"She's back," said a man as he wielded his sword with force, slightly distorting the space where the blade passed through.
"Yes, have you chosen your side?" Sasaki's voice resonated, but Musashi didn't respond. He adjusted his grip and struck.
"World Cutter," he uttered, and the sword tore through the sky, devastating the layer of reality, but it was only momentary, lasting no more than half a second, and the world reconstituted itself.
"If this strike were complete, I'd assist the others. But I choose only the side that will win," said Musashi, sheathing his sword.
Both tacitly agreed, but it seemed too late. The skies began to redden, the local temperature rising steadily, and then...
A pillar of fire emerged on the horizon.
"She's here," they said together, opening a portal and swiftly heading towards the pillar.
"Repeat what you said, if you dare," challenged Valentina, addressing Gaspar, who was on his knees, pressed down by an overwhelming force.
With a movement, Sasaki sliced through Valentina's aura, who turned ready to face the two newcomers, wielding Gungnir.
"You are grandmasters, so you must know what will happen if I take that spear," she threatened, but Musashi and Sasaki did not immediately respond.
"I left to do something important, and when I return, I'm informed that my husband has been missing for almost four months because of a foolish family feud," commented Valentina, expressing resentment, hatred, and bitterness in her words.
She projected her voice and made a proclamation to the air.
"He will return, and when he does, the culprit will be revealed. And if any of his descendants are guilty, there will be consequences. I remained silent when Titania dared to break our pact, but now it's different; the pact is null since it was broken," she roared.
This message was heard by all, including those who were not the specific target.
"Valenti-" "Silence, the boy is alive," she interrupted before Gaspar could respond, grabbing his head and pressing it against the ground with a blow, causing the director to lose consciousness.
"Bastard, take him to your infirmary," she ordered, and an elf emerged from the shadows. "Tsk, Eleon," cursed Valentina as the elf took Gaspar and disappeared.
"Where is the boy? I know Morgana can't sense him like you," Musashi remarked, sitting on the sofa beside.
"He is thousands of kilometers below ground, in the dungeon you idiots wanted to invade without even sending a high-class witch to assess it. Irresponsible," muttered Valentina.
"He's stronger, growing exponentially. He's fighting," she added.
"Come here now!" Valentina shouted, and five flames emerged from her shadow, women...
"You'll go to that location, retrieve the key. You three, start scouring Kryoris and watch over the surviving students, especially the repulsive wolf," she ordered, placing her hands over her eyes.
"You are allowed to use lethal force against anyone who interferes. The rules don't apply to you, even if the emperor himself shows up. Dismissed."
"Yes, Your Majesty," they responded in unison, and disappeared like sparks.
"I hate having to use old methods to deal with vermin. You stress me out, you know? It was just to do the bare minimum! Who had the idiotic idea to send children to a dungeon?" questioned Valentina, knowing the answer, which was obvious: Gaspar.
"I just wanted to introduce someone to my husband," lamented Valentina, and a familiar phoenix perched on her shoulder.
"It seems our little one is going through some difficulties," echoed the voice of the phoenix.
"Difficulties? That madman has almost 70% more power than the last time I saw him. He's having fun in that dungeon. This is Morgana's doing. He should have been back by now," said Valentina, furious with Dante and his pathetic display, feeling embarrassed for him not understanding the situation. She remembered the academy's opening when Dante didn't even think about showing his aura.
"Damn it, I'll punish you with the deepest fire of hell if necessary," she said, leaving everyone in the room curious about the punishment, knowing that, coming from Valentina, it wouldn't be something good.
"You're still energetic to do evil, aren't you?" someone teased.
"Humpf! Don't call me that," she huffed.
"We need to go," said Musashi, getting up followed by Sasaki. "Where are you going?" Valentina asked.
"To the preparations for the winter festival. We're already at that time," replied Musashi.
"Of course, good luck," said Valentina, a scowl appearing on her face. "What's wrong?" asked Musashi, seeing Valentina's fury increasing.
"Damn it! That bastard is almost dying!" shouted Valentina, disappearing into the flames. She felt Dante's presence being crushed by something very strong, to the point where the wedding ritual began to falter.
"She'll ruin the Human Kingdom if Dante doesn't show up," commented Sasaki, and Musashi replied lightly, "If that's what it takes for her to calm down, I'll help. I haven't been human for a long time; who cares about a useless people like them?" he commented, cutting through the wind and creating another portal.
"Stop using your sword to cut through space-time; one of these days, the Administrator will come again to reprimand you," Sasaki commented.
"Shut up. You only hang around with me because of the portals," said Musashi, leaving and leaving Sasaki behind.
As they both disappeared, the red fury appeared in the dungeon skies, looking down as she surveyed the area, seeing several witches holding... pickaxes?
"What the hell is this?" She questioned, and Morgana appeared by her side.
"The place is cursed," she commented.
"It makes sense, then. Did they use pickaxes instead of a curse master?" Valentina mocked, and Morgana huffed, "Humpf, don't bother me, I'm just giving time for the boy to grow!" She roared, and in the next second...
SMACK
"He's dying, you idiot!" Valentina slapped Morgana's head, making her see stars for a few seconds.
"Eh?" She questioned.
"Damn it, he's losing the connection!" Valentina shouted and summoned Gungnir, "Screw it!" She grabbed her weapon and threw it on the ground.
**
N/a: Hey, my dear readers, the chapters will be reduced for some time. I'm having health issues and can't focus on writing the chapters. I'll schedule only one chapter per day for now. I hope you understand. As soon as I recover, I'll resume with two chapters per day as usual. Thank you for reading!
PS: Please, I know it's annoying to have to ask this, but I would like you to evaluate the work. We're already in chapter 86, I know you like her, you wouldn't come here! This helps a lot and motivates me to keep bringing Dante's story! Thanks!