The scout felt it before he truly saw it.
A pressure in the air—subtle, cold, wrong.
From atop Harken's outer wall, his eyes narrowed as a lone figure emerged from the scorched plains. She walked without haste, her steps even, deliberate, as though she feared neither ambush nor artillery. No banner fluttered behind her. No escort followed.
Just her.
The scout swallowed and leaned forward.
Pale skin. Crimson eyes. Black attire trimmed with silver.
"…A vampire," he whispered.
Protocol screamed caution. Vampires did not wander alone into demon territory—not during a war like this. Gathering mana around his limbs, he descended from the wall and advanced beyond the gates, spear leveled.
"Halt!" he commanded. "State your purpose!"
The woman stopped instantly.
"I seek an audience with Tenmaru of the Demon Realm," she said, voice calm and unshaken. "I come peacefully."
The scout hesitated.
"Your name?"
She met his gaze without blinking.
"Theora de Valentine."
His breath caught.
Royal blood.
Without another word, he turned and sprinted back toward the citadel, boots striking stone in frantic rhythm.
The throne room of Harken was alive with tension.
Reports echoed from every corner—casualties, border skirmishes, angelic movements. Tenmaru sat upon the obsidian throne, his posture composed but his eyes burning with restrained exhaustion.
The doors slammed open.
A guard rushed in and dropped to one knee.
"My lord," he said urgently. "A vampire stands outside the city gates. She claims noble status and requests an audience."
The room stirred instantly.
Volic straightened.
Blist frowned deeply.
Rin scoffed outright.
"A vampire?" Run muttered. "Here?"
"She identified herself as Theora de Valentine," the guard continued.
The name struck like thunder.
Tenmaru rose slowly.
"…Let her in."
The doors parted.
She entered with quiet authority, her presence commanding without effort. The faint glow of torches reflected in her crimson eyes as she stopped before the throne and bowed just enough to be respectful—but never submissive.
"I am Theora de Valentine," she said. "Princess of the Night Kingdom. I stand here as proxy to my father—Dracula de Valentine. Treat me as you would him."
A heavy silence followed.
Volic broke it. "Aren't vampires part of the Zonac Alliance?"
Theora smiled faintly.
"I will answer," she said. "But first—"
Her mana surged.
Unique Skill: Soundless Zone
The world went dead.
Sound vanished entirely—not muffled, not dampened—erased. Even the subtle hum of mana disappeared. Blist slammed a hand against the armrest of his chair, eyes wide.
"What did you do?!" he demanded.
Theora turned calmly.
"I made certain," she replied, "that no one is listening."
The silence pressed in, oppressive and absolute.
She continued.
"Isn't it strange?" she asked softly. "That every race united against demons… yet none of you were ever told why."
Run stiffened. "We were accused of atrocities."
"Yes," Theora nodded. "Slavery. Torture. Experimentation on civilians of other races."
Volic clenched his jaw. "That never happened."
"Of course it d
idn't," she said. "And yet—every race remembers it."
Her gaze shifted to Tenmaru.
"Except demons."
The words landed hard.
"Without knowing the reason for the war," she continued, "your people were attacked from every direction. Cities fell. Borders collapsed. You lost territory before you even understood the accusation."
Run slammed his fist down. "Who did this?"
Theora shook her head slowly.
"Even we do not know."
She exhaled.
"My father possesses extraordinary mental fortitude. He felt his memories being altered—and resisted. Through sheer will alone."
Tenmaru's breath hitched.
"He was the one who concealed Harken's location all these years," Theora said. "Had he acted openly… the vampires would have been labeled traitors."
Her voice softened, just barely.
"…He could not save your parents. Doing so would have doomed our race."
Mana exploded.
Blue flames burst from Tenmaru's body, cracking the stone beneath his feet. The throne room groaned under the pressure as raw fury poured from him unchecked.
Theora raised an eyebrow. "Calm down, hotshot."
She stepped closer.
"Because even now," she added, "your recent actions have drawn attention. The angels will respond."
Volic's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"They will deploy the Golden Circle," Theora said. "An elite unit of ten angels under Supreme Commander Kavex."
She met Tenmaru's gaze directly.
"The angel you defeated… was ranked tenth."
Silence.
Even Run stopped breathing.
"But," Theora continued, straightening, "the vampires will sever all ties with the Zonac Alliance. We refuse to remain pawns."
Run scoffed. "Why should we believe you?"
Theora extended her wrist, exposing a glowing crimson sigil.
"I am bound by a Blood Oath," she said calmly. "If I lie—I die."
Tenmaru stepped forward, his flames dimming.
"…It's good to finally have an ally," he said.
Theora inclined her head.
Far away, within the Zonac Alliance's central chamber, projections flickered violently.
"I, Dracula de Valentine," a voice thundered, "formally sever all ties with this pointless alliance. The vampires will no longer participate. All resource support ceases immediately."
An angel sneered. "So you choose to fall with the demons?"
Dracula smiled coldly.
"Empty threats," he replied. "I would love to see you try."
The transmission cut.
Chaos erupted.
"One disaster after another," the Dwarven King laughed bitterly. "First a Golden Circle falls… now this."
The Dragonoid Sovereign slammed her clawed fist down. "I have endured insult and loss long enough. The demons will pay—but not under this alliance."
Her projection vanished.
"The elves will remain," the Elven Queen said coolly.
"So will the dwarves," the king added. "I want to see how this ends."
"This alliance is a farce," the Spirit Supreme declared, cutting their feed.
"I've lost too many knights to retreat," the Human King snapped. "Humanity stands firm."
The Angel Monarch's wings flared violently.
"The pride of the angels has been scarred," he snarled. "I will deploy two members of the Golden Circle."
His voice dripped fury.
"This is personal."
High above, within the Celestial Plane, light stretched endlessly.
"I have summoned you," Kavex declared, "to address the fall of the Tenth Seat."
The Fourth Seat scoffed. "You killed her yourself."
"She disgraced us," the Ninth replied coldly.
Kavex's gaze sharpened.
"To that end," he said, "the Seventh Seat—Dios—and the Fifth Seat—Mary—will be dispatched."
The heavens trembled.
"Do not disappoint me."