When the veil broke every creature contained there burst out into the world and spread out very quickly. Some who were strong enough to retain their physical form while in the veil simply teleported as soon as they were free. Others soared through the air as temporary beings of pure dark energy.

-----Hauringu Cave
The 7 dark mages of the Shadousamonā Who had started the organization had finally achieved the first part of their plan. However, in an unseen aftermath they had lost their human figures. Two of them had been turned to spirits in a state between life & death, Three of them had been turned into archdemons with bulky bodies & horns coming from their foreheads. One of them changed into a being that simply could not be touched by almost anything except the essence crystals, most of which had been attracted to his body and floated inside of him at all times. The last one had been turned into a being of pure energy, unable to touch anything without breaking it down & destroying it on a molecular level. They changed their name to the 7 dark lords to fit their new state of existence.

The 7 dark lords quickly retrieved 1 essence crystal in particular and performed the Kaihō suru gishiki, a ritual to free the entity trapped inside. As the ritual continued the very space and time around them began to shake violently. Each dark lord continued the ritual until a powerful burst of dark energy exploded from the crystal, shattering it and knocking the dark lords back quite a distance. When they arose they saw that the entity they had freed was not the demon king, but a creature that even they believed was a myth. Kokuei looked at the 7 dark lords with a dark twisted smirk on his face. "At long last a millennium of containment ends and I am free to walk this land again. I assume you 7 abominations are the ones I should thank for my release." When he spoke his voice sounded very chill and sent shivers through the dark lords bodies.

-----Meanwhile In Shihou City, Hikari Sēbā Main Base
Arius, one the most powerful seraphim in the Hikari Sēbā had taken over as acting boss until Exion returned from an unknown location. At this time Arius was deciding who would go to Nemui Machi and takeover the operation there and find any clue that could help reseal the veil. "I need Ziam in Nemui Machi." he said finally after minutes on silence. "Hisaki if you don't mind I'd like your assistance elsewhere. We must leave the capital as well, and you know these lands well Correct?" Just as he finished speaking everything started shaking. Arius felt a powerful energy somewhere on the continent. The energy from whatever was just released from what he assumed to be a demon sealed in an essence crystal made the very atmosphere feel thicker, heavier, and more dense. Arius knew whatever was happening was not a good sign, and he was in dire need of hisaki's help now.

_________________
So Many Ways To Die Its A Shame You Only Get To Explore One Option

You're Never Truly Alone, You Always Have The Shadows

Leave Nothing But Their Shattered Bones

Ziam had been in his home when he woke. Lying in a pool of scarlet. Lying next to his infant son. Their blood mixing on the ground around him. “Iram,” Ziam screamed in anger and pain and fear pushing himself up and over to hold the tiny body in his arms. He saw then his wife, Elian and his other son, twin to Iram in her arms, both dead long before Iram and before he had been attacked he figured from the empty pain lacerating his heart. Iram, Elian and Esian all gone. Taken, killed. He knew those marks like everyone did. Demons. Tears fell from his eyes and he screamed...

Ziam sat bold upright his heart pounding and his head aching. Memories flying through his mind. The nightmare had come again. Again like every time he closed his eyes. Barely dawn, barely an hour of sleep. He sighed and rose. Dressed quickly, passing his hand over the skull and wings tattoo on his right shoulder feeling the tears prickling his eyes as he remembered the family he’d lost. His head ached as it always did because the rest of his past was a mystery. Taken by the violence and pain of that night. That night. All that drove Ziam. All that remained of a once peaceful man, now made broken and angry. That night. The reason he fought. The reason he was Hikari Sēbā. The reason for everything.

Ziam walked down the small street from the Inn he’d been staying in, his pack over one shoulder holding his weapons, a few books, some herbs and dried rations, his water pouch, a cloak and some extra clothing. Everything he’d need to live on the road. A nomad. A loner. Ziam was on a mission. Kill every Demon and avenge his family. Destroy them all. Give vent to the anger that flowed like blood through his veins.

Ziam entered the central base, the main base and made his way to the meeting. Not late, but not early, just on time. Always just on time. He sat in complete silence. Stone. Silent and still. Anger riling with the headache making his eyes seem dark and distant. Pain flooding his features hidden by a barely contained mask of neutrality. Pain, anger, rage. It was all he knew.

“Yes, Lord Arius,” he replied when instructed where he was to go. He did not leave immediately, but waited to see if more instructions would be given. To see what his primary directive would be. What he would do. What he would do indeed. That was always the question. Would he be required to kill, or only to explore and learn.

_________________

Arriel had an immense smile upon her ethereal face, when the creature of the crystal, which many of them believed to be nothing more than just myth and legend, stood at the other end of the room. It looked distinctly, daemonic, with two large horns upon its head, and being forged from little more than dark energy. It dwarfed her in terms of height, easily reaching just shy of six and a half foot in height, with a broad and most certainly powerful build. It was a creature to be absolutely terrified of, yet the lords of shadow were not to be so easily dissuaded.

“It…worked!” She muttered to herself, collecting her bearing and standing back up. Being flung across the room was certainly not planned, but at least something had been released from that crystal. Looking around the ritual room, she noted that the others were in a similar state to her, having been flung across the room, into the surrounding walls. No standing, she took a few silent steps towards the being they had released. It presumed, rightly, that they had freed it, though it used the word ‘abominations’ which wasn’t exactly a choice word that she would have used.

“Yes, we freed you from the crystal.” She said to the creature, in a tone somewhere between anxiety and the utmost of joy. There was little that could be told of the creature just be appearance, aside from the fact that it was clearly a being of shadow and daemonic energies. She would have dared to walk closer to the being, but she feared that it would likely lash out against those that freed it. Daemons were often fickle creatures to deal with, mortals were far simpler to discern in their actions. While the weapons and objects of the living posed no threat to her, she doubted that a Daemon lord would prove to be so…harmless. “I suppose you could thank us, if you so wished to.” She added, this time her voice more on the joyous side, they did after all just release a Daemonic creature from its crystalline prison.

Walking a few more steps towards the being, she inspected its exterior, from a distance of course lest it try to attack. She was simply marvelled that the being had been released. Such a ritual was not an easy feat to accomplish for many, and the cost could be potentially massive.

However, it was not until now that she realised something that was…exceptionally crucial. The released being was not the intended King of Daemons. But it was a creature of myth and legend. Not a complete failure did their ritual make; this outcome may have even been far better than the intended outcome could ever be. Her mind had already turned to the sheer power that such a creature could likely boast, surely enough to topple whole cities of those wretched defenders, and their dogged supporters. Could they not see that their demise was all but assured?

_________________

"In this world, there is no place for demons." A deeply tranquil, yet cold, authoritative voice, echoing between the rumbles of the thunder, spoke, "But you will not regret your demise." He wiped the blood, in a few thin streams flowing down the white skin of his cheek, outstretching his hands, clenched around the white tsuka of a beautiful katana. "I will not give you the time to do so."
He thrust the blade into the ground, stabbing a large portion of the sword in.

A sudden surge of power, spilling seemingly out of nowhere, lit his figure with white, for a moment illuminating everything in bright light, and the ground rippled like still water, to tear apart, break, open up for thick strands of light to spring out, twisting and turning into the form of a white sakura, blossoming in a mere moment into its full, radiant beauty. The blossoms opened up, glowing with faint white shine, to scatter, as if fading, coating his figure. They sled down the folds of his haori, softly descending onto the ground, to arose again, like whips of light following his arm that pointed them at the darkness.
And they tore it to pieces. Surprisingly violently for the beauty they possessed, they pierced the blackness, shearing it to little pieces and letting it fall into nothing but ash, slashing and tying around it till there was nothing left.

And the light slowly, softly faded. His job was done.
Somewhere in the background, the light of a flashing bolt of lightning illuminated his figure in white once more, but this time kneeling on the ground, emptily gazing at the skies.
He failed.
Why couldn't he be strong enough? Why?
Such a disgrace... A shameful son!
A single hot tear welled out of his eye.

"Whatever is necessary." Hisaki replied coldly to Arius' request, bowing his head, eyes shadowed by his thick black eyelashes. His hair was let down today, freely cascading down onto his simple black keikogi, just a few strands falling into his face. Even in his most natural stance, without expressing the true essence of his person, it wouldn't take a careful eye much to see what was underneath the human-like guise. A presence almost suffocating in its full power, which was so typical for him, was held under the iron cuffs of his willpower and determination, but for a simple human, Hisaki was too noble, too elegant, too ethereal.

It was true that he knew these lands well... His house has inhabited them for ages. But the self-same moment Arius finished speaking, and a moment of silence reigned over them, he felt the tremors of the earth underneath his feet, and his eyes widened a little. If he couldn't recognize this very presence, suddenly filling the air and pressing down on everyone, he wouldn't dare bear the name of the Third White Blossom of the Adachi house! It was a demon.

But he knew nothing of things such as fear, despair, or panic. He retained his tranquility even now, stepping forth. "This dark presence is one of a demon." he spoke quietly, his voice not changing in tone ever now.

_________________

The Seven Dark lords stared at Kokuei for a brief moment, trying to figure out his intent. When the dark lords heard Arriel's voice they felt a bit more at ease with the situation and the dark lord made of destructive energy spoke first saying "My name is Akito, dark lord of the Shadousamonā." The first of the demonic dark lords spoke his name next. "I am Haruhide, dark lord of the Shadousamonā." He was pretty thin for a demon but still quite built compared to his human form, and was also a wingless demon with a pair of curled horns comng from the the said of his head. The Spirit dark lords spoke next, the second one to speak almost cut off the one before him I am Masahide of the Shadousamonā. "I am Masahito of the Shadousamonā" The next to speak his name was another demon, and his voice hinted that he was not pleased with what was going on "I am Mikito, almighty dark lord of the Shadousamonā." The remaining demonic dark lord quickly spoke in an almost apologetic tone "I am Okito of the Shadousamonā" The final dark lord filled with essence crystals said nothing.

Kokuei was offended by the dark lord who dark lord who dare call himself almighty while in his presence, but he was more offended at the dark lord who said nothing. He intended to reply to the spirit whom he had taken a strange liking to, but intended to address these signs of disrespect first. Almost instantly, Kokuei dashed to Mikito and grabbed him by the face with his right hand and slammed his head into the ground, creating a giant crater. Again, Kokuei displayed his speed by appearing in front of the silent dark lord and eyed him before snapping his fingers, which caused every essence crystal in his body to pulsate with glowing red energy. The dark lord screamed in pain and fell to his knees, digging into the ground with his hands because he had never felt such pain. The other dark lords watched, speechless and for the first time in any of their lives they felt powerless. Kokuei then turned his attention to Arriel and spoke to her, his voice sounding a bit more excited then it did before A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Kokuei, The first human to know the joys of being converted into a demon.



-----Shihou City
Arius turned towards the exit of the base, and made his way but spoke as he made his exit. "Hisaki we must move quickly. Ziam when you get to Nemui Machi I need you to reinforce the protection spell. The demons must not be allowed to enter, and with the night upon us soon the spell will weaken and their power will grow." Arius sensed another presence of divine nature nearby and walked quickly to meet this person, as he hoped they could assist Hisaki and himself on the task they were on their way to carry out. When Arius saw the cloaked woman whose power signature he did not recognize he was shocked. "Pardon my intrusion, but if you wouldn't mind I'd like to ask for your assistance on a very important task." Arius was recruiting any help he could find with Exion missing, and a powerful demonic presence now free to roam the lands.

_________________
So Many Ways To Die Its A Shame You Only Get To Explore One Option

You're Never Truly Alone, You Always Have The Shadows

Leave Nothing But Their Shattered Bones

Ziam followed after them as they left the base he nodded once, "I will do what is required," he said and without another word he left. He wasn't one for talking or one to make his thoughts known. He was better suited to his own company that to that of others. He felt a distant ache as he always did as he walked down the lanes towards where his mount waited. His transportation. He mounted feeling that ache press harder into him. He was thinking of his wife. Seeing her face like a glorious angel and it was bringing him closer to the brink of snapping. He could feel the building of emotions he'd always fought against. But worse was the fact that with her memories that darn headache built, and he knew if he kept this line of thought, if he wandered down this road much long he'd black out. He couldn't let this happen.

He shoved those thoughts away from his mind. Buried her face in anger and washed it away. He drew out his flask and drank deeply from it feeling the alcohol burn down his throat and into his very bones. He didn't get drunk, often, but he did drink when those faces and those memories washed through him. He swung up onto his horse and took off for Nemui Machi, maybe he'd make it in time. He set off at a gallop and the pace he set was reckless. Deadly. Had he been anyone else he would have killed his horse going this fast for this long. For him however it only caused the pain in his head to increase to heal the horse as it ran at the top of it's abilities. Renewing it's energies as it took him further and further from the capital and towards Nemui Machi.

The ride was hard, and he was worn and tired when he reached the city with barely any light left in the sky. His eyes were starting to sting from their need for sleep. His magic had taken a tole on him as well. The memories were just below the surface boiling like the ever blackened poison of his soul. The pain tearing into him like shards of glass. The pain in his head matched by the one in his heart. He would have done anything to kill something just to ease the ache in his chest. To loosen the knot of torment and failure.

He reached the boundaries of the spells and stopped moving. He dismounted and let the reins fall away from his hand raising both and letting his hands rest against the nigh invisible barrier. He could feel the magic as he could feel the aura of people when he healed them. He could sense where it was weak and fed energy into the spell to strengthen and reinforce it. This wasn't his strong points and magic was much harder for him now, but he worked in silence as he always did. Allowing that otherworldly sense to feel rather then using his actual senses.

Once done he dropped his hands weary to his bones. He looked over at the horse and had no energy to get back onto the stallions back. Instead he simply walked exhausted into the city itself. Just as dusk was finally taking away the last of the sunlight.

_________________

As the night fell upon Nemui Machi, Ziam could feel some type of powerful but soothing energy calling out to him. The energy was so focused that it was almost as if it was trying to speak directly to him. The streets were empty, and Ziam was unable to hear any sounds coming from the vilage whatsoever. Whatever it was calling out to him was doing so in private, and did not want anything else to get his attention off of it.

_________________
So Many Ways To Die Its A Shame You Only Get To Explore One Option

You're Never Truly Alone, You Always Have The Shadows

Leave Nothing But Their Shattered Bones

Arriel turned around, and waited for her fellow Dark lords to introduce themselves to the creature of the crystal. Though she did often glance around at the creature of the crystal, inspecting its demonic hide and features. Such a creature was perhaps far beyond the mortal limits for power, hopefully he would become useful in finally slaying the wretched ‘defenders’ of these lands. She listened to each of her fellows introduce themselves, however she scowled when one of her fellows, Mikito, dared to call himself mighty. It would have normally been just annoying, but in the presence of a creature that could very well tear him asunder? Such a thing was outright Madness! Though perhaps worse was the last of her fellows, whom merely said nothing to the newly-released daemon. However, she doubted that she would have to scold him…

She watched with a slight smile upon her face as the newly released daemon rushed forwards, towards Mikito. He grabbed the Dark Lord by his face, slamming him into the ground and causing a huge crater to appear from the force of the impact. But he did not appear to be finished, as he raced in-front of the silent Lord. All the creature did was snap his fingers and the Lord plummeted to the ground, every essence crystal inside him pulsating with red energy. He screamed and scraped at the floor due to the immense agony he was in. Arriel watched this last act with a surprised expression, her earlier idea that the creature was immensely powerful seemed to be completely correct. Her expression of surprise soon fell however, when the daemon addressed her.

‘A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Kokuei, The first human to know the joys of being converted into a demon.’ She heard him say, and the surprised expression she had upon her features just moments ago reappeared as quickly as it left them. He’s the first?! She thought to herself, somewhat lost for words to say in the presence of being that had the power of being the first Human-Daemon. “I-I am Arriel Ela Sentia of the Shadousamonā.” She began, now finding the correct words to address the daemon. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Kokuei.” She finished, her voice now as confident as is had been before the daemon had crippled the offending Dark Lords. “You are the first being of human flesh to be ascended unto Daemonhood? One can only imagine the boundless joys and powers that you possess.” Arriel tried her utmost best to place a smile upon her ethereal face, but it battled with a look of awe.

_________________

"Whether the veil breaks or not, it is our task to obliterate the demons." Hisaki uttered quietly, retaining his perfect calmness as he followed Arius. His steps were almost impossible to hear would it not be for the sound of fabric, brushing against fabric and the steel scales of his armor. He, too, did feel a powerful presence nearby, but unlike Arius, he wasn't as easy to trust strangers... Raising his head, he stepped next to the Seraphim as he spoke to the woman, scanning her with his eternally cold eyes. No, he didn't think they can trust her... At least not completely.

Never trust a stranger, no matter how powerful you are...

He carefully observed the presence that seemed to linger around her, instinctively suppressing his own to take a better look at hers. It seemed to be similar to Arius', but that was where it ended. She was definitely not a human, nor was she a demon, though... That still didn't mean Arius should just go around and ask complete strangers for help.

Giving him an ever so slight frown, hardly even noticeable would one not aim all of their attention on him, he turned his head to the side a little. "You should not simply approach strangers and ask them for assistance that easily, Arius." he remarked coldly.

_________________

Ziam walked down those streets for a while ignoring the voice, energy, whatever it was calling out to him. His eyes clouding with pain. His vision reduced to a pinprick. His skin felt that familiar tingling that something or someone was watching him. He shivered looking around. Darkness greeted his gaze. Emptiness. This was so weird. He stopped walking.

He stood now mare paces from the city and felt completely alone. Except for that sound, that voice, that seeking energy. Or whatever it was. It was unnerving and Ziam was unnerved. Worn out and tired Ziam turned a full circle gazing around him with eyes half closed. He shivered. He wasn't cold, but he was worried, scared. He pushed the fear away, pushed through it until he found that all too familiar well of anger that ever present dark empty demanding anger.

"Who's out there?" he called, bloody cowards, he thought. If they wanted him they could come for him. He was ready. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his blade. Ready to fight. Ready to defend. Yet he had not drawn it, which means he wasn't ready to admit this was an enemy. It could be an ally. He had no idea yet. He stood ready. Feet braced shoulder-width apart, knees bent, eyes focused, body relaxed, muscles tensed ever so slightly. Ready to battle if need be. Yet appearing relaxed and at ease.

He opened his senses letting his pain clouded mind seek out into the dark, letting it feel, be open to, whatever it was that was trying to get a hold of him. Whatever that energy was it wanted to speak to him and him alone and he let it.

_________________

Kokuei examined Arriel for a moment before he spoke. "Does my presence bother you? I'm truly not as cruel the legends say I am... Well at least not always. I Owe the Shadousamonā my freedom, so I assure you that you are in no danger." Kokuei snapped when he finished speaking, releasing the dark lord with the essence crystals inside of his body from his agonizing pain. "But Arriel, If I may be blunt, what is your purpose with the Shadousamonā? What is your personal reason for your actions?" Kokuei asked with a twisted smile on his face.

----- Shihou City
When Arius saw the blue skin and silver hair, he began to have a flashback of unclear memories. Arius was in a trance-like state until Hisaki spoke, which seemed to break this trance. "She isn't exactly a stranger Hisaki." Arius said confidently, but making sure not to seem rude. Arius examined the cloaked woman again, trying to remember her name, and their relationship to one another. "May I ask what your name is your and where you are coming from?" Arius asked her.


----- Nemui Machi
As Ziam let the entity in, it began to take on a form. It became a featureless body of pure energy, and was glowing brightly. The more Ziam let in, the brighter it shone until it was almost too bright to look at. "Ziam, you and everyone in this village are in danger. There is an essence crystal hidden in the basement of the Hikari Sēbā facility here. Inside of it is the demon king Mako Zuri, and thanks the to effort of another demon, the essence crystal is no longer able to contain him. Soon he will break free, and with the protection seal preventing any demons from passing through it to enter or exit this city, I think you understand the potential disaster we are facing. I can give you a temporary boost of power, magic, speed, and durability, but you must trust me and accept my gift."

_________________
So Many Ways To Die Its A Shame You Only Get To Explore One Option

You're Never Truly Alone, You Always Have The Shadows

Leave Nothing But Their Shattered Bones

At first Ziam felt a spark of fear as an essence, an entity entered him. His mind growing silent and calm, the pain easing to a nearly unnoticed annoyance like a bug bite on his neck. Ziam froze there in the center of the street his eyes wide and his blood thundering in his veins. Fear gripping his heart for only a moment longer, until he felt the brightness of the energy within him.

It didn't feel like a Demon, Ziam relaxed and as he did more and more of the energy filled him. As it grew so bright he couldn't even keep his inner eye fixed upon it. He closed his mortal eyes too, his mind felt saturated with light.

He heard the words as if they were spoken aloud and not from within him. It was so odd. His vision awash with light even with his eyes tightly closed he felt worry and a small knot of fear rise, but quickly whipped out as anger laced through his veins igniting his blood with that battle readiness that preceded the deadly calm that would descend during the fight itself. He was ready. He was willing. He would fight.

"I accept you gift, allow me to serve," he said softly, speaking in reverent tones. He knew all too well what a demon king would do. He remembered again the bodies that filled his nightmares, the blood that soaked his mind. Saturated his soul. He pressed his fingers to the female medallion he wore at his throat and felt again the pain. Letting it bring the rage that give him power to fight. It was something that had become second nature to him. The pain of loss, the pain of memories he couldn't remember, the loss of more thus his family, but also the loss of himself. He'd lost everything that night and he intended to life only to fight the darkness that had taken it all.

_________________

Arriel was still in a bout of awe at the creature of the crystal, Kokuei. Such a being as the first Human to even be permitted Daemonhood was surely to be among the most powerful of creatures in the whole land, maybe not as powerful as the very king of Daemons himself however, as to be expected. When she heard his words ‘Does my presence bother you? I'm truly not as cruel the legends say I am... Well at least not always. I Owe the Shadousamonā my freedom, so I assure you that you are in no danger’ She very nearly sighed with utter relief. Perhaps he was not quite as fickle as she first thought of him. Though Daemons could be expert liars when needed, meaning that she forever will be keeping an open eye.

“It does not bother me, just that Daemons, especially the more powerful of them, are often fickle, not that I think of you as dishonest.” Arriel nearly cursed after finishing her words, she had nearly tripped over her own explanation, which in this case could have proved fatal.

When the Daemon snapped his fingers once more, Arriel looked behind her, to see that the Dark Lord made from Essence crystals rise once more, his pain apparently dissipating. “My own goals?” She asked at first, when the Daemon questioned her reasons for joining the Shadousamonā in the first place. “Well, ghosts, such as me, are often brought into being through deaths that are…unusual. The only way for us to rest truly, is to fulfil a task that is usually rather difficult. My own task is to slay every one of the villagers than killed me…and every one of their descendants…”

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