The final battle draws near, and our friends find themselves wrestling with the revelations delivered by MORS, who confirmed the existence of a celestial realm. To DANTE, however, such cosmic truths hold little weight—he remains a mortal simply seeking a path back home.
Our companions stand in silence, analyzing everything MORS had shared with them.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) To think he wouldn't charge me a single copper for the upgrade... What on earth is that bastard planning? He's bound to demand a steep price further down the line; I'll need to keep a close eye on him.
REX: Dante! Dante! Are you alright? Why aren't you answering?
DANTE HERALDI: Oh, forgive me, Rex. I was just lost in thought.
MALEKIN: I imagine you're dwelling on what Mors disclosed. Do not allow those revelations to intimidate you. Deep down, all of us suspected it; look at Quetzalcoatl—she was affected the most by the news.
QUETZALCÓATL: (Subdued) Do not worry about me, my friends. I am fine. I have accepted my place in this reality... All that matters is that I am here with you, and that I am truly alive, right?
ELENA: (Embracing Quetzalcoatl) Yes, you're absolutely right! What matters is that you are alive and well beside us.
QUETZALCÓATL: Thank you, Elena... You have no idea how much hearing those words means to me.
ISAMU: Well then, we had best not squander another moment. You heard that merchant—there are still one hundred kilometers separating us from our goal.
DANTE HERALDI: Isamu is right. Let's move.
Nodding in agreement, the party sets off into the expanse. Several hours pass before they decide to establish camp as dusk approaches, seizing the opportunity to replenish their strength after marching continuously for an entire day.
DANTE HERALDI: Alright, let's rest here for now. We've covered significant ground—I'd estimate around fifty kilometers.
REX: Dante... is it wise for us to maintain a normal marching pace? If we ran, wouldn't we reach the pyramid much faster?
DANTE HERALDI: If we sprinted, we would deplete our energy reserves far too quickly. We are hardly in hospitable territory; we must remain vigilant and combat-ready at every moment. But look on the bright side—that pyramid appears noticeably larger now, which means we are steadily closing the distance.
REX: That makes sense. Forgive my impatience!
MALEKIN: Hahaha, friend Rex, those are fundamental tactical principles.
REX: Yeah, my bad!
Suddenly, a loud crack echoes through the trees, making everyone snap around in alarm—only to discover QUETZALCÓATL assembling a new stone sanctuary for their rest.
QUETZALCÓATL: Calm yourselves, everyone! I appreciate your alertness, but it's only me. I shall have our shelter ready in a few minutes.
Exhaling collective sighs of relief, the group relaxes their guard.
ELENA: (Relieved) This constant state of high alert is terrible for my nerves! Expecting an ambush every second is exhausting.
ISAMU: I understand completely. It reminds me of the relentless eras of warfare I endured in my past life.
MALEKIN: Let us not dwell on somber memories, my friends. Dante... how about a sparring match while Quetzalcoatl finishes setting up the structure?
DANTE HERALDI: Hmm... sure, why not? Sounds good to me!
REX: But... they didn't say... oh well, anyway. Can I join too?
ISAMU: I wouldn't mind warming up my muscles either.
DANTE HERALDI: Why not bring everyone in? The more, the merrier, hehehe!
MALEKIN: Elena, won't you join us as well?
ELENA: Are you out of your mind?! Sparring against you monsters? No thank you! Instead, I'll prepare a proper ring for you all.
Raising her staff, ELENA channeling her magic to clear the perimeter—repositioning nearby trees and compressing the earth below to forge a clean, spacious ring, leaving everyone thoroughly amazed.
MALEKIN: That is remarkable, Elena! Your control over your abilities has reached an extraordinary level.
REX: Yeah, you're awesome!
DANTE HERALDI: (Astonished) Yeah... truly impressive... (In his mind) I think I'll use Examine.
DANTE nearly stumbles backward in shock upon inspecting ELENA: her level sat at an astounding Level 30,000, accompanied by an endless array of magical disciplines. Driven by intense curiosity, DANTE uses Examine on the rest of his companions, his jaw dropping as the figures manifest before him: MALEKIN: Level 55,000, REX: Level 35,000, ISAMU: Level 80,000, QUETZALCÓATL: Level 100,000, DANTE: Level 80,000, DANTE stands frozen in awe. It appeared that by vanquishing so many formidable demonic entities, his level had skyrocketed exponentially. In terms of raw numerical power, DANTE had now surpassed MALEKIN and stood equal to ISAMU—a realization that sank deep into his thoughts.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) To think our levels would soar this high... Ever since Malekin advised me not to rely so heavily on Examine, I've barely used it. But man... this was completely unexpected.
MALEKIN: Come on, Dante! Stop day-dreaming and step into the ring Elena built for us!
REX: Yeah, Dante! I bet we can beat you this time—I'm teaming up with ISAMU!
ISAMU: Fine by me.
MALEKIN: Well then, Dante... just like old times: you and me fighting side-by-side, hehehe!
DANTE HERALDI: (Smiles) Let's do this!
Stepping into the earthen ring, the two teams face off opposite each other. The arena is set: REX & ISAMU vs. DANTE & MALEKIN.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) This match will show me whether Examine is useless or if I actually still need it.
In an instant, REX shifts into his hybrid form, dropping into a battle stance. Wasting no time, DANTE uses Examine on him, noticing that while REX's raw power output had surged tremendously—nearly rivaling ISAMU's—his level itself hadn't increased, only his core stats.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) Aha... that's exactly what I needed to confirm. Numerical level is just a vague baseline. True power lies in active and passive skills that multiply your combat stats. Interesting... time to see just how strong they've become!
Dropping onto all fours, REX surges forward at blistering speed in his hybrid form, tackling MALEKIN and driving him away from DANTE. Surprised by REX's explosive speed, DANTE turns just as ISAMU seizes the opening, closing the distance in a fraction of a second to strike. DANTE reacts instantly, drawing Kusanagi to parry ISAMU's blade with effortless precision, leaving the samurai stunned.
Meanwhile, MALEKIN coats his body in a glowing purple barrier, driving a heavy counterpunch into REX that forces the beast back. Glancing over with Examine, DANTE notes that MALEKIN's defense multiplies by a factor of 100 whenever that barrier is active.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) I was right... skills and synergy are what truly dictate the outcome.
Just as DANTE turns his head, ISAMU leaps into the air above him: "It is an insult to ignore your opponent!" ISAMU brings his katana down in a fierce strike, only for DANTE to block the blade without even turning his gaze. Stunned by the casual defense, ISAMU leaps back to regroup.
DANTE HERALDI: Forgive me, Isamu. I wasn't ignoring you—I was just testing a theory. (In his mind) Looks like my passive skill Survival Instinct triggers automatically now, hehehe.
Sensing the shift in momentum, ISAMU's demeanor turns ice-cold. He stands tall and lowers his katana completely toward the ground.
ISAMU: It seems I misjudged you, Dante-san... I shall hold nothing back.
DANTE HERALDI: "Dante-san"? You've never called me that before.
ISAMU: (Solemn) Until today, it was not warranted.
ISAMU steps slowly toward DANTE, and DANTE advances to meet him. Halting mere meters apart, their eyes lock, radiating a aura so razor-sharp that standing between them would feel like getting sliced by the air itself.
A short distance away, REX and MALEKIN are trading relentless blows, each landing a heavy punch square on the other's cheek. The double-impact shatters the standstill, sparking ISAMU and DANTE into motion. Blades clash at dizzying speeds as both warriors sprint across the arena, their duel blurring into sheer motion.
Sparks and blinding flashes from colliding steel illuminate the ring. Baffled by the sheer mastery on display between DANTE and ISAMU, REX and MALEKIN halt their clash. Disengaging from the fight, both leap out of the ring to join ELENA, who sits comfortably in a chair she crafted from the earth to spectate the show.
ELENA: So... you two called it quits on your training already?
REX: Don't be funny, Elena! Look at those two monsters down there... You honestly think we could keep going in there with them?!
MALEKIN: (Crossing his arms) Aye... regretfully, they have grown far stronger than either of us.
REX: Just look at the way they move! I can barely even make out their silhouettes. If it weren't for the flashes of sparks every time their blades collide, I wouldn't be able to track them at all!
Out of nowhere, QUETZALCÓATL appears, bursting into a lighthearted laugh.
QUETZALCÓATL: Hahaha! Look at those two go... They are pouring everything into this! To think they are already closing the gap to match my strength!
ELENA: Hello, Quetzalcoatl! Have you finished constructing the home? Oh, wait... allow me!
ELENA channels her earth magic, shaping a seat identical to her own for QUETZALCÓATL. The goddess smiles in gratitude and takes her seat alongside them.
REX: What do you mean "closing the gap"?
QUETZALCÓATL: Their combat prowess is rapidly ascending to the realm of us deities... In fact, when DANTE unleashes his skills, he has already crossed that threshold.
MALEKIN: That's the truth. Whenever he manifests that half-mask, I feel as though he has surged into a realm entirely beyond my reach.
QUETZALCÓATL: Look... it seems their clash is reaching its climax!
Glistening with sweat, ISAMU decides to unleash his full martial power. Leaping backward to create distance, he sheathes his katana into its scabbard while DANTE pursues him closely.
ISAMU: "Midday Slash!"
Drawing and striking in rapid succession, ISAMU unleashes a barrage of high-velocity vacuum blades. Sensing the impending danger, DANTE weaves through the terrain, dodging and parrying the flying strikes as he advances.
DANTE presses forward with great difficulty, deflecting and sidestepping ISAMU's ranged cuts. Closing to within mere meters, ISAMU unleashes three overlapping crescent slashes simultaneously. With no room left to maneuver, DANTE raises his blade to absorb the impact, raising a thick curtain of dust.
In a swift motion, DANTE clears the haze with a sweep of his sword, only to reveal ISAMU standing directly before him, gripping his sheathed hilt while staring intently into DANTE's eyes.
ISAMU: "One Thousand Ancient Cuts!"
In a fraction of a second, ISAMU flashes behind DANTE's back. The ambient air distorts as countless unseen slashes erupt around DANTE, tearing through his defenses and raising a massive cloud of debris. The spectators watch in stunned terror, holding their breath as the dust settles.
ISAMU: (In his mind) I had to hold back to ensure I didn't cause critical injury... but knowing him, I doubt this will be enough to put him down.
Just as ISAMU begins to celebrate his apparent victory, a steady voice echoes through the haze: "Truly impressive, Isamu..."
With a single horizontal swing, DANTE dispels the dust cloud entirely. He had activated Domination, manifesting the demonic half-mask across his face. ISAMU stares in awe and momentary dread at the piercing golden glow radiating from DANTE's eyes. In the split second it takes ISAMU to blink, DANTE vanishes from his sight.
Reappearing instantly behind ISAMU's back, DANTE drives the pommel of his katana sharply into the side of ISAMU's neck. The targeted strike renders ISAMU unconscious on the spot, bringing the duel to a definitive end.
Without losing a second, the group leaps into the ring to check on ISAMU. ELENA immediately channels her healing arts until ISAMU slowly opens his eyes and stirs back to consciousness.
REX: That was insanely awesome!
MALEKIN: You both were extraordinary... To think that I used to be stronger than you, Dante! My goal now is to surpass you once more!
ISAMU: That power caught me entirely off guard... but next time, I won't lose, hehehe!
QUETZALCÓATL: Dante has ascended to another level entirely. Bit by bit, he will surpass us all... his potential knows no bounds. But for now, let us rest. The new shelter is complete!
Sighing in relief, our friends head toward the newly constructed house crafted by QUETZALCÓATL. Upon arrival, they marvel at its structure—substantially larger and far more sophisticated than the previous one.
REX: Wow! This house is way bigger than the previous one!
QUETZALCÓATL: Hahaha, yes! I put a bit more effort into it this time, since this will be our final shelter. After this rest, we are going straight after that bonehead. Oh, and this time there is actual running water—enjoy it! I stumbled upon some natural underground springs in this realm... It seems the god of the dead actually enjoys life, hehehe. What an irony!
ELENA: Awesome! It's been so long since I had a proper bath, and... (Looking blushing at Dante) maybe we can do other things too, Dante?
DANTE HERALDI: (Flustered) Hehe... Yeah, definitely!
QUETZALCÓATL: (Sighs) I just hope you actually let me get some sleep this time and don't make too much noise...
DANTE HERALDI: HEY!
ELENA: HEY!
Everyone bursts into laughter as they settle in to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing day of rest.
When the day passes, they set off once more, marching directly toward their destination. Along the way, they encounter smaller battalions of various species—one composed of crocodile-like humanoid warriors, another of lizard-like humanoids—cutting through every wave as they push forward.
Finally, they stand mere meters away from the colossal pyramid. Nestled directly behind the massive structure sits a towering Aztec castle. Before stepping through the threshold, our companions freeze in their tracks to assess the perimeter: guarding the main entrance stands a elite contingent of Jaguar Warriors, radiating an aura so formidable that it puts everyone on high alert.
DANTE HERALDI: Alright, everyone... we've finally made it. And those things up ahead look seriously tough.
QUETZALCÓATL: Indeed. This is the moment of truth... Prepare yourselves!
Our friends have at last arrived at the gates of the ultimate battle. What harrowing trials await them inside this monumental domain? Will they emerge victorious? And did Quetzalcoatl actually manage to get some sleep? Everything shall be revealed very soon!