The Forbidden Forest of Olibeliam was no ordinary forest—it was like a curse cast deep within the continent. The trees stood tall like pillars of a forgotten sanctuary, every branch and every leaf gray, as if the very breath of the forest had been withered by the darkness.
No wind.
No birds.
Only the echoes of the earth, as if groaning.
In the middle of the forest, a pitch-black castle rose straight into the sky. It was so tall that the tower pierced the clouds, and the stone slabs on the walls seemed filled with cold mist from the abyss. No fire burned there. No human voices. No life.
Only darkness.
And in that darkness—
A creature was waking.
Not a creature.
A human.
Or had been a human.
A black mist swirled on the floor, then pressed into shape… until it took the form of a young man with silvery black hair, eyes as red as chains of fire in the night.
Those eyes opened.
And the first smile in years rose—like a sharpened knife.
"Finally… the power is moving."
His voice was soft, velvety but sharp as a curse.
His name: Olibeliam Luminious.
Lord of the Forbidden Forest.
He who had walked over thousands of corpses in search of ultimate power.
And most especially—
Mabel Phemlo's sworn enemy.
He touched his face, as if checking to see if he was still alive.
"I can feel… your breath."
His smile curved.
"Though you change your body… change your name… change your fate… I still recognize you, Mabel."
Purple-black light swirled around his fingers.
"Deuwyn Alyane Endias, huh?"
He curled his lips.
"The new name is cute."
A cold wind blew through the air, carrying hundreds of small ash fragments the size of burned butterfly wings.
They all swirled around him, awaiting orders.
Olibeliam raised his hand.
The air swirled strongly, forming a circle of magical power behind him—like a summoning gate.
Another shadow appeared—a subordinate with a humanoid body but not quite human, with skin made of mist and bone.
"Master… are you awake?"
Its voice was like the sound of metal clashing.
"More than awake."
Olibeliam smiled, his eyes shining in the darkness.
"I smell the holy power again. It is rising in that body… little by little. Like sunlight coming through a doorway."
His smile turned cold.
"And it called my name."
The subordinate knelt down.
"Then… shall we proceed with the plan?"
Olibeliam turned around and walked out to the highest balcony of the castle.
The entire gray forest below looked like a desolate ocean covered in mist, just waiting for a call to stir up waves.
"No rush."
He smiled faintly.
"I want to see what she will do with her new body. And… who will protect her this time."
He tilted his head, his red eyes like two streaks of blood floating in a dark glass of wine.
"Especially… the little student who walks beside her."
Nagoto Hydorya.
Olibeliam's eyes flashed with a cruel interest.
"Those who are tied to her fate… I will crush them all."
He raised his hand to the sky.
A black lightning bolt struck through the clouds, cracking the space.
"Now, Mabel… or I'll call you Deuwyn now…"
His voice echoed like a curse from the depths.
"The game begins again."