Chapter 355: The problems don't stop.
As the group made their way back to the base, a deep tremor shook the ground beneath their feet, as if nature itself were
The sky, already heavy with dark clouds, now lit up with flashes of lightning slicing ac
The air grew thick, and a sense of dread enveloped the surroundings. An imposing and furious storm was approaching, not only bri
"It seems they've figured out what I'm doing..." Dante murmured, observing how the environme
"Dante, what's happening?" Lilith asked, her gaze fixed on the increasingly ominous sky. Her voice trembled—yes, even the Empress, the Progenitor Demon, was scared.
"Prepare yourselves," Dante replied, his eyes locked on the horizon. "Something big is coming." His aura began t
An
Soon, like a swelling wave of nightmares, a legion of distorted hybrids emerged from the heart of the storm.
There were more than ten thousand, their presence oppressive, as if darkness itself had taken form. Creatures of nightmares, half-men, half-monsters, surged forward in an unstoppable army, their eyes glowing with primal fury.
Valentina gripped her spear, Gungnir, tightly as the storm roared in response to the hybrids' presence. "I'm having flashbacks of what I did to the demons," she said, adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Let's end this!"
"Prepare for battle!" Dante shouted, his command resonating like a call to arms. The miasma hounds he had summoned earlier began to growl, ready to launch themselves into the fray. Chaos was about to unfold, and each of them knew that their survival depended on their unity and strength.
The hybrids attacked like a devastating wave, their grotesque forms moving with surprising speed. Dante felt the pressure building in his chest as the battle commenced. He charged forward, meeting a group of advancing hybrids. With agile movements, he drew his blades, slicing through the monsters with ease.
"Let's go!" Dante yelled, severing a hybrid that attempted to attack him from behind. The blade sliced cleanly through the creature's neck, and he pivoted, not missing a beat. Each strike he delivered was infused with his growing energy. But even so, it didn't seem to be enough.
Lilith was at his side, unleashing magical energy to protect him. She conjured barriers as she fought, her magical abilities allowing her to dispel the hybrids' attacks before they could reach them. "Dante, we need to move together! They're everywhere!"
The screams of the hybrids blended with the storm's roar, creating a symphony of despair. Each attack seemed accompanied by a macabre laughter, echoing in the distorted voices of the creatures. Valentina fought fiercely, her spear impaling monsters as she shouted commands. "Behind me! Form a line!"
The ground trembled beneath their feet as the battle escalated. The hybrids were numerous and savage, their twisted forms making them difficult to dodge. Each one that fell seemed to be replaced by two more, like an unrelenting plague.
"Dante, can you feel their energy?" Valentina asked, slicing through a hybrid that lunged at her. The creature's body shattered under the force of her blow.
"Yes," he replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "And it's not normal... there's something very wrong with them!"
Dante's eyes shone with fierce determination. He knew that if they allowed things to spiral out of control, everyone would be in danger. With a decisive movement, he leaped into the midst of the horde of hybrids, delivering strikes with a precision that would impress any swordmaster. But even so, he felt himself growing more and more fatigued.
The battle raged on, but the wave of creatures seemed endless. Valentina and Lilith fought fiercely by Dante's side, but they soon began to notice the exhaustion in his movements. He was giving everything he had, but the energy he had absorbed earlier was starting to dwindle.
"Dante, you need to fall back!" Lilith shouted, conjuring a spell that momentarily made the hybrids hesitate.
"I can't! They're advancing!" he shouted back, already beginning to feel the limits of his body. The power he had absorbed was not enough to face such a number of enemies.
Valentina, realizing the struggle Dante was facing, took a defensive stance. "I'll take over, recover yourself."
"We don't have time!" Dante replied, fury taking hold of him. He couldn't let whatever was controlling the hybrids prevail.
In a moment of desperation, Dante decided to use one of his most powerful abilities. He concentrated all of his energy, feeling the pressure in his body, the pain accumulating as the storm roared around him. He began to channel this energy into a single, powerful explosion.
"Burning Death!" he shouted, and a wave of pure energy erupted from his body, engulfing the area around him. The light was blinding, and the nearest hybrids were disintegrated instantly, while those farther away were thrown back by the force of the impact.
Dante's allies felt the pressure of the attack, but couldn't help but feel a wave of hope. The energy exploded in a bright glow, illuminating the battlefield and showcasing the ferocity of the ongoing fight.
For a moment, everything went silent, and the light from Dante's attack lit up the dark sky as if it had pulled a bit of the storm inside of it.
When the light finally faded, Dante saw the result of his ability.
Thousands of hybrids had been eliminated, most of them in pieces, while others lay on the ground, unable to rise. But as the dust settled, a new wave of hybrids began to advance.
He had managed to eliminate a fraction, but it wasn't enough.
Exhaustion settled into his muscles, and the pain in his body was intense.
He felt like he was sinking into a sea of fatigue. His vision began to darken, and a heavy pressure settled in his chest. "I... can't..." Dante murmured, the strength draining from his body. He was on the verge of passing out.
"Dante!" Valentina shouted, but her voice seemed distant, as if it were being submerged underwater. The world around him began to spin, and he felt himself losing control.
Lilith, noticing what was happening, cast a spell to try to stabilize him. "Dante, stay with me! Don't give up now!"
But the weight of the fight, the exhaustion, and the overuse of power began to take hold. In a final effort, Dante lunged forward, delivering a final blow to a group of hybrids still standing. His blade cut through them, but his body finally gave in to the pressure, and he collapsed to the ground, darkness consuming his vision.
'Shit... something's wrong with my body...'
His allies froze in horror as Dante fell. Valentina rushed to him, her mind in a panic. "Dante!"
"Dante!" Lilith cried as she hurried to his side, trying to help him up.
But he was unconscious, his body drained and unable to move. Valentina and Lilith knelt beside him, concern etched on their faces. "He needs help!" Valentina said, her voice choked with emotion.
"We need to get him back to base. He can't stay here!" Lilith exclaimed, already using magic to try to stabilize Dante's vital signs. "He's just unconscious, but we need to act fast."
Valentina nodded, still holding Gungnir as she stared at the horde of hybrids advancing toward them. They were numerous, but they couldn't let the battle continue. "Take care of him! I'll keep them at bay!"
Lilith signaled Dante's hellhounds, which had already begun absorbing the bodies of the fallen hybrids. "Let's go! Drag the hybrids away and cover our retreat!" She cast a protective spell around them while Valentina lifted Dante into her arms.
As they moved away, Valentina felt her heart race. She was terrified of what might happen if they couldn't get Dante back safely. "I can't leave him like this," she murmured, turning to face the approaching horde.
The hybrids kept advancing, but Valentina's determination didn't waver. She positioned herself defensively, determined to protect Dante at all costs. The energy from Dante still pulsed within her, and she knew she had to harness it.
With a swift movement, she unleashed a devastating spell that lit up the battlefield once more. The creatures hesitated, but soon pressed forward, drawn by Valentina's presence. "I won't let you through!" she shouted, preparing for the next attack.
Lilith rushed to Valentina's side. "We need to move quickly! We need a plan to get them back to base!"
Valentina nodded, taking a deep breath to focus. "Okay! We need to divide and conquer. Let's attack the groups and push them back as we make our way!"
"You all... Release Zero," Valentina commanded the Valkyries, who grinned in response. "HAHASHAHA LET'S GO!" Suddenly, massive auras began to surge in the area, and complete carnage ensued.
"Dante, wake up," Lilith whispered in a moment of desperation as the creatures continued to attack and die relentlessly.
Valentina, sensing the gravity of the situation, used a final attack, a powerful spell that increased her strength. "Let's go!" she yelled, delivering a powerful blow to the horde of hybrids, creating a wave of energy that pushed them back. With that, they managed to clear a path.
"Now!" Lilith shouted, pulling Valentina to move quickly toward the exit. The horde of hybrids hesitated momentarily, allowing the two women to carry Dante to safety.
As they ran, the sound of the storm still roared behind them, but the force of their actions was starting to prevail. The Valkyries continued to cast spells and slay everything in their path to keep the hybrids at bay while Lilith carried Dante in her arms.
"Your damned husband! Wake up!!" Valentina exclaimed as the creatures began to retreat. The two women fought with all their might, making every second count.
The battle was fierce, and the Valkyries were holding their own, but... "Are they multiplying?!" Kaaela shouted, watching the flesh begin to rebuild.
"Holy crap..." Maaelina said, gazing at the horizon, where a massive monster of flesh started to form.
"Oh God, I'm going to vomit!" Maara shouted.
"What the hell is that?!" Siren exclaimed, who had been merely pushing the hybrid beasts back until now.