As the swirling light faded, Dante found himself in a snow-covered wasteland. The air was biting cold, the ground blanketed in a thick layer of snow. Across from him stood Jay, his white cloak blending seamlessly with the frozen surroundings.
Jay smirked, his blade gleaming in the pale light. "Welcome to my domain, Dante. This is where I end you."
Dante adjusted his stance, gripping his sword tightly. "You talk too much. Let's see if your blade is as sharp as your tongue."
With a sudden burst of energy, Dante lunged forward, his blade aimed at Jay's chest. Jay parried the attack effortlessly, their swords colliding with a deafening clang. Sparks flew as they exchanged rapid strikes, each testing the other's speed and skill.
"You've improved," Jay admitted, dodging a diagonal slash and countering with a quick thrust. "But it's not enough."
Jay leapt back, raising his hand. "Snow Magic: Snowfield!"
The ground rumbled as the snow thickened, rising almost to Dante's knees. The once-firm terrain became treacherous, forcing him to slow his movements.
"Tch," Dante muttered, struggling to keep his footing.
Jay's smirk widened. "This is my element. You're just a fish flopping in the ice."
Jay darted forward with blinding speed, his blade slashing downward. Dante barely managed to block, but the force of the attack sent him skidding backward. Before he could recover, Jay struck again, this time slicing across Dante's shoulder.
Dante gritted his teeth, blood staining the pristine snow. "I've fought tougher opponents than you," he growled, forcing himself upright.
"Let's test that," Jay said, disappearing in a blur.
Dante spun around just in time to see Jay reappear behind him. He swung his sword in a wide arc, narrowly missing Jay, who countered with a precise strike to Dante's back. Dante stumbled, coughing up blood, but refused to fall.
"You're persistent," Jay remarked, his tone almost impressed. "But persistence won't save you."
Dante steadied himself, his breath visible in the freezing air. "I'm not fighting for myself," he said, his voice low but resolute.
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then who are you fighting for?"
"For them," Dante said, his grip tightening on his sword. "Haruki, Yuki… everyone who's counting on me to come back alive."
With a roar, Dante charged forward, his blade glowing faintly as he activated "Angels' Assault: Falling Comet!"
Dante leapt into the air, his sword descending with incredible force. Jay barely managed to dodge, the ground beneath him cracking from the impact. Taking advantage of Jay's momentary distraction, Dante spun and delivered a deep slash across Jay's side.
Jay hissed in pain, clutching his wound. "Not bad," he admitted, blood seeping through his fingers. "But you're still too slow."
In an instant, Jay vanished again, reappearing at Dante's flank. His blade flashed, slicing into Dante's stomach. Dante staggered, blood pouring from the wound, but his eyes burned with defiance.
Jay shook his head. "You should've stayed down."
"Never," Dante spat, his voice shaky but unwavering. "If you think I'll let you walk away from this unscathed, you're dead wrong."
Jay lunged for the finishing blow, but Dante mustered his remaining strength and countered, slashing across Jay's shoulder with enough force to knock him off balance. Jay winced, retreating a few steps.
"You're… persistent," Jay said, his breathing heavy.
Dante smirked faintly, his vision blurring. "You'll… remember me for this."
As the snow swirled around him, Dante's strength gave out. His sword slipped from his grasp, and he collapsed onto the frozen ground, his body refusing to obey his will.
Before he lost consciousness, he muttered, "Protecting them… is my creed."
The chapter ends.