The sky darkened without warning.
Thick black clouds covered it, casting an ominous shadow over the entire kingdom.
The wind grew colder.
Heavier.
As if the world itself sensed the approaching catastrophe.
From the palace balcony, Xenon stared at the darkened sky.
His expression hardened. "He's coming."
Aria stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Leviathan has begun his attack."
A grim silence fell over everyone.
"We need to prepare," Xenon said.
Immediately, Heberlin turned toward the assembled soldiers.
His voice thundered across the courtyard.
"Ready the weapons!"
The soldiers straightened at once.
"Summon every powerful vampire in the kingdom!"
His eyes blazed with determination.
"We march to war!"
"Yes, my lord!" The soldiers hurried to obey.
As the army mobilized, Aria looked at the nobles with worry.
"Please be careful."
Cedrick stepped forward and gently lifted her hand.
He pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.
"You should be careful too."
A faint blush appeared on Aria's cheeks.
Xenon drew his sword.
"Let's move."
The nobles departed the palace and headed toward the battlefield.
.
From her chamber window, Jade watched countless demons flying through the darkened sky.
Her heart sank.
The war had begun.
Without wasting another second, she rushed from her room and hurried toward Xylon's chambers.
But when she arrived—
He wasn't there.
.
.
Far above the battlefield, Leviathan hovered in the sky like a god of destruction.
His crimson eyes glowed with excitement.
"AHAHAHA!"
His booming laughter echoed across the kingdom.
"CHARGE, MY SERVANTS!"
Thousands of demons roared in response.
"DESTROY EVERYTHING!"
His smile widened.
"AND BRING ME THE KING OF THE VAMPIRES!"
The demonic army surged forward.
Like a swarm of darkness.
Like a living nightmare.
Yvess immediately raised both hands.
A massive magical barrier enveloped the palace.
The transparent shield shimmered with protective energy.
The demons crashed against it.
Outside the barrier, Xenon and the nobles launched their counterattack.
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
Fire rained from the sky.
Explosions shook the earth.
Buildings collapsed beneath the assault.
Screams echoed throughout the kingdom.
Many innocent civilians were unable to escape.
Some were consumed by the flames entirely.
Still, the nobles continued fighting.
Refusing to surrender.
Refusing to retreat.
Meanwhile, Jade and the palace attendants remained inside.
Then—
CRACK!
A deafening sound echoed across the battlefield.
Everyone looked up.
Leviathan had shattered Yvess's barrier.
Without hesitation, the Demon King flew directly toward the palace.
Toward his true target.
.
Inside the palace, Xylon stood alone.
Confused by the chaos outside.
"W-Who are you?" he asked as Leviathan entered the room.
Instinctively, he stepped backward.
Leviathan smiled.
A terrifying smile.
"At last."
Dark energy swirled around him.
"It's time for you to die."
He raised his hand.
Prepared to strike.
But before he could—
"STOP!"
A figure suddenly rushed between them.
Leviathan froze.
His eyes widened.
Jade stood protectively before Xylon.
Her arms spread wide.
"I won't let you hurt my husband!"
The room fell silent.
For the first time in a very long time—
Leviathan looked stunned.
His lips trembled. "J-Jinx..."
Jade frowned.
"Jinx?" Leviathan stared at her as if seeing a miracle. "My love..." His voice cracked. "I finally found you."
Confusion filled Jade's face.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She stood her ground. "But I won't allow you to kill my husband!"
Behind her, Xylon stared in disbelief. "Jade..."
A sharp pain suddenly pierced his skull.
He staggered.
Leviathan's expression darkened. "Husband?"
His gaze shifted toward Xylon.
The murderous intent in his eyes intensified. "Tch."
Dark energy exploded around him. "You dare steal away the angel I love most?"
Before anyone could react, Leviathan vanished.
Then reappeared directly before Jade.
His hand gently brushed her forehead.
A dark mist flowed from his fingertips.
Jade's eyes widened.
Then slowly closed.
Her body went limp.
"Jade!" Xylon shouted.
Leviathan caught her effortlessly before she could fall.
"W-Where are you taking her?" Xylon demanded.
Leviathan pulled Jade protectively into his arms. "She belongs with me."
The words were possessive.
Absolute.
Without another glance, Leviathan spread his wings and shot into the sky.
Taking Jade with him.
"No!" Xylon tried to follow.
But another wave of agony struck him.
"AARRGGHHHH!"
He collapsed to his knees.
His hands clutching his head.
The pain became unbearable.
Then—
Images flashed before his eyes.
Jade smiling.
Jade crying.
Jade laughing.
Their wedding.
Their promises.
Their love.
Thousands of forgotten memories surged back into his mind.
One after another.
Faster and faster.
Until he could barely breathe.
"Jade..."
A tear slid down his cheek.
And then—
Everything went black.
.
.
Outside, the nobles suddenly noticed something strange.
The demons were retreating.
One by one, they abandoned the battlefield.
"What the hell?" Blake lowered his weapon. "Why are they pulling back?"
No one understood.
Then a terrified scream echoed from the palace.
"THE QUEEN HAS BEEN TAKEN!"
It was Maddison.
Everyone froze.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to stop.
Then panic erupted.
The nobles rushed back toward the palace.
When they arrived, they found Arden carrying an unconscious Xylon.
Maddison was trembling.
"Leviathan took Queen Jade."
The room fell silent.
Then—
BANG!
Heberlin slammed his fist into the wall.
Cracks spread across the stone.
"DAMN IT!"
His roar shook the room.
"That demon tricked us!"
"Leviathan never came here to conquer the kingdom," Xenon said grimly. "He came for Jade."
The realization chilled everyone.
Zander clenched his fists. "We have to save her."
"No matter what it takes," Cedrick added.
Around them, determination replaced despair.
Because everyone in that room knew one thing.
If Jade remained in Leviathan's hands...
The next war would be far more devastating than the one they had just survived.
.
.
.
A day passed peacefully in the small cottage hidden deep within the forest.
Xerxes carried two buckets of water from the nearby stream, his powerful frame making the task look effortless.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Luna prepared lunch.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the room.
Xerxes had become her constant companion.
He gathered firewood.
Fetched water.
Protected the house from wild beasts and wandering demons.
Though he rarely spoke and often wore a cold expression, Luna had come to realize that he was far kinder than he appeared.
Most importantly, he never left her side.
Not while she carried Leviathan's child.
Luna carefully placed the dishes on the table.
"You should eat first," she offered with a gentle smile.
Xerxes looked at the food briefly before shaking his head.
"I don't eat human food."
Luna sighed.
"You always say that."
Xerxes remained silent.
As Luna ate, his crimson eyes drifted toward her swollen stomach.
His gaze lingered there.
The child had grown rapidly.
Far faster than any normal baby.
The demonic blood flowing through its veins was making itself known.
At this rate...
It wouldn't be long before the child was born.
.
.
.
Far away, within the depths of the Demon King's castle, Jade lay asleep upon a massive black bed.
The room was lavish and beautiful.
Yet it felt more like a prison than a sanctuary.
Leviathan sat beside her.
Silent.
Watching her.
His crimson eyes held none of the madness or cruelty he showed the rest of the world.
Only longing.
Only love.
Slowly, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
His fingers gently caressed her cheek.
"Jinx..."
His voice was almost a whisper.
"I'm so happy you've returned to me."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
For centuries, he had searched.
Waited.
Refused to give up.
And now she was finally here.
Even if she no longer remembered him.
Even if she belonged to another man.
He would never let her go again.
After a few more moments, Leviathan reluctantly stood.
He cast one last glance at Jade before leaving the chamber.
Outside, a demon soldier immediately approached and knelt.
"My lord."
Leviathan stopped.
"What is it?"
"We have located Prince Titus."
The demon lowered his head.
"He is currently with the vampires."
Leviathan's eyes narrowed.
For a moment, silence filled the corridor.
"So he has chosen their side."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
There was no anger in his voice.
Only amusement.
Leviathan raised a goblet filled with blood and took a slow sip.
The crimson liquid stained his lips.
"Leave him be for now."
The demon looked surprised.
Leviathan's smile widened.
Dark and dangerous.
"I have other plans."
The sinister gleam in his eyes made the surrounding demons shiver.
Because whenever Leviathan smiled like that...
Someone was about to suffer.