A grinning Mirce Lorde walked through the ruined and deserted town.
"That child actually thought he could keep me imprisoned," he muttered with a sinister chuckle.
He had been unable to leave for several days because of that being.
But now...
It was time to return to the palace.
.
.
.....
BANG!
Xylon slammed his fist onto the table.
"Tch... That bastard Mirce Lorde!" he growled. "He took advantage of the banquet while all of us were gathered together. It made it easy for him to send us to the human world!"
At last...
Xylon's memories had fully returned.
"Your Majesty, how are we supposed to return to Aznar?" Lilith asked. "The portal has been sealed."
"If only I could teleport us there..." Xenon muttered.
Suddenly, Xylon's eyes widened. "Serolf Academy... The academy has a Portal Tunnel, doesn't it? It's connected to the human world, and it's the closest route to the Sixth District of Aznar."
The others immediately realized he was right.
"You're right!" Heberlin exclaimed. "There is a Portal Tunnel there!"
"We just need to bring the bus driver who transports the students to Serolf Academy," Xenon said.
"But we don't have access to the Vampire Service Bank," Lucas pointed out.
"We do," Xylon replied. "There's one here at the mansion. A service tree was installed for vampires living in the human world."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Blake said. "Let's go!"
Everyone hurried outside—
Only to stop a second later.
It was still daytime.
"Damn..." Zander sighed. "How are we supposed to get outside?"
"I'll handle it," Lucas said.
He walked straight out of the mansion without hesitation.
"Nice," Blake commented with a grin. "One advantage of being a warlock—you don't burn under sunlight."
Lucas dropped a coin into the small service box attached to the ancient tree.
A tiny bat's voice echoed from within.
"Good day. How may I assist you?"
"By order of the King," Lucas replied, "send the bus driver who transports students to Serolf Academy."
"At once."
Lucas returned to the group.
"Is he coming?" Yvess asked.
"He'll be here soon," Lucas answered.
"Wait," Xylon interrupted. "Before we leave... we need to find Stephen."
"Stephen's here too?" Xenon asked.
Xylon nodded. "Yes. He's probably terrified and confused about what's happening to him."
"I'll find him," Arden volunteered.
Xylon nodded gratefully.
.
.
.....
At the palace...
"AAAHHH!!"
Sheen screamed as the Mirce Lorde lashed him across the back with a silver whip.
"F-Forgive us, my Lord! It hurts! P-Please stop!" Spring begged.
Smoke rose from their backs as the silver tore through their flesh, leaving countless burning wounds.
"Not enough!" the Mirce Lorde roared. "Those wounds are nowhere near enough punishment! Because of your incompetence... Aria escaped!"
The Mirce Lorde towered over them, his body concealed beneath black armor.
A grotesque mask hid his face, while two enormous horns curved from his helmet, making his presence even more terrifying.
"F-Forgive us, my Lord..." Arkanus said through gritted teeth as he struggled against the pain. "We'll find her."
The whip cracked through the air once more.
CRACK!
The dark knights cried out in agony.
"You deserve far worse," the Mirce Lorde snarled. "Be grateful I haven't burned you alive."
He motioned toward four Queron soldiers. "Get them on their feet."
The soldiers immediately obeyed.
The Mirce Lorde approached Hades and Spring. He grabbed Spring's neck then looked at Hades. "You two... Find Aria. And don't return without her."
"Y-Yes... my Lord," Hades answered fearfully.
Only now did they truly understand.
The Mirce Lorde was far more ruthless than they had ever imagined.
His wrath was terrifying.
.
.
.....
Back in human realm...
A young woman ran through the streets in absolute terror.
Behind her—
Stephen chased her.
His crimson eyes blazed with bloodlust, and his fangs were fully exposed.
"P-Please... stay away from me!" the woman cried.
Stephen couldn't hear her.
He had completely lost control of himself.
Just as he was about to attack—
A figure suddenly appeared before him.
Arden's fist slammed into Stephen's face with tremendous force.
Stephen was sent flying into a nearby wall.
The terrified woman immediately fled.
"Who are you?!" Stephen roared.
"Forgive me, Lord Stephen," Arden replied solemnly. "But I have to bring you back."
Before Stephen could react, Arden struck him again.
The powerful blow rendered him unconscious.
Arden lifted him onto his shoulder and quietly disappeared.
.
.
.....
Meanwhile, in Aznar...
"Prepare yourselves!" Hades ordered the Queron soldiers.
"We're searching for Aria!"
The Queron army immediately departed from the palace.
Their backs still burned from the Mirce Lorde's punishment, but they had no choice.
They had to obey his orders.
.
.
.....
The Mirce Lorde walked confidently toward his throne.
Then—
He suddenly stopped.
"No... Damn it!" he clutched his chest. "He's trying to imprison me again!"
The moment those words left his mouth—
His body vanished into thin air.
Arkanus witnessed everything.
"W-What just happened...?" he whispered.
.
.
.....
"Just a little farther... I'm almost there..." Aria whispered as she continued running.
She had already reached the Third District.
Suddenly, she stopped.
Standing outside a small cottage was a familiar man.
"C-Cedrick..." her voice trembled as tears filled her eyes.
.
Cedrick's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A-Aria..."
Without thinking, he sprinted toward her.
Aria ran into his arms.
The two embraced each other tightly.
"My love... You're finally here," Cedrick whispered.
"I'm so happy you're safe," Aria replied, tears streaming down her face.
Cedrick gently kissed her.
"How did you escape?" he asked.
"The dark knights left to attack Alfheim. That gave me the chance to escape," she replied.
Cedrick smiled with relief. "Thank goodness... They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Aria was about to answer—
When both of them heard marching footsteps.
A Queron army was approaching.
"They're here... they must be searching for me," Aria whispered.
Cedrick stepped protectively in front of her. "I won't let them take you again."
.
.
.....
Ira slowly opened his eyes.
"What took you so long to wake up?" Lycan complained.
Ira slowly sat up. "Sorry... my head still hurts a little."
"I see. We're leaving now. Everyone's already waiting outside. You can ride on my back so your headache doesn't get worse," Lycan said.
Lycan transformed into a massive wolf.
"Thanks, Lycan," Ira said.
Ira climbed onto his back, and the two walked outside.
"What happened to you, Ira?" Akuma asked.
"I just have a bit of a headache, Brother Akuma," Ira replied weakly.
Xerxes quietly stared at Ira.
There's definitely something unusual about that boy...
.
.
.....
"Let me go!" Stephen shouted.
He was tied down inside a glowing magic circle.
"The bus driver has arrived," Zander announced.
"Perfect timing. It's almost nightfall," Xenon said.
"Lucas," Xylon said, "can you restore Stephen's memories more quickly?"
"I'll do my best, Your Majesty," Lucas closed his eyes and began concentrating.
Then he recited an ancient incantation.
The magic circle immediately burst into radiant light.
.
.
.....
Arkanus wandered silently through the palace halls.
His gaze eventually settled upon an old portrait.
It depicted the King of the Vampires standing alongside several young Nobles.
They looked like students in the painting.
One by one, Arkanus studied each of their faces.
Then...
He suddenly froze.
His eyes locked onto one particular young man.
"T-That... can't be possible..." he whispered.