The Great Purging arc

Years have passed since the downfall of Shade Kagekyo. Sadow Yatsumaru, now the leader of a small band of rogue Soul Reapers, leads an effort to repel the workings of the Vice-Kings. The series begins with the final battle between Sadow's Band of Rebels against the Vice-Kings and their destruction, with the last minute help of former Vice-King Ira. Sadow, relieved and amazed that they managed to pull off such a feat, relaxes and celebrates the victory with his comrades. The celebrations are short-lived, however, when they discover that the former Demon-King, Judge Bael has been freed from his prison in Oblivion with the help of Succubuses Lilith, Morrigan, and Naamah. Meanwhile, Sadow's brother, Akihiro, has finally managed to locate the Soul Forge, a vessel containing nearly limitless amounts of energy. With it, he plans to create both an Ark and a Flood, to wipe out and recreate the worlds under his banner. As if Sadow doesn't have enough on his plate already, the return of Shade and his apparent desire to redeem himself brews many questions. To top it all off, a new threat poses itself in the form of a viral being known only as El Muerte Rojo, who infects whatever he is around with a violent infection capable of burning through steel, flesh, and bone.