The Threat of Phantom Gloom (30.5)

Oxyard Strategic HQ (Othal)

"Why did Phantom Gloom disappear after their attack on Obril?"

This was a question that the highest executives of the United Othal military had been trying to figure out for the past 5 years. After what looked like the birth of possibly the most known terrorist group in all of Vertus, they disappeared without a trace after destroying one of Othal's most powerful capitals.

"Is it possible that there might be turmoil within their organization?"

"That could be possible, but what kind of turmoil could keep them away from the battlefield for this long?"

Moments after that statement, there was nothing but silence that echoed between all of them. No one understood what Phantom Gloom was planning or even who they were until one of them proposed the statement that possibly kept Othal from a premature demise.

"Is it possible that the two so-called prodigies of Demonshire have something to do with this?"

"Gepard, are you referring to Princess Eira de Bethencourt of Vampire Tribe and Princess Vasati le Demonshire, daughter of the wicked King Azziros?"

"Precisely."

"What utter nonsense!"

An Older white-haired man who sat at the end of the long round table banged his fist against the table which caused all but Gepard to flinch.

"Are you saying that a bunch of grade school kids annihilated our forces!?"

"Who says they didn't have help?" Gepard's calm answer was followed by him fixing the position of his glasses.

Gepard then quickly rose from his seat and walked over to the front of the room, where a file was sitting on the chalkboard, which he tossed toward Tebalt.

"This is a report that was filed after the destruction of Obril." Gepard pointed to a blue crystal that was engraved on the paper.

When Tebalt touched it, a hologram appeared from the file, which startled Tebalt momentarily.

"Gepard! What the Hell is this!?"

"This is our new technology… The Recording Crystal. The Great Sage, Lumeria, created it."

Gepard moved the file to the middle of the table so the hologram could be visible to all inside the room.

The recording could make out an aerial battle between a platoon of mages from Obril's military and a cloaked figure who donned a fox mask.

The cloaked figure annihilated the entire platoon of mages and mocked the captain of the Platoon before beheading him.

Then you could finally hear the figure mutter out a word before the recording ended.

"Black Seed,"

The Hologram quickly dissipated afterward and left everyone who sat in shock except for Gepard.

"That girl sounded younger than my daughter…"

Gepard rose from his seat once again.

"In a week, Princess Eira de Bethencourt and Vasati le Demonshire will start their semester at the Grand Vertus Academy. They both must be eliminated."