"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

High above the glowing skies of Baku, the eagle soared, its wings slicing through the night wind. Below, Ana and Ryzin tilted their heads up, eyes fixed on the creature as it circled. Ana's brows narrowed in curiosity.

"What are you planning, Aazin?" she asked, her voice sharp yet intrigued.

Aazin only smirked, his tone calm and dangerous. "Wait… and watch."

The eagle's path turned toward the Royal Palace, where laughter echoed across the high balcony. Inside, two old friends stood together—Ravi and King Velmore, their reunion warming the halls of stone and firelight.

Ravi grinned, rolling his shoulder as if remembering a past life. "We'll do swordfight again… just like the old days."

Velmore's heavy crown shifted as he laughed. "Sure. I was about to ask you the same."

Neither of them noticed the dark shadow passing above. The eagle hovered, its beak opening wide, and within its throat a ball of fire began to churn. The sound hissed, a low fusssttt that thickened the air with heat.

But the two men still spoke, their voices calm and unbroken, unaware of the incoming blaze.

Ravi's smile dimmed. He lifted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "Velmore… someone's interrupting us."

Velmore followed his gaze, and in that moment, the fireball swelled.

On the other side of the balcony, Vivi's face turned pale. Panic gripped her as she screamed, "Fire! Look—there's fire!"

*

Velmore's hand rose casually, as if brushing away a fly. Yet in the same breath, as he spoke to Ravi, he snapped his fingers. From his palm bloomed a cold, piercing blue—an energy that shimmered like frozen lightning. He widened his hand, the air around him frosting, then unleashed it.

Fussshh.

The wave of ice energy cut across the sky, glowing like a comet, its roar echoing through the palace walls. It collided with the fireball mid-air, and in an instant, the blaze dissolved, scattered into dying sparks. But the wave did not end there. It twisted, curved, and locked onto the eagle.

The creature screeched, thrashing its wings in panic. It darted left, then right, but the icy beam pursued it like a playful predator. Every turn only brought the chill closer.

Ana's mouth curled in shock. Ryzin's smirk faltered. Aazin only muttered under his breath, "That's Velmore's attack. As good as they say."

The eagle spat desperate bursts of fire, its flames splashing harmlessly against the living wave. It turned sharply, but the beam licked its wings—shhkkk! Feathers and flesh tore, leaving pieces scattering into the night. Another snap—the tail gone.

Ravi folded his arms, his eyes sharp. "Why are you playing with that little thing? End it."

Velmore chuckled, eyes glinting with both pride and cruelty. "Fine."

The icy wave coiled tighter, wrapping the eagle mid-flight. The creature flailed, screeches echoing across the palace sky, but there was no escape. Its body froze, shattered within the blue energy, and then vanished into thin air.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Velmore's smile faded into something colder. "It was a summon. Someone is here, attacking us."

Ravi's jaw tightened. He glanced back at the boy in the wheelchair, his voice firm. "I am sure it's the Litos. We already confronted one of them. And you see this kid here—Auren Ryuki. He has the strength to repel sea monsters. Someone from Litos was there that night… and they saw him."

Velmore crossed his arms, his sharp eyes softening as they fell on the boy.—So this boy is something, I see. In his eyes, there is a craving, something untold.

He stepped forward, each footfall echoing in the grand hall. Auren gazed back, his innocent eyes fixed on the towering king. Velmore leaned on the wheelchair, his hands resting on the chair's arms, his voice calm but commanding.—So you are Auren Ryuki. Nice to meet you.

Auren's lips curved into a glowing, almost shy smile. He stammered, unsure of the right greeting.—Ummhh… thank you. Nice to meet you,u too.

Velmore nodded, his tone softening as if speaking to his own child.—Listen, Auren. It's my word: Litos cannot harm you in Baku. That is the king's promise. You are a guest of ours. You can count on us. They cannot kill you here.

The boy's voice, fragile yet burning, answered with no hesitation.—I don't care if I die or live. I have no ambition for either. But… if I live, I want to do something. I want to go to Hollow Mountain. I want to meet Lee Wang. I will get power. And I will have revenge for my brother.

Velmore smirks: "Listen, Auren. You're still a kid, but you've got guts. To get what you want, don't lose sight of justice along the way."Auren nods: "Hmm."

Velmore said calmly, "If Lee Wang chose you, it means you are something. For now, enjoy our luxuries." He looked at the servant. "Show them their rooms." The servant nodded.

One servant pushed Auren's wheelchair, with Rose following close behind. They moved through a long corridor inside the palace. The servant stopped and opened the way to a row of rooms. "This is the medical chamber," he explained. "If you need anything, just touch the green lamps."

Vivi leaned toward Auren, eyes sparkling. "Wow, you'll live here? I should break my leg or something just to stay in a place like this."

Auren replied softly, "No thanks, Vivi. I'm all okay." He sighed inwardly. She's always lost in her own world.

Vivi smirked. "Relax, I was joking. I'm not a fool."

Behind them, Ravi and his wife approached, catching Vivi hovering over Auren. Ravi asked, "Vivi, what's going on here?"

Vivi straightened quickly. "Umm… nothing. I was just checking on Auren."

Auren hesitated, then asked, "I… I want to know, where is Hollow Mountain from here?"

Ravi's expression turned thoughtful. "Hollow Mountain…" He walked to the window and pointed. "Look there. See that mist in the distance?"

Auren rolled his wheelchair closer, ignoring the grand view of the city below. His eyes were fixed on the dark mist that hung far away. "There's no mountain there," he whispered.

Vivi popped her head beside him, frowning. "Yes, I don't see any mountain either."

Ravi smiled faintly. "That's because Hollow hides behind the mist. At dawn, when the light breaks, this city reveals more than just its walls and towers. Still, you will never see Hollow's peak—it vanishes into the sky, touching the endless clouds. At its tip, there is no summer and no winter. Only rain, thunder, and the strange warmth of the sun wrapped in cold. Even your clothes can't rest—they keep flying with the wild winds."

Vivi and Auren both leaned in closer to the window, their eyes wide with wonder.

"Whoa…" Vivi breathed, and for once, Auren was silent, completely mesmerized.

Ravi: "I also wanted to go there, but it's the Fast Challenge. Only those who dare can enter."At the word dare, Auren froze. A sudden flashback stirred within his mind.

***********

Somewhere on the streets ..

Ana crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "Don't you think you did wrong, Aazin? Exposing your summon like that… now they're alert to their threat."

Ryzin leaned his back against the wall, pulling his pointed hat lower to shade his eyes. "Ana… we are experts. Don't worry."

Aazin smirked, calm and confident. "They are now aware Litos are here… but we, Ana, we are Vaiven." His laugh broke into the night. Ryzin joined him, both brothers erupting like madmen in their private joke.

Ana shook her head, her voice caught between disbelief and amusement. "You guys are crazy. Always like this."

Aazin turned serious, eyes glinting. "Wait and watch, Ana. We've never failed in our work, and we won't now."

Ryzin tilted his head, his voice low and dangerous. "Aazin is right. We will kill both kids… before the Ash Phantom can rise. Because anyone can become Ash Phantom. And my guess—it's Auren."

Ana froze. "Huh? Ash Phantom? You never told me about someone like that. Who is he?"

Aazin inhaled slowly, gaze falling to the ground. But when he looked up again, his eyes were sharp like blades.

He is someone who can challenge us all. We, Vaiven, are the number one Tideborn in this world.

Thirty thousand ships under our banner.

More than five hundred thousand mages.

Summons beyond count.

World fears us behind shadows..

We are undefeated.

We are closest to the greatest power this world has ever known.

" His voice dropped, heavy as iron.

Ryzin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, gaze fixed downward. His palm trembled slightly as he braced for what was coming next.

But Ash Phantom… he is the one born from history itself.

Reborn.

The culprit.

His existence is written in the stars. A cold line traced down Ana's throat. What are you talking about?

And the stars say—two and a half months from now, he will reawaken.

He will grow stronger, stronger, until he stands in our way.

Aazin's fist tightened, knuckles whitening as if he were holding back the urge to crush someone's throat.

The air thickened, pressing like the weight of a hundred earths. Ana's body trembled, sweat rolling down her face. "Wha… what? Does someone like that exist? Tell me, tell me what it is.. Reborn from history?"

Even Ryzin, cold as he acted, had sweat along his neck. Yet his words came sharp as ice.

Yes. He is the villain.

The real one.

And we'll do anything it takes to kill him before he rises to challenge us.

And________