"Let us go!" Hades shouted.
Hades and Spring were both bound tightly. They could not simply break free, because the restraints were made of electricity. Any attempt to force themselves loose would only send a powerful shock through their bodies.
"Hades, allow me to remind you of who you truly are," Aria said.
Her eyes suddenly turned crimson as she locked her gaze with Hades'.
For a moment, Hades seemed to fall under a spell. He became completely still, his expression turning blank.
"What did you do to my brother?" Spring demanded.
"Don't worry. Once this is over, the hatred in your hearts will disappear," Aria said.
She reached out and placed her hand gently on Hades' head.
Aria closed her eyes and concentrated.
Aside from being able to read minds and communicate with others through telepathy, Aria had also mastered another ability—restoring the memories of others.
Several minutes passed before Hades suddenly lost consciousness.
"W-What did you do?" Spring stammered.
Aria placed her hand on Spring's head.
"Trust me, Spring," she whispered.
Spring stared at her in confusion.
And just as it had happened with Hades, his consciousness slowly faded until he, too, collapsed unconscious.
.
.
.
"Where could they be?" Sheen muttered in frustration.
He looked around at his surroundings. He was currently in the Third District.
The place looked as though a battle had recently taken place there. Buildings had been damaged, debris was scattered everywhere, and the once-familiar streets were nearly unrecognizable.
"They definitely haven't gotten far," Sheen whispered.
He continued searching, refusing to give up.
.
.
.....
"W-What happened here?" Blake asked in shock.
"Is this really Aznar now?" Zander said, staring at the devastation before them.
They were all stunned by what they saw.
The Sixth District had been reduced to ruins. Houses lay broken and abandoned, as though the entire area had been ravaged by a long and merciless war.
Even the farmlands had been destroyed. The crops that once provided food for the district were gone, leaving only barren fields behind.
"If only we had arrived sooner…" Xenon muttered through clenched teeth.
His fists tightened at his sides.
He could barely contain his anger. He could not accept the fact that the Mirce Lorde had reduced their kingdom to this.
"Spread out and search the area," Xylon ordered. "Look for any survivors or anyone who may have escaped. There might also be something here that can give us information about what happened."
"All right. Let's split up for now," Xenon agreed.
Everyone nodded.
They separated and began searching through the ruins, hoping to find even the smallest clue—or, better yet, someone who had survived.
.
.
.....
Meanwhile, inside his room, Arkanus sat deep in thought.
He held an old photograph of Xylon with his friends in his hands, staring at it for a long moment.
"Who am I, really…?" he whispered.
His eyes slowly shifted toward his palm.
There was something about himself that he still could not understand. The more he tried to remember, the more questions seemed to arise.
Arkanus eventually stood and faced the mirror.
It was a special mirror exclusively made for vampires. Ordinary mirrors could not reflect vampires, but this particular mirror had been enchanted to reveal their true reflections.
Slowly, Arkanus reached up and removed his mask.
He stared at his own reflection.
For the first time, he was about to confront the face hidden beneath the mask—and perhaps uncover the truth about who he really was.
.
.
.
Owen suddenly stopped and grabbed his head as a sharp pain shot through it.
"Are you all right?" Tresvain asked.
"Yes," Owen replied.
He was about to continue walking when a strange memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Why is this happening…?" he whispered.
"You're really weird, you know that? You're starting to act just like Arkanus," Tresvain remarked before walking ahead.
Owen remained where he was for a moment, his brows furrowed.
What was happening to him?
.
.
.....
Xylon suddenly stopped when something caught his attention among the rocks.
It was a necklace.
The moment he saw it, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. He quickly picked it up and examined it.
His eyes widened.
It belonged to Akuma.
There was no way he could be mistaken. Xylon knew that necklace better than anyone because he was the one who had given it to Akuma.
"Akuma…"
His heart began to pound.
Xylon immediately looked around for the others, gripping the necklace tightly in his hand.
He could feel it.
His son was nearby.
Very close.
.
.
Night had already fallen, and Mist and the others decided to stay temporarily in a house in the Fifth District.
Inside, Aria was arranging a place for everyone to sleep when she noticed Titus standing outside.
"My love, I'll just step outside for a moment," Aria said to Cedrick.
"Don't go too far, all right? It's dangerous outside," Cedrick warned her.
His wounds had already healed, and he was currently helping the others prepare their sleeping arrangements.
Aria nodded before stepping outside.
She approached Titus slowly.
"Titus…" she called softly.
Titus turned toward her.
He still hadn't changed.
He was still the same Titus she remembered.
"What are you doing out here? It's dangerous," Titus said.
"How did you survive? I thought you had disappeared…" Aria asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"The demons brought me back to life," Titus explained. "Viel refused to rule Hell, so they decided to resurrect me. There was no one else who could lead them except me."
"I'm glad you're alive, then…" Aria lowered her gaze. "It was my fault that you died back then. I'm sorry."
Titus reached out and gently took her hand.
"It wasn't your fault," he said. "I saved you because I didn't want you to get hurt. I willingly sacrificed my life because I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you."
He looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "I would never have been able to forgive myself if you were the one who disappeared instead."
Aria's expression softened. "Thank you, but… you know I can never return the feelings you have for me. I…"
"I know," Titus gently released her hand. "You love someone else, and I've accepted that."
He gave her a faint smile. "All I ever wished for was your safety. Even if the person you love isn't me, I'll still protect you."
Aria looked at him with gratitude and sadness in her eyes. "Thank you… for always being so kind to me."
Titus said nothing.
He simply looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze toward the dark horizon.
Even if he could never have her heart, protecting her was enough for him.
.
.
.....
The moon shone brightly in the night sky.
While everyone slept, an unknown figure wandered through the quiet town.
He eventually stopped in front of a fountain. Slowly, he raised one hand and slammed it against the surface of the water.
He grinned.
Suddenly, the water began to glow.
An image appeared on its surface—a room inside the palace.
There, Tresvain was playing chess with Owen.
"Tresvain!" the figure called.
Tresvain looked around, searching for the source of the voice.
Then his eyes fell upon the glowing water in the basin.
His eyes widened.
Owen also stared in shock.
A young man was appearing in the water, looking directly at them.
"Who are you?" Tresvain asked cautiously.
"It's me," the young man replied. "Your lord."
"Mirce Lorde?" Owen asked, his expression filled with disbelief. "Why do you look like that?"
"This is the creature who created me and brought me into this world," the Mirce Lorde explained. "Therefore, I can consider this body mine as well."
Tresvain and Owen exchanged uncertain glances.
"What would you have us do, my lord?" Tresvain asked.
"Where is Arkanus?" the Mirce Lorde asked.
"He is in his room, my lord," Owen replied.
"The King of the Vampires has arrived," the Mirce Lorde's voice became cold and commanding. "Prepare yourselves. They could attack at any moment. Before they can reach the Throne Palace, we will strike first."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Send out our forces. Intercept the royal vampires before they can advance any further."
"Yes, my lord," Tresvain and Owen said in unison.
The light on the water suddenly disappeared, and the connection with Tresvain and Owen was severed.
The Mirce Lorde slowly lowered his hand.
A sinister grin spread across his face once again.
"The end of the vampire race is certain," he murmured.