The doors to Devil May Cry HQ crashed open with a resounding bang as Hadrian kicked them wide, striding inside with a satisfied grin. "Guess who's back in business!" His voice echoed through the room, his entrance impossible to ignore.
Heads turned, eyes widening as they registered the familiar figure. Behind the main desk, Dante was sprawled in his usual pose, one booted foot propped on the desk and a slice of pizza frozen mid-bite. He arched an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he took in Hadrian's confident stride and the smug grin on his face.
"Look who finally found his way back," Dante drawled, lowering the slice and sizing him up with mock suspicion. "What kept you, kid? Got distracted by the scenery?"
Hadrian shot him a look, hands sliding into his pockets as Hedwig and Oryou perched on his shoulders, their gazes sweeping the familiar faces with interest. "Hardly got lost. Let's just say I had a… productive trip," he replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Dante leaned back further, crossing his arms with a glint of genuine curiosity in his gaze. "Alright, now I'm interested. Let's hear it—what happened?"
Hadrian smirked, glancing around as familiar faces greeted him. "Oh, you know. Got a new wand, met a dragon-blooded warrior, fought some undead, got beat up by a demonic knight… the usual."
The crew's reactions were instant.
"Hold on," Lady interjected, folding her arms with an amused smirk, "back up. You fought what?"
Dante straightened, the pizza momentarily forgotten. "Yeah, you're gonna have to break this down for us."
Hadrian took a slow breath, letting the anticipation build before he started, each word resonating as he recounted his journey. He spoke of finally obtaining his Yggdrasil wand, its craftsmanship forged from the sacred tree's wood and bound with the feather and venom of his familiars. His tale shifted to the towering Sieg, a dragon-blooded warrior, and their strange camaraderie amid battles against undead horrors.
As he delved into the clash with Draugrheim, the Wraithlord necromancer, and his skeletal dragon, the room grew tense, the images vivid. He described Helheim's eerie, ghost-lit depths, the echoing clash of metal, and the hollow-eyed stares of Draugrheim's undead thralls. But as he reached the moment of his defeat at the hands of Jin, his tone dropped, words measured.
"…And then there was Jin. He didn't just beat me—he broke my twin swords like they were brittle glass. Every move was calculated, merciless. He was on a level I wasn't ready for," Hadrian admitted, the memory still sharp.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only when Lady gave a low whistle. "So, you found someone who could actually take you down?"
Hadrian nodded, a spark of humility in his gaze. But he didn't dwell on it; his eyes ignited with renewed pride as he unsheathed the sleek, dark blade now hanging at his side. "Didn't stop me from taking this beauty, though." He held up Bradamante, the katana's dark energy pulsing faintly. "Jin's own Devil Arm. It's part of why I stayed. By the time I recovered, Hedwig's burning day hit, so I spent the time training and…"
He trailed off, casually dodging what he knew would be the next question. But Hedwig wasn't about to let him off the hook.
"Oh, and he's leaving out the Valkyrie," she chirped, her tone dripping with mischief as she gave Hadrian a pointed look.
Dante's eyes gleamed with sudden interest, his smirk widening. "A Valkyrie, huh?"
Hadrian felt a warmth creep up his neck, a telltale flush blooming under the scrutiny. "It's not what you think," he muttered, trying and failing to downplay it. "She's… well, just someone I met."
Oryou, coiled on his other shoulder, flicked her tongue, adding fuel to the fire. "Someone he met… and invited on a 'not-a-date' date."She's a Valkyrie in training, and yes, she's beautiful."
At this, even Dorea's portrait came alive, her expression positively alight with interest. "A Valkyrie, Harry? I'd say she sounds like a perfect addition to the family," she declared with a sly grin.
The room erupted into laughter as Hadrian scrubbed a hand over his face, groaning under his breath. He raised a hand, waving them off as he attempted to regain control. "Alright, alright—enough matchmaking," he said, shooting an exasperated look at his familiars. "Let's get back to what matters."
Dante chuckled, tossing the last bit of his pizza aside as he stood. "You're right. What really matters is this: It's been a long time since you and I went toe-to-toe. Let's see if that shiny new Devil Arm and wand make you as tough as you think."
The grin that spread across Hadrian's face was anything but shy. "Oh, I'm more than ready, old man," he said, fire blazing in his eyes. The room buzzed with energy as everyone followed them to the training grounds, anticipation crackling in the air.
The crew followed as they made their way to the training grounds, a vast space outfitted for intense combat. Reinforced walls lined the room, and the open floor offered plenty of space for both spellcasting and fast-paced melee. Lady, Morrison, and Trish took their places on the sidelines, excitement lighting up their faces as they settled in to watch.
Dante drew Rebellion, resting it casually on his shoulder, his trademark cocky grin never faltering. "Alright, kiddo. Ready when you are. And don't hold back."
Hadrian smirked, taking a step back and gripping Bradamante in one hand, his Yggdrasil wand poised in the other. "Oh, trust me, I don't plan to."
Without hesitation, Hadrian opened with Carian Phalanx. An array of spectral swords materialized, hovering around him and gleaming with an otherworldly light. With a swift flick of his wand, he launched them toward Dante, each blade whistling as it sliced through the air.
Dante's Trickster style kicked in immediately as he sidestepped and rolled, evading each spectral blade with effortless agility. "Nice start," he called, laughing as he blurred through his dodges. Closing the distance in a flash, he retaliated with Stinger—a powerful, lightning-fast thrust of Rebellion aimed squarely at Hadrian's chest.
Hadrian twisted out of the way at the last second, bringing Bradamante up in a fluid counter. The katana shimmered with dark, crackling energy as it sliced through the air, creating a Judgment Rift in its wake. The destabilizing rift pulsed with dimensional energy, sending waves of force rippling toward Dante.
Dodging smoothly, Dante let out a laugh as he switched to Swordmaster style. He spun Rebellion in a fluid motion, unleashing Million Stab—a blistering series of thrusts that came at Hadrian with relentless speed. Each strike was packed with brutal force, sparks flying as Hadrian blocked with Bradamante, the sheer impact forcing him back.
"Good reflexes," Dante acknowledged with a gleam in his eye. "But you'll need more than that to keep up."
A fierce grin spread across Hadrian's face. Raising his wand, he cast Bloodflame Blade on Bradamante. The katana ignited with dark, blood-red flames, intensifying its already menacing aura. Hadrian swung down in a powerful arc, sending a wave of fire cascading toward Dante.
Dante blocked with Rebellion, the clash releasing a shockwave that reverberated through the room. Without missing a beat, he launched Round Trip, hurling Rebellion like a spinning saw toward Hadrian. Hadrian barely managed to dodge as the sword sliced past, before whipping back to Dante's hand with a sharp spin.
Not giving his uncle a moment's respite, Hadrian cast Loretta's Mastery, conjuring a barrage of high-speed magical projectiles that locked onto Dante with deadly precision. Each projectile sizzled with intense energy, forcing Dante to sidestep and flip in rapid succession, showcasing his speed and agility.
Seizing the advantage, Hadrian combined Surge of the Abyss with a quick follow-up strike from Bradamante. Dark energy surged along the ground, splitting the floor as it tore toward Dante in a rolling wave of shadow and force.
Dante leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the surge. He landed with a grin, eyes alight with excitement. "Impressive. Looks like you've been practicing."
Switching to Royal Guard, Dante absorbed Hadrian's next attack with flawless timing, storing the energy before unleashing Release—a counterstrike powerful enough to send Hadrian skidding back several feet.
Recovering quickly, Hadrian cast Golden Vow, a radiant aura enveloping him, boosting his strength and resilience. Fueled by the spell, he charged forward, swinging Bradamante in precise, aggressive arcs. Activating Voidstep, he blinked through shadows to reappear behind Dante, his katana slashing down in a flash.
Dante spun just in time, catching the blow as Rebellion met Bradamante in a powerful clash. The room crackled with energy as they locked eyes, each assessing the other. They broke apart, both breathing hard but with a shared respect evident in their gazes.
"Not bad," Dante admitted, a flicker of admiration in his smirk. "But you're still not quite there yet."
Without warning, Dante activated Dance Macabre, launching into a deadly sequence of attacks, each strike faster and more intricate than the last. Hadrian fought to keep up, blocking and parrying with Bradamante while casting Thops's Barrier to absorb the onslaught.
Despite his best efforts, Dante's relentless barrage began to overwhelm him. With a final, devastating flourish, Dante unleashed Drive, a charged wave of energy that hit Hadrian squarely, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Hadrian landed hard, Bradamante slipping from his grasp. He sat up slowly, breathless but grinning, a look of genuine admiration in his eyes. "Alright, I'll admit it… you're good."
Dante sheathed Rebellion with a chuckle. "Good? Kid, I'm the best. And while that sword of yours is impressive, it still feels like a weaker version of Yamato."
Hadrian blinked, a spark of inspiration lighting in his gaze. "A weaker version… maybe. But that's only for now."
Dante patted him on the shoulder, his grin both teasing and encouraging. "That's the spirit. Keep working at it, kid. One of these days, you might actually make me break a sweat."
As the crew cheered and clapped from the sidelines, Hadrian lingered behind, taking a few quiet moments with Bradamante in hand. Each swing of the katana felt like a step closer to unlocking its full potential. Maybe, with time, he could prove Dante wrong—and show that he could go toe-to-toe with the best.