Within the silent abyss of Achlys' Mind Realm, the air trembled.
"First Order… Eclipse—!"
His voice tore through the void as he lunged forward, blade blazing with crimson radiance. The strike was swift but Bellona did not flinch. His desperation was visible.
His face showed his determination.
She smiled. It was neither warm, nor kind. A predator's smile.
In that very instant, his blade should have pierced her but she vanished.
She vaulted over him with effortless grace.
Before Achlys could even process the shift, he was hit.
Her hand slammed into the back of his head, driving him into the ground with crushing force. The realm itself seemed to shudder.
This sudden impact shook him from inside and pain exploded through his body.
He rolled instinctively, trying to rise—but a sharp kick drove into his abdomen, sending him hurtling across the void like a discarded puppet.
"Ugh—!"
His breath left him in fragments.
"What the hell…!?"
Before he could recover, Bellona seized his hair, dragging him upright. Her cold and unwavering sword hovered at his throat.
"You lost."
Her voice was calm. Too calm.
"Your attacks were precise… but hollow. They had no weight and conviction."
She drove her blade into the ground beside him with a dull, final thud.
"You hesitated. Even your Order… hesitated."
Her grip loosened. She released him like he was already defeated—already beneath her notice.
"If this continues…"
Her eyes changed. She wasn't joking anymore.
"…you will die in a real battle." She stared in his eyes as if planting that fear.
The words didn't echo.
They sank.
And then—
Darkness.
.......................................................................................................
Achlys jolted awake.
"—HUH!?"
His breath came sharp and uneven as reality reassembled itself around him piece by piece.
"Oh… I'm back…"
"Human. Ew."
Crevial's voice cut through the air with deliberate disgust.
Before she could finish, Lecia's hand cracked against her head.
"Say that again," Lecia hissed, her smile thin and dangerous, "and I'll make sure you're kissing your own tongue goodbye."
Crevial immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay—okay! I'm done!"
"Good."
The tension dissolved instantly, as if it had never existed.
Lecia turned, her entire demeanor shifting in a heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around Achlys, clinging to him with exaggerated affection.
"Did you sleep well, darling?" she cooed. "Let me give you a proper morning kiss—"
She leaned in—
—and was promptly punched across the room.
"I told you, Lecia," Achlys said flatly, lowering his fist, "I'm loyal to Tiabishi."
Lecia lay sprawled against the far wall, blood trailing from her nose.
She grinned.
"Aww… can't I be second?"
Even injured, her smile didn't falter.
But then—
She paused. Her gaze shifted behind her.
"…That wall."
The impact should have shattered it. It should have reduced it to rubble. But it stood untouched. Not even a scratch.
"…That's weird," Crevial muttered, stepping closer.
Lecia rose slowly, examining the wall and struck the wall again—harder this time.
Nothing.
No cracks.
No resistance.
Just… stillness.
"This isn't normal."
She brushed the dust aside, examining it closely—but there was nothing. No runes. No markings. No visible magic.
"Achlys," she said, glancing back, "that thing you mentioned… try it."
"I can—"
"The Order is not a toy."
Bellona's voice cut through their minds like a blade.
"It exists for protection."
"Bellona—"
"No."
"Oh, come on—"
"I said no."
Achlys exhaled, annoyed.
"Well, I'm doing it anyway."
He stepped forward, gripping his sword.
The air tightened.
"First Order— Full Moon."
The blade ignited—crimson light surging outward as he brought it down in a decisive arc.
The strike obliterated the structure connected to the wall.
Debris scattered.
Dust all around and silence took over.
"…Order defies magic," Bellona muttered.
Crevial stared, stunned.
"…Damn."
But then—
"Wait." Crevial pointed out to something. "Look at that!"
The ruins began to move. Stone reformed. Dust reversed. Cracks sealed themselves as if time itself had been rewound.
Within moments—
Everything was restored.
"…That's not normal magic," Crevial whispered.
"That kind of regeneration… it must be consuming insane mana."
Achlys frowned.
"Bellona… if Order destroys magic… can something destroy Order?"
A soft laugh.
"Always searching for answers," Bellona said. "I like that."
Her tone shifted—becoming almost instructional.
"Everything in this world has a counter."
"Magic overwhelms with raw power."
"Skills… can overcome Order."
"And Order…"
"…breaks magic."
Crevial blinked, absorbing it like a child.
"…So it's like a balance system?"
"Exactly."
"It's said," Bellona continued, "that the Trees created this balance."
"The Trees…?" Crevial frowned. "They're always mentioned, but what do they even do?"
"They maintain equilibrium," Achlys answered before Bellona could.
"They shape the world's structure. Six Trees—each holding a fragment of the original power."
Crevial crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"Oh? Look at you. Acting smart."
"Maybe read a book sometime," Achlys shot back. "It's basic knowledge."
"…What did you just say, brat—"
BOOM.
Gravity crashed down on her.
Crevial collapsed instantly, her body slamming into the ground under immense pressure.
"I suggest you choose your words carefully," Achlys said, his blade hovering just above her.
Lecia walked past casually.
"Be grateful," she added, "I only used ten times gravity."
"…Let's go, darling."
Achlys sheathed his sword and followed.
Crevial remained on the ground, trembling—not just from the pressure, but from something deeper.
Frustration.
Powerlessness.
"…You guys aren't heroes, are you?"
They didn't stop.
"He never chose to be one," Bellona replied.
Achlys spoke without turning.
"Being a hero comes with limits. I don't care about good or bad. I give freedom… to those who need it." He continued. "And I'll grow stronger doing it."
Crevial stared at her trembling hands—bruised from unstable magic.
"…Still can't control it…"
She exhaled.
"…My bad."
And quietly followed.
.......................................................................................................
Far beyond them—
Above the world itself—
Mesopotamians, the moon know by the ancients—
The Castle of the Moon stood upon the ancient continent of Lofitringa, eternally rebuilding and eternally watching.
Five lights streaked across the sky—entering its halls.
"Order of Spears," spoke Rodal Ullr Corent, "you've spoken to the Order of Swords?"
"I have," replied Rotiun Lugh R'hollor calmly. "I know his capabilities… and his standing."
Clovis Deanis Lopratis sat beside the Rotiun Lugh R'hollor, the order of spears.
"Clovis wants to know if this sword guy is going to join the unmarked?" He leaned forward.
"Sit elsewhere, fatso."
"Clovis is not fat! ORCS ARE BIG AND STRONG." Clovis replied.
"Yeah, yeah whatever—"
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Clovis but he is not going to join us."
A beat.
"He refuses all factions."
"…Troublesome, that is going to make things complicated." murmured Claosa Takemikazuchi Nochoki.
Then—
"Fail…"
A voice from the shadows.
"…Achlys."
Silence fell.
"He walks alone," the voice continued. "To grow stronger…To protect the world."
"…A new god."
No one spoke. Not even the air dared move.
Then—
Another presence entered.
"You are late, Order of Pickaxe."
Krisa Eldaf.
"Leave him alone," she said coldly. "This is an order."
"And if we don't?" He said mocking her.
She placed a shimmering artifact upon the table.
"…Then every Time Master will pay you a visit."
"…Fine."
She turned to leave.
"Don't break your word."
The room exhaled only after she was gone.
"What a bitch, man…" Card shook her head.
"Pickaxe lady, not nice."
"Don't be like that, guys." Thomas spoke up. "She just took a soft spot for the sword."
.......................................................................................................
Krisa returned to her village, sighing heavily.
"Being an Order… sucks." Her marking shone purple on the top of her nose.
All of a sudden, came a scream.
Krisa turned and looked around.
"WHERE ARE MY KIDS!?"
A woman ran toward her.
"Who—?"
"Achlys and Tiabishi!"
Krisa blinked. A lady with golden brown hair in front of her, she was desperate and all broken from inside.
"…Achlys went where the clouds go."
"…Tiabishi… where the sun sets."
The woman froze.
"…Thank you…"
Tears streamed down her face.
Behind her, another woman approached, she had a whip in hand.
"Please! She's been running for days—"
But it was too late.
"Can't stop now… Persephone."
Still bound, Mariola dragged both of them forward—vanishing beyond the village.
Krisa stood there, watching.
"…What the hell just happened?"