"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Just then—beep beep beep—a glowing orb on her desk pulsed urgently.

"Madam!" a voice came through. "It's urgent! Someone is attacking Whirlpool Mountain! The green cloud—it's started an acid rain attack!!" Mam, it's happening with intensity.

Scarlet's eyes narrowed. "So… it begins."

With her silver hair blowing in the chilly wind, Scarlet stood on the central palace balcony. Her eyes slitted as the green acid cloud above Whirlpool Mountain darkened like a hex suspended in the air.

She lifted her hand, and from among the clouds, a golden giant eagle appeared.

"Timia," she spoke softly. "Soar aloft and see who is behind that cloud."

Timia shrieked and leapt up like a holy arrow into the toxic air.

Scarlet faced the guards at the mouth of the hall. "You—send this message to Mekamaru in the east tower. Take a squad of battle mages with him. This is not a simulation."

One of the guards nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Immediately."

The call went out. Orders were racing.

Scarlet reclined against the wooden throne anchored from a living tree, her tone going soft. "Can you see it, Sunny?" she whispered, looking at him. "They're scared of you."

Sunny, reeling from learning what had happened to his sister, gazed upward. "Why? Why would they be scared of me? I'm nothing."

Scarlet negated. "No, you're something. I don't know what it is yet. but I have theories."

She walked toward the large ancient bookshelf wrapped in vines and drew a weathered scroll from it.

"We've studied fragments from the Grand Era. They speak of three great clans—clans that had direct connections with beasts and divine spirits. Only three. And one of them is. Vincantia."

Sunny raised an eyebrow. "Vincantia? But I'm Vincent…"

Scarlet smiled weakly. "Precisely. I thought it was a coincidence. but no. The names sound too similar. Vincent. Vincantia. Either someone shifted the name over centuries, or your family attempted to remove its own legend."

A sudden gust of wind blew in from the palace's flower-like roof. Timia came back, moving downward through the petals as a divine spear. She settled upon Scarlet's shoulder and whispered into her mind.

Scarlet's gaze expanded

Her heart pounding, she stood up. "It's him. Aster."

Sunny stiffened. "Who?" 

Scarlet's face went chill. "Aster, the Guardian of Yuzen. And Levi is accompanying him. They're both coming towards Whirlpool Mountain."

She activated a magic seed quickly, and a vine extended into the air, creating a call connection.

"Hello? Miss Scarlet?" a soft voice replied. "Did you call because my brother is there? Can you tell me how he looks now?"

Sakura's voice broke just a little, her nerves and excitement knotted in her breathing.

 Sunny tried to speak. But before he could go on, Sunny called forth a branch of living wood that carefully shut Sunny's mouth.

Scarlet's tone hardened. "Yes, he's here. But listen well. If you would protect your brother, you've no time to lose. Aster and Levi are on their way. They're coming to murder Sunny."

Sakura's eyes went wide with horror. "No, not now. I just. I just wanted to see him once.

Then her sorrow congealed into determination. "I'll stop them. Even if it means giving my life… I'll defend him. You can rely on me, ma'am."

Scarlet nodded.

Sunny's knees buckled on the palace floor. "She's actually. coming? After all this time?"

"Please stay safe, Sakura," he whispered, his voice breaking. I don't want to lose you before I've had a chance to get to know you.

The branch gagging Sakura's voice burst. Sunny gasped as if he hadn't inhaled for minutes.

Meanwhile…

Auren and Rose galloped Cyber—his metal wolf mount—through the empty lower town, against time.

"Cyber, go directly to the palace!" Auren bellowed. Rain pounded like glass needles.

Droplets of green acid crackled on rooftops, burning through wooden houses and crumbling stone walls. Even the perimeters of the mountain were beginning to dissolve.

Auren gazed at the devastation, fists clenching.

If only I were stronger. I refuse to allow innocent people to perish in this manner," he growled. "No one should have to endure pain and terror in their lives."

He tightened his jaw. "All those people in the Grand Bazaar. even Sia. Did they die for nothing? HOW DARE THEY?!"

His bellow echoed into the air.

Rose wrapped herself around him from the back, squeezing hard. "Auren. I know. I do. But at the moment, you and I. We can't do anything."

Auren shook his head. "No, Rose. The point is. I was afraid too, once. But the day I saw somebody trying to hurt you—that day my fear vanished."

His eyes burned with something feral and deep down.

"I saw someone in me. someone who doesn't fear. Someone who wants to protect. and punish."

Rose looked down. "But Auren, don't become someone you're not. Don't become someone you'll regret later."

The cyber lion ran faster, dodging towers, houses, and overturned carriages.

Suddenly, mages ran past them—some on foot, others flying through towers, cloaks waving like flags of war. They were all heading to Whirlpool Mountain.

Auren stared ahead.

This is it," he said. "The storm has started.

They see a lady—she sprinted with intent, her green cloak billowing like flame in the wind, slightly damp from the acid rain but never letting up. A katana was carried diagonally across her back, wrapped in black vine cloth, softly luminescent. Her keen eyes took in everything like a veteran warrior, unflustered but burning with intensity. Her short hair bobbed with the breeze, and there was something in the way she walked—graceful like a beast, quiet like a shadow. Even the mage soldiers behind her marched wordlessly. Auren couldn't determine who she was… but somewhere deep within him, he sensed it—she's not normal.

Auren and Rose sped forward on Cyber, racing past cracked streets and broken statues, soaked by misty droplets of acid rain. As they turned the corner, they spotted something on the other side of the path—

Another group of mage troops, charging straight toward the mountain. But these weren't ordinary soldiers.

Leading them was something wild—a beast-like human, hulking in form, covered in tribal scars and strange armor that looked like it was carved from bone and metal. His aura radiated bloodlust. His eyes glowed faintly red, and he walked like he was born to kill.

Auren clenched his fist. "I hope they win."

Rose nodded, eyes narrowed. "Me too…"

"Cyber, faster!" Auren shouted.

Cyber roared in response, his paws sparking against the stone as he picked up more speed.

"Yes, we're near the Royal Palace now!" Rose called, holding on tight.

Inside the palace…

Scarlet stood at the center of the emerald chamber, her vines moving subtly as her senses sharpened.

"Sunny, this… this is our best chance," she said, turning toward him. "To uncover the truth. The lost history of the Vincent Clan… of Yuzen… and the Grand Era. It's now or never."

Her voice grew stronger. "Life Life Orc—Summon!"

A sudden flash of light burst before them as a tall, water-like creature formed. The orc was translucent—glowing with soft ripples—its skin etched with snake-like markings glowing in cyan. It didn't growl. It pulsed… with knowledge.

Scarlet pointed. "Sunny, place your hand on it."

Sunny stared, hesitant. His heart thudded in his chest. He stepped forward, his palm trembling slightly. The closer he got, the stronger the energy around the orc surged.

He exhaled… and placed his hand on it.

BOOM—

A massive wave of energy exploded outward. A flash of color—blues, greens, golds, and purples—spread like ripples through reality itself. The chamber lit up as if the stars had been pulled into the room. Books flew open. Runes activated on the walls.

Something ancient had just been touched.

Scarlet's eyes widened. "It's happening…"

And Sunny?

He stood still, eyes glowing faintly—seeing visions no one else could.