(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The royal palace had finally begun to quiet down.
Servants moved through the halls with lowered voices while the captains settled themselves into various guest chambers and lounges across the palace.
Guards had doubled around the corridors after tonight's incident, though everyone secretly knew ordinary guards would hardly matter if another devil-level situation appeared.
Meanwhile—Ben quietly walked through the long corridor leading toward his personal chamber.
Nero sat comfortably on his shoulder now instead of the crown, lazily fluffing her feathers while occasionally eyeing the passing servants like a tiny queen inspecting her kingdom.
Ben exhaled slowly.
Tonight had been exhausting even for him.
The assassination attempt.
The confrontation.
The reveal about Zagred.
The negotiation with the elves.
And now—He was somehow planning the resurrection of an extinct race.
"…What a headache."
The moment he muttered that—A familiar mechanical sound echoed inside his mind.
[ Ding... ]
[ Objective: Escape Assassination Attempt — Eye of the Midnight Sun
Status: COMPLETED ]
[ Rewards Granted: ]
[ +350 FP ]
[ +2 Shades of Null Void Shards ]
Ben's eyes flickered slightly.
Then another screen appeared before him.
[ Null Void Shards: 40 → 42 ]
Followed immediately by another.
[ FP Bar: 432 / 500 ]
[ Adding Reward FP... ]
[ 432 + 350 = 782 ]
[ Requirement Reached ]
[ Unlocking New Alien Transformation... ]
A loading circle spun briefly. Green data flashed rapidly.
Then—
[ 500 FP Deducted ]
[ Remaining FP: 282 / 500 ]
The Omnitrix symbol on Ben's wrist glowed faintly beneath his sleeve.
A new holographic silhouette slowly formed inside the system interface.
Tall. Thin. Hunched.
With a massive covered head.
[ New Alien Unlocked: TOEPICK ]
[ Ding... ]
Ben immediately stopped walking.
"…Seriously?"
Nero tilted her head curiously seeing his deadpan expression.
Ben clicked his tongue lightly.
Out of all aliens—It had to be this one.
Toepick.
One of the weirdest aliens in the Omnitrix.
And honestly—One of the lamest-looking too.
Its entire power revolved around the horrifying face hidden beneath the metal cage-like headpiece.
A single look at its true face could psychologically destroy most opponents by forcing them to witness their deepest fears.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The alien also naturally released a strange gas-like aura capable of inducing horrifying hallucinations and primal terror.
A literal walking nightmare fuel dispenser.
"…Broken ability."
Ben muttered quietly.
"…Terrible aesthetics."
Nero chirped in agreement as if fully supporting his criticism.
Ben rubbed his forehead slightly.
Though—He had to admit.
In a world involving devils, curses, forbidden magic, and mentally unstable enemies…
Toepick's fear-based abilities might actually become terrifyingly effective.
Especially against opponents already carrying trauma and despair.
A faint green hologram briefly displayed the alien information again.
[ TOEPICK ]
[ Classification: Fear-Induction Species ]
[ Abilities: ]
[• Extreme Psychological Terror
• Fear Hallucination Inducement
• Mental Destabilization
• Fear Gas Emission• Intimidation Resistance]
[ Warning: Prolonged exposure may cause permanent trauma in weak-minded targets ]
Ben stared at the screen for several seconds before sighing deeply.
"…I swear this watch enjoys trolling me."
Nero immediately pecked the Omnitrix lightly in agreement even through she didn't know why he was scolding his device.
The system however wasn't done yet.
Another notification suddenly appeared.
[ Ding... ]
[ Long-Term Quest Updated ]
[ Freedom of the Sealed One ]
[ Current Progress: 5 / 11 Magic Stones Collected ]
[ Additional Objective Added: ]
[ Prepare Stable Reincarnation Ritual ]
[ Reward: ??? ]
Ben's expression slowly became more serious again after seeing the updated quest.
Because unlike the earlier rewards—This one carried actual weight.
The resurrection ritual.
Separating Patoli from William.
Reviving the elves properly.
And eventually—Freeing Nero from her bird form.
None of it would be simple.
The corridor windows beside him reflected the moonlight across the polished floor while Ben silently continued walking toward his chamber.
Tonight had changed the future of the Clover Kingdom.
And somewhere far away—
A devil named Zagred still waited in the shadows.
Moonlight quietly spilled through the large window of the guest chamber, painting pale silver lines across the polished floor and expensive furniture prepared for Fana's stay.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Especially after everything that had happened tonight.
Fana stood near the balcony window with folded arms while staring down at the sleeping Clover Capital below.
From this height the city looked peaceful.
Lantern lights flickered gently through the streets while distant patrol guards moved along the roads like tiny shadows.
Humans.
The same race she had spent years hating.
The same race she believed destroyed everything precious to the elves.
Yet now—
The King of those humans had completely overturned everything she thought she understood.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"…What exactly are you trying to do…"
She muttered quietly to herself.
Behind her, the room remained untouched. She hadn't even bothered sitting down since entering.
Her mind was far too restless.
Tonight's conversation replayed repeatedly inside her head.
Zagred. Manipulation.
The massacre. The resurrection.
Patoli's deception.
And then—Ben's proposal.
Even now she still couldn't fully process it.
Revive the elves?
Not imprison them. Not execute them.
Not erase them.
But genuinely restore their race?
It sounded absurd.
No.
More than absurd. Dangerous.
Because if humans learned the truth behind tonight's discussion, fear alone could throw the entire Clover Kingdom into chaos.
And yet—Ben still chose that path without hesitation.
Fana slowly closed her eyes while leaning lightly against the balcony railing.
If Ben truly succeeded…
Then what would happen next?
Would the elves truly be able to live peacefully again?
Could they coexist with humans after five hundred years of hatred and bloodshed?
Would the resurrected elves even accept peace?
Or would they immediately seek revenge the moment they returned?
Those questions weighed heavily inside her chest.
Because honestly—She herself didn't know the answer.
Part of her still hated humans.
That hatred had not vanished simply because of one conversation.
The memories of death and despair were still real.
But now—There was also doubt mixed into it.
And doubt was dangerous.
Especially for hatred.
Fana slowly opened her eyes again and looked toward the moonlit capital.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
Patoli.
Her expression darkened slightly.
She still trusted him as kin.
Still cared for him.
But now every interaction from the past felt different.
Distorted.
How much of their journey had truly been their own choice?
How much was manipulated by the devil?
And worst of all—How deeply had Patoli himself already fallen into that manipulation?
She quietly exhaled.
"…This is troublesome."
Then her thoughts returned toward Ben once again.
That human king.
Even now she couldn't understand him.
He was powerful enough to threaten them directly.
Intelligent enough to expose their secrets.
Dangerous enough to trap the Eye of the Midnight Sun inside the palace.
Yet instead of crushing them—
He offered them a future.
Fana's eyes narrowed slightly.
That alone made him terrifying in a completely different way.
Because people who offered kindness despite having power…
Were much harder to predict than ordinary enemies.
A faint breeze entered through the balcony window and gently moved her hair.
Then slowly—
For the first time in centuries—
Fana allowed herself to imagine something she had long abandoned.
A future beyond revenge.
And that possibility frightened her more than war ever had.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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Guys My New Fic name is: Karuppan: King of Openings.
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