Chapter 4: The Demon's Truth
Dante lay motionless on the wooden floor, barely conscious. His vision blurred, his breathing shallow. The scent of blood still lingered in the air, and his mind reeled from the recent chaos. Just when he thought the nightmare had ended, a figure cloaked in shadows approached him.
"W-Who… who are you?" Dante asked weakly.
The man crouched beside him, his crimson aura flickering like firelight. "Me? I'm your real father. The name's Chrollo."
Dante's eyes widened. "M-My real father? No… my father is dead. I killed him."
Chrollo chuckled darkly. "That man? No, he wasn't your real father. He was just a vessel I used."
"Vessel?"
Chrollo smirked. "Yes. A body possessed by a demon. You see, about thirteen years ago, I inhabited that man's body. That's when he changed… and while I controlled him, I created you."
Dante's heart sank. "A demon… you're saying you're a demon?!"
"Exactly. A high-level demon—one of Hell's soldiers. We demons are born from the hatred and despair of mortal souls. Some of us are so powerful, we can possess human bodies. When that happens, the human inside eventually loses their mind. That's what happened to the man you called 'father.'"
Dante trembled. The truth hit him like a dagger. "So… I'm a demon too?"
"You're a half-demon. Offspring of a human and a demon. Your powers stayed dormant until that tragedy unlocked them. That's how it works. Half-demons have potential far greater than even the ones who made them."
"No…" Dante muttered, backing away. "This… this can't be real. I'm just a normal kid. I've never felt like a demon!"
"That's normal. Your powers only awaken when you experience deep pain. I orchestrated everything so that awakening would happen. This was all according to plan."
Dante slowly stood, the purple aura returning to his body, swirling with intensity. "So this… this is all your fault. My mother's death… the pain… the chaos…"
"There's a purpose, my son," Chrollo said. "You're destined for something far greater. You have the power to surpass me, and with the right training, you could help reshape this multiverse. Join me, and I'll teach you everything. I am a soldier of the Forsaken Clan. Our goal is to bring our god back… and destroy this broken world."
Chrollo extended his hand toward Dante.
"No," Dante said, his voice steady. "I won't be part of this. I'll never help someone like you. You're the reason my mother is gone. I'll never forgive you."
"Oh?" Chrollo raised a brow. "I wasn't really asking. You will come with me… whether you like it or not."
Dante's fists clenched. "You'll have to catch me first."
"Hmph. Foolish boy."
Dante sprinted out the shed, his demon energy flaring around him. Chrollo followed swiftly, his red aura trailing like flames behind him.
"He's fast," Chrollo muttered. "Faster than I expected…"
Dante pushed his legs harder. I'm the fastest at school… I can do this!
Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind him. Chrollo was launching random energy blasts. "No way… he's insane!"
Dante's stamina began to falter. The chase tore through the village until they reached a dead end—an abandoned shed.
"Nowhere else to run," Chrollo said with a cold smile. "Let's end this."
"I guess… I have no choice," Dante whispered, bracing himself.
Meanwhile, high in the mountains—
Yami's eyes snapped open mid-meditation. "Dai. Can you feel that?"
Dai, already on alert, nodded. "It's a demon. No—two. One of them… it's incredibly powerful."
Yami stood, tightening his gloves. "Let's go."
"Right behind you, Sensei."
End of Chapter 4