Far to the south...
Beyond the borders of every human kingdom...
A vast expanse of emerald plains stretched beneath the endless sky.
Gentle winds danced through the tall grass, creating waves that rolled across the land like a green ocean.
At the center of those plains stood an ancient stone altar.
Time had weathered its surface, and countless cracks covered its massive structure. Faded runes, carved in an age long forgotten, glowed faintly beneath layers of moss and vines.
For seven hundred years...
The altar had remained silent.
Abandoned.
Forgotten.
Suddenly—
Drip...
A single drop of crimson blood seeped through one of the cracks.
Then another.
Drip...
Drip...
Within moments...
The blood began pouring from beneath the altar.
Like a living river, it flowed through every ancient carving before slowly rising higher and higher.
The crimson liquid continued climbing...
Until it completely submerged the altar.
The surrounding air became heavy.
An eerie silence engulfed the plains.
Then—
Splash!
A hand burst through the sea of blood.
It grabbed the edge of the altar.
Another hand followed.
Slowly...
A figure pulled itself free.
A demon.
His breathing was heavy as he looked around in confusion.
"W-Where..."
Before he could finish speaking...
Another hand emerged.
Then another.
And another.
The blood churned violently.
One after another...
Dark Beings climbed out of the crimson sea.
Demons.
Vampires.
Dwarves.
Werewolves.
Dragons
Within minutes...
Hundreds became thousands.
The once-empty plains were now filled with the citizens of the fallen Darkain Empire.
Everyone wore the same expression.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
Many stared silently at their own hands.
Some looked toward the sky.
Others simply stood motionless.
None of them understood what had happened.
Among them...
A small demon boy slowly crawled out of the blood.
He couldn't have been older than ten.
His tiny horns curved slightly from his forehead, and his crimson eyes darted nervously across the crowd.
"I..."
"I died..."
He looked around.
"...Didn't I?"
Gathering his courage, the child approached a tall demon standing nearby.
"Mister..."
The older demon turned toward him.
"Yes?"
The little boy hesitated.
"Is..."
"...is this the afterlife?"
For a brief moment...
The older demon simply stared at him.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
His loud laughter echoed across the plains.
"The afterlife?"
"No, little one."
"This isn't the afterlife."
The boy blinked repeatedly.
"It isn't?"
The demon shook his head.
The child's curiosity only grew.
"Then..."
"...where are we?"
The older demon looked toward the ancient monument standing proudly at the center of the plains.
"We're home."
"...Darkain."
The boy tilted his head.
"You don't know what that altar is, do you?"
The child slowly looked back.
"The altar..."
"...the one I crawled out of?"
The demon nodded.
"That is the Revivis Altar."
His voice became filled with pride.
"It was created by Lord Kritos himself."
"The greatest masterpiece ever forged by the Demon King."
The little boy's eyes widened.
"What does it do?"
"It revives us."
"Even after death."
Silence.
The child stared at him in disbelief.
"That's..."
"...impossible."
The older demon smiled.
"If it were impossible..."
"...you wouldn't be standing before me."
The boy looked down at his own trembling hands.
"...I'm..."
"...alive."
Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks.
"I..."
"...I'm really alive..."
Around him...
More and more Dark Beings began realizing the same truth.
Joy spread throughout the crowd.
Some embraced old friends.
Others fell to their knees in gratitude.
Many simply cried.
After seven centuries...
Darkain had begun breathing once more.
Meanwhile...
Far away...
Inside the Frostalia Royal Palace...
The atmosphere couldn't have been more peaceful.
Soft moonlight poured through the nursery windows.
Lady Luna gently cradled baby Erek within her arms.
A warm smile rested upon her beautiful face as she softly sang an ancient lullaby.
Her gentle voice filled the room.
Even the chilly night breeze seemed to calm itself...
As though unwilling to disturb the peaceful moment.
Inside Erek's mind...
"..."
"...When will this song end..."
He remained perfectly still.
Unable to move.
Unable to speak.
Only his thoughts belonged to him.
Slowly...
His eyelids became heavier.
"...This human body..."
"...really is troublesome..."
Before long...
Sleep overcame him.
Seeing the young prince peacefully asleep, Luna smiled warmly.
"My precious little Erek..."
She gently kissed his forehead.
"Sweet dreams."
With great care...
She laid him inside his beautifully crafted cradle before pulling the silk blanket over his tiny body.
Turning around...
Her gaze fell upon the orange-haired butler standing silently beside the nursery door.
"Zox."
The young butler immediately lowered his head.
"Yes, My Lady."
"I'll be leaving for a while."
She smiled gently.
"Please watch over Erek until I return."
Zox placed one hand over his chest before bowing respectfully.
"As you wish, My Lady."
Satisfied...
Luna quietly left the room.
Click...
The nursery door slowly closed.
Silence.
Several seconds passed.
Then...
"Hehehe..."
A quiet chuckle escaped Zox's lips.
It grew louder.
"Hahaha..."
Soon...
He could no longer contain himself.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter echoed throughout the nursery.
He wiped tears from the corner of his eye.
"My Lord..."
"...did you see that?"
"The very kingdom..."
"...that plotted your downfall..."
"...now entrusts your safety to one of your own loyal servants."
He laughed once more.
"How wonderfully ironic."
Inside the cradle...
Erek slowly opened his crimson eyes.
Without moving his lips...
A calm voice echoed directly within Zox's mind.
"I know."
Zox immediately stopped laughing.
His expression became serious.
"So..."
"It truly must be fate."
"The Demon King..."
"...reborn as the prince of his greatest enemy."
Erek's expression remained unchanged.
"You know better than anyone..."
"...that I don't believe in fate."
Zox scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Hehe..."
"I suppose that's true."
Suddenly...
His expression became puzzled.
"My Lord..."
"I've been wondering something."
"Speak."
"Why..."
"...can't I sense any demonic aura from you?"
"I expected your presence alone to shake my soul."
"But..."
"...there's nothing."
Erek closed his eyes.
"Because..."
"...I lost everything."
Zox froze.
"My... Lord?"
"My power as the Demon King..."
"...was taken by Alora."
"The Goddess of Earth?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the nursery.
After several moments...
Erek spoke once more.
"In exchange..."
"...I received another life."
"...and the Divine Power of Darkness."
"However..."
"...that power has yet to acknowledge me."
"Until I prove myself worthy..."
"...it will remain asleep."
Zox's expression slowly became serious.
"My Lord..."
"Then..."
"...what powers remain to you?"
Erek slowly looked toward the moon shining outside the palace window.
His crimson eyes reflected its pale light.
"Very few."
"The absolute authority over the Revivis Altar."
"The Demon King's Authority to command every Dark Being."
"...and Telepathy."
A faint smile appeared on his tiny face.
"Right now..."
"...I am unbelievably weak."
"But..."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"...the day the Divine Power of Darkness awakens..."
"...I shall become..."
"...a God."
Zox's crimson eyes shone with excitement.
"My Lord..."
"The day you awaken the Divine Power of Darkness..."
"...I shall become your Apostle."
A faint smile appeared on Erek's tiny face.
"An Apostle?"
"You've already decided your future?"
Zox proudly puffed out his chest.
"Of course!"
"If my lord becomes a god..."
"Then I shall become the greatest Apostle in history!"
He suddenly scratched the back of his head with an awkward grin.
"Oh... and one more thing."
Erek looked toward him.
"What is it?"
"My Lord..."
"...where are the other five Archdemon Generals?"
"Why didn't you revive them as well?"
A mischievous grin spread across Zox's face.
"Don't tell me..."
"...I'm your favorite."
Silence.
For several seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Then...
Erek sighed.
"You fool."
"You were the weakest among the Archdemon Generals."
Zox froze.
"W-What?"
"You heard me."
"You were the weakest."
"If you had been stronger..."
"...you wouldn't have died."
Zox's face stiffened.
"My Lord..."
"...that was unnecessarily painful."
Erek ignored his complaint.
"During the final battle..."
"I personally ordered every Archdemon General to retreat."
"They were powerful enough to escape."
"But you..."
"...were foolish enough to stay behind."
"You were killed by the Heroes."
Zox lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Hehe..."
"I couldn't exactly abandon my king..."
Erek looked at him for a moment before speaking.
"...Idiot."
A bright smile suddenly appeared on Zox's face.
"See?"
"That's exactly why I'm your most loyal subordinate."
He immediately threw himself onto the floor.
"My Lord!"
"I returned from death just to serve you!"
"At least praise me once!"
"Just once!"
"I've waited seven hundred years!"
He clung dramatically to the floor as though begging for his life.
Erek stared at him in silence.
"..."
"...Stand up."
"No."
"I refuse."
"Not until you praise me."
"I said..."
"...stand up."
"My Lord, please!"
"Just one compliment!"
Erek let out another exhausted sigh.
"You truly are hopeless."
Zox immediately jumped to his feet.
"I'll take that as praise!"
"You really haven't changed, My Lord."
Ignoring him once again, Erek's expression slowly became serious.
"Enough."
"I need answers."
"What happened..."
"...to Darkain?"
The cheerful smile disappeared from Zox's face.
He folded his arms.
"Where should I begin..."
"When I sensed your return..."
"I gathered as much information as I could before coming here."
He took a deep breath.
"My Lord..."
"Seven hundred years have passed since your death."
Erek remained silent.
"...Seven hundred..."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"So much time..."
"So many opportunities..."
"...lost."
For the first time...
Regret appeared within his crimson eyes.
"My revenge..."
"...against the Six Heroes..."
"...was nothing more than an impossible dream."
To his surprise—
Zox shook his head.
"No, My Lord."
Erek opened his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"The Six Heroes..."
"...are still alive."
Silence.
"..."
"What?"
"They never died."
"They received the blessing of the World Tree."
"According to every story told throughout Eryndor..."
"...they became immortal."
Erek's pupils narrowed.
"...Impossible."
Zox continued.
"After the fall of the Darkain Empire..."
"The lands once ruled by Your Majesty were divided into six human kingdoms."
He slowly began naming them.
"Zeek..."
"...the Sword Hero..."
"...became the King of Meledia."
"Rose..."
"...the Mage Hero..."
"...became the Queen of Aurelia."
"Alen..."
"...the Beast Hero..."
"...became the King of Leonhart."
"Seraphine..."
"...the Priest Hero..."
"...became the Queen of Sanctoria."
"Rylan..."
"...the Bow Hero..."
"...became the King of Sylvandor."
"Kaine..."
"...the Assassin Hero..."
"...became the King of Noxmere."
The nursery became deathly silent.
Erek slowly lowered his head.
"They're all..."
"...still alive."
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
"So..."
"My revenge..."
"...isn't impossible after all."
His crimson eyes gradually turned colder.
"I'll make every one of them..."
"...pay."
Zox nodded.
"There is one more thing, My Lord."
Erek looked toward him.
"What is it?"
"Around two hundred years after the Empire collapsed..."
"A mysterious man suddenly appeared in Meledia."
"He called himself..."
"...the Demon King."
Erek frowned.
"...The Demon King?"
"Someone dared..."
"...to use my title?"
"Yes."
"He gathered countless demons beneath his banner."
"For a brief time..."
"Many believed Darkain had truly returned."
"What happened to him?"
Zox slowly shook his head.
"I don't know."
"There was a great battle."
"After that..."
"...he disappeared."
"No one knows whether he died..."
"...or survived."
Erek remained deep in thought.
"...Interesting."
Before either of them could continue—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Zox immediately returned to his butler's posture.
"Come in."
The nursery door slowly opened.
A young maid hurried inside before respectfully lowering her head.
"Sir Zox."
"The First Prince..."
"...His Highness Alendro Frostalia..."
"...has come to visit Prince Erek."
Silence filled the room.
Inside the cradle...
A faint smile slowly appeared on Erek's tiny face.
"So..."
"My brother..."
"...has finally come."