Coronation

They were currently fighting the undead. On the rooftop of a nearby building, Xenon spotted two figures.

Without hesitation, he swiftly teleported to confront them.

"Who are you?" Xenon demanded.

One of them removed their mask, causing Xenon's eyes to widen in recognition.

"Phoenix?" he said, disbelief evident in his voice.

Phoenix smirked in response. "Yes, it's me," he confirmed.

The other figure also removed their mask, revealing themselves to be Fall.

"And you too, Fall? Why are you doing this?" Xenon asked, his tone laced with disappointment.

"To shroud the entire world in darkness and let it reign," Phoenix declared confidently.

"Tss...you're no longer the Phoenix we once knew," Xenon remarked.

Phoenix simply replied with a sinister laugh.

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....

Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Aznar, preparations were complete. Many noble vampires attended to witness the crowning of their King and pledge their allegiance.

Everyone took their seats, anticipation hanging heavy in the air as the throne remained unoccupied, awaiting the prince's arrival.

Soon, the musicians started playing.

At last, the prince made his entrance.

The entire gathering rose to their feet, bowing in deference as Xylon made his way through.

Halting before the throne, Xylon turned to address the assembled guests.

"Show your utmost respect for Prince Xylon Vladimir Serolf!" proclaimed the minister.

The crowd dutifully bowed and knelt, acknowledging their prince with reverence.

....

.

Xenon leveled his sword at Phoenix, his gaze unwavering.

"You're a traitor. How could you have committed such atrocities?" he demanded, his voice edged with disbelief.

Phoenix remained motionless, a sly grin playing on his lips in response to Xenon's accusation.

"This is all your fault... We share the same blood, yet you hold Xylon in higher esteem," Phoenix retorted, his tone dripping with disdain as he closed the distance between them. "Is it because he's the prince? The legitimate heir to King Gustav and Queen Rebecca?"

Xenon's expression tightened, his features hardening with resolve. "So, you covet the throne? I never imagined you harbored such ambitions, Phoenix," he countered coolly.

"You're a Serolf as well! It's impossible that you don't hunger for power!" Phoenix's voice rose with intensity.

A wry smile touched Xenon's lips.

"I was raised by my father, Prince Ilyanov, to find contentment in what I possess... and furthermore, the throne holds no allure for me. Only Xylon is fit to inherit, being the true offspring of King Gustav," Xenon asserted firmly.

"And what of me? Am I not also the King's son?" Phoenix said.

"The bastard son with a Viscountess named Lady Esmeralda?" Xenon shot back.

In a swift motion, Phoenix seized Xenon by the throat, his grip tightening with fury.

"Do not dare to mock my mother!!!" Phoenix roared, his anger boiling over.

"Your mother was already married with a Viscount, but she still seduced the king... a disgrace to the memory of our beloved Queen," Xenon retorted defiantly.

With a forceful shove, Phoenix cast Xenon aside, sending him crashing to the ground as the undead closed in around him.

"KILL THEM ALL!!!" Phoenix's command echoed through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those present.

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Sheryl's scream pierced the air as the undead breached their room. Instinctively, she clung to Jade, embracing her tightly in fear.

Suddenly, the wall shattered, revealing Heberlin. With a single attack, he sent the undead flying. He swiftly reached out, grabbing the trembling hands of Sheryl and Jade, and whisked them to safety.

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....

The coronation rites commenced, yet Xylon couldn't contain his restlessness. In due time, the chief minister and high priest approached him.

"In the revered names of our founder King, King Vladimir Serolf, and your esteemed father, King Gustav Vladimir Serolf... you, Xylon Vladimir Serolf, are hereby designated and crowned as the new king of the kingdom of Aznar!" proclaimed the priest.

Xylon knelt humbly, allowing the chief minister to place the weighty crown upon his head.

As Xylon stood up, all the vampires present bowed.

"Long live our newly anointed King!"

"Long live the reign of King Xylon!"

"Long live our beloved King!"

A smile graced Xylon's lips. He now stood as the new ruler of his realm.

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....

During the intense battle, Blake caught sight of Aria running towards one of the Academy's dormitories.

"Xen, it's Aria! Follow her, there are hordes of undead in that area," Blake urgently called out.

Xenon nodded and teleported to where Aria was.

Aria found Cedrick lying on the floor... there were no bite marks from the undead on his body, but it was covered in wounds and cuts from sharp weapons. He was bleeding and struggling to breathe.

Tears streaming down her face, Aria approached Cedrick and gently cradled him in her arms.

"C-Cedrick... I'm sorry for being late..." she sobbed, her voice quivering with anguish.

Cedrick couldn't speak. Blood started to come out of his mouth.

Xenon appeared before them, concern etched across his face.

"What happened?" Xenon asked.

"I arrived too late, Xen, I'm scared, I don't want him to die," Aria cried, her voice choked with despair.

"There's nothing we can do, Aria. Cedrick is human," Xenon stated solemnly.

Aria's tears momentarily ceased as she contemplated her next words.

"No... there is another way to save him," she declared with conviction.

Xenon's expression darkened as he anticipated her solution. "Don't tell me..."

"I'll turn him into a vampire. If that's the only way to save him," Aria asserted.

"Are you certain? Cedrick harbors disdain for vampires. Once he becomes one, he'll despise himself," Xenon cautioned.

"I don't care, what's important is that he lives," Aria affirmed resolutely.

Xenon could do nothing more. Aria bit Cedrick's neck. After that, Aria took a sharp object and cut her palm. She then placed her palm on Cedrick's mouth and made him drink the blood. Cedrick's eyes immediately turned red and he writhed in pain. Soon, he lost consciousness. Xenon carried him and they left.

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Yvess rushed towards the chapel with urgency, determined to save Lilith from imminent danger.

"Yvess! Help me!" Lilith's desperate cry pierced the air.

Surrounded by a horde of undead, Lilith stood defenseless.

"Stay away from my sister!" Yvess's voice reverberated with fear and determination as he confronted the encroaching undead.

Yvess's heart raced with dread, for it had only been a few days after he sought Maddison's aid in returning Lilith to her original body. He had intended to conceal her elsewhere due to the chaos unfolding, but now it seemed too late for such plans.

Engaging the undead in combat, Yvess remained unscathed thanks to the protective barrier shielding his body.

"Yvess!!!" Lilith's cry for help echoed once more, driving Yvess to act swiftly.

Yvess saw that Lilith was about to be bitten by the undead. He quickly blocked her with his hand, becoming the one caught instead.

Yvess fell to his knees, feeling dizzy. He summoned all his strength to erect a protective barrier to protect them, preventing the undead from continuing their relentless attack.

In the midst of chaos, Lilith embraced Yvess, her voice trembling with emotion as she questioned his selfless sacrifice.

"Y-Yvess... why did you do that?" Lilith tearfully asked.

"B-Because I don't want you to get infected... I-I can't bear to see you become one of them, sis," Yvess replied.

As veins began to appear across Yvess's face, heralding his transformation, Lilith's anguish grew.

"I-I cannot bear to lose you, Yvess," Lilith's voice trembled with anguish.

Yvess's eyes began to change color, gradually becoming undead.

"P-Please, sister... end me before I bring harm to others," Yvess's plea for mercy resonated with heartbreaking clarity.

Refusing, Lilith shook her head.

"N-No! I can't..." Lilith's voice cracked with emotion as she grappled with the weight of her decision.

With a heavy heart, Yvess retrieved a dagger from his pocket and pressed it into Lilith's trembling hands.

"Do it now, sis..." Yvess's voice faltered as his eyes turned to white.

Tears streaming down her face, Lilith buried the blade into Yvess's chest, her anguished sobs mingling with his fading breath.

Yvess smiled, and as his form dissolved into ash, the barrier disappeared. But luckily, Zake arrived just in time and they both managed to escape.

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....

Amidst the celebration in the palace, Arden's sudden appearance injected a sense of urgency. With haste, he approached Xylon.

"Your Majesty, there's chaos at the Academy," Arden announced.

Xylon was taken aback.

"What do you mean?" he inquired.

"The undead have attacked, and the number of infected is rapidly rising," Arden explained.

Without delay, Xylon, along with Kan and Arden, quickly rushed out of the palace.