As Daigo stepped out of the castle gates, a chilling wind swept past him, carrying the whispers of an unfamiliar world.
The sky above was painted in eerie shades of violet and crimson, as if the heavens themselves had been tainted by his transformation. The once lifeless trees around the castle now twisted and pulsed with an unnatural energy, their blackened leaves swaying with no wind.
The world had changed. Or perhaps, Daigo had changed.
Just as he was taking in this new, distorted reality, a sudden splash came from the nearby river.
"Daigo!"
A figure rushed toward him, her tail shimmering under the faint glow of the twisted sun.
It was Marina—her lower half still that of a fish, her upper half that of a human. But something was different about her now.
Her glistening scales had taken on an obsidian hue, and her once gentle eyes now reflected the same dark power that lurked within Daigo.
She stopped before him, her voice breathless and filled with anticipation. "Did the ritual end?"
Daigo turned his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "Yes, Marina. It is done."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
A rustling sound echoed through the air.
Marina gasped as the animals she had once played with began to stand upright, their bodies shifting and contorting into strange, humanoid forms.
A fox-like creature blinked its newly-formed eyes before opening its mouth to speak.
"We... are awake."
A chilling realization swept through everyone.
Marina took a step back, her hands covering her mouth. "What... what is happening? These animals—"
"Perhaps Lord Daigo has touched them," Lavender interjected, her violet robes trailing behind her as she stepped forward.
Her gaze flickered between the creatures and Daigo, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
Daigo remained silent for a moment before simply stating, "Yes. I have."
The power of Lord Satan now flowed through him
Lavender nodded. "This confirms it. You are truly the Dark Guardian."
The weight of her words settled over them like an unshakable truth.
But Daigo was not interested in standing around marveling at his newfound power.
There was a mission to complete.
He turned to the others, his voice commanding. "Our goal remains the same—to find a soul capable of reviving Lord Satan."
Issey, standing a few steps behind him, stepped forward at those words.
Her long silver hair shimmered under the moonlight as she spoke with a steady voice. "My younger brother, Quinn."
The air tensed.
Daigo's gaze locked onto her, waiting for her to continue.
"He is the only boy born in my Samodiva clan."****"And he is the one destined to serve Lord Satan."
There was no hesitation in her voice. No grief.
Only certainty.
Daigo studied her for a moment before a small smirk formed at the corner of his lips.
"Good."
His voice was laced with approval. "Then let's go."
But Issey did not move.
Instead, her violet eyes darkened as she spoke her next words.
"Before that… there is an obstacle in our way."
Daigo's expression did not change, but the air around him grew heavier. "Who?"
Issey's voice turned sharp. "Escarion."
At that name, even Lavender's smirk faltered slightly.
The name itself carried weight.
A warrior. A tyrant. A living wall standing between them and their goal.
Issey crossed her arms, her tone steady. "If we kill Escarion, we will make our task much easier."
A moment of silence passed.
Then—
Daigo laughed.
A slow, dark chuckle that echoed through the castle grounds.
His red eyes gleamed with excitement as he turned toward them.
"Very well." His voice was like silk drenched in blood. "Let's kill Escarion now."
The creatures around them growled and howled in eerie agreement. The once ordinary animals were now twisted monsters, bound to his will.
Lavender smiled darkly. "This will be interesting."
Issey's grip tightened on her dagger. She would be the one to carve a path to Quinn, no matter what it took.
Marina, still adjusting to the changes in the world, clenched her fists.
And Daigo—
Daigo was ready to paint the earth in blood.
The Dark Guardian had risen.
And Escarion would be the first to fall?