The chamber grew darker as the twisted replica of Dante stepped forward. The shadow's presence was suffocating, its malice a tangible force that clung to the air. The glow of its crimson eyes bore into Dante's own, as though piercing the depths of his soul.
Selene and Lillith instinctively drew closer to him, their weapons raised. The tension in the room was palpable, and even the faint whispers that had haunted them earlier fell silent, as if the Abyss itself held its breath.
The shadow-Dante smirked, the eerie resemblance unsettling. "So this is what you've become," it said, its voice a distorted echo of Dante's own. "Do you truly believe you can escape the Abyss unscathed? That you can face the darkness without becoming part of it?"
Dante's jaw tightened. "I've faced worse than you. Whatever you are, I'll destroy you like I've destroyed everything else in my way."
The shadow chuckled darkly. "Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night? That you're a savior, a hero, fighting against the odds? Let's see how much of that is true."
Before Dante could respond, the shadow lunged, faster than anything he had faced before. Its movements were a blur, and Dante barely had time to block as their blades clashed. The force of the impact sent him skidding back, his arms trembling from the sheer power behind the strike.
Selene stepped in, her blade slicing through the air as she aimed for the shadow's side. But it twisted unnaturally, dodging her attack with ease. In one fluid motion, it countered, forcing her to retreat or risk a fatal blow.
"It's like fighting a ghost," Selene hissed, her breath ragged.
"No," Lillith corrected, her eyes narrowing as she studied the shadow. "It's not a ghost. It's him. A reflection of his power, his flaws... his doubts."
The shadow laughed again, the sound echoing ominously. "Smart girl. But knowing what I am won't save you."
Dante gritted his teeth, his grip on his weapon tightening. "Then I'll do more than just know. I'll end you."
He charged forward, his blade gleaming as he struck again and again. The shadow met each attack with precision, its movements mirroring Dante's own but with a fluidity and grace that seemed almost impossible. Each clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the chamber, the ground cracking beneath their feet.
"You fight well," the shadow taunted, its voice dripping with mockery. "But you're holding back. Afraid to embrace what you truly are?"
"I'm nothing like you!" Dante roared, his anger fueling his strikes. But deep down, the shadow's words struck a chord. It fought not just with his strength but with his insecurities, his doubts, and his darkest fears.
As their battle raged on, Selene and Lillith worked to find an opening. Selene darted around the edges of the fight, her eyes sharp as she looked for a weakness. Lillith, meanwhile, began tracing runes in the air, her fingers glowing faintly as she chanted under her breath.
The shadow noticed, its gaze flicking toward Lillith for a brief moment. It smirked. "Ah, the clever one. Let's see how clever you really are."
In an instant, it disengaged from Dante and surged toward her, its speed blinding. Lillith's eyes widened, but she didn't stop her incantation. Selene intercepted, her blade meeting the shadow's just in time. The force of the clash sent her staggering, but she held her ground.
"Keep going!" Selene shouted to Lillith. "We'll buy you time!"
Dante joined her, his weapon slicing through the air as he drove the shadow back. But the shadow's attacks grew more ferocious, its movements almost unpredictable. It seemed to anticipate their every move, countering with brutal efficiency.
"You can't defeat me," it said, its voice a low growl. "I'm everything you are, everything you fear. How do you fight yourself?"
Dante's breath came in heavy gasps, his body aching from the relentless assault. He knew the shadow wasn't lying. It wasn't just an opponent—it was a manifestation of everything he struggled to keep buried. His doubts about his strength, his guilt over the lives he'd taken, his fear of failure.
"You don't fight it," Lillith's voice cut through the chaos, steady and calm. She finished her incantation, the runes around her flaring to life. "You embrace it."
The runes shot forward, forming a barrier around the shadow. For the first time, its expression faltered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing its features. The barrier pulsed with energy, forcing the shadow to slow its movements.
"What are you doing?" it hissed, its voice laced with venom.
"Showing him the truth," Lillith replied. She turned to Dante, her gaze piercing. "You can't defeat this shadow by denying it. It's part of you. Acknowledge it. Accept it. Only then will you have the strength to overcome it."
Dante hesitated, his weapon trembling in his hand. The shadow snarled, its form flickering as it fought against the barrier. "Don't listen to her! She doesn't understand what you are!"
But deep down, Dante knew Lillith was right. The shadow wasn't just an enemy—it was a reflection of his own struggles, his own pain. To fight it was to fight himself, a battle he could never truly win.
He lowered his weapon, stepping closer to the barrier. The shadow's eyes widened, its form becoming more erratic. "What are you doing? You'll destroy yourself!"
Dante met its gaze, his voice steady. "I'm not afraid of you. You're a part of me, but you don't define me."
The barrier flared brighter, the runes pulsating as they drew the shadow closer to Dante. Its form began to dissolve, its edges blurring as it was pulled inward. Dante braced himself, feeling a surge of energy as the shadow merged with him. Memories, emotions, and thoughts flooded his mind, but he stood firm, refusing to let them overwhelm him.
When the light faded, the chamber was silent once more. The oppressive weight that had filled the air was gone, replaced by a strange sense of clarity. Dante opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Lillith's.
"You did it," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You faced your darkness."
Selene let out a relieved breath, sheathing her weapon. "Well, that was intense. Can we not do that again?"
Dante chuckled softly, though his body still ached. "No promises."
Before they could say more, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The walls of the chamber cracked, pieces of stone falling as the entire structure seemed to shudder. A low, guttural sound echoed through the room, growing louder with each passing moment.
"What now?" Selene muttered, her eyes darting around.
Lillith's expression darkened. "The Abyss doesn't like to lose. It's sending something else."
The doorway at the far end of the chamber split open, revealing a swirling vortex of shadows. From within, a massive figure began to emerge, its form shrouded in darkness but radiating an aura of pure malevolence.
Dante's heart sank as the creature stepped into the light, its eyes glowing with a familiar crimson hue. It was larger, more monstrous, and far more dangerous than anything they had faced so far.
"Looks like the Abyss is done playing games," Selene said, her voice grim.
Dante tightened his grip on his weapon, his resolve hardening once more. "Then neither are we."
The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice shaking the chamber as it charged toward them. The battle was far from over, and the Abyss had yet to reveal all of its secrets.