A wooden door opened and hit the small bell hung above, signalling that a customer has just come. Inside this well yet dim lighted place, the smell of bitter alcohol along with the sweet aroma of a peculiar white flower filled the small room. The floor consisted of shiny amber tiles that have been so well polished they actually looked like mirrors with some white veins to add a natural side to the stones. Except for a few small tables and chairs, the bar only had a high counter with more seats in front of it. At the back of the counter, multitudes of expensive looking bottles ranging from the most common type to the highest quality of wine gathered from every corner of the world lined up on the old glass shelf.

But aside from the obvious purpose of drinking of this place, there was one thing that would catch the attention of anyone coming in: aside from the only wine shelf behind the counter, stacks of books could be seen arranged in a very meticulous and organized manner, showing the personality of the one in charge of this place. Either on other shelves in this small room or being displayed like trophies behind some glass walls, these books were very well taken care of without any sign of deterioration or even tiny scratches on their covers despite their age. Even more, each of these tomes were emitting a strange aura. Approaching them and you could hear whispers ringing inside your head as if they were talking to you directly, to tell you of the hidden tales written in them. Secrets, legends, myths, love, vengeance...everything they could tell you.

However, as interesting as they were, the two customers who have just walked in had no interest in them. They came here for a drink, not to read or listen to some tales written in some decrepit books. Moving toward the counter, they each took a seat on the soft furniture. The moment they sat down, as their eyes closed down for an instant before opened up again, a figure was already standing behind the counter, holding a white towel, cleaning an empty glass.

Wearing a strange ivory mask on with nothing on the surface, not even a single gap to show what lied underneath that mysterious face, the person seemed to be a man considering his silhouette. Short silver haired, his wrinkled hands, although not so much to be called an old man, seemed to indicate that he was somewhere between forty and fifty. That was it if you compared to the physics of a normal human. As for his clothing, it was a small red bow on top of a modern black suit belonging to that of a butler or a high class bartender. His odd appearance already begged some questions. How could he even see with that mask on his face? There was no gap even for the mouth or eyes. Perhaps he had no need to see at all and the mask's only role was to keep his identity a secret.

And yet facing this strange man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, the two customers were not even fazed by the performance and simply jumped to the reason why they were here.

"Hello Master! Can you get something for us to drink please?" Wearing a long grey rain coat and a cap, the male customer asked.

"....." Without saying a word, the man referred to as simply 'Master' pointed toward the small sign attached on the wall.

"What would you like?"

"One Martini please for the lady and a vodka shot for me!" the man said.

Suddenly, the sign changed to a new sentence.

"Right away!"

In an eye flash, the drinks have been prepared and manifested themselves before the couple. Meanwhile, the bartender has not moved an inch from his spot or even reached out to anything: he simply continued wiping his glass.

"Hum...." The lady, long hair dyed in a light red colour that was closer to orange and wearing a fur coat and expensive looking red dress, sipped her glass with a satisfied expression. "Exquisite! The drink is impeccable and the place looks really nice. The service is so fast too. Though, I would appreciate some small talks from the owner themselves. It's a bit quiet here, too quiet for my taste." She commented.

"You will have to forgive Master. He is not really a man of words. Hey Master, could you kindly play some music please?"

Halting his wiping, the bartender snapped his finger and immediately, jazz music could be heard in the background, adding to the cosy atmosphere of this place.

"Here you go! Not so quiet anymore, right?" said the man.

"I guess so. Say, how did you know about this place? I mean we all know about it but it's how to get here that is the problem. You would need a special item, that card you have right?" The woman looked at the card hidden in the small pocket on his vest. "How did you get it?"

"Oh this? Master and I went back a long time ago. In fact, I kind of helped him build this place so it's natural that I have an invitation. "The man took out the card: a fascinating looking, beautifully crafted thing made out of a transparent dark crystal material with a hole in the middle.

"Wow, that is so nice! If only I can get one...." Said the woman.

"You don't get one. It will come only to those who need it. And one word of advice: don't ever attempt to steal one if you want to live!" the man spoke with a smile.

"Ah shucks! Too bad then." The woman turned her head and looked around. "There are a lot of books here. Quite strange for a bar!"

"Those? Master is a zealot in literature and also a renowned collector of books. This is the collection he has spent years to gather, displayed here for the customers to see." The man explained.

Noticing the strange aura and the whispers coming from the shelves, the woman decided to go down from her high seat and approach them. "Are those....what I think they are?"

"You have good eyes, miss! Yes they are!" grinned the man.

"Incredible! Do you realize how difficult it is to get hold of one? And here, there are like thousands of them. And such power....." the woman muttered. Her eyes reflected the object of her deepest desire. It was the one tome that caught her attention. It only took her a second to notice the difference between it and the others. While indeed all the books here emitted extremely powerful aura, this one in particular stood out a bit more because of the dim blue light it was radiating. To get her hands on one, just that one item displayed here, that was all this woman wanted: a peculiar book with the image of a flower on its cover.

The title of the book was written in a strange language and yet the woman could spell it so naturally as if it was her mother's tongue.

"Madame Rouge?" the man stared at her and threw a glance at the silent bartender who was still wiping his glass.

"What?...Oh my bad! I am so sorry, Master!" she apologized quickly to the senior but he didn't say a word. In fact the only sound he made was the sound the white towel polishing the glass.

"You be careful there, Madame Rouge! We don't speak that language here. Not in front of Master!" the male warned.

"I am sorry!" she apologized again but only to Master. However, her actions and slight trembling indicated that it was not out of respect but more like fear.

The sign on the wall changed again.

"No problem!"

"By the way, Master,...." The woman muttered as she raised her head.

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if I take a read of this book? I am interested."

For the first time since they entered here, the bartender actually stopped wiping the glass and looked at his customers straight in the eyes, or so it seemed since it was difficult to tell because of the mask he was wearing. After putting down what he was doing, the senior walked out of the counter through a small exit on the side, passed the woman and stood in front of the glass shelf. Raising his arm forward, he pulled out the book she was talking about like the glass wall was not actually there. Turning back, he gave the book with both his hands to the woman before returning to his position and resuming his task: wiping the glass.

"Now, Madame Rouge, please, whatever you do, please, for your own sake, do not damage that book!" the man said.

"I know I know! You think I would let something this precious to be harmed? Not over my dead body!"

"Be careful with what you say, Madame Rouge! We never know!"

Taking a seat on the counter, the woman proceeded in reading the book joyfully like a child opening her Christmas present.

......

"Wow....this is....this is so messed up!" the woman uttered upon finishing the book. "I mean...why?"

"If you think that book is messed up then you haven't seen much, Madame Rouge!" said the man.

"Well it's not gory or disturbing in that sense but....I don't know how to say it...."

"I see what you mean, don't worry! I do admit that it was a little bit regrettable that it ended this way."

"Well of course it is! They all died in the end while he was the only who survived. That's ....sad and tragic. Many of them still have so much potential, like the young master of the Osborne family. He still doesn't use the full extent of that brand. Such a pity!"

"....I am not so sure about that."

"What do you mean?" asked the woman.

"Master, can I tell her?" the man turned to the bartender who simply answered with a nod. "Here is the interesting thing: there is actually a second hidden tome that is the sequel of this book."

"What? There is a sequel? So this is only the first volume...But what will happen in the second book if they all died at the end of the first one? Adding more new characters won't cut it." The woman questioned.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing happened in the second book since all the characters died except for him. Of course if you enjoy reading pages after pages about the boy's regret that actually resulted in nothing, maybe you will be interested in reading in. But that kind of thing is not my cup of tea, nor it is interesting to Master. That's why...."

"That's why what? ....Oh my god, don't tell me that the blue light emitting from this book is because of...." Rouge uttered in awe.

"Exactly! We will change its ending, my lovely lady!"

"Change a book? One of those books? Are you insane? You know that is not allowed! Not when the book is already finished."

"Hahaha! And who are going to stop us? Nyarlathotep? Yig? Or that other guy? We all know that the rule is only there to keep the lesser ones from overstepping their bounds. As for us...we can do that as long as it remains...subtle." The male smiled devilishly. "And just for your information, the 'other guy' is already changing it so we might as well join in for the fun."

".....This is....I mean this is huge. Are you going to wage war with the Elders?" Rouge uttered in a scared voice.

"Who said anything about war? We only want to keep this book from continuing, for it to be interesting."

"But why? Why risk so much just for one book? Why this particular one?"

"....That I can't say, Madame Rouge!" The man spoke to the woman but actually looked at the bartender with a grin. "I don't know much myself either, right Master?"

"....." the old man suddenly stopped again. And this time, he uttered his first words since a very long time. "Madame Rouge, do you wish to join us?"

"What? I...I...." the woman stuttered upon hearing the grave voice. Not because it was eerie or anything but because of a strange rumour surrounding the Master of this bar.

"The Master is a silent man and it's better for him to stay that way. For every time he speaks, someone is going to die."

The sign on the wall changed to a quote, the exact same rumour that the woman has heard about the owner of this place. She was scarred at the time, thinking it was her last moment. Was this how she would end? After all these years?

"Or so they say. I am just joking, Madame Rouge! I don't kill people in my bar." The senior said gently.

There were many ways to interpret what he said. Neither sounded good but at least, it didn't seem like she would be harmed just yet, not today anyway.

"If I say no, what would you do?" The woman tried to test the water.

"Would you like to find out?"

"...No...I mean yes I will join you....But what will I do?" the woman asked.

"It's up to you. Change it however you see fit!"

* * *

The leader of the Hunters was running as fast as she could toward the demon lord's castle. A moment ago, she saw a small explosion coming from its direction and a column of smoke rising from a quarter of the castle. Fearing for the worst of an attack on the peace talk, she rushed back to the scene where the conference was being held. Storming in the chamber, what she saw shocked her to her very core.

The body of a blue haired celestial lied on the table covered in a crimson fluid pouring out of the wound on her chest where an obsidian knife poked out. Next to it, the figure of a young boy was caressing the blue hair on her head as he spoke in such a gentle way to her.

"I love you, Ikarus!"

"Alastor? What is the meaning of this?" Maria charged at the boy.

"Wait a minute, don't come near him!" Lilith shouted.

Swinging her sword, the Huntress tried to attack him but Alastor easily evaded it and fell back a few steps. Taking advantage of the situation, Kaiser immediately rushed to the celestial and took her in his arms before teleporting back to the group.

"Please take care of her!" the Monarch spoke as he drew his twin great swords after giving Ikarus to Maxime.

"She is still alive. I can patch her up quickly but she needs proper medical care immediately." The pope looked the demon lords who were coming toward them. "We need to get her out of here."

"Agreed! Everyone, please go! I will try to hold them back." Charles stepped forward.

"What? That is suicide." Said Sinclair.

"We don't have a choice. At the very least, I can buy you some time to get away. Quickly!" the King of Ceadric shouted as he charged forward.

"Not so fast!" Alastor grinned. "Akroma, devour them!"

The living metal poured out of the walls and lunged themselves at the group. Their first targets: the twin priestesses. In an instant, the large silver liquid gushed down onto the unwary priestess of Solana and consumed her as the tiny machines invaded her body.

"AAAAAAA!" Eris screamed in pain before disappearing into the stream.

"ERIS! NO!" Cynthia called out to her counterpart. In the past, they might have their differences but in the end, the two have bonded together and cast aside their differences in order to bring peace and order to their people. But now, it has ended.

But the Moon priestess should worry about herself as she was the next one.

"CYNTHIA!" The knight Luvik rushed to her side but was stopped by another stream of the silver liquid that formed a wall between the woman and the rest of the group.

"Luvik!" Cynthia tried to get back but it was too late for her. All her surroundings have been blocked as the living metal drew in closer to her. "Please get out of here or else you will be caught too!"

"No! I will not leave you!" shouted the knight as he used his sword on the living metal, only to have it melt down, eaten by it. "Stay away from her, you monster!"

"Please Luvik! Run away please!" the woman cried out as she was just cornered into the wall with the tides of machines on a few foot from her." "Leave me!" She cried out loud.

"NO!"

.....

"How touching! It's this kind of scene that makes me shiver in joy." Xenes commented on the scene.

"I didn't know you like romantic stories!" said Lucifer.

"I don't. But this...proclaiming their love to each other as they are facing imminent death....exquisite!"

"You are quite a sadist aren't you?"

"I would rather have you call me a composer of the finest art! For what is more beautiful than death itself?" Xenes grinned. "Don't you agree, Sullivan?"

"...." The dwarf demon lord stayed silent, showing a painful expression as he clenched his fist. On the background, the scream of an elf woman, who did not even care for her own safety as she urged her lover to leave her behind, echoed. That noble sacrifice, a final act of this woman who has suffered her entire life....

"Goodbye Cynthia!" Alastor saluted cheerfully as he ordered the ooze to charge into her.

A fissure suddenly appeared on the wall behind Cynthia and a hand crawled out before pulling the priestess into it, saving her in the nick of time as the living metal lunged at her. The culprit revealed to be Sullivan after he released the stunned Cynthia next to him.

"Sullivan?" Lucifer shouted. "What are you doing?"

"I....I...." the dwarf stuttered.

"You dare betray us?"

"This...This is....I didn't sign up for this. This is our second chance to live and now you want to destroy it? I was told that we would be free to do whatever we want but not this!!!" the dwarf argued. "No wonder why Belphegor didn't want to go!"

"......" Xenes showed a surprised expression upon hearing the dwarf's speech. Compared to others, Sullivan was rather quiet and never would want to stand out. And now he was declaring his betrayal to his fellow demon lords? For such a stupid reason called freedom?

"I hope that you are still shocked by your resurrection which explains this odd behaviour of yours. I will give you a final chance, Sullivan." Asmodeus threatened. "Kill that woman and I will forget about this!"

"NO!" the old dwarf shouted. "I would rather die than kill her!"

"Then die!" Raising her arm forward, Asmodeus charged an intense beam of light and fired at the dwarf.

"......Well said, Sullivan!"

In an instant, the fabrics of the space in front of Sullivan trembled and bent itself, redirecting the beam of light to the side as it pierced through the wall and incinerated the living metal on its path.

"What the...? Who?" Asmodeus uttered in shock before turning to her side, only to be blast away from something huge. Despite being thrown violently against the wall, she didn't seem to be injured at the slightest and rose up quickly on her feet with an angry look at the person who struck her. "You!"

"Hahahaha!" the dragon Xenes laughed out loud. "That was satisfying. I have waited a long time to get rid of that smug face of yours. Though it is too bad that your body is tough as hell."

"Xenes? You too?" Lucifer yelled.

"The main character always shows up on the stage at the most crucial moment. If you can't even grasp that simple basic, then I guess my art is too much for you uneducated bunch. Screw you guys, I am switching side. Bye bye!

Without warning, all the demon lords and Alastor could hear a frightening mixture of white noises and screams in a strange language inside their mind. The screams or words spoken, if those could be called words at all, paralyzed them in their spot. Even covering their ears would not help. Furthermore, this attack only affected a few, leaving the other leaders and their retainers safe.