Ch. 14 The Decisive Battle
Patty and Adem appeared in the center of the desert.
"No offense, but is there a reason why your favorite place is the middle of the desert? It's kind of weird." Patty informed.
"The lack of civilians makes it easier to operate." Adem responded. "Patty are you ready? I'm about to escort you to Paradiso."
"As ready as I'll ever be." Patty sighed.
"Very well, prepared to ascend."
Adem placed his hand on Patty's shoulder. The girl felt herself slowly lifted off the ground, as she and the angel began to levitate into the sky, a golden gate leading to Paradiso appeared above them. Patty looked down towards the ground. She wished she could have had more time to say good-bye to everyone: to see her mother more, to play with her friends at school, to thank Dante for everything he'd done for her. The last part seemed to especially lay heavy in her heart, but the girl's thoughts were quickly interrupted when she heard the sound of a gun going off.
Patty's head quickly turned as she saw Dante pointing his gun in the air, breaking the melodramatic silence, as he always loved to do.
"Hey there squirt, where are you going off to in such a rush?" Dante called out. "Don't tell me you really want to go with these old stiffs instead of hanging out with yours truly? I mean, just think of all the things you'll miss out on: Pizza, ice cream, and movies. Oh, did I mention pizza? Look, even if you think you're doing something good for others, that doesn't mean it's the best choice. Think of all the people that are going to miss you. I'm not going to stop you from making your choice, but you'd better be sure it's the choice that you want to make, and don't let anyone else, even me, try to convince you otherwise."
"Dante..." For a moment, Patty wasn't sure what to say after Dante's heartwarming speech. She hadn't expected him to come back for her, especially when she had pretty much told him to get lost after he had come for her originally. "Dante!"
Patty pulled out of Adem's grip and jumped down to the ground. Patty caught herself as she fell and then ran over to Dante to hug him. She then pulled away from the half demon and crossed her arms as she looked up towards him.
"You know, you were supposed to catch me when I jumped. It would have been much more emotional. You really need to start watching some more soap-operas with me?"
"Yea, not a chance." Dante declined.
Adem watched Patty and the half demon interact, landing back on the ground. He was still completely baffled by their bickering and why Patty would choose the half demon over becoming a Lumen Sage.
"Miss Lowell, are you sure this is your choice?" Adem questioned.
"Yea, and I'm not going to let you convince me otherwise." Patty stood firm.
"Very well" Adem spoke, as the angel began to spread his wings once again. "As you know, we cannot force you to become a Lumen Sage. However, walking this path will mean you withdraw yourself from our protection. It appears you have left me with no other choice."
The angel began to lift himself off the ground once more, prompting Dante to reach for his sword. However the angel didn't reach for his, but merely turned his back on the pair.
"I shall return without you. I shall find a new candidate worthy of the title of Lumen Sage and now, I wish you luck."
As the angelic warrior prepared to depart though, he suddenly froze in his tracks.
"What!?" The angel gasped as he looked up to the sky, receiving another message of heaven. "But Lady Valkyrie..."
Adem's words were cut off as a beam of light struck down from heavens, releasing a wave of energy. Dante quickly used his coat to block Patty's eyes from the rays of light, as even Adem was forced to cover his eyes from the intensity of its glow. Once the bright light died down, a lone angel could be seen standing where the beam at struck.
This angel appearance was far different than both the Laguna and centurions. His appearance was humanoid, but far more grand than any of the other centurions. He had a tall, lean build with skin a golden hue. Protruding from his back were ten angelic wings, eight of which were a different color of the rainbow with color pink added. The other two of were the color of white and wrapped around his waist. Long black hair flowed from the angel's head, as his eyes glowed a variety of colors. In his hand he held a staff that was as radiant as he was. It was made of gold with the top shaped like a large circle with a six-pointed star in the middle and several rings around the outer circle and points of the star.
"Demiurge? Oh come one!" Rodin shouted, banging his fist against his bar's top. "What's that runt doing here? This fight was supposed to be between Dante and Valkryie. They could have at least sent the kid instead."
"Ha, looks like Valkyrie's a no show." Lady gloated. "So much for your main event."
"Not quite." Rodin chuckled. "Sure Demiurge may not be at the same level as Valkryie, or yours truly, but he still holds the rank of Archangel and will be a real good challenge for Dante. All right boys, place your bets, because this is about to get bloody!"
"General Demiurge, what happened to General Valkyrie? I was informed that she would be overseeing this mission." Adem questioned.
"General Valkyrie had to leave urgently for another world. She placed me in charge while she was away." The Archangle spoke.
"Patty Lowell, I will give you one more chance to come with us willingly, or I will take you by force." Demiurge warned.
"General Demiurge..." Adem tried to protest. This wasn't how Valkyrie would want Patty's contract to be made. Their job was to guide people down the path of virtue, not force them. What was the Archangel thinking.
"Adem." Demiurge cut the lower ranked angel off. "If you do not wish to assist, than return to Paradiso and make your report."
Adem stood still for a moment, his fist clenched in fists.
"That's an order, Adem." Demiurge spoke, now more firmly.
Adem knew not to argue. As a warrior angel, he could not disobey a order from a superior, especially one as high rank as Demiurge.
"Very well, I shall make my report." Adem obey, flying upward through the portal to his home world.
"So that just leaves you and me then." Dante greeted the angel. "I'm not one to judge, but I heard there's a great bar a few towns over that has plenty of people plenty much more likely to play for the same team as you. So why don't you mosey on down there and..."
Before Dante could finish his usual taunts though, he was suddenly blown off his feet by a blast of light from Demiurge's hand.
"I grow tired of your insults." Demiurge growled.
Before Dante barely had a chance to get back to his feet, Demiurge flew towards the half demon, striking him in the stomach. The angel then followed up with a swift elbow to Dante' s face and a kick to his ribs, causing Dante's blade to fly into the air. Demiurge caught Dante's blade and ran the half demon through with it, before blasting him a way with a wave of electricity from his staff.
"Dante!" Patty cried out.
Demiurge's attack, it had happened so fast, Patty didn't even know what to think. The next thing she knew, Dante was just lying on the ground. Even Dante hadn't had time to respond to the Archangel's onslaught.
Dante let out a demonic growl as black flames began to surround his body, forming a cocoon. Dante began to transform once again, but this time his demon form was much different than the one he usually used in battle.
Any trace of humanity in Dante was now gone. Most of his body was now covered in a black insect-like exoskeleton with red scales covering what remained underneath. Dante's body was now much more bulky, even compared to his other demon forms. Both his feet and hands had a more insect like appearance to them now, but were still coupled with the sharp claws of his usual demon form. The half demon now towered over a normal human, as he easily stood seven feet tall, with his muscular arms and legs both slightly longer in proportion to the rest of his body He had six black demonic wings protruding from his back, but what was possibly the most terrifying was his face, as it was the only thing not completely covered. Around his glow red eyes was the black exoskeleton-like material, which then traveled up the top and back of his head. The front of Dante's face was left exposed, revealing grey skin and a mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth. Finally protruding from behind Dante's cheeks were a pair of large horns shaped like a pair of insect pincers, and on top of his head was a smaller pair of similar horns.
Black mouth smoke emitted from Dante's mouth as the demon exhaled and turned his attention to Patty and the Archangel. Dante's used this form sparingly for good reason, for even he was unsure he could control himself in it. The half demon had only had to use this level of power twice in his life; once was when he was a young hot head and his life was in peril, and the other when he had received a huge surge of demonic energy from his father's blade to fight against the Demon King, Mundus. However, both times his body had done it by instinct and not by his will alone. This was the third time now that Dante was forced into this transformation unwillingly.
"Do you see now child." Demiurge gloated. "This is what his true form is, nothing but a savage beast."
"That's…. Dante...?" Patty was speechless upon seeing Dante's true demonic form. This had been the first time she had seen Dante transform, albeit changing small portions of his body. She knew his demon form was probably frightening, but she had never imagined anything like this.
"This is your last chance now, child. Come and become a servant of the light. Do not let yourself be drowned in this demon's darkness."
"Go to hell!" Patty swore at the archangel, snapping back to her senses. "Even if he is scary, Dante's still Dante. Right Dante?"
Dante's glowing red eyes turned to the girl as the powerful demon began to approach her with a snarl on his face and his blade still implanted in his chest.
"Right…. Dante...?" Patty repeated herself, now a little more frightened as she stumbled back a step. Dante lowered one of his menacing claws towards Patty's face, stopping a few inches from it. Dante then brought a single one of his sharp claws back as he delivered a gentle flick to the girl's forehead.
"Seriously, you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Dante lectured the girl for swearing. "Although I must admit, I do enjoy the humor of you telling an angel where to go."
Dante removed his blade from his chest and pointed it towards the Archangel.
"Stand back kiddo, for I'm about to make Sparkles over there a little less fabulous." Dante proclaimed. "Tell you what though, as a bonus today, I'll even let you watch the adults only portion."
Black flames once again began to gather round Dante's body once again as the demon began to channel 100% of his demonic power. Demiurge began to channel his power in a similar matter, as specs of white light began to gather round his body.
"So, after all of this, the child still wishes to choose you. Very well, I shall not allow her to fall into the hands of a demon. Both the girl and you shall be vanquished. demon spawn." Demiurge snarled.
As two of the most powerful beings of their respective races continued to gather their strength, powerful gusts of wind began to blow across the desert. Patty was forced to take another step back as she raised her arms in front of her face, practically being blown away by Dante's power.
"You doing O.K. kiddo?" Dante asked, now concerned about Patty again. This was yet another reason why he didn't use this form. Even if he didn't try to, the amount of demonic energy it emitted was enough to injure a person just by standing too close to him.
"Yea, I'm fine!" Patty assured, shouting over the wind.
"Honestly, what's with men thinking that flexing their muscles is the only way to impress a woman." Bayonetta, scowled, now standing beside Patty and using her magic to place a barrier between them and Dante.
"Well, it's about time you got here." Dante greeted the witch. "You're not trying to take Patty behind my back though, are you?"
"Please, even I know not to tangle with you when you're like that. I'm simply here to keep Patty safe. Now you can knock the feathered twat down a few steps."
"You're talking my language." Dante laughed.
"Can all you people do is talk nonsense? It's time to end this." Demiurge proclaimed.
"Sorry, didn't know you were so impatient for a beating. Let's rock!" Dante shouted.
Dante then took out his cell phone and place a pair of headphones into his hears. The demon then pushed a button to once again play his favorite rock tune for the climactic battle.
Dante and the Archangel flew towards one another. With the mere collision of their fists, a wave of energy erupted from their attack, creating a small crater beneath them. The two then flew further into the air continuing their battle.
Demiurge summoned countless arrows made of energy with his staff and rained them down on the demonic warrior, only for Dante to match the arrows with his two guns which had transformed into multi-barrel machine guns again. Hundreds of explosions lit up the air as Dante and Demiurge's attacks collided; the two warriors continuing their relentless battle as they met furious blow after furious blow.
Dante flew down on Demiurge trying to drive his blade down on the Archangel only to have it blocked by the angelic warrior's staff. The Angel then punched Dante in the face, only for the demon to counter with a kick to the angel's side. Demiurge then brought his staff down on Dante's shoulder as Dante swung his blade once again at the Archangel.
Dante and Demiurge both flew back from another as Demiurge conjured several streams of lightning from his staff that locked onto Dante's location. The half demon looped and spiraled through the air, as the lightning followed his every path. Finally Dante, decided to meet the lightning head on as he stopped dead in his tracks and used his blade as a lightning rod to gather the electricity and defend against the attack. Dante then swung his blade releasing a wave of red energy towards the Archangel, but the holly warrior defended against the attack by creating a barrier in front of him.
Patty and Bayonetta continued to watch the battle rage on between two of the strongest beings in their respective races. Granted, all that Patty could see were black flames and white light streaking across the desert sky with crashes that sounded like thunder as they constantly collided.
The two streaks continued to fly across the sky, as they made their way out of Patty's vicinity and towards a group of mountains. With every blow from Dante's and Demiurge's weapons, large holes were punched into the sides of the mountains, damaging the landscape wherever the two battled. Finally, Dante's and Demiurge's weapons locked as the two continued to spiral higher and higher in the sky, leaving a helix made of black flames and white light in their path.
The two warriors soon found themselves in the highest levels of the planet's atmosphere as they battled face to face, neither willing to yield.
"I am surprised that you've lasted this long." Demiurge complimented. "No demon has ever lasted this long against me. However, you should know by now that battle is pointless. This final attack shall finish it!"
Demiurge once again began to harness his power through his staff. The Archangel then released a wave of electricity from his staff coupled with a beam of light from his free hand. Dante raised his blade, blocking the attack with all of his strength.
Demiurge wasn't the only combatant who had been giving it his all. Dante was also being pushed to his limits. The half demon wasn't sure how much more he'd be able to take before Demiurge's attack finally pushed through.
"Why? Why continue? What do you have to gain in fighting against us if you do not wish for the girl's powers?"
"If I have to explain it to you guys, then it's not worth my time." Dante grunted.
Using ever bit of strength he could muster, the half demon reflected Demiurge's attack into space. Dante then vanished and reappeared right next to the angel, punching him in the face following with a downward kick to the shoulder.
Dante began to pummel the angel over and over, forcing his opponents decent towards the ground. As the two opponents continued to descend through the earth's atmosphere, both of their bodies lit on fire. However, that didn't stop Dante's flurry of attacks; each of his blows released a shock wave through the air. After a final blow from Dante's fist, Demiurge finally struck the ground, causing an eruption beneath him and a crater large enough to fit a small city.
Patty and Bayonetta who were near the landing site were practically blown away by the explosion of sand and dirt even with Bayonetta's barrier.
"So, what did ya think?" Dante asked, indicating to the large crater before him and the two women.
"Meh, I've seen bigger." Bayonetta dismissed.
"Yea, it really isn't my finest work." Dante admitted.
"Do not think you've won just yet!" Demiurge's voice boomed.
Everyone turned to see the Archangel getting back to his feet, his body badly damaged from the fall with cracks covering his gold skin.
"This is not over." The divine warrior claimed. "I am an Archangel, one of the most elite warriors at god's command. I will not be defeated so easily!"
The Archangel once again spread his wings as he flew directly towards Dante.
The half demon readied his blade once again for battle. Dante had battled some stubborn opponents before, but Demiurge definitely took the cake. This Archangel just didn't stay down. However, just as Demiurge was just a few feet away from the half demon, the angelic warrior stopped in mid flight as he peered towards the sky.
"What!?" The Archangel gasped. "You're truly can't expect me to..." The Archangel began to protest. "N-no, of course I am not disobeying an order. I shall fallback at once."
The Archangel then turned his attention back to Dante.
"You may have escaped my wrath this time, half demon, but do not expect for us to be so merciful next time we meet." Demiurge claim.
Demiurge then finally retreated as he flew into the air and vanished through a portal to the angel's own realm.
"Well, that was kind of anti-climatic." Bayonetta complained.