Tap, tap, tap…
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the highest floor of the Chamber of Descent. This was the Pope's favorite haunt, where he could stand mere feet from the completed "Savior."
The upper half of the Savior loomed above the platform, a colossal bust adorned with gold and sapphires, radiating divine majesty. But it was all a lie—a gilded shell hiding the grotesque demonic flesh within.
Even so, Pope Sanctus, leader of the Order of the Sword, was obsessed with this place. The towering statue was the culmination of his seventeen-year reign, a fixation that spanned half a century. Now, with the Savior complete, Gloria had delivered Sparda's sword, and two of the three components needed to activate the statue were in his grasp. All that remained was the blood of Sparda.
Sanctus had been sweating bullets over capturing the world's most formidable demon hunter. That man wielded an arsenal of powerful relics and a strength that dwarfed even Credo, the Order's knight captain. For a time, Sanctus thought it an impossible task.
But shortly after securing Sparda's sword, he stumbled upon a revelation: Credo's adopted sister, Nero, likely carried Sparda's blood. At sixteen, her age lined up perfectly with the arrival of that mysterious man in Fortuna years ago. She could very well be his posthumous child.
Looking back, Sanctus still felt a thrill recalling that man's otherworldly beauty, his cold, enigmatic aura, and his overwhelming power. No wonder he'd seduced an unwed Fortuna girl in this conservative town, leaving behind a daughter.
Better yet, the man—though a son of Sparda—never flaunted his lineage. The girl's family, too ashamed to admit her unwed pregnancy, left the newborn at an orphanage under cover of night. Everything fell into place perfectly.
Sanctus stroked his beard, a sly grin creeping across his face.
Compared to the infamous Dante, Nero was far less seasoned. As a Fortuna native with loved ones to protect, she was an easy target to capture and control.
Truly, a gift from the heavens. In less than a week, both Sparda's sword and his heir had practically walked into Sanctus' hands. It was as if fate itself was cheering him on to become ruler of the world, to purge its corruption.
The footsteps grew closer. Sanctus stood calmly and asked, "Did you get her?"
"Mission accomplished," came the reply.
Two figures emerged from the elevator. Gloria led the way, with Agnus in his demonic form trailing behind, an unconscious Nero slung over his shoulder.
"…"
Credo, standing behind the Pope, watched them approach, his breathing growing heavier. His hand, hidden behind his back, clenched briefly but stayed still.
Gloria, who'd answered Sanctus, was seeing the Order's inner sanctum—and the Savior—for the first time. "So this is the 'Savior'? Gotta say, it lives up to the hype."
Agnus reverted to his human form, tossing Nero to the ground before bowing deeply. "Your Holiness, the girl is here. Yamato is still inside her, and it's… it's been restored."
The good news kept coming. Sanctus suppressed the urge to cackle triumphantly. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Sparda's sword from the Savior. Using the resonance between the weapons, he called forth Yamato from Nero's body.
Stirred by an unseen force, Nero snapped awake. Her chest glowed faintly, and before she could react, Yamato slipped free, flying straight to Sanctus' hand.
"Wait—!" Nero reached out, but it was too late. Sanctus gripped Yamato and motioned for Agnus to take it.
This blade was a cornerstone of the Order's plan. The "Savior" could only rise when the world needed saving. And to plunge the world into crisis, Yamato was about to play its part.
Fortuna, once ruled by the demon swordsman Sparda, housed a genuine Hell Gate sealed by his hand—not one of Agnus' cheap knockoffs. This was a true portal that could unleash a demonic invasion.
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With Yamato in hand, they could open that gate, letting demons flood the human world. Then, at the critical moment, the Savior would emerge, vanquish the demons, and bring humanity to its knees in worship.
This was Sanctus' first step toward world domination.
Nero struggled to stand, but Gloria pinned her down. Leaning close, she whispered, "Shh, stay quiet for a bit."
Sanctus glanced at Gloria and Nero, a sneer curling his lip, before handing Yamato to Agnus. "Go. Complete the plan."
Agnus' hands trembled with excitement as he reached for the blade, bowing low. "Y-Yes, Your Holiness!"
Sanctus kept his eyes on Gloria, and Agnus' head was lowered. In that unguarded moment, Credo moved.
A gleaming, holy sword flashed toward Sanctus' back. By the time the Pope noticed, the blade was already biting into him. Unable to reclaim Yamato, Sanctus vanished in a burst of golden light, leaving Agnus alone.
"Go," Gloria said with a soft chuckle, releasing Nero.
Nero sprang into action, her sights set on Agnus, who stood frozen with Yamato. "Give it back!"
With a yelp, Agnus morphed into his demon form, ready to flee. But Nero lashed out with Echidna, snaring Yamato in its grip.
Credo struck again, flashing in front of Agnus and swinging his sword down, forcing Agnus to abandon the blade and retreat.
Sanctus reappeared atop the Savior's head, his face twisted with fury. "You've betrayed us, Credo!"
"You betrayed our ideals," Credo shot back, his voice icy as he leveled his sword at Sanctus. "You promised the righteous would have a place in the 'ideal world,' as our scriptures foretold.
"But you broke that vow. Kyrie and Nero are beloved by the faithful, yet you would sacrifice their lives."