After a harsh war, our friends are resting in a house lent to them by the mayor of the city; meanwhile, we move to another part of this small world. Far away from this city, in a cave, MIJAIL is found suffering from acute pain.
MIJAIL PETROV: (lying on the ground suffering) Curse it, if I had known that eating a god's heart would give me this pain, I would have thought twice about it, but I feel that all of this is giving me more strength.
Suddenly, a strange figure approaches him, but due to the darkness, it cannot be seen who it is.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: Hello, little mortal.
MIJAIL PETROV: Umm… Who?… Who are you?
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: I see that you survived the other mortal, hahaha. I was watching your fight and found it interesting; you are very strong, and I think you have potential. How about I lend you a hand?
An evil smile is seen in the darkness of the cave while MIJAIL looks at him. Now we head to the town where our friends are waiting for DANTE to awaken, who fainted from exhaustion and desperation. In a room, our friend is resting; we see that ELENA is by DANTE's side while everyone is seated in the room and REX is lying on the floor. Everyone is waiting, except ISAMU, who is discussing new plans with the mayor.
REX: It has been a long time since the war ended and Dante hasn't awakened; I'm worried.
ELENA: (holding Dante's hand) Don't worry, Rex, he will be fine, I know it.
MALEKIN: Remember that this place heals us when the day ends; there isn't much time left.
REX: Yeah, I know, but last time he took a long time to awaken even though he was healed.
QUETZALCOATL: I know, he is strong, but mistreating your body so much isn't good either, and emotional damage is also very difficult to heal. Here they only heal our physical wounds, but not emotional damage. That guy who escaped, Dante hates him with all his soul, and seeing him get away like that while having him so close, I think it was a hard blow for him.
MALEKIN: I understand what he is going through; I hope he recovers soon.
QUETZALCOATL: I more than anyone understand the feeling of revenge, but what happened to him is something very severe.
REX: Supposedly it's already midnight. Do you think he'll wake up?
MALEKIN: I hope so…
From one moment to another, DANTE wakes up and slowly sits up.
ELENA: Dante, thank goodness you are awake. Guys, Dante woke up.
REX: How great, you're back to normal, right?
DANTE HERALDI: (melancholic) Normal (sigh). I don't know, Rex, this time I had him so close, I almost made it, but he slipped through my hands. (Annoyed) Damn it.
QUETZALCOATL: Don't worry, Dante, that bastard won't be that far; we will find him.
MALEKIN: Yeah, friend, this isn't over; tomorrow we will find him.
ELENA: (sadly) Dante.
DANTE HERALDI: (calms down) I'm sorry, honestly I don't want to worry you guys; after all, that guy will never leave this place. The best thing will be to escape from this hell; I don't ever want to see him again.
QUETZALCOATL: Seems good to me that you're not seeking revenge; look at me and where that path led me.
DANTE HERALDI: I know, I don't want to follow that path anymore, I repeat that in my head, but my mind doesn't want to understand, my emotions won't let me. I have a rage that wants to come out, but I know I shouldn't do it, otherwise I will lose what is most valuable to me, my humanity.
REX: Friend, you are not alone, you have us, and I know that guy will pay sooner or later.
DANTE HERALDI: (sigh) I know, thank you, Rex, and to you guys too, especially to you, Elena, who I see is always by my side.
ELENA: Don't worry, I will always be there for you. (Hugs him between her breasts).
DANTE HERALDI: (Blushes). Elena, you're suffocating me already.
ELENA: (Blushes and lets him go). Oh, I'm sorry, hehe.
After this, laughter is heard in the room, and after a while, our friends separate to rest, leaving DANTE, ELENA, and REX in the room. We see that on the bed ELENA and DANTE are hugging each other while REX is lying on the floor.
DANTE HERALDI: Elena, are you okay?
ELENA: Yes, I'm doing great, my wounds have already healed and my power is almost back to full.
DANTE HERALDI: I don't mean that, I honestly don't know if you know the reason why I'm looking to kill that guy.
ELENA: (ashamed) Yes, yes I know, and let me tell you that I have no problem with that; after all, they were your family, you loved them, right?
DANTE HERALDI: Like you have no idea, but now you are here and I know feelings are confusing, but you managed to awaken that feeling of love in me.
ELENA: Yes, thank you for that, but the only thing that worries me is that you risk yourself like that to achieve it, Dante, I don't want to lose you to your rage.
DANTE HERALDI: Heh, you say almost the exact same thing as her.
ELENA: Hey, you know us women don't like to be compared, right? (Puffs out her cheeks, annoyed)
DANTE HERALDI: (scared) Heee… sorry, I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry… I'll do whatever it takes for you to forgive me, it wasn't my in…
ELENA: Pfft… hahahaha, I'm sorry, I'm teasing you. I know you love me as much as you loved your other family; I hope we are always together.
DANTE HERALDI: Hehe, don't scare me like that, woman. Thank you for being by my side (smiles at her), now what do you say if we love each other a bit more (playful look).
ELENA: Wait, no, Dante, Rex is here.
DANTE HERALDI: Ah, well, that can be solved. Rex! Sorry, could you leave?
REX: (resignedly gets up) I'm going, I'm going, damn it, they don't let anyone sleep in peace; what fault do I have that you guys are feeling horny. (Leaves and closes the door with his hind paw).
The two lovers look at each other and laugh, proceeding to make love, and the night passes peacefully. The next day we see how our friend Dante comes downstairs very happy toward the exit, only to be intercepted by REX.
REX: Good morning, Dante, I see you had a very good time last night.
DANTE HERALDI: hahaha, it shows.
Suddenly, from behind DANTE, QUETZALCOATL walks past.
QUETZALCOATL: I would appreciate it if you turned down the volume when you do your dirty business; you didn't let me sleep very well.
DANTE, ashamed, covers his face with his hands and goes outside the house, with REX following him.
REX: Friend Dante, she's right, it could be heard all the way in the kitchen, hehehe; I think you sounded like an animal, and mind you, I'm the actual animal (wagging his tail).
DANTE HERALDI: (red as a tomato) Enough already, Rex, I'll try to turn down the volume next time.
REX: hahahaha, well, putting that aside, where are you going?
DANTE HERALDI: (walking) You see, I'm going to see Isamu; I want to see if he would accompany us to defeat Mictlantekuti. He has a lot of power.
REX: Ah, yes, he is strong; he fought hard to protect us when we had already lost against Tezcatlipoca's copies.
DANTE HERALDI: I know, that's why I want him on the team.
REX: Fine, I'll tag along with you, since I have nothing better to do.
DANTE HERALDI: (smiles) Alright, silly dog.
Our friends, walking along, reach the plaza where they see a massive funeral for all the comrades lost in the war. DANTE and REX stop, pay their respects, and continue on their way. A few meters before reaching the palace, DANTE catches a glimpse out of the corner of his eye into an alley, where a very peculiar but familiar figure is sitting on a barrel in the darkness; it was BELL, who was smiling while looking at DANTE, but without his wings, eating an apple, leaving our friend greatly surprised.
DANTE HERALDI: Hey, Rex, do me a favor and head on ahead to the palace; I'll be there in a moment.
REX: Alright, but what are you going to do?
DANTE HERALDI: (walking toward the alley) Don't worry.
REX sees that there is a somewhat familiar person in the alley, but doesn't quite remember him, and leaves wondering who that gentleman in a suit might be. Without further delay, REX departs while we see our friend DANTE face to face with BELL, who smiles at him.
BELL: How much time has passed, my friend. I see you managed to kill that attempt at a god, I see you have changed, I don't know, you look a bit different.
DANTE HERALDI: What on earth are you doing here? Nothing good happens when you're around.
BELL: How cold you are, and here I was thinking of giving you a reward, jajajaja, but tell me, how did it go? My help serves you well, right? Don't deny it.
DANTE HERALDI: Fine, I won't lie, you did help me, but I still don't trust you much. This time I'll play along, what is it that... What do you want with me this time?
BELL: How cold you are, but fine, I'll settle for that this time; take this.
BELL hands over a bag. Upon opening it, DANTE, surprised, sees that it is gold, about 100 coins.
DANTE HERALDI: What is all this? What are you up to with me?
BELL: Hahaha, you see, I'm going to... how do you say? a yes, Spoiler, that's it. I'm going to tell you that MORS will be visiting you very soon, and I wanted to help you with this. Also, I'll give you 200 more if you do me a favor.
DANTE HERALDI: (looks suspiciously) What is it that you want?
BELL: You see, a good while ago MORS sold you a whistle; if you give it to me, I'll give you these 200 coins (smiles). What do you say?
DANTE HERALDI: You're plotting something, but I'm sorry, I'm not giving you that.
BELL: (disappointed, clenches his fist) Fine, I won't force you. Well, it's time for me to go, and before that, if you want to ask something, I will answer one question you have, as an act of good faith so you trust me more.
DANTE thinks about it for a while and considers what to ask him, when an idea comes to mind.
DANTE HERALDI: Fine, I want to know… who created the gods.
BELL: (sigh) Fine, I'll tell you, but first, do you remember what MAMMON told you about the creation of humans?
DANTE HERALDI: How do you know that? Have you been watching me?
BELL: Calm down, mortal, I am practically omnipresent; I can see almost everything and sometimes I watch you.
DANTE HERALDI: This is nothing more than a game to you, right?
BELL: Right, let me finish or I won't say anything else; listen to everything until I finish.
DANTE HERALDI: (annoyed) Fine.
BELL: Look, to make a long story short, when humans were created, mainly those created by the creator, they were made in the image and likeness of that bearded guy, and there lies the problem. They had a latent power, mainly the more modern humans; with the arrival of modernity, they obtained thought and imagination. You've heard about "free will," right? Well, that means they have the power to create worlds, not all of them, of course, only the most determined and dedicated ones. Every story created by a human eventually becomes reality in the multiverse. That's why the gods don't know about this, because they think they are real; their powers are real, their existence is real. That bearded guy of a creator didn't hold back when he made them, and neither did the other one; they gave too much power to humans without them even realizing it. In short, every book, tale, or story created by humans becomes reality, and that is what is called "free will."
Dante is left shocked by everything he has heard; all this time his suspicions were reality. This world was too convenient to exist, and now he is confused.
DANTE HERALDI: (shocked) You are telling me that everything I know might be a lie; maybe I am something invented by someone.
BELL: Calm down, you are real, you come from true humanity, a reality where there is only death by their own human hands. Truth be told, there are so many universes that long ago the existential plane split to accommodate everyone, and everything mixed with so many created stories. The multiverse became complete madness, quite apart from alternate versions; they also create stories. The multiverse slowly keeps expanding and mixing, and it's a nuisance. The dead are not where they should be (sigh).
DANTE HERALDI: Then, what does Mictlantekuti want? And what does he call ascending? He must have a plan for something, right? Does he know he's not real?
BELL: Well, I told you I would answer only one question. Whatever you want to know about him, you'll have to find out when you defeat him. By the way, I don't think it's a good idea to tell this to that thing named Quetzalcoatl. Well, that's all, I'm taking my leave (begins to fade into thin air).
DANTE HERALDI: BELL, WAIT! What are you plotting… curse it, he's gone. (in his mind) Perhaps it will be better to tell all of this to Quetzalcoatl when we defeat Mictlantekuti; all of this is giving me a headache.
A shocking truth has been revealed; now everything makes more sense: the mixed stories, the gods' lack of knowledge about the multiverse, and the doubts in Dante's head linger, tormenting him. What is reality itself?