemed peaceful. But inside one of the windows, a shadow moved with exaggerated stealth.
Ash Autumn tiptoed toward the door like a spy from a 90s movie. "Operation Phantom Escape... in progress," he whispered to himself dramatically, a rolled-up sock tucked in his belt like a dagger.
Just as his hand reached the door handle, he heard a voice that could freeze magma.
"Where do you think you are going?"
Ash turned slowly. His little sister, Ariana, stood at the end of the hallway, hands on her hips, eyes suspicious.
"I... was coming to see you, of course!" Ash grinned. "To play hide and seek!"
Ariana squinted. "You never want to play hide and seek."
"Well, today I do! You hide, and I'll find you!"
She paused. "And you're not going to sneak out again, right?"
"Sneak out? Me? Never! Now go hide!" he said, practically pushing her into a room. "Count to... a thousand!"
With Ariana distracted, Ash bolted back to his room, yanked open his wardrobe, and donned his black cloak, mask, and leather boots. The Phantom was back.
"Time to build a base," he muttered, and dashed out toward the Nightmare Forest.
---
An hour later, deep in the heart of Nightmare Forest, atop the rocky spine of a lonely mountain, stood Fay and Marta.
"Will he come?" Fay asked, arms crossed.
Marta nodded confidently. "He always comes. He's the Phantom."
Just then, a gust of wind blew past, and out of nowhere, Phantom landed—well, tripped—down from a rock ledge.
"Ladies," he said, brushing dust from his cape, pretending it was intentional. "We need a base."
"Base?" Fay asked, tilting her head.
"Yes," he said dramatically. "A fortress. A sanctuary. A... hidey house."
Marta nodded like she understood everything.
"There is a mansion, built 500 years ago by the great mage Luca Ve Mon," Phantom declared, voice echoing theatrically.
Fay blinked. "Luca... Ve what?"
He turned away mysteriously. "A legendary figure. He could summon frogs... from the moon."
Fay looked confused. Marta gasped in awe. "Incredible."
With Phantom leading, they trekked deeper into the forest. "According to canon... I mean... local legend," Phantom corrected, "this mansion lies just beyond the Whispering Trees."
"Did the trees whisper that to you?" Fay asked, genuinely concerned.
"They whispered to my heart," Phantom replied, placing a hand on his chest.
They finally reached the mansion—a large, crumbling structure covered in vines and moss, yet oddly majestic. Phantom stepped forward like he'd discovered Atlantis.
"There it is," he said. "The Sanctuary of Shadows."
"It looks like it's falling apart," Fay said.
"Perfect," Phantom grinned. "Just like my plans."
Within two hours—thanks to Marta's insane physical strength and Fay's wind magic—they'd cleaned and rearranged the mansion. It now looked like a gloomy, Gothic clubhouse.
"Let's test it out," Phantom said, sitting on a dusty throne left behind. "I dub this place... Phantom's Hideout!"
Suddenly, the mansion trembled.
Fay's ears perked up. "W-What was that?!"
Phantom raised his chin, letting his cloak flutter dramatically in the wind—despite there being no wind. "Something stirs... in the forest."
Marita grinned. "A disturbance? Finally!"
They dashed out, Phantom leading the way with theatrical flair, occasionally pausing to pose for invisible cameras. As they neared the clearing, they saw it—a pack of massive Night Wolves growling and circling something.
Fay squinted. "They're attacking... is that a dragon?!"
Phantom crossed his arms. "Hmph. They're disturbing my new lawn."
Marita gasped. "What do we do?"
Phantom stepped forward slowly. "This looks like a job for me... using only 3% of my power."
Fay blinked. "Why 3%?"
"Any more and the continent might shift," he replied with a dead serious tone.
Fay didn't know whether to be impressed or concerned.
The wolves lunged at him all at once.
Phantom casually extended a finger and flicked the air.
BOOM.
A wave of Abyssal shadows surged forward, elegant and controlled, launching the wolves away as if they had been hit by an invisible train made of shadowy smugness.
They scattered into the trees like bowling pins.
Marita dropped her notebook. "Phantom Style: One-Fingered Doom Wave."
Phantom dusted his hands and looked smug. "I didn't even sweat."
That's when they heard it—a weak growl behind the bushes. A massive black dragon dragged itself into view, scales scorched, wing shredded, eyes half-open.
Fay's jaw dropped. "A dragon?!"
Phantom blinked. "Oh. I thought that was a weird boulder."
The dragon stared at him in awe.
"You… you saved me," it rasped. "Your power… it is beyond comprehension."
"I used 3%," Phantom replied, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"You are... A being of shadow and dominance. You obliterated those wolves like they were mere insects."
"I was just stretching," Phantom added helpfully.
The dragon crawled forward, then lowered its head, bowing deeply.
"I am in your debt, mighty one. Please, allow me to serve you. My life is yours."
"What is your name, mighty one?" he asked, his voice deep and commanding—like a king addressing a knight.
The dragon lowered his head with great reverence. "I... I have no name, my lord. Dragons earn their names after reaching they kill an power opponent. I am but a nameless flame."
He looked at the mighty beast.
Then remembered his favorite TV show.
He extended his hand dramatically. "Then from this day forward... you shall be known as Balerion."
The dragon gasped. "An ancient and powerful name. I shall wear it with pride!"
Marita wiped a tear. "It's so poetic…"
Fay blinked in confusion. "That's... an unusual name. Is it from some ancient language?"
Phantom smirked. "Yes. A legendary tongue from a long-lost world."
Phantom nodded solemnly. "Balerion, you shall guard this mansion in my absence."
"I swear on my flame," the dragon said, standing tall, wounds already healing thanks to Phantom's casual, subconscious Abyssal magic. "This place shall be protected, so long as I draw breath."
Phantom turned around, cloak fluttering again despite the wind still being completely absent.
"Then our contract is sealed."
Fay whispered to Marita, "He's so mysterious…"
Marita scribbled frantically: Phantom Style: Naming Ancient Dragons Like a Boss.
Phantom smiled confidently..
---
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Phantom returned home. He snuck through the side window and changed quickly.
But as he stepped into the hallway, Ariana was waiting.
"You... liar."
"I can explain!"
"You made me count to a thousand and never found me!"
He laughed nervously. "Heh. Surprise?"
She raised her hand, magic flaring. "Feel my wrath! Sunshine Nova Punch!"
Ash winced. He could dodge. He could easily block it.
But instead, he screamed and took it full force, flying backward and landing in a potted plant.
"OWWW! My spleen!" he groaned.
Ariana sniffed. "Serves you right."
Ash smiled weakly, leaves in his hair. "Totally... worth it."
---
Back in the forest, the black dragon sat outside the newly refurbished mansion, glaring at passing beasts.
"No one shall enter," he growled. "This is Phantom-sama's domain."
Inside, Marta polished a wooden nameplate that read:
"The Phantom's Secret Base - Keep Out (Unless You're Cool)"
Fay, sitting in a chair, stared at the wall, still confused.
"What's a moon-frog?" she asked aloud.
No one had an answer.
---
To Be Continued...