The crew assembles!

POV Vesuvius:

With the church of light in terror and shambles, Vesuvius reappeared in his divine kingdom, the warmth of the massive burning star bringing comfort to his scales. He basked for a moment in the soothing heat, his mind already shifting to the next phase of his grand plan. Flicking his claws ceremoniously, he opened a massive golden portal.

Immediately, two figures stepped through, their familiar forms causing Vesuvius to narrow his eyes in surprise. He had expected the prideful fallen angel, but instead, he saw a young female vampire, the new vessel for the god of knowledge, and an enormous seven-headed red dragon, each head adorned with a shadowy crown. Raging fire and shadows enveloped the entire dragon, with only occasional gleams of scales and the sinister shine of reverse-slitted crimson eyes breaking through the dark aura.