What would you do when you woke up one morning, only to find out that your whole world has been shattered? How would you react to that discovery? Perhaps saying the whole world was an overstatement but to our young demon lord, Morrigan's death was no short than the destruction of the world he knew.

The news of the assassination of the Valhalla Empress has spread across all around the world. As the people gathered outside the palace to offer their prayers in tears for their loving leader, a question still remained in everyone's mind: who killed the Empress?

The top officials of Valhalla, including the royal knight Catrina and minister Sinclair, as well the twin priestesses and the Duchess of Ragna Martel, have joined together to investigate this horrific crime. Needless to say, the prince was supposed to be included as a member. However, because of his unstable emotion state after learning of the dreadful news, it was decided that his participation was unadvised.

Within the first few hours of the investigation, it was concluded that the security was too lax on that night, allowing the perpetrator to infiltrate the palace so easily without being spotted. Further inquiries showed that the guards have been pulled out after the request of a certain person asking for more guards despite knowing that it would mean fewer guards inside the palace itself. This person has been detained immediately and their identity has been covered up quickly for a specific reason.

But that was not the main concern as it was what they found next that troubled everyone. The corpses of multiples men in cloak have been found at the scene; all seemed to be killed by the late Empress herself. Signs of struggles and the result of an intense fight could be easily observed in her chamber. In addition, wounds found on the Empress' body matched the weapons left behind by these strangers, strengthening further that these men were indeed the assassins who have infiltrated the palace.

At the end of the day, everyone agreed that while Empress Morrigan has fought bravely against the intruders, she eventually succumbed to her wounds and was killed by the remaining assassins. The investigation remained opened but no further inquiries were submitted as the theory seemed plausible.

Meanwhile as the entire world was in mourning over the death of the Empress, leaders from all countries have offered their condolences, appealed to the public and asked them to remain calm using words of peace and such. They also claimed that this was a vile attempt plotted by extremists in order to interfere with the peace talk and have confirmed that the convention would still stand unhindered. They shall not submit to violence nor would they tolerate this kind of atrocity in the world and would declare war against anyone who shared the same idea as these terrorists. Or so they said.

.....

At the moment, Martel has just returned from Eiseinheim to bring the summary of her report about the investigation back to Alastor. Walking through the stairs of the entrance, the lamia could be seen to be trembling, sweating in nervousness. And she was right to be scared, especially after she heard what Alastor did when he was informed about the news. One look at the demon lord's castle and you would know.

It was only now when she saw the giant hole on the castle wall, along with the barren land just outside that wall where a once beautiful forest lied, to truly understand the fearful expression her servant had when they informed her about Alastor's 'current state'. She knew that fear too well. For Martel has seen it, the beast laying dormant in that boy. Now, that beast has been awakened and it was not happy, not at all.

"I have returned, milord!" Martel spoke as she bent her head in front of the figure sitting on the throne of Ragna. Reluctant to look him in the eye because of the pressure coming from him, Martel took her chance and raised her head....She regretted it immediately.

That dark aura she saw when she first met him...it was even darker than before. He might have a small stature but his presence was more immense than a mountain, one that was the embodiment of terror. His eyes, so distant and cold, reflected the cruelty of the world that has rained down torments upon him. Holding three small stones in his hand as he unconsciously played with them, rubbing them constantly and moving them from one side to another, perhaps it was a distraction to contain his anger.

"....What did you find? Who killed her?" Alastor spoke in an expressionless voice. It was probably the best attitude he could have right now and everyone wished he would remain that way. By his side, stood the celestial Ikarus on the right and the supposed demon king Kaiser on the left. Down the short stairs leading up the throne, the four royal guards were standing solemnly, nervous about what the report would say. Because depending on what Martel has found so far, the beast behind them could break out of its shackles.

"Based on what we have found at the scene, we have concluded that someone has deliberately removed the guards from their positions." Martel reported. "This allowed the perpetrators to....execute their plan and assassinate Empress Morrigan."

*CRACK*

In an instant, the three small pebbles were crushed to pieces with the rubbles falling from the boy' hand. "And this person is?" asked Alastor in a dreadful voice.

"We have not figured out the person in charge yet but we have captured one of their spies who has hid among our ranks as an ambassador. It was this person who has asked the Empress for more guards even though there was no need for that at all. That's the basis we rely on before deciding to capture him."

"Bring me the spy!" Alastor commanded.

"Sir, I don't think it's a good idea. Maybe you can just leave the investigation to us. I am sure that we will get him talking in no time...." But she was interrupted before she could even finish.

"Martel, I am giving two options: either you bring him to him right now or bring your own head instead. Either way I will have that spy in front of me. So which one do you choose?" Alastor gave a frightening proposal.

"Alastor, maybe we should listen to her...." The celestial Ikarus tried to calm her beloved down by touching his hand.

However, her contact was refused as he quickly moved his hand to the sides, avoiding hers.

"Father, I also share the same opinion. We can't let our emotions running wild at crucial moments like this. You must calm down!" Kaiser advised in a worried voice.

"I am perfectly calm. Trust me, Kaiser when I say I am calm! Else things would have been very....different." Alastor threatened before turning to Martel. "So Martel, your choice?"

"...I will bring him immediately. Please excuse me!" the lamia knew that would not work so she has brought the spy along with her upon her return, even though many of the members of the investigation team has advised against that decision. But they didn't have a choice. Either giving Alastor the spy or probably having their entire prison blown up and still lose the prisoner....

After a short moment of perfect silence as no one dared to utter a word, the Duchess of Ragna came back with a chained man. To their surprises, he had bat wings and small claws on his hand. The spy was a demon and a devil at that. This was the reason why the officials have decided to hide his identity. Imagined what would happen if it was discovered that a demon was behind this assassination! Surely, the peace talk would be a thing of the past if such information spread out. Thankfully to the Luna priestess' quick wit in stopping the information from getting out of their circle, no one except for the top officials and the other leaders was aware of this fact.

"Here he is, milord!" Martel presented the captured man before quickly taking a few steps back away from him. Who knew what Alastor would do in this situation?

Standing up and walking down from his throne, the lord of this castle approached the trembling figure who just realized what kind of situation he was in. But unlike Martel's expectation, Alastor did not just lash out at the guy, just simply slowly taking step by step toward him, which was even more eerie.

"So you are the one that is responsible for mother's death...." Uttered Alastor.

"Please! I only did what I was ordered to. It's not my fault." The devil pled while crying like a baby.

"It's alright. That's what they all said." Alastor spoke strangely in the gentlest voice he had. Reaching his hand on the devil's head, he put off a smile while holding it firmly.

"I will tell you everything. Please just let me go!"

"Shhhhh! No need to say anything! I will find out myself. Don't ruin this moment!" said Alastor.

"Please I have a family!"

"Perfect! I will let them join you in just a little bit!" Alastor affirmed his grip. "....Maximum output!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the devil screamed in pain as his eyes turned white while his body shook heavily. His mind, his past, everything about him was being read, ravaged by the powerful thing by his side.

The agonizing outcries of the devil sent shiver to everyone in the room. They were shocked, left frozen by the display of savagery and wickedness in front of them. Not only because of the horrifying sounds the victim was making but also the diabolic grin Alastor had on his face as he fried the man's brain to mush till smoke came out of his head.

"So it's that son of bitch behind this....." Alastor switched to an angry expression as he clenched his fist. "I should have never let him alive...Mother died because of me...just like Morgan...Lakyus....They all died because of me..."

"Alastor..." Ikarus tried to approach the boy but was pushed back by the shockwave released from his body. "ALASTOR!" she called out to him.

"They will all pay for their sins!" the boy muttered. "THEY WILL PAY!" and he vanished from the spot, leaving the others behind to their own imagination of what was going to happen next.

* * *

"Dear, why do you have that face?" Diablo asked joyfully his wife who did not seem to be that happy after learning the news of Morrigan's death.

"Are you an idiot or a very stupid person?" Milim blurted out.

"What? Why are you saying this? Shouldn't we rejoice from this incredible news? With Morrigan's death, the links between all nations will surely break and..."

"I am not talking about that. None of our assassins came back and we lost contact with our spies. If he is captured then they could trace back to us. How could you not see that?" fumed Milim.

"But...."

*BOOM*

All of the sudden, a loud noise crushed into the room they were in, along with the collapse of the outer wall.

"What happened?" Diablo tried to swipe away the dust clouding his vision as a small figure manifested themselves among the smoke. "You! You are..."

"I warned you Diablo. I warned you to not do anything that will anger me. And you just had to push it didn't you?" Alastor spoke creepily as he appeared in his beast form, a dark smoky creature with one red eye and a blue eye that paralyzed anyone who dared lay their sight upon him.

"Wait a minute! We can talk about this!" Milim tried to use her ruse to calm down the beast.

Without warning, the creature pierced the demoness with his sharp claws right in her chest, making a large hole before pulling out a beating heart.

"A...A...A..." was the last sound Milim made with her mouth drown in the crimson liquid leaking out before dropping down to the ground.

"MILIM! You monster!" Diablo shouted in anger. But that fury was nothing compared to the ire the boy had when his mother was stolen away from him. Nothing but a flimsy worm in front of a titan!

Showing the bloody heart of his own wife to him, the beast grinned. "I told you what would happen if you defy me right? Your entire family, from the unborn to the old, will pay for your transgression!"

All of a sudden, a young boy walked into the room.

"Mom? Dad? I heard screaming....!!!!!" The boy was stunned when he saw the beast inside his parents' room, his mother covered in blood lying on the ground with his father horrified by it. "Mo...Mom?"

"Run away!" Diablo yelled at his son.

"But..." the boy uttered.

"RUN!"

As the boy fearfully turned back and tried to escape, his feet was caught by a ghastly long hand coming from the beast, tripping him as it dragged the boy back to inside the room. Even when the boy did his hardest to resist the pulling, using his own nails to grab onto the floor, it was no use for such a weak boy to defy the force of the beast.

But the beast did not kill the two, to their own surprises. Instead, it dragged them out to the entrance of the keep belonging to the devil's clan. The soldiers along with everyone else inside were shocked to see their lord being walked upon while his son was being detained by a weird looking beast. Unknown to them, it was the last thing they ever saw.

"Watch as your people burn for your sins!" the beast spoke. ""

In an instant, a black beam descended from the sky, purging the entire area and turning everything to nothingness. The people along with their castle were burned to ashes in matter of seconds. It was so quick that perhaps they did not even know what hit them or if they even felt anything.

"No no no!" uttered Diablo as he witnessed the end of his clan being massacred like insects by the overwhelming power. But that was only the start of his hell.

"You will join them soon enough, Diablo. But not before I have my satisfaction. Your suffering, your agonizing scream, you pain...I will savour every last bit of it." Grinned the beast. "And you kid, let me show you how cruel the world can be!"

.....

The celestial Ikarus was flying as fast as she could to the castle of the devils. After Alastor's disappearance, she knew that he would go there. The spy was clearly a devil himself and everyone was aware about the feud between Alastor and Diablo after their first meeting. Fearing that he might do something that could not be undone, she did her best to get to the scene.

She was too late. The entire keep along with the surrounding area has completely vanished. The only thing that remained was the ashes and embers still burning, drifting away by the wind. Among those ruins, a dark figure stood solemnly together with a crying boy in his hands. But more terrifying was the bloody mess that has been tied up to a stick vertically like a cross. Whatever that was, the thing has been disfigured to such extent that it was unsure what it was originally. Its skins have been peeled off, showing even the white bones underneath. The stomach has been gutted, letting the inside organs falling on and dangling freely. And the smell, it was so repulsive that Ikarus could not stand near it. But she had to.

"Alastor..what have you done?" the celestial questioned the beast.

"I...bestowed justice upon the wicked." The beast muttered in a chilling voice.

"Justice? This is not justice. This is madness. You have to stop!" Ikarus shouted.

"I will...only one sinner remains...I only need to finish this one." The beast turned to the boy who tried to crawl away but was grasped firmly by the beast's hand.

"STOP!" Shouted Ikarus as she ran to him.

""

The celestial crushed down to the ground, unable to move or even stand up because of the pressure.

"...St...op...please!" the woman muttered, reaching her hand to him as she tried to get closer.

"You evil! I will never forgive you!" the boy found his last ounce of courage and shouted back at the beast who killed his parents. Just like Alastor, he has experienced the pain and suffering that the world...no...that Alastor has brought upon him. In his young mind, he vowed to kill this monster.

"....." the beast remained silent as he grabbed the boy's head. Still despite being so scared, the kid still struggled violently to escape the grasp, all while cursing him.

"I swear I will kill you for what you did to my parents!" he said. His determination reminded the beast of its own feelings. In a way, they were similar. But there was one difference between these two boys.

"...Unfortunately, that won't happen!" muttered Alastor.

"Wh..at? NO ALASTOR! STOP!" Ikarus called out to her beloved. But it was too late.

In a single second, the beast strengthened his grip and crushed the head of the small boy, turning it into a puddle of flesh and blood as it splattered all around him.

"...No...Alastor...no!" the celestial cried out.

"Justice...has been served...but why...why don't I feel satisfied?"

* * *

Followed by a certain request, Morrigan's body has been transferred to the castle of Ragna to be buried alongside her sister Lakyus after the official funeral. Despite some protests, no one, at least not the leaders, dared to speak out. Either they agreed with that reasoning or they were too afraid of the person who sent the request in the first place, especially after they heard what happened to the devil's clan. And yet, King Charles and Celdora have insisted on keeping the peace talk, saying that only through a proper conversation could they truly establish the peace between all kingdoms and reassure their people.

As for the destruction of the devil's clan which has received much less attention than it should, Mephisto has had some concerns, doubts about the boy. While he held no affection for the rest of his clan and has only ruled them through force, it still bothered him that they were slaughtered like that, even the children were not spared. And he was not the only one in the castle that shared the same opinion. A few has argued that what he did was unforgivable while some thought it was justifiable considering the actions of Diablo. But all agreed that what Alastor did was too excessive. Still, none has put him on trial or accuse him openly, simply out of fear. They were right to do so since who would stop him now? Or rather who could?

While the confidence everyone had in Alastor began to fade, a new direction was being ascertained in the mind of the demons. Hopefully, the new lord Kaiser would be different from the last demon lord.

As for the boy in question, he has remained in the tomb chamber by himself, looking at the open coffin of his mother. Following the old burial customs of the Magnolia family, her body has been placed on a bed of magnolia flowers in the coffin. Wearing her usual cloth, blue dress adorned with armour plates while holding the handle of her sword, it looked as if Morrigan was only sleeping.

Entering the tomb, Ikarus approached the solemn boy from behind. Unlike any time before, he didn't even react to her presence and only sat there, staring at the late Empress.

"Alastor, please talk to me!" the celestial pled on her knees as she lied her head in his motionless arms.

"...Do you think she will wake up?" he said.

"What?"

"If I stay like this for days...for years, do you think she will wake up?"

"Alastor...Morrigan is already...."

"Dead. I know!"

"....She won't wake up anymore. You have to let her go!" the celestial appealed.