-Sleeping Dragon Forest-
The first rays of sunlight were cutting through the trees. Dante was slowly opening his eyes, he felt something heavy on his laps.
He saw Artoria peacefully sleeping in his lap, curled up. Before he could do anything, he could here Lilith giggling right next to him.
Lilith: hehehe...had a goodnight sleep?
A bulge appeared on Dante's forehead but he didn't do anything to Lilith for now. He carefully carried Artoria back to camp and packed everything up.
After half an hour every body was ready to set out.
They were not far off from Latram. As they were walking, Dante suddenly stopped.
Lilith and Artoria were startled. Dante would only stop for two reasons, for a break or if something was up ahead.
Dante signaled Lilith to be ready. Lilith's expression became serious. She was sticking close to Artoria to protect her, in the next second wolf like creatures walked out from the woods. Lilith immediately recognized the creatures.
Lilith: Hell Hounds! Be careful Dante!
Dante just smirked, his blood red eyes locked onto the creatures. Finally, he could test his new technique. Dante grabbed hold of his Asauchi but did not unsheet it. He stood in a hold stance. Lightning started to flicker around him. He exhaled slightly, his sharingan already traced the path he would take. Than he moved with lightning speed.
Dante: -Rapid Lightning splash-
~Zzzzz, slash, woooosh~
In split second, trail of blue lightning flashed through the hounds. Dante appeared right behind the group of hell hounds. When he sheeted his blade, three consecutive slashes accompanied with lightning ravaged each of the four hounds. They collapsed immediately onto the ground without knowing, what happened.
Lilith / Artoria: Woah! Fast.
Dante examined the hell hounds and found collars on them. They were tamed. Dante was thinking deep. Than he spoke to the group.
Dante: We have a problem. These hounds were tamed. Probably used for patrol. Which can mean two things.
One, the demon horde is near.
Two, Latram is already under attack or already compromised.
The two was worried. Dante was strong but even he can't take on a horde of demons.
Now the question was, do they continue to Latram or turn back to Greenwald.
Lilith: Let's continue. If we can reach Latram, even if it's compromised. We can sneak in and disappear using the Port stone.
Artoria: But...What if they catch us? What we will do than?
Dante: I'm on Lilith's side on this. If head back to Greenwald and the horde decide to head there next, we will have nowhere to go.
And. If Latram is not yet compromised, we slip away a midst of the chaos.
Artoria was worried but she trusted Dante and Lilith. The trio continued they way to Latram. It was already sunset when the city was in sight but what they saw, was not pleasant. Smoke was rising slowly up from the city.
Lilith: We are too late. The city has fallen.
Artoria: What are we going to do?
Dante: We are gonna follow the plan. Sneak in, get to the Port Stone, get out.
Artoria was lost for words. They were planning to go in there. A demon infested town, into a literal death trap. But before she could object, she found herself picked up by Dante.
Dante: Sorry for this but bare with me a little.
Not waiting for response, Dante used flash step to quickly vanish from the spot. Heading straight to the town. Not knowing, what kind of challenge would await him.
...
-Latram, Western district sewers-
Hurried footsteps echod through the tunnels as an individual were running at full speed.
Her path was interrupted by several imps.
Imps: Whaaaa! Guaaah!
The imps have shoot fire balls at the individual, who easily dodged the incoming attack and cut up all of them in seconds.
~slash, slash, slash~
~thud, thud, thud-
Three distinct thuds can be heard behind the individual who continued running down the tunnel. As she reached the end of the tunnel, she opened a lech and climbed in.
There was a secret room filled with people.
Survivors of the demon's massacre.
The individual removed her hood, revealing her red hair and pointy ears.
???: Alain! You are back! How did it go?
Alain sat down in a near by chair and shared her findings.
Alain: Hey, Rose. Not good. The whole city is under their control. There is no way out. The demons patroling the streets without a break. Rounding up people and slaughtering them like animals. Their Leader is mercyless.
Rose: They won't stop until they get there hands on the artifact. We can't hold out for much longer.
Alain: How is Raymond?
Rose was silent. Averting her eyes away from Alain. Alain knew, what that meant. She smashed the table at her side. Cursing under her breath. Rose handed a letter and the artifact container to Alain and spoke.
Rose: Here. Take these and go. You are able to escape on your own. You must get out and take these to Stone Heart. This is our only chance.
Alain was looking at Rose with disbelief and shock.
Alain: You idiot! If I leave now. All of you will die.
Rose: We all die if you stay as well and the artifact would fall into the demon's hands.
That is worse then anything else.
Alain: I won't leave you. Not this time.
...
-Latram, Northern market district-
Amongst the rubble and the broken stands, demons were patroling the streets. Looking for survivors. They were larger than an average human and had deformed muscular bodies in different shades of red. They were riddled with bone spikes and scars that were burning hot.
In the shadows, three figures were hiding. Dante, Lilith and Artoria. Artoria and Lilith were sweating profoundly, fear evident in there eyes. Dante's sharingan were locked on the very demons before them.
Dante: ( Strange. These demons look oddly familiar. Like I saw them somewhere before. No matter. If I can take them out we can get to the sewers.)
Dante turned to the two and explained the plan.
Dante: So, here is the plan. I will take out them silently, than we head to the sewer.
Once we are there, we traverse the sewer to get to the town center and leave via Port Stone. Sounds good?
Before any of them could answer, Lilith froze.
Lilith: Dante, look.
Lilith pointed in the way of the demons.
Behind the corner, a larger demon was coming out. It was far larger than the others and had two cannons for hands.
Dante's eyes widened, now he knew exactly where he saw these demons.
Dante: ( A FUCKING MANCUBUS! These mother fucking demons are from Doom!
What the fuck was Ash or the other Gods smoking!?)
The mancubus was looking around. After some time, it moved onward to the next street. The moment it left, Dante deployed his Ashen daggers and got to work. Using his Thunder slayer style, he quickly dispatched the four demons before them.
Afterwards, they bolted straight to the sewer lid. In the sewer they catched their breath.
-Ding-
[Level up!]
Dante: ( Nice! Now we need to find the way towards the city center. *Map*)
The trio were navigating their way through the sewer. Dante following the directions knew they were getting close. The map started to show a big circular place with an object in the middle. They were there but his thoughts were interrupted.
-Ding-
[New mission issued!]
...
In the other part of the sewers, a group of survivors were making there way towards the city center as well.
Rose: You should have left on your own. We will slow you down.
Alain: And I told you, that we getting out together! I am not leaving you all behind.
We will...
Rose: LOOK OUT!
Rose raised her shield and blocked an incoming attack.
~tang, tang, tang~
Three arrows found their mark on her shield.
As they looked forward a group of possessed were stumbling their way towards the group.
They wouldn't be a threat for the two former adventurer. Except for the one in the back.
A demon was approaching behind the group, slithering across the ground. It's blood starved eyes locking onto the group right before it.
Alain: Whiplash! Stay back!
Alain bolted straight towards the demon, leaving the possessed to Rose.
A fierce fight broke out between Alain and the Whiplash. The possessed were peppering Rose magic shield with arrows pinning her down. If she would move, the barrier would disappear and the people behind her would die.
Even as an ex-adventurer, Alain was a formidable opponent but she miscalculated the enemy's number.
Alain: Aughhhh!
Blood splatteres as Alain took a hit to her side. As she fell onto her knees, blood was gushing out from the deep wound.
She spotted a nother demon to her left. A barely visible imp snuck up on her.
Alain: ( Tch... goddanm it. I'm sorry everyone.)
Rose seeing the other demon and Alain on her knee, she panicked but she couldn't move only desperately call out to her best friend.
Rose: ALAIN!!
The Whiplash's iron whip was descending upon Alain. Time seemed to slow down. In her final moments, she was smiling. This time she didn't gave in to fear. This time she didn't abandon her friends.
Her strength was fading. She closed her eyes. Awaiting the inevitable but before her will would fade it was refilled by a loud and familiar voice.
Dante: GETSUGA TENSHOU!!
A bright light enveloped the Whiplash and the Imp, completely obliterating them in a single strike. Alain lost consciousness and fell onto the ground. At that moment Dante have arrived. Dante was fuild by anger, when he's saw his master and mother figure wounded. Barely containing his wrath but the moment she fell, a new feeling started to take over.
Dante's pupils were dilating. His sharingan flared up with furious intensity. With a flash of blue and green light, he quickly dispatched the rest of the possessed. He quickly ran to Alain.
He pulled her into his arms. He quickly pulled out three HP vials from his pouch and fed it to her.
Dante: Come on, Come on! COME ON! Don't leave us like that! Mom!
At the same time Lilith and Artoria caught up to Dante. Lilith completely turned white, when she saw Alain in Dante's arms.
She immediately flown towards them tears falling from her eyes.
Lilith: MOM! Dante do something!
Dante: I am on it! Shut up!
Alain's wound didn't start to heal. Indicating, it was too late. But Dante didn't gave up.
Dante: Get back!
Dante fed five more HP vials to Alain and gatheres lightning in his hands. He placed his hands above Alain's heart and started to shock periodicly, trying to imitate a defibrillator.
Dante: Come on. Come on! COME ON!
Dante started to shock more frequently and stronger.
Dante: You can't leave us. Not yet! We have still so much to learn. You still have a lot of stuff to bother me with. With your stupid rules! You're stupid ethics! Your stupid...
Dante was doing everything in his power but it seemed too late. She was not reacting.
Dante was in peaces. He was staring at his hands as the lightning slowly died out in them. He was about to breakdown. Lilith was crying and Artoria was just standing there her head hung down as tears were falling from her eyes. All hope seemed lost. But then a voice called out.
Alain: I had a dream...
Dante looked in shock as he saw Alain open her eyes.
Alain: ...that you were insulting me... without a stop...you brat...
Dante and Lilith immediately hugged Alain tightly. Alain only could smile at the two as they were desperately holding onto her.
Lilith was crying at full strength and Dante was silently holding her. His sharingan was spinning franticly, like it was about to transform.
...half an hour later...
Dante and Lilith explained to Alain what happened and what they planned. Alain also explained the situation that they are in.
Alain: Alright. We don't have another choice but to head to the city center and escape through the portal. Dante. You and I will take the front. Rose and Lilith, stay in the back so we will be protected from both side. Understood?
Dante / Rose / Lilith: Yes!
Alain: And you little one, stay with the others in the middle. Alright.
Artoria was hesitant. She was glancing at Dante. Clearly not willing to leave his side.
Seeing this Dante walked over and petted the top of her head.
Dante: It's alright. We will protect you all. I swear on my soul.
Artoria became more calmer, hearing Dante's reassurance. She walked over to the group in the middle. Ready to go along with everyone.
Alain was giving Dante a smug smile as she commented.
Alain: Come on. Let's get going. Lover boy.
Dante: I should have let you die.
Alain: hahaha! What? Did I touched a nerve?
Dante: Ughhh!
Dante walked forward, his sharingan scanning after any signs of life.
After a short while, Alain posed some questions.
Alain: Your eyes. They grew stronger...Did something...
Dante: No. I found a way, a method to straighten them. Also I developed some new techniques.
Alain: I see...here. Take these.
Alain handed over a letter and the artifact container to Dante.
Alain: If it comes down to it. I want you to take Lilith and the girl and escape through the Portal.
Dante: We both know that's not going to happen. I'm not taking it. We will get out together.
Alain: You are impossible. You know that.
About half an hour later, the group arrived at their destination. Dante checked if the sewer lid is safe to open. When it was safe, he opened it a little and let Lilith through, so she can fly around a little to survey the place.
After ten minutes, she returned.
Lilith: Well, here is the thing. The port stone is about a 100 meter from here. Not far, not too close. But there are demons all around, it is impossible to get that many people over there unnoticed.
Rose: This quite the predicament. Alain. What do you think we should do?
Alain was thinking. As she looked at everyone. A determination shines in her eye.
She was preparing her weapon and wanted to reveal her plan but Dante cut her off before she could even began.
Dante: Don't even think about it.
Hey, Rose? Question... Is there a tarven or mine or a food storage in a two kilometer radius?
Rose was a little taken back by the boy's demeanor. But she answered.
Rose: Yes...there is tarven. About one and a half kilometer from here. Why ask?
Dante just smirked. He turned to Lilith and asked.
Dante: Hey, Pixy! How about some fun? Letting off some "smoke" would be good, no?
Lilith: I told you before, I am NOT A PIXY! And the saying is wrong. It goes letting of some.....Ooooh.
Yeah, I like where this is going.
Rose and Alain were just looking at each other confused. Than, Dante continued.
Dante: Alright than. Let's get this show on the road.
To be continued...