Algernon cursed under his breath, his momentary lapse in concentration at the sheer scale of Ophis's presence costing him dearly. He scanned the distant wall where he had pinned Rizevim, and the embedding crater was now empty.
He looked across the room to see the rough hole in the wall, evidence of Rizevim's escape, and then he spotted the remaining Longinus fragments. He quickly counted them—only two golden cups remained, one near a shattered pillar and one near the throne dais.
He rubbed his head in annoyance. "Damn, I was so focused on Ophis that I ignored his pesky aura. The sheer volume of her presence was enough to mask Rizevim's desperate, last-ditch teleportation attempt."
He quickly dismissed the escaped rogue. "It's good he left," Algernon muttered, already moving. "I will leave him to Vali."
Algernon moved with rapid, practiced efficiency. He retrieved the other two Graals, the golden cups shimmering faintly with immense power in his hands. He then walked toward the dais where the slumped, unconscious Valerie still lay on the throne.
He looked down at her, the weak rays of daytime sun filtering through the high windows, illuminating the pale, lifeless cast of her features.
"It's daytime, princess," he stated softly, a hint of something resembling pity in his voice, even as he acted with brutal pragmatism.
He wasted no time. He stuffed the two golden Graals back into her body, forcing the Longinus fragments back into their designated vessel. The cups dissolved instantly upon contact, sending a faint, warm, golden glow across Valerie's chest.
Algernon looked away, straightening his suit. "It's your lifetime's luck to have met me,
He then lifted one hand, concentrating his immense power not for destruction, but for purification. He activated his Holy Law. A soft, clean white light emanated from his palm, not searing, but cleansing.
He gently placed this hand over Valerie's forehead, channeling the Holy Law into her. The white light immediately clashed with faint residual shadows and the cold, parasitic influence of the Longinus's overexertion, purifying her thoughts and soul contaminated by the Graal and Rizevim's malice. He meticulously stripped away the programming and the exhaustion that had turned her into an empty puppet.
Simultaneously, with his other hand, Algernon reached into the spatial crack and pulled out a shimmering, crimson-black Bishop piece.
While maintaining the cleansing effect with his right hand, he pressed the glowing Bishop piece into her chest with his left hand. The Bishop piece dissolved immediately, integrating smoothly with the newly purified soul and the stabilized Longinus fragments.
A warm, deep white light briefly enveloped Valerie
Algernon removed his hands and stepped away, watching the spectacle with keen, strategic satisfaction.
Valerie floated horizontally in the air above the wreckage of the throne, held aloft by the surge of power. A luminous holy aura erupted from her, vast and serene, utterly foreign to the demonic structure of the castle.
Five pairs of magnificent, sweeping pure white wings emerged from her back—ten wings in total, radiant and ethereal, a heavenly contrast to the darkness of her vampiric lineage. Her power level was pushed to tier 2 low.
She slowly began to descend, settling gracefully onto her feet. Her deep red eyes opened, no longer vacant, but shining with an intense, exhausted intelligence. She looked at her white wings, then at the destruction of the hall, and finally, her gaze settled on Algernon.
Algernon surveyed her transformation—the holy aura, the white wings, the sheer volume of power radiating from the Graal now controlled by the Bishop piece. He smirked.
"You really can't say she's a vampire now," Algernon stated, his voice carrying an amused drawl. "More like an Angel of the Abyss. Good."
Valerie, the Holy Bishop, blinked, still absorbing the monumental changes to her body and soul. She focused on Algernon, her expression shifting from curiosity to sudden, acute recognition.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Master!" she shouted, the word ringing with genuine surprise and excitement, a far cry from the flat tone of the puppet.
Algernon paused, momentarily taken aback. "Master?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. He had never met Valerie before her transformation. "Oh! Do you know what happened here?"
She saw the confusion on his face and elaborated, tapping her finger lightly against her temple. "I was aware of many things while I was... sleeping. My mind was awake, even when my body was not. The spirits tell me everything happening around me," she explained, nodding toward the shattered throne room and the hole in the wall. "They showed me you. They told me you were coming to save me."
Algernon processed Valerie's revelation quickly. Her Sacred Gear, the Sephiroth Graal, was clearly interfacing with the spiritual world, allowing her to perceive events far beyond her physical body.
"Spirits, huh," Algernon murmured. "That makes it easier. Saves me the briefing."
He wasted no more time on sentiment. He extended his hand toward her, his tone one of finality. "You are coming with me."
Valerie didn't hesitate. She pushed off the ground with her white wings, gliding gracefully toward him, taking his offered hand. The physical connection established the bond, and she immediately dampened her powerful holy aura.
He simply activated a high-speed, localized spatial jump, pulling Valerie close. They vanished from the Tepes throne room and reappeared moments later outside the decimated fortress walls.
The scene outside was one of profound chaos and total victory.
The area surrounding the castle was a terrifying tableau of destruction. Bodies were lying all over the ground—not just the initial, unfortunate Vampires who had tried to impede his advance, but also the forms of other supernatural beings bearing the dark sigils of the Khaos Brigade.
His clash with Rizevim—the massive release of power and the subsequent sonic boom as the Rizevim impacted the wall—was more than enough of a signal to Issei, Sirzechs, and his team to act.
Any force that had tried to intervene, was met by the overwhelming might of the Red Dragon Emperor and the ruthless efficiency of sirzech's destruction law.
Algernon looked down at the silent carnage, then squeezed Valerie's hand.
"Serafall should have already reached Carmilla's castle with people I asked her to find," Algernon stated.
He turned and issued his next command, bypassing Issei who was already busy organizing the cleanup of the high-value targets left by the battle.
"Sirzechs, follow me. Leave Issei here to coordinate the cleanup of this mess
He executed a quick spatial jump with Valerie and the Duke Lucifer.
They reappeared instantly at the edge of the Carmilla quarter, the shift in scenery jarring—from the gore and destruction of the Tepes territory to the rigid, tense elegance of the rival Vampire faction.
Algernon, Valerie and Sirzechs proceeded to the castle gates. Waiting for them were Serafall Leviathan and Elmenhilde Karnstein.
Serafall, dressed in her tactical jacket, looked stressed but victorious, flanked by a small group of ordinary-looking Vampires and Dhampirs she had managed to gather.
Elmenhilde, the doll-like Karnstein noble, looked significantly different from the proud intermediary of the previous day. The immense, uncontrolled power spike from Algernon's battle with Rizevim had been felt across the city, confirming the terrifying force they had just been negotiating with.
All her previous superiority was gone, replaced by a thin veneer of anxious professionalism. Her eyes darted nervously between the two previous demon kings, the demon emperor, and the former tapes king standing beside him.
"Your Majesty," Serafall reported immediately, stepping forward. "The peace faction leaders have been gathered, But the entire city is in upheaval after the Tepes faction was completely decapitated."
Algernon ignored the logistical chaos, his gaze fixed on Elmenhilde. "Good. Lead the way, Elmenhilde. Queen Carmilla is expecting us. And this time," he added, a cold edge to his voice, "we are not guests."
Elmenhilde, stripped of her arrogance and acutely aware of the shift in power, dipped into a deep, genuine curtsy and quickly led the group into the castle. She did not attempt any unnecessary conversation, merely accelerating her pace through the halls until they reached the large parlor where Queen Carmilla waited.
The atmosphere in the room was entirely different from the day before. Queen Carmilla was no longer seated serenely. She was standing by the massive window, her posture rigid, her eyes fixed on the chaos barely visible in the distant Tepes district.
The low table held four tea cups now, waiting for the visitors. Flanking her were several high-ranking Carmilla nobles, their faces pale with a mixture of fear and rage, having just witnessed the annihilation of their rivals by a single, terrifying force.
In a small, tense cluster near the fireplace stood the group Serafall had gathered: a handful of strained-looking Vampires and Dhampirs—the pacifist faction leaders—who looked overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the political drama unfolding around them.
Algernon's arrival sucked the air out of the room.
Carmilla turned, her elegant features etched with the acknowledgment of defeat and the necessity of surrender. Her gaze first swept over Sirzechs and Serafall, confirming the commitment of the former Devil Kings, and then landed on Valerie. Her eyes widened minutely at the sight of the her being alive, completely transformed, and radiating the impossible holy aura.
"Emperor Algernon," Carmilla said, her voice strained but still regal.
Algernon stepped forward, positioning himself centrally in the room, his voice cutting and final.
"Carmilla. I have removed the Khaos Brigade and their weapon. Here is Valerie Tepes, former Queen, now my Bishop." He gestured to Valerie, who offered a small, respectful nod to the assembled Vampires.
He then looked past her, toward the terrified pacifist group. "The war is over. Your faction did not win; I did. Your choice remains, but the terms have expired. The offer is now non-negotiable."
He laid out the terms.
"First: You will immediately unify the Carmilla and the remaining Tepes houses under one single ruling body. You, Queen Carmilla, will lead this unified front to merge under Azeroth Empire and you will report to Valerie Tapes, who I now appoint as the Duke of Azeroth Empire."
Algernon then turned to the pacifist leaders. "Second: These leaders will form your transitional council. They will guarantee the stability needed for true unification and will ensure that the influence of the Khaos Brigade is permanently scrubbed from your race."
"Third: All your armed forces will be absorbed by the army of Azeroth Empire"
Carmilla looked at the devastating power surrounding her. She saw the end of her faction if she refused, and eternal power if she complied.
With a deep sigh that carried the weight of her ancient lineage, Queen Carmilla bowed her head in acceptance.
"I accept your terms, Emperor Algernon. The Vampire Faction submits to the dominion of Azeroth Empire."
Algernon smiled. "Welcome to the fold, Carmilla. Now, let us begin the work of building the unparallel future I desire."
(END OF CHAPTER)
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