"Assemble a rescue team! Now, immediately!"
Phenicea slammed her hand on the table, her voice sharp and urgent. She stood across from Orlando, who sat at the desk, his brow furrowed in concern.
"I sent Makomo to track her down, but without Turiyal, I have no other reliable forces. Sending an inexperienced team against Butcher and the Titanian Bride would be a waste of resources... I understand your worry, Phenicea, but we must be cautious."
Orlando's voice was heavy with regret. Dantalion, leaning against the wall, stepped forward.
"Phenicea, Butcher won't harm Felis. He declared her his knight, remember?"
He gestured to a document on Orlando's desk. "According to Lydia's report, even after removing the control device, he protected her diligently. His dedication and focus are remarkable, and many have praised his work ethic. We can trust him in that regard."
Lydia, upon returning home that day, immediately informed her parents about the events during her trip. The news reached Orlando, who swiftly ordered Butcher's reoperation. Yet, Butcher's actions were swift and calculated, as if mocking Orlando's efforts.
Phenicea glared at Dantalion, her voice sharp. "This is all because you recommended that interesting Butcher as Felis's guard! Do you realize that?"
"I realize, I realize," Dantalion soothed, raising his hands. Phenicea bit her lip, her frustration evident. Orlando intervened.
"It's not Butcher's fault. It's Titanian. She must have taken control of him. Blaming Dantalion for Butcher's actions is misplaced."
"And why was Titanian among the imps in the first place? How did that happen under your watch, Orlando?" Phenicea's anger shifted to Orlando.
"I... I don't know. The noble Dominion clan, guardians of nature, among the imps meant for Butcher... It's unimaginable."
Orlando's voice trailed off. "Those imps were brought here when we prepared for the migration after taking the city from the demi-humans. They originally came from Tartarus, the great labyrinth in our homeland. Titanian must have been among them, or perhaps she infiltrated with intent—"
Orlando shook his head, disbelief in his eyes.
Most beings knew nothing of Butcher's origins. But Orlando, once a general alongside the Demon King, had fought against the heroes and the Agartha forces. He was one of the few who knew Butcher's true nature and his connection to Titanian. He could guess why she approached Butcher.
But even if Titanian controlled Butcher now... Butcher was merely "waste."
Two decades ago, the homeland Elysium, struggling to dispose of him, attempted to use him as a disposable weapon. Initially, they planned to exhaust him completely. However, during the demi-human war, his power proved invaluable. A mindless, fearless weapon, obedient as long as he was fed and given women.
Orlando had opposed this, but control and breeding methods were established. Despite occasional accidents, Butcher remained a frontline asset.
Yet, Butcher was nothing more than mad flesh—a wild, barbaric force. A beast with no intellect or reason, roaming the earth, violating, killing, and consuming without discrimination. Only the strongest warriors could defeat him, making him a dangerous liability.
Butcher, now a mindless monster, should be incapable of being controlled. Domination requires a sane soul, and Butcher's soul was long gone. Or so Orlando believed.
But the power that destroyed the city... Orlando had seen it before.
A supernatural force that mercilessly slaughtered enemies, routing both heroes and the Demon King's army.
That Butcher had mastered this power.
Why did that Butcher retain consciousness?
Butcher, by nature, was a mindless monster. Yet, through "soul transfer," he could be controlled. But every soul transferred into Butcher was consumed by his madness, leaving no trace of self. It was necessary—an uncontrollable Butcher was too dangerous.
But Lydia claimed this Butcher had a self, using the absurd name "Zivodane" given by Felis.
Was it possible for a soul transferred into Butcher to retain its form amidst his lust, violence, and hunger?
No man had ever maintained sanity after soul transfer. Eventually, their self would sink into Butcher's primal impulses.
Thus, after awakening, Butcher was given imps to satisfy his lust and, at times, demi-human prisoners as food, to quickly erase any remaining self.
Perhaps among the demi-human warriors captured during the city's conquest, there was one with a special soul, preserved by Titanian.
Titanian must have found and protected this soul, allowing Butcher to wield his power.
But how?
The Dominion clan's powers were still largely unknown. Orlando didn't fully understand their domination abilities, as they rarely interacted with humans. They were nature's guardians, the ultimate druids, known only for their flawless black hair, their mysterious domination power, and their control over giant insects in the hidden land of Agartha.
No one imagined Titanian, disguised with changed hair, among the women assigned to satisfy Butcher's lust in Famebaum.
Orlando knew one thing about domination: a completely dominated soul is irreversibly rewritten. The change feels natural, like a shift in preference from dogs to cats.
Eventually, the dominated would worship their dominator as a god, feeling supreme happiness without question. It's not a logical change but a shift in the soul's core.
Distinguishing between genuine change and domination is impossible. It affects not just preferences but emotions, perceptions, and even destiny.
The self is silently rewritten.
A terrifying power, thus called heretical and forbidden.
Could this power protect a soul trapped in Butcher's madness? Or was it due to the demi-human's unique qualities? Or both?
And how did Titanian learn Butcher's true name, essential for complete domination?
Felis's given name, Zivodane, was not his true name. A soul's true name is needed for domination, which is why, during the Agartha war, soldiers used nicknames to avoid revealing their true names.
Soul memories fade quickly after transfer, like water slipping through fingers. How did Titanian find his true name among those fading memories?
Each step was a miracle, yet reality was cruel. Titanian hid in Famebaum, unnoticed for years, regained her power, gathered the Titan clan, and attacked the city, causing significant damage. She then left with Butcher and Felis.
Orlando sighed deeply, knowing his failure would be questioned.
Titanian likely had more unknown powers, being the daughter of the Fairy King.
Dantalion's voice broke Orlando's thoughts. "The imps' magic was checked during intake. If Titanian was among them, she must have been weak."
"Even weak, she couldn't have created that many Titans. It was like an army," Phenicea argued.
"She likely summoned them from Miphysis. How, I don't know... But the recent interdimensional gate attack was her doing."
Dantalion sighed. The Titans' assault destroyed a fifth of Famebaum. Without the gathered forces, including Dantalion and Phenicea, half the city might have fallen.
Famebaum's forces suffered heavily, especially with many soldiers killed by Butcher beforehand.
"We can't afford further losses. Phenicea's plan to counterattack immediately is unlikely," Orlando said.
Phenicea's ears twitched. "What about Dupont? He could infiltrate with Makomo to rescue Felis."
"Dupont is a retired butcher now, once a great warrior," Orlando replied.
"He tamed Butcher, didn't he?" Phenicea pointed out.
"I asked him yesterday. He's not eager to fight Butcher. He seems to care for him," Dantalion added.
"Caring for Butcher..." Phenicea trailed off. "Then I'll go."
"No, we can't lose you," Orlando interrupted. "If we must, convince Dupont and assign a small elite team with Ashera leading. Once Makomo returns, we'll assess and form a rescue team. Tiriel might join too. After Turiyal's brutal death, she'd want revenge."
"Tiriel hated Turiyal. She's probably relieved," Phenicea said.
"Really?" Orlando asked, confused. Silence fell.
Outside, the city's reconstruction noises filled the air.
"Phenicea, one thing—why could Felis use Resurrection? You said she'd need years to master it," Dantalion asked.
Resurrection was a rare magic, accessible only to a few in the fox clan with great talent. Phenicea had been Felis's caretaker.
"I have no idea... Resurrection requires love. With enough magical capacity and true love, the talent blooms naturally. We even arranged matchmaking events, but she showed no interest. I don't know when..."
Phenicea sighed, rubbing her temples. "Lydia?" Dantalion asked. "Don't be ridiculous," she replied.
"We must report to the Demon King," Orlando said grimly.
The others tensed. "If he learns Titanian hid here and we inadvertently revived her..."
Orlando slumped at his desk, overwhelmed.
They believed Titanian fled with Butcher and Felis, unaware of her true intent to destroy them.