Zander stood outside the bar, smoking a cigarette when he once again sensed something unusual.
Again…
It had been happening far too often lately.
After taking one final drag, he released a cloud of smoke from his lips before dropping the cigarette onto the ground and crushing it beneath his shoe.
He then walked back inside the bar.
"Hey, Zander! We've been looking for you," one of his bandmates called out.
"Sorry. I just went outside for a smoke. Are we starting?" Zander asked.
His bandmate nodded, and the two of them headed backstage to prepare.
Moments later, the band Black Crux began their performance. The bar was filled with the deafening cheers and screams of their fans.
Zander gripped the microphone and began to sing.
The energy of the crowd reached its peak—
Then suddenly, the entire building shook violently.
The band immediately stopped playing.
"What the hell was that?" their guitarist asked in confusion.
Whispers and frightened murmurs spread among the crowd.
Without warning, the entrance doors of the bar exploded open.
Three strange creatures entered, their forms unrecognizable and terrifying.
"Tsk. You've got to be kidding me," Zander muttered.
He quickly removed his guitar and threw it aside before breaking into a run.
The customers screamed in terror and rushed toward the exits, trying to escape the chaos.
The three creatures immediately locked onto Zander.
And then—
They chased after him.
.
.
.
Lilith suddenly jolted awake, gasping for breath.
"S-Something terrible is happening," she whispered before quickly getting out of bed.
She ran through the hallway and rushed toward Xylon's chambers.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please open the door!" she cried, pounding urgently against it.
The door swung open almost immediately, revealing Xylon.
"What is the matter, Lilith?" Xylon asked, his expression filled with concern.
"Your Majesty, something terrible is happening in Hell," Lilith replied.
Lilith possessed the ability to witness the events occurring within Hell itself.
"What do you mean?" Xylon asked.
The commotion had awakened the others, causing Xenon and the rest of the residents to step out of their rooms.
"T-The King of Hell… I saw him. They have created a breach in the sealed portal…" Lilith said, her voice trembling.
"WHAT?"
Everyone exclaimed in shock.
"I-It's possible that he has already entered the human world… or perhaps… Aznar," Lilith answered.
Jade instinctively grabbed onto Xylon's arm.
"Who is this king you are talking about?" she asked.
"It is Leviathan, the King of Hell," Aria explained, her expression turning grave. "A terrifying and cruel being who once attempted to destroy the world."
Jade covered her mouth in horror.
"H-He was mentioned in Countess Rebecca's book…" she murmured.
"Everything written in that book was true," Xenon said. "But I never imagined that Leviathan would return during our time."
"Kan surely already knows about this. I need to speak with him immediately," Xylon said.
Before anyone could move, a violent tremor shook the entire mansion.
The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and the walls trembled as an overwhelming presence spread throughout the air.
"W-What is happening?" Jade asked anxiously.
Xylon narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming cold and serious.
"Tsk…"
"He's here."
.
.
.
Zander continued running.
"Damn it… why does this have to happen now?" he cursed.
He couldn't use his power at the moment because doing so would put a dangerous strain on his body.
Zander was Rebeus' twin brother. While Rebeus was a Soul Eater, Zander possessed an ability known as Possession—the power to inhabit the bodies of other beings and even possess inanimate objects.
However, there was a major weakness to his ability. He could not leave his own body unattended while possessing another vessel, as anyone could interfere with his vulnerable physical form.
He glanced over his shoulder.
The three creatures were still chasing him.
They were Chimeras.
He didn't know why they had targeted him, but he had heard the rumors. Recently, several vampires had gone missing, and many of them had fallen victim to the Chimeras.
Zander suddenly came to a halt.
"W-Why can't I move?"
He looked down at his feet.
His legs had sunk into a black substance that resembled quicksand.
"Fuck! What the hell is this?!" he shouted in frustration.
He struggled to pull himself free, but he couldn't escape.
Slowly…
He was being dragged deeper.
Zander looked behind him.
The Chimeras were only a few steps away.
But before they could reach him, he screamed as his entire body was suddenly swallowed by the black quicksand beneath him.
Zander's eyes flew open in shock as he landed on a bed.
"Where am I?"
He looked around the unfamiliar room.
His gaze landed on a large portrait of a man.
"Lord Kan Vasilescu… Tsk. I knew it. His shadows brought me here."
"Welcome back, Lord Zander Grimaldi."
A voice echoed through the room.
Zander turned and saw Kan standing nearby.
"Kan, why did you bring me here? And another thing—I'm no longer a Grimaldi."
"You probably already know what happened to your twin brother, Rebeus," Kan said as he returned the book in his hand to the bookshelf.
"Tsk. So what if he's gone?"
Kan remained silent for a moment.
"There are too many enemies threatening the vampires now… Chimeras, werewolves, sometimes even our own kind… and demons."
"Oh? And what does that have to do with me?"
"Our entire race is in danger, Zander. If I hadn't arrived in time, you would have turned to ash just like your brother."
"Tsk. It's none of your business."
Zander walked toward the window.
He intended to jump out and leave this place immediately.
"Come with us, Zander."
Zander stopped and looked back at Kan.
"Why should I?" The anger and resentment in his eyes were impossible to hide.
"My own kind cast me aside."
Kan approached him.
"Your family is gone. Rebeus is gone as well. You are the last remaining member of the Grimaldi bloodline. Come back, Zander."
"After they rejected me because of this ability?" Zander scoffed.
"In our family, I'm the only one with the power of Possession while everyone else was a Soul Eater. They all believed I was weaker and they were superior."
His fists tightened.
"So tell me… why should I return?"
Kan's expression darkened.
Before Zander could react—
THWACK!
Kan smacked him on the back of the head.
"You idiot. They're dead. No matter how much you complain, it won't change anything. They're nothing but ashes now. The Chimeras slaughtered them."
"Damn it! Did you really have to hit me?!" Zander yelled while rubbing his head.
Kan's expression became serious once again.
"Come with us. The King needs your help."
"Tsk. Fine. Just call me when you actually need me."
Without another word, Zander leaped out of the window.
Kan watched his retreating figure disappear into the distance and could only shake his head.
"Still as stubborn as ever…"
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.
.
.....
"AHAHAHAHAHA! AT LAST!" Leviathan roared.
He looked down at his body, admiring his newly gained freedom.
Slowly, his massive horns and demonic wings vanished, allowing him to take on a more human appearance.
Completely naked, he walked through the middle of the road without the slightest concern.
A large truck sped toward him, its horn blaring loudly.
"Hey, you! Are you trying to kill yourself?! Move out of the way!" the driver shouted angrily.
Leviathan turned his cold gaze toward the man.
"You are the one who will die."
With a simple gesture, the truck exploded.
Flames erupted around him, illuminating his sinister smile.
Leviathan merely smirked and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
At the moment, only he and a tiny lesser demon had managed to escape through the portal. The breach connecting Hell and the human world was not yet large enough for more demons to pass through.
But now that Leviathan had escaped Hell, conquering the world would become much easier.
As he walked through the streets, he came across a young girl.
She was a homeless child, covered in dirt and wearing torn, worn-out clothes.
Leviathan approached her.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"My name is Ji Park," the little girl replied innocently. "What kind of creature are you?"
A terrifying smile spread across Leviathan's face.
"Me?"
He bent down to meet her eyes.
"You may call me Father."
"Because from this moment onward… I am your father."
The child simply nodded.
Hand in hand, Leviathan and Ji Park walked away together.