Once discussions between Ariel and her Father had concluded, Akagi and Silfana returned to hash out the next steps in the Demon's plans for the Kingdom. There was much work to be done, though Akagi planned on leaving most of it in Silfana's capable hands. This would be a sort of test for the Vampire, but Akagi also understood that Silfana wanted to handle things personally due to her pride.

"I never imagined that we'd need to rely on a Demon Lord to save my people..." Lockheed sighed as he let out a cough. "But if that's what's needed, then that's what's needed. Saving the Demon race comes before any personal pride or distaste."

"You're quite calm about all this." Akagi chuckled at his casual and accepting attitude. "Most people would recoil in revulsion or even decry me as a monster, but here you are, staring me down with a fiery determination in your eyes. Can't say I dislike it.”

{I can see why this man drew his people's respect. He's everything that it means to be a true King. I'd love to add him to my collection, but he won't last long enough to allow that sadly. Too bad, he would've made a wonderful subordinate.} (Akagi)

"I've lived for a long time, and I've stared down a great many beasts as well as men just as if not more vile than you." Lockheed replied as he shook his head while Ariel tried to give him a glass of water to help his cough. "Looking at you, I can tell that behind your tame exterior is a dangerous creature lurking just below the surface. However, I can also tell that you don't want that part of you to come out and that you'd prefer to be left alone."

{Its an odd combination. Having so much power but also being content not to use it. If the leaders of this world shared even half that mindset...} (Lockheed)

"Yeah, she's basically just a big, albeit much more dangerous, cat." Silfana smirked which made Akagi roll her eyes. "As long as you leave her alone, feed her, and give her head pats, she'll be content."

{She's got you on that one!} (Yumi)

{I never said she didn't, did I? And also, ceiling fan.} (Akagi)

*BANG*

{Hah! You missed!} (Yumi)

{Did?} (Yumi)

{IS THAT A SECOND CEILING FAN?!?} (Yumi)

"I enjoy playing from time to time, but I'll be honest and say I don't want any of this." Akagi shook her head as she continued to torment Yumi on the side. "It was never my intention to come to this world and kick up a fuss, but I won't allow a threat to mine to exist."

"A sentiment that we share. As King I never wanted war or conflict with other peoples, but I wouldn't hesitate to fight if it meant protecting my Kingdom." Lockheed nodded in agreement as he took a sip from the glass. "Nothing pleased me more than a boring day where nothing of note happened. Peace is truly the best, and I'd rather my skills in battle go to waste if it meant my people were safe and free from the pain of strife."

"Agreed, but we now face a situation where only one side gets to live." Akagi replied, walking to the edge of his bed. "So, which side will your people be on?"

"... Understand that my people will likely never see you as their true Lord... Hells I doubt most of the people of Enoris would see you that way even if you do save them from the impending destruction of this world..." Lockheed shook his head. “You're status as a Demon Lord already puts most on edge, but this war with the Gods is dragging the regular people in to it, and countless have already died. If this was any other situation you'd be lambasted as little more than a monster like the kinds described in the legends of old.”

"That's fine." Akagi shrugged, her words causing Lockheed to turn his head in surprise. "I don't need their love or adoration. All I need is for them to do as they're told and not cause problems. Besides any issues with civil unrest will be Silfana's problem, not mine... Well, if they got out of hand enough, then they would become my problem, and needless to say, you don't want it to get to that point." She laughed though the dark meaning of her words didn't get past anyone in the room.

"Akagi has no interest in ruling people." Silfana interjected to explain to the confused former monarch. "She finds it more of a pain than anything else, hence why I've been delegated the task. The Demons may not appreciate their luck in being the first major group on Enoris to fall under her suzerainty, but I'll ensure they come around. The rest of Enoris will either follow suit or be destroyed, but that choice is up to them."

"For a being with such power to have no interest in..." Lockheed paused, deciding that it wasn't worth thinking about or questioning further. "No, there is no use in trying to understand a Demon Lord."

"He learned quick." Akagi laughed. "But anyway I'll leave the Vampy in charge of handling things. I fully expect your people to resist her attempts at subjugation, but well..." She smirked. "That's all part of the plan."

"I will do whatever I can to convince my people..." Lockheed said as he tried to sit up under his own power, failing to do so. "I'll make them understand, even if I must offer up my own head to quell their anger."

"Father! If anyone should..." Ariel paused, silenced by her Father's sharp gaze.

"I'm already one foot in the grave, Ariel. The people will need someone to lead them. They need you not a withered corpse of a man." Lockheed said as he coughed. "Allow me the dignity of giving my life for our people. This will be my atonement for my failure as King."

"Father..." Ariel said, understanding his reasoning but nevertheless desiring to take his place.

"Well, someone's head's going to roll, so decide if it's going to be the skeleton, the former Princess, or a bunch of random Nobles. You all need to figure it out amoungst yourselves since I don't really care who ends up under the guillotine." Akagi shrugged as she turned to leave. "Oh wait, before I forget." She said as she paused and reached into her shadow, pulling out a small black handbag. "Catch." She said, tossing it to Silfana.. "Don't need you thinking I forgot your reward. Our little Goddess wasn't very thrilled about giving it up, but I managed to convince her. Zephiria put a time-stop spell on them, so they won't expire unless opened." She laughed before vanishing in a mass of shadow.

"Do I even want to know what's in there?" Ariel asked, barely restraining her morbid curiosity.

"It's really nothing special." Silfana said as she slid her hand inside and pulled out a small vial of blood. It was a bright red color and seemed to glow and sparkle with power. Ariel could instantly tell that it wasn't normal blood but had no idea from what manner of creature it came.

"I've savored many kinds of blood during my life..." Silfana said as she held the vial up to her eye. The Vampire's entire body was practically itching to take a taste and it took everything to hold back from drinking it immediately. "Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Vampires, Demons... But there was always one kind that eluded me." She smiled, her elated and nearly ecstasy-filled face reflecting on the vial's surface. "One kind that never thought I'd have the privilege to taste. But here it is...” She laughed. “Oh, you have no idea how much I want to unseal this small thing and taste the flavor that's alluded me for a thousand years." She said before sliding the vial back into the pack. "But such a delectable drink must only be indulged in at just the right moment." She said before turning back to Ariel. "Now then, with Akagi gone, I think it's time we got back to work. First, we will prepare an official ceremony declaring me as the next Demon King, and then..." She smirked, her fangs flashing outward. "And then begins the march to that White Ivory throne in the Imperial Capital that so rightfully belongs to me."

_____________________________________________________________________________

Labrys POV

"Lord Labrys, it would seem a few of the scouts keeping track of those trouble-making siblings have stopped communicating with us." Tanya said over magical communication. “I'm trying to reestablish contact, but the teams I've sent out to investigate haven't been able to find them.”

"I see..."

Labrys said before retreating into thought for a moment. "Any word from Valuru? Last you told me he'd been driven off by that Hero boy." He asked while slicing a woman's head off as she begged for mercy before consuming her soul.

"Only that he apologizes for his failure and that he promises to deliver the boy to you." Tanya said with a sigh. “I warned that fool not to underestimate his foes, though stumbling across the Empire's Hero in such a backwater village was unexpected to say the least.”

"Consuming the two remaining Heroes would be quite the boon. I would've liked to consume the Church's Heroine, but from what you reported she no longer exists." Labrys said as he sat on the edge of a nearby rock.

"Our agents within the Church have been cracked down hard on both by their colleges and those Primordial Twins following the events in the Holy City. But from what they passed along, the Hero Hitomi was destroyed to release those trouble making Primordials from their seal. A pity, as her energy would've been far more valuable to you than those idiots, Lord Labrys." Tanya said, her warm smile apparent in her words.

"It matters not. If I cannot have the Heroes I simply need to find more souls to consume, and besides..." Labrys paused as he flexed his hand before punching the air and creating a shock wave that decimated part of the forest. "It won't be much longer until I'm back at full power."

"I'm still worried about those Twins, my Lord. Now that many of our agents have disappeared it's become harder to keep track of their movements." Tanya grumbled. "I still don't know what happened to suddenly make them competent enough to discover that we were tracking them."

"Perhaps they didn't become better at their job." Labrys said with a chuckle. "Perhaps they've gotten some help."

"Help? From whom?" Tanya asked, unsure who would be able or willing to aid them in their search. "There are no normal adventurers capable of seeing through our scout's concealment. The so-called Demon Lord isn't directly involved in hunting you down, and none of her subordinates give off the impression that they'd be up to the task either." The Demon Cult had been hiding from Gods for thousands of years with only brief moments of detection. To Tanya, it was inconceivable, rightly so, that no mere mortal could detect and hunt down their members. At least not this easily.

"Indeed, you're right. There are few who could disrupt our plans this easily..." Labrys said as he slowly stood up, looking into the clear blue sky above through his mask. "However, there is one that comes to mind... One that I've met before... One... One that I must meet again..."

{The hour of our reunion draws near. The last time we met I was barely conscious and I missed the opportunity to speak with you, but I won't make that mistake again.} (Labrys)

"When next we meet 'Halifax', I hope that you'll listen to what I have to say and perhaps... Perhaps even remember your true name." Labrys said as he turned, walking into the woods to devour his next victim.

{Halifax?} (Tanya)