A handsome young man clad in a half-white and a half-black robe was slowly walking the steps towards a particular shrine in Japan. This shrine is located several hundreds of kilometers from Sanctuary, and it will take at least half a time it takes for an incense to burn before any of the powerful Gold Saints can rush over.

Sakura petals can be seen littered all over the steps. Every step that this young man takes causes a light wind to move away the petals towards either side.

“Mina…”

He continued to walk over the steps, which seemed like countless, as he closed his eyes. He thought of his childhood sweetheart, Mina Hakuba, who was killed.

“Kuro…”

He also thought of his bestfriend, whom he had killed with his combat knife. This combat knife was the very same knife he used to kill Mina, as he struck the both of his friends squarely in the heart.

Suddenly, an intertwining white and black light emitted from his forehead, were he wore a circlet. The very same circlet was given to him by the Demon Lord Vearn. The latter inscribed runes on this circlet and called it the “Illusion Shattering Circlet”.

Within a couple of breaths, the never-ending staircase illusion was broken. The handsome youth stood in front of a simple wooden gate and on top of the gate there was a simple sign indicating the words “Hakuba Shrine”.

“To think you guys hid it here.”

“I thought you hid it in Sanctuary.”

“Good thing that Vearn provided me with this Circlet, otherwise I cannot possibly make it here with my corrupted soul and aura.”

“I miss you Mina.”

“Please understand that this is my choice, and my destiny.”

“I am the reincarnation of the Dark Lord.”

“I am also the reincarnation of Hades”

“But I am also me.”

“This is only the first step.”

“I will destroy everything, and rebuild everything, with these hands.”

Soma looked intently into the Wooden Gate of the Hakuba Shrine as he took out a necklace. This necklace was given to him by Mina when they were 12 years old.

“Open!”

With a creaking sound, the Wooden Gate silently opened. Inside stood two people. A young man around 12 years old, and an old man around 60 to 65 years old. The young man emitted an aura of pure innocence while the old man emitted powers of chaos and decay.

Both figures stood in front of the handsome youth and took a solemn bow. Both figures spoke in unison, and in the same voice as the handsome youth’s.

“Soma Cruz! Reincarnation of the Dark Lord! Reincarnation of Hades in this Era!”

“We are the lost parts of your soul!”

“This young soul was supposed to be consumed by me when you awakened as the Dark Lord for the first time, but you succeeded in suppressing Dracula’s origin soul.”

“This part of your soul was then housed into the Holy Blade Claimh Solais when you used it to sever the powers of Chaos in Dracula’s Castle during the Eclipse.”

“This old soul is a part of Dracula’s origin soul, which was also severed that time when you pierced the heart of Chaos.”

“By wielding the Holy Sword, naturally your soul will become whole. The two souls will form part of you once more!”

“You will finally awaken as Soma, the true reincarnation of Dracula!”

“Once you don Hades’ Cloth, you will also awaken as Hades.”

“You will be unmatched!”

Both the young soul and the old soul faded, and then a floating Holy Sword appeared in front of Soma. It emitted an intense Holy Light, and the light became fiercer as Soma slowly made his way towards the sword.

Soma slowly reached out towards Claimh Solais, with his right hand being wrapped with a Dark Aura comprising of Deity Aura, Chaos power and Vampiric Power.

“I once again wield Claimh Solais, the most powerful Holy Sword in the World!”

“You will be reborn as my Blade, as the new Hades Sword!”

“I shall call you my Hakuba Blade!”

A dark pillar of chaotic power shoot up towards the sky while Soma was claiming ownership over the Holy Sword. A grim expression can be seen on the faces of Sapphire, Genbu and the other Gold Saints as they looked towards it.

“Genbu, take Amor and Aldebaran and make you way towards Hakuba Shrine.”

“I fear that the Holy Sword Claimh Solais has been taken!”

“Go Now, my Gold Saints!”

With the speed of light, Genbu traversed the 12 Temples, passing thru the Pisces Temple and then the Taurus temple within seconds. Then, the three Gold Saints made their way towards Hakuba Shrine with the fastest speeds they could muster.

“Malphas!”

“Abaddon!”

“Zephyr!”

“Keep those Gold Saints of Athena company.”

“Thanatos! Minos!”

Suddenly, the space around Soma distorted and two Deity Level beings appeared out of thin space.

“Yes, my Lord!”

“Prepare the Lost Canvass!”

“Use any means necessary!”

“But keep it low for the meantime.”

“I’ll use it as my surprise to Athena when the time comes.”

Thanatos and Minos solemnly half-kneeled towards Soma, and at the same time both of them shouted in unison.

“Thanatos understands!”

“Minos Complies!”

Soma then turned himself into mist, and disappeared into the horizon. The three boss level monsters that he left behind then wreaked havoc and destroyed the Hakuba Shrine and the surrounding municipalities.

Thousands of skeletons, zombies, Giant Bats and Axe Armors also appeared out of thin air. The heavily guard Hakuba Shrine fell today, and it was done from the inside. The Vampire Hunters, forces of the Church, Steel Saints and Heroes stationed outside the Hakuba Shrine all engaged the forces of the Dark Lord that appeared out of nowhere.

After half a time it takes for an incense to burn, Genbu and the other two Gold Saints finally made their way towards the outskirts of the Hakuba Shrine. They saw Kuro, Dai, Hyunckel and the others also rushing from the distance. They understood that the shrine had fallen and there are at least 3 boss level monsters in the vicinity.

“Saints of Athena!” beckoned Genbu.

“Vampire Hunters!”

“World Heroes!”

“Let us eradicate the vermin who date desecrate the Hakuba Shrine!”

“Eliminate all of them!”

With a rush, all of them made their way towards the peak of Hakuba Shrine.