"Heh heh heh!"

The voice echoed through the sky like thunder, rapidly spreading in all directions. It instantly permeated the entire Helheim, and even the wild winds seemed to freeze in this cry.

Black and white space-time rippled, carrying Ian’s cry out into the world, affecting every space and realm in the Netherworld, as if they all trembled at the same moment.

Within the Misty Illusion Realm.

Pandro was still teaching Ariana swordsmanship.

Both he and Ariana heard the sound repeating through every corner of the Netherworld.

"Ian’s Phoenix?"

Ariana was somewhat surprised.

Looking around.

Not finding the source of the sound.

"This day came so quickly..." Pandro also raised his head, his gaze seemed to look into another layer of space, and complex emotions appeared in his eyes.

"What came so quickly?" Ariana, with sharp ears, caught Pandro’s muttering. Curiously, she looked toward the boy beside her and couldn’t help but ask.

Pandro glanced at her.

"Not Ian’s Phoenix."

He only responded to Ariana’s initial question.

And at this moment.

"This is the King’s voice."

Morgan appeared in the town at some unknown time. Her arrival made Pandro raise his eyebrows, but did not show any signs of tension.

"Lady Morgan."

Ariana greeted Morgan first and then couldn’t help but curiously ask, "Why does the King’s voice like that cackling sound just like Ian’s Phoenix?"

She truly found it peculiar, hard to understand.

"Hahaha."

Morgan laughed out loud at this, "Silly girl, it’s not that the King and Ian’s bird are the same, but Ian’s bird and the King are the same. This involves a little-known secret."

She gave Pandro a meaningful look, as Ian’s Black Phoenix came from Pandro, who seemed unaware and turned to look elsewhere.

"It’s a transaction."

He corrected Morgan’s wording.

"What kind of transaction?"

Ariana blinked.

Pandro remained silent, only saying in a low voice, "The sound came from the King, announcing to the worlds under His dominion, He has reclaimed His rights and power."

Pausing for a moment. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"And gained even more."

Pandro softly added.

"Turned His past into His Animagus, thus gaining more of the present and future, tsk tsk, a triple win, truly deserving of..." Morgan abruptly stopped here, and Pandro couldn’t help but sigh at her words, while Ariana’s wide eyes were full of confusion and incomprehension.

...

Misty Illusion Realm.

At the mouth of the Doomsday Volcano.

"Mother, what was that commotion just now?"

Helena Ravenclaw curiously turned her gaze to her mother.

"It’s urging us."

Rowena Ravenclaw replied without raising her head, the volcano under her control resembled a natural forge, crafting some destined-to-be extraordinary items within.

"We must speed up."

She sighed as she looked at the crown looming within the volcano.

"Hope we’re not too late."

She muttered softly.

Even Helena Ravenclaw didn’t hear it.

...

Misty Illusion Realm.

At the ends of the Black Sea.

The Black Sea’s waters were like dense ink, silently surging, occasionally rippling and swiftly returning to stillness. On the surface floated countless shattered phantasms.

Like forgotten souls drifting within.

In the dead center of this Black Sea, enveloped in a black robe, stood a mysterious entity, silently as one with the surrounding darkness, as if He were part of the Black Sea itself. From under the hood of the black robe, His face was obscured, only a pair of deep black eyes were visible, as profound as an endless abyss.

He slightly raised His head.

Gaze penetrating layers of gray mist, looking afar, in His eyes reflected the flying Raven.

"It has appeared..."

The Mysterious Man’s voice was hoarse and cold, as if it originated from the depths of Hell, his tone indifferent without a hint of emotion, his long, black fingers constantly stroked the enigmatic creature in His arms— a slug with a human face, its skin pale and sticky, its facial features twisted and tormented.

The slug moved slightly in the Mysterious Man’s hand, making subtle hissing sounds, as if responding to His whispers, His fingertips slid past the slug’s mouth.

The next moment.

The slug was robbed of its ability to speak.

"All things have their time, why rush? The bird doesn’t know, all its actions are weaving its own... dusk."

The Mysterious Black-robed Man’s voice deep and distant.

Black tides flowed.

The Black Sea churned.

He had sat in this place since antiquity, able to see the end of all life.