Hordes of demons poured into the Barbarian Lands, descending like a relentless storm of destruction.
"HAHAHA! CHARGE! WIPE THEM ALL OUT!" Leviathan roared.
He rode atop a massive horned dragon whose crimson scales gleamed beneath the flames consuming the battlefield. The demon king's laughter echoed across the sky, sending fear into the hearts of countless barbarians.
Far above the chaos, Xylon's eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Leviathan.
"Leviathan!" he shouted. "End this madness before more innocent lives are lost!"
Without hesitation, Xylon let out a sharp whistle. A powerful cry answered him from the sky.
A gigantic bird descended from the clouds—Harpus, his loyal companion.
With practiced grace, Xylon leaped onto Harpus's back and soared into the air, closing the distance between himself and the demon king.
Leviathan laughed as Xylon approached.
"Hahaha! So the Vampire King has finally come to face me himself. Truly, your courage knows no bounds."
Xylon ignored the taunt.
Dark energy swirled around him as he summoned monstrous beasts born from illusion. The creatures erupted across the battlefield and charged into the ranks of demons, tearing through them with savage ferocity.
Leviathan merely grinned.
With a wave of his hand, countless blazing fireballs materialized around him.
"Burn."
The inferno rained down from the sky.
Explosions thundered across the battlefield.
Xylon narrowly dodged the deadly flames before drawing his sword. The polished blade gleamed with a cold, deadly light.
Leviathan threw his head back and laughed.
"Haha! And what exactly do you expect to accomplish with that little sword?"
"Shut up!" Xylon snarled, his eyes glowing with murderous intent. "Today, I will kill you."
His grip tightened around the hilt.
The deaths of countless warriors... the suffering of innocent people... the destruction Leviathan had brought upon the world...
Every ounce of rage burned within his chest.
With a powerful cry, Xylon launched himself forward.
Leviathan's smile only widened.
At last, the battle he had been waiting for had arrived.
"Run! All of you, get out of here!" Gold shouted.
Her voice cut through the chaos as demons closed in from every direction.
"But what about you?" Heberlin asked.
Gold offered a determined smile despite the danger surrounding them.
"Don't worry about us. We'll hold them off."
Before anyone could object, she charged straight toward the enemy ranks.
"Gold, wait—!"
But she was already gone.
Zake clenched his fists before turning to Heberlin.
"She's right. We need to return to the palace immediately."
His voice remained calm, but worry gnawed at his heart.
Heberlin reluctantly nodded.
As they prepared to leave, their eyes instinctively lifted toward the sky.
Far above the battlefield, amidst the raging flames and dark clouds, two powerful figures faced each other.
Xylon.
And Leviathan.
A sense of dread settled over them.
.
.
.
"Here, wear this. It will keep the other vampires from attacking you," Yvess said, handing a bracelet to Sagi.
Sagi stared at the delicate accessory in his hand and frowned.
"What is this? It looks like a female bracelet."
Yvess clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk. If you don't want to get hurt, then put it on."
Though reluctant, Sagi slipped the bracelet onto his wrist.
The two soon left the room.
As they walked through the palace corridors, servants and guards turned their heads to stare at Sagi. Their gazes followed him wherever he went, making him increasingly uncomfortable.
Feeling nervous, Sagi instinctively grabbed the back of Yvess's clothing and hid behind him.
"A-Are they always looking at people like that?" he asked uneasily.
"Yes," Yvess replied calmly. "That's how vampires react when they smell human blood."
The color instantly drained from Sagi's face.
"H-Human blood?"
A chill ran down his spine as he noticed several vampires staring at him with unsettling intensity.
"But don't worry," Yvess added. "The bracelet you're wearing conceals your scent and marks you as someone under royal protection. As long as you have it on, they won't dare lay a finger on you."
Sagi let out a long breath of relief.
"Thank goodness..."
Still, he stayed close behind Yvess as they continued down the hallway.
.
.
Jade stood quietly by the window, gazing at the distant horizon.
A faint frown appeared on her beautiful face.
"Why isn't he back yet?" she murmured.
With a sigh, she lowered her eyes.
She missed her husband.
Every passing day felt longer without him by her side.
"He's probably on his way home already," Lilith said gently.
Jade smiled at the reassurance.
"I hope so."
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed through the room.
"Your Majesty!"
The door burst open as Blake rushed inside.
Jade immediately turned toward him.
"What happened? Why are you running?"
Blake struggled to catch his breath.
"Leviathan's forces have attacked Erasmus! A battle is currently underway, and His Majesty Xylon is fighting there right now!"
"What?!" Jade and Lilith exclaimed simultaneously.
The smile vanished from Jade's face.
Her heart tightened with fear.
"Oh, no..."
She hurried back to the window, her hands trembling slightly.
"Please be safe..."
Her worried gaze lingered on the sky.
At that moment, more than anything, she wished she could be by Xylon's side.
.
.
...
Aria and Titus found themselves surrounded by ferocious monsters.
The creatures circled them slowly, their glowing eyes fixed on their prey.
A low growl rumbled through the air.
Then one of the monsters suddenly lunged at Aria.
"Watch out!"
Titus reacted instantly.
He stepped in front of her and drove his blade straight through the creature's chest.
The monster let out a horrifying scream before its body crumbled into ashes and scattered with the wind.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The remaining monsters charged at them from every direction.
Aria stumbled backward.
Fear gripped her chest.
She still couldn't use her powers in this place.
Without them, she felt completely helpless.
Meanwhile, Titus was busy fighting off several monsters at once.
Steel clashed against claws and fangs as he desperately held the creatures back.
Then, unnoticed by him, another monster silently crept toward Aria from behind.
Its sharp claws extended.
Its glowing eyes gleamed with hunger.
Aria turned—
And froze.
"Aaaahhhh!"
Her terrified scream echoed through the forest.
Titus's eyes widened.
"Aria!"
He immediately spun around.
Aria squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the attack.
.
.
...
"AAAHHHHH!" Xylon screamed as Leviathan's attack struck him head-on.
A powerful shockwave erupted through the battlefield.
Xylon was thrown from the sky and crashed heavily into the ground, leaving a deep crater beneath him.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to move.
Leviathan descended from his horned dragon and slowly approached the fallen Vampire King.
His footsteps echoed ominously.
"What a disappointment," Leviathan said with a sneer. "Compared to the Ancient King, you're pathetically weak. You're nothing."
Xylon glared at him despite his injuries.
Leviathan crouched down and grabbed him by the head.
"Hm... perhaps I should erase all your memories instead."
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"HAHAHAHA!"
The moment Leviathan unleashed his power, Xylon let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"AAAAHHHH!"
It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing his mind.
Fragments of memories flashed before his eyes.
Faces.
Voices.
Promises.
Everything began to blur.
"XYLON!"
Heberlin and Zake shouted in horror.
Before they could reach him, Leviathan released his grip and leaped back onto his dragon.
With a triumphant laugh, he flew into the darkened sky.
"Until next time, Vampire King."
Moments later, he disappeared beyond the clouds.
Xylon's body went limp.
"Your Majesty!"
Heberlin rushed to his side and knelt beside him.
"Please wake up!"
Fear filled his heart as he gently shook him.
But Xylon remained unconscious.
.
.
...
Aria squeezed her eyes shut.
This is the end...
She braced herself for the monster's claws.
But the attack never came.
A loud crash echoed nearby.
Confused, Aria slowly opened her eyes.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Standing in front of her was someone she thought she might never see again.
"C-Cedrick..." she whispered.
The monster was sent flying into the distance.
Without hesitation, Cedrick rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Are you hurt?" he asked desperately. "I was so worried about you."
Aria couldn't speak.
Was this real?
Was Cedrick truly standing before her?
Tears began streaming down her cheeks.
Cedrick gently pulled away and wiped them away with trembling fingers.
"Forgive me for everything I've done," he said softly. "I love you, Aria. When you suddenly disappeared, I was terrified. I thought I'd never see you again."
His voice broke.
"Please forgive me, my love."
At that moment, Xenon and Stephen finally arrived.
Seeing them safe and alive filled Aria's heart with relief.
A beautiful smile appeared on her face.
"I love you too, Cedrick," she whispered.
Cedrick smiled before pulling her into another embrace.
Nearby, Titus quietly looked away.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like an outsider.
Yet despite the faint ache in his chest, he was happy to see Aria smiling again.
.
.
.....
Leviathan had only just returned to his castle.
He sat upon his black throne and drank from a goblet filled with fresh blood.
His expression remained cold and dissatisfied.
He beckoned one of the demons forward.
"Have you found Titus yet?"
The demon immediately knelt.
"Not yet, my Lord."
"Tsk."
Leviathan's eyes darkened.
"Useless fools!"
His roar shook the throne room.
In an instant, he was standing before the trembling demon.
He grabbed the creature by the throat and lifted it effortlessly into the air.
"Find him immediately," Leviathan growled. "And do not return until you bring him before me."
"Yes, my Lord!"
The demon cried out as Leviathan hurled him across the room.
Silence followed.
Leviathan returned to his throne.
Moments later, another group of demons entered.
"My Lord," one of them said. "We have brought an offering."
Leviathan lazily glanced toward them.
Then his eyes narrowed.
The demons had brought a female captive.
She stood silently between them, pale and frightened.
Leviathan rose from his throne and studied her carefully.
The young woman is beautiful, with fair skin.
"Perfect," Leviathan said with a grin.
He gestured to the demons.
They entered a dark room together. The young woman seemed to be in a trance, as though she had been hypnotized.
Once the demons had left, Leviathan immediately seized the young woman and kissed her. He then tore her clothing.