We return to the moment where ACHAM banished the knights; we see that MAMMON is absolutely furious.
MAMMON: Damn it, ACHAM, what are we going to do now? Those knights were as strong as, or perhaps even stronger than, the riders I brought back some time ago.
ACHAM: Hmm, if you allow me to make a suggestion, lord, I would say you should finish them off with the giant demons. (winking at him).
MAMMON: (looking at the three elders) Do you think it is finally time, ACHAM? Wajajaja! After all, that is exactly why we have them here.
ACHAM: Of course, master. They are humans created by him, after all, so it will definitely be possible, hehehe.
MAMMON: Fine, then let us begin, hahaha. (The elders look at MAMMON in sheer terror).
MAMMON lifts the elders into the air with his levitation magic while they beg for their lives. Then, from a ring he wears on his hand, he shoots a blue beam that begins to modify their bodies. With a cruel smirk, MAMMON hurls them toward the battlefield just as our three friends arrive at the scene. They manage to witness the exact moment the elders are betrayed.
Stunned, they watch how the elders writhe in pain on the ground while their bodies deform grotesquely. Before their eyes, the elders begin to grow, transforming into the same giant demon that had attacked the island city long ago. Within a matter of seconds, three infernal colossi tower in front of DANTE and his companions, who look at each other, uneasy about what has just occurred.
DANTE HERALDI: What the hell just happened? MALEKIN, what are those things? And why did the old men transform into that?
MALEKIN: I don't even know myself, kid. All I know is that those things used to inhabit our demonic realm a long time ago, but nothing more.
In the distance, MAMMON laughs thunderously and yells for the attack to begin. The giants, stripped of all reason, obey without a second thought; whatever they once were no longer exists. Now they are mindless beasts, enslaved to their master's orders.
The monsters charge with immense force, throwing punches that shake the ground and trying to crush them beneath their enormous feet. However, our friends agilely dodge every single onslaught and retreat a few meters to analyze the situation, keeping the demons at a safe distance.
MAMMON, taken aback, watches how his enemies pull away at a speed he did not expect, scowling at the prowess they have just displayed.
MAMMON: ACHAM, what the hell just happened? They seem stronger.
ACHAM: I'm afraid, lord, that you remained stuck with the strength from your ancient battle and did not anticipate that they would improve in just a few short years.
MAMMON: Damn it, this cannot be happening. What will we do now?
ACHAM: Let's wait a few minutes to see what happens; it is about time that you join the fray as well.
MAMMON: How utterly repulsive to have to degrade myself to fight them; I only did it once before, and it was because of that damn demigod, who left me with this wound. (clutching his chest). That wound was so powerful that I couldn't even heal it completely, not even with the restoration of this world.
While all of this talk takes place, our friends are hidden behind a large boulder, coming up with their plan.
DANTE HERALDI: MALEKIN, would you allow me to kill those three? My vengeance will finally claim their lives.
MALEKIN: (with a confident look) They are all yours. Any complaints, RENJIT?
RENJIT: Of course not. If he is capable of killing those three things, he goes with my blessing, hehe.
MALEKIN: Very well then, proceed, DANTE; they are all yours.
A large smile is drawn on DANTE's face before he dashes at full speed toward the three giant demons. For an instant, a reddish flame gleams in his pupil. He draws his katana in a lightning-fast motion and, with astonishing prowess, leaps onto one of the colossi, plunging his blade over and over again, inflicting deep wounds.
Pain reflects on the demon's face; thick tears well up from its monstrous eyes. DANTE notices this. In his mind, he understands that those creatures still retain a vestige of consciousness… a shadow of sadness trapped inside their deformed bodies.
Even so, determined to put an end to their suffering, DANTE grits his teeth and prepares to finish everything quickly.
DANTE HERALDI: (as he slashes them) You damn bastards, even though you did extreme evils to me, I feel pity for you. I see your suffering, and I think it's time to end all of this so you can rest, even though you don't deserve it.
As DANTE spoke, he manages to draw the attention of all three giant demons with surprising ease, and with impeccable precision, he aligns them right in front of him. Then, he takes a colossal leap, elevating himself up to the level of their necks.
In mid-air, DANTE activates all of his abilities. His body radiates pure energy while he concentrates his power into his katana. A deafening roar accompanies the moment he unleashes his technique: "shadow cut!"
A blast of darkness sweeps across the battlefield. In a single slash, all three demonic heads are severed from their bodies. Everyone present is left paralyzed, contemplating the scene with eyes wide in shock. Even MAMMON, the demon who believed himself to be invincible, cannot hide his surprise at the mortal's power.
Only MALEKIN remains unfazed. Deep down, he already suspected the sheer magnitude of the power DANTE was hiding.
DANTE descends from the sky with serenity, landing right in front of MALEKIN, who had advanced to the battlefield.
MALEKIN: How do you feel, kid?
DANTE HERALDI: I am at peace with myself. Those disgusting old men deserved to suffer more, but I don't think that was the right thing to do.
MALEKIN: Very well, that is the right mindset.
RENJIT: (emerging from MALEKIN's shadow) That was amazing, I didn't think you possessed so much power.
DANTE HERALDI: You think so? Jaja, to be honest, I have no energy or mana left, as you guys call it. I was already at half capacity before this, and now I'm at 0. I'm going to use that jewel on the sword, the one MORS placed on it.
DANTE squeezes the jewel and feels all of his power being recovered, leaving him in optimal condition to keep fighting.
RENJIT: Who is this MORS? Is he an ally?
MALEKIN: There's no time for that, here comes the big fish. Stay sharp.
DANTE HERALDI: I'll tell you later; it's time for the final fight with that thing.
MAMMON approaches until he is just a short distance away from our friends, leaping down from the back of the monster he was riding. With a serious and defiant glare, he removes the royal cape he was wearing. Beside him, ACHAM appears, standing tall and ready to fight.
MALEKIN watches him with a furrowed brow, the contained fury reflecting in his eyes. That betrayal had cost his city far too much.
The air grows dense, heavy with a tension so strong it feels as though it could be cut with a sword.
MAMMON: Well, mortals, in the end, I will have to kill you with my own hands. How annoying.
DANTE HERALDI: Do you really think an abomination like you will defeat us? This time, we will avenge MALEKIN's friend.
MAMMON: MALEKIN, having the chance to be a god, and yet you choose to serve humanity. You disgust me.
MALEKIN: A being of pure evil like you wouldn't understand anything of what I feel. I see that wound suits you well.
MAMMON: (growling) Of course, you're half-human, although you're almost perfect, unlike the other creations of the Creator's right hand (looking at Dante).
DANTE HERALDI: What do you mean by that, MAMMON?
MAMMON: Well, I think I'll finally shatter this human's illusions. I'll reveal something that no one in all the universes knows. Besides, I don't think they'll live much longer, so I'll tell them. You humans think God created you, hahahaha, what a vile lie. The truth is that the one banished by God had great power and continued to threaten paradise, and to end the constant wars and prevent further bloodshed, a pact was made between them. Are you understanding me now, mortal?
DANTE HERALDI: Wait, let me get this straight, you're… trying… to say… that we humans aren't entirely God's creation?
MAMMON: My, how perceptive you are, I am fascinated by your intelligence; you are a creation of his for a reason, jajajaja.
DANTE is left in total shock and sits on the ground, trying to digest what MAMMON just said. MALEKIN and RENJIT are also stunned by his words.
MALEKIN: DANTE, are you alright? What the hell are you talking about, MAMMON? Explain yourself clearly.
MAMMON: hahaha… Forgive me, did I hurt your feelings? Fine, I will explain it better. They formed a pact: they decided that both would participate in the creation of humanity. The humans created by the "Creator of All" are the most docile and happy. Most of them are conformists; they live peacefully their entire lives without questioning anything. It is rare to see one of them wanting to be something more. But, of course… where there is goodness, there is also evil. (looks directly at RENJIT). The "Creator" calls it balance… anyway. Then, there are those created by the other being. Those humans are different: ambitious, overprotective, insatiable. They always want more, and when they don't get it, they fall into despair… or collapse. A demon was placed inside them, born from their very own emotions. In short, they possess a greater free will than the others. It is said that this inner demon grows over time until it takes control of the body, unleashing suffering upon the world. Doesn't that sound familiar to you? You, mortal (pointing at DANTE), have you never heard of cases where detainees say they hear voices in their heads? Well, now you know why that happens. hahaha… Anyway, that is what the legend says.
Dante listens in horror to Mammon's words. A chill runs down his spine as he recalls the voice that drove him to murder the three old men when he was alive. Mammon, noticing his reaction, smiles mockingly: he has perfectly guessed that Dante has already heard them.
MALEKIN: So, that is why you managed to turn those old men into giant demons.
MAMMON: Hahaha… Everyone's so observant today, huh? Of course they are. I simply amplified their emotions to the point where the demons within their bodies reached maturity… and remembered what they were in their purest state: true demons in every sense of the word. Sure, some humans might not awaken the demon within them, but that's very rare. Humanity was created to be this way. How did you humans put it? Ah, yes… yin and yang: nothing is completely good or completely bad, blah, blah, blah. But that doesn't apply to us, the pure demons. Hahaha…
DANTE stands up slowly, looking more serene. He firmly draws his katana and adopts his combat stance. His lips move with determination as he pronounces words that echo through the air.
DANTE HERALDI: Just like the other MAMMON, you gave me hope, you idiot demon. (MAMMON grows annoyed). Why did you mouth off so much? Now I know that the demon inside me might not awaken, or maybe I will just be able to master it; it's time to put an end to this.
MALEKIN: RENJIT, are you alright? After all, you are human too.
RENJIT: Honestly, it doesn't bother me because I never hear voices in my head, but now I know why I am the way I am.
MAMMON: Alright, enough chatter; these idiots will learn the hard way that nobody messes with a fundamental.
DANTE HERALDI: Fundamental? Aren't you a primordial?
MAMMON: Stupid child, I do not possess that much power, but I will destroy you just the same.
MALEKIN: A fundamental, huh? Well, we will gain a massive amount of power if we kill him.
RENJIT: What is that you two are talking about?
MALEKIN: All I know is that he is not a true demon king; the primordia's are the first 5 demons who ruled over everyone, and then come the fundamental's. They came after, they are another 5, but we must not underestimate them; all of us grow stronger over time.
DANTE HERALDI: Alright, boys, here comes MAMMON, stay sharp.
MAMMON takes a massive leap and stomps the ground with his foot, creating a huge fissure that separates the boys. DANTE and MALEKIN are left face-to-face with MAMMON, while RENJIT is left on the other side, completely alone with ACHAM.
MAMMON: ACHAM, take care of that shadow bastard; these two are mine. (ACHAM nods).
The battle is about to begin, and a massive tension hangs in the air. Meanwhile, in the other war, we see that REX is finishing up winning it; the dog was far superior to the other low-ranking demons he faced. REX watches as a massive energy emanates in the distance, and he immediately realizes he needs to go help DANTE, but this fight wouldn't end easily due to the sheer volume of demons the enemy still had, so he keeps on fighting. How will this battle turn out? This is already reaching its end.