Jade stood quietly outside the gate of her former home, watching from a distance.
She fought back her tears as she saw her father and mother talking happily in the small garden in front of their house. The couple looked genuinely at peace, their laughter carrying warmth and love.
In her mother's arms was a little child, no more than a year old.
It had been two years since Jade erased her parents' memories of her existence.
Afterward, her mother became pregnant, and when the child was born, they gave her the name Jade.
A bittersweet smile appeared on Jade's lips.
Her parents had forgotten the daughter they once had… yet somehow, the name they had chosen remained the same.
She watched as her father gently wrapped his arms around her mother, their small family looking complete and happy.
A tear finally escaped Jade's eyes, but she quickly wiped it away.
Seeing her parents happy was enough to bring peace to her heart.
She no longer needed to be remembered.
As long as they were safe… as long as they could smile like this…
That was enough for her.
With one final glance at the home she once belonged to, Jade turned around and left.
She hurried back toward the mansion, carrying both the pain of being forgotten and the comfort of knowing her family had found happiness once more.
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.
"Cedrick, please talk to me!" Aria pleaded.
She hurried after him, desperately trying to catch up.
"Didn't I already tell you before? We've been over for a long time," Cedrick said coldly.
Both of them stopped walking.
Aria's lips trembled as tears filled her eyes.
"D-Do you really not love me anymore?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cedrick turned his gaze away once more.
"No."
The single word struck her like a blade.
"I don't love you anymore, so stay away from me."
With that, Cedrick walked away without looking back.
Aria collapsed to her knees.
It felt as though her heart had shattered into countless pieces from the words she had just heard.
Tears streamed endlessly down her face as she cried in the empty hallway.
Meanwhile, Xenon had grown bored inside his room and decided to take a walk around the mansion.
Using his teleportation ability, he appeared in one of the corridors.
The moment he arrived, his eyes widened in shock.
"Aria!"
He immediately rushed to her side and gently helped her up.
"What happened?" Xenon asked with worry.
Aria shook her head, unable to stop crying.
"He's gone… H-He doesn't love me anymore…"
Her voice broke as she spoke.
"It hurts so much."
The pain in her voice was enough to make even Xenon feel a deep sadness.
Aria had always been strong.
She had endured countless hardships without complaint.
But seeing her like this—completely broken—was heartbreaking.
Without saying a word, Xenon wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
Aria buried her face against his shoulder and continued to cry.
Then, with a flash of light, Xenon teleported them both to her room, where she could grieve away from the eyes of others.
And for the first time in a long while, Xenon wished there was something he could do to make her feel better again. For now, he could do nothing but stay by her side and comfort her while she endured the pain of a love she had lost.
.
.
.
In an abandoned and ruined building…
"Your Majesty, we have successfully taken control of the Chimeras," the tiny demon reported. "I have already ordered them to hunt down the vampires."
A sinister grin spread across Leviathan's face.
"Excellent. In that case… I am finished with you. You are of no further use to me."
The tiny demon trembled in fear.
"W-What do you mean, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"Give your power to this child."
The demon's eyes widened in terror.
"B-But Your Majesty, if I transfer my power to her… I will die."
Leviathan's expression remained cold and emotionless.
"And what does your death matter to me?"
The demon immediately tried to escape, but Leviathan was faster.
With a single movement, he caught the tiny demon in his hand. The creature was so small that it fit perfectly within his fist.
Leviathan slowly closed his fingers.
The unfortunate demon screamed as his body was crushed within the King of Hell's grasp.
Leviathan opened the demon's mouth, and a cloud of black smoke emerged from its body.
He guided the dark smoke toward Ji Park's mouth.
The moment it entered her body, the child began to tremble violently.
Ji Park fell to the floor, writhing in agony.
Her small body twisted as the demonic power merged with her.
After a while, the pain slowly disappeared.
Ji Park rose to her feet.
Her appearance had changed.
Her eyes had turned a deep crimson red. Sharp fangs emerged from her mouth.
But the most striking transformation of all was the three black tails that had appeared behind her, resembling those of a dark fox.
Leviathan grinned in satisfaction.
The demon in his hand had already turned into ashes.
He walked toward Ji Park and looked down at her.
"Listen carefully, Ji. You will obey every command I give you. You will follow no one but me…"
His smile widened, filled with possessiveness and malice.
"Because I am your father. Do you understand?"
Ji Park slowly nodded.
Her crimson eyes were empty, as though her own will had been swallowed by the darkness within her.
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.
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In Aznar…
"Brother, something terrible is happening in Hell," Xylon said.
He had come to Aznar to speak with Kan.
"I know," Kan replied, his expression grave. "And he has already entered the human world."
Xylon's eyes widened in shock.
"H-How did he escape through the sealed portal?" he asked.
"That is what I do not know either," Kan answered. "We must go to the human world immediately. The mortals are in danger."
Xylon nodded.
Without another word, both of them sank into Kan's shadow, disappearing into the darkness.
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
Cedrick was lost in deep thought.
He had never wanted to say those cruel words to Aria.
But he believed he had no choice.
Even now, he still could not accept the truth.
He had become a vampire—the very race responsible for the massacre of his family.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone tapped his shoulder.
"You're deep in thoughts again," Stephen said.
Cedrick looked away.
"It's nothing," he replied.
But the heaviness in his eyes betrayed his words.
.
.
In the other room...
Jade had just stepped out of the bathroom when a sudden wave of weakness washed over her.
She immediately placed a hand over her chest.
Her breathing became uneven.
She slowly sat down on the bed, trying to calm herself.
Something was wrong.
She was struggling to breathe.
Her gaze shifted toward the mirror hanging on the wall.
A strange sensation coursed through her body…
Something she had felt before.
Something she knew all too well.
Her eyes slowly widened.
It was familiar.
Too familiar.