The sound of high heels continued to echo throughout the area, reverberating among the debris and ruins. Each step Aldria took seemed to amplify the weight of the devastation around her. The scene was desolate, far worse than she had imagined when she was attacked... that beautiful city lay in ruins. The air was thick with a somber silence, only broken by the sound of her shoes.
"So much destruction..." Aldria murmured, her eyes scanning the streets and ruined buildings. Her city, her beautiful capital that had become a well of bitterness and sadness, was reduced to a landscape of debris and despair. The source of the demonic energy from that damned tree, which once pulsed in the city's air, had been consumed by something... well, it was Dante.
The entire city was just empty, and...
"So many deaths..." She whispered, almost to herself, as she saw the bodies on the ground staining the gray with red. They were brave soldiers who had fought until their last breath to protect the kingdom they loved. Their armor was stained with blood and dust, and their faces frozen in expressions of pain and sacrifice. Each body seemed to tell a story of courage and tragedy.
"This is my fault." Guilt weighed heavily in her words as a lump formed in her throat. Aldria felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, as if each lost life was a personal burden, after all, she was the Empress. She had failed to protect those who depended on her, and now only devastation remained as a silent witness to her failure.
"I... am sorry for all of you." Aldria said, as she set her giant axe down on the ground, exhausted. The weight of the weapon finally seemed to match the weight in her heart. She had fought hour after hour against those vile and disgusting creatures; she had done everything, everything, to prevent anyone from dying... but it was inevitable...
Aldria knelt beside one of the bodies, a young man whose expression still reflected the fierce determination he had in life. Her trembling fingers touched his cold hand, a desperate attempt to share her sorrow. "You didn't deserve this," she murmured, her eyes filling with tears that burned like fire.
The wind blew gently, lifting the dust and debris around, as if the world itself was mourning with her. Each particle seemed charged with the echoes of the battles fought, lives lost, and dreams shattered. Aldria closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find some spark of hope or redemption amid the chaos.
"I will honor your deaths and your families, I'm sorry for failing as an empress," she vowed, her voice firm despite the pain. "I will do everything in my power to honor your sacrifice." Rising slowly, a bit shaken, Aldria picked up her axe again, feeling the familiar weight that now seemed even heavier than before.
Suddenly, a presence was felt beside her. She turned quickly, senses alert, and found herself face-to-face with Dante. He appeared next to her like a silent shadow, his tall and imposing figure contrasting with the devastation around. His dark eyes were like abysses, reflecting the same pain and guilt Aldria carried, and his hair was blowing sideways, redder than blood.
"Dante..." she whispered, surprised. He always had a knack for showing up at the most unexpected moments, yet never seemed out of place. "You..."
"I'm sorry. I wish I had come sooner, but I was too busy with Lucifer... I couldn't arrive quickly," he replied, his voice deep and calm.
"How did you... find me?" She asked, knowing she had completely concealed her presence, and none of those women could have found her.
"I just followed your steps. I figured this would happen," Dante said as he approached her to look at the bodies.
"What is this?" Aldria murmured, not exactly knowing what it was but realizing it seemed important.
"Control of the entire Hell, in my hands," Dante said.
Aldria looked at the ring, trying to understand the implications. "So, Lilith abdicated control?"
"Exactly. She entrusted me with this power so I could use it against Lucifer," Dante explained, his voice firm. "She's here to help us defeat him. With Lilith on our side, we have a real chance."
"Also... we have something to handle together now... You haven't received the message yet, have you?" Dante asked, leaving Aldria confused.
"What message?" she asked, trying to follow his reasoning.
"The meeting of rulers will happen soon. I've been invited," Dante replied, watching her reaction.
Aldria raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Meeting of rulers? I suppose it's because of the Demon Invasion in... damn it, Adam used to handle these things, I always stayed home..."
Dante shrugged, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "With my current position, I'll be involved in this political game... Besides, each ruler can bring only one guest. I'll bring Valentina with me. I suggest you bring one of the girls; the more, the better... They'll probably want to discuss the next steps in the fight against Lucifer and how we can unite our forces.
But honestly, I don't want to trust anyone but my family," Dante said as they climbed the palace stairs, facing several women waiting for him.
Morgana, Nagasawa, and Sara were on one side, animatedly discussing some important issue, accompanied by Lyrianna and Akiko, who seemed to have recovered well from recent injuries. On the other side, Voralith and Eldrax were engaged in a technical conversation about flying, something Eldrax was still perfecting, with a concentrated look on his face.
Vex was standing with arms crossed next to Lilith, apparently lost in his own thoughts, while Lilith leaned against a pillar, observing the activity with a keen and calculating gaze. Finally, Simon, Aaralyn, and Kaalindra were having an animated discussion about some relevant topic.
"Finally!" Velryna exclaimed, running from inside the palace, which was still in ruins. "I thought you'd never return!"
Aldria and Dante approached, and Velryna stopped, out of breath. "We have important news to discuss. The meeting of rulers is approaching, and we need to prepare."
"Let's make some plans..." Dante said, "It's time to start causing some real Chaos."