As the last match concluded, the referee blew the whistle. Dante leaned back and looked up at the sky. The sun was staring into the eyes, hours left before night. He shook his wrist and checked the time.
'3 o'clock…? Okay.'
He straightened and tapped his mic.
"Guys – Guys…Thanks attending the first day of the tournament. The fights were really something."
"Stayed tuned for tomorrow because the stakes are just getting higher and higher!" Mack stated.
Both commentators put their headsets down and stretched their arms – groaning.
"Rough first day?" Mack inquired with a smirk.
"Yeah…I'm going to have an amazing nap when I get back to my bed." Dante stood up.
"Okay, then. Have a good nap." Mack rotated his chair.
"You too." Dante waved while exiting the booth.
The audience also began leaving at the same time. He stepped onto the concrete floor and his footsteps echoed throughout the curved hallway.
"Where's the VIP room…?" he muttered under his breath.
As he searched, he eventually encountered his brother and his friends. Instantly, his mind lit up as he looked at Missio. He spread his arms and went in for hug.
"My cute little brother~ How are you?"
Missio stared at his brother with a stoic face as he hugged him firmly. After a few moments, he released the hug and put his hands on Missio's shoulders.
"So? You're with your friends?"
"Yes…as you can see…" Missio replied with a slightly annoyed tone.
Henry bowed his head. "Sir Dante. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, don't do that. You're my bro's friend. You can be casual with me too." Dante waved it off.
He looked over them – Henry, Eira and Mary were with Missio. He raised a brow and asked a question.
"Hey, bro. Where's Krishna?"
"Uh…" Missio blanked.
"He injured himself on our last missions. He won't be attending the tournament." Mary stated.
"Seriously? Okay – Okay." Dante nodded. "Take good care of Misso. I've got some business with Chris and the emperor."
"We will." Eira said as Dante passed them.
She turned to Henry, her heart beating rapidly.
"He's so cool, isn't he?"
"He is…" Henry sighed.
While the couple were talking, Mary glanced at Missio. The lieutenant general was staring at his brother's back with something unknowable in his hollow eyes.
***
Dante hummed the melody of a song he liked. He snapped his fingers and moved his body, dancing to the music in his mind while he approached the VIP room. He snapped his fingers, enjoying the rhythm of the music playing in his mind. Eventually, the doors to the VIP room slid open, revealing a brilliantly decorated space with flowers, plants and chairs. He swiveled around the chairs, catching Chris and Hadrian in his eye.
"My lord." He bowed.
"Dante! I've been waiting for you. Sit down." Hadrian waved his hand.
Dante smirked and sat down beside the emperor.
"So? What did you want to talk about again?" Dante questioned.
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Noticing this, Dante also put on a serious face as the emperor's lips parted.
"The Expedition." Hadrian stated.
"I believe this is about the…Abyss…?" Chris inquired.
"Yes…" Hadrian acknowledged. "That and the diary of the founder that the expedition found…it seems we don't fully understand what's out there."
"Shouldn't we discuss this when Nyx is also awake?" Dante adjusted his glasses.
"We can't." Chris answered. "We don't know when she'll wake up."
"Then? What to do right now?" Dante inquired further. "My schedule is already cleared up because of not going on that expedition. Besides, Rome is still on edge after the murder of the foreign minister. The others are living in fear of their assassination."
"I understand Romes' dilemma but…" Hadrian crossed his arms. "The empire might be in trouble right now. If something was strong enough to make Nyx – an avatar run for her life, then, who knows when it'll come for us."
"That's is true…" Dante's pointed out.
"Of course…" Chris called out. "My brother described it as demons ascending from hell – it was complete massacre."
The room went silent again but this time the tension was even thicker. Dante locked eyes with his friend and paused for a moment. Then, his lips parted.
"Demons ascending from hell, you say? They were near that abyss when it happened, right?"
Chris nodded. "Correct. Even that abyss is a mystery. Truly, we have underestimated the world's secrets."
Then, the emperor asked a question.
"How's Nyx? Is she recovering well?"
"Yes, your highness. Her vitals are stable." Dante answered.
"She been moved from Ashland back to Paragonia. She in the National hospital as of now." Chris added.
Hadrian heaved a sigh. "This is all very stressful…"
"Your grace…" Chris sighed. "A question if you may…have you opened the founder's diary?"
"No…not as of right now. I have other matters to attend to such as Nyx." Hadrian stated. "I really want to open it but it's best after I've taken care of the aftermath of the expedition. I do have to careful with the diary otherwise, my children may take a peek."
The trio laughed at the emperor's joke. After that, Chris drew a sharp breath and locked eyes with both Dante and Hadrian.
"Other than that, I wanted to tell you both of something." Chris raised his voice.
"What is it?" Dante leaned forward.
Dante and Hadrian were drawn as to what Chris wanted to say to them.
"It's about my brother…"
'His brother…? Chris doesn't talk about family matters much. So, what is it?'
Hadrian's mind raced. Chris took a moment to reminisce before his mouth opened. Then, he spoke three words that made both Dante and Hadrian recoil in utter and absolute disbelief.
"He has…transcended."