As soon as the break ended, Vesta and the others returned to their duties. The Labyrinth's hum resumed, the air charged with magic and anticipation.
Atem surveyed the scene with a commanding presence. His gaze was sharp, measured, every movement precise and deliberate. He spoke, his voice resonant and unyielding:
"Vesta, continue your work. I will attend to my responsibilities as well."
Vesta bowed respectfully. "Understood, Pharaoh."
Even in the midst of chaos, Atem's aura exuded control and authority. Where others might fumble, he commanded respect without effort.
Before he could resume his work, a familiar presence made itself known. Veldora had been waiting, as if anticipating the moment immediately after the break.
"Atem," Veldora began, his tone unusually measured, yet brimming with fervor. "I require your aid."
Atem raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but unyielding. "Explain."
Veldora leaned forward, his eyes bright with intensity. "Mentor asked for an assistant. It would be beneficial if I had one at my side. Praise, guidance… the proper support will allow me to operate at full capacity."
Ramiris nodded vigorously beside him, her endorsement clear. Atem's mind worked swiftly, assessing the implications. Staff were scarce, resources limited. Who could he possibly assign?
"Impossible," Atem's voice was calm but absolute. "No one available may be spared for idle companionship."
"Pharaoh, you misunderstand! I am responsible for the Labyrinth's defenses and assisting Ramiris. My duties are critical. With an assistant, my efficiency and stamina will increase substantially," Veldora argued, his conviction unshakable.
Atem considered the situation, his mind already weighing strategy and risk. Then, Veldora's tone shifted.
"During my time in your… 'Stomach,' I encountered a being I can truly call a friend. I request that you grant him a body comparable to those we have prepared here."
Atem froze for a fraction of a second. Friend? Who did Veldora mean?
«Assessment. The individual is deduced to be the greater spirit, Ifrit.»
The pieces fell into place. Veldora had intervened during the predation incident, isolating Ifrit alongside him—an act of foresight and subtle strategy.
"Ah… you wish me to resurrect Ifrit," Atem said, his voice steady, commanding the room's attention.
"GAHAHA! As expected, Pharaoh! You grasp my intent instantly!" Veldora's voice carried elation, yet Atem remained measured.
Reviving Ifrit was a risk. Shizu's past, the ties to Demon Lord Leon, the potential for rebellion…
Atem could sense the danger. And yet, the tactical advantage was undeniable.
"Are you certain he will serve willingly?" Atem's tone was firm, almost judicial.
"Absolutely! My influence has moved him. He is willing to assist me, Pharaoh," Veldora's words were unwavering.
Atem studied Veldora, noting the silent communication that passed between them—an unspoken bond that had matured over years of isolation.
"Very well," Atem said finally, his voice like iron. "If you guarantee responsibility for his conduct, I will consent."
Veldora's grin split his face. "Leave it to me, Pharaoh!"
Ramiris clapped her hands, elation clear. Atem's gaze, however, remained cool and deliberate. He had granted approval, but it was tempered by calculation and strategy.
"Proceed with the Charybdis core. It will be compatible with his mana and spirit. This is non-negotiable."
The body prepared for Ifrit floated within the growth capsule—a skeleton of dragotite, forged to withstand extraordinary magical forces. Atem's presence oversaw the process, every motion precise.
«Report. Ifrit's remnants detected. Transferring to Charybdis core… successful. Initiating phase two: soul container construction… merging complete.»
The transformation was swift, a testament to Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom's masterful guidance. Muscles, veins, and sinew formed rapidly, layered with tanned skin. Her hair, dark with threads of burning crimson, flowed like molten fire. Eyes of gold burned with a radiant intensity, pupils slit like a dragon's—scarlet coals that spoke of immense power.
Atem's gaze did not waver. This was Ifrit reborn, and yet… different. A commanding aura radiated from her; undeniably feminine in form, but no less formidable than her prior incarnation.
"Veldora," Atem said, his voice even but resolute, "report her status."
"She is grateful, Pharaoh. Loyal and strong. She acknowledges your intervention."
Ifrit knelt, her posture formal, her reverence for Atem unmistakable. "Pharaoh… I am eternally in your debt for restoring my existence. I swear my loyalty to Veldora-sama… and to you, by extension."
Atem's piercing gaze assessed her, weighing sincerity against potential threat. He found none. Only respect, discipline, and readiness to serve.
"Your previous form was optimized for combat… agility, lethality. Now…" Atem's voice faltered only for a moment, his observation clinical, "you bear the appearance of a warrior's grace, yet your power… is intact."
Ifrit inclined her head. "Veldora's will influenced my form, as well as the Charybdis core. I possess capabilities beyond my prior self… and elemental mastery over wind as well as fire."
Atem nodded, approval measured. "Then your potential is fully realized. Serve with discipline and loyalty."
"I will dedicate myself entirely, Pharaoh," Ifrit declared, her golden eyes blazing with resolute determination.
Veldora's grin was triumphant, but Atem's authority overshadowed the excitement in the room. Strategy, power, loyalty—all had been secured without compromise.
Atem, Pharaoh of Eterna, had made his decision. Ifrit would serve at Veldora's side, and through her, the Labyrinth and the future of Eterna would be fortified.
In that moment, the path ahead became clearer—one forged in fire, loyalty, and absolute authority.
"By the way, Atem, there is something else I wish to discuss," Veldora said, a sly grin stretching across his face.
Atem's sharp gaze narrowed. What now? He had no desire to be distracted further, yet ignoring Veldora would surely result in relentless nagging. Atem inclined his head, his tone calm but commanding.
"What is it, Veldora?"
"Um! Here's the matter—I wish to name Ifrit. 'Ifrit' is a title used for all greater fire elemental spirits summoned through the Spirit Summoning 'Flame Giant Ifrit,' but it is not a unique name…"
Atem's piercing gaze never wavered. Naming a powerful being was dangerous—too much mana input could overwhelm the spirit, too little could weaken it. Even the slightest miscalculation could prove fatal.
"Naming now carries risk," Atem said evenly, his voice coldly authoritative. "Its magicule content is immense, and imprecise control could be disastrous."
"GAHAHAHA! But you'll oversee it, right, Pharaoh? If I push too much mana, you can always intervene with the Soul Corridor," Veldora replied, confidence unwavering.
Atem's expression softened only slightly, calculating and precise. «Report. Leave it to me.»
Very well. If Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, sanctioned it, the operation would proceed. Atem's word was law.
"Then I shall assist," Atem declared.
"Of course! I knew you would!" Veldora roared with excitement.
With deliberate authority, Atem oversaw the naming process. Veldora's voice rang out as he proclaimed:
"Ifrit, from this day forth, your name shall be… 'Charys!'"
The name resonated with power. Charys—a refined echo of Charybdis—embodied the spirit's essence, though Atem privately considered a simpler name like 'Irys' might have suited better. Fate, however, deferred to strategy and timing.
Through the Soul Corridor, Atem monitored the flow of magicules from Veldora into Charys. The flame giant's power surged, now at Special Rank A, rivaling a Calamity-class entity. Though still below the might of Benimaru or Shion, Charys could challenge Souei and Geld without faltering.
"Understood. I am henceforth 'Charys.' I pledge my loyalty to the service of the great Veldora-sama!" Charys declared, her voice resolute and unwavering.
Atem signaled Solarys to terminate the Soul Corridor, severing the mana conduit from Veldora. It was complete. The process worked flawlessly. Charys, now a Flame Lord, radiated overwhelming energy, surpassing Treyni and approaching the scale of Karion and Frey.
"GAHAHAHA! Remarkable! I knew I could count on you, Atem," Veldora cheered, his grin wide, but he immediately frowned at Charys's appearance. The spirit had reverted to a more masculine form, though black-and-red hair still highlighted her fiery essence. Some aspects of her previous form
persisted, influenced by her own will.
"Tsk… I went the extra mile to enhance your appearance, thinking you'd be more striking. Yet… this," Veldora muttered, exasperated.
Charys—once Ifrit—sighed, composed yet amused. "It appears your will was indeed decisive. Fortunately, my own will prevails, which is reassuring. However, I can return to my female form if insisted…"
Atem's voice was calm, authoritative. "No need. Maintain whichever form you deem appropriate. There is no complaint from me."
Veldora's jokes were still absurd, but Atem ignored them. Even with her form stabilized, Charys retained the option to alter it, a flexibility Atem would monitor with calculated attention.
"How do you feel?" Atem inquired.
"I feel… powerful, my lord—eh, t-this is…" Charys's gaze widened as she sensed her newly amplified abilities, her body and spirit confirming the surge of power.
"Such tremendous energy…" she muttered, awestruck.
Veldora's grin widened knowingly. "Kukuku… exactly as predicted."
"Regarding your race, you have now ascended into a Flame Lord," Atem added calmly, his tone both statement and judgment.
"A Flame Lord?!" Charys's voice shook with awe. "I cannot believe I now wield such power…"
Atem observed, composed yet calculating.
Despite her newfound strength, her duty remained clear: to serve Veldora. She was now a potent weapon and a devoted companion, her loyalty verified.
Thus, a new ally entered their ranks: Charys, a Flame Lord, bonded in loyalty to Veldora and, by extension, the Pharaoh of Eterna himself.
With her assimilation complete, Charys was immediately tasked by Veldora and Ramiris. Her willingness and prowess ensured operations within the labyrinth grew exponentially more efficient. Atem merely observed, his strategic mind noting every shift in potential.
"Um, since when did we gain such a formidable ally?" Vesta remarked, impressed but composed.
Atem responded with characteristic authority, his tone unwavering. "Strength emerges through design and order. Charys is no exception. Accept this reality, and proceed with your duties."
Vesta nodded. Even the others—accustomed to Atem's controlled yet commanding oversight—accepted the shift in power.
Later, Atem focused on his own work. He supervised the evolution of the dryads into fully capable Drya Doll Dryads, capable of manifesting their full strength far from their roots. The humanoid treants' bodies neared completion, prepared for efficient possession. Efficiency and tactical deployment remained paramount.
With Charys integrated and the labyrinth's personnel enhanced, Atem's strategy for Eterna continued seamlessly. Daily executive decisions, legal rulings, and logistical oversight demanded his attention. Yet even in the weight of responsibility, he preserved a calm, measured efficiency—strategic, relentless, and absolute.
The Pharaoh of Eterna had acted decisively, securing loyalty, power, and control. The future had been fortified—not with chance, but by the calculated authority of Atem, King of Games.