The screen glowed softly, the glow of blue text flickering across Dante's face, as another message came, this time to inform him as such. "Character Sheet Completed." His guide told him, before saying. "Only one step remains: bestow a name upon your ambition."
Dante blinked, leaning back in his chair as the words etched themselves into his vision. "A name for my ambition, huh? So not just me… my goal too?" He muttered.
Before he could type, a new text scrolled across the monitor, smoother than before, almost conversational."Correct. I am Virgil by the way, you don't need to keep calling just by the name of the guide. My purpose is singular: to see you reach the pinnacle of your desire, as a Free Soul."
Dante raised a brow. "Virgil, huh? So what, you're like my tutorial AI? My Navi? My.... he stopped himself with a half teasing smile. "Forget it. I guess the bigger question is… what exactly do you think my ambition is?"
The cursor blinked. Then Virgil asked plainly. "How the fuck am I supposed to know that, anyways just ask yourself this question. What do you want to achieve in this new life, Dante?" Virgil responded bluntly to his words.
Dante stared at the screen for a long moment, fingers tapping idly against the desk. The seriousness of the question didn't feel cosmic, in simpler terms the system or this AI assistant would be a better way to describe it, didn't asked the question with the level of seriousness most common MC's would answer like, I want more power, or to become a God, or to protect those close to me, more did it not feel like one of those moments where you scream about ruling the world. Instead, he found himself speaking without hesitation.
"I don't want to rule anything really, even if I am an Outer Spirit as you said." Dante said flatly. "I don't care about domination, or crowns, or kingdoms, woman, richest, power beyond imagination, or none of those typical things really. I just… I just want people to play my games. To love them. To lose themselves in them the same way I did when I was a kid. That's it." His voice dipped quieter at the end, almost embarrassed by the simplicity of it. And Virgil's answer came back sharp and immediate.
"Then so be it. Your ambition is set: to create games beloved across Purgatory. I exist for no other reason than to ensure you achieve this." For the first time since waking in the void, Dante felt the words hit his chest like something real. His lips twitched into a crooked grin. "Guess I finally got a loyal fan, huh?"
But before he could laugh at his own joke, the text shifted again. "Now that is out of the way, let get down to business right away, first of all, I need you to be aware, Dante. That for some time now, someone has been trying to reach you." Dante blinked, his grin fading. "Wait...what? Reach me? How the hell could anyone even know I exist? My name, my… honorary title… I was literally just born, wasn't I?"
The screen stuttered once, then answered came. "She does not know your True Name. She knows only what you are, a spirit, through some desperate measure to aquire power. This girl did something rather stupid, she has no affinity for Spirit's at all, henceforth unable to become a Spirit Warrior." Explain Virgil. "Through a Curse Item, she is doing a Calling Ritual at the price of her own Lifespan."
The monitor's glow dimmed, then brightened, as data upon his so call summoner etched itself into existence on the screen.
[Identity Detected]
Name: Beatrice Artabell
Age: 23
Date of Birth: October 23rd, CT-322
Ethnicity: British
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Current Year: CT-345
Current Location: City #14 – Malwood
[Background Information]
Status: Third daughter of Cole Artabell the head of the Arabell Syndicate.
Affiliation: Arabell Crime Family — one of the strongest Mafia houses in the 7th Circle.
Designation: Black Sheep — ostracized within her own bloodline for her defiance and independence, extremely prideful despite being weak.
Reputation: Unstable, unpredictable, and often underestimated.
Threat Level: Pitifully Low (You No Cap One-Shot her)
Potential: Extremely High
This was the information of the woman that has been trying to call for a Spirit even if it was a low level one.
But that aside as Dante keep on reading, he saw a lot of familiarities to Dante Alighieri Divine comedy.
For one Virgil as his guide, also something call the 7th Circle, as such Dante began to wonder if the 7th Circle is anything like the 7th Circle of Hell Dante Alighieri's Work which should be the Circle of Violence. As such he called it out. "Say Virgil, why is everything in this world a direct reference to the Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, like your Name, and Beatrice Affiliation to the 7th Circle. Also you mentioned Purgatory earlier, is this really Purgetory like in the Divine Comedy?"
Virgil then replied. "Yes and No, this place is another World from your old one that operates on a completely different system of order, when your soul roam the cradle you yourself entered here, naturally as a Free Soul, you picked the World that aligns with you the most among the Countless Worlds out there within the Cradle, your Soul felt the most attracted to this world." Virgil explained then continued. "Which is a World with similar names, themes, and behavior from the Divine Comedy, not exactly or directly of course, but close enough to the point you where drawn to this place."
"I see, so this is a different place than the original Purgatory?" Asked Dante. "That is Correct Administrator." Virgil replied instantly.
"Like I said this world is called Purgatory. It is divided into Seven Realms. The 7th Circle belongs to the Humans. They are the weakest race."
"Ohhh... Dante said amuse, excited even. "So there other races apart from the Negative Spirit's and humans, and I guess vampire too, I heard you mentioned them earlier."
"Naturally." Said Virgil, and Dante leaned closer to the screen, muttering. "So in a cliche way, Humans are the weakest in this world huh!?"
"Afraid so." Virgil said and continued without pause. "Humans hold the lowest World Rank. Currently at #7. They are fractured, unguided, and without an a Singular Leader to unify them. Their reliance on democracy keeps them divided, while other races exploit their weakness. Thus, humans are treated as prey, and as a joke race among the seven. To the other races who have greater master over their Spirit Arts. They use humans as a Negativity farms to fuel the power of contract Spirit within the stronger realms. The Human World festers with more Negative Spirits than any other as a result, making it a cesspool compared to its betters."
Dante exhaled slowly at this news. "…So basically, it is the shittiest neighborhood in all of Purgatory."
"You couldn't have said it any better than Lord Administrator." Hearing this Dante rubbed his temple in slight frustration, but just just his worries as he said. "Alright, fine. Then humor me, who the hell sits above us? What are the other races?"
The text answered like a scripture being recited.
[World Rank #7: Humans — Inhabitants of the 7th Circle]
[World Rank #6: Ghouls — Inhabitants of the 6th Circle]
[World Rank #5: Warlocks — Inhabitants of the 5th Circle]
[World Rank #4: Fallen — Inhabitants of the 4th Circle]
[World Rank #3: Jötnar — Inhabitants of the 3rd Circle]
[World Rank #2: Weavers — Inhabitants of the 2nd Circle]
[World Rank #1: Vampires — Inhabitants of the 1st Circle. Strongest among the Seven Great Races]
Dante whistled low, his mind snagging on the last one. "Figures in a lot of video game media... Vampires where always at the top of the food chain. Guess all those blood art threats weren't a bluff, when you said they could even banished something like me, but realistically speaking I have no idea just how strong I am."
The cursor blinked twice before Virgil added. "Well that basically all the information I was born with. If you wish to learn more of the world, you must walk it yourself. At my creation, I was granted only the bare minimum knowledge to guide you. Exploration is inevitable, Administrator."
Dante leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing at the faint hum of the monitor. "So… Beatrice Artabell, huh? A mafia black sheep from the weakest realm in Purgatory, how fascinating, very well then Virgil. Can you tell me how I can appear before her."
"You don't need to, she is just a weak human with zero resistance against your abilities. Just imagine her here, and you can bring her soul conscious mind by force. Here let me play a live feed for you, since I slow down time in the seventh circle from your perspective, she is still in the process of the Calling." Said Virgil as a screen appearing shown a large bust woman. Kneeling down around a complex looking magic circle of some sorts.
"Please, even if it is a low level one, I just need one to answer, I am not smart, I am not strong, and I am not talented, and I have nothing worth while to offer, but I asked you ohh spirit to make a contract with me, I can't stand that bitch, my pride and pettiness cannot allow it... All I have is determination. So come out, show yourself already, and answer my call."