(As the climax slowly comes, Dante dusts himself over as opens his hand, calling out for his sword.)
Mikael: What's this look on your face, I see? You look as if you're about to get serious? Do you still think that you have a fighting chance as you are now, Dante? I could easily turn you and everyone else here into ash with the power flowing through this cube.
Dante: This sword in my hands has withstood the strongest of magic. Astral energy will be no different.
(As Dante says this, Azura gets up and walks alongside Dante.)
Dante: Is your head clear enough to hear my words, Azura?
Azura: Do you have a plan, Crow?
Dante: I do. With my Shuketsugan, I should be able to dive into the minds of Tana and Vincent and rid them of Mikael's magic.
Azura: And what should I do?
Dante: I need you to keep Mikael busy long enough to reach them. Once I have them it won't take long.
Azura: You sure do sound confident so I'll play along.
Dante: I'll lead the charge as a distraction and you'll come in. Whatever you do, just make sure he doesn't use the Astral Cube. If he does, then make him exhaust its power.
Azura: You sure that's going to work?
Dante: I'm sure of it. He only has enough power to use it a limited amount of time before either he wears down or until Cube recharges.
Mikael: That's sure is a lot of talk about a plan that will fail.
(As Mikael says this, Dante chuckles which quickly turns into laughter to which irritates Mikael.)
Mikael: You think this funny? Maybe you really don't understand what's going on here. I am in control! You continue to draw breath as long as I see fit! And this Astral Cube gives me the power to guarantee what I say!
Dante: Then how about you stop talking and show me just how great this power is.
Mikael: A death wish? How could I ever say no to granting death?
(As Mikael says this, he begins to charge up the Astral Cube for a blast.)
Azura: Are you sure provoking him was smart.
Dante: After I deflect this attack, you go and engage him. This is the plan.
Azura: Very well. Best of luck.
(As Azura says this, Mikael fires a blast from the Astral Cube to which causes Dante to jumps towards it to Mikael's surprise.)
Mikael: What's this? Eager to die that much aren't you?
(It's here that Dante takes his sword and hits the blast back directly to Mikael.)
Mikael: Tch! Clever, but I'm no fool.
(As Mikael says this, he does a swap spell switching places with Tana, causing her to take the full brunt of the Astral energy as it eviscerates her completely leaving over specks of ashes in the air. After this, Mikael burst with laughter as Azura instantly surges with power as her rage reaches its boiling point. As her power continues to climbs, the ground begins to shake as a yellow aura starts to engulf her.)
Azura: I hope that felt good because it'll be the last good feeling you're ever gonna have!
Mikael: Come and meet your maker. Your power is nothing to be afraid of. Not when I possess-
(Just as Mikael was speaking, Azura sending him flying with a powerful punch to the jaw. As he is soaring through the air, Azura with her tremendous speed runs alongside him as she continues to land blow after blow until she grabs him by the hair and slams him so hard into the ground that the mere force of this action creates a crater into the ground.)
Azura: You were saying something?
Mikael: Tch...I'm...Getting really annoyed...By you!
(As Mikael says this, Azura jumps high into the sky as she prepares to stomp Mikael deeper into the ground, but just she was going to connect, he fire a magic blast that knocks her away to which gives him enough time to get back on his feet.)
Mikael: I'm going to you kill you and your friend when I'm done here.
Azura: Not before my fists shatter your bones into dust.
Mikael: Into dust? Isn't it a little too soon to be making dust jokes?
(As Mikael says this, he and Azura engages in hand to hand combat. Elsewhere, Vincent gets ready to intervene in the fight, but Dante appears right in front of him with his Shuketsugan fully activated. He then quickly places his hand on Vincent's head as he gazes deep within Vincent's eyes, entering his mind. Once there Dante follows the essence of Mikael's magic until he reaches a purple crystal that encases Vincent himself. Dante then shatters the crystal freeing Vincent of Mikael's control. After this, Dante removes his hand from Vincent's head.)
Dante: There...You should be free of all his influence.
Vincent: I am. Thank you. It's time we made that snake pay!
(As Vincent makes his way to Mikael and Azura, Mason walks out from the shadows in front of Dante.)
Mason: And just like that, things are back in order. Things are just as you wanted them and they are going to play out as such. Somehow even with things looking as bleak as they do, you're still calm as ever. With everything...Everything that has transpired here today, even when we first threw you into that cell, you've been level headed. Never made a fuss, not even once.
Dante: By the way you speak of me, you make me come off as a mastermind. The master pulling the strings.
Mason: That's because you are. You're just as cunning and conniving as Lenneth was in her heyday. You see, the more I thought about it, the deeper your plans go.
Dante: And just what is my plan, Mason?
Mason: Somehow someway you hoping to leave this place with the Astral Cube. Now I don't know how you're going to do it, but I will guarantee that you fail.
Dante: And just how do you plan to do that?
(Just as Dante says this, Mason waves his hand and completely traps Dante in time.)
Mason: You should've died seven years ago.
(As Mason says this, he is suddenly pierced through the chest with a sword. As he turns his head, he is stunned to see that it is in fact Dante who stabbed him.)
Mason: How...How is this possible???
Dante: I was careful and pointed my blade only a few centimeters from your heart to ensure you cannot escape my grasp.
Mason: Now I get it...It's those eyes...This entire time I was locked in your gaze.
Dante: It's like the more I use them, the more I learn. For example, why haven't you told Stephen about his brother?
Mason: What about you? Everything has already been aired! You're just spouting nonsense.
(As Mason says this, Dante slowly tweaks his sword causing intense pain to Mason.)
Dante: I wasn't referring to me. I was talking about Mori. And don't say you don't know what I'm talking about. Back when Mikael threw us to the ground, I regained consciousness first. I place my hands on your head and dove into your mind. The first thing that pulled me in was Mori's birth and the death of his mother due to childbirth. I also saw you groom him into this...For this precise moment. And just because I'm such a good person, I'll make sure to give him a quick death. Maybe I'll snap his neck.
(As Dante says this, Dante removes his sword from Mason's chest, takes the blood from the blade, and smears it across his face.)
Dante: I once told you that I was going to kill you...Well, today's the day!
(Just as this happens an explosion goes off right to them from Stephen and Mori's clash. As smokes clear, Dante looks for Mason, but he's nowhere to be found.)
Dante: Tch! God damn it, Stephen! I bloody had him dead to rights and here you come and set him free!
Stephen: Cooldown Dante!
Dante: I would be cool if you could just carry your weight! Aren't you a Prince? Why haven't you killed him yet?!?
Stephen: It's because he's good. He's really good, Dante. My father really must've trained because he fights exactly like him, but not at the same time. And father was already hard enough.
Dante: Come on. We must find them quickly.
Stephen: What about Mikael and the Astral Cube?
Dante: Azura and Vincent are keeping him busy. They won't give him a second to cast a spell after having killed their entire group killed. They want blood just like I want blood! Do you understand me!?! Do you, Stephen?
Stephen: What are saying? Is that father's blood on your face?
Dante: I told you...I'm after blood and you are not.
(As Dante says this, he vanishes behind Stephen and hits him as hard as he can with the end of his sword knocking Stephen completely unconscious, but catches him before he hits the ground.)
Dante: Do forgive me, brother but I cannot ask you to kill your own father. I fear that isn't a line you should ever have to cross. If you ever did cross that line then I could no longer trust you. Leave the lying scum to me. I'll get enough blood for the three of us.
(As Dante says this, he begins to look for a safe spot to hide Stephen. It's here when he looks at the tower where he was being kept and then suddenly he teleports there unbeknownst to him.)
Dante: Just how did I do that?
(He then realizes that it's due to his eyes, the Shuketsugan.)
Dante: These eyes just keeps surprising me. Maybe he was right about me. Things may actually go as I planned after all.
(He says with a small grin. After this, he vanishes from within the tower and back into the center of the fold as he begins to hunt Mori and Mason down as Mason's blood dripping down his face fuels him like a drug he's never had before. Elsewhere on the eastside of the Kingdom, Mason tells Mori to sit him along the wall.)
Mori: Why are we stopping? Are we standing against him?
Mason: We are, but not in the way you think. The bastard got me good so I will be useless in a fight so you must hold him off until I can muster up the strength to get us out of here. Do you think you can do that?
Mori: But what about Mikael?!? We cannot simply allow him to roam with the Astral Cube?
Mason: Mikael will hold up his part of the deal. I'm going to transport us to his hideout. Now answer my question.
Mori: Yes! I'm more than capable of handling, Dante.
(As Mori says this, Dante appears on top of a roof overlooking Mori and Mason.)
Dante: You handling me? You're piss on a hot day compared to me, Mori. But I must confess, I am intrigued by you and how you've come to be here. (He hops from the roof, in front of Mori.) Now let's see who handles who.
Mori: Heh...Funny, are you always so serious? Just like everyone else, I've heard the same stories about the Bloody Crow. About you killing hundreds under a night. Burning cities, towns, villages, homes to the ground all with that sadistic look on your face. How can you not see it? Lenneth has made you mad with blood, Dante. Your bloodthirsty and quite frankly that kind of bloodlust you have is that of a mad man!
(As Mori says this, Dante punches Mori in the jaw full force which causes him to stumble.)
Dante: Hurts doesn't? Now just imagine what I'm going to do to your beloved father.
(After saying this, Dante lunges forth with a sword slash, but Mori dodges it and kicks the sword out of his hand to which causes Dante to chuckle.)
Dante: I can kill you will my bare hands too, if that's what you want?
(As Dante says this, Mori comes in with several punches that Dante easily dodges with a smile on his face. "Is that all you got?" Dante says as he jumps up and hits Mori with a knee right under the chin, followed up by a kick to the chest that sends crashing into a wall. After this, Dante turns his attention to Mason.)
Dante: So much for him.
Mason: If you think that's all he's got then you're sadly mistaken.
(As Mason says this, Mori appears above Dante as he begins to fire several blasts to which causes Dante to flip around and dodge the blasts.)
Dante: Does this mean you're gonna take me seriously now?
Mori: Come give it your best.
(As Mori says this, Dante vanishes behind him and goes for a sword slash, but Mori ducks under and roll forwards to create space between them. After they give each other a quick stare, they begin to clash both throwing strikes and countering each other.)
Mason: Yes...Good, Mori. Just hold him off for a little longer.
(As Mason continues to gather his strength in this dire situation, Mori throws three consecutive punches which are then followed up by a spinning kick that Dante blocks. Dante then stomps on Mori's foot then stabs through his Achilles with his sword and slashes him across his chest. After this, Dante guts him with a knee to the core of his stomach and then punches him to the ground. He then puts his sword through Mori's hand.)
Dante: Now then...Which one of you wants to see the other die before them? Will it be you Mason? I mean you do have another son. Or will it be you, long lost stepbrother?
Mori: Go to hell.
Dante: In due time of course I'll be running that place as well. I've come to a decision. In order to inflict the most pain, Mason must see you die. He must watch you suffer as I kill you. And I will ensure he does.
(As Dante says this, he walks over to Mason and gazes deep into his eyes.)
Dante: You're weak so my compulsion will work on you. That being said, don't blink.
(As Dante says this, he walks back over to Mori. It's here where Dante stomps on Mori's spine cracking in several places as Mori screams out in pain.)
Dante: He'll be lucky if he ever walks again.
Mason: Oh I swear I will have my vengeance, Dante! You're gonna wish you had died seven years ago.
(As Mason says this, he snaps his fingers teleporting himself and Mori away.)
Dante: You only think you know what it feels like, Mason. Just you wait...Just you wait!!!!
(Back over the entrance of the Kingdom, Azura and Vincent both land multiple consecutive strikes onto Mikael as crashes through the ground.)
Mikael: That's it! I've had enough of this!
(As Mikael says this, Azura and Vincent come at full speed with a combination strike, but Mikael teleports into the sky with the Astral Cube in hand fully charged.)
Mikael: It's long overdue I turned you two into dust!
(As Mikael says this, he fires a gigantic beam of power from the Astral Cube. This causes Azura and Vincent to put their hand up against the blast to push it back.)
Mikael: Try as you might! No matter how much stronger your rage makes you, it pales in comparison to the power of transcendence!
(As Mikael says this, he pushes more power into the blast that it starts to make Azura and Vincent's feet to drag through the ground as they continue to try and push the blast back.)
Azura: You betrayed us! You betrayed me and killed everyone I've ever cared for! There's no way I'm letting you kill me!
(Her saying this, gives her more strength to push back as they start to get things on an even playing field.)
Mikael: Tch! If I put out any more power than this, then I risk the Cube running out of power. That's it, I'll use the medallion's power to amplify the cube.
(As Mikael says this, he then summons the Uesugi Medallion and cast a spell that flows the power stored within the medallion through the Astral Cube. This sudden burst of power is enough to blow both Azura and Vincent away.)
Mikael: Finally...Berserkers really are quite the specimen to withstand so much power.
(As Mikael says this, Dante's walks up sword in hand.)
Dante: Well I hope you have enough left for me.
Mikael: Dante....Of course, you're still alive. This is perfect. I finally get to correct my mistake in Lexington.
Dante: By all means...Give it your best shot. I won't even move or deflect with my sword.
Mikael: You really are mad, are you? Very well then. I accept your challenge.
(As Mikael says this, he begins to powers up the Astral Cube once more. Just as the Cube's power hits its peak, it shatters in Mikael's hands.)
Mikael: What?!? No no no no no no! What just happened?!?!
Dante: Oh how I've wondered how your face would look when you finally realized that you were completely out of your league.
(As Dante says this, opens up his hand and then suddenly the real Astral Cube appears with a unison of color and essence flowing within it.)
Dante: This is the real Astral Cube.
Mikael: But....But how?!? How is this possible!?! I collected every single piece! I open a rift to absorb power!
Dante: The pieces you collected were replicas put there by me through the crows. I've been had constructed the Cube while in my confinement here. So this entire time, I've been sitting there, for days with the Cube in my presence, learning. And I fear there is so much more to learn from this.
Mikael: Tch! I cannot believe this! How could I have not known!?!
(As Mikael contemplates his miscalculations, Dante comes bursting towards Mikael, but teleports away before Dante can reach him.)
Dante: Hmph! Coward...
(As Dante says this, he senses a large army approaching the Kingdom. Upon sensing this, he walks over to the shattered replica of the Astral Cube and picks them up.
A few moments pass, as Dante can begin to the flag that one of the warriors is holding which is the Royal Crest Of The Ataria.)