Sara looked at Dante's unconscious body, a strange sensation enveloping her, as if everything was calling her to stand by that being.
"What is this feeling..." Seeing him sleep after exhaustion, she couldn't leave him unprotected. While Nagasawa watched over Ethan, she took care of Dante. After all, unlike the others who only had demonic energy, he and Ethan possessed not only demonic energy but also the characteristic presence of a true demon.
"Who are you... why do I feel so familiar with you?" She murmured as she watched Dante's sleeping face. If only she knew...
*Hmm* a low grumble came from her left side, and she ended up turning to the spot, seeing the man stirring slightly as he stretched and flexed his arms.
"How long have I been asleep?" Dante questioned without even asking where he was; in fact, he had been awake for some time, just waiting to hear something from Sara, but nothing really interesting had caught his ears.
"Twelve hours," Sara promptly replied as she got up. "Who are you, demon?" She said, pulling... a weapon that... Dante knew well.
'How long has it been... Durandal.' He saw the sword once tainted by demons now completely purified.
"It's good to know Durandal is alright..." He commented mentally and heard Voralith say, "It's a replica, based on the true one as the main material."
"Who are you?!" She pointed the sword at his neck again, and Dante... just laughed.
"Hahaha, you're quite cute," he said as he began to rise, and Sara slowly backed away. "Stay still!" She demanded.
Dante watched the scene and... "Learn your place, Sara Vortex." Dante said, and Sara shivered slightly at the command Dante pronounced.
"Stop trying to use the sword to understand someone who is deliberately waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. I won't fight you." Dante said heavily, after all, he already understood how Sara operated... He was the one who taught her to understand her opponent with the sword.
Sara was a little scared by this, mainly because... No one but one person would know that she had this intention, only one, one single person could tell her that.
"What happened to that puppet?" Dante questioned, and Sara looked deeply at him and replied, "He recovered in a few hours and went to meet the Emperor."
"Any change of plans?" He asked, and she denied, there were less than 36 hours left until the main event, so... "It's starting." He commented, and his body began to stiffen, power was beginning to flow into him.
"Where is Simon?" He questioned, and she answered, "In his quarters." Dante got up and began to leave.
"Wait! Where are you going?!" She questioned, and Dante simply said, "It's time to begin the final act."
And disappeared in red flames, leaving Sara with a strange taste in her mouth, after all... the "Disappearance in Flames" was one of Dante's techniques.
"It can't be, it's you, right? Please, tell me it's you!" She shouted to herself and began to chase after the glow of the flames.
"Wait!" She shouted, but he didn't stop, however, she turned to the other side and started running.
She ran to Nagasawa.
While Dante... "I can't talk to you right now, my ocean," He said, watching the girl run in the opposite direction.
"The time has come," Dante said to Voralith, indicating it was time to act, and she nodded. Eldrax and Aaralyn appeared at his side, along with Vex.
"We're on the move. When the coronation begins, start killing anyone with demonic energy. Voralith and Aaralyn will go together, Vex and Eldrax, you head north to halt the advances of the Demon Cult."
"We have less than a day to prepare. Start now," Dante said, and everyone nodded before disappearing, leaving him alone.
"Now it's time to address our lack of strength," Dante murmured before disappearing.
He went to Simon's quarters. It was time to talk about the truth, something that couldn't wait any longer.
Dante knocked twice on the door and waited, sensing only Simon's presence approaching the door.
"Hmm?" Simon said upon opening the door and seeing Dante before him. "We need to talk, friend," Dante said, and asked, "May I come in?"
"Of course, come in, make yourself at home," Simon replied, smiling, and allowed Dante to enter.
They sat on a couch, facing each other, and Dante simply asked, "What do you think I am?"
"I don't know, it's complicated," Simon replied. "I had already figured out you weren't a woman. You were quite clumsy and knew little about this world, so I figured you were something from outside the Empire, but... well, it's complicated."
"Ah~ Ok, it seems like nothing got past you, huh, old man?" Dante questioned, and Simon raised his eyebrows.
"I can change my body, my voice, and even my aura, but I'm still the same idiot who relies on others," Dante said, recalling various moments from the past. He looked at Simon and said only a few words:
"Something will begin soon, and I won't be able to keep myself well and conscious anymore. There will probably be an outbreak," Dante said, and Simon looked at him, arching his eyebrows.
"This body is about to decline so a new one can emerge, and this will happen during the Emperor's succession session. At this moment, I need you to protect everyone, just like Velryna and Vex," Dante continued, leaving Simon confused.
"Stop making that ugly face, you miserable old man. Haven't you understood yet?" Dante questioned, with a mocking smile. Then he rose calmly, and his hair began to gain color.
"Simon," Dante said, looking at him.
The crimson locks bloomed upon his face, cascading down as two pairs of black horns began to emerge. Simon watched the scene as if he were witnessing a mirage, the image of the boy he knew...
"Tell my Morgana that the only person who can love her forever has resurrected."
It was time for them to meet again.