"Alright! So, shall we begin?" Mist asked.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Lucas replied excitedly.
The three of them closed their eyes and began to concentrate.
Mist sat quietly on the grass, watching them in silence.
Several minutes passed, yet nothing happened.
"Tsk! Why isn't anything happening?" Lucas complained in frustration.
"What's going on? Why can't I feel anything?" Viel asked, confused.
Akuma scratched the back of his head.
"Let's try again," he said.
The three of them closed their eyes once more.
But just like before, nothing happened.
"Forget it. I give up," Lucas sighed.
Mist slowly stood up.
"Perhaps... the time for your powers to awaken hasn't come yet," he said calmly.
"Let's just try again another day," Viel suggested.
"You're right. Let's head back to the dormitory," Akuma agreed.
The four of them began walking back toward the academy.
.
.
.....
"Wake up, child of the demon! You shall help us reopen Hell—the world longed for by every race of darkness!"
The witch chanted as she performed a forbidden ritual over Ji Park, the demon who had survived the battle between Leviathan and Xylon.
Ji Park's body slowly rose into the air, enveloped by thick black smoke.
The witch let out a loud, triumphant laugh.
Moments later, a Chimera approached her and bowed.
"Mistress, everything is prepared," it reported.
"Excellent," the witch replied with a wicked smile. "Send one of them into the town."
"As you command."
The Chimera bowed once more before leaving.
A few moments later, Ji Park's eyes slowly opened.
The witch gently lowered his floating body back onto the ground.
.
.
.....
Xerxes had returned to Serolf Academy.
He stood before its massive gates, silently observing them.
Closing his eyes, he focused his mana.
Little by little, his body transformed into a demon wolf.
Carefully, he approached the academy's magical barrier.
A grin spread across his face when he successfully passed through it.
Without hesitation, he leaped over the gate.
There were no guards nearby, allowing him to enter the academy unnoticed.
Once inside, he returned to his human form and casually wandered through the campus.
.
.
.
At the Palace...
"Your Majesty, won't you visit the young prince?" Aria asked gently.
"I have too many matters to attend to," Xylon replied without looking up from the scroll in his hands.
Numerous scrolls were scattered across his desk, evidence of the endless responsibilities awaiting him.
"I see... He must miss you terribly," Aria said softly.
Xylon remained silent.
Realizing there was nothing more to say, Aria bowed respectfully before leaving the room.
As soon as the door closed, Xylon stopped reading and released a weary sigh.
He stood up and slowly closed his eyes.
The surroundings began to change.
His chamber dissolved into a magnificent garden filled with blooming roses.
He quietly walked through the peaceful scenery until he reached the fountain.
There sat Jade...
Or rather, an illusion of Jade.
It was an illusion Xylon had created himself, hoping to ease the loneliness that consumed his heart.
The illusion turned toward him and smiled warmly.
It immediately ran into his arms and embraced him.
"Did you miss me, my wife?" Xylon whispered.
Jade smiled and nodded.
Because she was merely an illusion, she was unable to speak.
Still holding each other's hands, they sat beside the fountain.
Xylon gently rested his head on her shoulder.
"I miss you so much..." he murmured.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
The illusion of Jade silently stroked his hair with the same tenderness he remembered.
.
.
.
That evening, Mist quietly left the academy.
He made his way to an enormous mansion.
Standing before it, he silently gazed at the estate.
Nothing had changed.
It looked exactly as it had years ago.
"Young Master... you've finally returned," the mansion's caretaker greeted respectfully.
Mist smiled faintly.
He entered one of the mansion's rooms.
There, hanging prominently on the wall, was a grand portrait of his father.
Lord Kan Vasilescu—
A legendary Shadow Lord.
Before his death, Kan had created Mist.
Mist had been born from Kan's own shadow and blood.
At that time, Mist possessed no physical body.
To allow his creation to exist in the mortal world, Kan searched tirelessly for a suitable vessel.
That was the true reason behind Kan's frequent disappearances in the past.
Before he was ultimately imprisoned in Hell, Kan entrusted Mist with one final mission.
He ordered him to protect the beloved prince.
Mist would continue the duty that Kan could no longer fulfill.
Even now, half of Mist's memories were inherited from Kan himself, carrying the Shadow Lord's experiences, knowledge, and unwavering sense of duty.
.
.
Akuma was about to lie down on his bed when something outside the dormitory window caught his attention.
It was already late into the night.
Why was someone still outside?
He glanced over at Viel and Lucas.
Lucas was busy tying his long hair into a ponytail, while Viel quietly sat on his bed reading a book. Mist still hadn't returned.
Akuma looked out the window once again—
His eyes widened in surprise.
Standing outside was his older brother.
Xerxes.
He was looking directly at him.
"I'm just going outside for a while," Akuma said.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Viel asked curiously.
"I just need to check something. I'll be right back."
Without waiting for another question, Akuma hurried out of the room.
He ran out of the dormitory and made his way to where Xerxes was waiting.
"Brother!"
Akuma called out joyfully.
Smiling warmly, Xerxes embraced him.
"How have you been?" he asked.
"I'm so happy to see you, Brother! I'm glad you were able to visit," Akuma replied happily.
"I was fortunate enough to be allowed inside the academy," Xerxes said. "But I can't stay long, Akuma. I only came to make sure you're doing well here."
"I am," Akuma answered with a smile. "I've even made some friends."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Xerxes gently patted his younger brother's shoulder.
"I should get going now. Take good care of yourself."
Akuma hugged him one last time before watching him disappear into the darkness.
Afterward, he quietly returned to the dormitory.
.
.
That same evening, Xylon and his companions had returned to the bar.
Ever since their first performance, they had grown fond of singing there every night.
They performed without accepting any payment, and their identities remained a mystery behind the elegant masks they always wore.
The spotlight slowly focused on Xylon.
As the music began to play, he started singing.
The audience erupted into cheers the moment they heard Xylon's beautiful voice.
Every lyric carried the weight of his sorrow.
He dedicated the song to his beloved wife...
The wife he wished he had been able to save.
But he couldn't.
That regret continued to haunt his heart.
.
.
Lilith sat quietly with her eyes closed, seemingly lost in deep thought.
Gradually, visions began to form within her mind...
Fragments of a future that had yet to unfold.
Her eyes suddenly flew open.
A knock echoed through the room.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, and Aria stepped inside, concern clearly written across her face.
"You saw it too, didn't you?" Lilith asked.
Aria gave a slow nod.
Like Lilith, she possessed the gift of foresight.
However, their abilities were different.
Aria could read the thoughts of anyone she wished, while Lilith's visions were connected to Hell itself, allowing her to witness the events unfolding within its depths.
"We have to warn everyone," Aria said anxiously.
Lilith nodded.
"You're right. Hell will soon be opened once again... and we have to stop it."
.
.
.
At the town...
It was well past midnight.
Thick storm clouds concealed the moon, leaving the streets swallowed in darkness.
Even the streetlights flickered weakly, their light fading one by one.
A young woman hurried down the empty road, uneasiness creeping into her heart.
She suddenly froze.
Standing several meters ahead was a terrifying creature.
"W-Who are you...?! Stay away from me!" she cried, stumbling backward in fear.
The monster's mouth dripped with saliva.
Its ravenous eyes never left her.
It was starving.
"Help! Somebody, help!"
She turned and ran as fast as she could.
But the monster was far faster.
Within seconds, it caught up to her.
It pounced without hesitation.
The creature hurled her onto the ground before violently ripping open her abdomen.
Blood splattered across the deserted street.
From the shadows beside a nearby lamppost, a young man with shoulder-length hair stepped into view.
He calmly approached the beast and watched as it feasted upon the woman's lifeless body.
"Eat your fill, Grum," the young man said with a faint smile.
"We still have a mission to complete after this."
He slowly lifted his head toward the night sky.
The thick clouds drifted apart, revealing the full moon shining ominously overhead.