Morgana walked through the ruined streets toward the lord's office.
What had once been the town hall—
Was now a disaster.
Stone walls were cracked.
Windows shattered.
The ground was stained dark with blood.
Guards lay scattered across the area.
Lifeless.
Each of their bodies was pierced with frozen flowers, blooming grotesquely from their flesh.
The air itself felt cold.
Unnaturally so.
Morgana slowed her steps slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…There's more than just ice magic here."
She knelt beside one of the corpses, brushing ash lightly across the frozen petals.
"I smell a trace of dark magic as well."
She stood again.
"That means the killer likely wasn't alone."
Her gaze sharpened.
"An illusion spell was probably used."
"To delay discovery until after the lord was already dead."
Friedrich's jaw tightened.
River swallowed nervously.
The two of them followed Morgana inside.
The interior was worse.
The walls were splattered with blood.
Furniture had been destroyed.
And at the center of the room—
The lord of Stonehelm hung against the wall.
Crucified.
Massive frozen flowers had been driven through his wrists, pinning him in place.
His body—
Was split cleanly in half.
The cut was brutal.
Likely caused by a heavy weapon.
An axe.
River felt his stomach twist.
"…What a horrible way to die," he muttered.
He looked away instinctively.
Friedrich stood silently.
His fists trembled at his sides.
But he said nothing.
Morgana stepped forward.
Her expression remained calm.
"I will read the lingering will of his soul."
She raised her hand.
"Ash Magic."
A complex magic circle formed beneath her feet.
Gray ash spread outward, forming intricate patterns across the floor.
The air grew still.
Then—
The ash began to glow.
Morgana's eyes lit with the same pale blue light.
Silence filled the room.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Morgana spoke.
"Roe van Hellsing."
The name echoed through the ruined hall.
"But… I don't have a brother," Friedrich said.
His voice wavered slightly.
"Not one that you know of."
A voice echoed from the entrance.
Calm.
Composed.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped into the room.
He wore a pristine white cloak with golden accents, and a ram mask concealed his face. His presence alone felt heavy—calculated.
River's eyes widened slightly.
I've seen him before…
The memory lingered—
But slipped away before he could grasp it.
"Allow me to clarify," the masked man said politely.
"Roe is your father's bastard child."
He tilted his head slightly.
"A product of an affair."
Friedrich's grip on his sword tightened.
"…You."
The man gave a small bow.
"Hello everyone."
"My name is Ram."
The room grew tense.
"Are you the one who killed my father?" Friedrich demanded, drawing his blade.
Ram chuckled softly.
"I orchestrated the event."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"But I am not the one who struck the killing blow."
His tone remained casual.
"That honor belongs to your dear half-brother."
He glanced upward.
"Deer."
A sudden crash echoed above.
The ceiling exploded inward.
A massive figure dropped down into the room.
Dust scattered across the floor.
The man stood tall and muscular, wearing a black cloak and a deer mask. In his hands rested a massive axe, its blade still faintly stained.
"Go on," Ram said lightly.
"Play with your older brother."
The Deer tilted his head.
Then stepped forward.
At the same time—
Ram's gaze shifted.
"Rabbit."
His voice lowered slightly.
"The boy is yours."
Shadows stirred.
A figure emerged silently from the darkness behind River.
A woman.
She wore a crimson robe and a rabbit mask.
Before River could react—
She grabbed him.
"Wha—?!"
The shadows beneath them twisted violently.
And in an instant—
River was dragged into darkness.
Gone.
Friedrich was forced out of the room.
The moment he crossed the threshold—
The space behind him sealed.
Only two figures remained inside.
Morgana.
And Ram.
They stood facing each other in silence.
Then—
Ram slowly reached up.
He removed his mask.
Beneath it was a young man with long white hair and sharp crimson eyes.
He smiled.
"Hello, auntie."
Morgana's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're Luna's child, aren't you?"
Her voice was calm.
But her gaze was sharp.
"The Witch of the North's son."
The man gave a small bow.
"Yes."
"My name is Elric."
He straightened.
"I do apologize."
His tone was polite.
"I had no intention of involving you in this little plan of mine."
He sighed lightly.
"I truly didn't expect you to appear."
His smile returned.
"But now that you're here…"
"I cannot allow you to interfere."
Morgana didn't move.
"You think you can stop me?"
Ash gathered around her.
The air darkened.
"I am stronger than even Luna."
In an instant—
Dozens of skeletal arms made of ash and smoke erupted around Elric.
They shot forward to skewer him from all directions.
Elric didn't move.
He simply smiled.
Then—
Clink.
Black chains burst into existence.
They wrapped around the ash constructs—
And then around Morgana herself.
The skeletal arms froze mid-motion.
Then shattered.
Morgana's eyes widened slightly.
"…What is this?"
She tried to move—
But her body refused to respond.
Her mana—
Was fading.
Being suppressed.
Elric sighed.
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this yet."
He reached into his cloak.
"I intended to save it…"
"In case a high-ranking member of the Inquisition appeared."
He pulled out a small black box.
It was covered in intricate glowing blue runes.
The moment it appeared—
The air itself felt wrong.
Morgana's expression finally changed.
For the first time—
There was genuine shock.
"…The Coffin of Yesterday," she muttered.
Her voice was low.
Morgana's eyes locked onto the artifact.
"…How did you get that?" she asked.
Her voice was steady—
But her gaze was sharp.
The Coffin of Yesterday.
It was the strongest artifact bound to Luna, the Witch of the North.
An object that could displace a person in time.
A banishment.
Not death—
But something far worse.
Eternal removal.
However—
It came with three absolute restrictions.
It could only be used once per year.
It could only send someone into the past, never the future.
And most importantly—
It could never be used on the one bonded to it.
Elric twirled the small black box in his hand.
"I'm merely borrowing it from my dear mother," he said with a light chuckle.
"I doubt she'd approve… but she doesn't need to know."
He glanced at it with interest.
"It's impressive I was even compatible with it."
Morgana struggled against the chains.
Ash flared around her—
But was instantly suppressed.
"Go ahead," she said coldly.
"I've lived for over three hundred years."
Her eyes burned with defiance.
"It doesn't matter when you send me."
"I'll find my way back."
"And when I do…"
Her voice sharpened.
"I will hunt you down."
Elric smiled.
"Yes."
"That immortality of yours is quite troublesome."
He raised the Coffin slightly.
"But that won't matter."
His voice softened.
"Because you won't be interfering with my plans anymore."
Morgana's eyes narrowed.
"…What are you planning?"
Elric didn't answer.
Instead—
He spoke calmly.
"The date I choose…"
He paused.
"…is February 31st."
Morgana's expression shattered.
"No—!"
The artifact activated.
The runes flared violently.
Time itself seemed to twist—
And in an instant—
Morgana vanished.
Gone.
Elric lowered his hand.
"A date that does not exist," he said softly.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Don't worry."
"Once my plans are complete…"
"I'll release you."
He turned away.
"Until then…"
"Goodbye, auntie."
With a light step—
He leapt upward, landing on the roof of the building.
Outside, chaos filled the streets.
Adventurers and townspeople had gathered.
Some cheered loudly as Friedrich clashed against Deer in a brutal battle below.
Others looked up—
Their eyes locking onto the figure standing above.
Elric calmly placed his mask back on.
"The Witch of the East is gone."
Elric's voice echoed from above.
"I have sealed her away."
He gave a slight bow from the rooftop.
Friedrich's eyes widened.
"…How?" he demanded, looking up.
"Focus on me," Deer said with a grin, tightening his grip on his axe.
"You're a much better fight than the old man ever was."
He lunged forward again.
Steel clashed.
Frost and ice roared.
Above them—
Elric raised his arms slightly.
"Look upon me, people of Stonehelm."
His voice carried across the entire town.
"I am the leader of the Beasts of Prey."
His tone sharpened.
"The suffering you have inflicted upon us—"
"Upon those you call Red-Eyes—"
"Ends today."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Fear.
Anger.
Confusion.
Elric's gaze hardened behind his mask.
"You filthy predators…"
"…who shamed us… cast us aside… and treated us as less than human…"
His voice dropped coldly.
"You deserve everything that is about to happen."
A man in the crowd shouted back.
"You beasts are a mistake!"
"Proof that even the gods can make errors!"
Elric tilted his head slightly.
"…An excellent point."
He raised a single finger.
"But have you considered this?"
A single drop of mana fell from his hand.
It struck the ground.
Drip.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The shadows spread.
They twisted unnaturally across the streets.
From within them—
Hands emerged.
Rotting.
Broken.
Then bodies followed.
Zombies.
Dozens of them crawled out from the darkness.
Some dragged themselves forward.
Others stood shakily.
Several held grotesque tools—
scissors.
large scalpels.
Creatures from the second floor of the dungeon.
More shadows opened across the town.
More monsters poured out.
The streets descended into chaos.
Screams erupted.
"Listen well, you filthy predators."
Elric's voice rang out over the panic.
"This is our declaration of war."
Below him, Friedrich clenched his jaw.
"…Damn you!"
He tried to move forward—
But Deer blocked him again.
"Deer" Ram called out, grinning wildly.
"Time to go."
Without hesitation—
Ram stepped off the roof.
His body fell—
And vanished into a pool of shadow below.
Deer laughed.
"Bye-bye, brother."
He leapt back, retreating toward the same darkness.
"Let's play again next time."
And with that—
He disappeared into the shadows as well.
Leaving behind—
A city thrown into chaos.
"Damn it!"
Friedrich raised his blade high.
"All adventurers—take up arms!"
His voice boomed across the battlefield.
"Defend the city!"
He turned toward the panicking civilians.
"Civilians, take shelter immediately! Move!"
His command echoed through the streets.
For a brief moment—
There was hesitation.
Then—
Steel was drawn.
Adventurers stepped forward.
Some with confidence.
Others with fear.
But all of them—
Ready to fight.
Friedrich charged first.
Ice surged along his blade as he cut through the nearest wave of zombies.
Limbs flew.
Bodies collapsed.
But more kept coming.
Endless.
Relentless.
Across the town—
Battles erupted.
Some fought to protect their families.
Some fought for their homes.
Some fought for pride.
Some fought simply for coin.
Whatever their reason—
They stood their ground.
And fought.
Friedrich cut down another zombie, breathing heavily.
His eyes scanned the battlefield.
"…Damn it."
His grip tightened.
"River…"
He looked around desperately.
"Where did you go?"