The Kingdom's capital buzzed with unease. The incident at Kiten had not been fully covered up—rumors spread among the nobles, whispers among the commoners. Unconfirmed tales of "possessed people," "cursed magic," and "ancient spirits" circled faster than any official decree could suppress.
Inside the towering palace of the Magic Knights Headquarters, Julius Novachrono stood before a massive library of ancient texts, his face tense, flipping through forbidden grimoires.
Julius (deeply concerned):
"These symbols… forbidden elven sigils, lost rituals… and now, active reincarnations. The timeline shouldn't have accelerated this much."
Marx entered the chamber quietly.
Marx:
"Sir Wizard King, reports are coming from multiple provinces. Magic Knight squads have managed to contain several smaller incidents… but the frequencies are increasing."
Julius (grim):
"It's as if someone is testing the ritual's stability — pushing its boundaries before the main event."
He looked up at the towering clock outside his window.
Julius (thought):
"We don't have much time."
---
While the Kingdom scrambled to interpret the signs, deep within the secured dimensional fortress of Akatsuki, Avi stood before an updated version of his mana projection map. The entire continent was now covered in crisscrossing lines of ancient ley lines and reincarnation arrays.
Avi (analyzing):
"Phase Three approaches. Zagred will attempt mass activation within weeks. The time to intervene has arrived."
Behind him, Asta and Yuno reviewed the updated data alongside him.
Asta (serious):
"Even after Kiten… these incidents just keep happening."
Yuno:
"The scale is getting bigger. If this continues, the entire kingdom could be thrown into civil war before the real threat even arrives."
Avi (nodding):
"And that, precisely, is the plan of your enemies."
With a sweep of his hand, new marks lit up.
Avi (explaining):
"The entire kingdom is being softened — spread thin by unrest. When the true reincarnations begin, most forces will be too scattered or weakened to react properly. Lucius intends to watch this unfold while remaining invisible."
Asta (frustrated):
"Why doesn't he just strike directly if he's so strong?!"
Avi (calm, cold):
"Because true power is exercised through manipulation, not brute force. His goal is to force every piece on the board into position before the strike."
He glanced at the glowing seals hovering over specific regions.
Avi:
"Our task remains — disrupt these planned reincarnation zones before they reach full activation."
---
Suddenly, the system chimed again.
> [Main Quest Update: Operation Veiled Disruption - Phase I Initiated.]
> Target Sites for Covert Intervention:
Forsaken Zone: Egrida Ruins
Noble District: Selbern Crypt
Northern Border: Kora Grove
> System Note:
Host is advised to maintain non-exposure of full strength. Deploy controlled proxies as necessary.
Avi (thought, smirking):
"Time to pull a few strings."
---
Instead of intervening directly, Avi deployed several of his personal creations — highly advanced wood clones infused with Origin Magic intelligence. Each clone had a specific task: sabotage ritual cores, destabilize soul bridges, and erase traces of his interference.
The first clone infiltrated the Egrida Ruins, disguised perfectly as a minor treasure-hunting noble.
Deep inside the ruins, dark magic swirled as an incomplete reincarnation array pulsed erratically. Several rogue mages hired by unknown sponsors chanted near the core, trying to stabilize the elven souls tied to the ritual.
A single subtle spell from Avi's proxy disrupted the chant, sending waves of uncontrolled feedback into the core. The rogue mages were instantly knocked unconscious.
Avi Clone (whispering):
"Puppet strings... severed."
---
Meanwhile, another proxy navigated through secret tunnels beneath the noble district. In the cold depths of the Selbern Crypt, members of a secret cult—humans aligned with Zagred's agenda—were performing forbidden offerings.
Cult Leader (chanting):
"Blessed Zagred, return to this plane and exact your rightful vengeance…"
Avi's clone carefully modified the ambient mana currents, altering their ritual to redirect the offerings into nothingness — a void. The result was catastrophic.
The altar cracked violently. Mana surged backward, causing multiple cultists to fall into seizures.
Avi Clone (coldly):
"Your sacrifices fuel nothing."
---
By morning, reports arrived in the Clover Kingdom's capital about two separate failed ritual attempts. No one knew how or why the rituals failed. But Julius immediately grew more suspicious.
Julius (thoughtful):
"These events are too synchronized… as if someone else is interfering. But are they friend or foe?"
---
In his secret chamber, Lucius Zogratis reviewed the swirling temporal images before him.
Lucius (murmuring):
"Interesting... these disturbances aren't random. Someone's playing beneath my radar."
Adrammelech chuckled nearby.
Adrammelech:
"Are you worried, Lucius?"
Lucius (cold smile):
"No. I'm intrigued. Whoever they are, their efforts only delay the inevitable. The reincarnation cannot be fully stopped. The clock continues."
He gestured toward the central magical globe, showing numerous soul patterns growing brighter.
Lucius:
"Soon… the real storm will begin."
---
Back in the Akatsuki base, Avi stood alone before a dimensional gateway he had privately constructed — a personal contingency.
Avi (serious, to himself):
"I can delay the Elf Reincarnation. I can redirect the casualties. But when the Shadow Palace rises, the true devil will descend."
His hand hovered over his dimensional terminal.
> [Contingency Pathways Prepared.]
Shadow Palace Collapse Escape Route: 100% Ready
Emergency Dimensional Barrier Activation: 87% Ready
Artificial Soul Seal Array: 72% Stabilized
Avi (thought):
"If I can manipulate key reincarnated Elves away from Zagred's full control, I can weaken him before he fully arrives."
---
The following week saw a strange, tense calm. No incidents occurred for days. But Avi knew better. The system's warnings grew more frequent. The ley lines were trembling beneath the surface.
Asta:
"Feels like… something's coming."
Yuno (serious):
"A heavy storm. Everyone's moving, even if we can't see them."
Avi (smiling faintly):
"Correct. We're walking toward the true war."
As they stood on their floating castle's highest balcony, gazing into their perfect artificial sky, Avi's eyes glinted.
Avi (soft whisper):
"The game begins soon, Zagred. And I will rewrite your fate."
---
TO BE CONTINUED...