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High above Tepes's royal city, Lilith perched on a railing, her feet swinging idly in the wind. Nearby, Rizevim and Euclid gazed down at the city sprawled beneath them, eyes glinting with anticipation.
"Euclid, is everything prepared?" Rizevim asked, voice casual but edged with excitement.
"All ready, Lord Rizevim," Euclid replied, crisp and efficient.
"Excellent. Let's begin the festivities."
Euclid bowed and slipped away. Alone with the city below, Rizevim spread his arms wide, a gleeful madness twisting his features.
"What a beautiful kingdom of vampires. Let me gift you all a night to remember—a true carnival!"
His laughter rang out, wild and malicious. At that moment, a vast magic circle unfurled beneath the city, its intricate lines blazing with power. Not just the royal capital—every town in the region where vampires lived was swept up in its glow.
The circle rotated, gathering energy until it erupted in a pillar of blinding light that shot skyward, visible for miles. From above, it might have looked magnificent—a spectacle worthy of legend. But for the vampires below, it was the beginning of their worst nightmare.
"Damn it, what's with this light?!"
"My body—what's happening to my body?!"
"No… no… please…"
Screams echoed through the streets. Vampires, creatures of the night, recoiled from the harsh brilliance. But the agony didn't stop there. One by one, those caught in the light began to swell grotesquely, their bodies warping and expanding until they became hulking, pitch-black monsters—Evil Dragons.
Roars shook the city. The newly transformed beasts, some towering several stories high, tore through buildings and rampaged through crowds. Flames spewed, jaws snapped, and chaos exploded in every direction.
Inside the embassy, the disaster was impossible to ignore.
"Lord Tenra, there's trouble outside."
Yubelluna's voice was urgent as she knocked on Tenra's door.
"I heard it," Tenra replied, opening the door moments later.
He emerged with Ravel, Mittelt, and Kalawarna in tow. The three Fallen Angels were flushed, eyes sparkling with lingering traces of pleasure. No one needed to ask what they'd been doing.
In the main hall, the rest of the group—Valerie, Gasper, and the others—had already gathered. Tenra peered through the window, watching as gigantic Evil Dragons rampaged through the city, tearing apart buildings and hunting down anyone in sight. Several monsters were already clawing at the embassy's magical barrier, trying to force their way in.
"So, Rizevim's finally made his move…"
"Valerie and Gasper, you stay here and guard the building. Everyone else, get ready to head out."
"Yes, Lord Tenra," came the chorus of replies.
Yubelluna and the others sprang into action, gathering weapons and preparing spells.
"Lord Tenra, let me help too!" Gasper insisted, clenching his fists.
Tenra shook his head. "If you go, who'll protect Valerie? Your job is to stay here and keep her safe."
Gasper hesitated, then nodded, determination sharpening his features. "I understand. I'll protect Valerie with everything I've got!"
Tenra clapped him on the shoulder. With everyone else ready, he led the group out of the embassy and into the night sky.
The moment they cleared the barrier, several Evil Dragons lunged at them, howling.
Yubelluna's eyes narrowed. She swept her staff in a wide arc, summoning a flurry of magic circles that exploded in brilliant light. The attacking monsters shrieked as they were blasted to dust.
Tenra surveyed the battlefield, mind racing. These monsters—once vampires—were clearly the result of Rizevim's "modifications." He'd known that bastard was up to something; no one so eager to help with coup plots and Sacred Gear research could be trusted.
A quick scan of the city told Tenra all he needed to know: more than half the vampires in Tepes had become Evil Dragons. At minimum, each beast was as strong as a mid-class devil, and the biggest rivaled even the highest ranks. The larger the monster, the greater its power.
Tenra raised a hand, weaving additional layers of magical barriers around the embassy. Then, channeling his power, he summoned a forest of holy and demonic swords that sprang from the ground, encircling the building in a deadly, impassable zone.
That should keep Valerie and Gasper safe. If anything broke through, he'd be able to return in time.
No more hesitation. Locking onto Rizevim's energy, Tenra and his team soared toward the palace.
Meanwhile, in the palace itself, chaos reigned.
"Rizevim! What have you done to us?!"
"Why did everyone who accepted your modifications turn into monsters? You owe us answers!"
"Where's Lord Marius? Why hasn't he appeared in days?!"
A group of vampire elders confronted Rizevim, faces twisted in fury and fear. Even the slowest among them now realized they'd been played.
Rizevim laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Answers? What answers do you need?"
"They volunteered for the modifications. If the experiment went a bit sideways, what's that to me?"
"You want Marius? Marius, come out and greet your dear elders!"
From the shadows, Marius Tepes emerged. His eyes were empty, his face blank—a puppet with its strings cut.
"M-Marius, what happened to you?"
Before anyone could react, Marius let out a guttural roar. His body swelled at an unnatural speed, bones cracking and flesh stretching until he stood nearly a hundred meters tall—a monstrous, pitch-black Evil Dragon.
But this beast was different. Power radiated from it in waves, eyes glowing blood-red. On its forehead, Marius's face appeared, twisted in a grotesque smile.
Suddenly, those eyes snapped open. The dragon's mouth gaped wide and, with a single bite, devoured one of the elders who hadn't managed to flee.
Crunch. Crunch.
The sound of chewing echoed through the hall as the remaining elders stared in horror, frozen by disbelief and terror.
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