Vergil awoke from the dream, a vision so vivid it seemed to blur the lines of reality. Even Dante, who was traversing dimensions far beyond their own, had been present in that ethereal realm. Vergil clutched his head, pondering the possibilities. Could that place truly exist, or was it merely a phantasm? Yet if it were an illusion, how could Dante have been there?
Rising with purpose, Vergil quickly readied himself, his movements precise and deliberate. He donned the garb of the Assassin Guild's leader, a mantle of authority and lethality. His mind, though still shadowed by the remnants of the dream, was resolute. Whatever the truth behind the vision, he would uncover it, even if it meant delving into the abyss itself.
After donning his ceremonial attire, Vergil's gaze fell upon a highly advanced communication device. The screen displayed a new message from none other than Dante. The coordinates of the dimension in question were included in the message, and in that instant, Vergil realized that what he experienced was not merely a dream but a place where dreams and reality intertwined.
Without hesitation, Vergil responded to the message, his mind racing with the implications of this revelation. He then made his way swiftly to his study within the Assassin Guild, each step echoing his determination to uncover the truth
The day passed as usual, marked by a meeting with all representatives from the Adventure Guild, where Vergil officially announced his complete withdrawal from the Assassin Guild. His position would be taken over by a Dark Elf, the wife of King Blackheart. Shadow opened his cabinet and retrieved a device he had stored away—a contraption with three tubes and a small screen. Vergil took the device in his hands.
"It's been a long time since I used the Dimensional Walker, Dante... What adventure are you embarking on now?" Vergil mused softly to himself.
Vergil swiftly gathered his belongings and set out for the hill where he had promised to meet King Shadow Blackheart. As he journeyed, his mind was filled with visions of the worlds he might explore, each one more fantastical than the last.
Upon reaching the designated spot, Vergil saw Shadow already there, standing alone against the horizon. Without hesitation, Vergil approached Shadow and knelt before him, a gesture of respect and fealty.
"Your Majesty..." Vergil began.
"Uncle, please stand," Shadow responded warmly.
"I can only assist you up to this point; I must soon depart for my next adventure," Vergil said.
"Uncle, where are you going? Is the Agretian Contingent not vast enough for you?" Shadow inquired.
"There is a request specifically directed to me, and this adventure is one that only I can undertake," Vergil replied flatly.
"How long will you be gone?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know. It could be a year, two years, or perhaps I might not return at all," Vergil said as he prepared the Dimensional Walker.
"Will I ever see you again?" Shadow asked.
"We shall see. One thing is certain: I will not be returning for a long time," Vergil replied, setting the Dimensional Walker in place.
A portal opened, and Vergil swiftly picked up the Dimensional Walker lying on the ground. He could see a barren place resembling a desert landscape.
"It's time for me to go. Take care of the Azeroth Empire," Vergil said as he stepped into the portal and after Vergil passing the portal, the portal it self closed.
Shadow watched silently as Vergil entered, saying nothing in response.
After entering the portal, Vergil found a golden knight waiting for him. The knight wielded a spear-like weapon with a built-in pistol, standing beside a speeder adorned with eagle engravings. Vergil smiled upon seeing the knight, a sense of recognition dawning upon him.
"Dante... it is indeed you," Vergil said.
"Welcome to Holy Terra. You look well after your adventures in that world," Dante greeted.
"You've changed drastically yourself, much larger than before," Vergil observed, looking at Dante.
"The demands of being an Adeptus Custodes necessitated accepting their augmented versions," Dante replied flatly.
"The Emperor awaits you. Come aboard, and I will take you to meet him," Dante said, mounting the Dawneagle Jetbike.
"Is this one of the equipment given?" Vergil asked.
"Different... Grey Knights have their own equipment, and also there will be no Grey Knights in Holy Terra," replied Dante.
"Then what kind of augmentation will be received?" Vergil asked curiously.
"Let me explain briefly here. The Grey Knights are one of the Space Marine Chapters formed during the Horus Heresy. Their full name is the 666th Space Marine Chapter, and from what I've heard, their Gene-Seed was created directly by the Emperor of Mankind himself," Dante explained.
"Gene-Seed?" Vergil asked, confused.
"It's an additional organ you'll receive later through the specific surgery route of the Grey Knights. Even the Adeptus Custodes themselves don't have complete data on what Gene-Seed the Grey Knights possess, but from what I understand, Grey Knights have Gene-Seed that's almost the same as other Space Marines," Dante explained as he helped Vergil onto the Dawneagle Jetbike.
"We're heading to the Imperial Palace, where someone else besides the Emperor is waiting," Dante said as he revved the Jetbike.
"The Imperial Palace? I thought this place was just a desert," Vergil remarked.
"Not entirely desert. Water may be scarce, but don't be surprised... Holy Terra's population is massive. They usually reside in towering cities that stretch towards the sky, known as Hive Cities," Dante explained, accelerating the Jetbike.
"So it's not like a town or village then?" Vergil asked.
"Exactly. Hive Cities are the cities here. The ones I've visited are divided into three parts... Before you get confused, right now it's M41 980," Dante said.
"Huh? M41? 980?" Vergil asked.
"Hahahahahaha, I thought you'd be confused, it's the calendar system in this dimension," Dante said. "M41 refers to the 41st millennium, while 980 refers to the year. So you could say it's the year 41,980," Dante continued, laughing
"Such an unusual calendar system," Vergil remarked.
"You'll get used to it eventually. I was confused at first too," Dante replied.
Unbeknownst to them, Dante and Vergil spotted in the distance an urban complex with a massive palace. Dante quickly accelerated his Jetbike towards the urban complex.