My Blood Legacy: Reincarnated as a Vampire

"Let the new era begin," Dante declared, his voice reverberating like thunder that tore through the very fabric of Hell. The energy emanating from him felt like a whirlwind of pure authority, sweeping away the chaos around him.

Alter-Dante, who stood beside the throne, smiled with a mixture of satisfaction and resignation. "It seems the time has finally come," he remarked, his voice filled with pride and nostalgia. He crossed his arms, watching Dante with an almost paternal gaze. "Finally, you've become what you were always meant to be. Now, it's just you."

With those words, Alter-Dante began to disappear, his body fragmenting into shining flakes of black and red energy. The fragments floated in the air for a moment before being drawn toward Dante, merging with him.

Dante felt it all. For a single overwhelming second, the entire essence of Alter-Dante, all the knowledge about his Progenitor powers, and all the untapped potential he hadn't yet touched flooded his mind and body. It was as if Hell itself revealed its deepest secrets to him, opening doors he didn't even know existed.

Time seemed to stop. The battle that had raged around him fell into complete silence. Demons and tormented souls ceased fighting, looking at the new ruler with expressions that ranged from terror to reverence.

"Ah..." Dante sighed deeply, as though he had just borne the weight of the universe and, at the same time, found a new clarity. He rose from the Throne with an aura even more powerful and imposing, every movement carrying the weight of an absolute sovereign.

He looked at the battlefield, where the demons fighting against his army seemed to hesitate, confused and afraid. Their voices lowered to a whisper, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Kneel," Dante commanded, his voice echoing like a divine decree.

The effect was immediate. The energy radiating from him crushed the will of all around him, as if their very essence were compelled to obey. The demons began to fall to their knees, one by one, as if an invisible force pressed them to the ground. Some tried to resist, but the power of the Ruler's Mandate was absolute, relentless.

Cerberus, now reborn and loyal to Dante, lifted its three heads and howled, a sound that echoed through Hell, confirming the rise of its new ruler.

Dante took a few steps forward, his presence dominating everything. "You fought in vain. Now, your fates belong to me. You have no choice but to follow my orders or perish."

The demons did not speak a word, but submission was clear in their gazes and stances. Hell, which had once been a chaos of endless battles, now bowed before a single ruler.

Dante raised his hand, and a black flame appeared, dancing on his fingers like a physical manifestation of his authority. "The war is not over," he declared, his voice carrying a fierce determination.

With a decisive movement, Dante raised his arm, and a portal opened before him, its edges pulsating with black and gold energy. On the other side, a chaotic scene unfolded: Astaroth and the Knight of War in a titanic confrontation, the environment around them in ruins as waves of power tore through the air like living storms.

He turned to Akira, who watched him with a mix of fascination and exhaustion, her eyes carrying admiration and respect.

"Rise, Akira," he ordered, his voice firm but filled with absolute authority. "It's not time to rest. We still have work to do."

With a simple gesture, Dante extended his hand toward her, and a wave of regenerative energy enveloped her. Wounds vanished, her breathing returned to normal, and even her tattered clothes were restored, as if they had never been touched by battle.

Akira looked at her hands, surprised to find herself completely renewed. She clenched her fist, feeling her strength restored, and then met Dante's gaze, raising her massive blade with renewed determination.

"You're getting pretty bossy," she remarked with a slight smile, her voice carrying a teasing tone, but with a gleam of respect in her eyes.

Dante smirked slightly, almost amused. "It's the weight of the throne," he replied, his confidence unshakable. "Now, let's finish this."

He didn't wait for a response. With a firm step, he crossed through the portal, the energy around him roaring like a hurricane.

On the other side, the battlefield pulsed with destruction. Astaroth, surrounded by a black aura that seemed to absorb the very light around her, was launching brutal strikes at the Knight of War, who, despite being wounded and exhausted, still stood firm like an indestructible wall. The metallic sound of blades clashing reverberated through the space like thunder.

Dante took a few steps forward, the ground deforming beneath his feet with every movement, such was his presence. He spread his arms, absorbing the chaos of the scene with a calm, dangerous smile.

"Hello, Astaroth," he called, his voice sounding like a calm and deadly thunder, echoing across the battlefield.

Astaroth stopped her attack, spinning in mid-air to face Dante. Her red eyes gleamed with a mix of surprise and irritation, while a sadistic smile appeared on her lips.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to join the fun," Astaroth remarked, her voice laced with sarcasm, but there was something more—an undercurrent of caution hidden in her words. Her red eyes locked onto Dante, carefully assessing him.

The Knight of War took advantage of the pause, retreating a few steps to catch his breath. He cast a glance at Dante, instantly recognizing that something had changed. This was no longer just an ordinary man. This was the new ruler of Hell, and his presence radiated absolute authority.

Dante raised his hand, snapping his fingers. Instantly, a black-and-gold aura enveloped his body, swirling like living flames, while the ground around him trembled. It was as if Hell itself were responding to him, acknowledging his supremacy. He advanced slowly, his eyes fixed on Astaroth with a calmness that was more terrifying than any scream.

"Fun, isn't it?" he said, his voice cold and heavy with power. A predatory smile curved his lips. "But, unfortunately for you... the party's over."

Before Astaroth could react, Dante vanished. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of her, his speed so absurd it seemed like a blur. His fist, wrapped in raw energy, struck Astaroth with devastating force.

The impact was like an explosion, sending Astaroth flying hundreds of meters, so far that she disappeared from sight. The ground around Dante cracked from the force of the blow, and the reverberation made the air vibrate as though space itself were about to shatter.

Dante slowly turned toward the Knight of War, his expression now serious. "War, protect the Tree."

The Knight of War, without hesitation, knelt before him, bowing his head in submission. "Yes, Sovereign," he replied, his voice filled with absolute respect.

Dante then turned his gaze to Akira, who stood just a few steps away, still processing what had just happened. "Akira, stay with him," he ordered, his voice making it clear that this was not a request.

Akira nodded, her massive blade resting on her shoulder as she watched Dante with a mix of admiration and unease.

Dante wasted no time. He lifted his eyes, focusing on the horizon where Lucifer's body lay among the rubble, lifeless but still emanating remnants of his former glory.

"Now... I've found it," he murmured, calmly walking toward the corpse. When he got close, he raised his hand, and his voice reverberated like an absolute command. "Rise."

Lucifer's body, seemingly destroyed, began to regenerate. Flesh, bones, and blood reassembled at an unimaginable speed. Within seconds, Lucifer was standing once again, his form intact. His eyes gleamed with surprise and confusion as he stared at Dante, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"How did you—" Lucifer began, but was interrupted by Dante's voice.

"Everything in Hell belongs to me now," Dante declared, his voice carrying an absolute tone that left no room for doubt. "Including you, former bearer of Pride."

Lucifer gritted his teeth, but could not respond. He felt, more than he knew, that Dante's words were true.

Dante narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, extending his hand. "But I'm taking Pride back. You are no longer worthy of it."

Before Lucifer could protest, the energy symbolizing the Sin of Pride began to be ripped from him. A golden and scarlet glow emerged from his body, flowing like a river of power into Dante's palm. The energy was absorbed, making Dante's aura even more intense, while Lucifer collapsed to his knees, panting, his face marked with humiliation.

"You are now nothing but a contractor of Pride," Dante said coldly, looking at Lucifer as if he were nothing more than a disposable pawn.

Suddenly, a wave of violent energy cut through the air, and Dante smiled as he felt the presence drawing near. His eyes turned to the horizon, where Astaroth was flying toward him, her expression twisted in pure fury.

"YOU BASTARD!" she screamed, her black aura exploding like an infernal storm as she charged forward at an insane speed.

Dante simply smiled, his gaze overflowing with confidence. "Ah, finally," he murmured, casually raising his hand as Hell around him seemed to react to his will. "Let's finish this once and for all."