"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Vivi tilted her head, thinking. So… what should we name our Tideborn group?

Auren grinned. How about… Phantoms?

Vivi's eyes lit up. Wow…

Vivi: So it's decided. We are Phantom now. We'll go on adventures together, and we'll have fun. Auren, I can't wait!

Auren: You'll have to wait a little, Vivi. There's just one thing I need to finish first. Then we'll go.

Vivi: Please… just be safe, Auren. Don't die on me.

Auren: I'll try my best, Vivi.

Vivi: Can I go to Hollow Mountain with you? If you're going to train, then I want to train too. We're Phantoms—we have to be ready for the challenges ahead.

Auren smiled. Auren: Sure, I'd be happy to have you there.

Vivi: I'll have to ask Father and Mama first.

Auren gave a thumbs-up and said with enthusiasm, All the best, Miss Vivi of Phantom. Go and win this!

Vivi's lips curled into a bright smile. Vivi: Ahahaha! Yes, Auren of Phantom. I'm gooiiinnggg!

She pushed the door open, waved her hand. Vivi: Tata!

Thud! The gate closed behind her.

Morning.

The sun rose bright and heavy, flooding the sky with gold. Auren's eyes opened, and from his balcony he gazed at the light. A small smile cracked across his face.

I can see Hollow Mountain now.

He sat up, bandages still wrapped tightly around his body, tubes connected to a glowing medical box. With a groan, he tugged at them, pain flaring through his hands.

Uhhh… I'm there.

Ptttt. The tube snapped free.

Turning, Auren let both legs hang off the side of the bed. He clutched his stomach, his voice strained. Ahhhh… this pain—it's nothing. Nothing at all.

His feet touched the ground softly. Hands braced on the bed, he pushed himself upright, moving in agonizingly slow steps. One hand pressed against his stomach, his face twisted with pain. The other hand reached out, resting on the window frame.

He leaned forward. His eyes widened, breath stolen away.

…Ma… magnificent.

A tear slid down his cheek. Finally. After all this struggle, I made it to Hollow Mountain.

The sun bathed the towering peak in light. Mist still clung to its slopes, but the mountain itself stood visible at last. To the left sprawled Sabo Town, glowing in shades of red. To the right lay Eito Village, shining in pale white. Between them loomed the unseen peak, its tip lost beyond the highest clouds.

So… so this is Hollow Mountain. I never imagined I'd see it—not even in my dreams.

Long-feathered birds circled the skies, their calls echoing like a forgotten song. Waterfalls cascaded from hidden heights, beginning and ending on the mountain itself. Ancient trees clung to its sheer cliffs, growing vertically as if defying the world.

Auren closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath."That's it… That's it." He exhaled slowly.

An eagle circled above his balcony. Its wings cut through the air as it swooped closer and closer. Auren's body tensed, every nerve on alert.

The eagle dove with frightening speed. Auren slammed the window shut—

Fussssh!

The glass exploded. Auren was thrown back, landing hard on his hip. Shards scattered, a few slicing into his skin.

The creature wasn't like any eagle he had seen before. It was larger, its presence heavier. Then its beak opened, fire condensing inside its throat.

Auren's eyes widened—not with fear, but with a strange glow.

In a sudden flash, the eagle shattered like glass, fragments scattering before vanishing into nothing.

Auren sat frozen, breath ragged. "What… just happened? What was that?

****************

Ravi and Velmore sat in the open yard, their eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of Baku in the early morning light.

Velmore's voice was heavy, his tone sharp. Tideborn… He paused, then continued firmly. We must bring more kings together. Tideborns must be destroyed. No one should ever even dream of becoming one.

Ravi leaned forward, his gaze steady. As of now, thirteen kings stand with us. Litos has already sent some of his men here. Let's crush them. Let's send a message—they cannot do whatever they please.

Velmore's tone darkened, weight in every word. Once we forge this world power, our true target will be Vaiven.

Ravi: Brother Ovin is also serious about this. The Tideborn are controlling things indirectly. They're behind major trades—dangerous ones. They're a threat to all. The world is slowly leaning toward the Tideborn. This is the high time to form a world power, or we'll lose everything.

Velmore's gaze snapped quickly toward Ravi.

Velmore: That boy, Auren… he's from Ryuki, isn't he? You went there. Did you speak with Hoshin Maru?

Ravi: No. I failed. Hoshin Maru has been avoiding all meetings with other nations. Inside Ryuki and Yuzen, tensions are boiling. There's a chance war could erupt.

Velmore: Hmmm. Is that so… The Mountain River Civilization has its own system. They're generally safer than us if we look at Tideborn dominance. But slowly, slowly… even there, Tideborn influence is spreading. Once they settle their own disputes, we must meet them quickly.

Ravi: That's exactly what Brother Ovin is thinking as well.

****

At the tip of a hollow mountain, a cold wind moves gently beneath a large sun. The air is neither cold nor hot, only touched by a smooth, diffused light that slips through clouds. Lee Wang sits in meditation, calm and unmoving. Behind him stand a few small painted wooden temples, their bells swaying softly, and a great bell looming above them.

Beneath the temples, an underground stone cave stretches into darkness until it ends at a massive statue. The figure is of a fat man, one leg raised, one arm lifted high, the other gripping an axe. His eyes are wide with a fierce glare. His tongue juts out, pointing forward like a god of dread carved in stone.

A man came flying, the wind roaring around him. In his hand, he held a long staff, its tip glowing with a fierce blue light that split the air like lightning. His robe was black as night, lined with golden patterns that shimmered with power, and a dark cape flowed behind him like a storm cloud. His very presence felt heavy, as if the sky itself bent to his will. Slowly, he descended, coming near Lee Wang.

"Master," he said slowly, his voice echoing through the heights. Lee Wang opened his eyes with calm heaviness, every fold of his robes swaying in the high wind.

Lee Wang spoke, his voice deep, old, and heavy."King of Rompo, Lirax. What brings you here?"

Lirax lowered his staff. "Master, is Ash Omen here? Has he come?"

Lee Wang's gaze locked on Lirax, sharp and unblinking."Ash Omen? In the Grand Era, people named him Phantom. He was like a ghost. But listen carefully—every time a soul is reborn, the world around it shapes its nature. He is no longer the personality we once knew. Yet will… will is will. And his will brings death to the living."

A faint smile touched Lee Wang's lips."Sit down, Lirax."

Lirax nodded, then sat upon the stone.

Lirax's eyes flashed with shifting colors."Master, something is happening down there. A man is committing robbery. Someone is stealing food. Should I go down?"

Lee Wang's voice cut through the wind."Leave it. Do not flex your stage of Seer before me."

Lirax laughed softly."You saw it too, Master. I've awakened Stage Four. There are abilities I want to master still. My Hunter ability is weak, cheap… to make it work, I need training, I need to take it to the next stage."

Lee Wang turned his gaze toward the horizon."Bring Auren here. Black eyes, black hair. I heard word—he is here, somewhere in the palace."

Lirax closed his eyes, his voice slow."I see him. A boy, injured… there."

Lee Wang's tone grew firm."Bring him to me. Do not make noise."

Lirax bowed his head."Leave it to me."

Lyrax gripped his staff. A fierce gust burst forth, ripping through the air as he launched himself skyward. The palace loomed beneath him, yet his voice thundered above the winds as he chanted—"Stealth Gear."

In an instant, his form vanished into the night. A streak of invisible force tore across the heavens, bending the very sky as he propelled forward like a jet. The wind bowed to his speed, screaming in his wake.

Then, with a sudden twist of the air, he broke into the heart of the palace. The silence was shattered as a storm surged through the corridors.

Curtains whipped violently, flames in the lamps flickered and bowed. Lyrax appeared out of nothingness—an unseen tempest materializing within Auren's chamber, carrying the roar of the wind into the room.

Auren's hair drifted in the wind as he turned toward the window. Outside, the air

shimmered and twisted. From the distortion, Lyrax emerged, slipping out of his stealth gear as fluidly as water filling the shape of a bottle.

His presence carried an aura that pressed against the room, heavy and unshakable.

Auren's lips curved into a calm smile. His voice carried no fear, only resolve."You came here to kill me. Then try it."

Lyrax chuckled, his eyes glinting with sharp amusement."You've got guts. I like that, Auren. But I didn't come here just for blood. I'm here to take you to Hollow Mountain. So tell me… do you want to come?"