I wish I had an excuse for not updating... but I don't, I was too lazy to write. Anyway, here's the new chapter.

Centuries of hatred grew and festered between the two races. It was unknown exactly when they started warring, but in the thousands of years that had passed since, there was still no clear-cut victor.

The war did not come with only a few casualties. As with all wars, thousands upon thousands died every year, putting the death toll well into the millions.

There were many tales of revenge between the Pure and Demonic race. It was by no means an uncommon story, but this, perhaps, was the most famous story.

Three archangels and a Seraphim had slain the son of Lucifer and Laufeia. The mother overcome with grief and the father with rage, one sought peace while the other wanted the blood to flow.

There was another, actually. One who didn’t care about peace or revenge. And that was their grandson, Vyne.

He wanted nothing to do with it. Such a cold standpoint even though his father was the victim.

Those three were all alone in the same room. A heavy atmosphere had settled over them.

“I’ll repeat it since you don’t seem to understand,” Vyne said in a monotonous voice. “My ties and allegiances to this family were rendered null and void when I swore my absolute loyalty to Lord Erebus. I have nothing more to say on the matter, do not involve me any more than this.”

“Even though you say that, I can’t exactly leave this matter alone. You disappeared for over five hundred years, there were some rumors of you establishing yourself as a Demon Lord and then, once again, you vanished. As your family, we have the right to know what happened,” Lucifer responded. “Not only that, you won’t even come to your father’s or mother’s funeral!”

“I do not consider you my family any longer. We may be related by blood, but that is as far as our relationship goes. Do not misunderstand, it isn’t that I hate you or harbor any antagonistic feelings for you. I simply do not care about your existences.”

Laufeia spoke up, “You’re still wet behind the ears, you are nothing more than a child. Do not try and act like you are our superior.”

“Perhaps I am a child, as you said, but that does not matter. The one I serve is your superior, and that is all that matters.” Vyne gazed at Laufeia coldly, he wanted them to leave, that much was obvious.

Laufeia ground her teeth. “I see that you’re unwilling to compromise with us.”

Vyne responded dryly, “Is that the feeling that you got? I was trying to be as courteous as possible.”

“Vyne, do you truly not feel anything?” Lucifer asked. “Will you not even stand with me against the archangels?”

“Unless I was ordered to, I would not move for my family,” Vyne answered.

“If your Lord Erebus told you to, you would fight?” Lucifer questioned.

Vyne narrowed his eyes and nodded his head slowly, a bad feeling entering him.

Laufeia also understood what Lucifer’s intentions were, so her eyes widened. “Luci, you wouldn’t...”

“I will be back,” Lucifer said, jumping out of his chair and leaving Laufeia and Vyne.

The person he was going to see scared him witless, but he was willing to do it if it meant Vyne would fight for his father, even if it was against his own will.

He was going to ask Erebus to order Vyne to mobilize. Lucifer had taken one glance at Vyne and knew that his power had increased greatly, even though he had never gone through his awakening, he had grown to that extent.

When he fully matured, Vyne’s strength would be horrifying.

That’s why Lucifer needed him now. He needed to start reforging the bond between them because if Vyne ever turned against his family, the results would be disastrous.

Lucifer turned another corner and then realized something.

He was completely lost!

In this labyrinth of a castle, he had absolutely no idea where he was. Every single hallway looked the same, and anyone who walked past him didn’t even spare him a second glance.

He wasn’t used to that type of treatment. Especially from low-ranking servants. A few had even given him a funny look, as if they thought something was absolutely hilarious.

“Are you lost?” a voice came from behind him, Lucifer turned to see the human who had been by Erebus’ side in the throne room standing there.

For a human, Lucifer surmised from what aura he could feel, this child’s strength was sizeable. Actually, his power was far beyond what a human should ever possess.

Lucifer didn’t respond, he wouldn’t stoop to the level of asking a human, no matter how strong, for help.

“Ah, apologies, my name is Xaltiq,” the human boy told Lucifer. “You’re one of Ere--Lord Erebus’ guests, a pleasure to speak to you. Are you headed to see him?”

Lucifer nodded slowly.

“Well, then I can tell you that you’re going the wrong way. I just got here myself, so I know that it’s a bit hard to tell where you’re going.”

Silence filled the space between the two.

“If you want... I could--”

“Don’t,” Lucifer cut in.

Xaltiq smiled softly, clearly confused. “Don’t want?”

“Say what you were about to say.”

Xal scratched his head. “Uh, all right... it’s just that a few servants were gossiping about how you’re walking around in circles so I figured that I’d just, you know...”

“I know where I’m going,” Lucifer sniffed. “I was just, ah, learning the layout.”

The human’s brows knitted together. “Is that what that was? I was sure that you were lost. Without a doubt, you’re lost.”

The two stared at each other, neither wanting to back down. For Xaltiq, he couldn’t understand the stubbornness of this man and Lucifer was too proud to ask a human for assistance.

Xaltiq clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I’m going to find Lord Erebus...” He turned sharply on his heels.

Lucifer, like a lost pup, trailed behind Xaltiq, who pretended not to notice him.

The two left the castle and went far deep into the grassy plains. As they drew nearer, the air got cooler and cooler.

A dragon screeched loudly and a small dragon with white purple-spotted scales flew into the air, it opened its mouth and a crystalline gas spewed out, freezing everything in the vicinity.

“Too slow, try again,” a bored voice responded. “By the time you’ve finished, your enemy would have dodged and entered a safe area. I’m trying not to laugh, you’re funny if you think an attack of that speed will work.”

The dragon opened its mouth and a series of high-pitched guttural noises came out.

“I don’t care. Do it again.”

It whined loudly before releasing the gas once more.

“No.”

“Lord Erebus?” Xaltiq called out, staying out of the frozen realm. “Prince Lucifer was looking for you.”

Erebus stood up from his spot. “What do you want, brat? I’m busy.”

Lucifer swallowed spit. “I was wondering if I could speak to you,” he glanced at the dragon and Xaltiq, “in private.”

“Yeah, yeah. Weryn, Xal, leave us for a minute. Xal, tell him to keep practicing and I want you to watch the speed.”

“Understood.” Xaltiq bowed and then walked away with the dragon walking behind him on its stubby limbs.

Erebus turned to Lucifer. “So... what did you want from me? I thought you had left already, why are you still here? Did I ever say that you could stay?”

“I don’t want to be here either, but my wife and grandson are here. And speaking of that boy... I have a favor to ask you. Please order Vyne to assist me in the eradication of the angels who killed my son.”

Erebus responded with no hesitation, “I already did you a favor earlier. Go away, we’re done speaking.”

“It isn’t as if it’s that big of a deal to ask him. He will not listen to me, but he’ll undoubtedly obey whatever you tell him to do!”

“Your point? I don’t want to, so I won’t. Why would I anyway? I’m not getting anything in return for it and you annoy me, too. Sheesh, what is with all these people asking me to do things lately, it’s getting out of control.”

Lucifer ground his teeth together. “You said that you wanted to have an interesting fight for once, didn’t you?”

Erebus laughed rudely. “And what? You’ll give me one?”

“No... our strength might be nothing in comparison to yours, but if the Four Princes of Hell all faced you at the same time, it could provide some entertainment, correct?”

Lucifer knew that they would probably all refuse to do it, but if he told them it was an original dragon and if they didn't fight him he'd slaughter them all, it'd surely be a unanimous decision.

The ancient dragon tilted his head in thought. “I suppose you four possibly could... hmm, I’ll consider it. What was that you wanted again? I wasn’t listening.”

Lucifer forced his voice to remain calm, “To order my grandson to join me and some other demons in the expedition to kill the angels who killed my son.”

“You still haven’t given up on that? Laufeia’s right, more people will just die. Well, whatever, it’s fine by me as long as Vyne doesn’t die. It’s hard to find such a rare talent like him.”

“You have plenty of those,” Lucifer said, recalling the ones who had been standing by Erebus’ side. All of them were simply put, abnormalities. “For curiosity's sake, what exactly will happen if Vyne ends up dying?”

Lucifer, of course, would protect his grandson with his life, but, it wasn’t guaranteed that even he could survive with Lucifer’s protection.

“Ah...” Erebus smiled softly. “Let’s just say, you better hope that he doesn’t. I don’t take well to my things being broken.”