The infernal halls of Hell quaked as King Yama stormed through the icy Ninth Circle, his crimson armor glowing faintly with the heat of his fury. Flames danced along the edges of his massive cloak, and his glowing amber eyes scanned the towering ice castle ahead.

Inside the castle, the atmosphere was anything but calm. Celestia, seated on a throne of frozen obsidian, was seething with anger. Her black hair, wild and untamed, framed a face that glowed with otherworldly beauty, though her eyes burned with fury. Around her, the maids tiptoed nervously, casting uneasy glances at their mistress and the newborn she held tightly in her arms.

"He’s adorable!" cooed one of the maids, trying to lighten the mood as she peeked at the baby. "Just look at his tiny fingers!"

Another maid whispered, "But… do you feel that power? It’s almost suffocating. How can something so small…?"

A third maid dared to mutter, "I’ve never felt anything like it. It’s as if… he’s greater than Hell itself."

The baby let out a soft gurgle, and a sudden pulse of energy rippled through the chamber. The maids staggered, clutching at the walls to steady themselves. One dared to laugh nervously, but the sound died the moment the chamber doors burst open with a deafening crash.

Yama strode in, his fiery gaze sweeping over the room. "Celestia! I—"

"YOU!" Celestia’s voice cracked like a whip, cutting him off. She rose to her feet, her celestial aura clashing violently with the infernal energy around her. "Where have you been, Yama? Do you know what I’ve just gone through?"

Yama blinked, caught off guard by her fury. "I was… handling matters in the upper circles."

Celestia’s eyes narrowed. "Handling matters? I heard you were playing with that blasted monkey again!"

Yama winced. "He’s a guardian spirit, Celestia. It’s… complicated."

"Complicated?" Celestia’s voice rose, and the baby let out a small cry as if in response to her anger. She quickly calmed him with a gentle touch, but her glare at Yama remained fierce. "Do you have any idea what’s happening here? Or out there?"

Yama straightened, his fiery presence flaring slightly. "Yes, I do. That’s why I’m here. Xeruo has returned."

The maids gasped, their faces turning pale. Celestia’s grip on the baby tightened. "Xeruo? You mean… the Ninth King?"

"The same," Yama confirmed grimly. "He’s been gathering power in the shadows, biding his time. He’s made his move, and Hell is in chaos."

"And you thought now was a good time to… play?" Celestia shot back, her voice dripping with incredulity.

Yama’s jaw clenched. "I wasn’t playing. I was securing alliances. Xeruo isn’t someone we can face unprepared."

Another ripple of energy pulsed from the baby, causing cracks to spread across the icy walls of the chamber. Yama’s gaze shifted to the child, his expression softening despite the tension in the room. "And yet, you chose to give birth here? In the midst of all this?"

"I didn’t exactly have a choice," Celestia snapped. "Dante decided it was time."

"Dante?" Yama’s eyes widened. "You named him without me?"

"Yes," Celestia said firmly, daring him to challenge her. "You weren’t here."

The maids, sensing the brewing storm, began to stifle nervous giggles. One whispered to another, "He’s definitely got his mother’s temper."

Yama’s sharp ears caught the comment, and he shot the maid a look. She immediately looked down, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

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"Fine," Yama said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Dante it is. But next time, I get a say."

Celestia rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Next time, try being here."

The baby’s soft coo interrupted the moment, drawing both their gazes. Yama stepped closer, peering down at the tiny figure. His fiery demeanor softened as he reached out a hand, hesitating before gently touching the baby’s cheek. The overwhelming power radiating from the child made him shiver.

"He’s strong," Yama murmured. "Too strong."

Celestia’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"His power isn’t just strong," Yama said, his tone grave. "It’s unrestrained. It borders on the X rank—a level even the Gods fear. If left unchecked, his very existence could destabilize the realms."

The room fell silent. The maids exchanged anxious glances, their earlier mirth replaced by unease.

Yama stepped back, his mind racing. "If his power is this immense now, imagine what will happen as he grows. And there’s something else..." He hesitated, as if unsure how to continue. "I felt a presence within him."

Celestia’s eyes widened. "A presence? What are you saying?"

Yama exhaled deeply. "Lucifer."

The name sent a ripple of shock through the room. The maids froze, some clutching at their chests as if the air had turned heavier. Celestia’s face paled. "That’s impossible. He’s bound to the depths of Hell… Isn’t he?"

"He was," Yama said grimly. "But Dante’s birth—his power—it’s fractured the bindings. Xeruo must be targeting the Ninth Circle to free him. If Lucifer escapes fully, he’ll bring chaos not just to Hell, but to Earth and Heaven as well."

Celestia clutched Dante tighter, her anger replaced by fear and determination. "Then what do we do?"

Yama’s gaze hardened. "We seal his power. Temporarily. Until he’s old enough to control it. And we trap Lucifer’s essence within him, where it can’t wreak havoc."

"Trap Lucifer? In our son?" Celestia’s voice trembled, a mix of outrage and desperation. "Do you understand the risk?"

"Do we have a choice?" Yama countered. "If we let Lucifer roam free, there won’t be anything left of the realms. Dante’s the only vessel strong enough to contain him."

Celestia closed her eyes, her mind racing. She looked down at Dante, who gazed back at her with innocent, curious eyes. Tears welled up, but she blinked them away. "Do it. But swear to me, Yama, that you’ll protect him. No matter the cost."

"I swear," Yama said, his voice steady and resolute.

He stepped forward, raising a hand. Flames surged around him, forming intricate runes in the air. The maids backed away, their faces pale with fear and awe as the room filled with an oppressive energy. Celestia held Dante close, whispering soothing words as the baby cooed, oblivious to the magnitude of the moment.

Yama chanted in a deep, resonant tone. The runes glowed brighter, circling around Dante. The baby let out a small cry as the energy enveloped him, and a faint, shadowy figure—Lucifer’s essence—rose from within, snarling and writhing. The runes tightened, forcing the shadow back into the infant.

With a final surge of power, the runes sank into Dante’s skin, leaving faint, glowing marks across his chest. The energy dissipated, and silence fell over the room.

Yama staggered slightly, his fiery aura dimming. "It is done. His power is sealed, and Lucifer is contained. For now."

Celestia nodded, tears streaming down her face as she kissed Dante’s forehead. "Thank you."

One of the maids whispered, "Poor child. To bear such a burden..."

Another added, "And yet, he may be the one to save us all."

Yama straightened, his gaze firm. "This is only the beginning. Xeruo is still out there, and he’ll sense this. We have to prepare for what’s to come."

Celestia met his eyes, her resolve hardening. "Then we face it. Together."

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Without wasting any more time, Yama left the icy halls of the castle, the flames of determination surrounding him. He headed toward the frozen lake deep in the Ninth Circle—the prison of Lucifer. The air grew colder with each step, but Yama’s infernal energy kept the frost at bay.

As he reached the center of the lake, a massive figure emerged from the ice. Lucifer, bound in chains of divine and infernal origin, gazed at Yama with mocking disdain. His crimson eyes gleamed with malice, and a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Well, well," Lucifer drawled. "The Twelfth King himself graces me with his presence. What brings you here, oh mighty ruler of Hell? Did you finally tire of your throne?"

Yama’s expression remained impassive. "Enough games, Lucifer. You know why I’m here."

Lucifer chuckled, his laughter echoing eerily across the frozen expanse. "Ah, Xeruo’s little rebellion, I presume? Or perhaps… the boy? Yes, I can feel him—so much power, so raw. It’s almost poetic, really."

"You’ll remain bound," Yama said firmly. "Dante will ensure that."

Lucifer’s smirk faltered for a moment, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Dante, you say? The child’s power… it rivals mine. No, perhaps it even surpasses it. But you’ve made a mistake, Yama. Power like that cannot be contained forever."

As if on cue, a faint ripple of energy emanated from Yama, causing the frozen lake to tremble. Lucifer’s eyes widened briefly before narrowing again. "Interesting. Perhaps you’re not as short-sighted as I thought. Still, sealing me within him… bold. Reckless, but bold."

Yama stepped closer, his amber eyes burning with resolve. "Mock me all you want, Lucifer. But this war ends with Xeruo’s failure. You’ll remain in your cage, and Dante will grow into the protector these realms need."

Lucifer’s grin returned, sharp and predatory. "We’ll see, Twelfth King. We’ll see."