150: Hindrances before the end

Hindrances before the end

Music Recommendation: Clockwork - Original mix Hyper1

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On the outskirts of Nightworth town, dust filled the air as one of the watchtowers shattered and crashed to the ground following a collision. The bell ropes were hastily pulled to sound the alarm, though this area wasn't inhabited by commoners; instead, it served as the headquarters for the Elder ministers, who exerted control over several kingdoms beneath them. 

"ATTACK ON THE TOWN! GATHER MEN TO FIGHT!" men in the commanding rank shouted at their underlings. The men in service of the Elder ministers were individuals of lower demon blood who possessed strength surpassing that of ordinary earthlings. 

One of the officers, having rallied his men at the front, shouted, "The attack is being carried out by Dante Blackthorn! Kill him on sight! I repeat, accept only de—"

A heavy stone hurtled towards the officer, and in the next instant, his body lay on the ground, headless. As the dust began to descend and coat the ground, they glimpsed the silhouette of an indistinct figure, its form appearing unusually wide. 

"Officer!" The men nearby gasped upon seeing the lifeless body before turning their gaze back to where Dante stood, and one of them said, "He was supposed to arrive later; how did he come here so quickly?!" 

"Did he arrive with reinforcements??" another inquired, and he was about to suggest splitting their forces for battle when they noticed Dante was alone. 

Though they had encountered Dante in the past when he was a prince, where his demeanour had been composed, they were now greeted by a completely different person. His appearance and disposition had undergone a notable transformation, not to mention that they couldn't ignore the huge wings extending from his back. 

"What the fuck is that…?" whispered someone from behind.

Dante didn't pay attention to the uttered words and let out a resounding shout, as every sense in his body focused on locating Anastasia. But even though he arrived in the town, he hoped the Devil had not tricked him. He couldn't smell his lover, and all he could pick up was the filthy stench of the lowly demons. Without missing a heartbeat, he demanded, 

"Where is Anastasia Flores, the one brought here from Versailles? If you lead me to her, I will spare your life."

"Kill him!" someone shouted, and in response, a group of people raced towards him, brandishing their weapons to carry out the command to end him. 

Dante's eyes narrowed in annoyance. It wasn't just Anastasia who seemed untraceable, but also Magnus, eluding his senses. If Anastasia was truly here, he would have sensed her presence through their soulmate bond, but suddenly, it felt detached, as if it didn't exist, and that made him furious. 

As two men approached him, weapons raised, Dante raised his hands and snapped his fingers. The men exploded into a spray of blood, leaving the onlookers' mouths hanging in shock. 

"Earthlings with demon blood are a disappointment," Dante said, wiping the smear of blood off one side of his face. "So, who wants to hit dirt next?"

"I never knew you were one to make a fancy entrance, Prince Dante," one of the Elder ministers remarked as he arrived with another Elder in tow. "First, you killed four of the Elders, and now you're causing damage to our property."

"What happened to you, Prince Dante? You were once so calm and peaceful, and now you have become conceited," said the second Elder minister. 

Dante let out a resigned sigh, realising there was no shortcut. Magnus had strategically positioned the Elder ministers as obstacles for him to fight and hinder him, buying time for whatever he was planning. When his eyes moved to look at the lower demons, they quickly moved backwards, not wanting to be the next victim of his finger-snap. 

"People are never satisfied," Dante murmured, taking a step forward. The wings on his back disappeared, as if unable to sustain their extended presence any longer, given the strength and speed they had exerted to bring him here. "When I was an earthling, I was called weak and had no power. Now that I am a demon, you see me as a threat and despise me. Pitiful, just like the lowly demons," he remarked. 

"Brixton, I will go first," the second Elder minister declared and advanced a step forward. "Your snaps and tricks aren't going to work on the four of us. We possess crystals more refined than the others."

A faint smile appeared on Dante's lips, and he said, "I was going to spare your lives, but if one insists on leaping into a pyre… who am I to stop them?"

The next second, a close combat fight broke out between the two of them, prompting the others to retreat even further away. The minister conjured a staff out of thin air and wielded it against Dante, who deftly dodged its attacks. The man didn't hold back, forcefully thrusting his staff at the archdemon and smashing through any obstacles in his way. They blocked each other's well-aimed punches, swift kicks, and calculated strikes. However, unlike others who heavily relied on their abilities, Dante had nothing to lean on except his honed and practised skills. 

Finding an opening, Dante used his hand to direct a forceful blow to the minister's chest, which made the man cough. Simultaneously, he grabbed the staff and yanked it forward, which caused the minister to lose his balance for a second. 

And all it took was that second for Dante to plunge his fingers deep into the minister's back, right where the man's heart resided. At the same time, a dark fume escaped from the body as he released it, and it dissipated into the ground. 

The eyes of the Elder minister named Brixton narrowed as he witnessed Dante dispatch one of his fellow men with such ease. Cracking his knuckles, he said, "Dante, all you have to do is join forces with Magnus. There's no need for unnecessary bloodshed." 

Dante lifted his hand to examine his blood-soaked claws. His bloodthirsty eyes shifted to look at the minister, and he remarked, "I had suggested the same, but none of you chose life, so die."

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