Chapter 21

Lupin's attention swiftly turned towards the oncoming trajectory of the axe, hurtling menacingly in Vergil's direction. Urgency laced his voice as he shouted Vergil's name, desperately trying to warn him of the imminent peril. Yet, his vocal efforts proved futile, drowned out amidst the cacophony of chaos. Undeterred, Lupin persisted, repeatedly bellowing Vergil's name, channeling every last vestige of stamina as he raced towards Vergil's exact coordinates.

Vergil rose to his feet, recovering from the forceful blow delivered by the minotaur's hammer. He quipped, "Oh, can't a guy catch a breather around here, even after rearranging his bones?" He craned his neck, producing an audible series of satisfying cracks.

Upon aligning his skeletal framework, he tilted his gaze upwards, locking eyes on Lupin advancing towards him. However, Lupin's speech remained inaudible to Vergil's ears. Playfully, Vergil mused, "Speak up, I can't decipher your hushed tones." His cupped hands mimicked a microphone.

Lupin surged forward with unrestrained momentum, his transformation into a wolf half-complete. He hollered, "Beware!" as he sprinted.

Vergil's puzzled expression morphed into curiosity as he retorted, "Beware of what?" His inquiry was abruptly truncated when Lupin gestured towards a flaming axe, soaring through the air at breakneck speed. The axe's fiery coat illuminated Vergil's realization as it veered dangerously close.

The axe materialized before Vergil in an instant, its blade seemingly grazing his neck before piercing through a deceptive afterimage. Vergil reappeared unscathed on the opposite end, the axe's wake igniting the tree behind him. Its passage ignited flames that consumed all obstacles, only to return to the minotaur's grasp akin to a boomerang.

Having reached Vergil's side, Lupin declared, "We must conclude this confrontation swiftly; delay only diminishes our chances."

Lupin's words surged through Vergil like an electric current, beads of sweat punctuating his conviction. "I won't be outdone by Shinobu again. Let's hasten this encounter," Vergil declared, summoning a battle stance against the minotaur, while Lupin unveiled his combat-ready claws.

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In a desolate area in the forest, the ground trembled as Vergil and Lupin faced off against the towering monstrosity that was the minotaur. Its immense size cast a menacing shadow over the battle-weary combatants. The air was thick with tension, charged with the anticipation of an epic clash.

The minotaur, its body a hulking mass of muscle and fury, held a colossal hammer that crackled with flames. Each step it took left a trail of scorch marks on the ground, and its fiery eyes fixated on its opponents with an unnerving intensity. The aura of heat emanating from the creature seemed to distort the air around it, casting an otherworldly glow that bathed the battlefield in a surreal light.

As the minotaur roared, a torrent of flames erupted from its hammer, enveloping the weapon in a scorching inferno. It swung the hammer with astonishing speed, the flames leaving a fiery trail in the air. Vergil deftly evaded the strikes, his katana slicing through the burning currents as he danced around the demon's attacks. He aimed his guns and fired precise shots, each bullet seeking to find a chink in the creature's fiery armor.

Lupin lunged at the minotaur, his werewolf form giving him an agility that belied his size. His fangs and claws glinted in the fiery light as he aimed for the creature's vulnerable joints. Yet, the minotaur's control over fire allowed it to conjure blazing walls that acted as barriers, thwarting Lupin's attempts to close the distance.

Vergil channeled his hellfire, flames of an unholy origin dancing along the edges of his katana. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, the blade leaving trails of incendiary destruction in its wake. But the minotaur's infernal defenses proved formidable, as it used its hammer to deflect the attacks, the collision of steel and fire creating dazzling sparks.

Lupin, undeterred by the fiery obstacles, leaped onto the minotaur's back, using his enhanced strength to drive his claws into the creature's hide. The minotaur roared in agony, its flames flickering as it struggled to dislodge the tenacious werewolf. In response, it summoned flames that erupted from its body, forcing Lupin to retreat with a growl of frustration.

The battle raged on, the clash of steel, fire, and fang echoing throughout the arena. Vergil's katana and guns danced in intricate patterns, his movements a blend of precision and elegance. The minotaur's hammer swung with a brute force that seemed unstoppable, each impact sending shockwaves that tested Vergil's defenses.

Lupin's fur bristled as he circled the minotaur, his eyes never leaving the creature's every movement. With a guttural howl, he lunged once more, his claws tearing into the minotaur's side. The creature's flames flared wildly, singeing Lupin's fur as it thrashed and roared. Blood and fire mingled, and the minotaur's movements grew sluggish.

Vergil seized the opportunity, his katana igniting with an intense hellfire. He unleashed a devastating series of strikes, the flames licking at the minotaur's flesh with a vengeance. The creature's cries of pain echoed through the arena as its fiery aura began to falter.

As the minotaur staggered, Lupin's eyes glinted with determination. With a mighty leap, he transformed into a blur of fur and fang, his claws sinking deep into the minotaur's chest. The creature's struggles grew weaker until, with a final roar, it collapsed to the ground, its flames extinguished.

Vergil sheathed his katana and looked towards Lupin, saying, "It's time. We should start heading home."

Lupin turned his head towards Vergil, nodding in agreement. He then released his werewolf transformation and began to walk in Vergil's direction, stating, "Let's go." Hearing this, Vergil turned around, and the two of them started walking out of the forest.