Lilith was walking through the academy grounds when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Startled, she turned around—
Only to recognize the person standing behind her.
"Y-You?" she exclaimed.
Mist smiled warmly.
"Did you miss me?" he casually draped an arm over her shoulder.
Lilith immediately stepped away from him.
"What do you want?" she asked cautiously.
Mist chuckled. "Why? Is it wrong for me to come and see you?"
A faint blush spread across Lilith's cheeks.
Her heart beat even faster when Mist gently took her hand.
She couldn't understand why...
But every time he was near, her heart refused to calm down.
.
From a distance, Yvess silently watched the two of them.
He simply shook his head.
So... my little sister has finally fallen in love.
Without another word, he turned and began walking away.
"Yo!"
A cheerful voice called out.
Sagi caught up to him and began walking beside him. "I saw Lilith earlier. She was with some guy. Do you know who he is?"
"I don't," Yvess replied flatly.
Sagi glanced back over his shoulder. "Do you think someone's courting your sister?"
Yvess suddenly stopped walking.
Smack!
He lightly knocked Sagi on the head. "You're way too nosy. Shouldn't you be training right now?"
Sagi rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed grin. "Hehe... sorry."
The next second, he bolted away at full speed.
Yvess could only sigh as he watched him disappear.
.
.
.
Meanwhile...
Deep within an ancient purgatory...
Zander rested alone.
Although he existed only as a soul, exhaustion still weighed heavily upon him.
He had just finished another grueling training session.
Even in this state, he continued pushing himself to become stronger.
Closing his eyes, he tried to recover his strength.
Then—
"Zander..."
A woman's voice echoed through the silence.
"Zander..."
His eyes snapped open.
He quickly looked around.
There was no one.
The endless purgatory remained completely empty.
Only he was there.
The voice came again.
"Zander... Can you hear me?"
He froze.
The voice...
It was familiar.
"...Aria?"
"Yes. It's me. Where are you?" she asked.
Zander frowned.
"How did you find out that my soul isn't inside my body?"
Aria hesitated.
"It's a long story. Right now, Aznar is in chaos. We need your help."
Zander's eyes widened.
"Aznar... is in chaos? How is that possible? I thought the kingdom had finally found peace."
"Please... Come back, Zander."
He remained silent.
Could he really return after all this time?
"We'll be waiting for you."
Her voice gradually faded away.
Silence returned to the ancient purgatory.
Zander let out a weary sigh.
.
.
. That night...
"And where exactly do you think you're going?"
The being possessing Viel's body spoke with an icy smile.
In an instant, it grabbed Ji Park by the arm.
"P-Papa... P-Please let me go..." Ji Park pleaded desperately.
The young man merely smirked. "So... You're serving someone else now."
"I-I'm sorry... I didn't realize what I did was wrong," Ji Park's voice trembled with fear.
The entity's expression remained cold. "You're no longer of any use to me, Ji."
Ji Park's eyes widened in terror.
"P-Papa... Please... Forgive me..." she reached toward him with trembling hands.
But he didn't even spare her a glance.
Without mercy—
Brilliant bolts of lightning erupted from his hand.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
Ji Park screamed in agony as electricity consumed her entire body.
Within moments...
She was reduced to nothing but drifting ashes.
The creature wearing Viel's face threw back its head and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Its sinister laughter echoed throughout the academy, disappearing into the darkness of the night.
.
.
.....
The following day...
The witches and chimeras once again spread terror throughout the town.
"That's it!" Beatriz shouted with a crazed laugh. "Break into every building! Kill every human you find! Don't stop until every last one of them is dead!"
Her laughter echoed through the streets.
"Hey, witch!"
Beatriz turned toward the voice.
Sagi stood before her with a fearless grin, while Blake stepped forward beside him.
"You've got a lot of nerve causing trouble in this town," Blake said coldly.
Beatriz clicked her tongue. Tsk. Kill those meddling fools!"
At her command, the witches and chimeras charged forward.
Blake and the others immediately prepared for battle.
.
.
Meanwhile, at Serolf Academy...
Xylon, Akuma, and Viel were taking a walk across the academy field.
"So your older brother was the one who raised you?" Xylon asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Akuma replied. "Brother Xerxes has been taking care of me ever since I was a child."
Xylon suddenly stopped walking. "...Xerxes?"
"Yes. That's my brother's name," Akuma said.
Xylon fell silent.
"Father... Do you know Brother Xerxes?" Viel asked curiously.
Xylon gave no answer.
Just then...
A young man emerged from the nearby garden.
"Brother!" Akuma called happily.
Xylon's eyes widened.
It was Xerxes.
There was no mistake.
He had seen this man...
In his dreams.
.
.
Back in the town...
The battle had reached its fiercest point.
"Tsk... Why won't they stay dead?" Heberlin complained as he cut down another enemy.
Xenon dashed toward a Grave Hunter, engaging it head-on.
Nearby, Blake was locked in combat with a powerful chimera.
Focused entirely on his opponent, he failed to notice a Grave Hunter sneaking up behind him.
The creature raised its weapon—
Before it could strike...
A blur flashed past.
The Grave Hunter was hurled through the air with tremendous force.
Blake quickly turned around. "...Zander?"
Standing behind him was none other than Zander.
Moments later, Aria and Cedrick arrived as well.
"So you finally came back," Stephen said with a grin.
Zander smiled. "As if I could leave all of you to fight without me."
Blake couldn't help but smile in relief.
.
.
High above the battlefield...
Mist and Lucas silently watched everything from the rooftop of a tall building.
"So... Are you finally going to reveal yourself?" Mist asked.
Lucas nodded. "I think... It's time."
Without another word, he leaped from the rooftop.
He landed before everyone with effortless grace.
"Hey. I'm the one you've been looking for... aren't I?"
Beatriz slowly turned toward him.
A delighted smile spread across her face. "My wonderful son... So you've finally decided to show yourself."
Lucas returned her smile.
But there was no warmth in it.
"End this... Now."
.
.
Elsewhere...
Xylon and Xerxes finally found themselves alone.
The silence between them was heavy.
Xylon was the first to speak.
"Tell me... What really happened seventeen years ago?"
Xerxes slowly closed his eyes.
He had hidden the truth long enough.
For the sake of both princes...
It was finally time to reveal everything.