The collision between Vivian and the Demon King shattered the station.
A wave of force exploded outward, tearing through metal walls and throwing both soldiers and monsters across the battlefield.
The entire structure groaned as if it would collapse at any second.
Yet neither of them stopped.
Vivian's light clashed against the hellfire surrounding the Demon King, flooding the corridor with blinding flashes of blue and crimson energy.
"Impressive," the Demon King said with amusement.
"You inherited her power well."
Vivian did not answer.
She moved instantly—
faster than sight.
Symbols of light formed around her arms before firing forward like celestial blades.
The Demon King blocked them with one hand.
The explosion alone vaporized several nearby demons.
Lexia whistled softly.
"Okay… she's terrifying."
"Focus!" Marley snapped while reinforcing another barrier around the wounded soldiers.
Nearby, Zack stared at Vivian with confusion.
"Something's wrong…"
Shadow appeared beside him.
"You noticed it too."
Zack narrowed his eyes.
"She's fighting…"
Then his expression darkened.
"But her energy pattern is unstable."
At the center of the battlefield—
Maximilian slammed his fist into a Draculian commander hard enough to crush its chest inward before looking toward Alfred.
"We need to isolate the Demon King."
Alfred nodded immediately.
"If he fully manifests inside the station, this structure dies with us."
Sid activated several floating tactical screens around him.
"Union fleet is losing the outer sectors. More rifts are opening around Earth."
Lenore's face paled.
"How many?"
Sid hesitated.
"…Too many."
Before anyone could respond—
Vivian screamed.
Everyone turned instantly.
Black chains had suddenly erupted from beneath the floor, wrapping around her arms and throat.
The light around her flickered violently.
The Demon King slowly raised his hand.
And smiled.
"You truly believed you escaped me?"
Marley froze.
"No…"
Vivian struggled violently against the chains.
"Don't listen to him!" Marley shouted.
But the Demon King's voice echoed across the battlefield like poison.
"Tell them the truth, child."
Vivian's breathing became unstable.
Darkness slowly spread beneath her skin.
Violet stared in horror.
"What's happening to her?"
Then Vivian finally spoke.
Her voice trembled.
"…I was never free."
Silence.
The chains tightened.
The Demon King stepped closer.
"She belongs to me."
The station shook again as his power expanded through the corridors.
Flames erupted from the walls themselves.
Several dimensional soldiers screamed as dark corruption consumed them instantly.
Marley's expression shattered.
"Vivian…"
The Demon King placed a hand against Vivian's forehead.
"She carried my mark since the day she was born."
Everyone froze.
Lenore whispered:
"That's impossible…"
"No," Alfred said grimly.
"It explains everything."
Vivian suddenly lifted her head.
And her eyes—
had changed.
The silver glow vanished.
Replaced by burning crimson.
Zack stepped backward slowly.
"…Oh no."
The chains shattered.
A massive shockwave erupted from Vivian's body, throwing everyone backward.
Even Maximilian was forced to brace himself.
Vivian floated above the battlefield now, surrounded by black and crimson energy intertwined together.
The Demon King spread his arms proudly.
"Behold."
"The vessel of destruction."
Marley immediately stepped forward.
"Vivian! Fight it!"
For a moment—
something flickered inside Vivian's expression.
Pain.
Fear.
Then it vanished.
She raised her hand.
And hundreds of light symbols formed behind her—
but they were corrupted now.
Dark.
Twisted.
Lexia cursed under her breath.
"That is definitely bad."
Then Vivian attacked.
The entire corridor exploded.
Maximilian intercepted the first blast head-on while Marley shielded the others.
The station screamed around them.
Violet launched her chains toward Vivian, trying to restrain her—
but Vivian sliced through them effortlessly.
"She's stronger now!" Zack shouted.
"No," Alfred corrected grimly.
"She's being amplified."
Shadow vanished into darkness again.
"I'll create an opening."
Meanwhile, Sid coordinated the remaining Union forces desperately.
"All surviving units fall back to central sectors!"
Outside—
the war around Earth had become catastrophic.
Entire Dimensional Union ships burned across orbit.
Draculian swarms consumed defensive lines.
And below—
cities vanished beneath storms of fire.
Inside the station—
the heroes struggled just to survive Vivian's attacks.
Every movement from her distorted the battlefield itself.
Marley tried reaching her again.
"Vivian, listen to me!"
For the briefest second—
Vivian hesitated.
And Shadow moved instantly.
He emerged directly behind her.
His blade aimed for the black core pulsing behind her back.
But before he could strike—
Vivian turned unnaturally fast.
And drove her hand straight through Shadow's chest.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Shadow looked down slowly at the glowing hand piercing through him.
Blood spilled across the floor.
Marley's eyes widened in horror.
"SHADOW!"
Vivian herself looked shocked for one second.
As if she hadn't meant to do it.
But the Demon King only laughed louder.
"Yes…"
"Break."
And the darkness inside Vivian deepened further.