Chapter 412 We will have plenty of time.
Dante stepped through the portal back into Albion, his presence now more imposing than ever.
His aura radiated newly acquired divine energy, mixed with the chaos and various other powers he had been accumulating. Each passing moment, these energies grew exponentially.
He had expected the usual chaos—arguments, preparations, wives exchanging insults and jokes—but to his surprise, the city was silent. In the center of the main hall stood Fenrir, alone, waiting for him.
She didn't appear hostile. In fact, there was something in her posture that was almost... hesitant. As if she were weighing every word she was about to say.
"Fenrir," Dante said, raising an eyebrow as he approached. "Honestly, I thought I'd be greeted by a crowd. Not that I'm complaining, but... where is everyone?"
"They're at the hot spring that the World Tree and Morgana recently created..." she replied calmly, her green eyes glowing with intensity. "I'm here because... I wanted to speak with you. Alone."
Dante tilted his head, curious. "That's new. Well, let's hear it then. What's so important that it needed all this... privacy?"
"Actually..." Fenrir murmured, looking at him, and then she spoke again. "Take this." As she said this, a massive concentration of End Energy appeared in her hand, a black sphere.
"I heard the plan... so I'll help." She focused all the energy she could muster. "I'm not very proficient with this... I'm a beast, they didn't teach me how to control it, and... I broke the Ragnarok Cycle, so my power is nowhere near its true form."
Dante narrowed his eyes, observing the pulsating black sphere of energy in Fenrir's hands. He gave a crooked smile, a mix of curiosity and approval.
"Breaking the Ragnarok Cycle, huh? That's not something you do every week. You're full of surprises, Fenrir." He crossed his arms and stepped closer cautiously. "And you're offering me this energy... why? Helping doesn't exactly seem like your thing."
Fenrir took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the sphere she was holding with difficulty. "I'm no heroine, Dante. Never wanted to be. But what you've shown, what I've seen... something inside me changed. Maybe it's guilt, maybe it's just... curiosity. But if this helps end the endless cycle of destruction my father started, then so be it."
Dante chuckled, a dry sound, as he slowly extended his hand toward the sphere. "Curiosity, guilt, revenge... Call it whatever you want. In the end, what matters is the result." He paused, looking Fenrir in the eye. "Are you sure about this? End Energy isn't something to play with. Once it's given, there's no turning back."
"I know," she replied firmly, though her expression betrayed a hint of nervousness. "If anyone can use this to change something, it's you. Besides..." She hesitated but then lifted her chin, determined. "I've already chosen my side in this war. I won't turn back now."
Dante smiled, satisfied with her resolve. He carefully took the sphere, feeling the incomparable weight of the energy pulsating in his hands. The sensation was overwhelming, but also familiar.
"Well, Fenrir, you've just made a big bet," Dante said, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and threat. As he spoke, his demonic energy began to flow from his hand, manifesting as ravenous mouths made of pure miasma. The mouths twisted and bit, looking hungry, and then began to devour the End Energy sphere as if it were the most delicious thing they had ever encountered.
Fenrir instinctively took a step back, her eyes wide as she watched the scene unfold. "Is... is this normal?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
"Normal?" Dante chuckled softly, his eyes glowing with a sinister light. "Nothing about me or this energy is normal. We're navigating uncharted waters, my dear. But who needs normal when you can change destiny?"
The miasma mouths began to merge as they devoured the energy, forming a dark, swirling vortex that floated between Dante's hands. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating as he assimilated the primordial force. His body trembled as if on the edge, walking the fine line between human and something entirely different.
Fenrir watched attentively, concern growing. "That doesn't look... safe. Are you sure you're not pushing it too far?"
"Pushing it?" Dante opened his eyes, now glowing an intense red, almost like embers. "Fenrir, my entire life is an exaggeration. I didn't get this far by playing it safe. And you know what they say... no risk, no reward." He gave her a mischievous smile as the energy vortex slowly dissipated, being completely absorbed into his body.
A silence fell over the room, heavy with expectation. Fenrir continued to stare at him, trying to detect any signs of change. "So? What happened?"
Dante extended his arms and spun theatrically, as if showing off a new outfit. "Well, now I feel like I could destroy a mountain with the snap of a finger. So, I'd say it was a success."
"Do you always have to be so... dramatic?" Fenrir asked, crossing her arms, though there was a trace of relief in her voice.
"It's part of my charm," Dante replied with a smile. He then turned to her, more serious this time. "Thank you for this, Fenrir. It wasn't a small sacrifice. I'll make sure your bet doesn't go to waste."
She hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "You better make sure of that, Dante. Because if you fail, it'll be the end for all of us."
~~~~
Dante took a deep breath before walking down the corridor leading to the hot spring.
The warm steam escaped through the partially open portal, bringing with it a mix of floral and mineral fragrances. He knew they were there.
All of them. Relaxing.
Naked.
He paused for a moment, massaging his temples and muttering to himself.
"Of course, because while the world is on the brink of collapse, my delightful horde decides it's the perfect time for a group bath. Fantastic."
He pushed the door open with an exasperated sigh and was greeted by a sight that, even for him, was hard to process without losing focus. The hot water reflected the soft light of the surroundings, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.
All his wives were gathered, looking completely carefree. Each with her unique and captivating beauty.
Some were laughing together, others had their eyes closed, enjoying the warmth, and some were casually talking as if the apocalypse was just a distant, minor inconvenience.
Valentina was leaning against the edge, her crimson skin glowing even more in the heat of the water, while Sara, with her wet blue hair cascading like silk over her shoulders, teased her with something that made them both laugh. Nagasawa was floating gently on the surface, her long white hair creating a perfect frame around her. Morgana had her eyes closed, meditating, while Lilith and Vex argued over something that clearly involved competition.
Aldria was further away, looking at her reflection in the water with an enigmatic smile, while Lilith—always the most eccentric—was creating small whirlpools in the water with her fingers, murmuring something probably magical. Aldria and Lyriana were laughing at something Fey, the most aloof and strange of the group, was telling with exaggerated gestures. And in the center, as if the core of all that chaotic energy, was Alice, looking directly at Dante with a mischievous grin.
"Darling, are you lost?" Alice asked, her voice brimming with charm and a hint of teasing. "Or have you come to join us?"
"I... well..." Dante began, but soon realized he didn't have a convincing answer. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to let his mind wander too far. "I just wanted to talk, but I see you're all... very busy."
"Busy?" Valentina arched an eyebrow. "Dante, we're literally in the eye of the hurricane. What else could we do but relax a bit before the next battle?"
"She's right," Lilith commented, stretching out her arms languidly. "If you think we're going into this chaos with our shoulders tense, you're sorely mistaken."
Dante ran a hand over his face, laughing softly. "Of course, of course. I'm the only one who doesn't know how to relax, then. How silly of me."
"You should try it," Fey said, waving at him. "Come on! The water's perfect."
Dante opened his eyes, giving a tired smile. "If I went in there, I think the world would collapse for good." He gave a mischievous smile
"I imagine this is a plan by the perverted mother-daughter duo." Dante said, looking at Alice and Morgana, who opened her eyes to smile mischievously at him.
"I'm glad you know me," Morgana commented, "Don't you think it's about time you took responsibility for this lot of women?" Morgana questioned.
"Sister Morgana is right!" Eldrax said, suddenly standing up and showing his whole naked body to her, without even thinking twice.
'She's grown well...' He thought, watching Eldrax's huge breasts jiggle...
"You only did perverted things with Valentina, Morgana, Alice and Nagasawa! We want them too!" this time it was Velryna who protested... Velryna... the quietest of them all...
"I... want to do kinky things..." Fey said, hiding her face with her hands...
"Yes, it's about time, don't you think?" Lilith crossed her arms, lifting her soft breasts up.
"I don't think you understand..." Dante spoke and looked at all the naked women in that hot spring... "If I start now..." He didn't even have time to speak...
"So?" Velryna smiled mischievously and fondled her own breasts. "We want you to join in too, after all... To go to war, a husband has to be satisfied, don't you think?" Even Dante could no longer see the innocent Velryna he knew...
Dante was struck by the boldness of Velryna's words and had to admit that she was right. If they were going to fight in a war, they needed to be in good shape, and that included being satisfied in every way.
"All right, darlings," he said, with a mischievous grin. "I'll go in there with you. But don't regret it later."
The women smiled excitedly and made way for him to enter the warm, inviting water.
'Oh... six anti-magic barriers, twelve seals, twenty-eight time barriers... they want this to last a hundred years?...' Dante thought as he felt the total energy of that place... it was like a dome of time, sealed so that time would never pass...Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"A year here is ten minutes outside." Dante suddenly heard from Alice, who was approaching him, "So don't worry." She smiled
"We'll have plenty of time." Morgana continued.