A chill swept through the room—then a gray spike burst from Dante's sternum, crossing the space in half a second.
The monster didn't even have time to move back.
The ash spike tore through its left arm, pinning it to the ground in a spray of black blood.
The flesh, upon contact with the burning ash, began to smoke, charring from the inside out—like thousands of fiery worms chewing through its muscles.
The creature screamed—not just an animalistic roar, but a cry of pure terror.
— "You're not the predator here." His voice was calm, but carried a chilling threat.
Dante's red eyes gleamed coldly. There was nothing left of the broken boy he had been moments ago.
Doc C, standing back, felt a shiver.
— "What the hell...?"
He stared, stunned. That kid ? The same one who couldn't even stand straight a moment ago ? Now he radiated an overwhelming pressure.
— "How many powers can this guy even use?"
All around Dante, more ash spikes erupted. Not one, not two, bo dozens. No—hundreds.
Ash blades pierced the ground, rising under the creature, slicing through every weak point.
Dante raised his arms, and with each motion, the ash obeyed.
The creature thrashed, impaled over and over, jets of black blood spraying everywhere.
— "You feel that, don't you ?... That's pain."
The monster tried to break free, but each time it moved, another spike struck it down.
Doc C stood frozen.
— "No… This doesn't make sense… You were broken! Just another suicidal loser!"
Dante turned toward him. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
— "Then why are you scared ?"
The creature, panting, covered its torn face with its claws. Its body suddenly melted, with a sickening squelch.
It turned into a viscous mass, sliding off the spikes.
Then, with a disgusting shudder, it reformed.
Its muscles barely regenerated—still smoking. Its entire body steamed.
— "You're tough..." Dante muttered, unfazed.
The creature raised its head, its jaw glowing—then unleashed a straight line of fire with a furious roar.
A blazing wave of flames hit Dante head-on—but he didn't move.
With a simple flick of his hand, the fire split. The flames scattered against the walls.
Doc C gritted his teeth.
— "No way... He just neutralized a raw energy attack... with a flick?!"
The creature seemed to realize distance wouldn't help anymore.
And then… it smiled. A deranged grin.
It lunged at Dante—crossing the distance in half a second.
Its left arm morphed mid-air—bones shot out, forming a bow, then a blade : a massive fleshy axe.
Dante tried to dodge—too late. He was caught off guard. The axe slammed into his chest, blood gushing like a fountain.
He managed to deflect it just barely… but the blade had grazed his heart.
— "Urgh...!"
He dropped to his knees, gasping, arms shaking.
Doc C burst out laughing.
— "HA! What'd you think?! I didn't have a backup plan?! That's the problem with you weebs—you think your rage is enough!"
The creature raised its arm—still transformed—and brought it down.
A first blow to the head. Then one to the ribs. Then another. And another.
Dante lay broken. Bones cracking. Breath fading.
Was this the end ?
---
The world went black. Just… nothingness.
And there, standing in the void—Dante. Naked, vulnerable and shaking.
Then, a voice.
— "You lost."
Dante turned his head.
He was there.
Sitting on a throne, Kang Soo Jin, almost disappointed.
He looked at Dante the way you look at a dog you raised… that just bit your hand.
— "You were weak. Just like during our first encounter. Just like always, when you were alive."
Dante looked down. His fingers trembled. Even here, he could see blood on his hands.
— "I... I didn't want to run this time."
Soo Jin scoffed.
— "You wanted. As if that's enough. You think wanting to live means surviving? You think the people I killed wanted to die?"
He stood up and slowly walked toward Dante.
— "I gave up everything so you could stand." He pointed at the mark on his forehead.
Dante finally raised his eyes.
— "I'm... not like you."
Soo Jin smiled, cruel.
— "You already are."
— "You really wanna get back up, Dante ? Then stop begging. Stop making excuses."
He stepped closer.
— "You want strength ? Then you've got two choices. Open your eyes... and accept that you're dead. Or stay here in your pretty little redemption dream. And our souls will vanish."
A knife appeared in his hand. He offered it to Dante.
— "Coming back to life like that... Impressive. I don't know who helped you—maybe a medium? But know this : your soul won't last in that body. The dead aren't allowed to meddle in the world of the living."
— "I'm breaking a universal rule for you. So finish what you started. He hated you. So become something he can truly hate."
Dante took a step back—then stopped. His breathing grew rapid. Around him, the ashes began to stir.
Thump.
Thump.
THUMP.
One heartbeat. Then two. Then a hundred.
Soo Jin paused, raising an eyebrow.
— "Oh...? Have you found your motivation again ?"
The ground cracked beneath Dante. From his legs, fissures spread. Ash poured out, sinking into the empty floor.
And then—Dante screamed.
— "Ah. Now that's interesting."
Dante slowly lifted his head. His gaze was no longer that of a frightened boy.
— "I'm getting back up. Not to be strong. But to make him pay."
---
And the real world came rushing back.
---
When he woke, he didn't realize the mansion was in ruins.
The walls, blackened by flame, barely stood. The floor was littered with debris—burned, broken.
There, in the center of the crater left by the creature, Dante was still on his knees.
Head down, back hunched, chest torn open by the flesh-axe that had pierced him.
Doc C approached, cautious.
— "It's over, little brother… You gave too much."
He extended a hand, palm up, a strange syringe sliding from his sleeve.
— "Be a good specimen. Die with dignity."
But then... ashes began to rise around Dante. They wrapped around his back, his arms, his face—forming a second skin.
Then, his hair ignited. Red, orange, then… white. His eyes opened—flames in his pupils.
— "You're right. I'm tired."
He raised his head.
— "But it's not over until I say it is."
Doc C leapt back, an organic shield forming instinctively on his left arm.
A spear of ash erupted from Dante's right arm—piercing Doc from shoulder to collarbone.
The scientist screamed, staggered—but Dante gave him no time.
Ash beneath his feet, he moved like he was sliding over burning coals.
His fist slammed into Doc's head—but not just a punch. A wave of heat exploded, blasting the wall behind.
Doc C struggled, summoning one of his beasts—a tentacled mass of bone and green fire.
But Dante no longer needed words or gestures. He thought—and the ash obeyed.
With a sweep of his hand, he summoned a skull-shaped ash dragon, which devoured the beast whole.
— "You... You weren't supposed to evolve this fast…"
Doc C coughed blood, staggered. His coat in tatters, eyes rolling.
Dante approached, slow, predatory.
— "Who do you think you are ? Johan Liebert ? You're just some sad little man begging for attention."
He stopped, a few feet away, he squats slightly.
— "You got my attention. Now look me in the eyes."
He pointed.
A dragon of ash rose from the ground, wings ablaze.
Doc C screamed in panic.
— "No! Not now! I'm not finished!"
The dragon opens its jaws, Dnte snaps his fingers. The explosion engulfs everything.
But just when it seemed like Doc C had been reduced to ashes…
A blade slices through Dante's side. He staggers, caught off guard.
Doc C wasn't dead. He had switched bodies, we don't know how.
— "What, you thought you were the only one with a card up your sleeve ?"
He strikes again. Dante blocks the blow, but the impact sends him crashing through the wall.
Doc C steps back.
He's sweating, but his eyes are sharp and calculating.
— "You forced me to retreat today. Fine. But this isn't a loss. It's just the opening act."
And with that, he vanishes in a cloud of smoke, slipping through the ruins of the manor.
---
Dante lies on the ground, gasping. His hands tremble — barely alive.
— "I'm not done yet…"
Then, a laugh. Not his. Ginny's.
— "Looks like I missed the party. Rest up, little king. The world won't bow on its own."
Dante's consciousness fades. Kang Soo Jin takes over.
His body wavers… then steadies.
Figures appear in the sky — glowing souls rising into the air. Whispers, words of thanks. The souls once trapped by the Caledron, now freed.
But Dante… isn't there to hear them. Kang clenches his fist, barely holding it together.
— "First eye recovered… Doc C, get ready. Next time, you'll be begging for death."
He and Ginny stayed under the stars in the ruins of the manor, watching the beautiful stars in the night sky.
Lying on the ground, they shared a beautiful and intimate moment, the calm after the storm.