The cloaked Eagleplane descended rapidly from the noon sky, touching down seamlessly in the Imperial Palace's highest-security hangar. The moment the ramp lowered, Shiroi, Risa, Yuna, Vergil, and Freya hurried out.
Axel was already waiting for them on the tarmac, his expression uncharacteristically grim.
"Report," Shiroi demanded, not slowing his stride as they headed for the palace interior.
"Emissaries from Demon Queen Lucia have arrived at the capital," Axel briefed him, falling into step beside the Emperor. "They are begging for immediate military assistance. The so-called 'Hero' of the Luminara Kingdom has launched a direct assault on Queen Lucia's palace. But... there is something highly irregular about this attack. It doesn't feel right."
Vergil frowned, his tactical mind instantly dissecting the information. "It doesn't make sense," he muttered. "The 'Hero' of the Luminara Kingdom is supposed to be nothing more than a party of hardworking, ambitious adventurers seeking glory by taking down a Demon Queen. And considering the Princess of Luminara herself is a member of that party, a sudden, full-scale military siege seems entirely out of character."
"We need to hear the full story," Risa said, her voice laced with concern. "A formal plea for military aid is an absolute state of emergency. We need to discuss this with the cabinet."
Axel nodded and swiftly guided the group deep into the palace, straight to the primary war room.
When the heavy doors swung open, every single minister of the Kainaldia Empire was already present and seated. Standing anxiously at the center of the room were the two emissaries from Demon Queen Lucia.
Shiroi strode to the head of the table, his aura shifting instantly into that of a commanding, absolute ruler. "Give me the exact status of the Black Eyes Kingdom," he ordered.
One of the emissaries—an avian beastman resembling a large, humanoid crow dressed in a surprisingly immaculate suit—stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, our military forces are currently in full retreat, falling back to the capital. We are prioritizing the total evacuation of our border villages. If the Luminara army catches our civilians, they will be massacred simply for the 'crime' of coexisting peacefully with demons."
Shiroi's eyes narrowed dangerously. He gave Ashcroft a curt nod. The loyal aide immediately stepped back and engaged the heavy, magical locks on the war room doors, sealing them inside.
Shiroi tapped the center of the massive conference table. Instantly, a glowing, magical holographic map of the Distopi Continent materialized in the air above it.
"Zoom in on Blackhole City, the capital of the Black Eyes Kingdom," Shiroi commanded the interface. The magical projection shifted, magnifying the besieged territory.
Shiroi turned his sharp gaze toward a massive, imposing Oni clad in heavy, pristine knight's armor. "Commander Genzumaru. Give me your tactical assessment."
Commander Genzumaru crossed his thick, armored arms, his expression stern. "Direct, open military intervention by the Kainaldia Empire will trigger a massive, continental political fallout, Your Majesty. However, placing our Imperial Forces on high alert and mobilizing our fleets and legions along the land and sea borders is entirely justifiable as a defensive precaution. We can do that without inciting a world war."
Axel adjusted his combat armor, nodding in agreement with the military commander. "I concur. Kainaldia's global reputation is the 'Empire of a Thousand Prospers.' We are internationally recognized as a nation of peace that upholds absolute justice. Plunging our standing armies into a foreign war goes entirely against our core political image."
"Exactly," Genzumaru rumbled, his deep voice echoing in the war room. "Which is why I suggest an alternative route. We do not send an army to wage war. We send an elite strike team to conduct a covert Rescue Mission. Our primary objective should be the safe extraction of Demon Queen Lucia and her citizens."
Vergil slowly raised his hand, a dangerous, highly entertained smirk playing on his lips. "A standard rescue mission sounds a bit dull, don't you think? It lacks a certain... theatrical entertainment."
Freya glanced sideways at her husband, instantly recognizing that look in his eyes. "Are you planning to do that again, darling?"
Shiroi leaned forward, his hands steepled over the glowing holographic map. "It can certainly be done. But pulling off a theatrical extraction of that magnitude will require the direct involvement of Kainaldia's elite Special Forces."
Commander Genzumaru stroked his armored chin. "Logistically, it is not an issue, provided the moving parts are perfectly coordinated."
The avian emissary from the Black Eyes Kingdom looked frantically between the Emperor, the Commander, and Vergil. "Excuse me? What theatrical extraction? What are you planning to do?"
Freya turned to the emissary, her voice calm and chillingly polite. "Demon Queen Lucia has to die."
The emissary completely lost his composure. His feathers ruffled in absolute outrage, and he slammed his hands on the table. "Die?! Are you insane?! We came here to beg for a rescue mission, not an assassination! Which one is it—are you saving our Queen, or killing her?!"
"Peace, emissary," Shiroi commanded, his voice carrying the heavy, absolute weight of an Emperor. "Queen Lucia's 'death' will merely be a spectacle for the enemy. Our true objective remains her complete and total extraction."
Commander Genzumaru elaborated for the panicked bird-man. "It will be a faked suicide. We will secure a body double—or a war casualty bearing a strong physical resemblance to Queen Lucia—to act as a sacrifice. The Luminara forces will believe they have slain the Demon Queen, while the real Lucia is safely evacuated right from under their noses."
The emissary blinked, his anger instantly evaporating into stunned awe at the sheer audacity of the plan.
Vergil nodded, turning his attention back to the holographic map. "Now, regarding the civilian evacuation. What are the demographics of the Black Eyes Kingdom? Is it solely the Dominion race, or are there others?"
Shiroi zoomed in on the kingdom's territory. "It's highly diverse. They have populations of Giants, Trolls, Werewolves, Dark Elves, and a massive concentration of Spirits."
Shiroi paused, looking over at Yuna. "What about the Spirits, Yuna? Will the sudden influx of refugees disrupt the elemental balance?"
"Not at all," Yuna answered confidently. "The Spirits residing in the Black Eyes Kingdom are technically an offshoot of the overarching Spirit Kingdom. I will speak to my mother immediately. She will gladly grant them asylum and guide them safely across the borders."
"Excellent. The rest of the races can be managed conventionally," Vergil noted.
Shiroi turned his gaze to a massive, green-skinned Orc sitting among the ministers. "Minister Grumar. I want a massive refugee settlement constructed near the Black Eyes border immediately. Prepare housing, food, and medical supplies."
"Consider it done, Your Majesty," Grumar grunted respectfully.
"Commander Genzumaru," Shiroi continued, "deploy the 16th Imperial Force to the border to lock down the perimeter and provide security for the refugees until the situation stabilizes."
Genzumaru and Minister Grumar immediately stood up, saluted the Emperor, and marched out of the war room to execute their orders.
Vergil pointed to the northern edge of the holographic map. "That leaves the logistics of the mass evacuation. The Delta and Specter Units can infiltrate and secure the northern port city of Blackhole City. Once the perimeter is locked, our Bison Heavy Transport Planes can land on the outskirts, load the civilian refugees, and airlift them directly to Minister Grumar's new settlement."
"I completely agree," Shiroi approved, locking the tactical plan into place.
"And what about Queen Lucia and her VIPs?" Vergil asked. "Are we sending in the Grey Knights for the black-ops extraction?"
Shiroi nodded firmly. "This needs to be an absolute ghost operation. Only Lucia and her top generals will be pulled out via cloaked Eagleplane Stealth Transports. Have the 1st Grey Knight Chapter Master, Mikami, prep his squad for immediate deployment."
With the grand strategy set, Shiroi formally dismissed the war council. The ministers scrambled out of the room, shouting orders into their communicators to mobilize the Empire's massive military machine.
As the room cleared, Vergil turned to his wife. "Freya, contact the kids. Call all of them back from the dungeon."
Freya raised an eyebrow. "All of them?"
Vergil nodded, his smirk returning. "Yes. They are about to receive a highly classified, priority mission directly from the Palace."
Freya smiled warmly, already tapping her earpiece to patch through to the dungeon's comms network to summon Mina, Sylvy, Fenrir, Camilla, and the rest of their terrifyingly overpowered children.
As the war room began to empty, Vergil turned to the Emperor's loyal butler. "Ashcroft, contact Commander Genzumaru. Have him meet me in the primary Military Command Center immediately. We need to hammer out the technical logistics of the extraction."
Axel, overhearing the exchange, adjusted his glasses. "I will join you there. I want to oversee the tactical deployment personally."
As Vergil, Freya, and Axel strode through the grand, winding corridors of the Imperial Palace, Axel let out a low, amused chuckle. "This particular operation is shaping up to be quite fascinating. Is going to such theatrical lengths truly just for Emperor Shiroi's sake?"
Freya laughed softly, her eyes glinting with warmth. "Shiroi certainly has a habit of attracting... interesting romantic destinies."
Vergil kept his gaze locked dead ahead, his posture perfectly straight. "I have no comment on his love life," he stated flatly. "But for the sake of the Kainaldia Empire, I am willing to execute whatever is necessary."
Axel laughed out loud at that. "Classic Vergil. Always ready to deploy, wherever and whenever the Empire calls."
Freya smiled, slipping her arm affectionately through her husband's. "And that absolute, unwavering dedication is exactly why I fell in love with him."
Moments later, the trio entered the Military Command Center—a high-tech, heavily fortified bunker illuminated by the glow of tactical magic mirrors and sweeping hololithic maps. Commander Genzumaru and Chapter Master Mikami were already waiting by the central strategy table.
"I assume we are finalizing the extraction protocol?" Genzumaru asked, his deep voice rumbling through the room.
Vergil nodded, gesturing for the massive Oni commander to take a seat. "Exactly. I want a status update on your mobilization."
"The 16th Imperial Force is currently arming up," Genzumaru reported. "We will be departing for the border shortly to establish the refugee perimeter."
Chapter Master Mikami, clad in his heavy, silver mech armor, gave a crisp salute. "The 1st Chapter of the Grey Knights is on standby. We are fully armed, our transports are cloaked, and we are awaiting your command."
Vergil leaned over the hololithic map, his eyes scanning the terrain of the Black Eyes Kingdom. "My family and I will be joining the extraction team on the ground. It is crucial that Queen Lucia recognizes immediately that Emperor Shiroi is the one pulling her out."
"The children and I will handle technical support, reconnaissance, and trap disarmament," Freya added smoothly. She then glanced at her husband. "Will you be donning the Grey Knight armor for this run, darling?"
Vergil's expression turned remarkably cold. "Of course," he said, his voice dropping to a ruthless, dead-serious register. "Our rules of engagement are absolute: Any soldier of the Luminara Kingdom who lays eyes on us must be eliminated. I do not care if their kingdom is technically an allied nation to Kainaldia. Leave no witnesses."
Commander Genzumaru's eyes widened slightly in sudden realization. "Ah. No witnesses. That is why you requested the Grey Knights for the extraction, rather than a standard Imperial detachment."
Vergil gave a grim, confirming nod. "A ghost operation requires ghosts."
Genzumaru stood up, his heavy armor clanking. "Understood. I will finish rallying the 16th."
Mikami stepped forward, his helmet tucked under his arm. "When do the Grey Knights, Delta Force, and Specter Unit deploy, sir?"
Vergil looked at the tactical clock glowing on the bunker wall. "This afternoon. Move fast. By the time the sun rises tomorrow, the 'death' of Demon Queen Lucia must already be a historical fact."
By late afternoon, the extraction team had fully assembled on the secluded tarmac.
Vergil family was dressed for war. Mina, Lira, and Sylvy wore their sleek, form-fitting black Assassin armor, designed for maximum mobility and stealth. Aria and Chloe had donned their heavily enchanted black mage robes, reinforced with tactical plating. Freya matched her assassin daughters, looking deadly and elegant in her own custom stealth gear.
Standing beside them was Chapter Master Mikami, a towering, heavily armored behemoth standing at an imposing 2.6 meters. Vergil stood next to him, wearing the distinct, heavily mechanical armor of a Grey Knight—though his set was custom-forged to fit his standard human frame rather than the towering proportions of his troops.
A moment later, Axel arrived with his elite Special Forces. They were a stark contrast to the knights and mages; Axel's squad was outfitted in modern, high-tech military gear, armed with advanced submachine guns outfitted with heavy suppressors, laser sights, and tactical attachments.
"It's time to get this party started," Axel smirked, adjusting his grip on his weapon.
"We execute exactly as briefed," Vergil nodded, his helmet resting under his arm.
"I've also requested emergency backup from the KSS Shogun and the KSS Phantom," Axel noted, referring to the Empire's heavily armed Battle cruisers. "They are on standby. If the Luminara Kingdom catches wind of our interference, things will get complicated, and we might need the heavy artillery."
Freya stepped up beside her husband. "I will be accompanying Vergil and a vanguard detachment of the 1st Chapter directly into the palace. The rest of the children will secure the perimeter and run reconnaissance."
Axel signaled for his troops to begin boarding their respective transports, but he turned back to Vergil for one final warning. "Keep your guard up in there, Vergil. Daemons are incredibly proud creatures. Sometimes, they prefer to die fighting rather than accept a retreat."
"Understood," Vergil said smoothly. "I will ensure everything proceeds flawlessly, just as always."
With a final nod, Axel jogged up the ramp of his transport. Vergil, Freya, and the girls immediately boarded their designated Eagleplane alongside Chapter Master Mikami and his elite squad.
As the heavy bay doors sealed shut, Mikami stood before his troops to deliver the final briefing. "Listen up, 1st Chapter! Our primary objective is the total, ghost-protocol evacuation of the palace VIPs in Blackhole City. Commander Axel's Special Forces will be handling the civilian populace and the surviving local military forces."
1st Captain Shirokami raised a hand. "The entire Chapter has heard the reports, sir. Luminara launched a full-scale assault on the Black Eyes Kingdom."
"Correct," Mikami confirmed with a heavy nod. "Which is exactly why Grand Master Vergil is personally leading this deployment to handle the situation."
2nd Captain Rudra stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his massive blade. "Rules of engagement, Grand Master?"
Vergil's eyes hardened, his voice dropping to a freezing, absolute zero. "Every single person residing within that palace is classified as a VIP. You are not to harm them. However... if a single soldier of the Luminara Kingdom lays eyes on you, they do not leave that room alive. I want their heads separated from their shoulders, or their bodies riddled with suppressed gunfire. Leave absolutely no witnesses."
A grim, understanding silence fell over the armored knights.
Mikami looked around the troop bay. "Are there any further questions?"
Silence.
"Then let's move out," Mikami ordered.
Outside on the tarmac, the engines of the Eagleplanes roared to life. One by one, the massive transports initiated a synchronized vertical takeoff. As they surged into the twilight sky, their optical cloaking modules engaged, causing the fleet of heavy transport ships to ripple and vanish completely from sight, speeding silently toward the Black Eyes Kingdom.
The fleet of ten Eagleplanes soared silently through the night sky, their optical cloaking devices rendering them completely invisible to the world below. The flight to the Black Eyes Kingdom would only take about ten minutes.
In the dimly lit troop bay, Vergil took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady his heart rate.
Freya, sitting close beside him, noticed the slight shift in his posture. "Are you nervous, darling?" she asked softly.
Vergil cracked a small smile. "Not nervous. Just excited. This is my first time officially deploying in the field alongside the Grey Knights."
Freya let out a gentle laugh. She knew perfectly well that the legendary Vergil Ragnaros didn't possess an ounce of actual fear; his "nerves" were just pure, unadulterated anticipation for the mission.
The pilot's voice suddenly crackled over the intercom. "Approaching the drop zone. Landing in two minutes."
Chapter Master Mikami stood, his massive, armored frame dominating the bay. "Remember your orders," he rumbled to his troops. "Extract the Black Eyes royal court and VIPs. Annihilate any Luminara forces that lay eyes on you."
Vergil stood up beside him, adding to the tactical plan. "If Commander Axel's civilian evacuation at the northern port takes longer than expected, or if his Special Forces are pinned down, the 9th and 10th Companies of the 1st Chapter will break off from the palace detail to reinforce his position. You will hold the line until the extraction is complete."
The Eagleplanes descended, touching down silently in a secured, heavily wooded courtyard directly behind the Black Hole Palace. The Grey Knights immediately poured out, securing the perimeter with practiced, lethal efficiency.
Vergil, Freya, Mikami, and a single elite squad moved swiftly toward the palace's rear entrance. A pair of massive Minotaur guards blocked their path, crossing their heavy halberds.
"Halt," one of them grunted defensively.
Vergil stepped forward. "We are representatives of the Kainaldia Empire. We are here to see Demon Queen Lucia."
"We don't need charity or help from outsiders," the Minotaur spat proudly.
Vergil didn't flinch. "Tell that to the avian emissary who is currently pacing a hole in the floor of the Kainaldia Imperial Palace, begging for our intervention."
The Minotaurs exchanged a tense, heavy look. The first guard sighed, lowering his weapon. "Follow us. We will take you to the Queen."
The guards escorted the extraction team through the grand halls and into a massive throne room packed with panicked, defensive demons of various shapes and sizes. At the far end of the room, sitting upon an obsidian throne, was Demon Queen Lucia. She was striking—adorned with long, silver-grey hair, curving demon horns, and piercing, crimson-red eyes that glared down at them with freezing authority.
Vergil stopped at the base of the dais, entirely unbothered by her hostile aura. "You haven't changed a bit, Lucia," Vergil noted casually. "Still as cold as ever."
Lucia's eyes narrowed. "Why has the legendary Lord Vergil come to my court?"
"Because two of your loyal subordinates came to the Empire," Vergil answered. "They want to save you. They have requested that you relocate and take up residence in our Dark Village."
Lucia's icy expression didn't waver. "Is this Emperor Shiroi's grand idea?"
Freya stepped forward, standing tall beside her husband. "The directive to rescue you came directly from Emperor Shiroi. The operational execution, however, was left to his military commanders."
Queen Lucia gripped the armrests of her throne, her knuckles turning white. "And does this 'rescue' extend only to me and my court?" she demanded, her voice laced with venom. "Because if you expect me to flee and leave my citizens to be slaughtered by the Luminara army, you are wasting your time. I would rather die with my people."
Before Vergil could respond, the tactical radio strapped to his chest burst to life. Commander Axel's voice echoed loudly in the tense silence of the throne room.
"Vergil. The northern port is fully secured. The Bison Heavy Transports are inbound. Civilian mass evacuation is commencing now."
Lucia's crimson eyes widened a fraction. The absolute certainty in her cold stare faltered. "What... what does that magic item chatter mean?"
Freya offered the Demon Queen a gentle, reassuring smile. "It means Emperor Shiroi has already constructed a specialized refugee settlement right on the border of our nations. The 16th Imperial Force is currently locked in, standing by to provide absolute security, medical care, and housing for every single one of your evacuated citizens."
Vergil tapped his radio, keeping his eyes on the Queen. "Axel. What is the status of the Luminara patrols in the harbor sector?"
"We slipped in without a single issue," Axel's voice replied over the comms. "Honestly, it looks like the civilian populace was already preparing for a mass maritime evacuation before we even got here."
Freya turned her attention back to Queen Lucia. "Did you already have a naval retreat strategy in place?"
Lucia gave a slow, rigid nod, her cold crimson eyes unblinking. "I had requisitioned a fleet of colossal aquatic turtle-monsters. They were meant to act as living transport ships to ferry my remaining people to a sanctuary island in the north."
Vergil spoke into his radio again. "Axel, proceed with the airlift. We cannot leave anything to chance."
"Copy that. Proceeding with extraction," Axel confirmed, cutting the feed.
Lucia's icy glare remained fixed on the Kainaldian delegation. "Why should I trust that my people will find any comfort in the Kainaldia Empire?" she demanded.
"Because Emperor Shiroi personally guarantees housing, sanctuary, and employment for you and all your generals," Freya answered gracefully. "Furthermore, any of your citizens who wish to take up arms will be permitted to register with our Adventurer's Guild."
Vergil nodded in agreement. "My nephew ensures absolute equality. As long as your people abide by Kainaldian law, they will be granted full rights, property, and stable income. Every diverse race currently residing in our Empire thrives under this exact system."
Lucia gripped her throne. "And what of my kingdom? My home?"
"Every fortress has cracks in its foundation," Vergil stated, his voice laced with absolute, terrifying certainty. "Mark my words, Lucia. The Luminara Kingdom will fall within a week."
For a long, tense moment, the throne room was completely silent. Lucia's freezing stare didn't waver, but her shoulders finally dropped as she let out a long, heavy sigh.
She stood up from her obsidian throne. When she spoke, her voice boomed through the grand hall, carrying the absolute authority of a Demon Queen.
"Commence the full evacuation immediately!" Lucia ordered her court. "It is better to retreat today and fight tomorrow than to die a pointless death on this marble floor!"
A wave of shock rippled through the gathered demons. Several of her generals stepped forward, ready to argue and lay down their lives for her pride.
Lucia raised a hand, silencing them instantly. "Grand Master Vergil speaks the truth. Listen to me! We are Demons. We are blessed with long lives. We have the time to rebuild our strength in the shadows. Humans, however, are fragile. They inevitably breed weakness into their subsequent generations. When that time comes, we will return with overwhelming power, and we will take back not only our homeland, but the Luminara Kingdom itself!"
Inspired by her dark, pragmatic logic, every single demon in the throne room immediately dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in absolute loyalty.
With her people secured, Queen Lucia descended the steps of her dais. Her imposing, icy aura completely vanished, replaced by a deep, sudden humility.
"It is time to greet an old friend properly," she murmured.
To the absolute shock of her court—and the Grey Knights securing the doors—the Demon Queen dropped to one knee directly in front of Vergil. She bowed her head respectfully.
"I apologize for my earlier hostility, Master," Lucia said softly.
Vergil smiled, placing a gentle hand on his former student's shoulder. "You protected your people well, Lucia. Now, let's go home."
With the evacuation order officially given, Vergil and Freya turned and escorted the Demon Queen and her royal court out to the ten cloaked Eagleplanes waiting in the courtyard.
As they emerged into the rear courtyard of the palace, the demonic court froze in shock. Surrounding the landing zone were ranks of towering, silver-armored behemoths. The demons immediately fell into a defensive stance, but Chapter Master Mikami barked a sharp command, and the Captains of the Grey Knight Battle Companies seamlessly fanned out to secure the evacuation perimeter.
Vergil scanned the tree line, his sharp eyes catching sight of several Luminara Kingdom soldiers lying dead in the brush, bearing fresh slash wounds and suppressed gunshot impacts.
"Luminara scouts, Grand Master," 3rd Captain Iruma reported crisply. "They were attempting to probe the rear defenses for a weak point. In accordance with your Rules of Engagement, they were eliminated on sight."
Vergil gave a dark, approving nod. "Excellent work. Let's get Queen Lucia's VIPs boarded."
One of the Demon Generals stepped forward frantically. "What about our vanguard? The troops holding the main gate against the Luminara army?"
"They must be evacuated as well," Queen Lucia ordered, looking at Vergil.
"What is the status of the enemy frontline?" Vergil asked his troops.
"They have halted their advance," 4th Captain Lucio answered. "The Luminara forces have set up camp to rest for the night, which has allowed the defending demons at the gate to rest as well."
A dangerously enthusiastic grin spread across Vergil's face. "That is the perfect window of opportunity. I am going to set a trap for the 'Heroes' of Luminara."
Freya sighed fondly, knowing that look all too well. "If you are going to do something theatrical, do it quickly."
Vergil checked the glowing tactical communicator on his wrist. "It's only eight o'clock in the evening. We have plenty of time."
He scanned the immediate area and spotted the body of a female casualty near the garden—a victim of the initial Luminara bombardment. Strikingly, her physical build and hair color bore a strong resemblance to Demon Queen Lucia, and the corpse was still in relatively good condition.
"I can use this," Vergil muttered, his tactical mind racing. "I am going to leave them a very nasty surprise." He turned to the towering knight beside him. "Chapter Master Mikami. Carry this body to the throne room. I need to prepare something."
As Mikami hoisted the corpse over his armored shoulder and followed Vergil back inside, Queen Lucia watched in utter bewilderment. "What exactly is he planning to do with that poor girl's remains?"
"She will serve as your 'death sacrifice,'" Freya explained calmly. "A decoy."
Lucia's eyes widened slightly in realization. "A grim tactic... but undeniably clever."
Behind them, the first Eagleplane finished loading the initial batch of demon VIPs. The heavy ramp sealed shut, and the gunship initiated a vertical takeoff. The moment it hit the sky, its cloaking device engaged, rendering the massive transport completely invisible.
"Where are they being taken?" Queen Lucia asked, watching the empty sky.
"They are being transported to a Dungeon our family is currently building," Freya answered. "Our adopted daughters will receive them and provide temporary housing."
Lucia stiffened, her cold, hostile glare instantly returning. "A dungeon?"
Freya quickly waved her hands in a placating gesture. "Not a prison! A traditional adventurer's dungeon. A massive subterranean ecosystem where adventurers explore to find treasure and battle monsters. Your people will be safe there, I promise."
Lucia remained silent, her icy stare completely unreadable.
A few minutes later, Vergil and Mikami returned from the throne room. "The stage is set," Vergil announced, watching the final Eagleplanes of the first wave vanish into the night.
"It seems we only need three extraction phases," Freya noted, checking her datapad. "Phase One is currently en route to Project D2-A."
Mikami looked down at Vergil. "Is Project D2-A truly entering its operational phase, Grand Master? I heard whispers from 3rd Chapter Master Asura, but I didn't realize it was nearing completion."
"It is in the final stages," Vergil confirmed.
"Does this mean the Grey Knights will be revealing themselves to the public?" Mikami asked.
"Only a very small detachment," Vergil replied. "They will be stationed inside the dungeon to act as a dedicated Search and Rescue force, working directly alongside the monsters to ensure no adventurers actually die."
Mikami nodded, satisfied with his orders.
Queen Lucia stepped toward Vergil, her curiosity finally overriding her cold stoicism. "What kind of trap did you plant in my throne room?"
Vergil's smile was absolutely chilling. "A Virus Bomb. Anyone caught within the blast radius of that decoy will be infected with a highly lethal, weaponized disease. And the Kainaldia Empire is the only nation on the continent that possesses the cure."
Lucia stared at him, her blood running cold as she realized just how terrifying the Kainaldian military truly was. She turned her gaze back to the sky, silently watching the airspace where her generals and servants had vanished into the unknown.
Ten minutes later, the air rippled as the second wave of cloaked Eagleplanes touched down in the courtyard. The ramps lowered, and Vergil's daughters—Mina, Lira, Sylvy, Aria, and Chloe—sprinted out in their tactical gear. They immediately began ushering the remaining demonic forces and the frontline troops away from the gates and into the transports.
Vergil drew his weapon, taking a defensive stance by the tree line. "Get everyone airborne! The final wave will be the Grey Knight extraction!"
Vergil and the personnel of the 1st Grey Knight Chapter held the perimeter, their weapons raised in the suffocating silence of the night as they awaited the third extraction wave.
Suddenly, the heavy, rhythmic thud of galloping hooves echoed through the dense trees.
Vergil tapped his earpiece. "How long until the extraction fleet arrives?"
Freya checked the glowing radar on her datapad. "The final wave of Eagleplanes just lifted off from their staging point."
1st Chapter Master Mikami tightened his grip on his massive weapon, his optical sensors locking onto the approaching heat signatures. "They won't make it in time. We have incoming. Ten Luminara Kingdom cavalrymen approaching fast."
Vergil raised his left arm, activating the heavy, suppressed gauntlet-rifle built directly into his armor. Following his lead, the 1st Chapter instantly mirrored his stance, aiming their massive firearms into the dark brush.
As the Luminara cavalry broke through the tree line, their swords drawn in the moonlight, Vergil issued his cold, absolute command. "Take them down."
Vergil fired first. His high-caliber round struck the lead horse with devastating force. The sheer explosive impact of the Kainaldian ammunition tore the beast apart, dropping the rider instantly in a violent eruption of blood and soil.
The 1st Company, positioned perfectly in the cavalry's path, unleashed a merciless volley of suppressed gunfire. The remaining horses and their riders were shredded by the crossfire in a matter of seconds. The "Knight" of Luminara hit the ground dead before they even registered what had attacked them.
"Sweep the area. Leave no survivors," Chapter Master Mikami ordered, strictly enforcing their Rules of Engagement.
1st Captain Shirokami and his squad moved swiftly through the smoke and gore, checking the bodies and double-tapping any twitches. "All Luminara hostiles completely eliminated," Shirokami confirmed over the comms.
"Touchdown in thirty seconds," the lead pilot's voice crackled over the radio.
The Grey Knights swiftly fell back into a tight defensive formation, securing the landing zone. Exactly thirty seconds later, the air rippled as the third and final wave of cloaked Eagleplanes materialized and touched down in the courtyard.
The extraction was executed with flawless military precision. The 10th Company boarded the first transport, securing the area as they fell back. As each gunship filled sequentially up to the 2nd Company, it immediately took off, its cloaking device engaging the moment it hit the sky.
Vergil walked up the ramp of the final command transport alongside Freya and Demon Queen Lucia. He tapped the cockpit intercom. "Pilot. Change of coordinates. Drop my wife, Queen Lucia, and me at the Project D2-A site."
"Are you not returning to the Imperial Palace, Grand Master?" the pilot asked in surprise.
"Freya and I need to personally ensure Queen Lucia settles into her new accommodations safely," Vergil explained. "Once the three of us are wheels-down, you are cleared to return the rest of the troops directly to the Palace."
"Understood, sir. Altering flight path," the pilot acknowledged.
Chapter Master Mikami and the elite 1st Company filed into the transport right behind them. The heavy blast doors sealed shut with a pressurized hiss. With a powerful, synchronized thrust, the final Eagleplane launched into the night air. Its cloaking module flared, erasing the gunship from the sky, leaving the ruined—and heavily trapped—palace of Blackhole City far behind them.
As the Eagleplane stabilized in the night sky, Vergil tapped his earpiece, opening a secure, encrypted channel to the Special Forces commander. "Axel. Do you read me?"
"Loud and clear. Go ahead, Vergil," Axel responded instantly over the radio static.
"The palace extraction is complete. My team is wheels-up, and we have the VIPs secured," Vergil reported. "What is your status at the port?"
"I am currently aboard the final Bison Heavy Transport alongside the last wave of civilian refugees," Axel replied, the deep hum of the massive aircraft's engines vibrating through the comms. "We are officially airborne and en route to the border settlement."
Vergil relaxed his shoulders slightly. "Did you encounter any significant resistance from the Luminara forces?"
"No military complications at all," Axel assured him. "The only real hurdle we faced was crowd control. The refugees were terrified and desperate to flee the city. It took some time to calm them down—many of them were panicked, fearing we were going to sell them into slavery or drop them in a labor camp."
"If civilian panic was your only obstacle, then you executed flawlessly," Vergil noted. "Now we just need to confirm if Commander Genzumaru has finished the settlement preparations on his end."
Suddenly, a deep, rumbling voice chimed into the shared frequency. "The first wave of refugees has already touched down at the border camp."
Vergil smiled. "Where have you been, Genzumaru? You've been quiet on the comms."
"Apologies. Setting up a settlement of this scale took slightly longer than anticipated," Genzumaru admitted, his tone brisk and professional. "We had a minor delay with the heavy logistics supply train. However, the issue has been resolved. The 16th Imperial Force is currently conducting full medical examinations on the arrivals, and my logistics corps is distributing warm meals and secure housing."
Vergil leaned back in his seat, looking over at Freya and Queen Lucia with a deeply satisfied smirk. He pressed his finger to his earpiece one last time.
"Outstanding work, gentlemen," Vergil declared. "I am officially calling it. Operation Red Hawk is a complete and total success."
Over the radio, both Axel and Commander Genzumaru voiced their firm, proud agreement.