"You are...!?"
When the boy with magical wings descended from the sky, Yukina instinctively pointed Sekkaro at him before freezing in shock upon recognizing his face.
The boy glanced at her and snorted coldly.
"The Lion King Agency's Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven, huh? You've got guts pointing that thing at me, Sword Shaman."
A murderous intent flashed in his golden eyes, freezing the air itself.
"Ugh...!"
Yukina tightened her grip on the silver spear.
The sheer density of the boy's bloodlust was enough to rattle even her composure.
Vatler, however, showed no surprise at his appearance and instead spread his arms in welcome.
"What an unexpected guest—Prince Iblisveil Aziz."
————Iblisveil Aziz.
That name was one few in the world wouldn't recognize.
Especially among Demons—there was practically no one who didn't know it.
He was the Ninth Prince of the Dynasty of Destruction, the direct descendant of the Second Primogenitor, the ruler of the Eight Northern Provinces, a second-generation Vampire Noble, and an candidate who once represented the Dynasty of Destruction in the Blazing Banquet.
In the past, during the Blazing Banquet, this prince had conducted a ritual in his territory using two Kaleid Blood Matrices, triggering the Vampire Infection Incident and laying meticulous preparations for the ritual.
However, during the Blazing Banquet, he was attacked by Balthazar Zaharias, who brought four Matrices with him. The prince suffered a crushing defeat, losing both Matrices and nearly his life.
But this outcome was hardly surprising.
Rumored to command three Beast Vassals, Prince Iblisveil was among the strongest second-generation nobles. Yet, facing four of the Fourth Primogenitor's calamity-level Beast Vassals brought by Zaharias, his defeat was inevitable.
After all, Iblisveil was merely a second-generation noble—unlike Vatler, who had devoured two third-generation Elders and earned the title of "Closest to the Primogenitors." In the Blazing Banquet, the prince was arguably the weakest participant. Even Rozen, who was still developing at the time, had been deemed a greater threat by Zaharias due to his possession of Hokuto, leading to the prince's early elimination.
But now...
"It's been nearly a year since I last set foot in this island nation. My blood is boiling—if I can wash away the humiliation of that day, nothing would please me more. So don't interfere, Vatler."
Iblisveil shot Vatler a sharp glance, grinning as his released magical energy shook the atmosphere, causing the very space around them to tremble and darken—even distorting momentarily.
His power was now on par with Vatler's.
"This...!"
Tobias and Kira gasped in shock.
"...!"
Yukina clenched Sekkaro even tighter.
"Oh?"
Even Rozen raised an eyebrow, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes.
As for Vatler, far from being alarmed, his eyes lit up with exhilaration—as if he had stumbled upon thrilling prey.
"It seems you're in excellent form, Your Highness."
Vatler's voice dripped with delight.
Iblisveil, however, narrowed his eyes in displeasure.
"Did you think I'd remain the same as before, Snake Charmer?" he growled. "During the Blazing Banquet, that despicable arms dealer only got the upper hand because someone betrayed me."
His words sent a ripple of tension through the group.
Rozen blinked, then quickly pieced it together.
Iblisveil was likely telling the truth.
Because—
"Even if I couldn't match the Fourth Primogenitor's Beast Vassals, that was a one-on-one battle. And back then, I was in my own territory. For that lowly merchant to attack me directly without first conquering my lands—how could he have stolen the Matrices so easily?"
Iblisveil spat out the words like venom.
"It was only because someone colluded with the enemy, sneaking that wretch into my castle, that I suffered such disgrace."
Had it not been for that betrayal, Zaharias would have had to fight his way through the Caucasus—a region guarded by Demon armies strong enough to repel foreign invasions—before ever reaching Iblisveil.
So, during the Blazing Banquet, Iblisveil had been betrayed.
And the traitor was no ordinary figure—it was his own blood relative, his political rival, the Second Princess of the Dynasty of Destruction, his elder sister: Maeve.
Over the past year, Iblisveil had purged this traitor and exacted his revenge.
In a way that was all too familiar.
"Don't think devouring kindred is your exclusive privilege, Snake Charmer."
With that single sentence, Iblisveil revealed the source of his newfound power.
The answer was simple—he had devoured his own sister, a second-generation noble, and absorbed her strength.
In other words, Iblisveil had performed the same act as Vatler, who had consumed two third-generation Elders to earn the title of "Closest to the Primogenitors." Now, as a second-generation noble who had devoured another of his kind, the purity of his blood was no longer inferior to Vatler's—perhaps even surpassing it.
The current Iblisveil was likely Vatler's equal.
The title of "Closest to the Primogenitors" might no longer belong to Vatler alone.
"Well, well..."
Vatler's expression shifted—not into dread, but into the ecstatic glee of a predator finding worthy prey.
But Iblisveil's attention had already moved on.
Now, his gaze was fixed elsewhere.
On Rozen.
"So, you're the rumored Divine Child, huh?"
Finally, Iblisveil grinned.
The murderous intent in his eyes swelled to terrifying heights.
He looked at Rozen as if facing a mortal enemy, his magical energy growing even more oppressive.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Only Rozen remained unfazed, his expression as calm as ever.