章 31: Hell on the Highway
Dante is sprawled on the couch, savoring a strawberry sundae, his feet kicked up on the table. Patty is busy trying to reorganize the chaos of the Devil May Cry HQ, her expressions fluctuating between exasperation and amusement. Hadrian sits nearby, engrossed in the Peverell Grimoire, occasionally glancing up to catch snippets of Dante's nonsensical banter.
The door swings open, and Morrison strides in, followed closely by Lady, her presence commanding and imposing in her dark clothes. Patty's eyes widen as she takes in Lady's no-nonsense demeanor, instantly captivated.
"We've got a job on our hands," Morrison declares, glancing from Dante to Hadrian. "Enamel City Bridge is overrun with demon bikers, and the highway department needs someone to clean up the mess."
Dante raises an eyebrow, setting his sundae down. "Let me guess, they want us to do it without leaving a trail of bodies behind?"
"Pretty much," Morrison replies, amusement flickering across his face. "You and Lady are tasked with taking down a rogue racer demon known as Red Eye. Hadrian, you're on the heavy artillery—Barghest, the Infernal Rider, and his steed, Caliga."
Hadrian's interest piques and a smirk crosses his face. "A demon rider? Sounds like my kind of challenge."
Lady chuckles, crossing her arms. "You better keep up, Dante. I heard this one's fast enough to give you a run for your money."
Dante grins, revving his motorcycle. "Fast or slow, they'll all learn that the real speed comes with experience."
The atmosphere shifts as they arrive at Enamel City Bridge, the golden hue of dusk casting long shadows across the asphalt. A gang of demon bikers roars across the bridge, their laughter mingling with the growl of engines. The air is thick with tension and chaos as Dante dismounts his bike, surveying the scene with a mix of disdain and amusement.
"Welcome to the thrill-seekers' graveyard," he quips, eyeing the unruly bikers.
"More like a junkyard," Lady replies, her grip tightening around Kalina Ann as she scans the crowd. "Let's get to work."
As Red Eye, surrounded by a crimson aura, rides forward on his sleek bike, he locks eyes with Dante, a twisted grin forming on his face. "You think you can take me down, human?"
"Let's find out," Dante replies, confidence radiating from him.
With a roar, the race begins. Dante accelerates, effortlessly weaving through the chaos as he keeps pace with Red Eye. The demon racer unleashes a wave of spectral energy, attempting to blind Dante. With a smirk, Dante employs his Trickster style, dodging the attack with ease.
"Is that all you've got?" Dante taunts, pulling ahead of Red Eye as they approach the first curve of the bridge.
Red Eye snarls, pushing his bike to the limits. "I'll show you real speed!"
Lady, close behind, takes her shot. "Heads up!" she shouts, firing a rocket from Kalina Ann. The rocket streaks through the air, striking Red Eye's bike with a tremendous explosion, sending him veering off course.
As Dante sees his opening, he leaps off his bike, catching Rebellion in mid-air. With a powerful Stinger thrust, he drives the blade into Red Eye's motorcycle, forcing the demon to crash violently against the barrier.
Enraged, Red Eye morphs into his true demonic form—towering and grotesque, with burning red eyes and spiked arms. Dante meets the challenge head-on, his excitement palpable.
"Now we're talking!" Dante exclaims, raising Rebellion.
"Let's see if you can keep up with me!" Red Eye bellows, lunging forward with a wild slash.
Lady reloads her weapon and fires, striking Red Eye in the chest. Dante seizes the moment, launching into a fierce Dance Macabre, his blade striking with precision and ferocity. Each swing of Rebellion tears into Red Eye, leaving gashes that ooze dark ichor.
"You'll regret this!" Red Eye roars, but the momentum is against him.
In a swift move, Dante uses a Round Trip, sending Rebellion flying toward Red Eye, slicing through the air. The demon is momentarily distracted, allowing Dante to close the distance.
With a final, devastating slash, Dante cleaves through Red Eye, who screams in agony as he disintegrates into ash, leaving only silence behind.
Farther down the highway, Hadrian waits, his grip firm on Bradamante. The atmosphere shifts as an ominous chill fills the air. Shadows begin to swirl around him, and the ground smolders. A massive figure emerges from the fog—Barghest, the Infernal Rider, towering in jagged armor that seems forged from nightmares. His helm, resembling a skull with curving horns, radiates an aura of malevolence. Caliga, his steed, prowls behind him, cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with predatory hunger.
Barghest raises his cleaver-like sword, pointing it at Hadrian. "Prepare to meet your end, half-blood!"
Hadrian smirks, Bradamante gleaming in the fading light. "You'll find I'm not that easy to kill."
With a furious roar, Barghest charges, his Infernal Charge leaving a trail of cursed fire. Hadrian reacts quickly, casting Carian Phalanx, summoning an array of spectral swords that float around him. As Barghest closes in, Hadrian sends the blades flying toward the demon, several striking true and causing black ichor to splatter.
"Nice trick," Barghest grunts, deflecting the remaining swords with his massive cleaver. "But it won't save you!"
Barghest retaliates with a powerful Hellfire Cleave, dark flames trailing the blade as it arcs toward Hadrian. Anticipating the attack, Hadrian raises Obsidian Ward, absorbing the impact as the flames lick at his shield.
"Not bad, but you're going to have to do better than that!" Hadrian retorts, his voice steady.
Channeling energy into Bloodflame Blade, he ignites Bradamante and lunges at Barghest. The flames engulf his strikes, illuminating the night as he delivers a series of rapid slashes, each cut infused with cursed fire.
Barghest roars in frustration, summoning Chains of the Damned that burst from the ground, attempting to bind Hadrian. But Hadrian counters with Voidstep, phasing out of the chains and reappearing behind Barghest, delivering a precise stab with Bradamante.
"You think that will stop me?" Barghest snarls, his eyes burning brighter. "I will enjoy breaking you!"
With a bellow, Barghest unleashes Nightmare Howl, a terrifying roar that sends shockwaves through the air, summoning twisted minions that swarm toward Hadrian. Their claws slash at him from all angles. Hadrian quickly casts Thops's Barrier, the shimmering shield absorbing the attacks as the minions crash against it.
"Really? Is that all you've got?" Hadrian scoffs, feeling the power of Golden Vow surge through him. He channels the energy into a massive strike as he casts Dimensional Requiem.
With a sweeping motion, Hadrian unleashes a torrent of slashes that form a deadly vortex of dimensional energy. The minions are shredded in an instant, their forms dissolving into nothingness. Barghest, now furious, channels his ultimate move—Abyssal Ruin. Flames and shadows converge around him and Caliga, forming a vortex that pulls Hadrian inward with crushing force.
Hadrian braces himself, anchoring his feet to the ground. He unleashes Surge of the Abyss, sending out a shockwave that disrupts the pull of the vortex, allowing him to hold his ground.
With a fierce determination, Hadrian lunges forward, slicing through the swirling shadows as he drives Bradamante deep into Barghest's chest. The cursed flames ignite within him, consuming the demon from the inside as the dark energy crackles along the blade.
"Your reign of terror ends here!" Hadrian declares as Barghest lets out one final roar of defiance before collapsing, dissolving into dark energy. Caliga follows suit, collapsing in a chaotic inferno as their forms vanish into the night, leaving only scorched earth in their wake.
With Cavaliere Barghest gripped tightly in his hands, Hadrian feels the weapon's demonic energy pulse with raw power, a thrilling sensation coursing through him. As he revs the dual-bladed weapon, it transforms seamlessly into a roaring motorcycle, its dark metallic surface glinting ominously in the fading light. He can almost hear the echo of Barghest's spirit urging him forward.
Excitement surges within him as he kicks off, speeding down the highway. The engine growls to life, flames erupting from the exhaust, trailing behind him in an exhilarating display of speed. Hadrian revels in the rush, the wind whipping past him as he leans into the curves of the road, feeling more alive than ever.
Suddenly, he shifts the weapon back into its dual-blade form, the transformation smooth and instinctive. He grips the serrated blades, the weight of them feeling just right. With a grin, he activates Hellhound's Grind, revving the blades in a dizzying motion. The air crackles as he unleashes a whirlwind of grinding slashes, tearing through the landscape with ease. Debris scatters in his wake, and the power of the dark flames ignites around him, inflicting continuous damage on anything caught in the onslaught.
Hadrian's heart races as he concludes the display with Shadow Burnout. He charges forward, feels the momentum build, and then performs a powerful slam that sends shockwaves rippling through the ground. An explosive wave of dark energy erupts from the impact, sending nearby rocks and shadows flying. The exhilaration of raw power surges through him, igniting his confidence.
As he slows down, he takes a moment to admire the weapon's brutal beauty, its flames flickering and dancing as if alive. "This is going to change everything," he mutters to himself, the possibilities racing through his mind.
With a sense of purpose, Hadrian revs Cavaliere Barghest once more, ready to return to Devil May Cry HQ. As he zooms back, a feeling of exhilaration fills the air, and he knows he's ready for whatever challenges await him.
Hadrian bursts through the door of Devil May Cry HQ, a triumphant smile on his face. Dante looks up, a slice of pizza frozen midway to his mouth.
"Back already? What, did you find another girlfriend out there?" Dante teases, raising an eyebrow.
Hadrian rolls his eyes, launching into an animated retelling of his battle with Barghest and Caliga. "You won't believe the size of that demon, or how he used his infernal magic. But I managed to take him down and claim Cavaliere Barghest!"
Lady leans against the wall, arms crossed, nodding in approval as Hadrian reveals his new weapon. "With a ride like that, you'll be turning heads everywhere."
Hadrian smirks but is cut off as Hedwig pipes up, "Sure, impressing that certain Rose might just be worth it!"
Hadrian shoots Hedwig a look, his cheeks reddening slightly. Before he can respond, Dorea's portrait lights up, her mischievous grin wide. "Well, Harry, it seems you're getting quite the reputation among the ladies!"
The laughter fills the room, and Hadrian groans, facepalming as the teasing continues.
"Hey, look on the bright side," Dante says, slapping Hadrian on the back. "You've got a killer weapon and maybe a future family reunion. Not a bad haul."
As the banter dies down, Hadrian glances at Dante with a mischievous grin. "So, up for a ride on my new bike?"
Dante's eyes gleam with excitement as he grabs Rebellion. "Bring it on, kid! Let's see if you can keep up with the real devil."
And as the sound of revving engines fills the Devil May Cry HQ, the team settles in, watching the electrifying clash between Dante and Hadrian, where skill, magic, and devil arms merge in an exhilarating duel.
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