NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 10: Beneath the Red Skies
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Red Grave City had fallen into a state of abject ruin. What was once a sprawling metropolis—teeming with life and energy—had been transformed into a desolate battleground, its crumbling streets echoing with the sounds of war and despair. Yet, as if the relentless onslaught of demonic forces were not enough, something far more sinister had begun to fester at the city's very core.
The battle had shifted deeper into the heart of Red Grave, where the very environment seemed to rebel against the natural order. The sky above was a constant, blood-red expanse, churning with swirling, chaotic energy. Buildings that had once stood as proud symbols of civilization now writhed as if alive, their structures twisting unnaturally in the unholy light. An oppressive, palpable presence weighed upon the city—a corruption that seeped into every stone and shattered window.
Amid this eerie devastation advanced the unyielding figures of the Doom Slayer, Dante, Nero, and Vergil. The trio trailed the silent warrior at a cautious distance as they navigated the shattered remains of the urban sprawl. Though united by the need to combat the demonic incursion, each fighter sensed that something about the city felt… different. There was an underlying pulse, a malignant rhythm that hinted at a deeper rot—one that was not the simple result of battle, but of a corrupting force consuming the very fabric of reality.
Ahead of them stretched a shattered highway, its cracked asphalt and ruined overpasses leading inexorably toward the heart of the city. The red skies cast eerie, elongated shadows over the ruins, while faint, ghostly whispers slithered through the wind as if the very air was trying to speak of its own damnation.
Dante broke the uneasy silence, his voice edged with both curiosity and concern as he surveyed the shifting panorama. "Alright, does anyone else feel like the city's lookin' a little… different?" His tone was light at first, but his eyes betrayed the worry hidden beneath his usual cavalier demeanor.
Nero, his expression grim beneath the weight of the situation, nodded slowly. "Yeah… it's not just wrecked. It's—changing." His hand gripped the hilt of Red Queen tighter as he tried to steady himself against the tremors that ran through the ground.
Vergil stepped forward, his gaze fixed on a nearby building that seemed to pulse with an almost organic rhythm. He reached out and laid a hand on its surface. To his astonishment, the concrete shifted under his touch, the hard, cold material softening and pulsing like flesh before snapping back into rigid stone. His eyes narrowed, and in a measured tone he stated, "This isn't mere destruction… It's corruption."
The environment itself was betraying its true nature. The very city was being twisted by a malign force that seeped from beneath the ground. Sensing something amiss, the Doom Slayer moved forward deliberately, his heavy boots crunching on broken glass and debris. His HUD flickered with alerts—unusual energy signatures were being detected far below the surface. The Slayer's gloved hand tightened around his Super Shotgun, each step measured as he surveyed the distorted landscape.
Deep within his mind, a silent, relentless analysis unfolded:
Environmental Shift Detected: Demonic Corruption Spreading
Threat Source: Below Ground Level
Elimination Method: Identify Core > Neutralize Infestation
Before any of his companions could voice further concerns, the ground beneath them shuddered violently. With a deafening rumble, the pavement split open, and from the widening fissure erupted a massive growth—a grotesque fusion of blackened stone and oozing, pulsating flesh. Tendrils, as thick as arms, twisted upward, their surfaces slick with unholy ichor. The sight was both mesmerizing and repulsive—a physical manifestation of the corruption that had taken root in the city's core.
Out of the gathering gloom, from the shadows of the shattered buildings, new creatures emerged. These were no ordinary demons; they were warped hybrids—monstrous amalgamations of Doom's brutal Hellspawn and the arcane, otherworldly abominations of DMC's Underworld. Their forms defied logic, fusing Hell's raw physicality with a twisted semblance of dark magic inherited from Sparda's legacy. Every step they took exuded a primal, predatory aggression as they converged on the intruders.
Nero cursed under his breath. "Oh, great. New freaks to deal with." His voice carried a mix of exasperation and determination, the weight of an already overwhelming battle growing heavier with each new threat.
Dante's usual cocky grin faded into a wry smirk as he brandished Ebony & Ivory. "Man, these guys just don't quit, huh? Guess we'll just have to break in the new guy a little more!" His tone was irreverent, but even he couldn't hide a spark of concern behind his humor.
The newly spawned demons charged forward, their bodies shifting and contorting with every step—a fluid, nightmarish dance of aggression. One such creature, its limbs ending in razor-sharp talons, lunged at the Doom Slayer with a savage snarl. But before it could land a hit, the Slayer's Doomblade was already a blur of motion. With an expert swing, he drove the blade deep into the creature's skull, ending its assault in a single, decisive moment.
Not long after, another beast roared—a hybrid that seemed to draw on both raw demonic power and twisted sorcery. It began to channel a magic attack, its eyes aglow with sinister energy. But the Doom Slayer, ever vigilant, instantly pulled out his Ballista. A charged shot streaked across the distance, piercing through the creature's torso and scattering its form into a cloud of unrecognizable fragments.
As the frenetic battle raged on, Dante and Vergil fought side by side against the relentless tide of lesser demons, their combined efforts a stark contrast to the unyielding efficiency of the Slayer. The environment around them continued to warp—the ground cracked beneath their feet, fissures widening as if the city itself were bleeding. Then, amid the cacophony of destruction, a horrifying revelation unfolded. The earth itself began to split open, and from the deepest chasm emerged a pulsing, demonic heart. It throbbed with an ominous red light, its rhythmic beat echoing like a death knell throughout Red Grave City. This was the source—the core of the corruption that was turning the city inside out.
Vergil's eyes narrowed as he took in the terrible sight. "The city itself is being consumed," he observed in a hushed tone, his voice heavy with foreboding. "If we don't find the core and put an end to this corruption, Red Grave will cease to exist."
Without a moment's hesitation, the Doom Slayer adjusted his stance. His HUD continued to flash warnings of unprecedented energy levels emanating from below. Reloading his Super Shotgun with a determined click, he turned his attention toward the yawning fissure in the road—a dark, swirling abyss that beckoned him into its depths. Without any words, he stepped forward, then leaped into the chasm, disappearing into the abyss below.
For a heartbeat, time seemed to pause. Dante, Nero, and Vergil exchanged troubled glances. The silence among them was heavy with the realization that the corruption was not a mere surface infestation—it had taken root deep within the earth, and it was now up to the Slayer to confront it head-on. Hesitant yet resolute, the trio began to follow, their steps echoing against the fractured concrete as they descended into the unknown.
As they advanced, the oppressive darkness below was broken only by the pulsing glow of the demonic heart and the occasional flash of unstable energy. Every footstep on the corrupted ground sent tremors through the subterranean labyrinth. It was here, in the bowels of Red Grave City, that the true extent of the demonic corruption was revealed—a malignant force that had been festering for centuries, now awakened and intent on consuming everything in its path.
Dante's voice broke the heavy silence, a mix of adrenaline and dark humor in his tone. "Well, this day just keeps getting better, doesn't it? I mean, if we wanted a haunted house, we could've picked a different neighborhood." Despite his bravado, his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern as he scanned the eerie surroundings.
Nero's grip on his weapon tightened, and he replied, "I'm with you, but this… this is something else entirely. It's like the city is alive—and it's dying." His tone was somber, aware that every moment they delayed could mean further entrenchment of the corruption.
Vergil, ever the silent observer, let his eyes roam over the undulating walls that seemed to pulse with dark energy. "This is no random occurrence," he murmured, his voice thoughtful. "It is a deliberate perversion of the city's essence. Whatever force lies at its core is intent on fusing this realm with something far more sinister."
In the distance, the rhythmic beating of the demonic heart grew louder—a relentless, thudding pulse that resonated through the dark corridors. The very ground underfoot vibrated with its terrible cadence. The trio could feel the weight of fate pressing upon them. The Slayer had taken the plunge into the abyss, and now they had no choice but to follow.
The demonic forces lurking in the shadows seemed to sense their approach. New creatures, more horrifying than any they had encountered above, emerged from the darkness. These were the minions of corruption—abominations born of both raw demonic power and twisted magical influence. Their forms were grotesque, their eyes burning with a malevolent hunger as they charged forward, intent on stopping the interlopers at any cost.
For a brief, tense moment, the three demon hunters steeled themselves for the onslaught. But even as the corrupted denizens advanced, there was an undeniable urgency to their mission. The heart of corruption was the source, the very core of the city's undoing, and if they failed to neutralize it, all of Red Grave would be lost.
The sounds of combat grew louder as Dante, Nero, and Vergil engaged the new horde. Their blades, guns, and demonic powers clashed against the twisted creatures in a symphony of violence that echoed off the stone walls. Amid the chaos, the Doom Slayer's earlier departure weighed heavily on their minds—a silent reminder that his mission was not yet complete.
In that dark, subterranean crucible, as the corrupted heart pulsed ominously and the battle raged around them, the stakes had never been higher. The fate of Red Grave City—and perhaps of entire worlds—hinged on what they would do next. The merging of demonic forces, the corruptive spread from deep within the earth, and the relentless drive of the Doom Slayer all converged into a singular, terrifying reality.
The path ahead was fraught with peril, but one truth remained: they had to confront the source of this corruption, no matter the cost. With grim determination, Dante, Nero, and Vergil exchanged one final, resolute glance before plunging deeper into the abyss—following the silent, unstoppable figure who had already taken the first step into the heart of darkness.
And somewhere below, the demonic forces stirred, their ancient, malevolent energies coalescing. The air was thick with anticipation, and as the trio descended, it became clear that what awaited them was far greater than any demon they had encountered before—a force that threatened to upend not only Red Grave City but the very fabric of their intertwined worlds.
Thus, beneath the blood-red skies, in the depths of a city being consumed by corruption, a new chapter in the battle for existence began. The Slayer had ventured into the heart of the abyss, and his allies now followed, uncertain of what lay ahead but driven by the shared resolve to save their realm—even if it meant facing an enemy that was as much a part of the city as the crumbling ruins themselves.
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If you like the story ! please support it
And the best way to do this is through patréon
You get access to +5 chapters ! form vergil !!
Or even 12+ chapters if you want ! from Dante!!
So please check out my patréon
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Don't forget to change "é" to "e"