Alice burst into the room, her eyes wide with panic and fear. She could feel it—something that should not exist. An overwhelming surge of mana had suddenly filled the air, thick and suffocating, radiating from Orin's room like a tidal wave. It wasn't just raw energy—no, it was something far more precise, more ancient.
"A ritual," she whispered to herself, stunned. "It smells like… a Commander's Contract Ritual."
She recognized it immediately. The scent of ritual mana still lingered, a mix of old blood, burning incense, and ethereal resonance. Her heart raced. Someone had completed a contract—no, awakened something in this very room.
Without hesitation, she rushed to Orin's side, grabbing his shoulders, shaking him.
"What happened?! Why can I feel a ritual's remnants in the air? And why is the mana density so high?!"
Orin held up his hands, trying to calm her down:
"Stop, stop! I'll explain—just calm down, Alice!"
But Alice wouldn't relent:
"Tell me now, Orin! What have you done?! This amount of mana isn't normal!"
Orin blinked, confused:
"Ritual? Are you talking about... that dream?"
"Dream?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "What dream?"
Orin took a breath and began explaining the vision he had—the otherworldly dimension, the black armor, the presence he had encountered. However, he carefully omitted the part about reversing the contract and the ancient stone tablet. As he finished, Alice's eyes widened with disbelief:
"How is that even possible?" she muttered. "You know how difficult it is to form a contract with a Commander? Most people take weeks, even months, to form a bond with an average one. You usually have to offer gifts, prove your worth, or even complete tasks in that dimensional space before a Commander accepts your contract. Some require you to learn their skills first… and the rarer the Commander, the harder the requirements."
Orin blinked again, surprised:
"Wait—seriously? I just did it on my first try... And how do you know so much about all this? You talk like someone who already has a Commander."
Alice nodded:
"I do. And not just any Commander. Mine is a legendary one. Contracting with her was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had to learn a sacred fire skill, offer her rare relics... it took months."
Orin tilted his head:
"Wait, did you say her? Your Commander is a woman?"
Alice smiled:
"Yes. And I think you know who she is. Her symbol is fire."
Orin raised an eyebrow:
"Fire, huh… let me guess. Hestia?"
Alice nodded again:
"Exactly. When I formed the contract with her, I gained enhanced talent in fire and healing magic… and some ancient knowledge as well."
Orin grinned.
"That's incredible! You must be seriously powerful then."
Inside Orin's mind, the voice of Black Skull cackled.
"Hah! Hestia, a Commander now? That's hilarious! After all these years, she finally ascended to that level. Unbelievable! Back in the day, she nearly burned my ass off—literally!"
Orin frowned slightly:
"You know her? I still don't know anything about your past… we really need to talk about that soon."
Alice leaned in, her curiosity piqued:
"So, Orin… you just performed a ritual. Can I know who your Commander is?"
Black Skull's voice turned cold:
"Don't tell her the truth. If anyone finds out who I really am, you'll be hunted. I am the only one of my kind in this realm… and the most dangerous."
Orin nodded slightly:
"Yeah, yeah, alright…"
He looked at Alice with a sheepish grin.
"It's just a rare Commander named… Black Skull. Nothing special, really."
Alice raised an eyebrow:
"Black Skull? That name… sounds familiar. I think I've seen it mentioned in one of Hestia's old records or maybe an ancient book."
Orin laughed nervously:
"Nah, it's just some black armor guy—probably weak."
"Alright," she said softly. "If you say so."
Suddenly, the door exploded inward with a violent crash. A blur of steel flashed through the room as Jonth Valera, Alice's father, dashed in, a blade pressed to Orin's throat in seconds.
But Alice moved just as fast, stopping the blade with her own magic, shielding Orin from the edge.
In response to the threat, Black Skull materialized behind Orin, a massive Dragon Slayer sword strapped to his back, his presence radiating a suffocating, murderous pressure. The very floor beneath him seemed to crack from the force of his aura.
Moments later, Alice's Commander, Hestia, the Goddess of Flame, appeared behind her in full form. Behind Jonth, a golden light flared—and Apollo, God of the Sun, emerged in radiant armor.
The room now held a trio of divine Commanders. The mana in the air had turned so dense, it was nearly impossible to breathe.
Jonth glared at Orin:
"Alice! What is this thing doing in our home? In the guest room of all places?!"
Alice stepped forward:
"Lower your sword, Father. He is the last living member of the Crimson Clan… your best friend's bloodline."
Black Skull's voice boomed across the room:
"Do you want me to kill this arrogant insect?"
Orin's eyes darted between the figures:
"What the hell is going on right now?!"
Apollo's face darkened:
"Why is he here? That's… that's the God Slayer—Black Skull!"
Hestia stepped forward, eyes burning:
"Black Skull… how are you here?! Weren't you sealed away by the Crimson Clan centuries ago?"
Black Skull chuckled, his voice laced with venom:
"Long story. And not one you need to know. But hear me well—if either of you dares to speak of me or my master to anyone… I will hunt you down and deliver torment unlike anything you've ever imagined."
His smile beneath the helm twisted into a grotesque mockery of amusement. Even Hestia and Apollo took a half-step back, unsettled.
Then, without warning, Black Skull vanished—unsummoned in an instant.
Apollo and Hestia remained, still in stunned silence:
Jonth slowly lowered his sword, his voice grim:
"So… you're the last survivor of the Crimson Clan, huh?"