The sun had risen in the firmament, filling the devastated city with its light, like a beacon of hope in a world plunged into despair. The streets of Córdoba were still shrouded in gloom, its ruins infested by monsters, reminding the survivors of the constant threat that stalked them. One by one, the members of the group woke up, feeling the warmth of the first rays of the sun on their faces. It was a slow and heavy awakening, where the burden of what awaited them that day weighed on them like a slab.
Ibarra, Russo, and Chino were the first to get up, shaken by the reality of the new day. Pato resisted leaving the comfort of his dream, clinging to the last vestige of his old life, the one where mornings were simpler and worries were much less. Brenda, Sasha, Rosario, and Victoria extended their break, savoring the last moments of peace before facing what was to come. They knew that once they got up, the day would bring more fighting, more blood, and more difficult decisions.
When everyone was finally awake, they gathered for a quick meal, a breakfast charged with a tense calm. Rosario was the first to break the silence, gathering the group for a strategic meeting in which they had to decide how to approach the mission ahead of them.
Rosario: "From what I understand, there are five main zones that form the circuit around the Horseman of the Apocalypse tower. We'll split up to cover more ground and destroy the crystals."
His speech was interrupted by Ibarra, who offered directly to go to the Plaza Colón alone, determined to face the egg and the crystal that was about to hatch. Brenda looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and fury, and was not long in expressing her disagreement aggressively.
Brenda: "What the hell are you thinking? Do you think you can fight a minotaur? That thing is provincial level. We don't know what we're up against, don't be reckless."
Ibarra looked at her with an implacable determination. Although the rest of the group shared Brenda's concerns, Rosario decided to accept Ibarra's decision, with the condition that if the situation became too dangerous, she should withdraw. Ibarra reluctantly accepted, although inside he knew that he would not fulfill that promise. He picked up his weapons - a bow and special gauntlets, storing them in his inventory. While he was getting ready, he glanced sideways at his classmates, nostalgically remembering the times when they were simple students, before the world turned into this hell. "I will destroy that crystal for them, even if it costs me my life," he thought before leaving.
The next to offer himself was Pato, who decided to go with Russo to the Las Heras Park area. His goal was to destroy the crystal and, incidentally, investigate a dungeon that was in that area. Pato had in mind to take over the Celestial Dragons' armor, merge their powers, and thus become stronger, although he did not share this with the group.
Russo, on the other hand, showed his reticence. Pato noticed the concern in Russo's eyes and was surprised by his slight display of cowardice. Russo had witnessed the brutality of the battles, especially after what happened with Ilulu. Now, fear consumed him, knowing that he was the weakest of the group, without exceptional healing abilities like Victoria, nor Brenda's strength or Rosario's leadership. Russo just wanted to survive, but he couldn't take the blame for watching another teammate die helplessly.
Rosario intervened at that moment, making the final decision.
Rosario: "It's better if they go together. Russo, I remind you that the last time you were with Sasha, instead of helping her, you decided to run away as soon as you had the opportunity."
That mention made Russo remember what happened earlier. He had arrived at the meeting alone, without Sasha, which caused the group to think the worst until Sasha showed up, kicking him in the head angrily. She had reproached him for abandoning her in the midst of a horde of monsters. Russo had used the ability of his god, Hermes, to escape, leaving Sasha behind. Thanks to the power of his goddess, Sasha had survived, but that betrayal weighed on Russo's conscience. Finally, he agreed to go with Pato to the mission, determined not to disappoint anyone this time.
The next to team up were Victoria and Chino, who decided to take two zones at once, going on their missions alone. Both had been ordered by their gods to go solo to improve their levels. Victoria was direct and confident, while Chino felt insecure. However, Chino decided to face his fear and prove that he could be worthy of the legacy of his gods, Hercules and Heracles. For her part, Victoria thought about surviving, not only for her, but also for the possibility of reuniting with her best friend, whom she loved like a sister.
Finally, there were the three strongest of the group: Sasha, Brenda, and Rosario. Sasha broke the silence.
Sasha: "What will we do now? The only thing left is to go to the tower and shoot down that guard, Tartarus, or we won't be able to get through even if the door opens."
Rosario and Brenda exchanged glances, their eyes scanning the map of the city. Sasha tried, in a mocking tone, to tease them into answering her, but they both finally smiled. They knew they had a plan and, although they did not share all the details with Sasha, they reassured her by assuring her that the mission to take Cordoba would be a success.
Meanwhile, in the neighborhood, chaos reigned. The absence of the leaders had led to food shortages and panic among the survivors, who were crying out for help. From the roof of the hospital, Santiago, accompanied by the other two leaders, Savitar and Alexis, was observing the situation with a mixture of frustration and resignation. Although Savitar and Alexis tried to calm him down, explaining that despair was natural in those who had not lived through the horrors on the other side of the walls, Santiago could not help but feel upset. He looked up at the sky, wondering when his companions would return, while a gentle breeze swept away the dry leaves of a fallen tree.
In the shadow, a dark figure was watching the scene with a sinister smile.
Shadow: "What a show you've put on, Leon. Tell me, did you think it would last forever? It's time for you to wake up and know the truth..."
At that instant, after a simple snap of Shadow's dark hands, the sky turned red. The phenomenon was seen by the three leaders, who immediately jumped off the hospital roof, alarmed. From the heights, they watched as a circle opened up among the dense crimson clouds, similar to a gigantic eye at the top, as if it were the same eye of the hurricane watching from above. Meanwhile, in the lonely room where Leon lay, a dark thread, like a shadow snake, began to graze his skin, slowly slipping away. The trail of darkness ran through his body until it reached his chest, where it sank sharply into his broken soul.
The dark thread traveled through the folds of his ancient memories, dodging the darkest thoughts, winding between the delicate fibers of time that made up his existence. Finally, he descended to a deep abyss, where the darkness was overwhelming and absolute, broken only by a small floating cage. There, in the center of the abyss, Leon rested, a prisoner of his own fears. Shadow slowly approached, his footsteps echoing like hollow echoes in the void. A strange and disturbing smile was drawn on his face as he circled the cage, watching Leon with a mixture of contempt and curiosity.
Shadow: "Look what we have here... a child who does not accept his destiny. A man who grew up too fast. A being who does not understand his own origin."
Leon opened his eyes. His gaze was cold, empty, so devoid of emotions that even Shadow could not recognize if the one who was looking at him was really him or just a remnant of who he once was. With an annoyed expression, Leon scratched his head slowly, while Shadow watched him, waiting for some reaction, some sign of recognition. However, seeing that nothing was happening, Shadow understood that Leon had let himself fall into the abyss on purpose. Determined, he entered the cage, looking at him squarely, as if both were two sides of the same coin. Slowly, he raised his hand and took Leon's face gently, albeit with an aura of authority.
Shadow: "It's time for you to remember who you are, Leon... No, rather, Dante. The One who was born in darkness and ascended through the darkness to dominate the earth. Wake up, and stop being so pathetic."
With a gesture full of power, Shadow unleashed a bright light that blew the cage into a thousand pieces. The abyss trembled as, piece by piece, it rebuilt Leon's consciousness, along with his broken soul. Shadow, using his own dark essence as a sacrifice, began to rearm Leon's soul, showing him the truth of his origin, revealing the truth that had been hidden for so long.
Shadow: "My real name is Dante. I am the original bearer of this body, the dark one who ascended. But you... you are me, and I am you. We are the same entity. But you... it was a decision I made."
With a wave of his hand, Shadow filled the abyss with a memory, materializing it in front of Leon's eyes: a destroyed planet Earth, its ecosystems twisted and grotesque, as if out of the deepest nightmare ever imagined. The blackened skies, the devastated lands and the echo of lost souls spread out in all directions.
Dante: "This is where you were born... where we were born. We are the deepest trauma that was born from the suffering of your best friend, Benjamin. He watched Ilulu, the woman he loved the most, die... but what tore him apart was the death of his unborn child. That's when we were born."
As Dante displayed these memories, his voice was filled with a somber serenity. He narrated the cruel fate that led him to survive in a world where only the strong prevail, where he was betrayed by those who claimed to be like him, and where, in order to survive, he had to kill and rise in power. His words echoed in the void, each one charged with the brutal truth of his existence.
Dante: "No one came to save me. No one helped me. And those who claimed to be my equals betrayed me for power. I destroyed them one by one, ascending through the shadows until I reached a power so vast that I could remember my origin and the reason for my existence."
The scene of the destroyed planet was replaced by another one - a cosmic battle between Dante and Benjamin. A brutal confrontation, full of violence, where every blow shattered the world around him. The power emanating from both of them was so vast that the planet itself trembled under their fury. And finally, Dante, after defeating Benjamin, unleashed his rage and massacred all of humanity, leaving Benjamin to watch his family die.
Dante: "But the gods did not allow it. Metatron, the most powerful god, rewound time, and although I tried to stop him, his power was superior. I started over, stuck in an endless cycle. I fell into despair... until one day, I saw someone new being born in the dark dimension."
Dante continued to narrate the story of his fall, of his attempts to escape, of his encounter with Bathomer, the demi-angel who betrayed him, and of his despair at not being able to save her. It all culminated with Dante's heart-rending scream, which caught the attention of Azathot, the outer god of destruction.
Azathoth: "I am neither kind nor benevolent... but it bores me to see only your suffering. Kill them all, and offer the world to me as tribute."
Accepting his offer, Dante unleashed chaos once again, but this time, the gods did not allow it. His existence was erased and reinserted into a new timeline. But although he was deprived of his powers, his knowledge and memory remained, leading him to live a normal life, learning about human nature.
Finally, Dante, now in front of Leon, revealing his true form: a celestial figure, with glorious wings that covered his face, and arms that carried scythes made of golden feathers that shone like the sun being surrounded by a golden aura full of divine energy showing the power that was once his now weakened and almost non-existent but that was almost something monstrous to Leon's eyes.
Leon: "Are you telling me that I have the choice to live?"
Dante: "Yes... or you give me your body and disappear... or you fight, and I disappear."
Leon closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. Then, her lips moved, uttering a few words with determination.
Leon: "Phoenix... show me the power that someone who has been reborn from the ashes can have."
As he opened his eyes, six huge flaming wings emerged from his back, enveloping him in a fiery aura of power. Her hair was filled with crimson flames, and two long swords, forged from the flesh and blood of the phoenix itself, sprang from her hands, vibrating with pure energy.
Leon: "I'm going to win... and I promise you that the ending I create this time will be the right one."
Dante smiled without saying a word, throwing himself against Leon, while the latter, with the same fierceness, confronted him. They both pounced on each other, filled with a strength and an unwavering desire to survive and to tell their own story. The fight was about to begin, and only one of them would write the ending.
The wind stirred violently on the battlefield, carrying with it the echo of fallen souls and the memories of a world wounded by war and suffering. The shadows lengthened and distorted as the energies of both fighters, Leon and Dante, began to merge with the surroundings, creating a dense and oppressive aura that seemed to make even the very air vibrate.
Leon was standing in front of Dante, his breathing heavy, but his gaze unrelenting. In his right hand, his sword glowed with a crimson glow, forged with the power of the phoenix and the ashes of a thousand battles. Meanwhile, Dante, with a posture charged with an ominous calm, was raising his arm, from which emerged a sharp blade that flashed a dark infernal light. It was as if the universe itself was holding its breath, waiting for the first impact, for that colossal shock that would shake the foundations of reality.
The silence that enveloped the atmosphere lasted only a few moments, but in that brief period, the weight of every unspoken word, of every contained emotion, was palpable. A duel that not only faced two beings, but two souls condemned by their own pasts and decisions. Suddenly, as if an invisible thunder gave the signal, they both rushed forward, moving with a speed that defied the visible.
The first shock was so brutal that the ground beneath them cracked and the atmosphere seemed to break as if the world itself groaned at the magnitude of the unleashed forces. The swords collided with a sound that echoed throughout the plane, generating shock waves that made every particle around it vibrate. The opposing energies met, but did not immediately repel each other. Instead, they created an invisible vortex that sucked the air around them, causing the pressure to rise to unbearable levels. Leon's mind felt the blow, as if he was being dragged into a storm of chaos and pain, as an imposing force tried to crush him from within.
A dark energy was emerging from Dante, as if he himself were channeling the essence of an abyss that had no end. His eyes shone with a fierce intensity, reflecting not only his hatred, but also the despair of a man who had lived too long in the shadows. Every time the weapons met, flashes of light and darkness fought to dominate the battlefield, as if every blow was not only physical, but spiritual. It was a struggle of wills, of memories and of pain.
Leon, for his part, felt that with every exchange of blows, a part of his being was shattered. It was not only his body that received the punishment; it was his memories, his memories, the moments that had forged him as the person he was today. The fragments of his life seemed to shatter with each clash of swords, as if the same battle was taking away parts of his soul. But who was the one who suffered the most? Who was being destroyed in the process? That answer was still unclear, but the pain, both physical and emotional, was undeniable.
The incessant clash of their weapons continued, and the battlefield became a stage where every cut and every blow seemed to tear the same reality apart. The unleashed energies began to alter the space around them, and small cracks in the fabric of time and space appeared, as if the universe itself could not withstand the magnitude of the confrontation. As the memories fell, the battle became more intense, as if both fighters were not only facing each other, but also atoning for their own sins through their swords.
Finally, in a sudden movement, Leon found an opening. With an agile and devastating turn, he launched a powerful aerial kick that brutally impacted Dante's face, sending him crashing to the ground with such force that the ground beneath him fractured into a network of fissures. Dante's body sank to the ground, but the impact was only the prelude to Leon's real attack. Raising his hand, he channeled the divine energy of the phoenix that was burning inside of him, and in an instant, he materialized a gigantic spear, completely forged from the golden flames of its wings. The spear shone with indescribable power, and its size defied logic: it was as tall as a thirty-story building, a symbol of the enormous strength it now possessed.
Without hesitation, Leon threw the spear with a speed that made the air hiss and created a deafening roar in his wake. The huge weapon was rushing towards Dante, who was still standing up from the impact of the kick. But in an instant, before the spear could reach him, Dante crossed his arms, and two infernal power outages emerged from his scythes. The cuts were precise and calculated, splitting the spear into four fragments that exploded in all directions. The explosions lit up the sky like hellish fireworks, but the threat wasn't over. The fragments of the spear were still running their course, lashing out at Dante, who barely had time to raise his scythes once more to block the final assault.
With a roar of pure determination, Leon did not miss a beat. Piercing the trail of destruction, he appeared in front of Dante, his sword raised for a deadly slash. He knew that this would be the decisive attack, but Dante, showing his own cunning, had already anticipated it. Leon's movement was too predictable. With a sadistic gleam in his eyes, Dante charged his own attack, a devastating slash he called the "Infernal Cross," and hurled his blade with a force that made the ground shake.
The two attacks collided in a monumental impact. The swords met in the air, and for an instant, time seemed to stand still. The energies of both fighters merged in a chaotic and destructive dance. An explosion of universal proportions exploded from the point of impact, causing space itself to twist and the light to fade away for a few moments. Everything around him went blank, and the only thing that existed was the collision of wills.
When the shockwave finally dissipated, it became clear who had suffered the most. Leon was thrown to the other end of the field, his body hitting the ground with heartbreaking force. He was bleeding profusely from his chest, a deep and lethal wound that went all the way through his torso. The pain was unbearable, but Leon's will had not yet been extinguished. As he lay on the ground, panting and in agony, he tried to get up, his trembling hands searching for support on the ground. I couldn't make it. His body seemed to have reached its limit. However, he couldn't give up, not now.
Creeping slowly back, barely aware of his surroundings, Leon looked up to see Dante. His enemy was advancing slowly, with firm and sure steps. The smile that crossed Dante's face was one of triumph, but also of something darker, something much deeper: a certainty that this time, the victory would be his.
Dante, in a voice charged with contempt, finally broke the silence:
Dante: - You're weak, Leon. You don't have the power to defeat me. And the enemies outside are much worse than me. This time... I have to defeat you, to save my story... my life. I'm sorry... but it ends here
The dark warrior began gathering energy on his scythes, preparing for the final blow. Leon, lying on the ground, could barely move. But in his mind, images of his friends, struggling to survive in the outside world, began to project. He remembered the sacrifices, the hopes placed in him, the faith that his companions still had. For a moment, he allowed himself to think that maybe they didn't need him, but in that moment he knew the truth: they were counting on him. Not just as a comrade-in-arms, but as a leader, a figure who would pick them up when they fell.
Leon: "Get up...".
A spark of energy ignited inside her.
Leon: "Come on, move...".
The phoenix flames began to burn inside him once more, as Leon's injured body slowly rose up, his legs wobbling. He looked at Dante, his smile intact, though now his eyes were shining with a renewed intensity.
Leon: "In a fight, what matters is to survive..."
Dante, furious and bewildered by his resilience, shouted.
Dante: "You and I are the same! We just want the same thing - to survive in order to save ourselves!"
Leon shook his head.
Leon: "No, you're wrong. I'm not like you. You lived in despair and chose to succumb to it. Although you found some happiness, you did not protect your own. You let them go into the unknown, and that's why they died."
The anger in Dante's eyes was palpable. With a trembling voice, he replied.
Dante: "You have no idea what you're talking about! You don't know what this helplessness and pain in my heart is!"
Leon looked Dante straight in the eyes, a kind smile, full of pity and pity, formed on his face. I knew that in a certain sense they were similar, they shared suffering and scars, but that was the end of the comparison. Leon wasn't planning on getting stuck in despair or allowing the past to define him. He, unlike Dante, would not continue to regret. He was determined to fix everything.
The phoenix flames began to engulf his body, slowly ascending as his feet separated from the ground. Power burned in him with an indescribable majesty. Her hair, enveloped in the golden flames, was soon dyed the color of the phoenix's blood, a deep red that marked the complete fusion with the deity. The flaming wings spread out behind his back, and his eyes, sharp and piercing as a dragon's, shone with an unstoppable intensity. Behind him, the figure of the god manifested itself, imposing, merging with his being to create the perfect union.
Leon raised a hand with determination, and a divine katana was formed before him, forged from the pure power of his god. Holding it firmly, she looked at Dante with a calm expression, but full of conviction.
- Leon: I can't lose here... because I... I want to live my own life and tell my own story.
The impossible achievement of the awakening of a new history had been fulfilled: the legend of that godforsaken one had been revealed. The reward for the achievement was a unique title - "The Forgotten Man".
At that instant, Leon, wielding his great sword, launched a last attack on Dante. This one was not far behind; with all his strength, he concentrated his energy on his forearm, creating an energy blade that flashed with an inhuman brightness. Sacrificing everything of himself, he delivered his final blow, colliding the energies of both contenders in an explosion that reverberated in the dark void that surrounded them. As the energy exploded, Dante felt his strength falter, remembering every moment lived with his students, every sacrifice made to get here. He believed that those memories would grant him the necessary strength to defeat Leon, screaming desperately in search of that energy, but what he did not know was that reality was cruel.
Dante realized his weakness. In that confrontation, he was inferior to Leon in every way, and although his mind struggled to find hope, he knew that there was no other way out of this. However, he had no regrets. At least he had given battle and would not die a pathetic death. She was grateful to Leon for that, because now she would be able to reunite with her beloved classmates and students in the void.
With a brutal move, Leon's attack cut Dante in half, dropping him to the ground of the dark void created by Leon's mind. He approached, with sadness in his heart, aware that there was no other way to win.
Dante: "Oh, come on, don't be a party pooper... Did you think there was another way? There wasn't, you airhead. At least I think that way I can rest in peace... Don't you think?"
Leon: "...I hope so, friend... I hope so."
Just as Leon was about to walk away, leaving Dante to die in peace, a temporary crack opened under his body. Dante fell into the darkness, but Leon managed to hold the upper half of his body, which was still alive. At his feet appeared Azathoth, who had come to collect his payment. Since he couldn't get the planet as compensation, he would take his soul.
Dante: "Ha... you fucking bastard... I knew there was a catch in that deal."
Leon tried to hold him with all his might, but it was useless. It didn't matter how much force he used; he couldn't stop Dante's absorption. He looked at Leon, who was trying to save him, and smiled. Since childhood, he had been this naive, with the heart of a hero.
Dante: "Hey, brother..."
Leon, feeling the warmth of her gaze, noticed the kind smile on Dante's face.
Leon: "Dante? What are you going to...?"
It was at that instant that Dante, with one of his scythes, cut off his own arm, letting himself fall into the void where he was slowly absorbed.
Leon: "DANTE!"
Dante: "Survive... and create the best ending of all... your own end... hehehe."
Dante was devoured by Azathot before the eyes of Leon, who was crying as the rift closed. Full of anger, Leon took the crack and did not allow it to close, shouting towards Azathot.
Lion: "Azathoth! I swear if you ever show up here, I'll be waiting to kill you. I will make you suffer! I will kill you and make all of you outer gods FEAR ME! I SWEAR IT!"
Hearing such words, Azathot turned around, observing Leon with a look that distilled disdain. She noticed on his face the same grimace of pain that Dante had had in his last moments, and she sent him a message through the system:
"I'll be looking forward to that day, human."
Thus, the rift closed and Azathot disappeared, returning to his kingdom, where the other outer gods were waiting for him. Between them, Yog Sothot and Metatron watched in amazement as Azathot smiled, transforming in a disturbing way. That human form he took was only used by the gods when they showed interest in humanity. Yog Sothot, his brother, asked him curiously.
Yog Sothot: "What are you planning to do, brother?"
Azathoth, without stopping, passed by him, responding with a smile full of emotion turning around to look at him.
Azathoth, without stopping, passed by him, responding with a smile full of emotion turning around to look at him
Azathoth: "To wait for the day when the time comes to act..."
Back on Earth, Leon opened his eyes in the real world. What for him had been almost years, or even months, were only seconds. He left the hospital and found himself in front of those looking at the crimson sky, which returned to normal, revealing his figure at the entrance of the hospital. Up and recovered, he smiled at everyone.
Leon: "Hi, I'm back, hehehe."
What will be waiting for this world now? The outer gods had shown interest in humanity. Rosario and her group were at a crossroads, not knowing what their end would be. Leon had woken up in a world where chaos reigned, and it would be he who should keep order. But the question persisted: how would he do it?
but then...
The silence that enveloped the hospital was interrupted by a high-pitched beep. A glowing message appeared before Leon's eyes, shining with the intensity of a dying star in the vast void.
System: Being updated...
An urgent message echoed in his mind, like an echo from another world.
System: An urgent Request from a God—
System: Mission: Save Apollo's protégé before time runs out.
Adrenaline coursed through Leon's body as he read those words. The mention of Apollo, the god of the sun and prophecy, brought back memories of ancient stories of heroes and sacrifices. Time was an implacable enemy; he could not afford to hesitate.
System: Time remaining... 20 minutes. In case of failure, he earns the hatred of the god Apollo.
Leon: "What the hell? 20 minutes? How the hell am I going to get there in 20 minutes?"
Disbelief and frustration echoed in his mind like a relentless echo. He had barely come out of the coma and was already tied to a new mission that challenged not only his body, still weak, but also his sanity. The pressure of the system was oppressive, a constant shadow that followed him even in his most vulnerable moments.
He recalled how the system never stopped to consider his status, or anyone else's. He was a cold, implacable being, who dictated orders regardless of the circumstances of those who received him. The gods, in their arrogance, only cared about their protégés, and now Leon found himself in a race against time, a race that felt almost impossible.
But the real question.. that's how this happened..