Chapter 67: The Impulse and Impact

"Dante." Her voice came out delicately, but her crooked smile was a sign that she was ready. Her eyes gleamed with a sharp look, as if every word and gesture were meticulously calculated, about to reveal the next move. The woman was dangerous. "Pleasure to meet you, my name is..."

"Juno."

Sebastian came running, his hand clutching his shoulder. Blood dripped from the hole made by the shot, and his sword had fallen somewhere. As she stepped closer, a metallic sound sliced through the air, the sharp click of a carbine being cocked. The sound, high-pitched and final, echoed through the space like a silent warning.

Everyone swallowed hard at the same time. Dante liked that scene. Unlike them, unlike everyone, even himself, Marcus could see their bodies as if it were daytime. Here, the dim light helped no one, making the shooter a black silhouette in the darkness.

He was death itself, positioned.

The man stopped in place. No one really moved.

Dante knew the fear of being hit again was cruel. Not knowing where it would come from, having no clue what awaited in the dark. But if he was right, this woman wasn't just another one of GreamHachi, she was the one who had taken down Degol Jones.

A look of recognition surfaced, slowly but clearly. That woman wasn't there by chance; she was the key piece of a much larger game.

"Jackpot," Dante said, startling them. "Let's fight, girl. I can see it on your face, that urge to attack me. I felt it the moment I saw you, the hairs on my arms stood on end."

Juno glanced at her own arm as well. The same thing was happening. Every hair, every pore, seemed to be in tune with what was coming, as if the looming danger was about to reveal itself. Dante and Juno felt the same toward each other, and both smiled, showing just how excited they were.

"You wanna fight, old man?" Juno's voice was firm, defiant, a mix of provocation and confidence. She clapped her hands together with a dull thud, and a bright, shimmering light took shape, a flexible spear, made of pure energy, stretched like a blue lightning bolt between her hands.

Dante didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he raised his fists, positioning himself in a direct offensive stance, his arms firm and ready for the fight.

His muscles tensed, every inch of him prepared for attack or defense, as if he were about to launch into battle without a second thought. His eyes, intense and focused, never left Juno, studying her every movement with precision, his posture exuding unwavering confidence. The air around them seemed to pulse, charged with the expectation of what was to come.

Sebastian and the others were captivated by the two. It was as if time had stopped to watch them. A small crackle, and they moved like a bullet.

Dante spun under the stretched lightning bolt aimed at his head, lifting his leg with the rotation to catch the girl. His attack passed through where she had been a moment before, and as his eyes found her again, he saw what was about to happen, a new wave of energy was forming behind her, condensing rapidly. Another blue explosion, even more intense than the last, was taking shape, a force ready to expand and consume everything around it. Dante felt the air tighten as the energy grew, realizing she was preparing something much more dangerous.

Using his hands for support, he completed the rotation, throwing himself sideways.

The bolt passed like a vertical blade. As it tore through, everything around suffered its devastating effects, the wall shattered into pieces, the floor was scorched with a burning line, and the ceiling bent under the impact, leaving deep fissures like invisible scars.

Juno was strong. Dante couldn't deny it. Her lightning was simply devastating. Anything it touched was obliterated. No wonder Degol had been defeated. The woman was fast, using electricity to enhance her movements and attack from both long and short range.

They clashed up close.

Marcus had to lower his weapon to see better. Their arms met at different angles. Juno was trying to find a way past the old man's defense. She was good, better than any fighter he had seen before. Fast, brutal, her arms and legs like blades. And the lightning…

He had never imagined lightning could be wielded like this. She used the tips of her fingers to release it whenever her attack failed. And Dante deflected it, far more experienced than her. He raised his leg, blocking the incoming kick with agile control, the impact echoing through the air.

The force of the blow reverberated against him. It was always the opposite, air was supposed to burst outward from Dante, not at him. Juno was attacking so fast that she created shockwaves. Marcus had known the old man long enough to see he wasn't taking the fight seriously. His eyes never left hers, always watchful.

"Are you going to stay on the defensive forever?" Juno asked, stepping back and releasing two bolts forward, stretching her arms but not attacking directly. The two streaks curved sharply from below, crossing paths midair.

With a quick retreat, Dante watched her ability tear through the air.

Marcus held his breath. He's not fighting seriously.

"Not yet," Jix's voice sounded cold in Dante's ear.

And then Vick spoke in his head, warning:

"Concentration at 6%. Current limit: 12%. To increase, keep moving."

Marcus finally understood. A wave of realization hit him. Dante was using the girl to push his limit. Here and now? That arrogant old man.

He wouldn't let any of these GreamHachi bastards leave alive. Marcus lay down, pulling the ISE carbine close. The stock found his shoulder, and he adjusted his grip to maximize control.

If he had to fire, it would be a shot that ensured they never walked away. He didn't know how to fight like Dante, but he doubted they could shoot like him.

No hesitation.

Dante and Juno resumed exchanging blows. Her attacks were powerful, but Dante used the palm of his hand in a defensive style, keeping her at bay with impeccable precision. When Juno clapped her hands together and let out a roar, the entire space lit up.

More than ten spinning blades of energy were unleashed in his direction. The sound of the crackling lightning was deafening, like countless blades clashing or hundreds of birds screeching at once.

With agile movements, Dante weaved through the incoming lightning, the heat and energy cutting through the air around him but never touching him.

Marcus was speechless. His eyes were fixed on the scene before him, but words had vanished, as if shock had paralyzed his mind. Juno, too, was gasping for breath. Her lungs seemed to struggle to recover, the tension and effort of the fight still visible in her body.

Her intensity had waned, Marcus could see it in her face. Against any other enemy, this battle would have meant death. Dante, on the other hand, only smiled in response.

The ease in his demeanor contrasted with Juno and Marcus's exhaustion, as if he were patiently waiting for the next move, certain that he was in control no matter what happened.

Marcus realized he was still holding his breath and finally let himself exhale. Not just him, everyone around did the same.

Amidst the chaos, the only one who remained calm was Dante. His smile was enigmatic, relaxed, as if he was completely at ease.

"Why is he so strong?"

Dante wiped his hand clean and chuckled.

"That was really good, Juno. Are we done?" His grin twisted, wicked. There was no kindness in it. "My turn now, right?"