Vogarth's rampage through the Southern Coastal City left the shoreline drenched in fire and blood. The earth quaked under his steps, the cries of fleeing citizens still echoing in the smoke-choked air. Just as he raised his axe for another swing, his eyes snapped toward the horizon. Three immense magical signatures tore across the sky at a terrifying speed.
"What is that…?" Vogarth muttered, shielding his eyes and waiting for the source to pierce his vision.
But the danger didn't fall from above.
"You shouldn't be staring at the sky so long," came a calm voice behind him.
"What—?"
Vogarth barely turned before something slammed into his ribs like a battering ram. The impact hurled him across the harbor, smashing him through the side of his own warship. The ocean recoiled, waves bursting outward with a deafening roar.
Sabastian floated in the air, eyes locked on the shattered ship. His aura burned like a wildfire.
"How dare you attack His Highness!" he growled.
From the deck of the broken vessel, two figures appeared—beastkin, young but radiating a warrior's resolve. One was a wolf boy, black-haired, with ears and tail bristling like sharpened blades. The other, a fox girl with golden hair and bright eyes, already had her sword drawn.
In a blink, they vanished, reappearing in front of Sabastian, steel and fury poised.
"You struck at His Grace. For that, you must die," the fox girl declared, stepping into her stance.
"We know you're only defending your land," the wolf boy added, both blades flashing in his grip, "but after what your people did to us—we can't forgive you."
Sabastian's lip curled. "I don't care what stories you tell yourselves. After the slaughter I've seen here, you think I'd let you walk away?"
A crimson aura burst from his body, stabbing skyward like a pillar of blood-red fire. The beastkin staggered.
"This density… impossible," the fox girl gasped, sweat beading on her brow.
"And his capacity—rising? As if he just broke a seal…" the wolf boy muttered, tightening his grip in disbelief.
Sabastian stood rigid, eyes unfocused. The devastation around him bled into his mind, memories clawing their way to the surface. Gunfire. Screams. A lifeless body at his feet. His own hand clutching a weapon, the word killer branded on him by a stranger's voice.
The scene warped—he was a child again, held close in his mother's arms. Her warmth, her smile, her gentle steps through a demon village that seemed so peaceful—until the peace shattered in screams. They were running. He clung to her hand. Behind them, demons fell one after another.
Then he appeared.
A tall man, black-haired, crimson-eyed.
"Jasper… why?" Sabastian's mother whispered through tears.
"Because you're a demon," Jasper said coldly, "and I am a vampire."
"But we lov—"
"Enough, Sofia!" he snapped, voice breaking though he refused to meet her gaze.
"At least let our son live," she begged, dropping to her knees, tears pooling at her feet.
Jasper drew his sword and stepped forward. Sabastian scrambled to shield her, trembling. But the strike never came.
"I… I can't…" Jasper choked, lowering his weapon as tears streaked his face. "Sofia, my love… forgive me."
The reprieve shattered in an instant. From the shadows, a host of vampires emerged. Ten, no—eleven.
"You betray your father for a demon woman?" one spat. "We came to purge this nest because your brother exposed you. And now you dare defy your blood?"
Jasper's aura flared like a storm. "Blind slaves. You'll never understand living for yourself."
"Then fight us."
"Sofia. Run. Take Sabastian!"
Dark red energy exploded from him as he met the eleven head-on.
Sabastian and his mother fled, stumbling through the forest. But doom came fast—too fast. A blade flashed. She shoved him aside, taking the strike across her back.
"This is your fault, demon whore!" the vampire screamed, cutting her again and again.
"Mother!" Sabastian's cry broke—but the killer's head flew from his shoulders, Jasper's blade drenched in his blood.
"Sofia!" Jasper fell to his knees, gathering her trembling body in his arms.
"Go… take Sabastian and go. I can't…" she whispered, until she saw it—the dagger lodged deep in Jasper's chest.
"I can't leave. This is the end for me too," he said softly, smiling through pain. "The least I can do is send him to your sister."
He looked at Sabastian, tears streaming. "Forgive me, son. Forgive me for dying before I could take you to see the water dragons."
"Don't say that!" Sabastian shook his head furiously. "We can still go—Father!"
"Sabastian… find good friends. Find a wife who makes you happy. Live."
Before Sabastian could scream, light swallowed him. He was gone.
Present.
Luciferus and Vlad were still miles away when they felt it—Sabastian's magic surging higher and higher, as though unbound.
On the battlefield, the beastkin charged.
"Let's go, Kaito!"
But before they reached him, colossal blades of blood erupted, swatting them aside like insects.
Sabastian's eyes locked onto Vogarth on the ruined ship.
"You finally noticed me," Vogarth grinned.
"I'm going to kill you." Crimson light bled into Sabastian's gaze.
"Then come!" Vogarth roared, surging forward.
Their fists collided, the shockwave flattening the coast. They traded blow for blow, the southern Twilight Territory trembling with each clash. But exhaustion soon dragged at Sabastian's limbs.
"This power is new," Vogarth sneered. "And you can't control it yet." His next strike launched Sabastian across the ruins.
Before the final blow landed, a hand caught Vogarth's fist.
"Still intact, hm? Who are you?" Vogarth asked.
"I'm the one who'll break every bone in your body," Luciferus said coldly, standing between Sabastian and death.
Vogarth laughed, entertained—until Luciferus's punch caved the world. The shockwave tore across the Twilight Territory, hurling Vogarth straight through his ship and into the ocean's depths.
"Beautiful. Elegant, even," Aisha murmured, admiring her king's strike.
"Your Majesty!" Kaito and Akira scrambled toward the water—only to collapse under Vlad's crushing aura.
"My king isn't done with him," Vlad said darkly. His killing intent rooted them in place, warning that movement meant death.
Luciferus floated above the split ocean. "So, what now? Are you just going to keep swimming?"
A roar shook the sea, parting waves as Vogarth emerged, standing tall on the ocean floor.
"You wanted a fight. Then fight!" he bellowed.
Luciferus vanished and reappeared in front of him, striking with speed that bent the ocean itself. Vogarth countered, his fist crashing into Luciferus's jaw—but the king didn't even flinch.
"What is your name?" Vogarth demanded.
"I am Luciferus—the Demon King of the Twilight Territory."
Vogarth's eyes narrowed. "So it's you. Then why did you send your men to attack my territory?"
Luciferus's brow furrowed. "I've done no such thing."
"Liar!" Vogarth's rage exploded, his strikes growing wild. "You cowards attacked first—now you feign ignorance? I'll kill you all!"
Vlad glanced at the beastkin. "We've attacked no one," he muttered, but Kaito overheard, suspicion creeping in.
Far north, in the moonlit forest, Zackary stood ready to leave Lunarias's domain.
"Zackary," Lunarias said softly, "you and your allies are fighting with less than ten percent of your true power."
Zackary froze. "Impossible. I know every spell my counterpart knew. My synchronization is already beyond that."
"The incantations you wield are pale imitations. Synchronization only measures memory regained—not true strength."
"Then how…?"
"Through battle. And through unsealing yourselves. That is the only way."
Lunarias would say no more. Instead, he conjured garments and trinkets.
"These clothes will conceal you. The hair clip is for Amilia, the necklace for Gray. And the dress… keep it. You'll understand when the time comes."
Zackary accepted them silently, then gathered the children.
"Goodbye, little ones," Lunarias whispered as they hugged him one last time. "Zackary—your happiness will come when the moon embraces you."
Before Zackary could ask what that meant, they were gone.
Elsewhere, shadows moved.
Xoraxys found a wrecked carriage, corpses still warm. A scream cut the air—a small blond-haired girl, chased by monsters.
He slew the beasts effortlessly, already turning to leave.
"Take me with you!" she cried.
"I don't deal well with children," he said flatly.
"Please—I don't want to die! My parents… they're dead!"
Her sobs dragged him back. He led her to the two graves he'd dug. She wept until her voice broke, then looked up at him with swollen eyes.
"Mister… take me with you."
"I'm not human," he warned. "You should stay with your kind."
"I don't want to live with humans. Humans killed them." Her voice trembled with grief, but her eyes burned with resolve.
"…What's your name?"
"Titania. I'm eleven."
"Named after a fairy queen," Xoraxys muttered. "Very well, Titania. Or Nia—it's shorter."
He conjured a warm dress with a snap of his fingers, then summoned a massive shadow leopard.
"Up you go."
She clung to him nervously, nearly slipping before his hand steadied her.
"Hold tight. Don't let go."
The beast carried them into the night, Nia pressed against him as they rode toward the dwarven hideout.