Picking up right where we left off, we find ourselves at the highest point of the city, watching Dante as he surveys the vast field surrounded by jaguar warriors, ready to fight.
Suddenly, MALEKIN, REX, ELENA, and QUETZALCOATL appear and shout at him to come down. Dante quickly leaps down to report what he saw.
MALEKIN: Dante, what's going on?! What did you manage to see?
DANTE HERALDI: In the distance, there's an immense force of jaguar warriors... and your brother is right there with them, Quetzalcoatl.
QUETZALCOATL: Dammit... what do we do now?! There are far too many of them.
Out of nowhere, ISAMU appears.
ISAMU: (with a stern look) It seems it is time to fight. On paper, this battle looks grim, but only Dante and I will go out to fight. The rest of you will defend the city against any enemies that manage to break through.
REX: That's suicide! Just the two of you?! Dante, say something!
ELENA: (worried) DANTE... what are you thinking?
Dante pauses, weighing ISAMU's words. Glancing at everyone, he hesitates, unsure of what course to take.
QUETZALCOATL: Um... to be honest, I think it's fine for you to go. (stares intently at Dante) Kid, it's time for you to unleash your full potential. I can feel that you are on the very doorstep of the gods, and I believe in you.
DANTE HERALDI: (sighs) Guess that's that, then. (smiles) Time to put on a show. Elena... (takes her hand) don't worry. I'll come back.
ELENA: I'll be waiting for you.
ISAMU: (grabs Dante's shoulder) It's time. We need to intercept them before they advance any further.
Dante nods, saying his goodbyes to everyone, giving Elena a kiss before turning to leave.
DANTE HERALDI: (as he walks away) REX! YOU BETTER TAKE CARE OF ELENA! I'M COUNTING ON YOU!
REX: DON'T WORRY, LEAVE IT TO ME! WOOF! (wagging his tail)
MALEKIN: Haha, what's with the bark?
REX: (embarrassed) Shut up, it just slipped out! I'm excited, okay?!
QUETZALCOATL: Alright, guys, time to set up our defenses. While those two do their thing, we have to protect this place.
Everyone shouts in agreement and dashes toward the palace to inform them that Dante and Isamu are heading out to fight.
Now we see our two heroes heading toward the battlefield, leaping from branch to branch through the forest trees. Along the way, Dante swallows "The Soul Stone." Immediately, an agonizing pain surges through his entire body, forcing him to stop in his tracks. He collapses to his knees on the ground. Isamu watches him uneasily, unsure of what is happening, as Dante barely manages to utter: "Wait... it's passing..." A few seconds later, Dante manages to recover.
ISAMU: What happened to you? You gave me a scare.
DANTE HERALDI: Nothing... just obtaining more power.
ISAMU notices a fiery surge of energy blazing in Dante's eyes; he senses an unyielding battle spirit within him.
ISAMU: Hm... I see you are truly ready to fight now.
DANTE HERALDI: (with a malevolent smirk, standing up) Let's go.
Our friends accelerate, moving at incredible speed to reach the enemy as fast as possible.
Shift scene to the enemy camp, where TEZCATLIPOCA is seen conversing with someone seated on a high tree branch, shrouded in the darkness of the canopy's shadow.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Hm... (gravelly voice) I sense creatures heading toward this location.
MYSTERIOUS PERSON: Hehehe... it seems there's someone among them I know very well. I can feel his presence.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Human... you managed to defeat several of my generals, and by your own volition, you joined my side. I shall grant you more power so that you may slaughter those creatures. Take this.
TEZCATLIPOCA tosses a bowl into the air. The figure in the shadows darts out rapidly, catching it in midair and landing beside the god. Revealed standing there is an old enemy of Dante—the darkness that once drove Dante to slaughter everyone, the bloodthirsty Russian who in life ended countless human lives and wiped out Dante's family: MIJAIL PETROV has returned.
MIJAIL PETROV: hahahaha! I'm thrilled to work for you! As long as you let me kill, I am at your service, jajajaja. Um... wait, this bowl is empty.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Do not be impatient, foolish human.
Out of nowhere, the bowl MIJAIL held begins filling with a substance resembling blood.
MIJAIL PETROV: (whistles) Now THAT is what I'm talking about! hahaha, blood, just the way I like it.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Drink it quickly. That is my blood, and it shall grant you power that will place you almost on par with a divinity like myself.
MIJAIL PETROV: hahaha, excellent! With this, I'll be able to kill even faster! (downs the blood and tosses the bowl aside) YESSSS! I can feel my strength and muscles swelling! I'm getting restless now, hahaha!
In a fraction of a second, the evil murderer dashes 100 meters in a single second and detonates the body of a nearby jaguar warrior with a single punch.
TEZCATLIPOCA: What are you doing?! Leave my soldiers alone; they will do the fighting for now.
MIJAIL PETROV: Come on, don't be a buzzkill! You're not even angry—these warriors are yours, aren't they? You should treasure them a bit more.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Do not mistake them. These are mere puppets—mindless husk I created. But that doesn't mean they don't feel pain; they do, though their emotions are suppressed to a minimum. They cost me a great deal of effort to manufacture; I had to expend vast amounts of energy over the years to raise such a horde. And besides, there are those three over there (pointing toward a spot). They possess true consciousness and are my strongest generals.
A short distance away from the god stand three jaguar warriors, noticeably larger and far more imposing than the rest. The three beings approach the deity and drop to their knees.
JAGUAR GENERAL 1: I, General CHIKAUAK, greet the God of All.
JAGUAR GENERAL 2: I, General PAINALLI, adore the God of All.
JAGUAR GENERAL 3: I, General TIACAUH, venerate the God of All.
TEZCATLIPOCA: My warriors, take a fraction of the army and strike that filthy city from its various gates. There are three entrances to that city—one gate for each of you. Leave no one alive. It is an order from your God!
The three generals unleash a ferocious roar that echoes across the entire region, rattling the nerves of the townspeople inside the city.
Meanwhile, our friends in the city are coordinating their war strategy. Gathered in the central plaza are all those who will join the fight. Mayor EVY addresses the crowd from atop a stack of wooden crates.
EVY: (raising his voice) SOLDIERS! TODAY IS A DARK DAY, FOR OUR PEACE—THE PEACE WE FOUGHT SO MANY YEARS TO ACHIEVE—HAS BEEN SHATTERED! BUT THIS IS NOT THE END! EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE DIED AS THE VILLAINS OF OUR PAST LIVES, WE WERE GRANTED A SECOND CHANCE IN THIS PLACE CALLED HELL! AND TODAY... BECAUSE OF THE SCHEMES OF THESE ARROGANT AND SPITEFUL GODS, OUR PEACE IS THREATENED! SO TODAY, WE FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE! LIKE NOTHING EVER WRITTEN IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS! TODAY SHALL BE THE DAY OF OUR FREEDOM! WHO IS WITH ME?!!
A thunderous shout erupts throughout the plaza, shaking the entire city. The roar reaches the ears of the jaguar warriors, making them break into a cold sweat, while TEZCATLIPOCA smirks upon hearing the massive outcry. Mayor EVY steps down from the crates and issues tactical commands.
EVY: Alright, listen up, everyone! ELENA and REX, hold the EAST gate. Quetzalcoatl, you take the WEST gate. And you, MALEKIN, hold the main entrance to the NORTH. The rest of you, choose who to follow and move out immediately!
ELENA: Guys, wait a moment before you leave, please. In a war, I believe communication is essential.
ELENA performs a swift ritual, raising her staff. Strands of glowing light penetrate the minds of everyone present. It turns out ELENA possessed a spell capable of granting telepathic communication to the whole army, though it only lasts for a couple of hours. EVY praises her for such an incredible feat, and our friends say their goodbyes, heading to their designated posts with small detachments of fighters following close behind.
Now, shift perspective to Dante, who has already encountered the intimidating ranks of jaguar warriors glaring back at him. DANTE and ISAMU stand motionless for a moment. Suddenly, TEZCATLIPOCA's roaring voice booms across the battlefield: "MY WARRIORS, THE TIME HAS COME! ATTACK!"
Instantly, the vast horde of jaguar warriors surges forward. DANTE and ISAMU exchange glances, both wearing confident smirks. ISAMU flips his straw hat back, revealing his brown hair tied in a ponytail. DANTE leaps high into the air, unleashing a massive arc with his blade that cleaves over 30 jaguar warriors clean in half.
The jaguar warriors pause for a brief moment after witnessing the ferocious assault. Dante touches down; in his right hand he wields the Kusanagi katana, while his left grips the "Abyssal Blade." Without losing momentum, Dante rockets forward, unleashing a relentless flurry of slashes through the ranks of the jaguar warriors. A lucky few barely manage to dodge the initial strikes, only to be torn to shreds by the residual shockwaves. Left with no choice but to push forward, a few brave jaguar warriors attempt to halt Dante and Isamu's advance, only to be completely dismembered by the pair.
Shift scene to TEZCATLIPOCA's location.
TEZCATLIPOCA: Dammit... I can feel countless warriors disappearing by the second! Human, it is time for you to take the field.
MIJAIL PETROV: Sounds good to me! But don't you have a few weapons so I can have a little more fun? hahaha!
TEZCATLIPOCA: You are a despicable human... You remind me of Mictlantekuti. But fine. Take these.
Out of thin air, a set of Aztec daggers materializes in MIJAIL's hands.
MIJAIL PETROV: hahaha! Now THAT is what I'm talking about! Alright then, wait for me here.
Back on the battlefield, DANTE continues to carve through the enemy ranks alongside ISAMU. The jaguar warriors are simply no match for them; not a single enemy can advance along the path they hold.
While DANTE and ISAMU push forward, the other three jaguar generals have split up, arriving at their respective gates.
At the EAST gate, REX and ELENA stand ready alongside a squad of roughly 50 demi-human soldiers of various species.
REX: I'm getting a little nervous...
ELENA: Stay calm, REX. I have a few tricks up my sleeve now; I'll cover your back.
REX: Thank you.
MYSTERIOUS VOICE: Aw, you scum are going to make me cry!
One of the jaguar generals appears right before the troops, prompting everyone to raise their weapons and assume a battle stance.
GENERAL PAINALLI: Scum of the earth... allow me to introduce myself: I am General Painalli, and today marks your end! hahaha!
Behind the general, an endless horde of jaguar warriors stands waiting for orders.
Shift scene to the WEST gate, where QUETZALCOATL is seated calmly. Suddenly, a jaguar general crashes down from the sky, his army landing right behind him. Unfazed, QUETZALCOATL rises to face them, her soldiers forming up behind her.
QUETZALCOATL: Don't think I'm going to make this easy for you.
GENERAL CHIKAUAK: My name is Chikauak. A pleasure, Goddess Quetzalcoatl. My god has requested your head, heh.
Now, shift scene to the NORTH main gate. MALEKIN stands guard like a lone soldier. Very few troops stand behind him—owing to his demonic appearance, hardly anyone chose to follow him, leaving him with a squad of only about 15 soldiers.
MALEKIN: (in his mind) Dammit... why are they afraid of me? They judge me without even knowing me. What a pain! I'm sorry, HERACLES... sometimes I just don't understand these other species.
While MALEKIN meditates, the jaguar general strides forward casually, coming to a halt a few meters away. Behind him, his army perches silently atop the surrounding trees, watching their commander.
GENERAL TIACAUH: My name is Tiacauh, and I can sense that you are the strongest fighter in this city... (malevolent smirk) I'm going to have fun with you! wahahahahahaha!
MALEKIN: (glares intently) Ha... let's see if you can handle me, kitty cat.
A vein bulges on the general's forehead at MALEKIN's remark.
Meanwhile, DANTE and ISAMU continue their charge when an attack crashes down from the sky like a meteor, pulverizing several jaguar warriors and forcing both DANTE and ISAMU to leap backward.
DANTE HERALDI: (coughing) Cough... cough... What the hell is with all this smoke?!
ISAMU: Give me a second.
With a swift swing of his sword, ISAMU creates a whirlwind that sweeps the smoke away. As the haze clears, the figure of MIJAIL emerges.
DANTE freezes in utter shock as the man who ripped everything away from him stands right before his eyes. ISAMU looks at DANTE in confusion, noticing his partner paralyzed at the sight of the intruder.
In a fraction of a second, DANTE rockets forward at blinding speed, executing two massive slashes aimed directly at the murderer's head. MIJAIL parries both strikes with his daggers, bringing them face-to-face, glaring directly into each other's eyes.
MIJAIL PETROV: hahaha! I missed you too... DAN... TE.
In DANTE's eyes, an indescribable hatred flares as he stares down the murderer of his family, while ISAMU stands by, slightly bewildered by everything unfolding before him.
How will this tale of reunion end? Will Dante's friends emerge victorious? We will find out very soon!