Ingvild finally turned, stepping fully onto the sand. She looked at Algernon, and then surveyed the rest of the group—Rias, Akeno, Kuroka, Asia, and Koneko—all standing in various stages of stunned awe. The sunset had faded to a bruised purple and deep cobalt blue, the light too dim to fully hide the shock on their faces.
"It's just the sea," Ingvild said simply, her voice now back to its normal, soft register, but with a new, quiet strength. "It's... it was lonely. I was just singing to it."
The profound innocence of the statement, juxtaposed with the seismic display of power he had just witnessed.
Algernon threw his head back and burst into laughter. It was a rich, unrestrained sound that echoed across the darkening beach, startling everyone present. It was not a mocking laugh, but a laugh of sheer, glorious incredulity.
He quickly sobered, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. He looked at Ingvild, his expression now alights with determination.
"You know what?" he said, stepping closer to her, his tone dropping into the familiar, confident usual tone as an emperor commanding everyone.
He yanked his hand into the air again, summoning the rift he used to store items. This time, he didn't pull out a coat or a weapon. He pulled out a single, intricate piece of demonic chess: a Knight piece. It shimmered with crimson energy.
"Ingvild," he stated, holding the piece out toward her. "I, Algernon Azeroth, the sole emperor of Demon race, invite you to be a part of my peerage."
Ingvild, already reeling from the powerful release of her song, stood completely stunned. Her eyes—were wide with shock.
She took a slow, deep breath, finally regaining her composure. The shock faded, replaced by an expression of deep, resolute trust.
"Algernon," she began, her voice soft but firm, looking him directly in the eye. "You know what the doctors and the organization said. They watched me for years, waiting for the end. I was the one destined to die in sleep. But you... you are the one who made it possible for me to see the world again. The moment you held me and gave me your shoulder to cry on, you became someone important to me."
Her hand rose, tracing the faint outline of the place on his chest where she had cried earlier.
she declared, her gaze focusing entirely on him. "And you are the only one I can rely on. So..."
A faint blush rose on her cheeks, and a truly shy, utterly human expression crossed her face. Ingvild gently held Algernon's hand—the one clasping the glowing Knight piece—and with quiet determination, she drew his hand toward her body.
She didn't speak another word. She simply pushed the Knight piece into herself.
The glowing crimson piece flashed brilliantly with purple light as it met her skin, then instantly dissolved, sinking into her chest.
A deafening, crackling surge erupted from Ingvild. Purple-blue lightning exploded around her, chaining across her body and illuminating the stunned faces of Rias and others in electric bursts. A powerful, chilling wind whipped up the sand, making everyone shield their eyes.
The ambient pressure in the air became monstrous. Ingvild's already prodigious energy, was instantly magnified and refined. Her magical capacity surged violently. Her Tier 2 Low (demon king level) magic reserve—already leagues beyond the majority of supernatural beings—was forcefully pushed to Tier 2 Mid(Demon King Peak), the process instantaneous and brutal as the Sacred Gear, the Leviathan blood, and the Knight piece melded into a singular, devastating core.
As the lightning subsided, a sharp, tearing sound sliced through the air, and five pairs of magnificent, shadowy, purple-black wings burst forth from her back. They were enormous, their membranes translucent yet somehow dense, crackling faintly with residual violet energy.
Ingvild kept her closed for a moment, absorbing the power and the new bond. When she opened them, the shock was gone, replaced by a mixture of exhaustion and profound relief.
"I am your Knight, Algernon," she whispered, a small, grateful smile gracing her lips. "I will follow you, wherever you go."
Algernon grinned, a genuine, warm smile and gently patted her head.
"Good," he said, his voice imbued with satisfaction. "I'll hold you to that, my Knight."
He then looked past her, toward the darkening horizon and turned around, facing others.
"It's time to go back," Algernon stated, his voice resonating with finality.
_________________________________________________
Ingvild, the newly minted Knight, was now settled within the formidable, castle of Athelgard. He had immediately set her rigorous training schedule—a regimen designed to integrate her explosive Tier 2 Mid power with her trait and sacred gear; overseen by hand-picked instructors.
Now, Algernon stood by the massive arched window of his castle, the glass cold beneath his fingertips. He looked out over the sprawling, meticulously planned metropolis below: the rapidly developing city of Athelgard. Its towers gleamed, symbols of his growing influence.
He wore a dark, tailored suit and had a mysterious, knowing smile on his face as he looked at the lights of Athelgard.
He murmured, his voice low and private, yet charged with monumental intent: "It's time to conqueror another race and add a Bishop to the peerage."
His smile widened, a clear sign of impending massacre.
Algernon turned from the window, his gaze sweeping over the vast, darkened study. His voice hardened, carrying the unmistakable tone of absolute authority as his order echoed in the air.
"Call Duke Lucifer, Duke Leviathan, and the Red Dragon Emperor. I want them here in castle, immediately."
A short time later, Algernon stood in the center of his Throne Room which has been renovated.
It was a vast space, designed to impress and intimidate. The high, vaulted ceiling was supported by pillars carved with the history of his demonic lineage. The walls were a deep, polished obsidian, contrasted by silver and crimson banners bearing his personal crest. The actual throne was a sleek, austere structure of shadow metal, currently unoccupied.
He did not have to wait long.
A massive dimensional gate shimmered into existence near the west wall, crackling with pure demonic power. Stepping through with the effortless grace came Sirzechs Lucifer. Soon Sarafall and issei followed suite.
Algernon didn't need protection against someone teleporting in his castle. His personal domain was governed by his formidable control over space. Unless he willed it, no one could penetrate into the city except for higher tier beings.
Sirzechs, Serafall, and Issei—with varying degrees of formality and habit—all paused and saluted Algernon.
"Sirzechs," Algernon stated. "Assemble ten Ultimate-class Devils from the new united army"
Sirzechs snapped a formal bow. "Consider it done, Your Majesty."
Algernon then shifted his gaze to Serafall.
"Serafall," he continued. " Arrange everything, we are heading to Romania"
Algernon then began to move slowly across the stone floor toward the room's exit, a clear signal that the short briefing was over.
Issei didn't need any explicit order. The moment Algernon moved, he immediately moved to match his pace. He fell naturally into position, walking a step behind Algernon's left shoulder.
________________________________________________
The scene shifted to the bustling, yet historically somber, streets of Romania's capital, Bucharest. The sun was high, lending a deceptive air of normalcy.
Algernon, dressed in a sleek, businesslike trench coat, moved with the quiet assurance of someone who owned the street. Serafall, having changed from tactical gear back into a surprisingly inconspicuous (for her) designer jacket, walked slightly to his left, blending into the crowd while maintaining a subtle magical awareness of their surroundings.
Issei, unable to entirely mask his excitement of first time visiting another country, was slightly behind them, dressed in casual human clothes.
They moved quickly through a crowded square, the gothic architecture of the city towering over them.
Algernon spoke quietly.
"The geopolitical situation here is fragile," Algernon stated, his eyes scanning the rooftops and the faces in the crowd. "We are operating in an area overseen by vampires"
He paused as they navigated around a crowded street vendor.
"The Vampire Faction is currently divided into two major factions: the Tepes and the Carmilla houses. Both are obsessively focused on seizing total control over the entire faction—a civil war that has kept them distracted and made them weaker overtime."
Serafall nodded, her expression serious. "My reports confirm this. The Tepes are losing ground due to infighting, while the Carmilla are attempting a consolidated power grab"
Algernon's eyes narrowed slightly, acknowledging the publicly accepted narrative. "That is the accepted truth," he confirmed, pushing them subtly into a shadowed alleyway where they could speak more freely. "But we deal in realities, not rumors fed to the general supernatural populace."
He leaned closer to his two subjects, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The infighting is a brilliant cover. It is all an illusion shown to everyone. The real force driving the Tepes faction is not internal political maneuvering. The Tepes faction is secretly supported by the Khaos Brigade."
Issei tensed, the subtle energy surge of his shock barely contained by his uniform. "The Khaos Brigade? Why would they risk backing one side of a Vampire civil war?"
"Because the civil war is the perfect distraction," Serafall chimed in, having quickly processed Algernon's revelation. Her voice was sharp with strategic insight. "If the two major houses remain locked in a destructive stalemate, it prevents the formation of a unified Vampire front, leaving a perfect vacuum for the Khaos Brigade to infiltrate and remain hidden."
Algernon nodded slowly as Serafall finished her analysis, his gaze remaining fixed on the crowded street.
"You're right, Serafall," Algernon conceded, his voice quiet, holding immense gravity. "But not entirely."
"The Tepes power struggle is not just about control," Algernon revealed. "The true pivot point, the reason the Khaos Brigade is investing so heavily, is the current puppet king or queen of the Tepes faction: Valerie Tepes."
"Valerie Tepes is a Dhampir," Algernon continued. "She possesses one of the Thirteen Longinus, specifically the Sephiroth Graal."
Serafall gasped, a rare show of surprise from the former demon king.
"The Graal," she whispered. "That's impossible. It's one of the oldest, most mythic Sacred Gears..."
Algernon cut her off, confirming the terrifying reality: "It is real. A Sacred Gear that directly manipulates: Life, Death, Souls, Regeneration, and Immortality. It is, quite simply, one of the strongest Sacred Gears ever created. It is the perfect tool for the Khaos Brigade to achieve their ultimate aim."
He looked at both of them.
"And this," Algernon declared, his voice hard with finality, "is also our main objective. We seize the Graal."
"However, the destruction of the Tepes fraction, which the Khaos Brigade controls is one of our goals. Therefore, even as we execute our plan, we must lay the groundwork for conquering the vampire race."
He looked at Serafall, trusting her abilities.
"In this competition between the pure-blood factions of Tepes and Carmilla, which has consumed the Vampire world for decades, there must be splinter groups of Dhampir and true Vampires longing for peace—factions exhausted by the endless civil war and disgusted by the extremist influence of the Khaos Brigade."
"Our objective goes beyond Valerie. Serafall, Find these pacific groups. Identify the key leaders—those who despise the influence of the pure bloods and wish for a unified, sovereign Vampire society."
(END OF CHAPTER)
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