The journey to the Sun Clan was still ahead.
But before that, Satoshi needed to ask a question he had been holding onto for too long.
"Amelia," he said, his voice steady, calm, but firm.
She glanced at him, her violet eyes reflecting the firelight. "What?"
"Why are you fighting the Dark Clans?"
For a moment, Amelia said nothing.
Then—she smiled.
But it wasn't a warm smile. It wasn't the kind of expression that spoke of hope or dreams.
It was cold. Sharp.
And filled with something far deeper than rage.
"You really want to know?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Satoshi didn't look away. "Yeah."
Camila put her knife down, her eyes darkening. She already had a feeling.
But Amelia…
She had never told them the full story.
Until now.
The Lab of the Forgotten
"I was six when the Dark Clans killed my parents."
The words were matter-of-fact, but beneath them, there was something deeper.
"I don't remember much about them," Amelia admitted. "Just… small things. The way my mother used to hum when she cooked. The scent of my father's jacket when he held me."
She stared into the fire.
"And then one day… they were gone."
She exhaled, but it wasn't a sigh. It was the release of something buried.
"The Dark Clans didn't kill me. They took me."
Satoshi's fingers twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
Camila's grip on her blade tightened.
"There were other kids, too. Dozens of us. We were taken to a facility. A lab."
She paused, as if the next words physically hurt to say.
"They wanted a vessel for the Eyes of Lust."
Satoshi's eyes darkened.
"…How?"
Amelia laughed, but it was a dead sound.
"You know the answer."
And they did.
The Eyes of Sin could manifest in two ways.
They could choose someone.
Or—
"They tried to force it."
Camila closed her eyes. She already knew what that meant.
Amelia smirked, but there was no amusement in it. "Some of the kids were killed in the experiments. Others just… broke. But the ones that survived…"
Her violet eyes burned.
"They were used."
Satoshi remained silent, but the air around him shifted.
"They made us watch," Amelia continued. "Made us listen."
She leaned back against the cold metal wall. "Some kids did what they were told. Others fought back. The ones who did… well, they didn't last long."
A memory flashed in her mind—
The smell of sweat and blood.
The sound of screaming.
The touch of hands that weren't supposed to be there.
She clenched her fists.
"I was eleven when a man tried to force himself on me."
Camila's jaw tightened.
Satoshi's flames didn't flicker—they vanished.
Amelia tilted her head, her voice soft.
"And I killed him."
Silence.
Satoshi's fingers curled into a fist.
"I don't even remember doing it," she said. "One moment, he was on top of me. The next… his throat was open."
Her fingers twitched, as if remembering the feel of warm blood pooling in her hands.
"And then…"
She smiled.
And the Eyes of Lust awoke.
The Birth of a Monster
"The moment they activated, I felt it."
Amelia leaned forward, her violet gaze glowing, the firelight flickering.
"It wasn't just power. It wasn't just rage."
A slow, sharp breath.
"It was pleasure."
Satoshi remained still.
Amelia chuckled softly. "It was joy. Pure, intoxicating joy. Like something inside me had been waiting for that moment."
She tilted her head. "Have you ever felt that? The moment you get exactly what you want? The kind of satisfaction that makes you feel like you're the only thing in existence that matters?"
Satoshi didn't answer.
Camila didn't move.
Because she wasn't just telling them a story.
She was reliving it.
Amelia stretched out her hand, as if reaching for something unseen.
"Once the Eyes awoke, I knew exactly what I needed to do."
She smiled, but her eyes were dead.
"I killed everyone."
The scientists.
The guards.
The ones who had made her watch.
The ones who had laughed.
The ones who had begged.
The ones who had done nothing.
"I didn't stop. I didn't hesitate. I didn't even try to leave right away."
She leaned back, sighing.
"I played with them first."
Satoshi exhaled. "What do you mean?"
Her smile was slow, deliberate.
"I rewrote them. Twisted their minds. Made them feel things they didn't want to feel. Made them break."
Camila closed her eyes. "And then?"
Amelia grinned.
"Then I walked out. And I never looked back."
A Reason to Fight
The fire crackled.
Satoshi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So let me get this straight."
He looked at Amelia.
"You don't want revenge. You already got that."
She nodded.
He tilted his head. "Then why are you still fighting?"
Amelia smirked. "Because they're not done."
Her eyes darkened.
"The Dark Clans still need a vessel for the Eyes of Lust. And now that I'm out here… now that I'm strong… do you really think they won't come for me?"
Her voice dropped into something cold.
"Or that they won't try again… with someone else?"
Satoshi exhaled slowly.
Yeah. That made sense.
Camila was fighting because she believed in something.
Satoshi was fighting because he wanted revenge for his family and also thought it would be fun.
And Amelia?
She was fighting because she had already lived in hell.
And she refused to let it happen to anyone else.
She leaned forward, her violet eyes burning.
"So, Satoshi…"
Her smirk widened.
"Did I pass your test?"
Satoshi grinned.
And his flames roared back to life.
"Yeah. You do."
A World Like No Other
The moment Satoshi, Camila, and Amelia stepped through the rift, they knew this world was different.
The air was thicker—charged with an energy that hummed beneath their skin. The sky stretched high above, endlessly blue, twin suns casting golden light over sprawling cities unlike anything they had ever seen.
They had arrived in Ephemeral.
A world that was not theirs.
A world that felt like fantasy made real.
And for the first time in his life, Satoshi felt at home.
The Mid-Villa World of Ephemeral
They stood at the edge of a grand, bustling city, towering spires gleaming with runic inscriptions, streets alive with thousands of voices, filled with beings beyond human imagination.
Satoshi's eyes sparkled as he took it all in.
Elves with flowing silver hair walked gracefully through the streets, their robes woven with light itself.
Dwarves in mechanized armor stomped past, their booming laughter mixing with the sound of clanking metal from the nearby forges of stone and flame.
Beastmen with furry ears and tails shouted over street stalls, their movements agile and precise, their weapons gleaming with enchantments.
And then, in the skies above—
A dragon.
A real dragon soaring over the city, its scales reflecting the light of the twin suns.
Satoshi froze.
His jaw dropped.
"Oh. My. God."
Camila glanced at him, unimpressed. "What?"
Satoshi slowly turned to her, his Eyes of Sloth burning with an unnatural excitement.
"Camila," he whispered. "We're in an isekai."
Camila blinked. "...A what?"
Satoshi grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "AN ISEKAI. A REAL-LIFE FANTASY WORLD. LOOK AT IT."
Camila stared at him for a long moment. Then she sighed. "You're an idiot."
Amelia, arms crossed, looked up at the dragon with mild interest. "It is… different," she admitted.
Satoshi turned, taking a deep breath. He had waited his entire life for this.
The air smelled different—like a mixture of magic, fire, and spices he couldn't recognize. The streets were alive, glowing with the vibrant chaos of a city that had existed for centuries, untouched by the wars of their own world.
This wasn't a place of ruins.
This wasn't a world shaped by suffering and war.
This was a real, breathing fantasy world.
And he was in it.
Satoshi grinned. "Best. Day. Ever."
The Problem of Money
It wasn't until they passed through the grand entrance to the city that reality hit them.
Camila glanced at the signs around them, reading the ancient script effortlessly. "First things first—we need a place to stay."
Satoshi nodded. "Right. Fantasy world or not, we need a base."
Amelia, as usual, was direct. "Do we have enough money?"
Silence.
Camila frowned. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a handful of gold coins from their world. They glowed dimly, their engravings marking them as currency from another realm.
She stared at them. "I have no idea if this will work here."
Satoshi tilted his head. "I mean… it's gold, right?"
Camila sighed, grabbing his wrist and dragging him to the nearest merchant—a gruff-looking dwarf selling enchanted blades.
Camila placed a coin on the table. "Can this be used here?"
The dwarf squinted at the coin. Then he picked it up, bit into it, and immediately snorted.
"This?" He tossed it back to her. "This is garbage."
Camila's eyes twitched. "…It's pure gold."
"Yeah," the dwarf grunted. "But not our gold. No enchantments. No divine inscription. No weight certification." He waved them off. "That's worthless here."
Amelia frowned. "Then what does count as money here?"
The dwarf raised an eyebrow. "Guild tokens. Enchanted gold. Dragonmarked silver. Hell, even soul-bound currency works. But that?" He pointed at Camila's coin. "Might as well be a rock."
Satoshi grinned.
"So what you're saying is…" He turned to Camila.
"…We're broke."
The Guild Idea
Camila sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Great. Just great."
Amelia crossed her arms. "What now?"
Camila exhaled. "We get jobs."
Satoshi's grin widened.
"Oh my god," he whispered.
Camila raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Satoshi spun around dramatically, throwing out his arms.
"WE'RE JOINING AN ADVENTURER'S GUILD."
Amelia blinked. "That wasn't what I—"
Satoshi was already walking ahead.
"Oh, this is it. This is the dream." He spun toward them, walking backwards. "We're literally in a fantasy city. We have no money. And we're gonna take quests to earn a living."
His Eyes of Sloth shimmered.
"This is literally an anime."
Camila groaned. "Just move."
Into the Guild
The Adventurer's Guild was exactly what Satoshi had hoped for.
A massive structure in the heart of the city, built from enchanted stone and glowing with ancient sigils. The inside was chaotic, filled with warriors, mages, beastmen, and adventurers of all ranks and species, drinking, laughing, arguing over missions.
A massive quest board stretched along the back wall, marked with different ranks and rewards.
Satoshi inhaled deeply.
"Smells like destiny," he whispered.
Camila marched toward the front desk. A tall, elf woman stood behind it, her golden eyes flickering with mild disinterest.
"We need work," Camila said.
The elf barely glanced up. "First time?"
Camila nodded.
The elf sighed, pulling out a thick, leather-bound book. "Newcomers start at Bronze Rank. No exceptions."
Satoshi smirked. "How do we go up?"
The elf finally looked up, studying them. "By completing jobs and proving your strength."
Satoshi's grin widened.
"Sounds fun."
The Beginning of a New Life
As the three of them stepped forward, ready to register, ready to begin this new adventure, Satoshi's excitement was uncontainable.
Unlike his world.
Unlike Amelia's world.
This one was untouched by war.
This one was real fantasy.
And he was going to enjoy every second of it.
No matter what came next.
A Fight Worthy of an Anime
The Adventurer's Guild was packed.
The air was thick with boisterous laughter, the clinking of tankards, and the occasional clash of steel as warriors, mages, and beastmen argued over who had the highest kill count.
Satoshi, Camila, and Amelia stood at the front desk, filling out their registration forms under the unimpressed gaze of the elf receptionist.
Satoshi was grinning like an idiot.
"This is perfect," he muttered, practically vibrating with excitement. "Classic isekai vibes."
Camila sighed. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
Satoshi leaned closer, whispering, "Just wait. This is the part where someone picks a fight with the newcomers."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "That's ridiculous."
And then—
A shadow loomed over them.
"Oi," a voice growled.
Satoshi's grin widened.
Right on cue.
The Fool Who Chose the Wrong Target
A tall, scarred warrior stood behind them, broad-shouldered and covered in patched-up armor. His sword was massive, resting lazily on his shoulder. His animal-like ears flicked slightly as his beastman instincts picked up something… off about Satoshi's presence.
But he ignored it.
He was a veteran.
These were just newcomers.
"Newbies don't get to waltz in here like they own the place," the warrior growled.
Satoshi beamed.
"Oh my god," he whispered. "This is happening."
Camila groaned, rubbing her temples. "Satoshi—no."
Satoshi turned to her, eyes sparkling. "But Camila. It's tradition."
Amelia sighed. "Let's just finish the paperwork and—"
The warrior drew his sword.
The air tensed as the massive blade hovered near Satoshi's face.
"Maybe you didn't hear me," the beastman sneered. "Newbies bow to veterans."
Satoshi barely held in his laughter.
Camila sighed. "Don't fight."
Satoshi pouted. "Not even a little?"
"No."
The warrior smirked. "Oh? You scared?"
Satoshi tilted his head. "Me? Nah. I just like dodging."
The warrior swung.
Effortless Evasion
The blade whistled through the air—fast, powerful. Enough to cut through solid stone.
Satoshi yawned.
His body moved on instinct, shifting just enough for the blade to miss him by an inch.
The warrior swung again.
Satoshi sidestepped.
A third swing—a diagonal slash meant to split him in half.
Satoshi tilted his head, the sword missing by the width of a hair.
The guild went silent.
The warrior snarled, swinging faster. "STOP MOVING AND FIGHT ME!"
Satoshi's grin widened as he casually leaned backward, letting the sword pass over him.
"Dude, this is great."
The warrior's eyes twitched. "WHY ARE YOU SMILING?!"
Satoshi twirled, dodging a horizontal slash with lazy ease. "Because every anime has this scene," he said happily. "And I've always wanted to be in one."
Camila crossed her arms. "Are you done?"
Satoshi pouted. "You're ruining my moment."
But then—
The warrior sneered.
And made a fatal mistake.
The Moment Everything Changed
"Tch. Figures," the beastman spat. "A coward like you probably had a pathetic mother too."
Silence.
The room froze.
Camila's head snapped up. Amelia stiffened.
Satoshi…
Stopped moving.
His smile vanished.
The air turned heavy.
Something shifted.
The warrior frowned. "What?"
Then—
It hit.
KILLING INTENT.
A wave of pure, suffocating malice erupted from Satoshi.
The guild shattered into chaos.
A City's Nightmare
The air became thick, crushing.
The warrior dropped his sword, his entire body trembling. His knees buckled, breath shallow, eyes wide with primal terror.
Other adventurers in the guild collapsed, unconscious before they even knew what hit them.
A few vomited, their bodies unable to handle the sheer weight of the presence pressing down on them.
The receptionist, a high-level elf, staggered against the counter, her mind reeling.
Outside the guild, the entire city froze.
Merchants halted mid-transaction.
Guards gripped their weapons, sweat beading down their faces.
Civilians panicked, some collapsing in the streets, their instincts screaming at them that something terrible had appeared.
And in the distance—
The royal palace sent out an emergency alert.
A demon-level threat had appeared