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Chapter 29: Breaking Limits
Dante's breathing was steady, but his body thrummed with raw power. Every inch of his skin tingled, the golden energy within him still pulsing like a second heartbeat. Across from him, Cain wiped a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth, his crimson eyes gleaming with something dangerous.
Excitement.
"You're getting there," Cain admitted, rolling his shoulders. "But not quite."
Dante didn't respond. He just shifted his stance, golden eyes locked onto Cain. He wasn't thinking anymore—his instincts had taken over.
And they were screaming at him to move.
Cain blurred. One second, he was standing still. The next, he was in front of Dante, fist already mid-swing.
But Dante saw it.
His body twisted, narrowly dodging the strike. He felt the wind rush past his cheek—too close. He countered immediately, aiming a sharp knee toward Cain's ribs.
Cain blocked—barely. The force of Dante's strike sent him skidding back. His grin widened.
"There it is," Cain said, shaking his arms loose. "Now let's break that limit."
Dante exhaled. The energy in him was still growing, pressing against his skin like a storm waiting to be unleashed. His senses felt sharper, his body lighter—like he could move faster, hit harder.
Like he could do more.
He just had to let it out.
Cain charged. Dante didn't dodge this time. He met the attack head-on.
Their fists collided again, sending another shockwave through the training chamber. Cracks spiderwebbed along the walls. The lights above flickered. But neither of them held back.
Cain twisted, bringing up a devastating knee. Dante blocked, but the impact rattled his bones. He retaliated with a sharp elbow to Cain's shoulder—then spun, slamming his foot into Cain's side.
Cain grunted, staggering, but instead of retreating—he laughed.
"More," Cain growled. "Push past it."
Dante's golden energy flared, rising like fire. His heart pounded. His body burned. But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Cain attacked again—faster, stronger, relentless. But Dante wasn't just keeping up. He was surpassing him.
Each strike was more precise. Each movement sharper.
Until suddenly—
Cain swung.
Dante didn't move out of the way.
He moved through it.
A split second before impact, something inside him shifted. His form blurred—just for an instant—as if the space around him had bent. And when he reappeared—
He was behind Cain.
Cain barely had time to widen his eyes before Dante's fist connected with his back, sending him flying across the chamber.
Silence.
Dante stood there, chest rising and falling, his hand still tingling from the strike. He looked down at himself. His veins pulsed with golden light—but it wasn't just light.
The air around him was distorting.
Like reality itself was bending to his will.
Cain groaned from where he lay on the ground, but when he sat up, he didn't look angry. Or surprised.
He looked thrilled.
"Well, damn," Cain said, grinning. "Looks like you finally broke through."
Dante flexed his fingers, feeling the power still thrumming beneath his skin. He didn't know exactly what had happened just now—
But he knew one thing for sure.
He wasn't the same anymore.
He was something more.
And the world was about to find out just how much.
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End of Chapter 29.