In the depths of night, across various kingdoms, a silent storm was brewing. A faceless killer—an assassin cloaked in mystery and mana—struck from the shadows. With each noble he eliminated, his legend grew: a high-class mage with unmatched skill in both magic and assassination, leaving no evidence, no trace—only death. Whispers called him The Phantom of Oblivion, and even the most protected lords now feared to sleep.
Meanwhile, within the fortified borders of the Leaf Dukedom, Sion had long anticipated chaos. Unknown to the world, he had secretly initiated his greatest defense project yet—a fusion of magic and science from his previous life. Towering metallic golems, modeled like tanks, embedded with mana cannons, stood ready at every corner of the dukedom's border wall. These constructs were built using advanced enchantments and powered by magical cores personally crafted by the dwarves of the underground kingdom—a race notorious for their obsession with magical engineering and innovation. These machines weren't just weapons—they were guardians, infused with detection wards, long-range artillery spells, and reinforced alloy bodies etched with defensive runes.
Floating high above the skies, ethereal surveillance constructs—magical drones called Sky Sentinels—patrolled ceaselessly. They recorded every movement along the borders, feeding real-time data to the command center deep within Sion's estate. The dwarves had outdone themselves, crafting a security system years ahead of this world's time. Unbeknownst to the Bethel Empire, their every move was being watched—they were pawns in a game already in play.
Back in the royal palace, tensions flared.
"His power... his influence is spreading like wildfire!" Leonard slammed his fist onto the table. "Father, if we let this continue, even our allies will start bending the knee to him instead of us."
King Nathan sat stiffly, his fingers trembling around a crystal goblet. "We made him a duke. We gave him authority. And now he threatens the balance of power!"
"He doesn't threaten it," Katherine interjected coldly. "He is the balance now. And I won't be your puppet queen. I've renounced my right to the throne."
Nathan's face turned red. "You dare speak to me like this?!"
"I do. Because unlike you, I care for this kingdom's future. Sion is the only one worthy of the crown. Whether you like it or not—he's already more king than you'll ever be."
Silence fell over the chamber. Leonard gritted his teeth. The words were unspoken, but the truth burned through every corner of the palace—Sion had become too powerful to ignore.
Far from the capital, within Persia Dukedom, Duke John sat slumped in his chair, looking exhausted. "Luthor, I've rejected at least a dozen proposals this week. Every noble house wants to marry their daughter to Sion. I'm afraid if Sara or Katherine ever hear of these—he's dead."
He sighed heavily.
"What Katherine did… giving up her status as crown princess… just to be with him. It's insane."
From the corner, Mary chuckled, "You were the same, John. You remember how many proposals you got?"
John blinked. "That's different. I was… I was…"
"A heart-stealer. Like father, like son," she teased, nudging him with a smile.
Meanwhile, deep within the dense forest near the edge of Leaf Dukedom, something stirred. The magical barrier—crafted to suppress and contain an ancient beast—flared violently. A ripple spread through the air, and in a flash of pale light, the barrier shattered.
Snap.
A dark, shrouded figure stood before the broken seal, eyes glowing like blood moons.
At the estate, Rapheal upright, her face drained of color. "Sion!" she shouted, bursting into his chamber. "The barrier—it's breached!"
Sion's eyes widened.
"It's coming. The beast we sealed… it's awake." Her voice trembled. "We have to go. Now. There's no time left."
And with that, the storm truly began to descend.