"What in hell…?" Nanashi muttered, nearly speechless. His mouth hung open like his jaw was dislocated. Saliva began to cascade down his chin, onto his shirt, yet he didn't care; there were more pressing issues than how wet with spit his clothes were.

Phantom showed off his signature "I'll-pretend-like-I-give-a-damn-but-I-really-don't" smile. The only visible eye closed as his grin twisted into that cold, yet inviting, smile. "I imagine you're all surprised to see me…"

"That's for damn sure," Dorothy said to no one. Her eyebrows twitched. How could Phantom have returned to the realm of the living, when she had seen Alviss kill him with her own eyes? It just didn't make any sense.

"I have returned to Mar-Heaven because of a very generous subordinate of mine…I'll let him remain anonymous for now. But, the fact remains…" His eye snapped back open, veins coursing to the iris. His pupil was small, complementing his mouth, which had converted to "laugh-like-a-psycho" form.

"This place is disgusting! I can't see any of you humans, but you disgust me! It is time, finally, for this world to be brought to its knees and be cleansed of a scourge upon its surface: Soon, all humans die!" He reared his head back and began to cackle. His tongue slithered out of his mouth, swaying along to the rhythm of Phantom's laughter.

Naturally, this aggravated Alviss beyond comparison. He growled, then screeched. "WHY THE HELL WON'T YOU DIE, YOU EVIL BASTARD?! WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO AVENGE THE PEOPLE YOU MURDERED?!" Hands curled into fists, he fell to the ground and began punching the grass. "Damn it! Damn it!" By now, he was crying. "Damn it…"

He collapsed and tears were clearly visible as they ran from his eyes. Such a tender soul was behind all the coldness of his outer shell…and it was being let out. His rage, sadness, and confusion were all being mixed in with the tears, and nothing made sense to him anymore…What kind of world was he living in? What kind of god would allow a terrible being such as Phantom to return?

"Hey…Al…" Alviss sniffled, craned his neck, and looked up. Nanashi stood there, arm outstretched. His hand was open. "C'mon. You have to get up; I can't stand seeing you miserable."

This brought a small smile to Alviss' tear-stricken face. Grabbing his friend's he said, "You'd better not be coming onto me."

As he got to his feet, Phantom resumed talking.

"It has been brought to my attention that almost all of the previous Chess no Koma was decimated by that idiotic Ginta…"

"Don't insult him, you evil jack-"

"As you all have probably guessed," Phantom conveniently said, "it is my ambition to revive the syndicate of righteousness."

"That pompous prick," Dorothy muttered, flames bursting in her eyes.

"So, I propose this to all of you, since I know all of you are watching: If you wish to join the Chess, you merely need to say my name." With that, his face disappeared, a confident smirk on it. The orb had a normal, glossy look to it now.

Alviss trembled. "What the…?"

"Who would be stupid enough to join the Chess no Koma?" Nanashi questioned himself out loud.

"Hopefully, no soul decides to join this evil crusade," the Great Elder said. "At least I can be assured not a one in Caldia will walk with him on the path of corruption." But at that moment, voices calling out, "Phantom," emanated from inside the castle.

Apparently, people were going with Phantom.

Lestava Castle laboratory

"What a laugh," someone in a white lab coat said. "Like any of us would go renegade with someone as good as Queen Snow protecting us."

But one scientist put down his scalpel. Turning, he let his long black hair settle into place. Grinning, he said clearly, "Phantom."

The scientist who had first spoke almost inaudibly muttered, "Captain…?"

Outskirts of Ponzu Town

Two people sat on the grassy hill, staring at the sky. One moment, they had been hugging and saying things like, "Soon, we'll be married. Then we won't have any more problems."

Now the orb transfixed them, their attention turning to nothing else. It was as if an angel had smiled down from heaven onto them.

Both needn't look in the other's eye. At once, they chimed in unison, "Phantom."

Somewhere in a clearing

He was up in the trees. Smiling as if everything in the world was his strong suit; but he was a bad egg, a soul who yearned for evil to reign. Seeing Phantom was a blessing, and he curled his claws into a fist. He punched the sky.

"Phantom!"

Caldia

All around Mar-Heaven, people were chanting the name of Phantom. Slowly, the noise began to drown out the singing birds. Phantom's name could be heard at every step, in every inch. Obviously, many wanted the world to face terrible despair.

This didn't make any sense to Alviss. "Why…? Why would people work with him, when he tried to slaughter us all? ...I don't get it…"

"Don't get too worked up," Nanashi said. "Save some anger for Phantom himself. You'll want it if you hope to beat him."

It cheered Alviss up a bit. He smiled. "Thanks."

The Great Elder turned to the castle. "Come. We need to make a plan for how to deal with these evil creatures." He seemed to glide back in, and the others followed suit.

Pyromania's underground fortress

Phantom turned to Peta. "Have you got Reverse Andata ready yet?"

Peta nodded. "Of course, Phantom-sama. Just tell me when to use it, and I shall."

Now Phantom looked at Pyromania. "That was quite ingenious. I never would've thought up an Arm that would bring people back from the dead." He crossed his arms. "I'm impressed." Chuckling, he nodded to Rolan. Rolan threw Veru to the cold stone floor, landing with a thud. There was a look of pain on the boy's face as he came around.

"R…Rolan…?"

The quite effeminate-looking man laughed in a very evil way, one no one thought he could do. He flapped his wings as a glare filled his eyes and he grinned. "Silence, you fool."

"So, Pyromania…" Phantom had a gleam in his eyes, and a smile on his face. "How many times can you use that revival Arm?"

Pyromania blinked, then began to scratch his head. "Umm…about that…I…uh…forgot to specify how many times you could use it…"

"Damn," Peta muttered. "Oh, well…Most of the other Chess were pretty much useless. I guess it wasn't a total loss, though…Phantom and I are here."

This made Pyromania laugh hard, and he bent down to a little above eye-level with Veru. He held out the hammer on Babbo. "See this…This is what's going to help me take over Mar-Heaven…

"And you are going to use help me use him."

Veru's eyes widened in fury. "Over my dead body." He quickly reached out and swatted the hammer. It was so sudden of a movement, and a shocking one at that, that the grey stone popped out of the hammer.

"NO!" Pyromania raced after it, but the stone rolled down a water drain…down into the water to be washed out into the ocean. The man fell to his knees, and tried to grab it; it was no use. Getting up, his rage was unparalleled.

He leapt over to Veru, and grabbed the boy by the neck. With a roar, he slammed Veru into the wall. Stone bricks fell to the floor as dust rose. When the torrent cleared, blood ran from the boy's mouth. "You idiot!

"That was my key to taking over the world, you bastard!!!"

"Chill out," Phantom said emotionlessly. "There're seven other, y'know."

Pyromania stared right into Veru's eyes. "Trust me on this: Your life's gonna be a living hell." He punched the boy in the forehead, knocking him unconscious. Pyromania threw him to the floor. "I'll deal with it in a bit."

"Peta, use Reverse Andata."

"Right." Peta raised his arm. "Dimension Arm: Reverse Andata!"

All those who had uttered Phantom's name were transported to the fortress.