I know it was another short chapter, but I'll try to update soon. It's strange how quickly Nero seems to be filling the role of Vergil in this story. Both in his way of doing things and his distaste for Dante.


They opened the door and immediately noticed a strange thing; the room was almost completely pitch-black.

Except for the small amount of soft red light that came from the room they were in now, and the even smaller traces of white light from the room behind them, it was absolutely impossible for, at the very least, Nero to see.

He looked from left to right anyway, just to make sure nothing was leaping out of the darkness at them-

"Looks like someone forgot to put in some new light bulbs." The now-loose and laid-back half-demon said from behind him.

Nero really hoped this man would have to fight someone else in a different room from him, because he found him rather frustrating.

However, before he had enough time to properly build up his distaste of the man, light jolted on in the room. But it wasn't where you would expect.

Instead of a gigantic chandelier appearing in the middle of the room, bathing everything in elegant light, dozens of square panels in the floor lit up a bright, pure white light.

The panels were spaced two apart, and each new row of panels did not line up with the last, much like a bioluminescent chess board.

"Hey, I didn't sign on to be in a redo version of a Billy Jean music video." Came another remark behind him.

Nero inhaled through his nose and then exhaled through his mouth, concentrating on what they were trying to do instead of Dante's snide remarks, and stepped out onto one of the panels.

There was no real response as he did so. No boulder fell down onto his head, the room didn't begin to tremble, and no one cackled out maniacally.

The others followed him, as there was enough light coming from the panels in the floor for them to spot an enemy if someone jumped out from the shadows.

But as Dante, the last person to enter the room, closed the door with a loud slam, the rest of the room lit up and metal bars could be heard sliding into the door; locking the exit securely.

He glanced over his shoulder at the man, who simply shrugged, before looking forward and spotting several figures across the large room.

Nero had been completely accurate when he likened the lights in the floor to a chess-board; black, ebony panels accompanied the glowing white ones and at the other end of the room lied many broken pieces that looked to be gigantic pawns, rooks, bishops and knights.

A shattered king and queen, however, were not present, and instead two people, standing in their respective squares in the middle of the room, looked up from two small thrones.

"Well, dear, it seems the rats have finally arrived." Came a fair yet arrogant voice from the queen who sat in her silver throne, her long, gorgeous dress and ornate hairstyle speaking as much about her position as her tone did her character.

Beside her, in a gold throne, sat a man with a finely-kept beard, a deep red robe and multiple expensive rings on each of his fingers.

The clothes, shoes, appearances and general "air" of the couple left no question about who they were.

"It appears so. Welcome, my chaotic and lowly guests." Spoke the deep, proud voice of the "king".

Nero wasn't intimidated in the least.

He was weakened, and had been damaged rather severely in the last battle, but these two, arrogant though they were, didn't inspire even a twinge of fear in him.

"Move out of the way. We don't have the time to deal with the likes of you." Nero told them, not stopping in his slow stride and hearing everyone else behind him doing the same.

The two seemed taken aback, but quickly regained composure.

"How typical; vagrants acting as if they rule the world." The queen retorted.

He was unaware which academy these two had gone to, but considering this was no renaissance fair their language and attitude seemed rather absurd.

"What'd ya say about yourselves?" Dante spoke back to them, causing the queen to give a huff.

Nero heard Dante's pace quicken and soon felt the man behind him.

"Nero, these two, are they strong?" He asked.

His eyes glanced back at the man for a moment, and then slid to face forward, towards the elaborate door that stood closed several feet behind the duo.

"Not any stronger than you or Saya."

Dante gave a quick chuckle in response as the sisters gathered what the two men were discussing and held hands for a moment before separating, followed shortly by the males, Nero going with Diva and Saya going with Dante.

The two groups ran towards the king and queen, who stood, looking at them with condescending gazes as they approached.

Dante and Saya flew past Nero and Diva and both manifested their weapons as they neared their enemies.

The one of each their hands radiated a light that extended to a certain length as their own weapons were summoned.

Simultaneously, a "spike" of air bolted through the air from the queen as a wave of bright green energy hurled itself from the king's sword.

Saya and Dante both sent their own attacks to collide with the ones sent by the "rulers" and the ensuing collision temporarily light up the room with enough light to blind you for a moment.

That's when the other duo made their move.

Nero and Diva leapt over both the heads of their allies and their enemies to land directly in front of the door that they had been after.

The moment that it took the king and queen to notice this gave Dante and Saya the opportunity to attack them with their swords, forcing them to avoid their attacks and allow the group to rejoin near the door; Dante and Saya guarding the other two.

"We've got this, you two go on ahead." The silver-haired man told them.

Nero nodded and pulled on the large handle to open the door.

Diva began to head through the door when Saya called after her.

"Diva… be safe."

Her little sister smiled back at her, and then hurried through the door.

As Nero began to step forward as well she called after him.

"Nero… if you let her get hurt, I'll kill you."

The knowledge that she would lose shot through his mind but he kept that silent.

"Understood."