Haruto sat in his office, the sunlight streaming through the large window behind him. The soft glow of the morning sun bathed the room in a warm hue, but Haruto's mind was far from calm. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he muttered to himself, "I think it's almost time for them to attack, if I'm right."
---
Elsewhere, a long table stretched across a dimly lit room, with five figures seated around it. At the head of the table sat a man, his age reflected in the deep wrinkles of his face, though his posture was still strong. A crown adorned his head, its design simple but regal. He looked around the table, his piercing gaze settling on each person before he spoke.
"Let the meeting begin," he said, his voice commanding.
He turned to a man with long black hair and sharp red eyes, his presence exuding a quiet but dangerous aura. "How did things go in the north?" the king asked. "You were in charge of that side, right, Raiven Drakov?"
Raiven, seated to the king's right, gave a small nod. "It's been going well. We've taken control of the Oni village, but two of the Oni managed to escape," he reported calmly.
The king nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Great work. But don't let another prisoner escape. We cannot afford any more loose ends."
He then shifted his focus to the woman seated across from Raiven. "Actheria, what do you have to report?"
Actheria, a calm and collected figure, spoke with quiet confidence. "Your Majesty, the Spider King, Haruto, possesses the potential to evolve into an Empyrean Arachnid Emperor. If that happens, his power will rival even the strongest beings in existence. Should he claim that evolution, the entire forest will fall under his dominion."
A stunned silence filled the room. The king's eyes widened, and the others exchanged nervous glances. The gravity of Actheria's words was clear.
The king, after a moment of contemplation, finally spoke. "That will be a problem." He paused, his mind working through the implications of her report. "Actheria, Kieran—can you two take care of that?"
At the mention of her name, a girl seated beside Actheria spoke up, her voice laced with amusement. She wore a large, wide-brimmed hat, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. "Working with you, Lady Actheria?" She grinned mischievously. "I've been looking forward to this! Let's see just how much fun we can have."
Raiven, leaning back in his seat, gave a small smile. "This mission won't be as easy as you might think, Kieran," he said, his red eyes gleaming. "The Spider King is no ordinary opponent. If he's close to evolving, it means he's already stronger than most of us. I'd be careful not to underestimate him."
Kieran chuckled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh, I'm not underestimating him. If anything, it just makes the challenge more interesting. I do enjoy a good hunt."
Seated on the far side of the table, a third figure, a tall and serious-looking man with silver hair, spoke up. "Enough with the theatrics," he said, his voice low and sharp. "The matter is too important for games. If Haruto does evolve, we must be ready to strike fast and decisively. We can't afford any missteps."
Kieran's playful grin faded for a moment, and she gave the silver-haired man a nod of acknowledgment. "You're right, Kalas. We move quickly, then."
The king, hearing the exchange, raised a hand to signal the end of the discussion. "Very well. Prepare yourselves. If Haruto's evolution is imminent, we won't have much time to act. Get ready for what's to come."
Haruto sat at the head of the table in the war room, his posture relaxed yet commanding. The sunlight filtered through the large window behind him, casting a soft golden hue across the room. He looked around at the group gathered before him, each member a crucial part of the empire he was building.
Standing beside him was Liora, her stance calm and composed, her eyes scanning the room. She was Haruto's unwavering pillar, supporting him both as a strategist and as a loyal ally.
At the table sat several others—Lunara, the skilled elf strategist, who had become invaluable in the planning of Haruto's campaigns; the craftsmen, who had worked tirelessly to ensure the empire's forces were equipped with the finest weapons and armor; and the two human-like spiders, Nyx and Zephyr, who had sworn their allegiance to Haruto. They were both sharp-minded and deadly warriors, capable of incredible feats in battle.
"My lord," Lunara said, breaking the silence, her voice cool but respectful, "the Solmaria Kingdom continues to grow more aggressive. Their forces are mobilizing. It's only a matter of time before they make a move against us."
Haruto nodded, his face set in a calm, calculating expression. "That's exactly what I've been thinking. Their alliance-building is only a means to isolate us, and soon they'll try to strike. But we have the advantage of speed and deception on our side."
Liora, standing beside him, added, "Our intelligence network has been gathering information. They're preparing to launch a major offensive, but they're not yet aware of our full capabilities. We must strike first and make them question everything they thought they knew about us."
Haruto's sharp eyes scanned the room, his mind calculating every possible outcome. "We need to lure them into a false sense of security. Let them think they're attacking a vulnerable target, and then hit them when they least expect it."
Lunara nodded in agreement. "A decoy, then. We draw them into an area that's difficult to navigate, force them into a position where they'll be surrounded. We can use the forest's natural defenses and our guerilla tactics."
The craftsmen, seated at the far end of the table, chimed in. "We've been working on new weapons for the army, my lord. The blades are sharp enough to cut through their armor, and the new fire-resistant armor will protect our forces against any magical attacks they might use. We'll be ready."
Haruto's gaze shifted to Nyx and Zephyr, the two human-like spiders who sat silently beside the craftsmen. Their eerie, quiet presence was a constant reminder of their loyalty and strength. Nyx spoke first, his voice deep and calm. "The spiders will be ready, my lord. We've been training to fight in close quarters. If the Solmaria forces push into the forest, they won't know what hit them."
Zephyr, his eyes glinting with excitement, added, "We'll use the webs to entangle their forces, drawing them deeper into the traps. Once they're caught, we'll strike from all sides."
Haruto nodded with approval. "Good. I've already set up secret ambushes along the forest's edges. The Solmaria will think they're facing only the remnants of a scattered force, but they'll soon realize they're walking into a trap."
Liora's voice, steady as ever, cut through the room. "And what of the Solmaria's mages? We can expect them to have strong magic on their side. We should have countermeasures in place to deal with their spellcasters."
Haruto's eyes sharpened. "I've thought about that. We'll need to use deception to divide their forces. The mages will likely be concentrated in a single location, so we draw their attention to one area and use a combination of stealth and speed to neutralize them. If we target their spellcasters, we can cripple their offense before they even realize we've engaged."
Lunara added, "The timing must be perfect. If we wait too long, they'll adjust their plans. But if we act too soon, we risk them retreating or regrouping. We must strike when they are at their most vulnerable."
Haruto stood, his presence commanding the room as he glanced at each of them in turn. "The Solmaria will underestimate us. They'll assume we are weaker, scattered. But they are mistaken. We have the strength, the resources, and the strategies to crush them. We will not wait for them to come to us. We will strike first."
The room fell silent, each person reflecting on the gravity of Haruto's words. The plans were set in motion. Every member of the group had their role, and they would carry it out with unwavering loyalty.
Haruto turned to Liora. "We move out in three days. Make sure everything is in place."
"Understood, my lord," Liora responded, her voice steady and confident.
Nyx and Zephyr stood, their eyes glowing faintly as they nodded. "We'll be ready, my lord."
The craftsmen rose next, bowing respectfully. "The weapons will be distributed to the army in two days. We'll ensure the troops are fully equipped and ready for the battle ahead."
Lunara stood as well, her sharp gaze never leaving Haruto. "I'll coordinate with the scouts and the spy network to ensure that we have the element of surprise. They won't see us coming."
Haruto gave a final nod. "Then it's settled. Prepare for war, and make sure no one underestimates us."
As the meeting came to a close, Haruto looked out the window, his mind already working through every possible scenario. The time for subtlety was over. Soon, they would face the Solmaria Kingdom head-on, and Haruto would show them the true power of his empire.
Haruto leaned back against the smooth stones of the hot spring, the warmth easing his muscles. The steam curled into the night air, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to relax.
"This is perfect..." he muttered, closing his eyes.
But just as he began to enjoy the peace, he heard footsteps.
"So, this is where you've been, my lord."
His eyes snapped open. Three figures stood at the edge of the spring—Liora, Lunara, and Aeloria. Each wrapped in towels, their damp hair catching the soft lantern glow.
Haruto's brain momentarily short-circuited.
(Wait. Wait. WAIT. Why are they here? Why are they in towels? Why are they getting in?!!)
But on the surface, he remained completely calm, only tilting his head slightly. "You're late. The water's perfect."
Liora raised an eyebrow as she stepped into the spring without hesitation. "You do not mind, Lord Haruto?"
Internally, Haruto was screaming.
(OF COURSE, I MIND! WHAT KIND OF QUESTION—?!)
Externally, he shrugged. "It's a bath. What's there to mind?"
Lunara smirked. "Oh? No reaction at all? I expected more from you, my lord."
(I AM REACTING. JUST NOT OUTWARDLY.)
Haruto rested his arm on the edge of the spring, keeping his expression neutral. "I don't see the problem."
Aeloria, as calm as ever, sank into the water. "This is quite soothing, my lord."
Haruto exhaled slowly, forcing himself to focus. (I just have to stay composed. Don't react. Don't think about the fact that they're right there. Just... act normal.)
Liora smirked, leaning slightly closer. "You truly are composed about everything, my lord."
Haruto forced a relaxed expression and smirked. "It takes more than this to shake me."
(That was a lie. I am very shaken. VERY.)
Lunara's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Then how about a test, my lord? A battle of endurance. Let's see who can remain in the hot spring the longest."
Liora chuckled. "An excellent idea. What do you say, Lord Haruto?"
Haruto nodded confidently. "Of course."
(No, I cannot. But I'm not losing to them.)
Azara's voice rang out in his head, sounding way too amused. [Would you like a heat resistance buff to avoid overheating, my lord?]
Haruto internally groaned. (Azara, not helping.)
Liora tilted her head. "Is something wrong, my lord?"
Haruto cleared his throat. "Nothing."
Lunara grinned. "Then it's settled. Let's see who yields first."
Haruto mentally sighed. (I just wanted a peaceful bath... How did it come to this?!)
The night sky loomed over a grand castle city, where towering white stone buildings stood beneath the moonlight. The streets, lined with elegant houses, spread outward from the majestic palace at the center. The palace walls gleamed with golden symbols and intricate patterns, pulsing faintly with magic.
Inside a vast chamber of white marble and golden inlays, a massive magic circle shone brightly. As the arcane symbols pulsed with power, the circle flickered before finally vanishing.
In its place, dozens of people stood, confused. They wore high school uniforms, their faces filled with uncertainty. The air was filled with their overlapping voices.
"Huh? Where are we?"
"Wasn't I just in class?!"
"Is this a dream?"
"Who are these people?!"
Surrounding them were figures in white robes embroidered with gold, their gazes focused intently on the new arrivals. Some of them exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
One of the robed figures suddenly gasped. "It's... It's rare to summon this many at once!"
The murmurs grew louder, but before the confusion could spiral further, a man stepped forward.
He was tall and imposing, with short golden hair and piercing blue eyes. His silver armor gleamed under the chamber's light, and the royal blue fabric beneath it marked him as a person of high rank.
His expression was calm and composed as he raised a hand for silence.
"Welcome, Heroes." His voice carried across the chamber, firm yet reassuring. "I am Alistair Von Arden."
The students fell silent, their expressions shifting from confusion to realization. The weight of the moment settled upon them.
Their new reality had just begun.