The winds howled softly through the valleys of the Ice Continent, their mournful cries brushing against the ancient peaks that had stood still for eons. Atop one of the highest glaciers, amidst towering spires of shimmering ice, stood the Queen of the North, Velzard.
She had just arrived from Nyvaris, returning for one of her rare visits to Guy. These visits were always short, nostalgic—a reminder of the frozen eternity she once ruled with cold pride. But now, her heart belonged elsewhere… to a new kingdom, and to a being whose presence stilled her ever-beating power: Varvatos.
As she landed on the crystalline terrace of her old citadel, her lips parted in a breath.
"The Ice is quieter," she murmured, eyes narrowed. "But the world isn't."
And then—she felt it.
A pull. A twist in the fabric of space-time. Magic thrumming through the ley lines like a fevered pulse.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Walpurgis… again?"
Velzard's heart stirred. That only meant one thing: Guy Crimson had called an emergency.
Without a word, her body dissolved into a flurry of white snow and vanished.
The Demon Lords were deep in discourse. Voices clashed, fear lingered like smoke in the air, and tension weighed down on every throne.
Until—
The temperature dropped suddenly.
A gentle cascade of snow began to fall inside the grand hall, despite no wind, no sky. A presence—cold, regal, immense—descended in serene silence.
And then she stood there.
Velzard, her white gown flowing like falling snow, crystal horns gleaming in the dim light, her aura calm but ancient. Her blue eyes slowly surveyed the room, taking in each Lord, each expression, until they landed on Guy.
"You called a Walpurgis… without telling me and this soon after the last one?"
Guy leaned back with a smirk. "You weren't home."
Milim leapt to her feet. "Velzard! You're back!"
Velzard offered a small nod. "I felt the disturbance. I assumed something… drastic."
Velgrynd stood, eyes tired but focused. "Drastic isn't even the word, sister. Rudra is preparing for war… against Varvatos."
Velzard's face didn't change.
But the silence in the room tightened.
"He's… what?" she said slowly.
Leon added, "Guy believes Rudra is compromised. The way he's acting, it's like he's lost all sense of reason."
Luminous's voice was low, but firm. "This isn't about pride or territory anymore. If Rudra attacks Varvatos, it's not a skirmish. It's extinction."
Clayman, unusually quiet, swallowed hard. "We've all seen what Varvatos can do…"
Ramiris nodded rapidly. "He paralyzed all of us without even blinking! No one should even think of fighting him!"
Guy gestured toward Velzard.
"Which brings us to you, Ice Queen."
Velzard arched a brow.
"You live in Nyvaris now. With him. He trusts you. You're the only one who has his ear."
Velgrynd stepped beside her sister. "If Rudra really goes through with this… we need you to make sure Varvatos doesn't retaliate in a way that ends the world."
Carrion added, "It's not about fear. It's about balance. We can't afford a war between the Emperor and… whatever Varvatos truly is."
Velzard exhaled softly, processing their words. She remembered her last night in Nyvaris—Varvatos walking silently through the snow-covered halls, his voice distant, his mind elsewhere. He had sensed something even then.
"He knows," she whispered.
Frey tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Varvatos… already knows about Rudra's intentions. He hasn't said it aloud, but… there's a storm behind those eyes." Velzard's tone was quiet, ominous. "But he hasn't acted. He's waiting."
Guy's expression sharpened. "Then we still have time."
Velgrynd's voice trembled slightly. "Please, sister. I don't know what's happening to Rudra. But if this goes forward, I might lose him completely… and this world along with him."
Velzard turned to her.
For a moment, the Ice Dragon's expression softened. She placed a hand gently on Velgrynd's shoulder.
"I will return to Nyvaris," she said firmly. "I'll speak to him."
"And if he intends to retaliate?"
Velzard's eyes turned to Guy, then to all the Demon Lords.
"Then may the world pray… because not even True Dragons will survive what comes next."
Silence. Even Milim looked solemn.
Guy nodded. "Then go. And may the Ice be with you."
Velzard's form shimmered, and with a burst of snowflakes and frost, she vanished.
The icy winds of the Ice Continent faded behind her wings as Velzard, the White Ice Dragon, soared across the sky, her silver-blue glow trailing like a divine comet. As she approached the borders of Nyvaris, the colossal translucent barrier that protected the kingdom shimmered like a crystal dome under moonlight. But the moment she neared, it pulsed softly — not in defense, but in welcome.
The barrier recognized her.
She passed through effortlessly, like wind through mist.
Descending gently, Velzard landed in the Plaza of Resplendence, the central square of Nyvaris, where intricate stonework formed symbols too ancient for even some gods to remember. The beauty of the kingdom lay not in gold or opulence, but in its harmony with the surrounding world — elegant towers woven with enchanted ice, trees glowing faintly with blue mana, and roads carved from obsidian-veined marble.
As she began walking toward Varvatos' home, her sharp eyes caught movement to her right.
In a training courtyard just off the main road, Benimaru, Veldora, and Hakuro were locked in heated conversation, their auras flickering with competitive energy. Benimaru demonstrated a flaming slash while Hakuro corrected his footwork. Veldora, shirtless and dramatically energetic as always, boomed with laughter as he struck a pose with exaggerated flair.
Velzard simply raised her hand in a silent wave.
"Hey! Big sis Velzard!" Veldora called out cheerfully, waving both arms like a child.
She didn't stop, but a small smirk curved her lips as she continued.
Varvatos' home stood at the northern cliffside of the kingdom — not a grand castle as one might expect from a being of his stature, but a large and beautiful mansion carved from glacial stone and blackwood. Vines of glowing silver weaved around its frames. It radiated warmth, simplicity, and power.
She walked up the steps and opened the tall door without knocking.
Inside, the air was still. Peaceful. A fire crackled softly in the hearth.
And then, from the shadows of the hall, Varvatos appeared.
Dressed in casual, dark robes — his long, silver hair cascading down his back — he looked like someone who had no interest in grandeur. But his very presence bent the laws of reality around him.
He looked at her with that timeless gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You came back soon," he said, voice calm but inquisitive. "Usually, you stay in the Ice Continent a few days longer."
Velzard nodded as she stepped closer.
"Yes. I had to return early… something urgent has come up."
Varvatos raised a brow, gesturing for her to follow him into the sitting room. He poured her a cup of winter tea without asking — a ritual they had shared many times now. The subtle aroma of mint and frost filled the room.
He sat across from her, fingers laced under his chin.
"Urgent, you say? Enlighten me."
Velzard exhaled, placing her cup down. Her expression grew serious.
"It's about Rudra. After his visit here… something shifted in him. He's now preparing to launch a full-scale attack against Nyvaris — against you."
Varvatos' expression didn't change. He remained perfectly still.
Velzard continued.
"The Demon Lords held a Walpurgis. Velgrynd was there too. They're trying to figure out how to stop him, but… we believe Rudra is no longer himself. He's acting under someone else's influence. His ambition isn't natural. It's… directed."
Still, silence.
Varvatos watched the fire crackle for a long moment.
Then Velzard said, more softly,
"I didn't come here to warn you. I came… to ask something of you."
He finally looked at her again.
"And what is that?"
Velzard hesitated. Her tone was not that of a ruler or a warrior, but of someone genuinely worried.
"If it comes to war… I'm asking you not to retaliate against Rudra. I'm afraid… if you unleash your true power, the world might not survive it."
For a moment, all was still.
Then Varvatos… chuckled.
It was low and soft — not mocking, but amused.
Velzard blinked, clearly surprised.
"You're laughing?" she asked, confused.
Varvatos leaned back in his chair, one hand supporting his chin.
"It seems you still underestimate me, Velzard."
She stiffened slightly. "What? No, I would never—"
He raised a hand gently.
"Do you think I built Nyvaris — a kingdom of peace, sanctuary, and balance — just to let it be undone by a prideful emperor licking the wounds of his ego?"
His voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.
"Do you really believe that Rudra's army — or any army — could lay a single finger on my people? Do you think I need soldiers? Battalions? Strategies?"
His eyes locked with hers — a cold fire burning in them.
"Velzard… I am not a man who retaliates out of rage. But I am not so gentle that I allow threats to fester unchecked."
Velzard held her breath.
He stood up, walking toward the wide windows overlooking the glowing city of Nyvaris.
"If Rudra comes for us, I will meet him. Alone. Not out of arrogance… but because I owe it to this world not to escalate things unnecessarily."
He paused.
"But make no mistake, Velzard — I will not allow this world to fall. Not to Rudra. Not to the one controlling him. Not to anything."
Velzard slowly stood up as well, watching his back.
"You're not the one I'm worried about," she said softly. "I'm worried… that if you do fight, you won't stop at just defending Nyvaris."
Varvatos turned slightly.
"Then pray that Rudra remembers who he is… before I remind him."