We continue with the adventures of Dante and Rex, picking up at the palace where we left off. Our friends are discussing the encounter with these enemies from the past.
Rex: (whispers in his ear) Wait, Dante, is what you're saying true? Those idiots over there, are they your greatest enemies?
ACHAM: Is something wrong, gentlemen?
DANTE HERALDI: No, nothing, sir. Take me to Malekin, please.
A while later, they arrive at Malekin's office. Dante and Rex stay behind, while Acham leaves.
ACHAM: Well, with your permission, I'll take my leave and let you talk. Take care, boys. (He leaves, turning around with a serious expression.)
MALEKIN: Yes, thank you, Acham, for everything. Well... Dante, can you explain to me how a human like you has so much power?
DANTE HERALDI: Fine, I'll tell you everything, but afterward, I have to warn you about something very serious. (Serious look)
MALEKIN: Um, well, first, tell me all about yourself. I'm very intrigued. You're like my old human friend and my other friend. (Sighs)
DANTE HERALDI: Well, Mr. MALEKIN, I will.
DANTE tells MALEKIN everything about his encounter with BELL and all the adventures he's had to get to where they are now. MALEKIN just listens in amazement to everything DANTE says and it becomes clear to him that all his latent power is because of BELL, but he also has a lot to do with it.
MALEKIN: Um, I was afraid of this. That demon is a total scoundrel, a monster without scruples. He's the only one who can roam freely anywhere; he doesn't care about anything, he just wants to have fun and think that he gave you his power for his amusement. How infamous, but I don't know much about him, just rumors.
DANTE HERALDI: Yes, it seems that's what he's after, just to have fun because he never helped me with anything again, he just dumped me, just like that. Well, without further ado, Mr. Malekin, I need to discuss something serious with you.
MALEKIN: Very well, then speak, Mr. Dante; your words intrigue me.
DANTE HERALDI: Look, do you know those three humans who hang around your palace together?
MALEKIN: You mean those old men, yes, Acham rescued them a long time ago and they've been here ever since; they advise us on all political matters and how we should handle certain things. After all, they had knowledge of politics and leadership.
DANTE HERALDI: I don't know how to tell you this, but they're dangerous. I had trouble with them in my previous life; they plotted against me to kill me, and they succeeded.
MALEKIN: So it was them? But so far they haven't done anything suspicious, and they've been here a long time now; without them, we wouldn't have gotten this far, umm.
DANTE HERALDI: Well, if that's the case, it's possible they've changed, but please keep an eye on them, don't let your guard down, MALEKIN, don't make the same mistake I did.
MALEKIN: I like you, Mr. DANTE, and that's why I'll take your warning seriously. I'll keep that in mind, and those three on my radar, thank you. Umm, on another note, I'd be interested in training with you, is that alright with you?
DANTE HERALDI: (happily) Of course, that sounds great. Actually, I want to get stronger so I can leave this place (he's a little embarrassed). It's not that I don't like this place; after all, you, Mr. MALEKIN, have a lovely town, but I have a goal.
MALEKIN: Oh, so what's your goal, my friend?
DANTE HERALDI: I want... to get out of this hell and prove I don't deserve it, and to see my wife and children again.
MALEKIN: (Surprised by his determination, he remembers his old friends) You surprise me, DANTE. I'll help you; I'll wait for you tomorrow outside the city.
DANTE HERALDI: (Rejoiced) Very well, thank you, MALEKIN, I'll be there without fail.
DANTE and REX plan to return to the mansion. As they walk towards the castle exit, a pair of mysterious eyes watch them; once outside, they begin to talk.
DANTE HERALDI: Hey, REX, what do you think of all this? We're going to get stronger.
REX: Sounds great to me, I can't wait. The good thing is we don't need to disguise ourselves here, right?
DANTE HERALDI: Yes, with MALEKIN's training, I think there won't be any need for disguises anymore; We'll be too strong for the demons, hahaha.
REX: Well, we'll have to work for a while to earn some money, right? DANTE, I think there's a guild here too; let's see if our card works there as well. We need to move fast (wagging his tail).
DANTE HERALDI: Sounds great, I'm running low on cash, hehe.
Our protagonists head off to find the guild so they can take on some missions and earn a little more money and experience. Meanwhile, some time has passed, and elsewhere in the city, in a house far from the main palace, at night, a familiar scene unfolds on the second floor of a house.
MARC MELLA: Well, guys, it's been a while since we last got together. How are you? Have you carried out the plans I sent you?
DANIEL GUILLÉN: Of course, MARC. I managed to contact a demon outside so he can warn the king of the island. The invasion of this place is imminent, hehe.
DYLAN PEITRY: You made sure of the conditions, right? That they leave us alive.
DANIEL GUILLÉN: Of course, I'm not stupid. We've been planning this for months, but something's bothering me, MARC. Do you know who that guy was who came to the palace with that dog?
MARC MELLA: No, but I don't know why, he seems familiar. We'll have to investigate; I have a bad feeling about that guy.
DYLAN PEITRY: This plan has to work. We can't leave anything to chance; I don't want to go through what we went through when we were alive.
DANIEL GUILLÉN: Yeah, just thinking about it (annoyed) makes me furious. Dante, that piece of trash ruined all the plans we had at the time, but thankfully we haven't managed to run into him. He must be here; one day we'll find him and get our revenge.
MARC MELLA: We need to take this slowly, guys. Tomorrow we'll deal with that new guy who came in. DANIEL, you'll handle all of that; investigate that creep.
DANIEL GUILLÉN: Sure, MARC, leave it to me.
MARC MELLA: Good, DYLAN, you keep making deals with that demon to ensure our survival in the purge that will begin very soon in this place. (laughs maniacally).
DYLAN PEITRY: Don't worry, that's already taken care of; I'll stick to what we agreed on.
MARC MELLA: Okay, that's all, folks. Let's hope for the best in all of this. Until tomorrow, I hope the boss is okay with everything we're planning, hehehe.
The three evil figures place their hands on their shoulders, forming a star. As we move away from this place, we catch a glimpse of a flag on the roof with a Star of David and an infinity symbol in the center. Now we find ourselves at Dante's mansion, where he's on a balcony gazing at the dark, reddish sky and the forest beside it, and Rex enters the scene.
REX: Hey, DANTE, what's wrong? You seem sad, but we did well on the missions.
DANTE HERALDI: Yeah, I know we did well, but I'm a little sad; I feel a bit lonely in this damn world. Don't get me wrong, REX, your company is nice, but I miss having someone I can confide in emotionally.
REX: Hmm, why don't you start with ELENA? She seems like a good person, and I think she's attracted to you.
DANTE HERALDI: Don't play around, REX. I have a wife and family; I can't have fun in this place. ELENA is a very generous and kind person; I can't play with her like that.
REX: Well, I'm not saying you should play with her; think of her as a friend you can trust.
DANTE HERALDI: Hmm, you're right, REX. Okay (cheers up), we have to try our best; we have some tough training with MALEKIN tomorrow, so time for bed.
REX: (wags his tail) You're right, good, time for bed. (Barks) Hmm, DANTE, what's that light? Over there in the woods.
DANTE HERALDI: Light, hmm, you're right, they look like flames; what could that be? I don't know why, but it gives me the creeps just looking at them. Well, let's go to sleep, REX.
REX: Yes, we should go; those flames give me the creeps too. Good night, DANTE.
DANTE HERALDI: Yes, REX, see you tomorrow.
Our friends go to sleep and spend a peaceful night; when morning comes, they say goodnight to ELENA and head towards the city limits for their training, arriving at the place where MALEKIN is waiting for them, who seems a little excited to begin.
MALEKIN: Alright, guys, you're here on time. This training is going to be a bit tough; We're going into the cursed forest. There are creatures here that you may have never seen before. Alright, let's get going.
Our friends head into the forest. As soon as they enter, everything begins to cloud over, like a fog, but it's not thick, and they can walk without worry.
MALEKIN: Okay, guys, let me explain: this forest is very dangerous, not because of the entities that live here, but because of a curse that gets into your head, making you get lost in this forest. So please, don't separate because that curse is very powerful; not even the gods could escape its power.
DANTE HERALDI: Okay, don't worry, we have a detection ability to find you if we get lost.
MALEKIN: That power sounds very useful.
As they continue walking, our friends sense an evil energy, but they can't see anything, so they begin to coordinate their movements.
REX: Hey, DANTE, do you feel that?
DANTE HERALDI: They're very close. MALEKIN, can you feel it?
MALEKIN: Yes, I feel something very close, but I don't see anyone. Um, wait above us.
DANTE HERALDI: Yes, it's above with my location powers; I found it.
Everyone gets defensive, seeing a huge white tiger above them. Its back was covered in fur from head to tail, it had pointed ears, red eyes, and enormous teeth protruding from its snout, like a saber. The fur was floating on its back; it was about 2 meters long and was looking menacingly at our friends, roaring at them.
MALEKIN: Damn, we ran into "Dzulum" so fast. This thing is immortal; you kill it, and it randomly reappears in this forest. Be careful, it's fast. The good thing is we don't have any women in our group. Attack.
DANTE HERALDI: What does this have to do with women? Get ready, here it comes.
The tiger leaps, slashing and hitting the ground. Since our friends dodged it, stones fly all around, lightly hitting them.
MALEKIN: Its main ability is to attract women; it hypnotizes them and then eats them.
REX: Holy shit, that thing is dangerous. WATCH OUT!
The tiger leaps at MALEKIN. He manages to stop it by grabbing its paws and immobilizing it. DANTE takes advantage of this to attack, drawing his sword and leaping toward the tiger. But just as he's about to strike, the tiger turns into mist and disappears. They are stunned. MALEKIN looks around, but can't find it. REX shouts, "Get up!" Everyone sees the tiger falling toward them, manages to dodge the slash, and gets into fighting stances.
DANTE HERALDI: How did you find him, Rex? I didn't have time to use location services.
REX: My sense of smell, my friend. I'm a dog, remember.
DANTE HERALDI: Good, thanks, buddy.
MALEKIN: Stay alert, that thing disappeared again.
The tiger appears behind Malekin, and Rex manages to warn him in time, dodging the attack.
MALEKIN: That thing is really getting on my nerves. (He focuses his power, forming a transparent sword.) Good, with this we'll kill that thing, Dante, Let's go after him. Rex, you tell us where he's going to come out. Your sense of smell is faster than our search power.
An all-out fight begins: DANTE and MALEKIN are striking at the tiger, but the tiger keeps vanishing, causing their blows to hit nothing but thin air. However, REX manages to intercept it and bites its paw thanks to his sense of smell. Annoyed, the tiger bites REX, but he uses his "true form" power to transform into a massive animal, finally standing his ground against the tiger.
DANTE manages to wound the beast; the tiger screams in pain and leaps away. DANTE activates his "Wolf Speed" power and, in an instant, positions himself on the tiger's back. He then uses his "Shadow Slash" ability, unleashing a powerful dark strike that cuts the beast in two. The tiger's eyes turn white as its body, split in half, hits the ground.
Our friends DANTE and REX are exhausted. Suddenly, DANTE hears a voice: "You have leveled up," repeating about 10 times. The tiger granted him a massive amount of experience. DANTE analyzes the tiger and is shocked to realize it was level 80; then, the tiger begins to disappear like sand.
DANTE HERALDI: Hey MALEKIN, this tiger was too weak for you. Why didn't you kill it yourself?
MALEKIN: Hahaha, brat, what part of training don't you understand? You guys will fight whatever monster we find; I'll just provide support. But this tiger was annoying because of that ability it had, but oh well, you did well.
REX: Well, I leveled up too; DANTE, we're not doing too badly.
DANTE HERALDI: (sighs) Well, I expected no less, hehe, but why did the tiger disappear? I wanted to eat its heart.
MALEKIN: These creatures are magical; when they die, they are reborn in another part of this great forest.
DANTE HERALDI: Oh, I see, what bad news. (He becomes sad.)
Our friends settle down to rest, build a small campfire, sit around the fire, and chat for a while.
MALEKIN: Well, guys, this place is deceptive (the sound of babies crying can be heard in the distance), like that sound, for example.
DANTE HERALDI: What on earth was that? It's creepy.
REX: I'm a dog, but it seems terrifying to me too.
MALEKIN: Those things move in packs; they're probably looking for us. There must be a river nearby; that's where they live. In a little while, we'll head there so you can fight them, but in the meantime, you'll be fighting that thing coming toward us (he says with a malevolent expression, looking behind DANTE).
DANTE HERALDI: What are you talking about? (Suddenly, the sound of an axe striking wood is heard; DANTE slowly turns around and turns pale at the sight of what is behind him). What on earth is that thing?
REX: (turns to where DANTE is looking) (suppressed scream) What the hell is that? (Growls)
MALEKIN: That, my friends, is a Youaltepuztli, or night axe, hehehe. Let's get him, boys.
DANTE and REX are extremely nervous as they face their opponent, a true nightmare: a man with his chest sliced open from his right shoulder to his left waist, exposing his guts and organs. He is headless, gripping a black axe in his right hand and holding his own head in his left.
The situation grows more dangerous by the second. What kind of fight awaits our friends? We will find out very soon.