After hearing Lisa's story, Lord Valentine leaned back, a skeptical look still lingering on his face. But Lisa held up the pendant given to her by the witch, a symbol that Valentine recognized immediately. She claimed to be the witch's disciple, sent on a mission to protect the vampires and, specifically, to ensure Leo's safety.
Valentine's expression softened, though he maintained a firm tone. "Fine. I'll believe you for now. But heed my warning, Lisa—stay away from Leo, and don't harm him. If I find you're deceiving me, there will be consequences."
Lisa nodded, swallowing her nerves. "Understood, Lord Valentine. You have my word."
With a final, stern look, Valentine turned and walked away, leaving Lisa alone with her thoughts. She let out a shaky breath, relieved that her story had been convincing enough to escape capture. Now, her focus shifted back to finding Leo—but she couldn't risk moving too soon, not while Valentine was still nearby.
The next morning, Leo waited at the meeting spot as he'd promised, but Lisa didn't show. He glanced around, confused and slightly disappointed. When the first light of dawn broke through the sky, he sighed and decided to head back to the academy.
Just as he was getting ready to go to class, his personal butler, Viola, rushed up to him, looking unusually concerned. "Mr. Leo, it's an emergency! Please gather in the throne room at once."
Leo's heart skipped a beat as he hurried to the throne room, where he found Valentine, Cammy, Terra, and every other family member gathered, all looking serious. Valentine sat on his throne, his expression grave as he scanned the room.
After a moment, Valentine stood up and addressed them. "I've called you all here because we face a grave threat. Last night, our city of *Darkveil*, on the world border, was attacked by demons. Their commander, Diablo, has declared war on us and is challenging our forces."
A wave of shock rippled through the room, and everyone murmured in surprise. The demon forces had been quiet for years, and the news of an attack caught everyone off guard.
Rin, always eager for action, stepped forward. "Then let us go, my lord. Release our army, and we'll defend Darkveil!"
Valentine raised a hand, silencing the room. "It would be easy for me to teleport our entire army there," he said, "but I have a different plan. I will select five warriors from among you to confront Diablo's forces. Only the best will go—and whoever defeats Diablo will earn a rare reward from me: the power of instant teleportation magic."
Everyone's eyes lit up with excitement. The ability to teleport instantly across any distance was a skill that even most vampires didn't possess. It would make any warrior unstoppable.
Valentine began naming the chosen warriors. "Rin, Terra, Cammy, Glory… and Leo."
Leo blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected to be chosen, but he felt a rush of determination. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Valentine continued, "Each of you will be granted a special elemental power to aid you in this fight—except for you, Leo. You already possess powers from King Lucus. Today, I'll be observing your abilities closely."
Leo felt a chill run down his spine. He had only recently learned about his hidden powers, and now he understood that Valentine was curious to see them in action. The others were given their new powers: Rin received the power of fire, Terra the power of wind, Cammy the power of thunder, and Glory the power of gravity.
Finally, Valentine gestured to Viola. "Viola, you will join them as backup. Ensure that no one falls on the battlefield."
With a wave of his hand, Valentine cast the teleportation spell, and in an instant, they found themselves scattered across Darkveil. The city was dark and eerie, with shadows clinging to the corners of the streets. The stench of sulfur and ash hung in the air, and the distant sounds of battle echoed through the city.
Leo found himself in a quiet part of the city, near an abandoned park. He waited there, calm and confident, knowing that the demons would find him soon enough. Meanwhile, across the city, Rin, Terra, Cammy, and Glory each encountered waves of demon soldiers, engaging in fierce battles with their new elemental powers. They fought bravely, but the demons' numbers were overwhelming, and exhaustion began to take its toll.
After hours of fighting, the group began to feel the weight of their battles. Terra wiped sweat from her brow, her breathing heavy. "Where's Leo?" she muttered. "We haven't seen him all day."
Rin clenched his fists, frustrated. "Is he even fighting? We could use his help right now."
Cammy shook his head. "We're on the edge of defeat here. I don't know how much longer we can hold on."
Just then, an unsettling silence fell over the battlefield. The demon soldiers who had been attacking them suddenly stopped and began retreating, moving away from the group. Confused, the vampires exchanged uncertain glances.
"What's going on?" Terra asked, scanning the surroundings for any sign of an explanation.
Then, in the distance, they heard an explosion. A massive blast shook the ground, and they saw a pillar of dark flames rising from the park where Leo had been. Demon soldiers were tossed into the air like leaves in a storm, scattering in all directions. The vampires stared, stunned by the sight.
Rin's eyes widened. "That must be Leo! Whatever he's doing, it's sending those demons flying!"
Without a second thought, the group decided to head toward the park to see for themselves. As they approached, they saw the aftermath of Leo's power—charred ground, demons sprawled across the area, and Leo standing calmly in the center, surrounded by flames that flickered with an intense, dark energy.
Leo looked up as they arrived, his expression calm and collected. "I was wondering when you'd show up," he said with a smirk.
Cammy's jaw dropped. "Leo, did you… take down all of these demons by yourself?"
Leo shrugged casually. "They weren't much of a challenge. I guess I just needed a bit of a warm-up."
The others were both relieved and amazed, but their relief was short-lived. Suddenly, a low, menacing laugh echoed through the park. They turned to see a figure approaching—a towering demon with fiery red eyes and a wicked grin. It was Diablo, the demon commander.
"Impressive," Diablo sneered, his voice like gravel. "But your little display won't save you. I came here to crush your entire nation, and no one—especially a youngling like you—will stop me."
Leo clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "You're welcome to try."
Diablo raised his hand, summoning a swarm of demons that materialized out of thin air, surrounding the group. Cammy, Terra, Rin, and Glory stepped forward, ready to fight again despite their exhaustion.
The battle resumed, fiercer than ever. Diablo was powerful, his strength unmatched by any ordinary demon. Every time they landed a blow, he retaliated with twice the force. It wasn't long before the vampires began to feel the weight of their fatigue once more.
Leo watched his friends struggling, his resolve hardening. He knew he had to use everything he had to protect them. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the dark flames within him, feeling them surge with renewed energy. He could sense his hidden power stirring, and with a burst of concentration, he unleashed a wave of dark flames that engulfed the demon swarm, scattering them in all directions.
But Diablo remained unharmed, laughing as he absorbed the flames. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, stepping closer.
Leo felt a surge of anger. He summoned the last of his energy, preparing for one final attack. But before he could act, Viola appeared at his side, her eyes flashing with determination. She placed a hand on his shoulder, transferring some of her energy to him.
"Use it wisely," Viola whispered. "We're all counting on you."
Feeling revitalized, Leo nodded and faced Diablo with renewed strength. With a fierce battle cry, he unleashed his power, focusing all his energy into a single, concentrated blast aimed directly at Diablo. The explosion lit up the sky, and for a moment, everything was silent.
When the smoke cleared, Diablo lay on the ground, defeated. The demon soldiers retreated, vanishing into the shadows. The vampires looked at each other, hardly believing what had just happened.
As they caught their breath, a bright light enveloped them, and in the next moment, they found themselves back in the throne room of the castle. Lord Valentine was waiting, his face unreadable as he watched them.
After a moment, he spoke, his voice filled with approval. "You've done well, all of you. And Leo…" He paused, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "You have proven yourself today. Your powers are remarkable."
The others cheered, exhausted but exhilarated by their victory. Leo felt a sense of pride and relief. He had faced Diablo and protected his friends. But as he looked at Valentine, he sensed there were more challenges ahead—ones that would test him in ways he couldn't yet imagine.
For now, though, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment, surrounded by friends and allies who had become his family. The threat of war still loomed, but together, they knew they could face anything.