"....."

"....."

The trio Charles, Edward and Ganon were now facing the supposed prince of Zagon along with his supposed retainer. Actually, from a glance, this person looked more like a king with his golden crown and tall imposing stature. But it was not him that shocked the other three. It was due to the boy riding on his horse as he looked at them with a content face. Only, that face seemed too familiar.

"Hello! Long time no see! I see that everyone has gathered here. Good! I have been aching to see you all again." Said the prince.

"Alastor? What are you doing here?" Charles uttered in awe.

"Well I am the prince so of course I have to be here if that's what you mean." The boy answered.

"No I mean.. how are you the prince of Zagon?"

"Oh I didn't tell you that have I? That must have escaped me somehow...But don't dwell too much on details!" smiled Alastor.

"Master...." Edward uttered.

"I see that you have grown so strong in such a short time, Edward. I am proud." Said Alastor.

"But why were you in Cedra back then?" asked Ganon.

"I was on a journey to improve myself. After it ended, I went back to my mother' side, Empress Morrigan. That was before the war. The rest is how you see it." Alastor hid the truth from the three, perhaps for the best. "But enough of that! I am sure that you have also been itching to see me, or rather any representative from Valhalla since you accepted my invitation so quickly. Now, to business! How do we do this?" Alastor grinned.

"We surrender!" Charles spoke without hesitation.

"That's quick. Not that it was unexpected." Alastor uttered.

"And also we wish to join you as part of Valhalla."

"To erase your debts with Dor I suppose?"

"...You truly thought of everything don't you?" asked Charles. "Did you foresee this?"

"I am not arrogant enough to say I know or can predict the future. But everything happens for a reason, King Charles. As for us, it's not our intention to dominate the world or anything of the sort. We only want the demons and the primes to coexist together for a peaceful future. There are simply no reasons to further continue this cycle of tragedies anymore." Alastor spoke.

"Why do you insist on siding with the demons? What is it in for you?"

"...I guess it's about time I come clean. My name is Alastor Magnolia, son of the late demon lord Asgore and Hero Lakyus."

"What?"

"As you may have guessed, I have demon blood flowing inside my veins. For that, I have been chased down by celestials, passed through hells before ending up adopted by my aunt Morrigan. All because I was a demon. But it would be presumptuous of me to claim that I was the most unfortunate. Compared to many, demons or not, my sufferings were nothing. That's my reason in this. To create a better future for all of us!

You all have known me more or less. Do you think I am the same demon depicted on those religious scriptures? You might not believe me because I am a demon but I mean it in every word. We must stop fighting each other!"

".....Master" Edward uttered.

"I am sorry for having lied to all of you. Although I do hope that this won't stop you from doing what you said earlier. To join Valhalla means to accept the demons just like any other race. Can you do that?" Alastor posed his question as he extended his hand forward.

"....."

To ask someone to cast away the belief they have been taught for their entire life just like that was practically an impossible thing to do.

Those who have never held a weapon, who have never killed anyone would condemn the act of killing as barbaric, cruel. However, how would they understand the fear those who participated in a war had to feel? The feeling of death creeping at every corner...on the battlefield, it was to kill or to be killed. A moment of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death. So you saw how different our values could be.

The same could be said about the stereotypes of demons. Rather than asking if they could change, it would be more like: were they willing to change? Because if they didn't or refused to listen, it would be an impervious task. But if they did, then perhaps all hope has not yet been lost. After all, we were all susceptible to change; sometimes we were not even aware of it ourselves. But that process could take time. What mattered now was the will to change.

"Your Majesty...." Edward looked at the king with pleading eyes. The boy has always shared these values so he was not a problem. The problem was the decision did not lie in his hands but his king, Charles.

"I understand, Edward... To speak frankly, I don't know if peace is possible at all. Our very nature pushed us to create conflict between each other. Our tendency to violence...it is in our blood...."

"But..." Edward uttered.

"But...just like Alastor, I hope that one day, we will be able to cast away this curse, for peace." Charles extended his hand to Alastor's. Together they shook their hands in agreement. "Let us work together toward that goal!"

"And we will, King Charles! Hehehe!" laughed Alastor brightly.

"Hahahaaha!" laughed Charles. "So does that mean you are the demon lord? Is that why my reports said that you didn't attack any village or cities on your own to Cedra?"

"Nope, I am not the demon lord. He is!" pointed Alastor at the tall figure by his side.

"Him?"

"Greetings! I am Kaiser, the True Monarch....and the demon lord of Ragna. A pleasure to meet you all!" Spoke the faceless figure.

"My apologies, king Kaiser, for this late presentation! I am Charles Noctugal of Ceadric. A pleasure to meet you too!" Charles and Kaiser shook their hands.

"So I guess everything is cool and done. Just as the way I want it to be!" Alastor clapped his hands.

"Not so fast I am afraid. I still need to break the news with my people first. Although I am pretty sure that not all of them will be happy to learn this." Charles mumbled, wondering about how the dwarves of Dor would react about this. Whatever their reactions might be, it would not be something good.

"Well, one of them is coming right here" Alastor pointed at behind Charles, making the king of Ceadric turning back, only to see a knight on his horse hasting toward them.

"Your Majesty, it's terrible!!!" shouted the knight as he came closer to them.

"What? What is it?" asked Charles hurriedly.

"The dwarves...they..they" stuttered the knight.

"They what?" shouted Charles.

"They are preparing to leave the camp and launch an assault on the army of Valhalla."

"What? I didn't allow them to do that."

"They don't care, your Highness. Right now, they are trying to convince our own army to come with them. You need to get back before the battle takes place." The soldier advised. "They are on their way here right now!"

"This is...." Uttered Charles in anger.

"Charles, go back to your people! Tell them to stay back if they want to live! The people of Dor too! Tell them that anyone who comes to this field won't walk out of here alive!" Alastor threatened.

"What are you planning, Alastor?" asked Charles.

"There are times for peace but there are people you just can't reason with. It's harsh but it's the truth. I will send a final warning message but if they still decide to ignore it and refuse to heed my call, I cannot guarantee their lives afterward. So do your best, Charles!" Alastor warned.

"....Alright! Let's go, Edward, Ganon!"

Riding on their horses, the trio quickly rushed back to their camp in hope that they would make it in time.

.....

"How is it, Kaiser?" asked Alastor as he looked at the army gathering in front of them from afar.

"I say about six thousands infantries, three hundreds vehicles including zeppelins and... land boats, I believe that's how they call it. King Charles has done a fine job of convincing the majority of his troops. Considering their banners, the people gathering here are mostly mercenaries and armies of the Trading Company of Dor." Kaiser reported after his careful observation of the battlefield.

"Still too many....what a waste!" Alastor sighed in disappointment. "Kaiser will you...?"

"Of course, father!"

Expanding his wings, Kaiser took flight. Coming closer to the army while staying air, he amplified his voice to address the entire army in a majestic tone.

"Hear me humans! I am the demon lord Kaiser. Heed my warning and withdraw your army immediately! Do that and your lives will be spared! Do not risk your lives for the ideas of others! Take your own decision!

There is nothing but death waiting for you ahead! You have been warned!"

As he headed back to his father' side, Kaiser could hear the voice of a dwarf general shouting at a few men who have decided to retreat. Surely they would be called cowards by their peers but unlike the others, these men would probably the only ones alive after this to tell the tale.

"So?" Alastor inquired.

"A few hundreds have left. The rest is still here and currently marching toward us. I don't think they will listen to us even if we try a few more times." Kaiser replied.

"...*sigh* so be it! Let this be a lesson for them!" Alastor uttered. "Kaiser, retreat from the battlefield! Tell mother and the rest to stay away too! I don't want to catch any of us in what is about to come!"

"Yes, father! But are you sure you want to handle them all by yourself? I don't think any of them will pose a challenge to you but still..."

"You don't have to worry about me, Kaiser. What I am about to do...make sure that everyone imprints that in their mind! This will be the final battle of this conflict!"

Heeding the words of his father, Kaiser departed in his wings, heading toward where Morrigan was waiting.

Ever since Alastor's return to Mara, Morrigan has noticed something different in the boy. He was a bit more down than usual and no matter how much she insisted on asking, he didn't tell her anything, only averting the subject. One would assume it was the case that he was tired but to Morrigan, her mother's instinct was telling her something else. She was afraid that he was doing too much by himself. And indeed he was.

For someone who was at the age of playing and enjoying the wonders of life without a care for the rest of the world, Alastor has seen more things than a person would see in their entire life, some he wished he did not. And for him to shoulder all that alone, she could not...no, she refused to let him do it by himself. But like everyone else, Morrigan was still a common mortal while Alastor has reached a league of his own. It was impossible for her to catch up to him. So instead of following him blindly like a fool, Morrigan decided to stay where she was as a home he could return to. After all, they were the last people who shared the same blood in their veins: they were families.

Waiting at the camp as instructed by Alastor, the High Empress stared in his direction, hoping to see his figure showing up. But it was not him but Kaiser, the supposed demon lord Alastor has presented to everyone else back at the camp before heading to talk with Charles. Of course, Morrigan herself was aware of this fact that this was just a façade to smoothen the relationship between the demons and the other races by removing himself of the position and giving place to another trustworthy person.

"Where is he?" asked Morrigan in a worried voice. "Where is my son?"

"Alastor has decided to stay behind and take care of the incoming army by himself." Kaiser said.

"And you just left him there? Like that????" Morrigan raised her voice.

"Empress Morrigan, you and I both know that there is nothing Alastor could not handle." Kaiser conveyed.

"But still...." Uttered the Empress.

"Today, the world will see the end of this era. The door to a new age will open. Those who refuse to adapt will have no places in this new future!" Kaiser raised his hands to the sky.

Suddenly, simultaneously in all the major cities from around the world, a giant crystal orb appeared in the sky, showing the images of the final battlefield of the 'War of the World'.

.....

"Cynthia, that is...." Luvik uttered upon seeing the thing floating outside the window.

"Alastor..." the priestess muttered.

"Why is he along facing an entire army by himself? It's suicide." The knight panicked.

"Yes, it is suicide....for them to think they could face Alastor with such small number."

"What?"

"Luvik, keep your eyes open in what is about to happen! Take it deep in your mind and don't ever forget it! This will show to the rest of the world, to those who intend to wage war, the consequences of that action! The one they have to face!"

.....

An old dragon, as ancient as time, was looking at the crystal orb floating above their towering city. The power he could feel from that crystal, even if it was just an echo of the actual thing, was tremendous. Who were the ones foolish enough to go against such power?

"So he is using Xenes' power...Let's just hope that he won't take on that bastard's personality as well!" Maragon spoke. "Young demon lord, be careful! You are not as invincible as you think you are! There are things lurking in this universe that would put even the Gods to shame. And your actions today will surely catch their attention to this world.

The Old Ones are watching!"

.....

"What is that?"

The citizens of the city shouted as they pointed at the strange orb floating above their city like a sun. Amongst them was a dwarf looking at it from a window of his large mansion.

"What in the world....?" Goldbeard uttered in disbelief. Reaching out to his pocket for a small crystal orb, he whispered to it. "Are you seeing this? What the hell is happening?"

"...The end of an era, my friend! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA" a maniac laughter echoed from the orb.

"Why the hell are you laughing? Is this the demons' doing? Is this?" asked Goldbeard in panic.

"HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEE!" the laughter of madness continued. "Oh dear old Goldbeard, if you are asking me that question right now, it only shows how much of a fool you are! How about you turn your back and see for yourself?"

"My back? What....." the old dwarf turned his back around, only to see a figure emerging from the shadows. A familiar face appeared in front of him. "Sir Meto, you scared me! *exhaled heavily* Hehe...why are you here? And what is that in your hands?" Goldbeard pointed at the dozen of scrolls in Meto's hands.

"Proof that I need to show what kind of corrupted man you are, Goldbeard! With this, the people of Dor will have to acknowledge your involvement with Sanctus. Maybe they will even erase Ceadric's debts as an apology. Whatever the case, you are a dying man, Goldbeard!" Meto grinned sinisterly.

"What? You...you betrayed me??? How dare you?" Goldbeard shouted in disbelief.

Instead of Meto answering that question, the voice did it for him. "Another reason why you are a fool, old man! He was a spy all along. And to think you fell for such an obvious trick, it seems that your age has caught up to you."

Then all of the sudden, another figure appeared from the shadow. Wearing a black suit and a tricorne, the silver haired woman revealed herself after listening to the conversation. Following her was another black haired younger woman who had her hair hiding one of her eyes.

"So you knew...Yet why didn't you tell your comrade?" Maria addressed the person talking from the orb.

"It's more interesting this way, don't you think?" the voice spoke.

"So you sacrificed your own comrade just because it's 'interesting'?" Scarlet raised her voice.

"Oh please, don't judge me like that! Besides I have never seen him as a comrade, merely a pawn in my game."

"You evil!" Scarlet yelled.

"...So what now?" Meto fixed his glasses and uttered in a serious tone while the dwarf was too scared to say a word.

"Well I guess you will capture Goldbeard, probably torture him to find out where I am and such. You want to crush Sanctus don't you?" the voice inquired in a joyful, to the borderlines of insane, tone.

"....." Meto stared at the orb intensively as if he was looking at the person himself.

"Or..."

"Or?" asked Maria.

"Or I will make it much easier for you all!"

A luminous hole emitting a bright light appeared inside the room: a portal. But to where? Considering the timing and what the voice just said, it had to be where that person was, to the headquarter of Sanctus. But what if it was a trap? Should they consider retreating and devise a better strategy or would they risk it all on this gamble?

"Come and meet me, Mephisto of the royal demon guards!"

"You know who I am? That's...a surprise." The devil uttered.

"I know a lot, old friend!"

"Friend? Do I know you?"

"How about you come and find out for yourself? Just walk right through the portal!"

"This is very kind of you!" said Meto as he fixed his cloth and his glasses. "Very well! I accept your invitation!" the devil walked toward the portal.

"Wait a minute, Mephisto! It could be a trap!" Maria raised her concern.

"Even if it is, it's our only lead to Sanctus. I doubt we will get much out of this dwarf anyway. Besides, it's time to end this once and for all!"

"....Then I will go with you!" Maria volunteered as she stepped forward. "Scarlet, please bring stay behind and keep watch of Goldbeard! Don't let him escape!"

"Of course, milady! Please be careful!" acknowledged Scarlet.

"Let's go, Mephisto!" Maria walked toward the portal.

The devil grinned. In his mind, hid the buried thoughts that have long waited for this moment but would never be uttered. 'You have grown so much, Maria...I am sorry that I have not been able to save you back then...But now, together, my child, we will finish this! For those who have fallen and for your own sake as well!'

"Mephisto?" Maria called the devil back from his contemplation. Her voice, although much more mature than it used to be, was like music to his ear, reminding him of that joyful yet distant past. Alas, the past stayed as the past and for the devil, he would prefer to keep this as a secret to his grave, at least from her.

"Yes, I am coming, Marie!" Mephisto spoke.

"Marie? No one has called me like that for a long time. How do you....?"

"Nothing! Scarlet just told me about it once. Does it bother you if I call you that?" asked Mephisto, looking at the black haired girl who pretended to have indeed told her friend' secret name to a stranger.

"....Not really! Though it is a bit strange. You kind of remind me of that man...that's all." Maria uttered in a distant look.

"....That man?" asked Mephisto in a cold voice.