Chapter 20

As they ventured through the dense forest, the winding path ahead beckoned Vergil and Lupin onward. Nature's symphony surrounded them, an orchestration of rustling leaves, that seemed to weave a harmonious tapestry. Yet, within this tranquil realm, a single sound caught Lupin's acute senses, halting his steps in their tracks. His head tilted slightly, his ears pricking up to capture the faintest of rustles emanating from a nearby thicket. With a swift, silent gesture, he signaled to Vergil, their unspoken language communicating the need for caution.

Observing Lupin's sudden pause, Vergil mirrored his actions and came to a standstill. With a curious arch of his eyebrow, he inquired, "Why have we stopped, Lupin?" The forest's embrace seemed to hold its breath, the anticipation of the unknown hanging heavy in the air.

Lupin's hands lifted to point in the direction of the source of the noise, his voice soft but distinct in the hushed ambience. "There's a noise coming from over there," he stated, his words threading through the silence like a whisper of intrigue.

Reacting with swift precision, Vergil's hands moved in a blur of motion. His twin guns, Raiden and Keqing, were drawn from their holsters, and with calculated ease, he unleashed a relentless barrage of shots toward the area Lupin had indicated. The staccato rhythm of gunfire reverberated through the trees, leaving a trail of gun marks etched onto trunks and shots embedded into the bushes.

Vergil advanced towards the aftermath of his own gunfire, each step taken with measured caution. His gaze fixed on the ground, he surveyed the bullet-riddled undergrowth, searching for any sign of disturbance. But as the echoes of gunfire subsided, they gave way to a stark realization , the area bore no signs of intrusion. His gaze shifted towards Lupin, his lips parting to deliver his assessment. "There is nothing there," he confirmed, his guns returning to their protective resting places.

However, a sudden urgency punctuated the tranquility. Lupin's voice pierced the stillness with a warning that cut through the air like a clarion call. "Vergil, dodge!" he shouted, the urgency of his words infused with a potent blend of concern and alarm.

Instinct seized Vergil, propelling him into motion even before he fully comprehended the danger. He turned to evade, his movements fluid and instinctive. But in the span of a heartbeat, a colossal hammer, wreathed in flames, descended with thunderous force. Impact and searing heat met Vergil in an explosive collision that propelled him through the air, his body an ephemeral figure against the verdant backdrop.

Trees shuddered in the wake of the cataclysmic force, their sturdy forms bending and yielding to the destructive might that had been unleashed. Vergil's trajectory was relentless, the power of the blow driving him through the very fabric of the forest, until the momentum relented and he collided with the last standing tree. His form slumped against the bark, a testament to the raw potency of the attack.

With a groan, Vergil lifted his head, dazed but not defeated. His fingers brushed his disheveled hair from his brow, his eyes narrowing as they followed the path of destruction back to its point of origin. An exasperated sigh escaped his lips, laden with a blend of frustration and wry resignation. "Can't these demons give us a break?" he mused aloud, the question carried on a breath of incredulity.

Vergil Raised his gaze skyward and directed his attention toward the very trajectory that had propelled him through the air moments earlier. His eyes fixated on the source, revealing the imposing figure of a minotaur engulfed in a fierce conflagration.

The creature's form was enshrouded by flames, casting an ominous aura as it brandished a colossal, fire-wreathed axe. With a deafening bellow that echoed through the surroundings, the minotaur declared its ominous intent, vowing to slay both him and his companion before feasting upon their living flesh. Its massive frame lumbered forward, each step emanating a palpable menace, as it inexorably advanced in Vergil's direction.

Vergil's gaze remained fixed upon the approaching demon, a sense of resignation tinged with a hint of grim humor evident on his face. As the gap between them steadily closed, he emitted a protracted exhalation, the weight of the situation apparent in his demeanor. With a mixture of irony, he uttered words that hung in the air like an impending fate, "It appears that we are going to be late for dinner ,shinobu is definitely going to kill us."

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Lupin sprinted determinedly in the direction of Vergil, aiming to assist him off the ground. As he closed in on Vergil, the demon brandished a fiery axe and swiftly swung it with immense force in Lupin's direction. The axe, engulfed in flames, hurtled through the air at a velocity comparable to the speed of sound.

While Lupin remained committed to his path toward Vergil, his acute werewolf instincts alerted him to the impending danger. Reacting instinctively, he swiftly evaded to the left, narrowly avoiding the blazing arc of the swung axe. The searing heat grazed him slightly, yet his supernatural reflexes prevented a more direct impact.

Lupin's attention shifted to the trajectory of the axe, now hurtling towards Vergil's position. With urgency in his voice, he shouted Vergil's name, attempting to warn him about the imminent danger. However, his vocal efforts fell short, failing to reach Vergil amidst the chaos. Unfazed, Lupin persisted, repeatedly screaming Vergil's name while expending every ounce of his stamina as he raced toward Vergil's location.