Jade gently held Xylon's hand as he lay unconscious on the bed.
They had finally returned to the palace, but the Vampire King still hadn't opened his eyes.
"My love... please wake up," Jade whispered tearfully.
Not long ago, it had been Jade lying helpless in bed while Xylon stayed by her side day and night.
Now their roles had been reversed.
The sight of him so pale and motionless made her heart ache.
"What exactly happened?" Maddison asked, her expression grim.
Heberlin let out a sigh.
"Leviathan's forces attacked Erasmus. Xylon and Leviathan ended up fighting each other. When Xylon fell to the ground, Leviathan approached him and did something to him... but we don't know what."
"Tsk. That demon is truly evil," Blake growled.
Yvess placed a comforting hand on Jade's shoulder.
"He'll wake up," he said softly.
Jade nodded, though worry still filled her eyes.
Standing quietly by the doorway was Sagi.
He listened to their conversation but couldn't fully understand what was happening.
Eventually, he left and wandered through the palace corridors.
"What is going on here?" he muttered to himself. "What war are they talking about?"
A few moments later, he found himself sitting alone on a veranda overlooking the kingdom.
His gaze drifted toward the dark sky above.
"The sun doesn't even shine in this place..."
He sighed quietly.
.
.
Cedrick pulled out the bottle given to him by the Gate Keeper.
"Come with us, Titus," Aria said.
Cedrick glanced toward Titus.
For a moment, Titus stared at Aria as though he wanted to say something.
But whatever words lingered in his heart remained unspoken.
In the end, he simply nodded.
Cedrick handed the bottle to Xenon before stepping beside Aria.
"Is everyone ready?" Xenon asked.
"Yes!" they answered in unison.
Xenon scattered the magical sand into the air.
Almost instantly, a brilliant light appeared before them.
A glowing portal slowly materialized.
"We're finally going home," Cedrick said, taking Aria's hand.
Aria smiled warmly at him.
One by one, they stepped through the portal.
Seconds later, they emerged inside the Throne Palace.
"We made it back," Stephen said with relief.
"Aria?"
Lilith's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Aria!"
For a moment she simply stared.
Then her face lit up with joy.
"Everyone! They're back!" she shouted.
The entire palace erupted into excitement.
Blake, Zake, and the others rushed over almost instantly.
"Aria!" Zake exclaimed as he wrapped her in a tight hug.
Aria laughed softly.
Jade approached with a warm smile. "We're so happy you've returned safely."
"Thank you," Aria replied.
"I knew Cedrick wouldn't let us down," Heberlin said proudly.
Blake grinned. "That's the power of love for you."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The heavy atmosphere that had filled the palace earlier finally began to lift.
Then Heberlin noticed Titus standing quietly behind them.
"Who is he?" he asked.
Aria stepped forward.
"This is Titus. Like me, he was trapped in the World of Emptiness."
Titus respectfully bowed.
"If you have nowhere else to go, you're welcome to stay here in the palace," Jade offered kindly.
Titus lowered his head. "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
Suddenly, Yvess turned his attention toward Stephen. "And who is he supposed to be?"
The moment Aria heard that question, her eyes widened. "Y-Yvess? You're alive!"
"Yeah," Heberlin replied with a smile. "We were just as shocked when we saw him."
"I'm happy to be with all of you again," Yvess said.
Then he looked back at Stephen. "Seriously. Who is he?"
Blake immediately burst out laughing. "Don't tell me you can't recognize him."
Stephen's face remained completely expressionless.
"That's Stephen," Xenon explained. "His face was badly injured during our last battle with Jinx, so he had to undergo reconstructive surgery."
Yvess blinked in surprise. "Wait... that's really you?"
A grin spread across his face.
Stephen rolled his eyes. "Yeah, idiot."
The room exploded with laughter once again.
.
.
.
"My Lord, the prisoner has escaped."
The demon knelt before Leviathan as he delivered the report.
He was referring to the young woman the demons had previously offered to their lord.
Leviathan calmly took a sip from his goblet of blood.
Instead of becoming angry, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Let her go," he said.
The demons exchanged confused glances.
"B-But, My Lord..."
Leviathan chuckled.
"Leave her alone."
His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement.
"After all, she's carrying my child."
The entire throne room fell silent.
The demons stared at him in shock.
His child?
None of them had expected such a revelation.
Leviathan leaned back against his throne.
"Xerxes."
A massive wolf-like demon with six tails emerged from the shadows and approached him.
The creature lowered its head respectfully.
"You called, My Lord?"
"Keep watch over that woman," Leviathan ordered. "Follow her and protect her from the shadows."
The wolf demon remained silent.
"When she gives birth to my child..." Leviathan's smile widened into something terrifying. "...kill her."
A chill swept through the room.
The command was delivered so casually, as though he were discussing the weather.
Xerxes bowed his head.
"As you command."
Without another word, the six-tailed demon disappeared into the darkness.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, back at the palace...
Xylon's eyelids slowly fluttered open.
The room was blurry at first.
"W-Where am I?" he murmured weakly.
The people gathered around his bed immediately brightened.
"Xylon!"
Jade hurried to his side.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, relief filling her voice.
Xylon turned toward her.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then he frowned. "Who are you?"
The room instantly fell silent.
Jade froze.
The smile on her face disappeared. "W-What...?"
"Dude," Blake said awkwardly, "that's your wife."
"Wife?" Xylon looked even more confused.
His gaze moved from one face to another.
None of them looked familiar.
Not a single one.
"Do you recognize any of us?" Xenon asked carefully.
Xylon slowly shook his head. "No..."
Confusion flickered in his eyes. "Who are all of you?"
The words struck everyone like a blade.
Jade staggered backward.
Her face turned pale. "No..."
Tears immediately filled her eyes. "T-This can't be happening..."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Everyone exchanged worried glances.
Finally, Heberlin spoke. "Could it be..."
His expression darkened.
"Could Leviathan have erased his memories?"
The possibility hit them all at once.
Jade's knees nearly gave out beneath her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The strange power Leviathan had used.
The unbearable pain Xylon had suffered.
His complete inability to recognize anyone.
He had forgotten everything.
His friends.
His kingdom.
His battles.
And worst of all...
His wife.
Jade broke down into tears.
The man she loved was sitting right in front of her.
Yet to him...
She was nothing more than a stranger.
As despair filled the room, one terrifying question echoed in everyone's mind.
If Xylon's memories were truly gone...
How would they ever bring him back?