The more and more he tried to make the final push, the worse and louder the voice got. His hand was simultaneously pushed in by the force of his own and pushed away by the pictures of those who had looked up to him.

"Come on...come on!"

He tried to force it forward again and again but in vain. The blade just refused to go forward. It refused to end his pain and what he thought brought pain on to others.

His eyes though watery still refused to shed a single tear as his mouth refused to let out an ever-so-silent voice. And then, like he used to always do, he channeled the only emotion she could show out to the world. The only thing he was taught and thought himself was worth being pushed out of him. Anger...

"Just...screw this!" he tossed his sword to the ground, pinning it in the earth itself, "Can't even do that...what's it worth even? Can't take this shit..."

He panted and sighed as he looked at his sword. He knew at that point what he tried to really do. It dawned on him about how everything piled to the boiling point.

Dante let out a long sigh. "Hah...doesn't even matter. I've still got a duty. I..." he kept on thinking about the others. "Everyone...not yet."

As he slowed his breathing and regretted a choice he had even thought of taking he went ahead and picked up his sword.

Wiping the dust and dirt off the edge, he saw the one thing he hated, reflected on the shinning silver. Gritting his teeth, he knew nothing could be done, other than placing it back in its sheath. He looked back at his homeland, only for the reflection of the sun's rays to fade away. The sky was starting to fill with the dark clouds of rain. Snapping out of his trance state, he began his descend from the fields down to the city. Not before long, he averted his attention from the path once ahead, when he felt a small speck of dust, coming across his cheek.

He wiped away the dust off his face, "Hmm? What the..." he looked up.

Not before long, he realized that the so thought clouds of rain were but a mere disguise for the dark reality. Smog. He looked back to the Twin Peaks to see legions upon legions of Silver Lance forces moving cohesively back towards the city. Behind him, one such soldier swiftly avoided him, retaining his calm as it was custom of his rank.

"Commander. We've been breached from the Grande Porto Marittimo.", the Silver Lance perfectly held his composure.

"The harbor? Impossible!"

"I'm afraid so. Enemies are purring in from the base of the Twin Peaks as well since our retreat. It appears to be a correlated attack effort. What is our course of action from here?"

"Seal off the entrance to the harbor and get everyone out of there first. Regroup the Silver Lances and add 5 legions of 6000 each to the city entrance. How bad is the Grande Porto situation?" Dante regained his composure.

"Dire, sir. At least a hundred thousand in numbers from pure estimation."

"How the hell did a hundred thousand sneaks by our radar?!"

"I do not have an answer for that. However, they are rapidly increasing according to the HQ's report."

Dante stuttered for a moment before giving his answer. "The only way this could've been done is from the Grande Fiume. This can only mean one thing...insider."

"Sir. That is a major accusation."

"You don't say. Blow it. All of it."

"We need authentication from the leader of both the Golden Lances and the king to do so-", the Silver Lance soldier was interrupted by Dante.

"As your Commander and for the good of the people of Dirunon, I forcefully command you to blow up the Grande Porto right now! Evacuate everyone and make sure that there's not a single port left. They're already purring in, we might as well slow their ascend to the city. As soon as you blow it, move to regroup the legions in the city in a circular perimeter. At that point, you'll meet up with the Golden Lances Commander."

The Silver Lance soldier seemed to stutter. "Understood."

"What the hell happened?" Dante muttered to himself.

He dashed back to the city, only to see chaos and disarray left and right. People were screaming as Silver Lances combined with the forces of the Golden Lances took over them and stood their positions to protect them from the enemy.

"Both Silver Lances and Golden Lances at once? Dammit...this ain't good." he looked around.

His little sister running around with the typical banner of the Remedy Knights in her hands bumped into him. Following behind her were a number of innocent people, gushing behind the combined force's lines.

"B-Big bro! What's happening here?!"

"Little sis, I don't have time to explain." he drew his sword, standing before everyone, "Get back and run to Mom. By now she should be helping Frederick and Sisi to safety, so go for it, ok?!"

His little sister hesitated, "N-No! I'm not leaving you! I can help by healing-"

"If they wanted Dirunon down then big bro will already have his hands full up at the palace to buy time for everyone...please, go!"

She snapped out of it, "Alright...please..."

"I'll be safe. Now go."

As she ran towards the palace, she passed through soldiers and officers alike, trying desperately to reach the end goal.

Dante turned around to face the enemy.

"Spread out. Protective barrier against the back lines. 1-1 position and hold until further notice."

Upon finishing his words, the Silver Lances all began to take on the commanded formation.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kagh approached them.

"My job. Now back off into formation, officer." Dante angrily looked at him.

"Your job?! You think that spreading everyone out to get them slaughtered is a good plan?!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're trying to get us all killed! That's what I'm talking about!"

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"You dare go against my orders?" Dante raised his voice.

"Your orders?" Kagh scoffed, "What a load of bullshit. They let a goddamn 12-year-old run the greatest military force on the planet. Imagine how demented that sounds!" he yelled.

The Silver Lances paused for a brief instance, echoing Kagh's words.

"That same 12-year-old did not only take away that "precious position" of yours, but he's also been exposed to what real hell is like." he turned around to face Kagh.

Kagh scoffed. "You really think one operation would change it all? You're a kid! That's exactly what you Elisias did! You took over everything in the goddamn city. The Silver Lances by you, the Golden Lances by your brother...hell, you've even planted your little sister in the Remedy Knights, as that would matter, but it's never enough, is it?! You-ghyak!" Kagh was punched by Dante.

"Dare say one more thing about my sister you son of a bitch." he took on a murderous look.

"Like hell...that's exactly what you do. You take everything by force and when that's not enough, you use more force. But that was to be expected since Frederick is so attached to Elena..."

"Don't you even dare,"

"Or should I say...Cecilia. Cecilia Elisia. Elysium class Valkyrie and Omnipotent Blade of the Trail Blazers. That's exactly the reason why she's Frederick's weak spot. That's exactly the reason why you, your brother and your sister are the way you are...titles! All titles! No experience, no nothing!"

The Silver Lances looked at Dante, waiting for a resolution to the anxiety.

"I earned my title though nothing but hell. You have no right to decline my achievements and career for the past 4 years!" Dante yelled.

"Except those achievements were all processes and approved by the only person who has the permission to even give such positions in the first place. The king. And coincidentally, the two forms that applied for Silver Lance leadership were mine and none other than the son of Cecilia. What a coincidence."

Dante's eyes widened, "You're full of shit..."

"One operation, privately trained 12-year-old that lived to see himself in such position when the minimum age for this is 16. Again... a coincidence. You've been grown and brainwashed to believe you are some kind of savior when all you are is a spoiled brat, fed with the silver spoon that drives this entire family!"

"And you're better?! You'd have taken a shit on everything around you had that position landed in your hands! You're only eternally ashamed a 12-year-old took that from you!" Dante yelled back.

"Oh, really? Well, let's put that to the test, shall we?" he turned around, "Silver Lances, you have two options! The aforementioned is given to you by this "Commander" of yours. Or to take on a triangle formation, followed by the nearby bastions. Take on assaulting stances and push them all back! Save both the citizens and the city!"

The Silver Lances all pondered for a moment, looking at both Kagh and Dante without saying a word, such was their oath.

"You have no idea what you're doing! If you make such a configuration then-", Dante looked at the Silver Lances, "No...Way."

The brave soldiers began to ignore Dante's command as they started to shift themselves into the position proposed to them by Kagh, forging a triangular formation to the front and two bastions to the side, preparing for an assault against the enemy instead of laying a defensive position.

"There's your answer, little thief of roles." Kagh whispered to Dante, "Now without further hesitation. Lances of pure silver that reflect the soul, protectors of Victoria and glorious army of the wide world of Zero. Take back what's ours! Push the enemy back to the harbor and destroy them!"

"Not the harbor, it's set to be blown up!"

"What?!" Kagh yelled at Dante, evilly smiling to the side.

"It was the plan to forcefully stop their advance! You'll kill everyone!"

"What do you mean?! Kill everyone?! You traitor! You were going to make the city's glorious harbor fade to smithereens?! Traitor!"

Dante stuttered, realizing what Kaghs plan was, "Shit...", he whispered as he looked at the Silver Lances, "Hmph!", he started running behind them.

"Get him!"

The Silver Lances, now losing their full faith in Dante, began advancing forward to assault the enemy, while those in the back began hostile movements to catch Dante. He grabbed onto a nearby ladder and bounced off the walls towards the rooftop of a building. He began jumping from rooftop to rooftop, rapidly avoiding arrows and lances thrown his way before he covered enough ground towards the main city plaza. Narrowly avoiding capture, Dante looked behind him to see the advancement of his own men towards the enemy and from his bird's eye view, he saw what he feared most. People retreated rapidly towards the castle's safety where the Golden Lances were stationed, accompanied by rows of Enmities and Shadowers following behind the innocent, as they leaked between the newly formed Silver Lances lines.

"No time to ponder on traitors now, attack!" Kagh commanded.

The Silver Lances then began their slow advancements towards the harbor under their new command.

"God dammit, Kagh! The people! The Remedy Knights can only go so far behind...wait-", he gazed down upon the fleeing squads of the Remedy Knights, "Sister!"

He began dashing his way down the rooftops, hurrying to the position his little sister had brought herself in.

"Come on everyone, hurry!" his little sister desperately tried to push everyone back to safety.

"Sister Knight! My daughter! Please!" a woman cried looking at Dante's little sister

Looking to the front, a little girl cried as she looked around left and right, running desperately and trying to find a way out of the ongoing barrage of bullets, spears and arrows.

"Stay here! I'll go!" his little sister dashed at the front.

She dashed into the danger, ignoring every single thing that came in her harm's way, locking her eyes specifically on the little girl in front of her. She hugged the girl as she twisted around her, putting her body in front of the fire to cover her up.

"It's ok. You're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you. I'm here to help!" she pats the girl's head, calming her down.

Her words echoed in the battlefield, it summoned a hoard of Enmities and Shadowers around her, surrounding her and the girl as they tried to hunt them down.

"Miss Sister Knight!" the girl cried.

"Oh no..." Dante's little sister placed her hand on her sword, "I-I...I don't think I-"

She gazed around at the monsters, afraid to both make a move and of what move the enemy would do next. She tightened her grasp on her sword as if in the next few moments, a slash dividing heaven and earth would be the one to save them from obscurity. But instead, the freezing fear of looming doom took over her body.