Jealousy and envy—the bitter desire for that which is not yours—are toxic emotions that drag us toward ruin, for sooner or later, the harm you sow will inevitably find its way back to you.
The climax of these frantic clashes draws near, and now the time has come to see our friend DANTE fight for survival against all odds. We rewind one final time to the very beginning, back when everyone was first sealed away inside their respective chambers. DANTE, MAYANTÚ, "SUPAY of Envy," and "SUPAY of Pride" are standing in the arena, embroiled in a heated argument.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: You useless thing, I'll handle the vanguard; you back me up from a distance.
SUPAY OF ENVY: Very well... (whispering) Cursed bastard...
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Did you say something, you pathetic piece of trash?!
SUPAY OF ENVY: (Terrified) N-No, nothing! Please don't hit me!
SUPAY OF PRIDE: You better not, scum!
DANTE gazes pitifully at "SUPAY of Envy."
DANTE HERALDI: Hey, don't you think you ought to treat her better than that?
MAYANTÚ: Dante, you had best stay out of their quarrel. They are both our enemies.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Aye... you'd do well to listen to that frog! You're in no position to tell me what to do, human. It's time to end this banter!
DANTE HERALDI: (Turning to Mayantú) I know, but that guy is way too abusive.
MAYANTÚ: I know it is a pitiable sight, but do not be deceived—that creature is just as wicked. Look out, here they come!
A sphere of condensed energy is launched toward DANTE, who parries it effortlessly with his blade. Instantly, a barrage of energy projectiles rains down upon DANTE as "SUPAY of Pride" surges forward. DANTE leaps backward, taking to the air, while MAYANTÚ and "SUPAY of Envy" melt into the shadows, concealing their presences.
Midair, DANTE dodges and deflects the relentless stream of energy blasts hurled by "SUPAY of Pride." Out of nowhere, a long, sticky tongue lashes out from the gloom, wrapping firmly around the ankle of "SUPAY of Pride" as he clashes with DANTE above. With a violent yank, the tongue slams him hard into the ground—MAYANTÚ providing crucial support from the shadows. "SUPAY of Pride" breaks free rapidly, as "SUPAY of Envy" channels healing magic from her own hiding spot to mend his injuries.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: (Glares at his ally) Curse it, do something about that toad—he's getting unbearable! And you had better do something to disrupt that human as well!
Annoyed, "SUPAY of Envy" responds with a curt "Understood" as the clash resumes. Shifting to the offensive, DANTE lunges forward, swinging his sword in a decisive slash aimed at "SUPAY of Pride," but the demon blocks the incoming steel using only his bare forearm. DANTE stares in disbelief as his blade fails to cut through the demon's flesh, and he is forcefully pushed back by the impact.
Without missing a beat, "SUPAY of Envy" spits a torrent of corrosive poison, forcing DANTE to spring back further as his balance wavers. Capitalizing on the opening, "SUPAY of Pride" steps in and lands a brutal punch straight to DANTE's chest, blasting him across the arena. DANTE flips midair to absorb the momentum, landing squarely on his feet and snapping back into a high guard. "SUPAY of Pride" charges full speed, only for his legs to sink into a murky quagmire spawned by MAYANTÚ. Seizing the opening, DANTE bursts forward at blinding speed to deliver a killing blow, but just as his sword descends, a volley of thousands of deadly needles rains down upon him—courtesy of "SUPAY of Envy." Forced to abort his strike, DANTE leaps backward to evade the deadly needles.
"SUPAY of Pride" sneers at the tactical exchange, blasting a localized energy sphere at his own feet to shatter the quagmire and free his legs.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: It seems we are trapped in a stalemate. Our back-line supports are proving quite effective—even if mine is a worthless parasite, it is doing its job.
SUPAY OF ENVY: (Bitterly) Thank you for your kind words.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Don't let it go to your head, little flower. You are still trash in my eyes—nobody stands above me. But keep this up, and I might just consider rewarding you.
DANTE HERALDI: You're right, we're evenly matched... Perhaps it's time we both start taking this seriously.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: You took the words right out of my mouth... Oh, hehehe... Perfect timing. Wrath, Gluttony... you disappoint me.
With those words, "SUPAY of Pride" surges his power exponentially. His skin pulses wildly between shades of magenta, crimson, and orange as his frame swells, muscles expanding as a fierce irritation takes hold of him. Instantly, DANTE activates his "Dark mantle" and "Wolf Speed" techniques to match the escalation. A suffocating aura radiates from both combatants, and hidden within the shadows, MAYANTÚ reflects on the sight before him:
MAYANTÚ: It is remarkable how far this human has progressed... It seems he is steadily treading into the domain of self-proclaimed gods.
A colossal surge of power is unleashed as both combatants dash forward to clash in midair. With a flick of his wrist, "SUPAY of Pride" catches DANTE's incoming strike barehanded, driving a brutal punch straight into DANTE's stomach. DANTE staggers back, instantly recovering his footing to unleash a high kick that connects flush with "SUPAY of Pride's" face, spinning the demon around from the sheer impact. In a flash, DANTE teleports directly behind his opponent, bringing his sword down in a heavy, cleaving slash across the demon's back. Yet, the skin remains impenetrably dense, sending DANTE careening downward to crash into the stone floor, dropping to his knees and catching himself with the ground.
Glaring down at the floor, "SUPAY of Pride" stares in brief shock, but snaps back to reality as DANTE charges forward once more. As the human closes the distance, the demon spins around, unleashing a furious barrage of energy spheres. DANTE raises his sword to block, but the concussive force overwhelms him, knocking him down to his knees. He drags himself up, driving his blade into the stone for support as his wounds begin to regenerate.
DANTE HERALDI: (In his mind) Damn it, this guy is too skilled... I have to finish this right now.
Concentrating his focus, DANTE taps directly into the power of "Wrath," supercharging his physical strength and speed. Launching himself forward once again, "SUPAY of Pride" can no longer match his blistering rhythm, forced entirely onto the defensive as he stumbles backward. Under the sheer weight of Dante's amplified fury, the demon's hardened skin finally gives way, shallow cuts sprouting across his arms as he desperately tries to ward off the assault.
Midway through Dante's ferocious onslaught, a distracting vision catches his eye: ELENA lying motionless and wounded on the ground. Hesitating for a split second, "SUPAY of Pride" capitalizes on the opening. From the tip of his finger, he fires a piercing beam of light straight through DANTE's shoulder, blasting him onto the floor. The injured Elena was nothing more than an illusion woven by "SUPAY of Pride"—in truth, it was "SUPAY of Envy" who had assumed her form.
DANTE collapses, pinned to the ground in agony. "SUPAY of Pride" lunges forward to deliver a crushing blow, but MAYANTÚ intercepts, vomiting a thick, disorienting mist from his mouth that forces the proud demon to retreat. Whipping his long tongue out, MAYANTÚ scoops up DANTE and drags him into the safety of his cloaking field. Enraged by the rescue, "SUPAY of Pride" swings his arm, backhanding "SUPAY of Envy" hard into the ground.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Useless piece of trash! Why didn't you kill that toad?! He's becoming a massive nuisance!
SUPAY OF ENVY: I'm sorry... That toad is too skilled; his camouflage feels divinely blessed. I couldn't lock onto his location.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Wretched creature, you're small and practically worthless—at least make yourself useful with some support!
Glaring angrily around the empty room, "SUPAY of Pride" fails to locate Dante within Mayantú's concealment, driving him to the brink of desperation.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: (Furious) Show yourself, cursed human! Are you really that terrified?!
Meanwhile, safely tucked away within their hidden sanctuary, our heroes confer in whispers.
DANTE HERALDI: That bastard tricked me... I had no idea she possessed shape-shifting abilities.
MAYANTÚ: Calm yourself, Dante. Keep a clear head. This fight won't be won with raw strength alone; we need a tactical strategy, and—
MAYANTÚ abruptly cuts himself off, locking his eyes on a bizarre shift occurring with "SUPAY of Pride." The proud demon clutches his head in agony, muttering incoherently to himself as his eyes dart toward a massive shadow looming directly behind him.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Damn it... Why am I suddenly feeling such intense envy toward that human? His toad is leagues better than the useless trash I'm saddled with... Wait. Why am I feeling envy right now?! Oh, no—
A massive hand punches clean through "SUPAY of Pride's" chest from behind. "SUPAY of Envy" looms vastly larger in stature, having grown in power to become the architect of this fatal wound. DANTE and MAYANTÚ erupt from their concealment, staring in stunned silence at the brutal tableau. Simultaneously, the surrounding walls fracture apart: ELENA, REX, and QUETZALCOATL burst through from one side, while MALEKIN and ISAMU emerge from the other, equally paralyzed by the nightmare unfolding before them.
We arrive back at the present moment, precisely where we left off: "SUPAY of Pride" impaled through the torso by "SUPAY of Envy." Our companions stand frozen in collective shock, too battered by their own exhausting trials to make a move. As they gather to tend to their wounds, the two demons exchange parting words.
SUPAY OF PRIDE: Damn it... I let my guard down (spits a mouthful of blood)... Sloth, Greed, and Lust fallen as well... who would have thought? It seems you truly played with my perception... cursed Envy.
SUPAY OF ENVY: Hehe... You're a fool. The moment Lust fell, we harnessed her power to warp your mind, turning your own toxic jealousy into the fuel that made me stronger. It's all over for you now... From this moment on, you will answer to me.
Withdrawal of his hand by "SUPAY of Envy" left "SUPAY of Pride" critically wounded on the ground, though not dead. The influence of the "Dark World" dissolved, returning everyone to the vast interior of Camazotz's pyramid. "SUPAY of Envy" stepped forward to face our companions, who had recovered sufficiently to resume the battle and stood ready to strike. Before anyone could move, "SUPAY of Envy" raised a finger and fired an energy beam identical to those of "SUPAY of Pride," striking MAYANTÚ squarely in the chest. MAYANTÚ collapsed heavily onto the floor.
SUPAY OF ENVY: I was sick and tired of that toad... Better to kill him now!
DANTE rushed instantly to the side of the dying MAYANTÚ, while "SUPAY of Envy" cackled maniacally.
DANTE HERALDI: Master Mayantú, hang on! Everything will be alright!
MALEKIN: Damn it, what do we do?!
DANTE HERALDI: Elena, heal him, please!
ELENA: Dante, I'm so sorry... my wounds have healed, but my mana is completely exhausted!
REX: Umm, hey, DANTE! Mors's potion—don't forget about that!
DANTE HERALDI: That's right! I still have one left!
DANTE swiftly administered the potion, fully restoring MAYANTÚ. Infuriated, the companions turned to fight, but DANTE held them back.
DANTE HERALDI: Everyone, this fight belongs to me. Rest up. Quetzalcoatl, I have a favor to ask—finish off "Supay of Pride." He's getting back up.
QUETZALCÓATL: (With a solemn glare) Don't worry, he's mine. (Runs forward).
Meanwhile, "SUPAY of Envy" barked orders at "SUPAY of Pride."
SUPAY OF ENVY: Damn it, that toad didn't die! Hey, useless, here comes that goddess—finish her off with everything you've got!
SUPAY OF PRIDE: I still can't believe you bested me in the struggle for power... but fine, we'll settle our scores later. I hope you die a painful death.
With those words, QUETZALCOATL seized "SUPAY of Pride," and both underwent transformation: QUETZALCOATL into her classic winged serpent form, and "SUPAY of Pride" into a giant winged serpent with a hollow skeletal head crowned in withered flora. Crashing through the pyramid wall, they took their battle to the skies above this dreadful place.
Back on the floor, DANTE urged his companions to step back, assuring them that this would end quickly. "SUPAY of Envy" laughed mockingly.
SUPAY OF ENVY: Hahaha! You think this will end quickly?! Hahaha, I wield the combined strength of all my counterparts! Do you really think you can defeat me just like that?! Wahahahahahaha!
As "SUPAY of Envy" boasted, the earth began to quake violently. A pitch-black aura engulfed DANTE completely. From our friend's lips issued the single word, "Domination." Slowly, the smirk vanished from "SUPAY of Envy's" face upon laying eyes on the entity before her—a human no longer, half-masked over his mouth, yellow eyes locked onto her with absolute fury, and hair ash-gray like the remains of the dead.
An indescribable dread chilled her spine. Though fighting the instinct to retreat, her foot unconsciously stepped back.
DANTE HERALDI: (In a haunting, dark voice) What's wrong? Are you afraid? Now... the real fight begins.
DANTE deliberately retrieved his second blade, the Abyssal Sword, from his pack and activated his remaining skills. A staggering wave of power enveloped DANTE as he lunged toward "SUPAY of Envy." Unable to react to his speed, the demon took a direct hit from the Abyssal Sword and was launched high into the air. Before she could recover, DANTE—already waiting above due to his sheer velocity—unleashed a "Shadow Slash." "SUPAY of Envy" attempted to block, but was slammed violently back to the ground. She scrambled up, searching the sky, but DANTE was no longer above; his voice resonated from behind her on the floor.
DANTE HERALDI: This is over... D...ie.
While "SUPAY of Envy" was still staring upward, DANTE unleashed a relentless barrage of "Shadow Slashes" from both blades. Pummeled by the overwhelming assault, "SUPAY of Envy" collapsed onto her knees, severely wounded.
SUPAY OF ENVY: Curse it... Why?! Why did someone like him have to appear?! How I wish I had his powers for myself...! Hahaha!
DANTE steps right in front of "SUPAY of Envy," who tilts her head up to glare at him.
DANTE HERALDI: I have no time left to spare. Vanish...
With those words, DANTE sheathes his katana, grasping the Abyssal Sword with both hands and raising it high to cut down "SUPAY of Envy" as she trembles on the stone floor. DANTE utters the command: "Maximum Power Shadow Slash."
A strike of colossal magnitude erupts, causing the entire hall to quake as a torrent of black energy surges from the Abyssal Sword. The devastating wave engulfs "SUPAY of Envy," disintegrating her body completely within the abyss of the slash—dead beyond a doubt. The destructive arc continues forward, tearing through the floor for three hundred meters and carving a bottomless chasm into the earth. DANTE reverts to his normal form from sheer energy exhaustion, collapsing onto the floor as ELENA and the others rush to his side.
Suddenly, the two massive serpents crash down from the sky. "SUPAY of Pride," still transformed, moves to crush the fallen DANTE, but QUETZALCOATL—still in her winged serpent form—snatches him by the tail, hurling him across the arena and crushing several monsters under his weight. QUETZALCOATL slithers over to loom above "SUPAY of Pride," her voice dripping with rage.
QUETZALCÓATL: (Furious) I am sick and tired of you. Vanish!
Opening her jaws, QUETZALCOATL unleashes a concentrated beam of divine fire with every ounce of her remaining power, striking his head dead-on and vaporizing it instantly. The intensity of the beam fractures space itself for a split second before the dimensional rift snaps shut. "SUPAY of Pride" lies headless, his massive serpentine body collapsing uselessly onto the ground.
De-transforming, QUETZALCOATL leaps across the chamber to land right beside DANTE just as he regains consciousness.
QUETZALCÓATL: Hey, Dante... are you alright? Looks like you had quite the brutal fight, hehehe.
DANTE HERALDI: Thank you all for helping me. (Pushes himself up.)
ELENA: Don't overexert yourself, darling, you're still hurt!
DANTE HERALDI: Don't worry, I'll use the katana's gem to restore my energy. And here, Quetzalcoatl—take this potion to restore your stamina. I can see you expended everything on that last attack.
QUETZALCÓATL: Thank you! Downed it all... I feel much better already.
ISAMU: Well, it seems this entire ordeal is over. Let's move out. Does anyone know where the exit is?
DANTE scans their surroundings, noticing a flight of stairs running alongside the massive crater carved by his attack. The stairs appear to descend into a subterranean basement beneath the pyramid. As DANTE steps forward alone to investigate, a looming shadow manifests directly behind his back—it is "SUPAY of Envy," horribly mangled and reduced to a single arm.
Summoning a spear out of thin air, she lunges to impale DANTE. DANTE turns in shock, but before the strike can land, a figure leaps into the line of fire, shielding DANTE and taking the blade straight through the chest. DANTE stares in horror as traumatic memories of lost comrades flood his mind—the person standing before him was the friend who had fled earlier. It was Brayan.
Enraged beyond reason, DANTE reactivates his powers in a flash, slamming his palm into "SUPAY of Envy" to hurl her high into the air.
DANTE HERALDI: DAMN YOU! THIS TIME, DIE AND NEVER RETURN!
DANTE channels a full-power "Shadow Slash." Right before the blade reaches "SUPAY of Envy," she shrieks: "Total Absorption!" The dark wave strikes her body, slowly disintegrating her into dust. In her final moments, a single thought echoes in her mind:
SUPAY OF ENVY: I may die... but I will take something precious from you with me, hahaha...!
DANTE drops to his knees instantly to heal his friend, no longer needing to hold back now that the threat is gone. But upon reaching Brayan, he realizes his own energy reserves are completely dry. Terrified as he watches his friend's life slip away, he desperately calls to QUETZALCOATL and ELENA for aid. However, "SUPAY of Envy's" final spell had siphoned the energy of every warrior in the vicinity—leaving everyone completely drained and powerless to intervene. Heartbroken and panicked, DANTE can only watch as his companion fades, while Brayan speaks his final words...
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: (Dying) Hehehe... This is the first time I've saved you, boss...
DANTE HERALDI: (Weeping) Don't speak! I know I can save you!
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: No, boss... (spits blood) It is already too late for me... and the dawn has yet to arrive... Just let me speak... my final words.
As everyone listened, tears streamed down their cheeks, for they knew that death in this realm meant the absolute erasure of the soul—condemned to the void.
BRAYAN SPECTRUM: Boss... please don't cry... I know you tried to help me grow stronger in this world... and sadly, I could never reach your level of strength... Today, it is my time to join my fallen comrades, and I swear I will never forget you... Take care of yourself... and thank you... for... everything...
DANTE HERALDI: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
The battle has drawn to its close with a bitter, tragic end. Only the desperate cries of DANTE and the mournful howl of REX echo through the chamber, while the others silently weep for this lost soul. How will this tragedy weigh upon DANTE's heart? We shall find out very soon.