S830I1
Shoot, ya sure this is everything y'all got?
He's overwhelmingly powerful.
So this is a Capo of the Thumb... and one of the Ten Blades of the East.
I had to admit it. We simply don't have enough power to defeat him yet... especially with him coming at us with the intent to kill.
That sword... Just as enticing as always.
I think back to one of our previous battles... Don Quixote of La Manchaland. He was undeniably a more powerful foe than Lei Heng.
There's a significant gulf of power between them two, I can sense it.
But we're struggling against him so much more...
... because unlike Don Quixote, this guy's actually trying to kill us.
His jocular demeanor seems to imply that to him, this was just another day at work, but...
... he's got no intentions of toying with us... he's going for the kill.
Didn't know that could make this much of a difference.
There was so much that separated him from the rest of us - his sheer physical strength, experience and skill, not to mention the powerful armor and the apparently famous weapon...
All of that combined into one became a wall that stood between us and our goal.
At least...
If we can somehow fight on equal ground...
Dante... What... should we try next?
Hong Lu asks with a slightly exhausted voice, but...
... he is smiling still.
That's strange.
Hong Lu's never been the first one to ask the questions or share his opinions with the rest of us.
He'd reply to others' questions, or share a few detached observations when we were at an impasse, but...
<Hong Lu.>
This is probably a bad time to ask him this, but...
I had a burning question that needed to be answered.
<Why... did you ask that?>
<I mean, what I'm asking is - hm.>
<Whatever I'm throwing at him doesn't seem to be working, and while I can keep bringing you guys back...>
I think... I think I know what you mean.
But... I don't really know why I asked.
That was an odd thing to say, but Hong Lu's expression did not seem confused or complicated at all.
His eyes carried that sense of freedom of someone looking far off into the distant horizon.
I felt the window open slightly ajar in a dark, stuffy room.
Muffled noises have finally found a place to go, and a pleasant breeze has drifted through my room...
... and it carried me away to someplace else, little by little.
His eyes focus on me.
Maybe that wind is why I became curious of your thoughts... and why I asked you about them, Dante.
<... But...>
<I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what more I can do to get past this monster...>
Dante.
When you said you wanted me to make the decision...
... did you expect that it would be this difficult?
<... No. I didn't. Not like this.>
Then, did you think that this task would be nothing more than a breeze?
<... Of course not.>
But you gave me a chance to choose for myself anyway.
<That's...>
<That's because I had faith that it was the right thing to do.>
<…!>
Hehe.
You already know, don't you?
I didn't have a clue as to what Hong Lu was going to do, but...
... I believed that his choice would be correct.
That's why he...
Even if you feel lost, even if you're not sure of our options now, Dante...
... I have faith that you will be able to find a different path.
That's what the gentle breeze whispered to me as it tickled my back.
... That's why Hong Lu trusted me.
Very well... then.
<Under mercy, all shall be made equal...>
Huhh...? Hwat in tarnation...?
<By entering a contract with me, the Sinners' strengths were all raised up or dragged down to a similar level... despite the disparity before that.>
<If we're in an unfair fight... all we need to do is level the playing field.>
Hah! No darn clue just what happened, but ya sure are keepin' this interesting.
Some kinda trick to bring me down to y'all's level, huh?
Now that's mighty unfair. Though, when the goin' gets tough, I get ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Awrighty then. Let's keep this rollin'.
... So, have you decided what you want to do, Dante?
<Yeah. >
<Time for round two.>