Dante walked calmly along a crystal pathway, each step causing the surface beneath him to shimmer as he made his way toward the grand castle of the Spirit King. He had some new matters to discuss with Kazess. When Kazess mentioned that "she was here," Dante had guessed it would be about Cherry, but... not this version of Cherry.
"La la la laa la aaa, my master is the best, la la la la laaa, my master is the best!" Cherry sang, floating around Dante with a joy so pure and honest. It was a stark contrast to the Cherry he remembered—happier, more carefree. The difference was so significant that he could barely associate this girl with the powerful and imposing figure he once knew during the days of the Progenitor Dragon.
Something troubled Dante, though: this girl... she seemed younger. He clearly remembered the adult Cherry, a woman of great presence and power, but now, she appeared to have rejuvenated by at least two centuries.
"So... how did you become a Spirit? You also look much younger than before. What happened?" Dante asked, his curiosity evident as he watched Cherry twirl in the air with contagious enthusiasm.
Cherry suddenly stopped in midair, giving a playful wink before responding with a burst of energy. "Ora Ora Ora, I'm amazing! I always say that; I'm invincible when I want to be! And it wasn't a traitor that was going to kill me! So, I thought! Hm!
I'll use my magic and spirit summoning! When I summoned it, I went through the portal, and Kaboom! I live!"
She explained in an excited tone, accompanying each word with grand gestures and improvised sound effects, as if narrating an epic scene from a story only she could tell. Cherry spun in the air, drawing circles and spirals with her hands while mimicking explosions with her mouth, every movement exaggerated and dramatic.
Dante watched it all with a slight smile on his lips, trying not to laugh at Cherry's animated performance. It was as if she had turned into a force of nature, a storm of energy and life. He couldn't deny that there was something incredibly captivating about seeing her so full of life, so determined to show that nothing could bring her down.
"Cherry... that doesn't make any sense." Dante murmured, realizing what she had said. She... just did it? "So, you basically... saved yourself?" Dante asked, still confused by the straightforward yet absurd nature of her explanation.
"Exactly!" Cherry replied, landing in front of him with a final pirouette, her arms outstretched dramatically. "I'm the queen of unpredictability, remember? There's nothing I can't do!" She gave a broad, triumphant smile, as if she had just accomplished an impossible feat.
"Cherry..." Dante murmured, "Why did you... rejuvenate?" Dante questioned, hoping for a clearer explanation. Despite her expressive way of responding, he appreciated that she was at least giving him answers, even if they were convoluted.
"I don't know! The old arrogant guy, two meters tall, said it's because my body was gone, so my young soul rejuvenated my appearance, and that's how it is! Cherry was old, now Cherry is the most beautiful in the world!" She declared, puffing out her chest with pride.
Dante couldn't help but let out a light laugh. Her logic was so... Cherry.
"Of course, it makes perfect sense," he said, throwing his hands up in playful surrender. "You were old, now you're the most beautiful in the world. How could it be any different?" He added, laughing at her enthusiasm.
Cherry floated around him with a wide grin, clearly pleased with herself. "Exactly, Master! And now that I'm young and beautiful again, I can cause even more chaos! Isn't it amazing?"
Dante shook his head, still smiling. "Amazing, yes. Predictable? Not at all." He watched as she continued to twirl in the air. "But I guess that's part of your charm, isn't it?"
"Master understands Cherry!" she declared, flying upside down. "So, Master, why are we going to talk to the old guy?" Cherry questioned, knowing they weren't just wandering aimlessly. "Well, I have to take you with me, right?" Dante replied. After all... They had a story to continue, and at this point, he didn't even know what was happening in the Normal World.
"Take me?! Finally! I was starting to think you'd never get me out of here, Master!" she exclaimed, doing a series of somersaults in the air. She was thrilled to finally know she could leave this hellhole!
Dante chuckled at her excitement. "Yes, I'll take you. I can't leave you stuck here forever, can I? Besides, I feel like you're more than ready to cause a bit of chaos in the normal world, and I need a chaos agent by my side." He responded, watching as she continued to whirl around like a storm of pure energy.
"Chaos in the normal world? I can't wait! I'll turn every day into a new unpredictable adventure!" Cherry declared, landing beside him and grabbing his hand, as if ready to sprint off to the next great adventure.
Dante nodded, smiling, and walked calmly toward the Spirit King's castle.
"That is impossible." Kazess's voice echoed through the grand hall, his authority unquestionable. He observed Dante and Cherry with a stern gaze, his imposing stance like an unmovable mountain. He hardly resembled the being who had been terrified when he saw who Dante truly was.
Cherry, who had been so animated and radiant until then, felt the weight of Kazess's words hit her spirit like a blow. Her joy vanished, and her darkened gaze fell upon him, like a storm ready to break. "What do you mean, impossible?" she asked, her voice cold, unlike her usual playful tone.
Kazess kept his eyes fixed on her, without a trace of emotion on his face. "You heard me well, child. Your presence in this world is already an anomaly that should not exist. And as for your 'master,' he has no right to steal within my domains."
Cherry clenched her fists, the chaotic energy around her beginning to intensify. "You think you can simply push me away? Push me away from him?" Her voice trembled with restrained anger, the threatening glow in her eyes growing by the second.
Dante, sensing the escalation in tension, stepped forward, positioning himself between Cherry and Kazess. "Kazess, we're not here to challenge you or ask for permission. I'm here to take her, and that's final." Dante spoke with a dangerous calm, his eyes locked on the Spirit King.
Kazess narrowed his eyes, evaluating Dante for a moment before speaking again. "You may have your reasons, but that doesn't change reality. Cherry, your existence here defies all rules. And Dante... your presence only complicates things further. Leave her; we don't know what could happen if she leaves here.
She is a glitch in the system."
"Ai ai... you guys never learn, do you?" Dante said, his gaze darkening. It seemed like they wanted to stop Dante again... But this time...
Souls have power in the spiritual world, as it is a world where souls have become spirits, and Dante... has a truly strong soul. "Administrator, I am taking Cherry to Hell, and I will give her a body." Dante said, and Kazess immediately stood up, "You! Do not dare to call..." Before Kazess could do anything...
An opaque White Pillar of Light appeared, passing through him, a silhouette of pure light, a being of light, without appearance.
Kazess, the Spiritual King, abruptly stood up, his face frozen in a mix of shock and dread. The white and opaque light filling the hall emanated an overwhelming energy, and the pure light silhouette that appeared was unmatched in power and presence. A celestial being, transcendent, whose power transcended the understanding of mere mortals and spirits.
Dante remained where he was with his arms crossed, his expression unchanged, almost bored, as if he had expected this reaction. "I warned you," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. Cherry, on the other hand, looked at the light figure with a mix of curiosity and disdain. "So, is this it? The great administrator? Seems a bit...
over the top, don't you think?" Her voice still carried that contained anger, but there was a hint of amusement there as well.
Kazess, however, found nothing amusing about it. He knew that the presence of the Administrator meant things had reached a critical point, and any wrong move could result in catastrophic consequences. "Dante, you can't do this!" Kazess shouted, his voice betraying the desperation he was trying to hide. "You're playing with forces beyond your control! Leave Cherry here, where she belongs!"
"Shut up, Kazess." The White Administrator said, looking at Kazess who was simply teleported to his throne while being bound by invisible restraints that prevented him from moving. They also gagged him.
"It's been a while since we've seen each other. Dante Scarlet," the Administrator said. Dante couldn't see her, but he felt she was smiling. "Hello, it's been a while. How is the Black Administrator?" Dante asked casually as if talking to nothing less than a close friend.
"Oh, he's doing well, after all, he recently won a bet," she said, placing her hand on her face. "He bet that I would return, didn't he? I mean, that I would regain my memories." Dante questioned, and she immediately lowered her head, remembering that she had... "Damn, I lost five days off because of him..." She murmured quietly, but Dante was able to hear.