Demiurge stood in a vast expanse of land. He has decided that further tests are needed to observe and document the power of test subject 007 — Yu. Although, Demiurge has been trying to replicate his findings in other captives, it was obvious at this point that whatever that alien part was inside Yu had endowed him with power. He also learned that the roaming monsters or the 'horsemen of the apocalypse' as the locals called them could be controlled via his command mantra.

It was a pleasant finding, although not unexpected given that everything in this world seemed to be so utterly weak. He was sure that the supreme beings wouldn't waste their precious time conquering such a puny little world, but Demiurge had a mission.

He had to find the masters, and for that reason he would scour the planet.

He also thought about releasing the other guardians from the tomb, but he had to put that idea on hold due to various reasons. Firstly, he didn't know how he could do that, hell he couldn't even return to the tomb ever since he had come into this world, it was like the moment he left the place its existence was erased, but that wasn't possible, — Demiurge knew that.

Secondly, if he did bring the guardians then the tomb, the abode of the supreme beings would be left unprotected — that cannot happen. Nor he, nor the other guardians could forgive themselves if the great tomb of Nazarick, home to the 41 supreme beings were sacked because of their selfishness.

He could leave Nazarick with a calm heart exactly because he trusted his colleagues, — the remaining guardians would protect the tomb to their last breath without a shadow of a doubt, in other words there was no way that Nazarick would fall.

As he observed Yu's struggle against the weakened lord of wrath, he felt a new presence in the vicinity. It was originating from the shadows, where a being materialized, a shadow demon.

"Lord Demiurge we have confirmed the intel, the vampire stronghold is indeed located there."

"Keep observing that place, nothing goes in and nothing goes out without me knowing."

"Yes, my lord." The shadowy being said before it melted into the shades.

Demiurge — seeing that Yu was pummeled into the ground yet again, — decided that this way enough for today's experiment.

"Enough." He called out, and the lord of wrath hearing its master's orders stopped his advance.

Yu's unconscious body was collected, then through a dark swirling mass of energy — {Gate} — they left the outskirts of the town.

…

Satoru was woken abruptly by an explosion. "What the-?" The ground shook as more followed.

He feared that the roof would collapse on them at any moment and thus he swiftly jumped out of bed. The others were already awake, and they hurried outside of their little abode.

The smell of sulfur permeated the air as the seven of them stared at the hellish flames that ignited along the edges of buildings.

Their eyes further widened in disbelief.

Demons. Demons were invading the vampire compound.

Unbeknownst to the six, Satoru was thrown into disarray not because those were demons, but because he had recognized some of them. They eerily resembled those found in Yggdrasil, but that couldn't be the case. Yggdrasil was a game, a game he enjoyed but it was a game all the same.

But then, how could be such an uncanny resemblance?

He watched as the demons recognized as 'lesser' imps overwhelmed the vampire guards with sheer numbers alone, while the ginormous green 'face eaters' devoured any they could get their disgusting hands on. Satoru kept on staring in bewilderment, trying to refute his mind which was practically screaming at him. He was broken out of his trance when Anna grabbed his arm and started running.

Satoru followed suit even as he passed by crying children on the streets, even as flaming rocks were hurled upon the labyrinth where the children lived, — he had no choice but to run. He cursed himself for being weak, for being unable to help them, but it was a cruel world, one where he was powerless.

He hated himself for leaving behind innocent children, but he couldn't do anything for them. They were up against flesh and blood demons, not a threat a child could stand against. It would be foolish to needlessly throw away his new life, and so he went on. He pushed himself further as he tried to shut out the screaming and cries of agony in the vicinity.

Finally reaching a checkpoint the children collapsed out of exhaustion, and Satoru was no exception. Although he drew heavy breaths his eyes never left the scene they left behind.

The demons massacred anyone and everyone they could get their filthy hands on.

Be they vampires, or human children it didn't matter to them as they carried out their slaughter.

The crimson flames didn't discriminate either, they have devoured everything. The little abodes, the vampiric stations, the castle walls, there was nothing that escaped the flames. All the while flying demons had also made their presence known as they hunted for easy prey in the madness.

Satoru could faintly hear the guards talking about escaping before he drifted off to sleep.

…

Satoru was jolted awake.

He was lying on the floor with a couple of others, but he soon recalled what was going on.

"Where?" He asked as he looked around.

"Where?!" He asked again with growing restlessness.

He coughed a couple as the smoke was getting to him, — he had to leave this place. He had to leave and fast. After one last glance at the surroundings confirming that the children whom he called family was nowhere to be seen he began staggering under the cover of the rising smoke.

He didn't know, Satoru didn't know where he should go. The vampires meant to protect and guide the survivors were nowhere to be found, — they have abandoned them, they have abandoned him, — he realized, but he didn't have the time nor the energy to get angry over that…

Satoru slowly made his way over to the only construction that wasn't dressed in crimson flames, the only building still intact — the castle, the palace of the ruler of this place.

If what Mika told him was true, then the queen should have enough power to protect him. Although, he couldn't know for sure if she was still in the palace, he was pretty confident in his ability to tell.

After all, if she has already left then the palace would already be overwhelmed. Satoru has witnessed that normal guards, and even the nobles have proved to be too weak to handle the onslaught of demons. If his memory served right then these demons were only considered low level in Yggdrasil, a high-ranking vampire progenitor ought to be able to handle them with ease.

With newfound hope he entered the castle from a back passage Mika had showed him the other day.

"Oh please, if there is a God, let it be that my family is safe, and I find refuge here." Satoru murmured as he entered the dark opening.

…

Krul Tepes sat on her throne as she waited impatiently. Some idiots have dared to siege her domain. Although why would the demon army attack now? Well, it doesn't matter, — she thought.

They wouldn't get past her defenses anyways, a little more than a nuisance.

They would be swiftly disposed of.

However, soon she got news that the attackers were not humans, nor humans with demonic powers, but demons themselves, and a lot of them if the reports were to be believed.

She would wonder how this is possible, but not now.

All demons were a vampire once upon a time before turning into a demon due to blood deprivation and most of the time they had lost their sense of self, — they only lived for carnage. Thus, they were promptly sealed. Who could have let them free? The humans weren't that suicidal! She would later understand, as these demons were nothing she knew of.

Krul had duties to uphold.

She ordered the guards to evacuate their livestock although it was unlikely, but if the enemy did manage to break through, then at least their blood supply would be safe. She also sent Ferid to the front lines with two dozen or so elite guards.

They should be more than enough to handle any threat, — she thought. Oh, how wrong she was.

Earthquakes plagued her palace as her mood continue to fall and her smile was transformed into a dissatisfied smirk. What takes them so long? — She questioned.

Her refined senses flared as she felt a presence closing in on her.

She figured it must be Ferid, although the loss of the elite guard was quite a heavy blow to her forces, it was still much better than losing their blood supply.

Then as it came closer and closer, she understood. This presence was not that of a vampire, but that of a demon, and from the chills she got, quite a powerful one at that.

She glanced at Mika and gestured to him to move behind her.

…

She waited patiently for the volatile presence to reach her throne room.

She felt something peculiar.

First, she didn't realize what it was…

The double doors soon opened to reveal a devil in crimson clothing…

Then and there it became crystal clear to her, the unfamiliar feeling she hasn't experienced for over a millennium was fear. Unrivaled terror, that not even the seraphs could instill in her.

The aura of the fiend was not of this world.

It seemed to bend space around it as the very air trembled.

The knowledge that the outcome of this battle may result in her death terrified her beyond measure. She didn't linger as she instantly launched herself at the enemy. Her only hope being to somehow catch the fiend off guard. She desperately grasped for the opportunity, and thus she acted.