The station had become a collapsing battlefield.
Explosions tore through the corridors while warning sirens mixed with the screams of soldiers and the roars of monsters.
Everywhere—
battle.
Destruction.
Death.
Lexia dashed through a shattered hallway, her blade flashing like lethal lightning. She cut down three Draculian in a single movement before spinning away from a demonic claw that nearly tore through her skull.
"Zack!" she shouted.
"I know!" he snapped while frantically working across the holographic interface. "But they keep increasing!"
Behind him, Lenore struggled to hold a collapsing wall together with her power while blood ran down the side of her face.
"We won't last much longer like this!"
A massive demon slammed into Marley's barrier.
Cracks spread instantly.
Then—
it shattered.
The creatures surged forward.
But suddenly—
a black shadow moved through them.
Shadow.
He appeared directly behind the demon and drove his blade into its spine.
The creature collapsed violently.
"Focus," he said coldly. "Fear makes them faster."
On the opposite side—
Maximilian fought alone against dozens of enemies.
His strikes had become heavier.
Faster.
As if something inside him was beginning to awaken.
One of the faceless creatures attacked from behind—
but Maximilian grabbed it by the head and smashed it into the metal wall hard enough to burst the darkness inside it apart.
Then—
everything stopped.
The station trembled violently.
But this time…
it felt different.
Heavier.
Ancient.
Even the monsters froze.
The darkness at the end of the corridor slowly began to crack.
Red lines appeared within it.
Then—
an eye opened.
A massive burning eye.
And a voice followed that froze the blood in their veins.
"At last…"
The temperature dropped instantly.
The metal floor beneath them began to melt.
Lenore stepped backward in fear.
"What… is that?"
But Alfred already knew.
And for the first time—
real tension appeared on his face.
"Fall back."
Sid looked at him in shock.
"Alfred…?"
He answered quietly.
"One of the Demon Kings."
Silence.
Then—
the darkness exploded.
The being emerged slowly from the rift.
Gigantic.
Taller than any Draculian.
Twisted horns rose from its head, and black armor pulsed across its body as though it were alive.
Behind him—
hellfire.
He smiled.
And that smile was worse than every monster around them.
"How long has it been since the last great war…"
One dimensional soldier collapsed to his knees just from looking at him.
The pressure alone was enough to crush weaker minds.
The Demon King raised his hand—
and half the corridor exploded.
Bodies were thrown through the air.
Flames ripped through the walls.
Marley instantly expanded her barrier.
"Everyone back!"
But even her shield began to crack.
The Demon King laughed.
"Weak."
Then he vanished.
Lexia's eyes widened.
"Fast—!"
He appeared directly in front of Maximilian.
Their fists collided.
The result—
catastrophic.
The shockwave destroyed the entire floor beneath them and threw everyone backward.
Maximilian staggered several steps.
And for the first time—
blood escaped from his mouth.
Violet stared in shock.
"Maximilian…"
The Demon King smiled wider.
"Finally… someone capable of standing."
Then he attacked again.
But before he could strike—
a burst of blue light exploded across the battlefield.
The flames stopped.
The monsters froze for a moment.
Everyone turned.
A massive luminous gate opened in the air.
And from within—
a girl emerged.
Her long silver hair moved within the light, and her eyes carried the same gaze as Marley's.
But older.
Colder.
She descended calmly between them.
The energy surrounding her alone forced the monsters backward.
Marley's eyes widened.
"…Vivian."
The girl raised her gaze toward her.
"It has been a long time, Grandmother."
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.
Even the Demon King stopped smiling.
He looked at her with genuine interest.
"So… the heir has arrived."
Violet narrowed her eyes.
"Heir to what?"
But Vivian did not answer.
She only stared at the Demon King.
Then she said calmly:
"If you fully emerge… the dimensions will collapse."
The Demon King laughed.
"That is the goal."
Suddenly—
massive power erupted from Vivian's body.
Gigantic symbols of light spread across the station ceiling.
Everyone stepped back from the pressure.
Even Alfred raised his arm to shield himself.
Sid stared in disbelief.
"That power…"
Vivian looked toward the heroes.
Then said:
"If you wish to survive…"
"Fight beside me."
And in the next instant—
she launched herself directly toward the Demon King.
And the battle exploded