As everyone struggled to keep the battle in their favor, a feeling of despair began to settle in. The storm roared like a strange hurricane, a reflection of the turmoil building within the base.
Despite having the power to kill a god, Valentina felt a strange pressure in the air, as if the very atmosphere were draining her strength.
What the hell is this? she thought as she looked at her hand, her energy... it was fading.
She had always prided herself on being a Primordial Vampire, but now she felt her power slipping away. The walls of the base pulsed, absorbing the energy around them. Valentina glanced at Lilith, who was beside her, and saw that she too was struggling against the energy that was sapping their strength. Lilith's muscles trembled, and her eyes glowed with the intensity of the magic she was trying to conjure, but even that seemed ineffective.
"What the hell... is this?" Lilith gasped, dropping to her knees. "What's happening?"
Valentina was about to answer, but before she could, a wave of pain hit her. She collapsed to her knees as well, trying to concentrate. Her body was being drained, and the sensation was terrifying. The energies of the base were succumbing to the power accumulating outside.
"MASTER!" The Valkyries cried out, witnessing Valentina fall to her knees for the first time...
The Giant was forming, and the presence of such a powerful force was oppressive. Valentina felt her strength being pulled toward this colossal being, as if the very structure of the base were aligning with it.
"We can't let this happen!" Valentina shouted, attempting to rise. But the pain made her hesitate, and she quickly realized that even in her full Primordial Vampire form, her body was disintegrating under the pressure. The veins in her body pulsed and darkened, and her vision began to blur.
"Valentina!" Siren called, her voice echoing distantly. "We need... we need to find a way to fight against this!" She too fell to the ground... even using her strength to transform into a giant wolf... it wasn't working...
Valentina tried to use her energy, but it felt as if an invisible hand were pinning her to the ground. The atmosphere was filled with a force that controlled her, draining not only her energy but that of everyone present. The Valkyries were gradually falling to their knees one by one, their energies being absorbed by this unseen force.
"No! We can't give in!" Maara shouted, her tone becoming a desperate plea. "We cannot let this defeat us!"
But as Valentina struggled to fight back, her body was transforming. What had once been a powerful manifestation of vampirism now appeared grotesque. The traits that made her a Primordial Vampire were becoming distorted. Her claws elongated, her teeth transformed into fangs, and the fury inside her was starting to take control.
"Valentina, keep control!" Lilith exclaimed, her voice now filled with concern. "You need to concentrate!"
Valentina closed her eyes and tried to find her focus, but the pressure was intensifying. The base, once a refuge, now felt like a battlefield, with warriors falling around her. Valentina could sense the connection to her environment, but it was a connection that drained her rather than empowering her...
Yet, even in her defeat, an image appeared in Dante's mind, like a dream beginning to take form. He was in a vast desert of clouds, floating in an ethereal space that was both serene and majestic.
Dante looked around, confused, as a colossal Dragon descended from the clouds. Its scales shimmered as if made of stars, and its deep blue eyes seemed to hold all the knowledge of the world; however, five terrifying heads made its gaze overlook the beauty of that knowledge. The Dragon approached Dante, its presence both frightening and comforting.
"Why are you here, young one?" the Dragon asked, its voice echoing like soft thunder. "You do not belong in this place."
Dante hesitated, the image of the Giant forming in his mind overlapping with the new scene. "I... I don't know," he replied, his voice weak. "I was fighting, trying to save... someone."
While everyone was struggling to keep the battle in their favor, a sense of despair began to settle in. The storm roared in a strange hurricane, a reflection of the turbulence forming inside the base.
Despite having the power to kill a god, Valentina felt a strange pressure in the air, as if the very atmosphere was draining her strength.
'What the hell is this?' she thought as she looked at her hand; her energy... was fading.
"What you seek is within you. Put aside your doubts and fears. Accept who you truly are. You are a Dragon in your own right, and the fight you face is merely a reflection of your journey," the Dragon said, its words resonating deeply.
Meanwhile, in her reality, Valentina fought against the pain consuming her. The environment around her pulsed like a heart, sucking her energies. She felt a call coming from Dante, a connection that transcended space and time.
"Dante!" Valentina screamed, not even knowing if he would hear her. "Wake your damn husband!!"
Valentina's words crossed the dimension of dreams, reaching Dante, who felt energized. "Valentina?!" he shouted, realizing that his struggle was also hers. He began to understand what the Dragon was trying to teach.
The colossal Dragon looked at Dante with approval. "That's right, young one. Now, you must remember who you are. The fight is not only physical but also spiritual."
Dante took a deep breath, his essence beginning to reconstitute. He was aware that the battle was not just against the horde of hybrids but against the darkness that was draining Valentina and her allies. He focused on the connection he had with Valentina, visualizing her fighting against the force that kept her trapped.
"Valentina, I'm here!" he declared, feeling his own energy grow. "I'm coming!"
Valentina, even in her distorted form, felt a surge of strength. Dante's call was the anchor that kept her steady, and in a moment of clarity, she remembered who she truly was. The claws and fangs that were taking over her body began to stabilize, the true form of the Vampire Count emerging.
"Dante!" she screamed again, feeling her power return. "I'm coming back!"
In the dream world, the Dragon began to shine, enveloping Dante in a protective aura. "Embrace your essence, and you will become complete. What you seek is within you, and this is also reflected in your beloved."
The environment around Valentina began to change. The pressure draining her started to dissipate as the force of the Giant forming retreated in the face of the growing light. Valentina stood up, now filled with determination.
"I am a Primordial Vampire!" she declared, her powerful voice reverberating through the base. "And I will not be defeated by anything, not even you!"
With a wave of her hands, Valentina channeled her energy, creating a surge of power that spread through the base, expelling the absorbing energy that had kept her captive. Her allies, witnessing the transformation, felt the energy return and began to rise.
As Dante fought in his dream, the connection they shared intensified. He could feel the Dragon merging with him, an ancestral power awakening within.
Dante began to shine, the essence of the Dragon now in perfect harmony with his being. He was transforming, his powers amalgamating into something stronger, purer. He was not just fighting for himself, but also for Valentina and everyone who depended on them.
The colossal Dragon smiled, sensing Dante's true strength emerging. "You understand now. Go! Fight with your heart and defend those you love."
Dante felt his consciousness flow back into his body. He awoke, his energies now in synergy with Valentina. He saw the determined faces of Lilith and the other warriors around him.
"We're in this together," Valentina declared, her piercing gaze fixed on Dante.
Dante nodded, feeling a strange energy intertwining with his own, a mix of power coursing through his veins. "Let's fight," he declared, his voice resonating with a new intensity, and the base responded to his call, emanating a glow of light and power.
As the energy built up, Dante sensed the environment around him changing. The shadows that had once felt so oppressive were now retreating, as if the light they generated was pushing fear away. The space was vibrant, pulsating in a rhythm that seemed to align with the beating of their own hearts.
The figure of the Giant loomed outside, colossal and threatening, but Dante did not hesitate. He could feel Valentina's energy at his side, an unshakeable force. "Together," he murmured, and Valentina smiled, her expression resolute.
"Together," she confirmed, and her determination reflected in the eyes of the others.