A/N: This is officially the 200th chapter of LNWU, but it is the 202nd chapter including both parts of the Prologue. Dylan and Morgana have finally ascended to the top of the new and improved Golden Palace and there's only obstacle left between them and escaping it. Quintessus is, arguably, the ultimate foe for Dylan to overcome given that he is pretty much the Shadow of his counterpart from the original timeline (long story) amplified to a significant degree. Expect fireworks.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from my OCs. Anything that belongs to a third party is a property of that third party. Also, any OC created by another author that I'm using in LNWU (with the aforesaid author's/authors' expressed permission) is the property of that author. Obviously.

Chapter 200

March 19, 2012

Golden Palace Redux, Mayonaka

Dylan and Morgana had finally made it to the top of the new and improved Golden Palace. Or, what they'd assumed to be the top.

Morgana dismissed Diego and was standing near the door while Dylan went to confront Quintessus.

Dylan had dismissed Nari no Okami and made a beeline to where Quintessus was currently standing.

"So, you finally made it. I can't say that it's entirely "Good" to see you." Quintessus smirked.

Dylan shook his head. "You might say that, but you need to defeat me to get out here. And I need to defeat you to escape. Which kind of leaves us at an impasse, doesn't it?"

"It does. We both knew that it would eventually come down to the two of us standing here like this. You could say that it is fate if you'd like." Quintessus replied.

Dylan scowled. "It really isn't. You're just a reject from the original timeline who's trying to pretend that you're still relevant to a story that has moved on without you."

"And you're any better? All you will ever be is just a poor substitute for my counterpart from the original timeline. The pathetic "Force Ghost" that you were acquainted with was merely the Velvet Room's best attempt at replicating his best self. A self that never existed to begin with." Quintessus was quick to taunt him.

Dylan rolled his eyes. "So, you're the truest representation of what the original Dylan Blake was?"

"I am everything about him that was kept hidden, even after he "Accepted" me. He might have forgotten about me, but I never forgot about him. I really should have thanked him for saving Narukami's life because I wouldn't be here if he'd have just let that silver haired know it all die." Quintessus answered.

Dylan was nonplussed. "If my counterpart from the original timeline had done that, he'd have just made things worse. Mainly because Yu was the person who was responsible for the establishment of the Seekers of Truth back when it was still the Investigation Team. And I doubt that the original Dylan would have been able to do what Yu did."

"Because there are things that the "Force Ghost" version of the original Dylan forgot to tell you." Quintessus smirked.

Dylan thought about it before answering. "Like what?"

"Remember that little incident when you were seven? Well, something similar happened in the original timeline, but there was one major difference…" Quintessus replied.

Dylan's eyes widened. "Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me."

"Gregory was the one who did it. The original Dylan internalised what he did because Robert and Chase had abandoned him after they had left home and gone to Port Island, respectively. He had nobody to turn to, so he just assumed that what happened to him wouldn't have happened if he had been stronger." Quintessus said.

Dylanclenched his fists almost involuntarily. "Are you telling the truth? Or are you trying to play mind games?"

"Why would I lie about something like that? He wanted to be stronger, to be like Gregory, and that is precisely how I came to be. And, while he might have "Accepted" me, he didn't deal with the thoughts and feelings that brought me into existence in the first place." Quintessus answered.

Dylan unclenched his fists. "So, his death allowed you to exist as an independent being again and create this place? And for what? A chance at defeating me, taking my body, and leaving?"

"You're smarter than you look. But there is just one more detail that you left out. I didn't say anything about you having to be in one piece." Quintessus grinned.

Dylan shrugged. "Whatever. Are we going to just stand around flapping our gums or are we going to finish this? Because you've been getting on my nerves ever since I got here!"

Song: Hidenori Shoji – Fly ~In Game Version~ (Yakuza 3 OST)

Dylan and Quintessus each got into a fighting stance and started to circle around each other.

Quintessus threw the first punch.

Dylan reared back before punching Quintessus directly in the mouth.

They then threw a punch at almost the exact same time, punching each other in the face.

"Is that all you got?! I thought that you wanted to fight!" Quintessus roared.

The Shadow went to punch Dylan again, only for the blonde to catch his wrists and headbutt him on the bridge of his nose.

Dylan followed this up with a knee to Quintessus' ribs. "Is that better?"

Quintessus responded by kicking him in the leg before biting into his forehead with enough force to draw blood.

Dylan punched Quintessus in his solar plexus and threw him to the floor with a huge amount of force.

He then did a knee drop right in the Shadow's ribs before smashing his elbow into his face.

"Not bad. The person who taught you how to fight like that should be proud. But not too proud!" Quintessus punched Dylan in the side of his head.

Dylan regained his balance. "Rob taught me that one. But he always told me to drop the knee lower down so hard that my opponent's grandkids would feel it."

"SHUT UP!" Quintessus snarled.

Dylan managed to catch Quintessus mid lunge before delivering a jumping knee strike right into his nose, breaking it.

He then grabbed Quintessus by the neck with one hand and the belt of his trousers.

Dylan lifted Quintessus' body up before falling backwards onto the floor in such a way that he spiked Quintessus' head off it.

He then kicked Quintessus in the groin when he was still getting to his feet. "That move I hit you with should be called the "Paradigm Shift" or something to that effect."

Quintessus rose to his feet with his fists still clenched.

"Damn it! You actually managed to hurt me with those last few moves…" Quintessus spat out a strange black substance that had trickled into his mouth from his broken nose. Even after he had managed to reset it.

Dylan wiped the blood from his forehead. "Then you're going to be in for a real treat. Because there's plenty more where those came from."

"Wonderful!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan and Quintessus lunged at each other.

Quintessus punched Dylan in the ear, knocking him off balance.

He then grabbed Dylan by the side of the head and started punching him.

Dylan blocked one of Quintessus' punches and then punched him in the ear.

He drove an elbow right into Quintessus' face and kicked him in the left leg, dropping him down onto one knee.

Dylan grabbed Quintessus and hauled him to his feet.

He took a couple of steps back before running up and jumping into the air. "Here's a nice dropkick for your trouble!

Dylan dropkicked Quintessus in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

They both rose to their feet.

"I didn't think you had it in you…." Quintessus let out a deep breath.

Dylan got back into a fighting stance. "You've really got to be more specific. Are you talking about how badly I've been kicking your ass or are you talking about something else?"

"You really need to learn to think before you speak. Or are you only babbling on because you're afraid of me and what I represent?" Quintessus retorted.

Dylan resisted the urge to burst out laughing. "Am I supposed to be afraid of you? Seriously?!"

They started circling around each other again.

Quintessus threw a fast punch at Dylan, who managed to block it.

Dylan punched Quintessus in the eye before grabbing him by his hair and smashing his elbow into his face multiple times until he was shoved back.

Quintessus punched Dylan in the chest and gave him a hard kick to the leg.

Dylan went to kick Quintessus, only for Quintessus to move back and attempt to kick him in the groin.

Only for Dylan to block the attempt.

"What the hell?" Quintessus looked down.

He saw that Dylan was holding him by the ankle.

Dylan drove an elbow into Quintessus' leg before sweeping his legs out from under him.

He then dropped an elbow onto Quintessus' neck. "That."

Dylan picked Quintessus up and threw him into one of the statues that dotted the room, breaking it.

"Didn't Robert teach you not to be complacent?" Quintessus smashed a statue fragment into the side of Dylan's head.

Dylan fell to the floor but managed to bring Quintessus down with him.

He knelt down on Quintessus' chest and started raining down punches on his face.

Dylan was not going to stop until he was good and ready. "You think I'm afraid of you now?"

"Fuck you!" Quintessus blocked one of Dylan's punches and elbowed him in the eye.

Quintessus then grabbed Dylan and threw him into the wall hard enough to leave a crater on impact and kept going until the crater had deepened and Dylan's hair and clothes were covered in a thin layer of dust.

He went to punch Dylan only for the blonde to move out of the way and dive down underneath his legs before standing up on the other side of him.

Dylan blocked a back elbow from Quintessus before grabbing him by the waist and hitting him with a German Suplex.

He stood up, grabbed Quintessus and flung him into the wall with enough force to put him through it if it was the same as a normal wall.

Dylan went to grab Quintessus, only for the Shadow to recover and punch him in the throat.

He ducked under punches and kicks aimed at him before sweeping Quintessus' legs and dropping an elbow onto his face.

Dylan rose to his feet and watched as Quintessus did the same. "Is that all you got?"

"I'm just getting started!" Quintessus spat in Dylan's face and went to rake his eyes, only to be stopped in the attempt.

Dylan wiped the spit from his face and sidestepped another punch. "You're going to have to do better than that!"

They kicked each other at the same time before punching each other in the face.

The resulting impact knocked them backwards.

Dylan rebalanced himself and got back into a fighting stance while Quintessus did the same.

Quintessus threw a punch that Dylan managed to catch.

Dylan grabbed Quintessus and lifted him into the air before throwing him down behind him.

It might not have been a perfect Back Body Drop, but it would have to do.

Dylan wheeled around to kick Quintessus in the head before the Shadow had moved out of the way.

Quintessus aimed a powerful kick at Dylan's midsection and followed that up with a huge kick to his face.

Dylan managed to recover from both kicks and was still standing.

Meanwhile, Morgana was busy watching the fight between Dylan and Quintessus unfold without getting involved in it.

Mainly because it had nothing to do with him.

Dylan and Quintessus started circling around each other again.

The last few exchanges of blows between would have resulted in them being in traction, or worse, if they were normal people. Fortunately, Dylan's relative strength had been augmented by the Papillion Heart in his chest and Quintessus was a Shadow, so it was not as if they had landed any deathblows on each other yet.

Quintessus threw a haymaker style punch at Dylan, who managed to dodge it by ducking down.

He sprang up and headbutted Quintessus in the chin, or more accurately the jaw, and then started hitting him with some fast punches.

Dylan then grabbed Quintessus and lifted him up in the air before slamming him to the floor.

He then jumped up and hit a leg drop on the Shadow.

Dylan stomped on Quintessus' chest and face multiple times.

Quintessus eventually managed to block those stomps and roll out from under Dylan's feet.

Dylan dodged another charge from Quintessus before grabbing him and lifting him up in such a way that his head would be near the floor.

He then spun around and hit a spinning piledriver on Quintessus with enough force behind it to snap his neck. Which it did.

End Song

Dylan slowly rose to his feet and took a few steps back from where Quintessus was currently laying.

Quintessus' face was pulpy and there were dark bruises on various parts of his body.

Dylan let out a deep breath before taking Stormbreaker from where he'd holstered it.

He summoned a Persona that knew a Recovery skill because he knew that he would need to be at full strength when the next phase of his fight with Quintessus started.

Hariti cast a Diarahan on him before he dismissed her in favour of Nari no Okami.

Dylan looked over at Morgana. "You alright back there?"

"I'm fine. Just be careful not to get caught off guard." Morgana replied.

Dylan nodded. "Sure."

"He's right, you know." Quintessus sat up.

Dylan watched as Quintessus rose to his feet and undid the damage that had been inflicted on him in the first part of their fight.

He took a step back. "That didn't take long."

"It didn't. I think it's time to take our fight to a new level. You do seem to be ready for it, after all." Quintessus grinned.

Dylan nodded. "Fine by me."

"This is my ultimate form, for now!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan moved back along with Nari no Okami, while still keeping an eye on Quintessus.

He stopped until he was more or less facing the Shadow. "Is that it? Because I was expecting something more impressive!"

Dylan looked on as Quintessus was surrounded by energy as he truly started to transform.

Quintessus started ascending into the air as his transformation progressed.

The energy surrounding him started to take on a multitude of different hues before settling on a combination of gold and blood red.

Dylan and Morgana could hear a sound that was very similar to violently howling wind, even though there was no wind to speak of.

They could also hear what sounded like numerous voices screaming.

Until everything just stopped.

There was no noise either.

Quintessus descended and planted his feet firmly on the floor as the energy that had surrounded him disappeared.

His transformation was now complete.

Quintessus looked very different to how he looked in his original form. For one thing, his hair had grown in length to the point where it came down to his waist. His entire body apart from his hair was now covered in a white metallic substance. There was a symbol resembling a circle that was carved into his chest which glowed ominously with golden and reddish light. Angular horns jutted out of his forehead in such a way that they resembled a crown.

His new form definitely fit the perception he had of himself.

"I seem to recall you saying something about how only one of us can leave this place before our fight had properly started." Quintessus said.

Dylan nodded. "I did."

"Then I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that I'll be leaving this place and you're not." Quintessus sneered.

Dylan smiled despite the seriousness of the situation. "Fine by me. I just hope you know what you've gotten yourself into."

Song: Tetsuya Shibata – Devils Never Cry (Devil May Cry 3 OST)

Dylan and Nari no Okami both attacked Quintessus at the same time.

Quintessus managed to block Dylan from attacking him with Stormbreaker, but that allowed Nari no Okami to attack him from the right.

"Not bad. But it is clearly not enough. AGIDYNE!" Quintessus shouted.

Dylan let out a cry of pain as Nari no Okami was hit with the powerful Fire attack.

Quintessus attacked Nari no Okami while the Persona was temporarily incapacitated, dealing damage to both him and Dylan.

Dylan growled. "That really hurt. But two can play at that game! Nari no Okami, ZIODYNE!"

Quintessus was hit by a huge bolt of lightning before Nari no Okami followed that up with a Bufudyne.

Dylan then launched himself at Quintessus.

He managed to cut into the Shadow with Stormbreaker before being pushed back.

Nari no Okami then stabbed Quintessus before slicing his nodachi upwards.

"You think you're so clever, don't you? Perhaps you would like this, AGIDYNE!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan quickly switched Personas almost as soon as the Agidyne landed.

He summoned Surt and countered. "Surt, RAGNAROK!"

Quintessus was hit with the powerful Fire attack and engulfed in flames.

The flames cleared and Quintessus was still standing.

"That was a cunning little trick…" Quintessus was almost impressed.

Quintessus cast a Bufudyne on Surt, not giving Dylan any chance to regroup.

Dylan gritted his teeth. "Damn it…"

Quintessus cast another Bufudyne on Surt while he was still temporarily incapacitated.

"You do realise that I can predict everything you're going to do, don't you? After all, you might not be the exact same as my original counterpart but there are enough similarities between you." Quintessus said.

Dylan shook his head. "You can try to psyche me out all you like. But I doubt that it will help. Persona, TZITZIMITL!"

He switched his Persona from Surt to Tzitzimitl.

"I thought I told you that I would always be one step ahead of you! GARUDYNE!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan switched Personas from Tzitzimitl to Garuda, reflecting the Wind attack back at him.

He switched Personas from Garuda to Kohryu after using a Garudyne on Quintessus.

Dylan let out a deep breath. "You can say that you're one step ahead of me all you want, but that clearly isn't true."

He quickly got Kohryu to use Elec Amp followed by Mind Charge all while avoiding getting attacked by Quintessus.

"What's the matter? Are you scared? Or have you finally given up?!" Quintessus launched himself at Dylan.

Dylan just smiled. "I thought I already told you that I wasn't scared of you? Besides, I'm just getting warmed up. Kohryu, ZIODYNE!"

Quintessus had managed to pretty much close the distance between Dylan and himself before he was struck with a huge bolt of lightning that turned where he was standing into a crater.

Dylan switched Personas from Kohryu back to Nari no Okami and waited.

He noticed that Morgana was watching the fight from a safe distance but had moved closer to get a better view of the fight. And, he guessed, to help out in case he needed it.

"You little bastard! Just when I thought I had you beaten; you pull another miracle out of your ass! I'm through playing games with you!" Quintessus roared.

He sent multiple Elemental attacks at Dylan and Nari no Okami before finishing with a Megidolaon.

Quintessus almost expected Dylan and Nari no Okami to be defeated.

At least until the smoke cleared and the duo were still standing.

Dylan cracked his neck. "You almost had me worried for a second, there! Well, almost!"

"You're dead! Do you hear me?! DEAD!" Quintessus charged at Dylan.

Dylan blocked Quintessus' fists with Stormbreaker until he could spot an opening. "You're getting sloppy! Nari no Okami, ROARING BLADE!"

Nari no Okami sheathed his nodachi before unsheathing it and causing a noise similar to a lion's roar to reverberate around the room.

Quintessus watched as Nari no Okami slashed him multiple times with his nodachi before running him through with it and slicing downwards.

But it wasn't enough.

"What the fuck did you do to me?! You… You actually hurt me! Time for me to return the favour! THOUSANDFOLD STRIKE!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan watched as Quintessus' hands were surrounded by red and gold energy.

He also saw Quintessus aim multiple punches at himself and Nari no Okami. While he and Nari no Okami had countered some of them, a majority of those punches had landed despite their best efforts.

That attack hurt more than he'd care to admit.

Dylan spat at Quintessus' feet. "Is that all you got? Or have you just been holding back this whole time?"

"What do you think?! SECOND SKIN!" Quintessus cackled.

That particular skill healed the damage that Quintessus had taken up until that point.

Dylan switched his Persona to Daisoujou. "Daisoujou, DIARAHAN!"

All the damage that Quintessus had inflicted on him up until that point had healed.

"It looks like we've reached a stalemate. But not for long! THOUSANDFOLD STRIKE…" Quintessus launched the now familiar attack.

Dylan quickly launched a counterattack. "Daisoujo! SAMSARA!"

Their attacks hit each other at the same time, sending them both backwards.

Dylan switched back to Nari no Okami while he steadied himself.

Quintessus managed to steady himself as well.

"Why won't you die already?! ENTROPIC RAIN!" Quintessus exclaimed.

He sent multiple bursts of energy at Dylan and Nari no Okami that all landed.

Dylan was still standing. "Is that all you got? Nari no Okami, FIMBULWINTER!"

Quintessus was encased in ice before Nari no Okami cut through the ice multiple times with his nodachi before sending it all crashing down on top of Quintessus and finishing up with a series of slashes.

"Damn you! You're not supposed to be this strong!" Quintessus bellowed.

Dylan braced himself for multiple attacks from the Shadow and took them as best he could.

But he was still standing.

Dylan grinned. "I'm not going down so easy! Nari no Okami, HIRAISHINGIRI!"

Quintessus was struck by lightning multiple times. Nari no Okami held up his nodachi and let it be struck by lightning before sending the lightning at Quintessus. The lion masked Persona then ran at Quintessus and cut through him with his nodachi.

End Song

Quintessus was still standing, but he had reverted back to his initial form.

"I was clearly mistaken in underestimating you. But now I know exactly what you're capable of." Quintessus said.

Dylan frowned. "What exactly does that mean?"

"I'm not going to hold back any more. However, we're not going to have the final stage of our fight here." Quintessus replied.

Dylan looked confused. "Why not?"

"There's another level to this place that only we can go. But I'm not going to make getting there easy for you." Quintessus answered.

Dylan understood. "Fine."

Quintessus teleported out of the room.

"I think this might be where we part ways." Morgana said.

Dylan nodded. "That might be for the best. This is my fight, after all."

"Good luck." Morgana walked through a blue door that had appeared in the room.

Dylan watched as the blue door closed behind Morgana

He noticed that Quintessus' throne had disappeared and was replaced with a gigantic screen.

Dylan and Nari no Okami were hearing and seeing something emerging from the screen. "I don't know what that is, but it can't be anything good."

"Whatever's coming out of that screen either looks like you or Quintessus." Nari no Okami observed.

Dylan nodded. "I think you're right."

There were multiple doubles of Quintessus emerging from the screen until there were numerous doubles of the Shadow standing in front of Dylan and Nari no Okami.

"It seems as though we'll have to get through them to get to where we need to go. And we might not have to eliminate all of them to do that." Nari no Okami pointed out.

Dylan grinned. "This shouldn't be too difficult. All we've got to do is get through them, after all. Time to take out the trash!"

Song: Tomoyasu Hotei – Battle Without Honour or Humanity (Kill Bill Vol. 1 OST)

Quintessus' doubles rushed towards Dylan and Nari no Okami in waves.

The first of Quintessus' doubles to reach them was met with Stormbreaker smashing into his face and ribs.

Dylan then cut that double's legs out from under him before cutting through his throat.

He blocked a punch from another double of Quintessus and cut off his arm.

Nari no Okami had cut through two of Quintessus' doubles already.

A few of Quintessus' doubles tried to dogpile Dylan, only to be repelled with force.

Nari no Okami cut through another double almost effortlessly.

They kept pressing forward until they had gotten either halfway or three quarters of the way to the screen.

Quintessus' doubles kept on coming.

Nari no Okami used a Mabufudyne followed by a Maziodyne on a group of them, freezing or shocking them.

End Song

They had finally closed the distance to the screen after having fought through wave upon wave of Quintessus' doubles.

Dylan and Nari no Okami jumped through the screen as quickly as they possibly could.

.

Dylan and Nari no Okami had made to the real "Top" of the new and improved Golden Palace.

They also found Quintessus waiting for them.

"Well done. I was almost beginning to think that you wouldn't make it. But I know better than to underestimate you." Quintessus clapped his hands sardonically when he spotted the duo.

Dylan smirked. "And let you win by default? Fuck that. I'm going to mop the floor with you and then I'm out of here."

"We've been in each other's way for so long, in one form or another. It would be nice to finally get some closure so one of us could finally move on. And, I must admit, the thought of your memory dying along with your nearest and dearest when I defeat you has been most tantalising. But there's no point in dwelling on what might be, is there?" Quintessus' facial expression briefly contorted into a predatory snarl.

Dylan cracked his knuckles. "I really hate to say it given everything that you represent, but I agree with you. You couldn't coexist with your counterpart in the original timeline, my Shadow and I hated each other and now we're just in one another's way. This fight has to end.

"Are you afraid?" Quintessus wondered aloud.

Dylan shook his head. "Of you? Not really. Am I afraid of what'll happen if I lose? Possibly. But I'm not going to lose."

"It's time we settled this once and for all! And to do that, I'll just have to show you my TRUE ultimate form! It's time to end this!" Quintessus roared.

Dylan nodded. "I can't believe we agree on something."

Nari no Okami was watching this exchange of words, but he wasn't saying anything.

Song: Masafumi Takada – We Are Finally Cowboys (No More Heroes OST)

Quintessus was surrounded by energy as he started to transform.

His skin also started to crack as his transformation progressed.

It looked as though he was straining against himself in order to transform.

The energy surrounding him manifested itself into a pillar of light which took on a multitude of different colours like a prism.

And then everything stopped.

The pillar of light dissipated, leaving Quintessus standing before Dylan and Nari no Okami looking very different in comparison to his original form and his initial transformation in the second part of their fight.

Quintessus was both taller and more muscular than he was in either his original form or his initial transformed state. His body was covered in ornate golden armour with the exception of his chest, neck and head. Quintessus' hair was now an untamed and spiky white mane that went down past his waist. There was a clear crystal protruding from his chest that was emanating energy. And he looked more mechanical than human because of his armour. A golden crown studded with precious gemstones was floating above his head.

"I hope you've made your peace with death." Quintessus smirked.

Dylan laughed. "I already did. I just hope you've made your peace with not existing!"

Quintessus rushed towards Dylan and Nari no Okami.

Dylan blocked a punch from Quintessus with Stormbreak and Nari no Okami used his nodachi to block an attack from the Shadow.

They counterattacked with axe swings and slashes respectively.

Quintessus blocked most of their counterattacks, but two of them managed to land.

Nari no Okami slashed Quintessus with his nodachi and Dylan followed up with a downward smash.

Quintessus went to punch Dylan, only for the blonde to block his fists.

Nari no Okami used a Ziodyne on Quintessus.

Dylan brought down Stormbreaker on Quintessus' head, only for it to be blocked.

"Is this your best plan? Or are you just buying time?" Quintessus aimed a punch directly at Dylan.

Dylan sidestepped it and caught Quintessus in the ribs. "I'd ask you the same question!"

Nari no Okami aimed a Bufudyne at Quintessus.

The Shadow was decidedly unphased by this attack.

"You're not the brilliant tactician I thought you were. What a disappointment. AGIDYNE!" Quintessus seemed almost… Bored.

Dylan let out a pained gasp. "Fuck!"

He dropped down to one knee and took a huge right hook from Quintessus that sent him sprawling backwards.

Quintessus advanced towards Dylan.

He was stopped by Nari no Okami stabbing him through the back.

Dylan picked himself up and launched himself at Quintessus.

"Got you." Quintessus had grabbed Dylan by the neck and started squeezing.

Dylan broke free from Quintessus' grip. "Time to switch things up! MAHAKALA!"

He summoned Mahakala instead of Nari no Okami.

"Interesting. But that's not going to help you!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Mahakala was hit with a Garudyne, but was able to shrug it off.

Dylan grinned. "You were saying? Mahakala, MIND CHARGE!"

"Take this! ZIODYNE!" Quintessus was decidedly unamused by Dylan's taunts.

Mahakala shrugged off the powerful Electric attack.

Dylan blocked another attack from Quintessus. "Is that it? Because you're going to have to do a lot better than that! Mahakala, AGIDYNE!"

Quintessus was hit with the Mind Charged Agidyne and was consumed by fire, albeit temporarily.

"That was a good effort. But it doesn't change anything." Quintessus had emerged from the flames.

Dylan nodded. "You're right. That didn't change anything. But I'm not going to give up!"

He switched Persona to Beelzebub and used Primal Force on Quintessus.

Quintessus took the powerful Physical attack head on.

"I think it's time for me to try something a little stronger! MEGIDOLAON!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Beelzebub was hit with a massive explosion, but the Persona was still standing.

Dylan winced. "Okay. That one packed a punch. But this one will, too! Beelzebub, MIND CHARGE!"

"I'm not going to let you use the same trick twice!" Quintessus attacked Dylan directly.

Dylan blocked the attack and countered. "Beelzebub! MEGIDOLAON!"

Quintessus was caught up in a huge explosion resulting from the powerful Almighty attack.

There was a brief pause before Quintessus emerged.

"You're really starting to piss me off, you know that?" Quintessus growled.

Dylan shrugged. "You're the one who thought that I'd just let you win. The only person, or thing, you should be angry with is yourself."

"Maybe you're right. I think it's time to show off one of the moves I have in this form! GOLDEN SHELL!" Quintessus' demeanour changed.

He was surrounded by a golden aura and was almost daring Dylan to attack him.

Dylan switched Personas to Sraosha and slipped into a defensive stance.

He was still keeping his guard up. "I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get me to make a mistake by attacking you when you've got that aura up. But that's not happening."

"Shut up! There's more than one way to skin a cat, you know!" Quintessus launched another attack.

Dylan kept blocking Quintessus' attacks. "Your mind games don't work, bub. Sraosha, POWER CHARGE!"

"Enough talking! BULLET RAIN!" Quintessus roared.

Dylan and Sraosha were hit with what felt like a rain of gunshots before being hit with a last, much more powerful gunshot or projectile.

Dylan gritted his teeth through the pain. "At least you've managed to drop your guard! Sraosha, BRAVE BLADE!"

Quintessus was hit with the amplified Physical attack and sent backwards.

"Damn it! SHINING FIST!" Quintessus launched another attack.

His right fist temporarily turned gold as he hit Sraosha with a powerful Physical attack.

Dylan switched Personas from Sraosha to Shiva.

He quickly countered Quintessus' attack. "Shiva, ZIODYNE!"

Quintessus was hit with a bolt of lightning and sent backwards.

Dylan and Shiva managed to land multiple attacks on the Shadow before he managed to block them.

"You can do better than that! QUATRETEMPS!" Quintessus quickly counterattacked.

Dylan and Shiva were alternately engulfed in flames, frozen in ice that shattered around them, shredded by gale force winds and struck by lightning.

They were still standing, but that particular attack had done a lot of damage.

Dylan attacked Quintessus with Stormbreaker before Shiva used a Megidolaon on the Shadow.

He feigned surprise when Quintessus emerged yet again. "I might disagree with you on practically everything, but you're a durable bastard. Which means that I might just have to respect you now. Even if the thought of doing so is completely repugnant to me."

"You won't have to respect me if you're dead! PIERCING SMASH!" Quintessus lunged forward.

He hit Shiva with an attack that seemed to go through the Persona.

Dylan switched Personas from Shiva to Lucifer in order to avoid any further damage.

He slipped into a more defensive stance. "Lucifer, MIND CHARGE!"

"That's not going to work! SHINING FIST!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan was hit with the powerful Physical attack and sent backwards. "Thanks for doing exactly what I thought you'd do. Really! Lucifer, BUFUDYNE!"

Quintessus was hit with the amplified Bufudyne and temporarily encased in a block of ice that soon shattered.

Lucifer used Brave Blade as a follow up attack to really pile on the damage.

"I'm going to rip you apart!" Quintessus lunged at Dylan.

Dylan switched Personas from Lucifer back to Nari no Okami.

He blocked Quintessus' attacks and smashed Stormbreaker into his chest and neck.

Dylan then headbutted Quintessus in the face. "Eat shit!"

Nari no Okami used Roaring Blade on Quintessus before running him through with his nodachi.

"You want to play rough?! Then let's play rough! QUATRETEMPS!" Quintessus used the powerful attack on Dylan directly.

Dylan weathered it as best he could.

He then cut through Quintessus' left leg with Stormbreaker. "I think I've been "playing rough" ever since I got here! And I'm not going to stop just because it pisses you off! Not ever!"

They clashed before Nari no Okami attacked Quintessus from the left.

The Shadow was knocked off balance but not unbowed.

Dylan swung Stormbreaker into Quintessus' ribs before following up with a huge downward swing, forcing the Shadow to one knee.

"You're never going to make me kneel! And you're NEVER going to defeat me!" Quintessus rose up and punched Dylan in the chest with a brutal level of force.

Dylan dismissed Nari no Okami and took a step back. "Never say never!"

"Are you sure about that?!" Quintessus sidestepped an attack from Dylan and grabbed him by the neck.

Dylan dropped Stormbreaker on one of Quintessus' feet and bit his hand in order to get him to release his grip.

Quintessus released his grip on Dylan and punched him in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground.

Dylan picked himself up and managed to get to a vertical base. "Please sir, may I have another?"

"Have you lost your mind? Or is this just another delaying tactic?" Quintessus retorted.

Dylan shrugged. "Call it whatever you want, I don't care. Because I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have a plan!"

"You're clearly delusional." Quintessus deadpanned.

Dylan dodged a punch from the Shadow and countered with a well-placed headbutt. "You couldn't be less self-aware if you tried."

"Well, I'm through playing games with you in that case." Quintessus stood still.

Dylan looked a little bit confused. "Aren't you a little bit old to be playing statues? If Shadows have actual "ages," that is…"

"I'm the one in control." Quintessus cut across him.

Dylan shook his head. "I don't want to state the obvious, but that becomes less true the more times you say it."

"We'll just have to agree to disagree." Quintessus retorted.

Quintessus summoned what appeared to be skeletal hands underneath where Dylan was standing in order to grab onto him.

Dylan looked down and could see multiple skeletal hands trying to pull him down into the abyss. Or at least pull him to the ground. Whichever one was worse.

He shook his head. "Could you be any less original?"

"It doesn't matter what you think." Quintessus sneered.

Dylan could feel himself starting to get pulled down more. "You're only saying that now..."

"I'm not, really. Cut the crap already and just accept that you've been beaten. And maybe I'll go easy on you." Quintessus smirked.

The skeletal hands surrounding Dylan were now gripping his neck.

Dylan resisted the urge to laugh. "And what would you do if you were to "go easy on me?" You've waited for this moment a hell of a long time and now that it's finally here, you don't know what to do with yourself."

"Killing you would be a good start." Quintessus reared back as his right fist started to vibrate at a really high frequency.

Dylan started to glow blue just as Quintessus' hand descended. "It would have been if you didn't waste so much time!"

The skeletal hands surrounding him were also blasted away by the blue light.

"Nice trick! But it's not going to change anything!" Quintessus went to punch Dylan again.

Dylan moved to one side as two cards floated above his outstretched hand. "That's just the first part."

"And there's not going to be a second part!" Quintessus lunged at Dylan.

Dylan blocked Quintessus' attack and sent him backwards. "Don't you ever get tired of being wrong? Time to introduce you to some friends of mine! You're familiar with one of them, but the other one is a little new! Nari no Okami! Nari no Okami Picaro!"

He crushed both cards in his hand and let the blue light shine over him.

Change Song: Casey Edwards ft. Victor Borba – Bury the Light (Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition OST)

Nari no Okami Picaro was similar to the regular Nari no Okami but he was also slightly different. He was the same height as Nari no Okami and had red hair extending almost to his waist and a black and gold lion mask. Nari no Okami Picaro was wearing a black and red leather jacket that was unzipped and opened at the waist. He was also wearing ripped black trousers with a belt that had a lion's head belt buckle and red boots with spiked toes. There was a nodachi that was in a sheathe at his side.

"Is that what the blue light was for?" Quintessus asked.

Dylan nodded. "Yep. And they're going to be what beats you!"

Quintessus had heard enough and tried to rush Dylan.

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro managed to block his attacks with their respective nodachis.

Dylan quickly counterattacked and knocked Quintessus back.

"Is that all?" Quintessus recovered and launched himself at Dylan.

Dylan shook his head. "It's not even close."

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro used a Bufudyne each followed by a Ziodyne.

Quintessus was frozen in ice before being struck by lightning.

"I'll make you bleed for that!" Quintessus snarled.

Dylan got hit with numerous Physical attacks, but was still standing.

He steadied himself. "You're clearly getting desperate! And it's not a good look. Nari no Okami! Nari no Okami Picaro! ROARING BLADE!"

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami used the exact same Physical attack on Quintessus,

Both Roaring Blades dealt a lot of damage to the Shadow, but it wasn't enough to defeat him.

"Damn you!" Quintessus was clearly letting his anger towards Dylan cloud his judgment.

Dylan smirked. "I didn't think you'd get this frustrated. But I'm not surprised. You're used to getting your own way all the time, so the thought of losing to someone you consider inferior must really piss you off."

"You don't get to analyse me! TYRANT UPPER!" Quintessus charged forward and hit Dylan with a devastating uppercut.

This particular attack dealt a tremendous amount of damage to Dylan, among other things.

Dylan was staggered slightly. "Shit! That one really hurt!"

"Have another! QUATRETEMPS!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro were set on fire, frozen solid, electrocuted and hit with shredding gusts of wind in quick succession.

Dylan was still standing. "You're going to have do better than that!"

"Shut up! BULLET RAIN!" Quintessus exclaimed.

Dylan countered the powerful Physical attack by hitting Quintessus in the leg with Stormbreaker before headbutting him.

He watched as Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro attacked Quintessus from either side before using Bufudyne and Ziodyne multiple times.

Dylan wasn't going to let up. "Nari no Okami! Nari no Okami Picaro! Hit him with everything you've got!"

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro used their strongest attacks on Quintessus.

First, Nari no Okami Picaro used Fimbulwinter on Quintessus, encasing him in ice before slicing the ice into bits and launching the pieces at him.

Nari no Okami followed up with Hiraishingiri. Lightning struck his nodachi, and he sent that lightning at Quintessus. He then called down multiple bolts of lightning on the Shadow before cutting through him.

"Damn you!" Quintessus snarled, coughing up a black substance

Dylan grinned. "What's the matter? Isn't this what you wanted? Or have you finally realised that you've got no way of defeating me even if you resort to dirty tricks?"

"Shut up! BULLET RAIN!" Quintessus roared

Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro were hit multiple times with the powerful long-range attack before being hit with a Megidolaon.

Both Personas were still standing, along with Dylan.

Dylan attacked Quintessus along with Nari no Okami and Nari no Okami Picaro. "You're clearly grasping at straws here! Just give up already!"

"NEVER!" Quintessus went to attack Dylan again.

Dylan blocked his fists and swung Stormbreaker as hard as he possibly could. "Then I'll just have to make you change your mind!"

He looked on as Stormbreaker passed through the Shadow.

"You'll never defeat me!" Quintessus reared back and went to punch Dylan.

Dylan ducked down. "I think I already have!"

He swung Stormbreaker again, cutting through Quintessus from the bottom up in a diagonal swing.

"Damn you! If you're going to finish me, then do it already!" Quintessus had dropped down to one knee.

Dylan raised Stormbreaker above his head and brought it down. "If you insist!"

He watched as Quintessus' head was cleaved from his shoulders.

The Shadow's body had disappeared after he had been decapitated, but his head remained for some reason.

"You really are a fool! You do realise that you've only caused the disappearance of my body, don't you? And, that you can't really defeat me unless you either destroy my head or…." Quintessus trailed off.

Dylan went to stamp down on Quintessus' head. "Or you pull another miracle out of your ass! I get it! And I thought my Shadow was a sore loser!"

End Song

He stamped down on Quintessus' head until it was nothing but a pulpy mass.

"He's gone. Which means that I must go, too." Nari no Okami Picaro said.

Dylan nodded. "Yeah. That's probably for the best, I think. It'd be nice to have you around, but…."

"You don't want to be perceived negatively? Or to have too much power?" Nari no Okami Picaro asked.

Dylan shrugged. "Something like that. Happy Trails!"

He dismissed Nari no Okami and watched as Nari no Okami Picaro disappeared to where, or when possibly, he was supposed to be.

A portal opened up and Dylan jumped through it.

He missed the collapse of the new and improved Golden Palace along with the separation of Mayonaka and the Metaverse.

Which was incredibly fortunate.