Seventeen Years Ago...
The Queen of the Vampires and Duchess Maddison were on their way back to the Palace.
Inside an elegant royal carriage, Queen Jade gently cradled her infant son, Viel, in her arms.
They had just returned from a grand banquet hosted by a count in the southern region of Aznar.
Their journey home was peaceful...
Until the carriage suddenly came to an unexpected halt.
Jade stepped outside.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Your Majesty," the coachman replied nervously, "the horses won't move. I don't know what's gotten into them."
Maddison also stepped out, carrying the baby.
"What's happening?" she asked.
"The horses refuse to move," Jade answered.
At that moment, both women heard rustling from the forest.
Then the monsters emerged.
Jade's eyes widened in shock. "W-What are they doing here?!"
The creatures attacked immediately.
One by one, the royal guards were slaughtered.
"Run, Your Majesty!" Maddison shouted.
"But what about you?!" Jade cried.
"Don't worry about me!" Maddison said.
Before Jade could react, a monster drove its blade through Maddison's chest.
"Y-Your Majesty… p-please run…" Maddison whispered.
Tears streaming down her face, Jade fled into the forest with Viel in her arms.
Behind her, Maddison slowly crumbled into ashes.
Hidden among the trees, Xerxes watched everything unfold.
He had never expected the monsters pursuing him and Akuma to cross paths with the queen. Jade had only become a target by accident.
Jade stopped behind a large tree, trembling as she gently placed baby Viel on the ground.
"My son… always remember that I love you more than anything. I'm doing this to keep you safe," she kissed his forehead.
Then she ran, leaving Viel hidden behind the tree.
The monsters chased after her.
Moments later, they cornered the queen and mercilessly killed her.
"XYLON!!!" Jade screamed.
Her body dissolved into ashes.
Xerxes slowly approached the crying infant.
He looked down at Viel… then at the baby in his own arms—Akuma.
"You'll be safer among the vampires, Akuma…" he murmured.
With trembling hands, Xerxes exchanged the two children.
Then he disappeared into the forest carrying the true son of the Vampire Queen.
End of Flashback
Xylon's fist slammed into Xerxes's face.
"How could you do that to my son?!" Xylon roared.
"I'm sorry… I only wanted to save them," Xerxes answered quietly.
"Seventeen years!" Xylon shouted. "Seventeen years I was separated from my real child!"
"Father?"
Everyone turned.
Viel stood there, tears streaming down his face.
"Is it true…? Am I not really your son?" he had heard everything.
Behind him stood Akuma, trembling and crying.
"B-Brother… you told me Father was dead…" Akuma said.
Xerxes lowered his head. "I lied. Akuma… your father is His Majesty, King Xylon."
Viel collapsed to his knees.
"And Viel…" Xerxes continued, "is the son of Leviathan, the King of Hell."
"N-No…" Viel whispered.
"Viel…" Xylon stepped toward him.
"That's not true!" Viel screamed.
Suddenly, his eyes changed.
Black smoke erupted from his body.
"VIEL!" Xylon shouted.
But instead of an answer, laughter echoed through the air.
Viel's hair turned crimson red. A pair of demonic wings burst from his back.
The smile on his face no longer belonged to him.
"It's been a long time, Your Majesty," he said.
"Leviathan…" Xylon breathed.
"Get away from Viel's body!" Xerxes shouted.
Leviathan laughed.
"Ahahaha… thank you for your help. Because of all of you, Viel's heart was filled with hatred. Now I can finally complete everything I've planned."
With a powerful beat of his wings, he soared into the dark sky.
"VIEL!" Akuma cried.
But Leviathan had already disappeared.
.
.
The skies darkened.
"Ahahaha! At last, the King of Hell has returned!" Beatriz shouted triumphantly.
She signaled her followers, and they quickly retreated.
"What does she mean?" Blake asked.
"Leviathan has returned," Aria answered.
Shock spread through the group.
"We need to find the Vampire Prince," Lucas said.
He and Mist immediately vanished into the shadows.
.
.
Xylon pulled Akuma into a tight embrace.
"My son…"
"F-Father…"
For the first time in seventeen years, Xylon held his true child in his arms.
But, Viel still remained precious to him.
Suddenly, Mist and Lucas appeared before them.
"What happened to Viel?" Lucas asked.
"Leviathan has taken control of his body," Xerxes replied.
"So he's truly Leviathan's son?" Mist asked.
"Yes," Xylon answered. "And Akuma is my real son."
Akuma stepped forward desperately. "We have to save Viel."
Lucas nodded and pulled out a mysterious card.
"I need your blood," he said.
Akuma stared at him in confusion.
"It's the only way to stop the darkness," Lucas urged.
Akuma nodded.
He bit his thumb and let a drop of blood fall onto the card.
Instantly, the card began to glow.