Dante tore open the elevator doors and stepped inside a massive control chamber with monitors all around. Like many other command centers, there were desks with monitors strewn about but no one manning them. At first, one would think the chamber was empty, but just ahead, he could see two men standing in a back area, the control unit. Intruder alarms announced Dante’s presence and the fires brewing in the factory, thanks to him. As he gazed around the chamber, the glow of monitors lit the room—battlefield feeds, live comms, tactical overlays.

  The men stared at him, one of them he recognized—Kaiden. The formidable man wearing the long white coat. The man who wielded the glowing electric sword from Silver’s memory. His blade, mounted behind him, crackled faintly.

  The other was an elderly black man. White hair, worn skin. Expensive robes threaded with gold. A ceremonial cane topped with a gemstone pulsed faintly. Not just a man of wealth—but of power. A dictator, maybe. Or worse, a tyrant.

  Dante walked forward, slow but steady. His sword in hand, just in case. The light of his module lit the way. The air smelled of cologne—sharp, expensive. He could hear each footstep as he approached, echoing through the alarms.

  Then, with a second of thought, he dismissed his weapon.

  He wasn’t there to fight. Not yet.

  The old man began to clap. Slow and Mocking. “Good show, Dante. You’ve returned after all this time.”

  Dante? How… does he know my name?

  “Or should I say… Sebooro? I forget; it's been quite a long time,” he added.

  Sebooro… Why would I change my name?

  The men stared at Dante. He stared right back. Neither moved.

  “Have you come back to rid us again?” The old man asked.

  Geez, what the hell did Sebooro do to these people!?

  “Not going to say anything?” he asked again, noticeably growing impatient. “Fig–”

  Dante decided to not be silent anymore and interrupted, “I came to ask you for your assistance…”

  Kaiden stepped forward. “What… you came all this way, tore through our army, just to ask for our help?”

  The old man turned to Kaiden, “Don’t give in to his lies, my son.”

  Interesting… Kaiden is the old man’s son. Sebooro must’ve had something to do with them… play it cool… he thought to himself, trying to piece things together and not walk into some kind of mind game.

  “But… Father…”

  The old man put his cane before him, “Kaiden, just be a good boy and let the adults handle this.”

  Kaiden was noticeably put off by being treated like a child. “Father, I’m not–”

  “Kaiden!” His father raised his voice.

  The young man sighed, “Yes, father…”

  The old man growled, “Kids these days, no respect.” The old man rolled his eyes and returned to Dante, “So, you want us to help you?”

  How should I put this? Will he even listen? Here goes nothing, I guess. He thought, trying to put it together comprehensibly.

  “Artemis told me to destroy you. To be honest, I didn’t plan on fighting at all. But after seeing you decimate the Chimerans like some genocidal maniacs, I decided to even out the playing field. After witnessing your strength, I thought it's best to ask that you put this war behind us and lend me your aid. Something even bigger than whatever this war is over is coming, and it has the power to consume us all.”

  Kaiden’s eyes widened. “Presidente Gallante, sir, we really should listen to him!”

  “Isn’t that just like you, Dante? To come at a moment's notice warning of some grand ending. Will you disappear conveniently again when things get too hard?” The old man scoffed, “My son, that’s just what this monster does. He fills your head full of lies and then abandons you! Just. Like. Before! Remember!?”

  “But…”

  Gallante sneered. “Kaiden, why don’t you sit down, play commander for a bit, and stay out of this. I’m tired of your interruptions.”

  Without a word, Kaiden took a seat—his movements controlled, his expression unreadable. He crossed his arms slowly, the tension in his jaw the only sign of his displeasure.

  Dante watched the silent exchange, sensing the unspoken history between them. There’s something deeper here...

  Gallante then glared, “Now then, Dante, why on earth would we help you?”

  “Because I think we’re after the same goal. Preservation of the world. But to have that, I need your help…”

  Gallante guffawed, “Same goal? You can’t be serious. You and I have very different goals, lad. You have done nothing but corrupt this world to fit your particular purposes. I have been trying to get it back for our people.” He then shook his head in denial of the request, “I’m sure whatever this ‘looming threat’ is, we can handle it in our way. None of this will be your concern anymore. You’ve done enough already.”

  “Well, if it's any consolation, you did strike first.” He displayed the marks upon his armored body.

  Gallante furrowed his brow. “Hmph, hardly a scratch to one compared to you. And we struck first? We were merely establishing a base of operations in search of missing… artifacts when suddenly we were under attack by your little… creations.”

  Dante scoffed. “Establishing a base!? More like creating needless slaughter.”

  Gallante shook his head defiantly. “Call it what you will. The Chimerans are and always have been a threat to my people. Shall I just roll over backwards and let them run rampant through our world that we lost everything for, that you caused!?”

  I caused!? What!? Ugh… Dante was losing the argument. Whatever Gallante spoke of, he did not know a thing about. He only knew of his world’s problems. Not this one. He didn’t have any right otherwise.

  “I… But… The Chimerans are not your enemy.” Dante was searching for the right words, he knew he lost the audience. “Believe me! An enemy is coming. She may already be here, and soon, there won’t be a world left to fight over.”

  “As if I would trust your spider tactics. Lead us right into a trap, just like the last time? Hmph. I think not.” His nose held high.

  Dante crossed his arms. “I didn’t come here to trick you! I truly came to ask for your help! The Queen is crazy, and she won’t be enough to stop what is coming. Please, understand, I want to save everyone...” He pleaded.

  Gallante’s eyes lit up, he had an idea. “Okay, you want us to trust you? Give us the missing artifacts. Then you’ll have yourself a deal.”

  Artifacts? Oh, right, the thing that ‘wiped away’ the Ixions. Why in the hell would he want that? Oh… of course…

  Dante furrowed his brows, it was a trick by the tyrant. “So you can do away with the Chimerans and have the world all to yourselves again?” He gave up trying to get their help, it was a losing battle. “Fine, ya know what. I don’t need your help. I’ll just do it myself.”

  “Figures. When things get hard, ya go back to whatever hole you disappeared in, just to use us again in the future.” Gallante sneered.

  Dante turned to walk away, but then Kaiden popped up, “Dante!”

  “Kaiden! Let him go. We have better things to do.” Gallante grimaced. “Since he won’t give us what we want, we’ll just have to take back them the old-fashioned way.”

  Dante stopped, then slowly turned to face the tyrant. There had to be another way. Perhaps, it was like Artemis said, maybe she wasn’t crazy after all. The humans were the problem. “So. If I give you what you want, you’ll kill the Chimerans. If I don’t, you still will kill the Chimerans. I see.” He summoned the sword from the purple fog. “So the only factor that remains… is you. You are the culprit! So be it.”

  Kaiden reacted to Dante’s advance and unhooked his shock sword from his back.

  Gallante laughed and turned away. “Kaiden. Kill this fool. I have more important matters to attend to.”

  Kaiden hesitated.

  “Kaiden!?” The old man raised his voice, “Do I need to remind you who is in charge here!?”

  “No…father…” He replied flatly, “I will do as you ask…”

  Gallante pressed a switch beneath his cane. The platform beneath him rumbled to life, rising slowly. As it ascended, his voice boomed with icy authority, echoing through the chamber.

  “Good. And Kaiden—don’t you dare show your face again until the job is finished. Do you hear me?”

  Dante reached out his hand, “Hey! I’m not finished with you! Where do you think you’re going!?”

  “Hmmph. I have some genocide to return to. You could have put them out of their misery sooner, but instead, you’d rather prolong their suffering.” The tyrant began to chuckle to himself. “It is truly pathetic. Asking for help like that. That is a new low, even for you… Sebooro.” He sneered. The roof above opened like an orifice, allowing the old man to disappear into the night. Dante was about to launch after him, but then Kaiden stepped forward, blocking Dante from going after the old man.

  He paused, “You do realize… that I can just simply go around you. Don't you?”

  Kaiden approached slowly, quietly, his massive shock sword in hand. “I can’t let you do that, Dante. I may owe you my life, but I have my honor to protect.”

  Dante could feel the tension building. A fight was about to happen, and he didn’t have time to lose, but he also didn’t want to kill the guy. He seemed to genuinely be a bystander, used by his old man. “Why do you let such a man talk to you like that? Even if he is your dad, I just don’t think any father should speak to his son like that…”

  Kaiden tilted his head, as though he was confused by Dante’s concern, “That’s just how father is. How he’s always been. You truly have forgotten…”

  Dante shrugged, “I don’t have time for this. Now. Step aside. I’m not going to let that man just get away with genocide!”

  “I can’t do that, Dante. Not tonight.” He said as he charged the sword. It whirred with power, and arcs of lightning licked at the floor.

  “We don’t have to fight Kaiden. Why not join me? You and me, you seem like a powerful fighter. Surely you could help me against what threatens our world? Why waste your life?” Dante pleaded.

  Kaiden triggered his sword to increase in power, it hummed vibrantly. “What threatens our world anyway?”

  “She’s called Sophitia, and she has the power to destroy the world…”

  “I see. Well, you heard him, Dante. I can’t leave this job unfinished. You’ll just have to give your life. I’ll pass on your message.” He said with a wink.

  “C’mon… surely you don’t want to be under that man's rule!?”

  “Sorry, Dante. He’s my father and my Presidente, after all!” Kaiden lunged, sword crackling.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Dante bolted towards the orifice in the roof instead of meeting Kaiden’s blade, but the young man was too fast. He leaped up and caught Dante by the foot, then proceeded to slam him to the floor. The blow caused the floor to shudder. There wasn’t much structure left below.

  Dante quickly pushed himself to his feet and tried to face his attacker, but Kaiden quickly struck his abdomen with the shock sword. For some reason, he hit him with the flat side. But it was powerful enough to send him flying across the chamber like a missile. He crashed through a column of monitors, causing glass and circuitry to explode outward. Sparks danced through the air.

  He grumbled, rising from the debris, wings half-spread. “I see… You’re not like those soldiers. How old are you anyway?”

  “You should know!” Kaiden shouted. “You are the reason I am this!” He growled, hurling a sphere of lightning. Dante dodged; the blast swirled behind him with a roar, blowing up several more of the monitors and putting a hole through the wall of the fortress. If Kaiden kept this up, the entire building would collapse.

  The super-soldier was on him before the shockwave even faded. He swung low, then high, the oversized blade howling through the air. Dante ducked and weaved, but Kaiden pressed harder, faster. Every missed stroke left scorched trails on the floor. Dante attempted to parry and block the massive weapon, but each hit sent shockwaves through his body. Thousands of volts passed through, vibrating him to the core, causing a daze each time.

  “You don’t even remember, do you?!” Kaiden snarled.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

  “Conveniently…”

  Kaiden struck again, harder. Dante held up his sword to block the relentless strikes, forcing him to his knee. Lightning surged from Kaiden’s sword into Dante’s body—tendrils snaking through, dancing across his armor. He looked into the man’s eyes. They turned red with fury.

  What… is behind those eyes? There has to be more to this, but ugh, he’s so strong! He thought, feeling every blow of rage.

  Kaiden’s expression contorted as he continued to slam Dante’s sword, propelling him along the floor. It buckled under the berating. “I loved you. We all did. But then you left us all behind! You left ME behind!”

  Dante narrowed his eyes. “I’m not who you think I am, Kaiden!”

  “More lies! Denial! You know exactly who and what you are!” Kaiden twirled the blade in a smooth flourish, then launched into a flurry of attacks. Dante was pushed back, feet grinding against the steel floor. His sword was the only thing that kept him from being struck by that menacing blade. Each block of Kaiden’s assault resounded with a metallic clang. Forcing sparks and lightning arcs to fly.

  Dante blocked a strike—only to feel the next one already coming from above. The young man attacked from angles no ordinary man could manage. He stayed nimble, ducking and weaving, staying on the defensive. He was holding back, waiting for Kaiden to tire. But the man didn’t slow. He moved like a man who’d never known exhaustion.

  “Why won’t you fight me!?” Kaiden roared.

  “Because I need you. I want to make amends for whatever damage I caused! But I also want your help. You are a great fighter, and it would be such a waste to end you.” Dante pleaded.

  Kaiden ignored the words. He surged forward, stabbing deep—but Dante side-stepped, grabbed Kaiden by the arm, and flung him across the room.

  Kaiden skidded across the ground, crashing through a console, rendering it unusable and in pieces. As it collapsed on top of him, he roared with rage.

  Dante stood, lowering his blade. “I don’t want this…”

  But Kaiden rose again, trembling, sparks dancing across his body. “You don’t get to decide. You owe me this fight.”

  Kaiden charged again, his blade dragging behind him like a live wire. The air popped and hissed in his wake. Dante sidestepped effortlessly—fluid, casual—his wings folding close as he ducked the blow. The sword carved a gouge in the floor, splitting metal like butter.

  The young man’s eyes were now glowing red. He no longer spoke. He just roared as he swung wildly. Again and again in wide arcs. Dante blocked it with his forearm. The crackling electricity wrapped around him, tendrils snaking across his armor—but he didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink. Synenergy poured from the wound. He wanted to show Kaiden that he was serious about his conviction.

  Kaiden’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “What!?”

  “Stop this… and join me,” Dante screamed as he held his arm against the pressurized voltage flowing through his body. Ten thousand more volts poured through him and into the floor, electrifying the ground.

  “Why!? So you can abandon me again!?” Kaiden spat, slamming his boot into Dante’s chest, sending him flying through another console. Glass exploded around him. Sparks burst from the shattered screen. The war room’s image feeds stuttered and died, one by one going dark.

  He stood up from the wreckage without a scratch. Kaiden rushed again. He brought the sword down with both hands—Dante sidestepped with ease and maneuvered behind Kaiden, wings stretched wide.

  The enraged man spun, swinging wildly again, no aim, just ferocity. The blade cut a lightning arc across the ceiling, frying the overhead monitors and plunging the chamber into shadows. The hum of the weapon was deafening now. The only light being his sword and Dante’s module.

  Another slash. This time, Dante caught the blade with his. Electricity surged into him, the floor around his feet warping from the heat and pressure.

  Kaiden pushed harder, his face twisted in a storm of hate and confusion.

  With a shove of his shoulder, Dante knocked the blade away and rammed Kaiden in the chest, launching him into a wall and slamming through the remaining monitors. More glass strewn about. He slowly slid back to the floor. Kaiden coughed and stumbled to his feet, panting, clutching his sword like a lifeline. He was beginning to slow down. But his rage did not subside.

  He clapped his hands together. Lightning surged around him, wrapping his form in a volatile aura. The surrounding floor began to collapse. Kaiden adapted and hopped over the plummeting floor that fell to the factory floor. Then he jumped to a wall and jumped off, heading straight for Dante.

  He was able to deflect Kaiden’s strike. But the aura caused more of the collapsing floor to fall from under his feet. He hovered in the air while the floor completely collapsed. Leaving only the area around the elevator. A tiny platform, barely enough room for a true battle. Kaiden stood, huffing with rage as the lightning coursed around his body. It was as though the sword itself was an extension of him, but Dante could not tell in what way. Was the weapon an artifact, like Enlongnius? Possibly. But it looked more like a human design.

  Kaiden stalked toward him, sword dragging again, leaving a molten trail in the steel. “You don’t get to abandon me again, not this time!”

  Dante descended; his feet touched the floor, his wings flared wide. “Then allow me to make up the abandonment. Join me! Last chance!

  Kaiden lunged with a roar, swinging with every ounce of hatred he’d buried for years. The shock blade crackled and howled as it carved down toward Dante’s skull—

  —but met only air.

  Dante dodged the blow with ease.

  Before Kaiden could recover, a wing snapped out from behind, slamming into the back of his knees with brutal force. His legs buckled. A second wing crashed down across his spine like a sledgehammer, and he hit the floor hard. Sparks and dust burst into the air as he grunted, trying to roll away—but he rolled too far.

  The edge of the platform vanished beneath him.

  Kaiden slipped and caught the lip of the platform with both hands, his sword clattering down into the firestorm below. The inferno raged beneath, licking at the metal supports with tongues of orange and violet flame.

  He hung there, fingers digging into the scorched ledge.

  Dante stepped into view above him, wings folding back. Silent. Watching.

  “Well, what will it be?”

  Kaiden looked up at Dante, then to the ground. He smirked.

  “Don’t…” he muttered. “Don’t do this…”

  Kaiden released his grip and fell toward the flames. Dante tried to reach his hand but missed. He watched as Kaiden disappeared into the smoke.

  “Damn it! What a waste! We could have been friends, you know! You weren’t a bad guy!” he grumbled to himself. This day, he gave up hope for mankind.

  Then he stood, turning toward the orifice at the top of the dome—toward Gallante.

  The tyrant had bought time. But that's not enough.

  Without a word, Dante launched through the roof.

  The old man was already aboard a mechanical bird. He looked on and could see his son was not there.

  “Wait a minute, I need you to stop this war. I need your help! She’s coming, don’t you get that!?”

  The old man didn’t wait. He didn’t listen or care about what Dante had to say. The metallic bird was lifting off.

  “Wait!” Dante screamed.

  The bird then turned to face him. Their eyes met. It opened fire upon him in a rain of missiles and turret fire. The explosions caused the top of the room to cave in.

  Once the smoke dissipated, Gallante and the pilot were horrified by what they saw next. The last thing they saw.

  Hovering just above the collapsing structure, Dante raised his hand. The air warped around it—cold and heavy—before a pulse of black energy burst from his palm, streaking like a missile through the sky.

  The bolt struck perfectly.

  The explosion shattered the aircraft, a violent bloom of fire and twisted metal. Burning wreckage rained over the battlefield, casting shadows across the ground.

  Dante didn’t move. He simply hovered in the sky.

  He stared at his hand. “… How did I do that?” he muttered.

  Purple fog curled from his fingertips.

  It was the first time he’d ever taken a life so directly; he’d beaten people unconscious, sure, accidents happened… But nothing like this—yet something in him felt… satisfied.

  He blinked. Shook his head. Tried to push away the calm settling over him like a blanket.

  It wasn’t supposed to feel good.

  And yet, it did.

  Explosive sounds from below interrupted his thoughts as the battle raged on. The Chimerans were once again losing ground as the humans took back control of the battlefield. The remaining Chimerans were about to be gunned down. The robot girl had her shotgun hand point-blank at Ezekiel’s head, ready to blow it off. Dante dropped from the top of the building and landed on the robotic girl. Crushing her into a pile of twisted circuitry. Her fingers twitched as she struggled to stay active.

  He scanned the immediate area, reached his hand out, and blasted each robot, human, and walking tank that remained with the cold black energy bolt he dealt before. Each hit latched to his mind with darkness as he struggled to stop himself.

  Ezekiel, worn from battle, reached out, “Dante! Do not lose yourself to the darkness, my friend.”

  Dante aimed his hand at Ezekiel, charging a lethal shot.

  Ezekiel stared at him. Accepting his fate.

  Fizzle.

  His hand fell.

  Then he fell to his knees. Holding his hands out, he said, “I’m… I…”

  Ezekiel leaned down and placed his claw on his shoulder, “It is okay my friend. It is war. There is bound to be deaths, even by your hand.

  “It’s just… the first time I killed someone… like that…”

  “I understand. The first time is usually the most significant. Especially if you have not been around it, as I have…”

  “I… I’m a monster…”

  “No, my fellow! You are far from it! You are only a monster if you make yourself a monster. You defended yourself and those important to you. That is no monster.”

  “I…” Dante hesitated, “No. You’re right. Thank you.”

  “Speak nothing of it. I must say. That was quite the power you use…”

  “I… Don’t know what came over me or where it came from. I just felt so much rage towards that man…

  "Well, it looks like you found the commander… at least, what was left of him..." Ezekiel remarked. “I suppose he will not be helping us after all.”

  Dante’s eyes widened. “That’s right! They plan on killing all the Chimerans! That’s why they wanted that thing Artemis mentioned!”

  Suddenly, they were interrupted by the remaining Chimeran forces. Nideria included.

  “Lord Sebooro! That was amazing!” Nigeria exclaimed.

  “Long live Lord Sebooro!” The Chimerans chanted.

  Behind them, the structure groaned and gave way, collapsing into a heap of burning rubble. Smoke billowed into the sky, thick and choking. As the chaos settled, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting a pale glow across the battlefield.

  Dante turned, surveying the battered group around him. They stood in silence—bloodied, exhausted, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The silence said more than words ever could. They were happy to have won the battle but sullen by all that was lost. The cost was great. And he knew it wasn’t over.

  Without a word, he moved forward, stepping over scorched debris. There were still lives to save. Survivors to find. He couldn’t just stand still.

  Not now.

  After helping find several survivors, there were a few men that survived the siege that were gathered as prisoners. He approached one of the men, gasping for breath. He leaned down, “So you plan on killing all the Chimerans, eh?”

  The man rasped, “That’s right… every single one…”

  Nideria joined, “What of the north lands?”

  “They’re… already being exterminated! You’re too late for them… And…” He coughed up blood. “Your little Queen is gettin’ hers!”

  Nideria picked up a stray spear and stabbed the man in the heart. She looked around at the remaining prisoners. “Kill them all. Send those bastards a message!”

  Dante looked away as the Chimerans devastated the soldiers. He could hear heads being ripped off, screams of agony, and bones crunching as each man was brutally dismembered.

  Nideria then joined him, covered in blood, “You should probably go to the Queen, Lord Sebooro. We’ll take care of everything here, my lord.”

  Dante looked into her ferocious eyes, “Good idea… I just hope we’re not too late.”

  “I can get us there instantly!” Ezekiel piped in.

  “Everyone! You’ve earned this victory. Rest up, okay? I may need of you again! The humans may have lost their leader, but if I know humans, they don’t just have one!”

  The Chimerans howled in war cries, empowering themselves. They praised Dante for everything he’s done. Now it was time to be on their way.

  “To Lord Sebooro!” They cheered.

  Dante took a bow and clapped Ezekiel’s shoulder, indicating it was time to go. “We must return quickly to the Quadraseph. I feel as though Silver is in grave danger. I’m not too worried about the Queen since she’s like me… but yeah, I feel like something is not right.”

  Ezekiel nodded. “I’m ready. We’ll go to the outskirts of the city.”

  “Let’s go… Silver, please be okay.”

  Ezekiel looked stunned. "I’m sure if Artemis is as powerful as you, everything will be okay.”

  “Maybe… but even with my speed… I wasn’t able to save them all.”

  Ezekiel nodded.

  Dante surveyed the dying chaos around him. They had won the battle, but there was so much that couldn’t be saved. In the end, he felt defeated since he didn’t accomplish what he set out to do. But at least the Queen will be pleased by the good news he brings – even though she’s crazy.

  From one tyrant to another, he supposed. He nodded to the Alphin, trying to keep his sanity in check.

  Ezekiel focused his power, ripping open a wormhole that cast them from the chaos and spat them out into the outskirts of the Quadraseph city.

  “No… no…” Dante whimpered, his voice trembling as he raced into a city that was once vibrant but was now reduced to a ghastly ruin. Where honor and valor had filled the streets, the bloodstained rubble of shattered, once-magnificent buildings now bore silent testimony to unspeakable brutality.

  In the distance, the towering Quadraseph loomed as a silent witness to the massacre.