My Blood Legacy: Reincarnated as a Vampire

[The Ninth Circle of Hell]

The air in the Ninth Circle of Hell was suffocating, filled with miasma and the acrid stench of sulfur. Dante stood in the center of a vast plain of black stone and molten lava, surrounded by an unimaginable horde of demons. There were so many that the horizon seemed like a living sea of shadows and monstrosities. The screams and roars were deafening, a symphony of chaos echoing across the desolate terrain.

"How many are there?" Dante asked himself, spinning the spear in his hand, his gaze fixed on the advancing mass. "A thousand? Ten thousand? A million?" He smirked, but it wasn't a smile of confidence—it was one of pure disdain. "Doesn't matter. All of you will fall."

The first demons charged, grotesque creatures with misshapen bodies, razor-sharp claws, and glowing red eyes. Dante surged forward like a storm.

With a swift motion, he spun the spear in a wide arc, unleashing a wave of energy that sliced dozens of demons in half. Their bodies crumbled into ash, but others took their place, roaring and attacking from all sides.

"Want more?!" Dante shouted, his voice booming like thunder. He leapt into the air, soaring above the horde, and channeled the power of Hunger into the tip of his spear. When he drove it into the ground, a massive explosion of energy obliterated hundreds of enemies, leaving a crater on the battlefield.

Still, the demons kept coming, like an unending tide. Their forms varied—some crawled like giant worms, others flew with bat-like wings, while others were enormous colossi of lava and stone. Each one was more terrifying than the last, but none were a match for Dante.

He dodged attacks with supernatural precision, spinning his spear to deflect claws and fangs as he cut down enemies with relentless speed. "You're only good for dying," he muttered, striking down a flying demon with a precise blow before hurling his spear at another group, skewering several at once.

However, the effort was beginning to take its toll. The heavy miasma of Hell seemed to drain his energy with every movement, and the overwhelming numbers of the horde made the battle feel endless. He was breathing heavily, but his determination remained unshaken.

"You think you can stop me?!" Dante roared, his black flames intensifying around his body. He raised his hand, summoning a massive sphere of demonic energy that glowed like a black sun. "You still don't get it… I AM THE SUPREME HUNTER!"

He unleashed the sphere, and the impact was cataclysmic. The ground trembled and cracked, and a wave of energy swept away thousands of demons in all directions. The black light consumed everything in its path, leaving only ashes and destruction.

But as the dust settled, more demons emerged, rising from the shadows like ants pouring out of a mound. It was a sight that would have broken the spirit of anyone—anyone but Dante.

"So persistent..." he murmured, wiping the sweat from his brow. He grabbed his spear once more, his eyes burning with unrelenting fury. "I'll carve a path, no matter the cost."

He dashed forward, his speed increasing with every step. Each swing of his spear was lethal, every movement a dance of carnage. The claws and fangs of the demons couldn't touch him, and those who tried were swiftly reduced to pieces.

The scenery began to shift. The lava plains gave way to ancient ruins, crumbling structures that seemed to belong to a forgotten civilization. Even so, the demons continued to pursue him, filling the air with their horrendous screams.

Dante stopped momentarily at the center of the ruins, panting as he watched the hordes regrouping in the distance. He spun the spear in his hand and spat on the ground. "You still want more?"

The creatures roared in response, surging forward once again like an unstoppable wave. Dante raised his spear, a fierce smile spreading across his face. "Then come. I'll end every single one of you."

And so, the massacre continued, Dante carving his way through the demons with unmatched fury, determined to reach his destination—whatever it might be.

...

Dante breathed heavily, his body covered in blood and ash. For two hours, he had fought relentlessly, reducing thousands of demons to nothing but dust. The ground around him was littered with the remains of grotesque creatures, while the ruins trembled with the echoes of battle.

He spun the spear in his hand, still dripping with the black blood of the demons. "Two million or more... I've lost count," he muttered, trying to catch his breath.

But suddenly, the air grew denser, and the ground beneath his feet began to shake violently. Dante looked up, and his sarcastic smile faded.

In the distance, a colossal figure emerged from the shadows—a demon of unimaginable proportions. Its height was enough to reach the shadowy ceilings of that infernal layer, and its grotesque form seemed carved from the very essence of Hell. Its skin was made of molten magma, pulsing like a burning heart, and enormous horns curved from its head like mountains.

"Finally, something worth the effort," Dante said, a tired but determined smile crossing his face. He adjusted his stance, gripping the spear tightly.

The demon opened its mouth, and a deafening roar echoed through the ruins, making the stones tremble and crack. Its voice was deep, like thunder.

"PATHETIC HUMAN," the creature roared, its voice reverberating like an earthquake. "YOU DARED TO MASSACRE MY SERVANTS... NOW YOU WILL FACE THE JUDGE OF THE NINTH CIRCLE!"

Dante let out a hoarse laugh, staring at the colossus. "Huh? Judge? Are you out of your mind? You're just a giant slab of meat. Go back to sleep, pal, leave me alone."

The demon charged forward, each step shaking the ground and sending streams of lava splashing in threatening jets. It raised a colossal hand and brought it down, intending to crush Dante in one blow. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

"So slow," Dante mocked, leaping to the side at the last second. The colossus's hand slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater. Dante seized the opening and struck, hurling his spear straight at the creature's head.

The weapon hit its mark, but the impact felt like colliding with a mountain. The spear ricocheted, and the colossus laughed in contempt.

"YOU CANNOT HARM ME, INSECT."

Dante clicked his tongue, frustrated. "Resilient, huh? Let's see how you handle this."

He summoned the power of Hunger, his hands glowing with a dark energy that seemed to consume the very air around him. He channeled the energy into his spear and threw it again, this time aiming for the creature's chest.

The attack struck the colossus with an explosion that made the surrounding lava bubble even more violently, but when the smoke cleared, the creature stood tall, almost unscathed.

"YOU ARE PATHETIC," the colossus mocked, raising both arms to summon a rain of magma that began to fall upon Dante.

Dante sprinted through the ruins, dodging the molten jets. He knew he was facing an enemy unlike any he had encountered before. "This bastard is stronger than I expected. I need a plan..."

As he ran, Dante began to study the colossus closely. He noticed something—a tiny crack in the creature's chest, where the magma seemed to flow erratically.

"There it is," he murmured, a grin forming on his face.

With a powerful leap, Dante launched himself directly toward the colossus's chest, weaving through the attacks as if dancing in the chaos. He used the stolen power of Hunger to create an even larger spear, wrapped in a black-and-red aura that seemed to devour the light around it.

"Let's finish this," Dante shouted, driving the spear directly into the crack.

The colossus roared, its massive form trembling violently as the magma within it began to spiral out of control. Dante's energy surged into the creature, spreading like a plague and consuming it from the inside out.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" the colossus roared before exploding into a cloud of magma and ash, its remnants scattering across the ruins.

Dante landed heavily on the ground, his breathing labored, the heat of the magma still pulsating around him. He looked at the smoldering remains of the colossus he had just destroyed, a satisfied grin forming on his face. "Now that's more like it. Who's next? Well... who cares," he muttered dismissively, spinning his spear before resting it on his shoulder.

As he surveyed the aftermath of the chaos he had wrought, Dante felt a strange energy surge through his body. He frowned for a moment, but then a thought crossed his mind. 'Anyway, it seems I'm about to evolve... I've let my hounds devour so many souls that my body's already at its limit.'

He lifted his gaze, focusing on the horizon obscured by miasma and flames. The journey was far from over, but the feeling of something monumental approaching was undeniable. He took a step forward, but then his own shadow shifted, taking on an ethereal form beside him.

"How much farther?" Dante asked, his voice laced with impatience.

The shadowy figure, floating in an almost lazy manner, responded with an enigmatic tone. "A few hours. Soon, you'll see the Negative World Tree."

Dante stopped, narrowing his eyes. "The Negative World Tree, huh? Sounds pretentious. And the fight? How are the others holding up?"

The shadow hesitated for a moment before answering. "We had... an unforeseen development."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "Unforeseen? What are you talking about?"

"War," the shadow finally revealed, its tone now graver. "The Horseman of War is battling the two."

Dante clenched his fists, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "War... so he's finally shown himself."

The shadow slowly nodded, as if carefully weighing its words. "Yes, but the situation is... complicated. The Horseman of War isn't like the others. He's not just waging a physical battle, Dante. He's manipulating both of them – their minds, their souls. Pestilence and Famine were already dangerous, but War? He's a catalyst. A maestro of chaos. His strength feeds on the conflict between them."

Dante laughed, but there was no humor in his voice. "Looks like I'll have to join this orchestra and stop the music. You know I love it when things get complicated."