Chapter 483: Something Strong (Part. I)

The sound of footsteps echoed steadily through the tall trees of the forest. The wind blew softly, carrying with it the scent of damp leaves, moss, and dried blood—a constant reminder that this place was not just an ordinary forest, but a testing ground, where every living creature seemed forged to kill or be killed.

Vergil walked unhurriedly, the Yamato sheathed at his waist, as if no danger around him was worthy of even quickening his pace. Above him, the scene seemed almost cartoonish: Zuri lay on his neck like a lazy child, arms loosely at her sides, observing everything with bright eyes. Titania, smaller, sat on his right shoulder, dangling her delicate feet in the air, like a mischievous fairy who had found a comfortable resting place.

Ahead, Vanny and Rize walked side by side. Vanny walked steadily, muscles pulsing beneath her tanned skin, her fists clenched as if at any moment she wanted to break something just to feel the impact. Rize, on the other hand, moved more smoothly, almost feline, webs dangling discreetly from her fingers, ready to be used as blades or whips if anything dared cross their path.

The contrast was stark: two sharp, brutal warriors clearing the way, while behind them, Vergil walked as if on an ordinary afternoon, carrying two small companions like living ornaments.

It was Vergil who broke the silence first, his voice low but clear:

“You’re quite calm for someone who claimed to hate me,” he said, not looking at Titania.

The fairy looked up at him, a wry smile forming on her tiny lips.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, Vergil,” she replied, swaying her feet. “Lucifer is dead. Holding a grudge would be foolish.”

Vergil raised an eyebrow, curious at her coldness.

“Hm,” he murmured, returning his gaze to the front. “So hatred evaporates with the fall of a king?”

Titania shrugged, her expression calm, but with an undertone of melancholy she couldn’t hide.

“Hate exists to move, not to chain. And in the end, chaining yourself to a dead man is a waste of time.”

Zuri laughed, her voice light as she rocked lazily against Vergil’s neck.

“Funny you should say that,” she said teasingly. “Because a few months ago you didn’t think so. You were arrogant, reminding yourself every second that Vergil had stolen your freedom.”

Titania looked away, her green eyes staring at the trees ahead.

“That was before.”

“Before I saw him raising Vanny?” Zuri added, the provocation dripping like poisonous honey.

Titania didn’t answer immediately. She took a deep breath, her small body rising and falling slightly. Finally, he turned to face Zuri and stared at her.

“Maybe,” he admitted.

Zuri gave a mischievous smile.

“So it’s fear?”

Vergil smiled slightly at the question. He didn’t interrupt. He was curious to hear the answer.

Titania narrowed her eyes at Zuri, but there was no anger there, just a strange, resigned calm.

“No,” he replied firmly. “It’s not fear.”

“Then what?” Zuri tilted her head like an insistent child. “Because, let’s face it, you’re quite… docile.”

Titania crossed her arms, her feet stopping to dangle for a few seconds.

“It’s recognition,” she said finally.

The words fell through the air like a stone in a pond, creating silent ripples.

Vergil turned his eyes to her, curious.

“Recognition?”

“Yes,” Titania stated, her voice firm despite her diminutive size. “I still don’t understand everything you want, Vergil. And I still think you’re a cold monster. But… when I saw you take something as raw as Vanny and transform it into someone… someone who speaks, who thinks, who fights… I realized. You’re not just destruction. You build.”

Vergil stared at her for a few seconds, the silence heavy, and then let out a barely perceptible sigh.

“Hm,” he murmured, returning his gaze forward. “Building requires discipline. And discipline requires deep cuts.”

Zuri gave a wry smile.

“Look… even the most stubborn fairy in the forest is starting to see sense in our dear executioner.”

Titania sighed, tired of the teasing.

“You can joke all you want, Zuri. But I saw it. And once I saw it, I can’t ignore it.”

Ahead, Rize and Vanny had paused for a moment, watching the trail split into two paths. A silent exchange of glances between them revealed the tension still present, but under the weight of Vergil’s criticism, they both waited for the order.

Vergil raised his hand slightly, pointing to the left.

“Left,” he ordered curtly.

The two nodded and resumed their march, now in sync, the contrast of their earlier rivalry replaced by a strange shared rhythm.

Titania looked forward again, her face softened by the shadow of the trees.

“Maybe I’ll never stop hating you, Vergil,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But now I understand that my hatred changes nothing. The world has already changed. And if I stay stuck in the past, I’ll be nothing but dust.”

The forest seemed denser with each step. The treetops closed in on them, diminishing the light, until the brightness became only a greenish filter that barely reached the ground covered in twisted roots. The distant sound of creatures moving had disappeared, as if the jungle itself had held its breath.

Vergil walked in silence, his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if nothing in the surroundings were worthy of real attention. Vanny walked with her body slightly bent forward, her fists clenched, energy emanating from her in almost palpable waves. Rize, on the other hand, moved like a shadow, her fingers relaxed, but her webs flickered discreetly in the air, reflecting the little light that escaped between the leaves.

Zuri, lying on Vergil’s neck, yawned loudly, almost bored.

“It’s getting boring again,” she grumbled. “No monsters to play with, no ambushes to laugh at… it’s just tree, tree, tree…”

Titania, silent until then, stopped swaying. Her eyes narrowed, her small body stiffening as if shot through with an electric current.

“Stop,” she said, her voice clipped, carrying an unusual gravity.

Vergil didn’t immediately break stride, but he tilted his face slightly toward her, as if measuring the weight of it. Vanny and Rize froze in front of them, their eyes rolling back in warning.

“What now?” Zuri asked, narrowing her eyes. “Another one of those stupid creatures you love to dramatize?”

Titania didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes vibrated more intensely, as if reflecting something invisible to the others. The forest was too quiet, but the silence was unusual: it was heavy, suffocating, almost as if the air had acquired a consistency.

“No…” he murmured, his voice rising immediately, firm. “This is no ordinary enemy.”

Vergil stopped. The simple act of pausing his steps made the ground creak.

“Explain,” he ordered, without raising his voice.

Titania placed a small hand on his shoulder, as if needing anchoring to keep from being dragged by the invisible pressure that only she seemed to feel.

“Something… very strong,” she said, her breathing slightly accelerated. “It’s not like the beasts you tore apart. It’s different. More… ancient. It’s just ahead.”

Vany snapped her fingers, her expression lighting up with something close to excitement.

“Strong enough not to explode with one punch? Finally,” she said, flashing a feral smile.

Rize, beside her, arched an eyebrow, the strands of webbing sliding between her fingers.

“You always want to break something,” he retorted, but his tone also held interest. “But if even Titania is trembling, maybe you won’t be able to do it that easily.”

Titania turned to face them both, irritated.

“Idiots. This isn’t a joke. I’m not exaggerating.” His voice was serious, more so than usual. “This is much stronger than anything we’ve ever encountered.”

Zuri chuckled softly, resting her chin on Vergil’s shoulder.

“Wow. Now I’m actually curious,” she said mockingly. “If the brat from the forest is warning you that she’s too strong… then this might be fun.”