In the northern stretches of Romania, stood a grand, centuries-old manor surrounded by a dense forest of trees.
It was the stronghold of the Carmilla Faction, the elegant but deadly court of noble vampires known as the enemies of the Tepes Faction.
Inside the manor, an ornate chamber glowed dimly under the light of crystalline chandeliers and silver candelabras.
A dark wood table sat at the center, guarded by four ominous suits of armor standing in the corners of the room.
Seated at the head of the table was none other than the vampiric queen herself, Carmilla.
Draped in a crimson gown, her long black hair framed her face, and her pale fingers tapped slowly against one another in thought.
On her left was Lady Karnstein, a statuesque woman with silver hair and a sharp tongue.
To her right, Lady Vordenburg, equally regal, had golden hair and a quiet, calculating air.
Across from them, Lavinia Reni stood with a graceful bow, her pale-blue witch's hat tilted slightly forward in respect.
Beside her, Jeanne d'Arc remained upright, her rapier resting on the table beside her.
"Thank you for granting us this audience, Queen Carmilla. We're aware of how unusual it is for outsiders to be welcomed into your domain."
Lavinia said, her voice polite, poised.
Carmilla waved her fingers as if brushing the formality away.
"Please, darling. It's been ages since we've had such lovely guests. Two beauties from the human world. Quite the rare delight."
She purred, her ruby eyes flickering between Lavinia and Jeanne with predatory amusement.
Her gaze lingered a bit longer on Lavinia, and she slowly licked her lips.
Lavinia gave a practiced smile.
"You flatter us, Your Majesty. But we are here for more pressing matters."
"Mmm, I see."
Carmilla hummed, her chin resting on the back of her gloved hand.
"So, how is the ever-delirious Mephisto these days? I haven't seen him in almost a century. Still having fun in the human world?"
Lavinia chuckled softly.
"He's doing well. Though recently… he's been very into Pokémon."
That made Carmilla blink.
"Poke…mon?"
She echoed slowly, like tasting a foreign word for the first time.
Jeanne raised an eyebrow, Lady Vordenburg looked mildly curious, and Lady Karnstein just scoffed.
"What sort of madness is that supposed to be?"
Lavinia leaned forward a bit.
"It's a human game involving elemental creatures used for battles. Mephisto's obsessed with catching them all. Says he wants to establish 'Shuckle Supremacy' around the Pokémon community."
Carmilla tilted her head, intrigued and confused.
"Elemental creatures used for… Ah, never mind. Humans grow stranger with each century."
But the atmosphere shifted when Jeanne suddenly coughed sharply into her fist, loud enough to break the playful mood.
"We're not here to talk about Pokémon. This is a matter of urgency."
She said with quiet firmness.
Both vampire ladies flanking the queen grew serious, sitting straighter.
Queen Carmilla sighed, her amusement melting into regal indifference.
"Very well. Let us skip the pleasantries, then. Why are you here?"
Lavinia's smile vanished, replaced by a stoic expression.
"Three nights ago, an entire European village was wiped out. Every man, woman, and child was killed mercilessly. The traces left behind were… vampiric in nature."
Carmilla's fingers stopped tapping. Her eyes narrowed.
"And where exactly are you going with this accusation, Miss Reni?"
Lavinia stared into her eyes.
"Do I have your word, Queen Carmilla, that the Carmilla Faction had no involvement in that tragedy, in any way, shape, or form?"
For a moment, no one spoke.
Carmilla slowly leaned forward, resting both elbows on the carved wood.
Her gloved hands folded beneath her chin, and her crimson eyes bore into Lavinia's sapphire ones.
"And what if we did?"
She asked softly.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
The windows frosted over with spiderweb cracks of ice, and the light dimmed to a bluish hue.
Lavinia's long blond hair fluttered slightly as her magical pressure filled the chamber.
Her expression remained calm, unshaken.
"If you and your subordinates did, then I swear I will erase your name, your people, and the entire vampire race from the face of the Earth."
She said coldly.
Jeanne silently gripped the hilt of her rapier, and both Lady Karnstein and Lady Vordenburg tensed, fingers twitching, their eyes locked on the two.
A full minute passed.
Then Carmilla leaned back with a quiet sigh.
"I swear upon my name and my people that the Carmilla Faction had no hand in the massacre you speak of. Besides, engaging in such senseless brutality would not benefit us. We are sensible, not suicidal."
She said, voice now cool and formal.
Lavinia slowly exhaled, the frost receding.
Jeanne glanced down at her rapier, its blade glowing dimly.
"She's telling the truth."
Jeanne confirmed with a small nod.
Lavinia turned back toward Carmilla and gave a polite dip of her head.
"Then I thank you for your honesty. And I apologize for the threat."
Carmilla flicked her wrist in dismissal.
"It was warranted. These are dangerous times. We must take each accusation seriously. Is that all, then? Or are you planning to stay for dinner? We've had the chefs prepare something delicious."
Carmilla smirked.
"No blood, of course. At least, not from you."
Jeanne glanced at Lavinia, who gave a small shake of her head.
"Thank you for the hospitality, but there's more we need to discuss."
She said, resting her hands on her lap.
"Oh?"
Carmilla lifted an elegant eyebrow, intrigued once more.
"We're aware of the Carmilla Faction's… struggle with the Tepes Faction. And we come bearing a proposal. One that may shift the tide in your favor, and ours."
Lavinia said, her tone carefully neutral.
The queen leaned forward again, the faintest glint of intrigue returning to her eyes.
"Go on."
DxD
The Tepes Coliseum was drenched in bloody gore, and broken vampire corpses littered the cracked marble arena.
In the center of it all stood a divine figure clad in golden centurion armor, and ten angelic wings of holy light flared out from his back.
Cao Cao's Balance Breaker, True Longinus Götterdämmerung, had fully manifested, and he flew like a wrathful archangel on the battlefield.
"Meteor Shower."
With a sweeping motion, his feathers scattered and formed into a volley of holy light spears.
The spears hissed through the air, curving like guided missiles and tearing through the vampires who had dared surround him.
The explosion of light reduced them to ash before their bodies could even hit the ground.
Above the carnage, the broken remains of a balcony crumbled under the intensity of the last blast.
On the far edge, Marius stood, paralyzed.
Blood dripped from his forehead, his crimson cloak torn, his breath shallow and rapid as he stared down at what was left of his soldiers.
His eyes locked on Cao Cao, the divine lancer glowing brighter than the sun.
"N-No… No, no, no… This isn't possible…"
Marius muttered.
Then he turned on his heel and ran, cape fluttering behind him like a coward as he sprinted to the nearest exit.
On the other side of the coliseum, Connla was descending the stone steps two at a time, carrying the unconscious form of Valerie in his arms, her pale face limp against his chest.
He spotted the retreating figure and cursed under his breath.
"Cao Cao! That bastard is running away!"
Connla shouted, voice echoing through the coliseum.
Cao Cao heard him even over the dying howls of the vampires he'd just impaled.
As he drove his spear clean through the last opponent standing, he turned his head, eyes narrowing beneath the crested helm.
His gaze found Marius retreating through the archway like a rat.
"Oh no, you don't."
His palm opened, and a golden sphere began to condense, becoming a miniature sun.
It swirled and pulsed, growing brighter until it scorched the air around his armored fingers.
He raised the miniature sun.
"Supernova."
The light detonated in a flash that blinded the heavens, and a tidal wave of holy radiance surged outward in every direction.
Stone melted, ash scattered, and the last of the vampire reinforcements, who had begun trickling in, were incinerated on the spot, turned to dust before they could scream.
Connla was unfortunate to be there to witness this radiance.
"G-GAH, MY EYES! How is this even possible?! I'm wearing shades!"
He screamed.
Still, he held Valerie tight, shielding her limp form with his shadow.
From above, Cao Cao called out as his wings lifted him into the air.
"Sorry about that! Just get Valerie out of here! I'll handle the rat!"
Connla groaned, blinking furiously as he tried to see.
"Right, sure, just incinerate half the coliseum and blind your teammate. Just do your thing!"
Cao Cao was already gone, a streak of gold shooting through the broken archway where Marius had disappeared.
Inside the castle corridors, Marius scrambled through the winding halls, shouting at every vampire he passed.
"Don't just stand there! Stop him! Do something! ANYTHING!"
But none of them were prepared for what came next.
A beam of golden light shot through the hallway, and before they could react, Cao Cao descended upon them.
His wings flared, blades of light forming at their tips as he tore through the vampires like a comet.
Blood splashed across the stone walls, coating ancient portraits and faded tapestries.
Those who tried to raise spells or weapons were cut down before they could scream.
Marius looked back once and saw death itself pursuing him.
"No, no, no! Not like this, not now! I refuse to be killed by a human!"
He wheezed, forcing himself forward down another hall.
He burst into a tall iron-reinforced door at the end of the hall, slamming it shut behind him. With a wave of his trembling hands, a purple rune etched itself across the frame, an emergency sealing spell keyed only to him.
The door groaned as it locked into place with magic.
The room he entered was a high-ceilinged laboratory filled with archaic runes, glowing tubes of blood, and ancient scrolls pinned to corkboards.
He sprinted toward a desk, grabbing a stack of aged documents and hurling them into the roaring fireplace.
Then he turned to a rotary phone on the table.
His fingers trembled as he spun the dial quickly.
"Come on… come on, pick up…"
The runes on the door suddenly began to crack.
*BOOM*
The reinforced steel bent inward, metal screeching under holy pressure.
*BOOM*
The hinges snapped, and the barrier shattered like glass.
*BOOM*
The door flew off its frame, crashing into the far wall.
A wave of holy light swept into the room as Cao Cao walked in slowly, smoke rising from his golden gauntlets, eyes locked on his target.
Marius gasped and stepped back, but it was too late.
Cao Cao crossed the room in two strides and seized him by the throat, lifting him into the air like a ragdoll.
Marius's skin began to blister and burn from the radiant aura pouring off of Cao Cao.
"G-GAAH!"
He screamed, legs kicking helplessly.
Cao Cao didn't flinch.
His helmeted gaze flicked toward the phone on the floor.
Cao Cao bent down, picked up the receiver, and held it near his head.
From the receiver came a male voice.
"Tepes? What is going on over there? Explain the sit-"
"Sorry, the person you're calling is unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message after you go fuck yourselves."
Then he crushed the receiver with his hand and let it drop like debris.
Marius continued to claw at Cao Cao's wrist, fingers burning, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
"Oh no. We're not done with you yet."
Cao Cao muttered, pulling him in closer, then he drove a gauntleted fist into Marius's jaw.
The vampire went limp instantly, eyes rolling back as he collapsed unconscious in Cao Cao's grip.
The fire from the fireplace was spreading now, creeping up the curtains and across the desks, swallowing shelves of books and relics.
Smoke thickened, and the ceiling groaned as embers danced above.
Cao Cao turned to leave, but something caught his eye.
A few untouched folders were stacked near the fireplace.
He glanced at the seal stamped on one of them, an unfamiliar sigil he didn't recognize.
"Huh. I've got a feeling these are gonna be useful."
He muttered, walking over and plucking the papers off the desk with his free hand, Marius still draped over his shoulder.
And with that, the angelic centurion turned and walked out of the burning laboratory, wings folding around him like a shield as the fire roared in his wake.
DxD
The forest was in ruins.
Where once stood vast trees and foliage, now remained only scorched craters, frozen trees, and a landscape fractured by the elements.
Thunder rolled overhead as blackened clouds swirled across the sky, a tornado spun in the far distance, casting debris into the sky, the ground still sizzled with lingering trails of lightning, and the remains of a once-formidable vampire army now lay scattered in grotesque heaps, burned, electrocuted, or frozen.
Georg stood just outside the devastation, his robes fluttering in the violent winds stirred by the unnatural weather.
He maintained the Dimension Lost mist barrier, sweat dripped from his brow, his concentration unwavering despite the havoc nearby.
He spared only a glance at the epicenter of the carnage, watching the lone figure who stood tall amidst the chaos.
Dulio Gesualdo.
The blonde exorcist floated just above the charred battlefield, his body surrounded by a soft cloud that released lightning.
His Zenith Tempest had summoned a powerful storm that decimated the vampires with terrifying ease.
Tornadoes of flame and frost responded to his will, and nature itself bent under his authority.
Below him, the vampire horsemen were on their knees, coughing blood.
His armor cracked and soaked in his crimson fluids, and his eyes, wide and bloodshot, stared in disbelief at the destruction.
"This… can't be… How can a mere human cause such destruction?"
Dulio laughed softly, floating down with his hands in his pockets, almost like he was on a casual stroll.
"Ah, don't feel too bad, big guy. It's not like you stood a chance."
He said with an easy smile.
He paused as he stood a few feet from the kneeling vampire.
The horseman looked up, trembling.
After a moment of silence, Dulio tilted his head and grinned wider.
"After all… you're all weak."
The vampire gritted his fangs, rage and desperation burning in his eyes.
"DAMN YOU!"
With a roar, he stabbed his palm and drew blood, molding it into crimson spears and jagged blades, dozens of them spiraling around him.
Dulio didn't move.
The moment the weapons launched, the ground beneath the vampire's feet turned into ice in jagged waves, engulfing the horseman in the blink of an eye.
He didn't even have time to scream before he was completely frozen, encased in crystal-clear ice.
Dulio sighed, stepping forward and tapping the frozen statue with a single finger.
"How brave, but still stupid."
The ice shattered instantly, shards scattering across the blackened soil.
He turned slowly, observing the apocalyptic landscape he had created.
Fire still crackled among the ruins, smoke rose in tall, curling tendrils, blood soaked the earth, and the scent of blood lingered in the air.
"Damn… I might've gotten a little carried away."
Dulio whispered.
From the edge of the dome, Georg raised an eyebrow.
"You think?"
Dulio chuckled and shrugged, floating toward his companion.
"Hard not to when I'm the strongest."
But Georg's focus had shifted.
His eyes were on the barrier, the purple mist of Dimension Lost was trembling unnaturally, as if something inside it was trying to force its way out.
"…That's not right."
Georg muttered, adjusting the angle of his hand as he reinforced the barrier.
Dulio's expression sobered.
"Hey. What's going on?"
Georg didn't answer at first.
His eyes squinted against the mist, trying to make out the disturbance.
The trembling increased, faint crimson light flickered within the dome, casting strange flashes against the outside.
Then Georg's eyes widened, pupils shrinking slightly.
"Oh my God…"
Dulio stepped beside him, frowning.
"Alright, now you have to tell me. Don't keep me in suspense."
Before Georg could answer, a voice echoed from behind them.
"Sorry, we're late."
The two turned as Connla stepped out of the shadows, an unconscious Valerie in his arms, her breathing shallow but steady.
Connla's jacket was tattered, his shades slightly cracked, but he looked alive.
Dulio blinked.
"Whoa, what's with the poor girl?"
Connla walked closer, carefully adjusting Valerie in his grip.
"Long story short. Her name's Valerie. She's a dhampir who's been abused and exploited by the Tepes Faction for some reason. Cao Cao told me to get her out while he handled something else."
Dulio nodded slowly, glancing down at her pale, unconscious face.
"Damn… that bad, huh?"
"Worse."
But Georg wasn't listening to them anymore.
His attention was locked onto the Dimension Lost barrier, which was now violently shaking, rippling like water.
"Dulio! You're gonna need to see this!"
Georg barked.
Dulio snapped to attention.
"What is it?"
A sudden gust of crimson wind burst from the barrier, scattering debris across the battlefield.
For just a moment, the mist parted, like curtains drawn.
And what they saw made all of them freeze.
Inside the dome, the once-grand Tepes Castle stood amidst a hellscape.
Crimson flames engulfed its walls, chunks of molten rock floated in midair, and smoke coiled around shattered towers.
The air inside was thick with oppressive heat and sheer rage.
Then they saw them.
In the center of it all, Arthur, clad in his Juggernaut Drive form, his body radiated monstrous power.
His wings pulsed with energy, crimson beams fired from the green jewels on his armor, and his eyes glowed with berserk fury.
*ROOOOOAAAAAR!!!*
Facing him, floating just above the cracked platform, was King Tepes.
The king had shed all pretense of nobility.
His body was wreathed in dirt and blood, tendrils coiling around him like vines, blood constructs of blades burst from him, and his voice thundered as he summoned even more abominations from the depths of his shadows.
"Bring it on, Red Dragon!!!"
The two monsters clashed with such force that the very walls of reality inside the dome trembled.
Outside, Connla's mouth hung open, stunned.
"That's… Arthur?"
Dulio's arms crossed.
"No wonder Arthur told me to get ready."
Georg's voice was low.
"This is not a crusade anymore… This is a massacre."
DxD
Hello readers!
Sorry for missing my daily uploads.
I'm just so busy at the moment that it slipped my mind to make a chapter for you, readers.
Thank you, everyone, and see you later!