Dante watched in horror as Juba and his gang attacked Astrid. He felt helpless and scared, unsure of what to do. But he knew he couldn't just stand there and watch his friend get hurt.
With a sudden burst of courage, Dante leaped into the fray, throwing himself at Juba and the other boys. His small frame might not have been as imposing as his opponents', but they easily dodged his attack.
Surprised by Dante's unexpected attack, Juba and his gang were momentarily caught off guard, giving Astrid the opportunity she needed to break free from their grasp. Together, she and Dante continued to fight, their combined efforts now giving them a fighting chance.
"You know these hands are rated E for everyone," Juba replied.
The brawl was intense, with punches and kicks being exchanged left and right. But Astrid, mostly Astrid, refused to back down. They fought with everything they had, using every trick and strategy they knew.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Juba and his gang began to tire. They realized they had underestimated their opponents and were now paying the price for it. With one last, desperate attack, they tried to take down Astrid and Dante, but the two friends were ready for them.
With a swift, coordinated move, Dante rolled into the gang, making them lose their footing and landed the final blows, knocking Juba and his gang to the ground. Panting and bruised, the two friends looked at each other, relieved that the fight was over.
Juba and his gang got back up. "This ain't over," and left with his gang.
"Well, that was quite the battle," Astrid said, grinning through her pain.
Dante nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "Yeah, I guess it was. You know, you're likkle but you're tallawah!"
"Tallawah? What is that? Is it a reference to my skills?" Astrid responded.
"It means strong. You may be small, but you are strong!"
Astrid responded "I have 2 inches on you*
Astrid extended her hand towards Dante. "I underestimated you, mortal. You have grit. I can respect that. With a couple more battles in Hel, you might be a fine warrior!"
Dante hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand. "Okay!?"
The two friends shared a moment of silence before breaking out into laughter.
Then a break in the clouds - a shooting star, Dante exclaimed.
But something was off about it. It crackled with lightning, pulsated with energy, and the flames around the object disappeared.
"Wait, that is my sword!" Astrid proclaimed.
"Your sword!" Dante responded.
"Yes, Dainsleif!" Astrid screamed.
Dante replied, "Bless you."
"Whatever it is, it landed in the Blue Mountains," Dante said.