The morning scene was bathed in warm sunlight, with a deep blue sky and fluffy white clouds drifting overhead. Yet beneath this serene canopy, the air was taut—like a bowstring drawn to its limit.

  Two forces glared at each other, and it felt as if even a slight misstep in their gazes would ignite a war.

  Erion narrowed his eyes like a bullet ready to fire, his gaze shooting straight to the second-floor balcony where Master V?nh, Trúc Di?n, and Mr. and Mrs. ??c were observing from above.

  – “That white serpent... I’ll take it down first. Then the others.”

  His voice was low and husky—cold like a blade just pulled from the ice.

  Din calmly placed a hand on Erion’s shoulder.

  – “We’re here to investigate. Everything else comes later. That frozen mansion reeks of demonic energy... thick, like an ancient summoning ritual just occurred.”

  Yin, playing the role of intermediary, stepped forward behind Din.

  – “I've been digging into that family. Based on the files you provided, Count, and word from the neighbors—several red flags have surfaced.”

  – “Let’s go inside.” Erion ordered.

  – “You’ll report everything to me. That mansion… it’s definitely connected to Satan... and…”

  His eyes darkened.

  “...the other Black Diamond.”

  ---

  The group entered the Gothic-style mansion located across from D?ng’s estate, three houses to the left.

  Twin ebony doors carved with Western dragons creaked open, revealing an interior that felt like a set from a 19th-century European film. The main hall was paved in black marble veined with silver cracks like shattered glass. The high ceiling rose above, supported by columns etched with ancient demonic beast heads. A massive black crystal chandelier hung down like weeping glass, shimmering under pale violet light.

  Lining the walls were vintage glass cabinets filled with magical relics—enchanted potions, supernatural skulls, and torn fragments of maps written in ancient tongues.

  At the far end of the hall was a long sofa upholstered in dark bordeaux dragon-hide. Above it hung a giant oil painting depicting a battlefield drenched in blood. At the center stood Erion in his original form—his massive black wings spread wide over a sea of corpses.

  One of the demon aides shivered as they passed.

  – “This place... it’s like a demon clan’s museum. No wonder our bosses are stupidly rich.”

  ---

  Back on the balcony across the street, Master V?nh frowned.

  – “They’ve gone inside. Their target isn’t us... it’s something—or someone—connected to D?ng’s family.”

  Trúc Di?n stood with his arms crossed, his emerald eyes and oval pupils fixed on the opposite mansion.

  – “That means... both factions share the same goal.”

  Mr. ??c, standing behind them, looked deeply uneasy.

  – “If that’s the case... we’ll be running into them a lot more from now on.”

  None of them realized—this was only the prelude of a greater game.

  The pieces were being set on the board of time and space... and darkness was the one holding the pieces.

  While Master V?nh and the others were still watching the Gothic mansion across the street, their eyes filled with caution and curiosity, a piercing scream suddenly tore through the air—from the kitchen.

  – “Aaaaa! Oh my god—what is that?!”

  It was M?. Linh, her voice echoing like it had split the atmosphere in two.

  The entire group jolted. Mr. ??c and Mrs. Tam rushed to the kitchen, with Master V?nh and Trúc Di?n close behind.

  The sight that met them froze everyone in place.

  M? Linh was backed into a corner, her face pale as paper, trembling violently as she pointed at the pot boiling on the stove. Her eyes were wide, staring at it in terror. Her lips moved, but no sound came out at first.

  – “Th-the... the arm... there’s a human arm in the pot…”

  Dì T? turned around, startled.

  “What? What are you saying, ma’am?”

  M? Linh kept trembling, lifting a shaking hand.

  – “It—it’s moving... the fingers... they’re wiggling…”

  Anh Th?, who had been watching TV in the living room, ran in and hugged her mother tightly.

  – “Mom, what’s wrong?! There’s nothing in there! Dì T? is just boiling a chicken to make porridge!”

  C?u D?ng stepped forward and peered into the pot.

  To everyone else, it was just a fully cooked, white chicken simmering in clear broth—nothing out of the ordinary.

  He frowned and looked directly at his wife.

  – “Look again, woman. That’s chicken, not a human arm! Are you hallucinating again?”

  M? Linh clutched her head, her breathing rapid. Sweat rolled down her temples as she hugged her daughter tightly.

  C?u D?ng turned to the others.

  – “You all see this… my wife’s starting to hallucinate like ?ào did before. I guess I’ll have to call Doctor Tùng again...”

  Master V?nh said nothing. He quietly approached M? Linh, his gaze thoughtful. Raising two fingers, he formed a seal and stared directly at the center of her forehead.

  The moment his vision locked onto her third eye, a faint purple light flickered—then vanished like smoke in the wind, leaving behind a cold, metallic scent.

  – “…This is bad. It’s a sign of a powerful mind control curse… one belonging to a demon of lord-tier strength.”

  Everyone froze.

  – “This curse… it doesn’t belong to Satan. It’s from the other one—the white-skinned, amber-eyed man who was with the group across the street.”

  Just then, another terrified scream erupted from upstairs.

  – “Help me! My body is melting! My skin is peeling off—my bones and flesh are exposed! I can see them!!”

  It was Anh ?ào.

  Anh Tú bolted up the stairs and flung the door open, with everyone else following close behind.

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  Inside the room, Anh ?ào was curled up on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes were red, her face contorted in panic. The mirror reflected her normal appearance—yet her mind was being ripped apart by an illusion.

  – “Brother! I’m dying! Look at me—my body is melting! I’m disintegrating!”

  Anh Tú hugged her tightly, trying to remain calm.

  – “I’m looking at you carefully… Your body’s fine. You’re still you. This is just an illusion, ?ào. Listen to me…”

  – “No! I can see it! My face—it’s deforming, dripping like candle wax... I’m disappearing!”

  Mrs. Tam rushed over and held her daughter-in-law:

  – “Sweetheart, please believe me and Tú. Everything is normal. Nothing’s happening to you. Calm down.”

  Mr. ??c looked desperately at Master V?nh:

  – “Master V?nh, Trúc Di?n... is there anything you can do? Please save my daughter-in-law.”

  Master V?nh exchanged a glance with Trúc Di?n, then approached Anh ?ào. This time, he placed his hand directly on her forehead.

  A glowing seal flared to life—clear as if it were carved in fire.

  – “There’s no doubt now… this is Satan’s curse. The same as on Mrs. Linh—but more complex.”

  C?u D?ng clutched his head:

  – “My daughter… and now my wife… One by one, they’re being haunted…”

  Trúc Di?n spoke firmly:

  – “We must act fast. If we don’t, their minds will be shattered… and fall into irreversible madness.”

  A wave of panic passed through the room.

  Everyone’s eyes met—confused, terrified, helpless.

  The air in the mansion had never felt colder.

  Not because of temperature…

  But because something far more terrifying was drawing near.

  Inside the shadowy Gothic mansion, with its gray stone walls and heavy violet velvet drapes, the golden glow from crystal chandeliers bathed the room like something out of a Western fairy tale. The group had gathered in the main lounge—black leather sofas lined the center, flanked by bronze busts standing guard along the hallway walls. Classic oil paintings with ornate European frames hung in solemn silence.

  Erion lay stretched out across a sofa, one hand resting on his forehead, head tilted slightly. His amber eyes half-closed, catching shafts of sunlight filtering through Gothic-stained glass. Shadows and light danced across his striking face like a silent storm brewing beneath still water.

  – “I can sense her clearly…”

  – “Why does a being exactly like me even exist? Why…?”

  His voice was low, hoarse—like ice cracking under heat.

  Din leaned casually on the couch across from him, deep ocean-blue eyes glittering with playful mischief.

  – “That’s the rule of the universe, my dear General. If you—the Black Diamond born from the universe’s core void—exist, then it must also create a female equal. A counterpart… to balance the scales.”

  Yin nodded beside him, his voice gentle, almost like a bedtime story.

  – “Indeed. Doesn’t the universe always need a yin to counter a yang? And clearly… she was born for you.”

  Behind them, the lesser demons all covered their mouths, whispering in barely contained glee:

  – “Oh my hell... please, someone locate her soon—our general looks like he’s going to die from longing!”

  – “First time I’ve seen him lose his composure like this…”

  Suddenly, Erion sat up straight.

  His amber eyes blazed red—glowing like rubies lit by the fire of longing.

  “SILENCE.”

  The room instantly froze as if vacuum-sealed.

  Temperature plummeted, like the middle of a snowstorm.

  His hands began to shift—no longer flesh, but slow-spinning vortexes of black fire, thick and suffocating. The flickering light glinted against an ancient oil painting behind him, casting dancing shadows across the room like ghosts awakened.

  – “I came here to confront her... and the old demon Satan.”

  – “Anyone who keeps spouting nonsense…”

  He pointed a finger to the ground before them.

  – “…will be turned into a living ice sculpture. Permanently conscious. Forever frozen.”

  Din chuckled softly, tilting his head toward the now-silent demons, voice smooth as silk sliding across a blade:

  – “He said he doesn’t like matchmaking, yet you all keep pushing it… Honestly, it makes me like you even more.”

  Laughter erupted, sharp and misplaced, echoing oddly in the icy air.

  Erion raised his hand again—black fire swirling like a crown of shadows, the cold pressing outward like a warning seal.

  Yin gave a gentle cough, lifting a single finger to his lips.

  – “Shhh… when someone in love gets angry, it’s worse than a category 100 storm.”

  No one dared say another word.

  Only the sound of the ticking antique clock filled the room…

  And Erion’s burning gaze, locked silently through the stained-glass window, toward the opposite mansion—

  Where a power so sweet, so ancient, and so terrifyingly familiar pulsed in sync with his own.

  While Erion continued his silent sulking, still pretending not to care, the shrill ring of Yin’s phone shattered the tension hanging in the dark, Gothic-style living room.

  He stepped back and answered curtly:

  – “Speak.”

  On the other end, his assistant Chen’s voice came through, urgent and sharp:

  – “Sir, the dossier provided by Count Din is currently being investigated by both our technical and legal teams. We should have preliminary results within a few days.”

  Yin’s gaze flicked toward Din and Erion. His tone dropped:

  – “You must dig deep, leave nothing unchecked. What the Count entrusted must be handled thoroughly. No detail escapes you.”

  – “Understood, sir.” – click.

  Yin turned back to the room, voice low and steady:

  – “My team is working at maximum capacity. Let’s hope we haven’t stepped into a labyrinth with no exit.”

  Din’s sea-deep blue eyes narrowed, fixing on the frozen mansion across the street—its frost still swirling faintly under the morning sun:

  – “You said earlier you had your men question the neighbors. What did they find?”

  Yin drew in a breath, then began:

  – “The neighbors say the man named D?ng once had a younger sister, H?nh, who died in a car crash 25 years ago along with her husband. They were prominent businesspeople at the time. Their five-year-old daughter miraculously survived.”

  Erion’s voice was cold enough to bite skin:

  – “Continue.”

  – “The child’s name was Trang. After the death of her parents, D?ng became her legal guardian, managing her inheritance as well. He raised the girl… but when she turned 25 — five years ago — he threw her out of the house. No money, no support. Complete abandonment.”

  Din nodded slowly, expression darkening:

  – “It’s obvious now. That bastard seized every cent of his niece’s inheritance.”

  Erion stepped toward the large arched window, the edges engraved with ancient silver runes. Sunlight slanted across his back, casting a long silhouette on the dark wooden floor. He stood in silence, staring through the bougainvillea vines toward D?ng’s mansion, where the ice had begun to melt drop by drop.

  – “All I wanted was to understand that girl—and to confront that old devil Satan…”

  His voice was low, seething.

  – “…but the deeper we dig, the more rot we uncover. Decades of filth… buried under silk.”

  Din stood beside Yin, eyes fixed on the same melting house:

  – “Humans… are far more complicated than we give them credit for. And that other group—the sorcerers, the fairy family—they’re tangled in this mess too.”

  No one spoke after that. Only the faint cracking of thawing ice echoed across the street...

  ---

  Meanwhile, inside D?ng’s mansion, as the sun brightened and the frost began to melt, droplets of water fell like shattered crystals onto the stone steps.

  But the air inside remained tense, chaotic, stained with psychic dread and confusion. Cries and screams rang out—echoes of mental anguish twisting through each family member like invisible knives.

  The house had descended into a strange, suffocating layer of distorted space.

  Outside, it looked like spring.

  But inside… something darker had begun to slither between the walls, twisting itself around hearts and minds.

  Something alien. Something ancient.

  Deep beneath the Royal Satanic Palace, in the outskirts of Bình Chánh, the underground chamber resembled the heart of a dark techno-magical empire. Walls of matte-black metal embedded with ancient runes pulsed faintly, while purple light flickered from arcane devices, casting shadows that moved like living spirits. The entire space throbbed like a beast’s core—part machine, part magic, all menace.

  At the center hovered a massive, 180-degree curved screen, suspended in midair. It displayed high-definition imagery pulled directly from the Satanic Royalty’s exclusive satellite network. Every hidden corner of the District 2 neighborhood was under surveillance—from Erion’s Gothic villa to the trembling footsteps inside D?ng’s household.

  Seated before the screen were Crown Prince Arian, the ethereal fairy H?ng Nhung, and the formidable Grand Matriarch—her hand gracefully fanning herself with a phoenix-feather fan inlaid with jade ornaments.

  Behind them, enveloped in dark violet light, Satan stood with Trang at his side. Both silent. Both unblinking.

  The Grand Matriarch’s fan snapped once, her tone dry:

  – “The D?ng family is unraveling like tangled thread. His wife and eldest daughter are drowning in hallucinations. Meanwhile, those high-level vampires and Erion himself are digging through history like prosecutors building a case. Add to that the sorcerer, the white serpent, and the elf family... we have many guests to entertain, my Lord.”

  Satan, arms crossed, voice low:

  – “Let them dig. Sometimes… to catch prey, you must let it believe it’s free.”

  Arian tilted his head, fingers dancing across the air, enlarging a satellite feed with a flick. A detailed shot of the sorcerers and their allies came into view.

  – “They're investigating too—methodically. All three factions seem to be searching for something buried deep in history. Something lost… and dangerous.”

  Standing at the eye of a slow-spinning spiral of violet light, Trang held the Velkhanis Mirror in her hand. Her crimson eyes burned—not with sorrow, but with a fury carved from betrayal.

  – “I don’t care what they’re looking for. What I want is a deathmatch with Erion. As for D?ng’s family…”

  Her voice dipped into cold resolve.

  – “…they’ll pay. Every last one of them.”

  The Velkhanis Mirror shimmered with a reflection of her burning gaze, and in it, an image of Erion appeared—standing at a window, staring toward D?ng’s mansion, unaware of the gaze returned.

  H?ng Nhung, dressed in pure white, her eyes heavy with pain, whispered:

  – “Trang… you’re not the same anymore. You used to be kind. Gentle. Forgiving.”

  Trang didn’t turn. Her eyes locked on the mirror.

  – “That girl… died the day the world turned its back on her.”

  Around her wrists, two glowing circles began to rotate—runic rings of scarlet magic. The left pulsed with the essence of space, the right with the essence of time. Each moved in perfect symmetry… but in opposing directions.

  Satan gave a faint smile, his gaze unwavering from the screen:

  – “Let her do what she must. She is… the other Black Diamond the universe created to balance Erion. One half chaos. One half vengeance.”

  And in the control chamber, the air deepened. The flicker of runes dimmed.

  The storm… was coming.