Disclaimer: I don't own DMC or Witcher series

A/N: Dante's costume is subjected to change...

Chapter 12: The beginning of the Storm
August 17, 1300
15:30 PM...

The way to the north east Novigrad had always been interesting. Most of the time, we see only the forests, open farm fields, grasslands and some houses amidst them. But that's not all for there are blood thristy ghouls, wraiths and beasts wander both under the sun and moon light.

Dante and Ciri had been on the road making their way from Ellander to the north east Novigrad to visit a runewright whom Geralt had previously told her about. At Ellander, Ciri and Dante helped a family getting rid of a demon which was slain by Dante. But in the ensuing fight, Ciri had her sword broken as the weapon wasn't powerful enough to withstand the toughness of an infernal demon.

Dante just knew what to do. A weapon to withstand the might of an infernal demon and the one which can channel energies.

So far the journey hadn't been boring for Dante. They stopped whenever and wherever possible for food and even bath in the water streams. Meanwhile Dante also learned a lot more details on the kingdoms in the continent and the emperors and even the details of each and every place in the continent. It gave him quite a confidence to roam alone with out anyone's assistance.

Dante and Ciri were a couple miles away from the upper mill where the runewright is present. The sun's heat was tolerable as the breeze compensated for more comfort.

"So, Dante? How come you are not bored with such a long travel?" Ciri asked intrigued. Dante chuckled and responded.

"I love this. Perhaps it helps me to learn a lot of things" replied Dante. Their horses weren't sprinting as they were casually walking. Ciri looked up straight, taking a breath and sigh reminding of the fight they had at Ellander.

"Huh, after that encounter with the demon, still can't believe I've got a lot of things to learn" said Ciri. Dante could feel a disappointment in her voice.

"Learning doesn't have an end. Besides, I'm gonna give you the right tools. But you don't need any training" said Dante which drew Ciri's attention and she immediately turned to face Dante.

"Wha-...What do you mean by that?" she asked confused. Dante took his time to respond.

"You are a fierce fighter. You are so skilled and strong. I don't need to teach you to fight. All I'm gonna do is to get you a weapon capable of killing these demons" said Dante. Ciri raised her eyebrows in surprise and then looked down and gazed intently

"Wow, I tho-...I just thought something different" said Ciri with a mild bliss in her face. Of course, Dante never meant anything about training her. He already saw what she was capable of. Sometimes, she reminded him of his brother. They both are tenacious. Ironically, they both share similar powers which Dante found odd.

"At any rate you should-..." Dante began to speak but was immediately interrupted at the sight of a situation just a few meters ahead. And not just Dante, but Ciri too was distracted by the scene in front.

There were 5 men or more like soldiers wearing a military armor that had pale yellow clothing and a unicorn symbol.

But Dante saw a woman in a peasant dress in her early thirty's being harassed by the soldiers. Also that she had her hand and mouth tied with a cloth and Ciri too observed just what he did. They witnessed the woman being forced to move with repeated push from the back.

"Now what is this all about?" muttered Dante shrinking his eyebrows, loud enough to get Ciri's attention. Ciri turned to look at Dante and then towards them. But this time something caught Ciri's eyes after gazing at their armor for a few seconds.

"This can't be!" she instantly shocked.

"What is it?" asked Dante.

"That armor...It's...It's Kaedwen! And what do they think they're doing in the Nilfgaardian land!?" she said in a raised tone. Dante reminded himself of the details Ciri gave him of the Kaedwen kingdom and it's history of bloodshed.

Then they both watched as the soldiers cornered the woman towards a pole used for hanging people, especially traitors and scums. That's when both decided to intervene.

"Alright, look's to me we got a damsel in distress" said Dante getting out of his horse, Geryon.

"You are right, let's see what they want with her" said Ciri, she too getting out of her horse. They both started approaching the soldiers and they could already hear the wailing woman.

...

"mmmph...mmmmph!" the woman raised sound as her mouth was tied and she was trying to get away from them but the guards were already laughing their ass up at her futile attempts.

"Hah hAh! Get here you witchy cunt!" said one soldier.

"King would be pleased to have every magic whores hung to death!" said another one.

"Not...before we all can have some fun with her...ya know...we have been working all the day! Hah!" said the 3rd one. The others approved of his ugly thinking.

They then slowly went near her and the woman was scared to death. Tears already started flowing out of her eyes.

And that's when...

"How about we all have fun together?" came a voice and the 5 soldiers and the woman were distracted instantly at the sight of an approaching tall man in a red and black suit and white hair along with a young ashen haired woman.

But they all got sight of the humongous sword on the man's back and terrified a bit. They clearly found out that he wasn't from this continent as he appeared strange.

"Now who do we got?" asked one soldier.

"Big sword on his back. looks like a troublesome bastard" muttered another one.

"Didn't your momma teach you how to behave with women?" asked Dante with a smirk.

"That's none of your business, outlander. Get the fuck away!" yelled the soldier. Dante let an evil smile on his face.

"Now leave that woman and tell me what the kaedwenians are doing in Redania?" asked Ciri in a commanding tone.

"And you-..." the soldier started but interrupted by another.

"Whoa! that's Cirilla, royal Nilfgaardian heir. Be careful" warned another soldier in a lower tone who instantly recognized her. But the soldier turned to look at him and let a jesting smile.

"Huh, our dealings are with the royal family, Moorvahn voorhis. Not a cheap monster hunter who relinquished the royal blood" said the soldier which stunned Ciri. This was something she never expected. Her eyes widened at the response, the soldier gave.

"But as things have changed on the grand scale a month ago, it's time the history repeated already" the soldier said. Ciri and Dante didn't understand a thing. But Ciri took a step towards the soldier hastily but Dante put his arm in the way and stopped her. He then spoke.

"Listen, We got no idea what you are talking about. But before things get ugly, leave the woman and leave this place" said Dante with seriousness in his voice.

"And who you are to order me around, goat f**ker!" yelled the soldier and Dante's face expressed disappointment. But before he could speak, suddenly another soldier drew his flintlock and shot Dante in his face.

"BAM!" the gun exploded and Dante turned his torso and head back at bullet speed and held his posture.

"DANTE!" Ciri yelled in shock, but immediately her face reaction changed to amazement.

The soldiers first though laughed started to tense up.

Dante slowly took back his normal posture facing the soldiers with nothing in his face. The soldiers were stunned to see he wasn't injured. Even the peasant was shocked at the scene.

Dante slowly rolled his tongue and opened his mouth to reveal the gun round held between the upper and lower teeth. The soldiers took a few steps back in absolute terror. Dante then spit the bullet down. Definitely the round would have splattered anyone's head. But to see something like this was horrendous to them. Even Ciri couldn't believe what she saw.

Dante then spoke calmly,

"That was a wrong move, pal" said Dante instantly drawing out his ebony gun shot at the soldier's hand which made the gun to bounce off his palm. Everyone were terrified. Then he immediately shot another round at one soldier's knee.

"AAHHH!" the soldiers growled in pain and fell down holding his knee.

"F**K YOU!" screamed another soldier and instantly swung his spear towards him. Dante blocked it with his gun's trigger guard and kicked his abdomen so hard he flew and fell a meter away. Immediately another soldier swung his spear sideways. Dante instantly grabbed it with his left arm and spun his body towards him and hit his helmet face with elbow, so hard that it created a dent and broke his nose and teeth.

But to Dante it was just a 15 second fight of absolutely nothing.

On the other hand Ciri grabbed a attacking soldier's spear and forced it to hit his own head so hard. The soldier staggered and the other one attacked her from her front. She blocked it with his spear and punched his face and it straight away went to hit his face inside. Then she took away this soldier's spear and and heavily beat his head with the other side. This too happened in 15 seconds.

With all the 5 severely injured, they slowly got up to their feet and got hold of one another.

"Freaks! They are everywhere! You will pay for this!" yelled the soldier and they are carried the wounded soldier and left the place.

Peace settled and the woman slowly got to her feet. Dante helped her by removing the mouth cloth. Ciri helped by removing the wrist shackles. The woman drew a heavy breath and felt herself tired for a moment knelt down.

Then after a couple seconds, she relaxed herself and spoke,

"By the gods! Can't believe this is happening again!" she said trembling.

"Why are they bothering a peasant?" asked Dante. The woman looked at Dante with hint surprise and weirdness. For a moment she studied him and recognized he wasn't from around here and also he wasn't a witcher despite carrying a sword like that.

"I'm no ordinary woman. I'm a mage" replied the woman which mildly surprised Dante as he wondered why a woman would live like an ordinary peasant.

"A sorceress?" asked Ciri. The woman looked at Ciri and instantly identified her with a smile.

"You are Ciri, right?" she asked.

"How do you know?" asked Ciri surprised.

"Triss merigold had told me about you, who you are and that's 28 years back when she and us all the other mages fled Radovid's mage hunters in a ship" she said.

"By the way, I'm Brenna" she introduced her name.

"Glad I met you Brenna, someone from those times" Ciri responded Cheerfully.

But why-..." Ciri asked in confusion.

"Why this living? Why do you think? Ever since the tragic incident, we mages had to go into hiding again. Non-humans have started to feel hostility again after 28 years of relative peace" said Brenna. This confused both Dante and Ciri as they looked at each other brooding.

"What incident?" asked Ciri which stunned Brenna.

"You say...You don't know? even after 2 months? My goodness!" said Brenna widening her eyes.

"Brenna, what just happened?" asked Ciri pressing her tone. She didn't feel quite right about her dragging something out of her mouth. Brenna sighed and said, her face already turning sour.

"I'm sorry to say this. But Emperor Emhyr- your father, His successor Moorvahn Voorhis and his Son. They have been brutally murdered a couple months ago" said Brenna which threw fits to Ciri.

"WHAT!?" Ciri Yelled. She just can't believe she heard the tragic death of her father. That was a thunder storm in her head. Besides, she don't even want to listen to that, let alone accept the truth.

"Brenna, stop those jests!" Ciri gritted angrily to which she felt only pity.

"But Ciri? Where were you for the past 2 months? You must have known this!"

Of course, she had a strained relationship with him as she spent most of her life with Geralt and Yennefer. And then moving between worlds to flee the Aen Elle elves who seek her power.

But that doesn't mean she never loved him let alone respect him. Several memories started to flash over her mind. She locked herself in a trance like state. Dante on the other having known these stories felt pity for her as he can understand what it's like to be left alone all of a sudden. But he too can't jump to conclusions like that.

"Ciri...Ciri!" called out Dante that snapped out of Ciri's shock. She then returned to the reality and blinked a few times. Ciri took a few steps slowly backwards. Echoes and screams filled her head and all that she felt was...well nothingness. She didn't even knew how to react.

She then looked at Dante and Brenna.

"So...uh...Are you sure about what you said?" asked Dante.

"I take it that you people never knew and I don't blame you. Still a lot of other kingdoms don't even know this" said Brenna which instantly drew Ciri's attention and her eyebrows along with the temple shrunk bilious.

"What the hell you mean no one knows!?" Ciri asked loud.

"Lady, you are not helping her" said Dante

"What am I supposed to do?" Brenna asked looking at the skies.

"Start from the scratch. How did this happen?" asked Dante. Ciri looked at them both who was dead serious about the situation. Brenna sighed and begun her explanation.

"Well, a month ago some unknown individuals intellectually sneaked into the king's palace and murdered Emhyr, Moorvan and his Son. Now Nilfgaard is without a ruler. But back when they conquered Kaedwen, they granted sovereignty to them under one condition, Complete control over their economy in exchange for inexhaustible amounts of troops and military supplies" said Brenna.

"What's it got to do with this?" asked Ciri.

"There was some sort of pact between the 2 kingdoms which no one knew anything about. While the intentions of the murders is unknown, there is a word that witches and mages were involved in the assassinations" said Brenna.

This was a shocking news for them. As Dante and Ciri felt that history had began to repeat itself because the involvement of mages in the assassination of kings, especially the lodge led to the kingdom wide pogrom against the mages. That was a total bloodshed and an unnecessary one too. It is sad to hear that it's happening again.

"Gods! Not this again!" cursed Ciri with her breath.

"Now with the Nilfgaard out of the picture, Kaedwen is filling in. They are now carrying on the assassination of the mages with the same old mage hunters. Nobody's safe after 30 years. Every one in Kaedwen, Redenia and Nilfgaard had gone into hiding. Some are already seeking refuge in other safe kingdoms" said Brenna.

"Are you sure the witches and mages were responsible?" asked Dante.

"Yes. There had been certain evidences. 2 days before the murder, Oxenfurt academy was breached by magic wielding individuals at midnight. The officials said that the perpetrators stormed into the forbidden section and took away something. Those were the same people that carried on this assassination" said Brenna.

The word 'forbidden' strike Dante's mind as he had heard that word already. Yennefer once said that the section held ancient books and scriptures. Some even about his father. This is when Dante got a little more suspicious. His vigilant mind made a strange connection between the two incidents. Though he decided not to do anything about it as he don't carry proof and also that this wasn't his world to interfere in this matter.

"How come no other kingdom knew of this mage hunt or king's assassination?" asked Ciri confused.

Brenna turned away from them slowly folding her hands and walked a few steps. She sighed an replied.

"Of course nobody does here. But the word had reached up to Nazair. The Kaedwenian ruler didn't want any attention to be drawn in starting another big pogrom. They are trying to keep this concealed as much as they can so as to buy enough time to execute all the mages" she said as she rushed towards them.

"But Ciri, you should understand that this is all a big conspiracy. Nothing's seem to be the way we think" Brenna said with her eyes widened. Ciri's face was nothing but glaze and grave. She still didn't completely recover from the shocking news of her father's death.

"What do you mean conspiracy? Are there any suspicious people behind us?" asked Dante.

"Nilfgaard is ruthless but Kaedwen can never be trusted. What if they were the people behind this?" asked Brenna unsure of the possibility.

Dante gave a careful thought about this. He didn't feel right about this. Especially the murderers breaking into the forbidden section in the Oxenfurt academy. Back at the elven sage's lab, Yennefer said that the forbidden section contained ancient tomes, books and scriptures about the infernal magic and details about ancient underworld creatures. She also said that nobody is given access to that place not even the kings.

He then deduced that if that section had been breached, then those people must definitely be after the knowledge contained in them which he instantly knew was never good. Perhaps, he felt the worst possible thing to happen.

"You said the forbidden section in the Oxenfurt had been breached, isn't it?" asked Dante seriously to which she nodded yes.

"Why do you ask?" asked Ciri raising her eyebrow.

"I don't know what these assholes are after but that ain't good" replied Dante.

"Why?" asked Ciri curious on listening to Dante's perspective.

"Remember what Yennefer said? That section holds the most dangerous knowledge on the infernals that shouldn't be tampered with. If those murderers had stolen something from there, then the worst shit has yet to come" said Dante.

"What are you talking about? Besides, I'm sorry for not asking this earlier, but who are you? You don't seem to be from this continent. A big sword and your attire can be mistaken for a witcher but you are clearly not" said Brenna confused. And like the other sorceresses he met before, she too found him attractive. Dante let a sigh as he had heard this question many times. But Ciri answered in his stead.

"He is Dante, a paranormal expert and a monster hunter from a far off continent across the seas" replied Ciri with a smile.

"My my! The only monster hunters we all knew were witchers. You are very different!" she mildly exclaimed.

"That's all well and good lady. But we got something else to tend to" said Dante turning to Ciri.

"Ciri, go back to Nilfgaard and see if you can find and learn anything" said Dante.

"I-...I should-...I will definitely..." replied Ciri stammering, controlling the tears from flowing out.

Dante knew what it would feel like when lose your loved ones. Perhaps, he's the best example for that. First, his father, then his mother and then his brother. Though he tried to save Vergil many times, but the latter's stupid pride left a big gap. While he may seem to be cool, he still cries in his heart for his brother is not even at peace after death with his soul trapped in the limbo.

"Ciri, I don't pretend how you feel. But you just need to understand that there's always a greater good to look upon at these times of crisis" said Dante which didn't seem to convince her. She shrunk her temples in mild anger.

"Greater good? At what cost? Just because some bastards lost their mind, I had to pay with my family's blood?" she asked in a depressed tone, gritting her teeth in agony. Dante didn't want to argue further coz he knew at this stage.

"At this point, you can still save the others you care about from this fate. That's the best you can do" said Dante folding his hands, speaking his mind out straight to her face.

Ciri was hesitant to his opinion but partially accepted his statements as there are still others she care a lot about. She can still help them.

"May be you are right. I need to go to Nilfgaard. I can learn what truly happened there" she said. Dante let a faint smile and nodded approvingly.

"Then I better get away from this place. Redania is no longer safe. Temeria would be good or Aedirn...anywhere but here" said Brenna.

"Once again, I'm grateful for your help. Hope we meet again. Fare thee well!" she said with a smile and then took a few steps away from them to magically summon a portal which opened with a blowing sound. She then entered the portal and it disappeared.

Dante and Ciri then looked at each other's face. He then looked upon a sharp edged stone and took it by his hands.

"Do you have anything with you to do inscription?" asked Dante. Ciri's temple shrunk in confusion.

"Why?" she asked reaching for her bag loaded into her horse. Then she took a medium sized piece of animal skin that she kept inside and handed it over to Dante.

Dante immediately took it and placed it on the ground and used the sharp stone to pierce and draw symbols. He drew 4 symbols that looked weirder than she could think of. After finishing the symbols, he gave the piece of skin to Ciri and talked.

"If in case you managed to get to that rune wright and get yourself a new weapon. Ask him to inscribe these symbols in the blade" said Dante.

"What do these symbols mean?" she asked curiously.

"Symbols that can channel one's own power. This will turn you even more powerful. Keep it and stay safe" said Dante with a faint smile. Ciri whistled at the sight of those symbols, but nodded in acknowledgement.

"Thank you. We'll meet again someday. It's gonna be weeks to get to Nilfgaard. You know...I don't use my powers often" said Ciri. Dante nodded in approval and both shook their hands as gesture of farewell.

Ciri then managed to get on her horse back and galloped her horse to make a sprint towards the southern side. Dante watched her until the vanishing point.

...

He then sighed and spoke to himself,

"Right, I need to meet Avallac'h now. But I cannot take weeks for that" muttered Dante and soaked in deep thought as to what to do. Then a bright idea flashed his mind.

"Think this might work..." thought Dante and then closed his eyes.

He began concentrating his mind so deep, focusing only on his thoughts. He was using his telepathic ability to reach out to Avallac'h.

"Avallac'h, if you can hear me, I need to talk to you. Open a gateway to your place..." was Dante's message. He then slowly opened his eyes to see nothing. After a couple seconds, he sighed and nodded disappointingly just when a loud sound occurred and a black portal with yellow orange energy appeared in front him. He let a sarcastic laugh and spoke,

"Looks like the old man heard after all!" said Dante and walked into it and vanished and the portal closed behind him.

...

On the way between Vizima and Ellander...

It had been 2 weeks since Geralt and Yennefer started traveling towards Ellander in hopes to get Yennefer cured. Within this time Geralt was completely healed of his injuries he sustained. He is now as fresh as the morning sky. Even Yennefer had improved with her health condition to a point that the poison had now only keeping her magical abilities suppressed. It was totally inverse of the threat they assumed it to be 2 weeks ago when the monster in the swamps attacked them.

On the way, they even stopped at Vizima to to get to refresh themselves and have their food for the day.

Both Geralt and Yen were riding on roach as of then.

"Hmm, Looks like our physical abilities were superior to this poison" said Geralt monotonically.

"Looks like it. Now I feel only the suppressed magical powers. I don't quite understand. But anyways, after we get recovered finding the 'Jade petals', we need to get to work. We have to stop those creatures" said Yennefer.

Geralt was stunned to hear that. They barely got out alive in the first encounter.

"Are you crazy!?" asked Geralt. Yennefer saw that coming from him and sighed in response.

"Geralt, there are a lot of things I need to tell you. But first we need to get off from this mess. Then I'll explain everything to you" said Yennefer.

Geralt didn't understand, he wondered what was the explanation he needed anyway. But he decided to focus on the cure and shelf away the other thoughts for a while.

"And this Dante you told me about? Is he still here?" asked Geralt.

In the 2 weeks of their travel, Yennefer managed to tell Geralt everything about Dante, the world he hails from and the information that Avallac'h gave them at Skellige. He also learned how he managed to kill a golem brute just by himself. To his knowledge, it was an over the top feat. There's not a single person who had done in solo. His interest in meeting this character grew every passing day.

It was still too much for Geralt to process everything. It's not surprising for him that there was someone from another world, but he was a sword swinging human. That's what kicked him in the head.

"He's still here and Avallac'h is helping him getting off this world" replied Yennefer.

"Are you sure he can be trusted? Sure about leaving him wandering the continent alone?" asked Geralt with all the doubts in his heart. Of course, he have had his fare share of troubles with people like him, so it never hurt him to be cautious. Besides, that instinct helped him survive.

Yennefer understood Geralt's suspicion as she knew he asked it out of pure instincts.

"Don't worry Geralt. So far, he never gave us any reason not to trust him. My magical aura perception detected something odd within Dante, but nothing's hostile" said Yennefer.

The word 'odd' sounded like a great deal.

"What do you mean odd?" asked Geralt.

"I don't understand what I saw. That was the first time. I'm sorry Geralt, I can't explain this now" Yen replied.

Geralt decided to have this conversation when the time was right and cut the topic then.

"We'll reach Nenneke's temple in 4 hours" said Geralt who proceeded to ride the horse at top speed.

...

Velen Swamps...

Black heart and his minions were preparing for their master Mephisto's arrival. After having a brief fight with Geralt and Yennefer, the black vile creature raised a huge seal in the swamps. Then it performed an enchantment. But that was weeks ago. It required a lot of magical energy and days of ritual to actually open a seal.

Now, Mephisto is here in Aen seidhe, in the velen swamps.

"Hmmm, After a long time...after thousands of years, I am finally free to step into this world. Free of Sparda's cuffs that kept us to the confines of the underworld" said Mephisto who had reached Aen seidhe a day ago.

"ALL HAIL MEPHISTO!" the minions roared in unison praising the hell lord. Mephisto let a grim smile and walked over a tree. The minions were already altering the swamps to their needs with Blackheart serving as the overseer for that.

"But still, this is insufficient. I need more power if an all out invasion needs to be carried out to conquer this world" said Mephisto to which Blackheart stood silently staring at him.

"Perhaps, Yamato - Sparda's sword could help in opening the hell gate located at the northwest part of the continent. But it's not here. Besides it's far from anyone's reach" said Mephisto who was frustrated.

It was indeed a painstaking process that took weeks to bring a small party into this world against Sparda's seal. To conquer the world, Every shackle must be broken and it's gonna take centuries for them.

"I must find another way-..." said Mephisto gritting his teeth when a voice came suddenly outta nowhere.

"I think I can help you with that" someone said.

Blackheart's senses were alerted and protruded it's claws out and changed it's stance.

Mephisto's face was calm and walked a few steps to get into the middle of 3 trees and slowly turned his head to his left. He saw a bald man wearing a dull orange and green merchant dress.

"YOU!" said Mephisto glaring at him.

"Gaunter O'Dimm...at your-..." before the man could finish, Blackheart lunged at blinding speed assuming him to be a threat. O'Dimm patiently looked at his arrival and lifted his arm.

Suddenly everything slowed down for Blackheart and he was struggling to move. O'Dimm slowly took a side step and pushed Blackheart slowly towards a tree's bark. Suddenly vines appeared outta nowhere and tied the creature to it's place. Blackheart was rendered immobile.

O'dimm then turned to face Mephisto and smirked.

"-..Service" the man completed his usual phrase. Mephisto was looking at the struggling Blackheart trying break out of the tree.

"O'Dimm, never expected to see you here" grumbled Mephisto under his breath.

"What? Surprised to see me?" asked Gaunter.

"Why are you here?" asked the hell lord. Gaunter sarcastically frowned as he didn't like his approach.

"Tsk tsk...I was expecting a lot from a honorable hell lord Mephisto" jested O'dimm. Mephisto grunted in response.

But after a few seconds of awkward silence, things got serious.

"I know what you are planning to do" said O'dimm.

"Of course you do" replied Mephisto un-enthusiased. Gaunter O'Dimm is the master of a domain simply called the 'Mirror dimension'. Unlike simple reflection, he mirrors pure evil in the universe, making him one of the most powerful entities to ever exist.

"You don't sound so thrilled" said O'Dimm.

"Glad that you understood. Besides, what someone like you wanted here anyway?" deadpanned Mephisto.

"I know the Underworld is planning to conquer this world after a long time-..." said O'Dmm once again glancing at the surroundings takng a look at the minions and then finally directing his sight towards the devil.

"...- And looks like it had already begun" finished O'Dimm.

Mephisto folded his hands, quite amazed.

"But you know that you can't bring the entire hell into Aen seidhe without-..."

"Without opening the hell gate, I know. What's your point?" asked Mephisto who had become choleric.

"You know. But do you know that there's a key in this world that can open the hell gate" said O'dimm which confused the devil.

"A key!?" puzzled Mephisto. O'dimm disappointingly nodded.

"Looks like Sparda succeeded in having this concealed for long enough time" said O'Dimm.

"Sparda?...Wait...Yamato is needed to open the hell gate. Without that, how do you think that's possible?" asked Mephisto quite confused. O'dimm folded his hands and glared intently towards Mephisto.

"There is another key in this world that can open the hell gate at Aretuza" said O'dimm.

"What's that?" asked Mephisto curiously.

"It's not 'What' rather it's 'Who' " said O'dimm. Mephisto was trying to figure out the answer but was difficult.

"Who?" asked Mephisto. After a couple of seconds, O'dimm replied.

"Cirilla"

Mephisto instantly recognized that name. He knew that the Aen Elle elves had an ultimate weapon built for themselves a long time ago. It was the 'Hen Ichaer'...The elder blood. Mephisto failed to get that idea before, but now he just got what's needed to fulfill the plans for the final great invasion and bring back hell at Aen seidhe.

"The Child of the Elder blood...Lady of Space and Time" said Mephisto giving a grim smile.

"Then I just know what needs to be done" said Mephisto.

"Not so fast my friend. You and I know that it ain't going to be easy" said O'dimm.

"You think so?" asked Mephisto.

"Dante is still here in this world" said O'dimm. Mephisto turned irate at hearing that foul name.

"HE is just an obstacle" said Mephisto.

"A dangerous obstacle. Until he lives, you are a long way from achieving your goals" warned O'dimm.

Mephisto instantly raised his arms towards Blackheart's position. The veins loosened and let the grip out of the creature. Blackheart then slowly walked towards Mephisto, then turning to face O'Dimm.

"Blackheart would easily take care of Dante. He is more than enough" said Mephisto.

O'Dimm felt very much difficult to hide his smug and internally laughed all around. Because O'Dimm is aware of Dante's abilities and he also knew that he managed kill Argosax and Abigail, sealed away emperor Mundus. He couldn't help but feel pity on Mephisto ignorance on his part or there's a chance that he was more than his hype.

"Well, then it's high time I left this place"

"Wait..." Mephisto stopped him. O'dimm was waiting for him speak.

"I know very well about you. Did you truly come here to help us with this information?" asked Mephisto. O'Dimm already predicted this question. He didn't turn to face him. Simply he stood and spoke.

"That is quite classified my friend" O'Dimm said letting an insolent laugh.

"A fair warning though. Be careful around Samael" said O'Dimm and then walked away from that place.

Mephisto was darkly staring at O'Dimm's departure and mildly gritted his teeth. But was dragged back to what he said about Samael.

Actually, even in the underworld, not everyone trusts the blood prince as his deceit is intolerable even for his kin. But he also stands next in line for the throne after Mundus.

"What did he mean by that!?" thought Mephisto. He immediately turned to face Blackheart. The black creature with ruby eyes was curiously waiting for his master's orders.

"Find and kill Dante" said Mephisto with all the hate. Blackheart nodded and instantly blended into the shadows.

At Avallac'h Laboratory...
Skellige Isles...

Dante exited the portal just before the entrance to Avallach's lab which he previously used. The evening sun was shining pale with the snow fall and coldness in the air. The mild wind bristles can be heard.

He knocked the dust out of his dress and was about to walk over the entrance when he heard a familiar man's voice.

"Do you mind if we have this conversation outside?" asked the man. Dante turned to see the elf. It was Avallac'h.

"No problem" replied Dante.

"Not too surprising the way you hailed me given your...nature?...But what is the matter?" asked Avallac'h with mild sarcasm. Dante let a smirk and then talked.

"It's important. A group of mages broke into the Oxenfurt's forbidden section and they-..." Dante dragged his words and Avallac'h finished it for him with a sullen and serious face.

"And they murdered the Nilfgaardian royal family including Ciri's father"

Dante was surprised to hear this. He never expected the sage to knew this first hand.

"How did you-...?" asked Dante curiously.

"Remember Francesca?" asked Avallac'h. That name rang a bell as she was the she elf he met the day he stepped in to this world. Dante nooded in acknowledgement.

"You knew this for 2 months? Even before I came here! Yet you didn't do anything about it!" Dante castigated the elf in a raised voice.

"First, it took a long time for my sources to send me the message due to the clandestine nature of our communication. Second, I needed confirmation which I recently obtained. Third, this was secretive that many other kingdoms are not even aware of this incident. Now they are secretly hunting down mages" replied Avallach.

Dante understood the elf was working through out world all these times hiding in the shadows. But what was he really seeking? That was something Dante couldn't figure out.

"This is not good. The forbidden section has dangerous knowledge that should be left untampered" said Dante with seriousness. Avallac'h had his fingers over his chin as he was deep in his thoughts. Dante was waiting for an answer.

"I don't understand. Why do you care?" asked the sage which quite startled Dante. But in fact, it was something he wondered himself. Anyway, he couldn't answer the question.

"I don't care, but I feel something's not right. Ever since I stepped on to this world, bad shit had been happening" replied Dante. Avallac'h folded his hands and nodded his head to proceed further. He seemed to become curious about what he was going to say.

"You said my father brought some humans here from my world to save them. Also they had no knowledge of the underworld over generations of secrecy. But as for what happened for the past 1 month until now, everything contradicts with your version of history. This world had been attacked thrice by the demons" said Dante with all the seriousness in his voice.

Avallac'h decided to answer him, this time honestly.

"I think you deserve the answers, the truth" said the sage. Dante's face was stoic in response as he knew the sage did not reveal everything to him.

"You talk about a month of activity. But this had been happening for the past 100 years in Aen seidhe" said Avallac'h which stunned Dante.

"100?"

"Yes. Dante, be honest with me. Where were you before stepping into this world? I need the truth this time" asked Avallac'h. Dante was able to feel the gravity in his words. It weighed a lot. He knew and was sure that he can't hide his secrets forever. Dante decided to tell him the truth but also cautious of what to let out. Besides the sage seems to know everything related to him, so he had little qualm about telling him the truth.

He adjusted his postured and sighed before talking.

"I...was in the underworld, fighting Argosax. After I finished him off, I was looking for a way out and that's when I found a portal. I thought it would lead me back to Earth, but it led me here" said Dante. Avallac'h was astounded with Dante's answer. He was shocked to here that he managed to finish off a hell lord.

"You did what?-..." the sage shocked for a brief moment and then sighed, " Looks like you left a large power vacuum" said Avallac'h. Dante ignored his statement and got to his point.

"What it's about?" he asked.

"A 100 years back. The elven astronomers sensed a powerful rift in the reality throughout the universe. Ever since that happened, the portals we mages and sages use started to work abnormally. Almost 25% of the time, we ended up in a wrong place" said Avallac'h as Dante was listening to him and so he continued.

"Even my navigator abilities started to fumble. Some of my people-...even lost grip of perceiving the reality, in simple words they lost their minds" said Avallac'h sounding quite despondent.

"What caused this rift?" asked Dante.

"I still can't find the source. I feel ashamed" replied Avallac'h frustrated. Dante was confused as to why the elf was taking this too much upon him.

"But ever since, Aen seidhe started to see a lot of demonic activity around the world. Underworld creatures lurking the shadows, walking the ground. Witchers claim fighting entities never seen before, so do the mages" said Avallac'h.

Dante now got quite a clear picture as to what was happening. He even assumed that this rift might have tampered the portal he used to get to Earth that got him here.

"What about the attack on Oxenfurt?" asked Dante.

"Oxenfurt was built on elven foundations. The forbidden section contains tomes and books of long lost ancient knowledge and witchcraft, the infernal sorcery, alternate dimensions...the list goes on. Those knowledge was passed on to our ancestral scholars by your father. Those who tried to learn the dangerous spells were driven mad. Because of it's catastrophic nature, it was decided to be hidden forever in the forbidden section of Oxenfurt library" replied Avallac'h.

Dante understood each and every part of his father's untold truths. Each and every revelation needed sometime to process for Dante.

"Are there any mages who had managed to control infernal magic?" asked Dante.

"A few including Yennefer, though I would say it's a comparison between a glass of water and an ocean. Yennefer is also one of the mages who's investigating these events in the continent" replied the elf which stunned Dante. At first, he thought she was a beautiful raven haired witch, but now he had grown to respect her abilities. Even having a grasp of infernal magic is a significant feat to be reckoned with. But the fact the Yennefer too was secretly looking for these anomalies shook him. If it was truly clandestine in nature, then he acknowledged that she did a hell of job in keeping it up.

"If it's forbidden, then shouldn't it be protected by magic?" asked Dante. Avallac'h let an evasive smile and spoke

"Yes. It's true. But the attacker's managed to break through the seal. It means-..."

"...- those attackers knew how to do it and needed the dangerous knowledge it held. They must definitely be seeking the infernal magic tomes. Either way it's real bad" finished Dante.

"But why do they need to kill the royal family, Ciri's father?" asked Dante confused.

"I have no idea" Avallac'h said equally confused.

"And as Nilfgaard is without rule, Kaedwen is filling in. In the 2 months time gap, they must have filed half of the kingdom. Though it's strange...like they wanted this to happen-..?!" said Dante.

"Perhaps-... you can help then" said the sage. Dante sighed instantly and nodded disapprovingly. He was in fact counting on something like this to happen.

"I already saw that coming. You know, I asked you to help me get off this world and here you are trying to drag me into another freak show" said Dante, not so amused.

"Dante, if this persists too long, then it won't be matter of a time before we see another invasion from the underworld's forces. Last time, we had Sparda. But now, we won't stand a chance. And all his nobility will be for nothing" replied Avallac'h, his face bilious.

Dante was still hesitant. But he too has a code by which he lives. His father did a lot of things to help other races survive. He understood that the sage might be right. If this world was destroyed by the demons and knew he had abandoned them while he still could have helped them, he cannot bear that kind of burden on his shoulders. After witnessing the death of two of his life's most loved ones, he swore that he would never ever let something like that happen again.

He sighed and talked,

"Before we get into this, why this world? Why would my father choose this world to safeguard people?" asked Dante. Avallac'h was excited with this question and urged to answer.

"Aen seidhe is a world located far off any other magical realms in the universe, a different space-time. Also this planet lies in the exact focal point of the Chaos dimension, source of all magical energy" explained Avallac'h.

"I'm not surprised. Even now I feel different in this place" replied Dante widening his arms and glancing at it. And that was true. He feels like swimming in an ocean of magic potions. So much of energy.

"The humans on Earth suffered near extinction during the previous war of Conjunction because your world has weak trace of magical force. So you had to rely on physical power which led nothing but bloodshed. That's why Sparda chose this world, so the remaining people would harness the magical abilities to the fullest to strengthen themselves. Also this world is hard to locate" replied the sage.

Dante was quite satisfied with the answer.

"But not anymore. So where should I begin?" asked Dante. Avallac'h let a faint smile and was internally happy that Dante finally agreed to help.

"You need to infiltrate the Academy's library. Find any clues that can explain this incident" said Avallac'h.

"Our best bet is to know who this group of witch murderers we are dealing with and whom they are associated" said Dante. Avallac'h nodded in acknowledgement.

"So how do I get in? Besides I hope none of the evidences there are tampered, coz it's been 2 months since the murder"

"No, the investigation was halted abruptly as some believed this could be a curse and that those who tries to investigate might end up in the same fate. But you don't need help in that. You can always find a way to get inside" replied the elf with a smirk. Dante let a cocky smile.

"Okay, one last thing. I don't mean to pry but something is off with Ciri" said Dante to which Avallac'h shrunken his temple.

"What do you mean?"

"Sh-...She so much reminds me of my brother, Vergil. He and Ciri possess similar powers though Vergil had unparalleled abilities and eccentric from her" said Dante with his mind glazed.

"Do you see a similarity?" asked the elven sage.

"To some extent, yes. My brother was tenacious. But I see the same tenacity in her. When I get close, I can feel a power too familiar. But I can't explain" said Dante.

Avallac'h let an evasive smile and began to speak.

"Ciri is the child of the elder blood, the lady of space and time. But that was a result of the magical essence that was bestowed by your father" said Avallac'h which stunned Dante. He reviewed those statements. It was as if he said that Ciri was from his father's bloodline.

"My fa-...What the fuck?" asked Dante.

"Your father decided that the magical realms would need a powerful protector in future. One who would hold the key to the gateways between the realms, the one who would serve as it's guardian. So he decided to give a small portion of the magical essence taken from a powerful blade he used to open and seal gateways between dimensions"

Dante instantly deduced what he was talking about.

"Yamato. That belonged to my brother. His demonic powers are based on that" said Dante.

"That essence was transferred to the first of our people, Lara dorren, making her the first born of the elder blood" said Avallac'h though he didn't reveal everything as some were too personal to be shared, like she was once his would be wife and her decision to marry a human mage, Cregannon of Lod.

"Lemme guess. Ciri is Lara's descendant. That pretty much explains herself" said Dante unnervingly. He also understood that strangeness he felt because, the powers coursing through her veins were indeed the same as Sparda and Vergil, though not related by blood.

"That's why we still protect her from the shadows. If the underworld captures her, they can use her powers to open all the gateways and unleash hell on every world. Such an annihilation can't be let to happen" said Avallac'h. Dante never needed that explanation as he himself figured that part out. He also felt that it's also his responsibility to protect Ciri from falling into wrong hands.

"Right I'll get to work. This may very well involve the safety of my world too" said Dante.

"I'm happy that you understood the grave threat" replied the sage feeling relieved.

"But before I go, you know I can't keep traveling for weeks on a horse back except on a few occasions" said Dante.

"I know. But I thought you already knew to create portals given your-.." Avallac'h said sarcastically.

"Who did you take me for? A sorcerer? Please I totally suck at spells!" Dante said mildly gritting his teeth.

"But you can do it without spells. All you need to do is channel your powers and concentrate of the place you need to travel" said Avallac'h. Dante was confounded. He also felt irritated with the fact.

"I never knew that was easy!" Dante said.

"Well, actually only you can do that. For people like us, we had to rely on spells" replied the sage.

"Huh, at least that was satisfying. Alright, see you then" said Dante.

"Farewell, Son of Sparda"

With that Dante used the technique Avallac'h taught him by then to open a portal to the same place he was before in the north-east Novigrad. Avallac'h intently stared until he left and after a couple of seconds, he muttered something,

"And hurry, for the whole universe is in danger" said Avallac'h and sighed.

...

A/N: Well, that's it. From next chapter onward. There will a lot of meetings, unveiling of mysteries and fights with hell lords. The invasion has begun.

See you in next chapter!