Author's Note: Hello everyone! I get on my knees and bow for forgiveness! It has been too long! Life is tough and times challenging but it try and prevail. Finally the update and just for future notice, chapters will tend to be slightly smaller so that I can update more frequently.

Loving Volume 4 and feels! Roosterteeth why must you hurt me so!? Anyways onto the story and enjoy! Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY

Special Thanks to Lucariokid for a certain OC!

"… Are you ready for the real fight?"

He kept his grin as he watched all four take a step back in apprehension. He could see that they were already quite unsettled, the mix of being unable to harm him along with the full healing of all damage was weighing down whatever confidence they had before. He locked eyes with Sindria, daring her to make a move but she actually returned the look which surprised him. She was strong, always had been, but she was not one known for having much killing intent. Back in their academy days, she was rare to glare back at anyone unless she'd been angered about something.

"I guess I can't really cut any corners, huh?" she asked while setting her axe down.

"I wouldn't recommend it," he replied while scanning over her team.

Solair reached into her fanny pack and pulled out two new gun clips, Dante managing to catch a faint, light blue color meaning that it was dust. He'd have to guess that it was either water or ice. 'At least they took my warning about burn dust being useless,' he thought as he looked to Ru, the girl having her small katana primed, her Cheetah ears flattening down as a subtle growl came from her. Orelia also got into a ready stance, twisting a piece of the staff before a single edge blade sprung out of the end, turning it into a polearm.

Dante grinned as he felt the air change around them, now prepared to properly fight him now that they realized how dangerous he could be … and he didn't even attack yet. He started to flare his aura for a moment, the air around him heating up as small fractures formed underneath him, making them take another step back.

"Let's go …" he chuckled before he dashed off, the pressure of his movement crushing the stone tiles beneath him.

He closed the distance to Sindria in a flash, the girl gasping as she barely managed to read where he was aiming as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. He slammed a fist into her guard, blowing her clean off her feet and into the far wall several meters back. He spun on his heel before her teammates could react, delivering a roundhouse kick at Orelia who managed to prime her spear in the way. The absurdly sturdy metal bent slightly on impact before knocking Orelia back but unlike Sindria, she managed to keep her feet grounded as she skid back almost to the wall.

He would have pursued the attack but then he noticed Ru rushing him with her katana. He tilted his head to the side as the blade arced past his cheek before his hand shot out and grabbed Ru's face. She could only gasp before he tossed her like a ragdoll across the arena, impacting the wall with cracks spreading from her. He then turned his gaze on Solair but she was quicker to respond while he'd concentrated on her team, unloading on him without any mercy.

The rounds hit his chest before exploding in a blue mist as his skin started to flash freeze. He smirked as the ice spread, covering him from foot to neck in a 3 inch layer of ice. He looked down at himself before looking to Solair and her recovering team. Solair was reloading, Sindria was cradling her left arm as her aura glowed around the sizable welt left from his punch, Orelia looked okay, and Ru was a little daze if going by her slight stumble as she approached.

"Well at least none of you were done in by one hit," he said casually, ignoring the fact that he was frozen to the spot.

"You still pack a mean punch," Sin grumbled as she glanced at her injury.

"At least we got you held down," Orelia said as she readied herself to attack, the others preparing as well.

"Should have done that sooner," he chuckled before he flared his aura again, the ice steaming as it melted in a few seconds while team OSRS tried to attack.

He broke his arm out first as he caught Ru's fist before she could stab him. He smirked as he twisted his torso, breaking the thinned ice in the process, before he used her to swat Sindria away. As the two tumbled back Dante kicked his feet free before rushing Solair, dodging her new hail of ice rounds. He closed the distance before sweeping her feet out from under her and then slugged her in the gut before she could even begin to fall. She coughed up as she careened back, also hitting the wall before she slumped to the ground with a groan. 'I hope she can get back up from that one,' he thought as he then jumped back as Orelia tried to thrust her polearm at him.

He backpedaled as she continued to attack, her face pulled into a determined scowl from as far as he could tell with the mask while her weapon always came within an inch of target … but never hit. He then stopped moving back before he backhanded her weapon aside and lashed out with a kick, nailing Orelia in the gut and making her skid back before she dropped to one knee. Using the momentary pause, Dante glanced up at the aura displays to see their current levels. He was around 92, Orelia and Ru were dropped to 60, Solair was already in the 50's, and Sindira was just shy of 70 percent.

"So it looks like Sindria is the tank of the team," he whispered to himself as he looked at the Bull faunus in question.

She was looked back at him as she drew closer, Ru a few paces behind her. Solair had slowly gotten back up as well while Orelia seemed to still be recovering. 'If I throw a full throttle attack I should be able to take out all three of them … maybe even at the same time if I use my semblance which leaves Sin …' he thought as he readied himself but then noticed Sindria glancing at the ground around her before him.

"Go ahead," he called with a knowing look. "Let's trade blow like we used to."

"And probably get the same result," she muttered back before flaring her aura as she slammed her hands down on the floor and whispered, "… Armada."

As she said it her skin and clothes became the same, dark grey color of the stone tile beneath them. It took a few seconds before the stone fully encased her like a second skin, even her hair and eyes, while she stood straight back up. 'How can she see like that?' he wondered as he looked at the girl. She moved her arms experimentally, sounding like grating rock as she flexed. 'At least now I can hit her with my full strength and not kill her,' he thought with a faint smile. She noticed his smile before giving a very bull-like snort as she charged, her every step crushing the tile underneath.

"Bring it!" Dante shouted as he rushed at her and started off just like they always used to.

They closed the distance to each other before colliding … head first. He wince as they deadlocked for a few seconds before she threw a left haymaker. He raised his arm to block, the impact making him skid to the side a few feet as he whistled at her.

"Not bad, you've gotten stronger," he praised but she just maintained the attack.

He weaved in and out of her punches, each attack coming at surprising speed for someone temporarily armored in stone. He then jumped back as she tried to kick him before he reared his left fist back. Sin matched it with her own left cross, the blows colliding as a shockwave ensued around them. After nearly 3 seconds he grinned as cracks spread up her arm all the way to her shoulder as she gasped in surprise. He didn't let up as he stepped closer while grappling her shoulder with his right and brought her closer. He delivered a savage knee to her gut, doubling her over as the armor around her gut shattered. He then finished up with a right cross, nailing her across the cheek as it sent her sprawling.

Her armor fell to pieces as she tumbled back, her concentration breaking with her semblance. A loud buzz sounded, making him glance up to see that her aura had now dropped into the red meaning she was out. That was the risk to her armor, it took the properties of her environment and could be reinforced with more aura but at a cost to her reserves. 'She must have put more into it than I thought,' he mused as he turned his attention to her remaining teammates who looked at him in shock.

"I've never seen anyone break Sin's Armada with their bare fists," Orelia muttered as she glanced at her downed but still conscious teammate.

"Shit …" Ru grumbled as she glared at him. "… This just got worse."

"It was never going to be easy anyways," Solair added before she glanced at her teammates. "… Don't waste the opening."

"What!?" both her teammates shouted but it was too late as Solair rushed Dante alone.

He quirked an eyebrow as she charged at him, her knife pulled out of her boot while her other hand held the gun. She came at him with a combination of slashes and shots but he dodged each as he watched her carefully, trying to figure out what she was doing. He was about to duck from a swipe at his neck but then he was caught off guard as she dropped the knife mid swing and instead grabbed onto the collar of his jacket. With the two in contact her other hand burst into sand as she grabbed him with it, the soft rock covering him.

'The Hell!?' he thought as the sand quickly covered most of his torso before he could think to do anything, his arm motion beginning to get restricted. He got ahold of himself as he stopped focusing on the sand and instead looked at her, Solair being little more than a few inches away thanks to the contact. He lashed out with a roundhouse, striking her right in the ribs making her tumble away with a pained cry while the sands remained. He noticed that her arm started to reform out of sand but at the same time the buzzer sounded meaning that she was out too.

'So the reformation costs high amounts of aura too … but being able to actually manipulate her physical body like that,' he thought before he focused on the sands restricting his arm movement and even squeezing him to limit his breathing. He scowled before heating his body up again but instead of bursting out of his impromptu prison, it started to turn to glass under the heat, making it more rigid and tougher than normal glass as far as he could tell. He was about to constrict his arms to shatter it but in that lapse he forgot that two other slayers were on him.

He noticed their approach when they were practically on top of him, Ru coming from behind while Orelia charged at the front, the smallest trace of bloodlust present from both. 'Well this is going to hurt like a bitch,' he thought before considering using aura to guard his body. It seemed that neither of the slayers realized that he wasn't using aura guarding at all since they went for the follow-through. Orelia thrust her spear forward … and ran him through along the gut, glass barrier and all, with the bladed end sticking out his back.

Ru at the same time sliced at the junction between his shoulder and neck, the blade going at least two inches into his flesh before stopping due to the dense muscle … good thing she went straight down, otherwise he could have had his neck severely damaged. That would have been an annoying thirty minutes or so of recovery time. As the attacks happened, both slayers gasped in horror along with most of their spectators … funny how he was the only one that grimaced a little but that was it.

"Dante!" several of his friends shouted in alarm but he didn't look at them.

The slayers pulled back but in their shock, both released their weapons still embedded in his flesh. 'Could have taken those out at least,' he thought as he watched Orelia take tentative steps back, Ru appearing in the corner of his sight as well. Both were looking at him as if they'd killed him … well, anyone else probably would have died from this but hey, a part of him found their faces funny. After a few seconds he sighed as he swung his left arm, since his right couldn't be used fully thanks to having key tendons in his upper shoulder severed. With the motion the glass finally shatter completely and dissolving into thin air much like Athena's crystals would.

Sadly that let the blood that had been pooling inside the glass to fall out as well creating a nice little bit of splatter around him.

"Nice combo," he praised with a small smile as he looked at the flabbergasted slayers.

"Are you crazy!?" Orelia shouted. "We need to get you to the med bay!"

"Nah," he shrugged as he reached over and pulled the katana out of his shoulder in a very nonchalant fashion. "I'm good."

It was true. The moment the blade was out, the skin around the cut ignited in silver fire before closing shut, the flesh and skin mending in moments. Once it was sealed fully he waved his right arm to test it out but didn't find anything wrong with it.

"Now this," he continued as he grabbed the shaft of Orelia's spear before pulling it out of his gut, not minding the squirts of blood with every few inches that came out.

Once out, the same thing happened, the small hole sealing in just a few seconds. He held the spear at his right while the katana remained in his left as he glanced up at the aura markers. His had dropped to 84 percent now, the use of his semblance and then healing having taken a decent chunk of it.

"How …?" Ru asked softly as she looked at him, her ears lying flat against her head as she looked at him with uncertain eyes.

"I told you," he said with a sigh. "I can regenerate … injuries like those that you gave me are trivial," he added while tracing his new scar with his thumb.

"So is there any point …" Orelia asked with a whisper as she looked down, her eyes being covered by her hair. "… We can't win anyways …"

"No," he said with a thin smile, "I know sometimes you have to pull back and all but this just a sparring match. Take the chance to push forward and test your limits a bit … it's not like you'll actually die."

He watched them as they glanced at each other for a few seconds before they nodded at each other, a determined look in their eyes as they faced him again. He smiled at them before he took a fighting stance, ready for the fight to continue. They stared off for a few seconds before Ru suddenly spoke.

"Orelia!"

"Got it!" she replied as she dashed at him, swinging and stabbing repeatedly.

Dante weaved through the attack before giving a few quick jabs. Orelia managed to dodge a few and even block one but he still connected a few. Namely, her cheek, two to her gut, and one that was more of an uppercut which ended her assault for the moment as it knocked her back a few meters. She released a tired groan while slowly turning onto her stomach but Dante didn't have time to pursue her since he'd noticed that Ru had been preparing for him in a way he never saw coming.

His eyes widened as he watch her tattoos come to life as they crawled off her skin while growing to the full size of Grimm. If he didn't know any better, he'd say he was fighting Grimm of a new variety, mainly since their bodies didn't look fully solid. They were still pitch black aside from the masks but their bodies looked more like collected shadow rather than flesh and bone. 'Wait … do they have a solid body otherwise?' he wondered before he watched as an impressively sized Beowolf lunged at him.

He retorted with an unrestrained jab, his fist plowing straight through the creature's ribcage but with no blood and less resistance than the body should have had but it did have weight. 'Ok, so solid but not a full replica,' he noted before striking the Beowolf's mask, not waiting for any sort of retaliation. The mask shatter almost like glass before the body sort of exploded in a wisp of shadow.

"I'm guessing the masks are the weak spots," he commented as he looked at Ru again … only to see a small army of Grimm between them, all larger than standard Grimm.

None had the body armor and spikes that Grimm of these sizes would have but the shadow did give the shape of them. He counted around three or four more Beowolves, two Ursa Majors, a small Deathstalker 'Where did she keep that?', and a rather large Creeper all aimed at him.

"Well damn," he muttered before whistling in appreciation.

She just gave him new chew toys … funny, he'd been running out. 'Well, now with a slight barrier I can use that and not kill her … on second thought, no pressurized roar or else it might go through them, her, and the wall behind her along with anything else that happened to be in the way,' he thought as he braced his footing, the glow inside his chest and throat intensifying. He caught Athena out of the corner of his eye giving him a worried look but he faced her for a moment before winking. Honestly, she could be such a worry wort at times. Granted, he didn't have the best track record when it comes to holding back so she wasn't baseless.

"What are you doing?" Ru called from behind her little squadron, looking at him curiously, Orelia joining at her side after finally recovering from that particularly strong uppercut.

'Two for one deal,' he thought as he smirked at them before breathing in. 'Maybe I should name this? … Nah, it'd be weird calling out the name of my attack before using it … right?' he mused as he focused on the two slayers behind the wall of fake Grimm. He then lurched forward while giving a powerful exhaled, a torrent of silver and blue fire escaping his jaws to the surprise of the slayers and spectators. It wasn't like the roar he'd used back in the Razorback Mountains, this time simply acting more like a flamethrower than a compressed cannon.

His flames burned through the shadowy creatures, tearing through them like dry leaves as the flames continued on to the slayers. Neither had time to dodge the rather wide attack, the fire sweeping over them in just a few seconds. He cut it off almost immediately after just as the buzzer sounded twice … his opponents were both down. He watched as the flames dissipated to reveal both Orelia and Ru down on their backs, slightly steaming while they groaned but no visible burns. He'd just made it before the flames breached their remaining aura … that wouldn't have been pretty.

He sighed as the glow in his chest and throat died down, his semblance returning to being inactive for the time being. He then started to walk over to the two freshly defeated slayers, the other two from their team approaching as well now that they'd recovered some. He then noticed that Ru's skin was mostly clear along the arms and legs, making him wonder how exactly did her semblance work. He made a mental note to ask later before he stopped before the group.

"Nice fight," he complemented with small smile.

Orelia scoffed at him before actually pouting, "You could have ended that ages ago."

"Maybe but then again, I'm an odd case," he replied easily. "You all could have done wonders against another opponent. As far as I can tell, you four were simply a bad match up, that's all."

"You were still holding back," Sindria grumbled while rubbing her cheek where he slugged her.

"Was not," he replied with a near pout but Sin gave him a skeptical look. "… Okay, a little but what can you expect? My power is meant to kill and I obviously don't want to do that."

"Still impressive," Solair added before glancing at his gut. "… It was creepy seeing you heal so easily."

"So that was scary Dante, I'll keep in mind to stay on your good side," Ru added while shaking her head. "You took out all my average level Grimm though … now I need to restock," she said with a pout aimed straight at him.

"How does your semblance work by the way?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I can collect the mask of any Grimm I defeat and store the full creature like a tattoo," she answered.

"That can be convenient," he said as he offered both downed girls a hand up.

They both smiled faintly at the gesture before each taking a hand and getting pulled to their feet.

"Come sit with us," he offered as he gestured back to his friends. "I'm sure a lot of the younger ones want to meet you."

The girls exchanged looks before nodding together at him. He gave a light grin as he walked back with them to where his friends were seated, noting the slightly angry look Athena was giving him. 'Oh, I'm in trouble,' he thought while gulping nervously. If there was one thing Athena was good at, it was being creative. Smacking him or even throwing a book at him when he did something risky wasn't that effective. And in her words, most of his choices were plain stupid and borderline suicidal, she'd figure out a way to deliver the punishment.

And she was not above teasing him in the naughtiest ways to the point of madness, which he considered the worst punishment by far. That and a form of glare that he was sure she picked up from his mother, the only woman to have made both the Silver Demon and Demon Lord Astaroth to cower in fear with just a look. He didn't have much more time to dwell on it as the group arrived and he stopped a few feet from his mate, silently accepting his fate. She, however, didn't give him the glare or any words, just a once over before smiling at him … and that made his blood run cold.

'I'm a dead man,' he whimpered inside as he sighed, gesturing to the team behind him to get a quick set of introductions for the students.

"Just for formalities sake, this is Orelia, Sindria, Ru, and Solair," he said as the slayers waved with smiles.

He didn't pay attention to the return greetings as he sat beside Athena with Lily currently on her lap. The little vampire was looking him over carefully, apparently still worried that he might have some injury even after seeing him heal so quickly. He gave her a reassuring smile before he looked at his fellow slayers.

"So, who's up next?"

Havasu stood up without answering and heading straight for the arena floor, making the others quiet down as they watched him go. Dante noticed that Zack was heading down as well, already looking ready and actually serious. 'Looks like they challenged each other before the matches. I wonder how this will go down?' he mused before he looked at Havasu as he got farther from them.

"Havasu," Dante called calmly, the slayer in question pausing without looking back as the others quieted down. "Remember … this is a friendly spar."

"…" Havasu remained silent but the air around him was cold and indifferent but Dante added his piece to make sure Foxfire knew his position on the event should the combatants go too far.

"… Overdue it and I will intervene," he warned with a steely tone, his eyes drilling into the back of the other slayer's head.

After a few seconds Havasu resumed on his way to the arena without looking back. Dante noticed that he was getting worried looks from his teammates but he didn't pay them any mind as he kept his eyes of the fighters now standing at opposite sides of the arena floor. He watched and listened intently, monitoring the slightest killing intent coming off Havasu, Zack responding in kind. Silence descended on the large chamber as the lights dimmed around the stands while the energy shields were raised to prevent any attacks from leaking out while signaling for the fight to begin.

Havasu kept a hard eye on Zack, the other not looking particularly interested but at the same time, keeping a clear guard up. After some time Havasu glanced at his lacrosse stick in his hands before twirling it and then stabbing the butt end into the stone tile, leaving it there. He then returned his attention to Zack who copied him, stabbing his machete reeking of blood next to him, the edge actually still dripping slightly making some people grimace at it.

"Tell me something …" Havasu started in a cold voice that sounded so wrong coming from him. "… What is your name?"

Dante frowned at the odd question, Zack seeming surprised by it as well as he slightly frowned before focusing on Havasu and answering him.

"Zack Rojos," he answered in a monotone voice but the answer only made Havasu glare more fiercely at him.

"… Wrong …" Havasu mumbled as his killing intent spiked. "… So you did lose something," he added in a whisper too low for anyone to catch but Dante managed to read lips, and even then he nearly missed it.

"Why do you care?" Zack asked with a critical eye.

"Find out," Havasu essentially growled before he took a combat stance.

Zack frowned for a moment more before he assumed a loose combat stance, not showing any particular style. They stared off for a few more seconds before Havasu suddenly kicked off with his rear leg, pushing him forward at an alarming rate as his fist braced for the impact. Zack's eyes widened at the unexpected level of attack, barely raising his left forearm up to guard over his sternum. Havasu lashed out with a firm right fist, crashing into Zack's forearm with a sickening crunch as a small shockwave erupted off them. Dante watched as part of Zack's arm bent in, a clear break though Zack did little more than grimace slightly.

Zack skid back from the hit as Havasu chased after him but in his obvious anger, left an opening for Zack to counter. He ducked a hook from Havasu before responding with right cross, nailing Havasu against the cheek and forcing him to backpedal. With the momentary break, Dante watched curiously as Zack suddenly used a nail to cut open the skin around the swelling for the clearly broken forearm. Then, with morbid fascination, he watched as streams of blood trickled out but didn't fall, instead acting like sentient tendrils wrapping around the forearm. However, before he could watch what would happen, Havasu rushed forward again with a descending fist, missing Zack by an inch and instead plowing into the ground. The impact kicked up a dust cloud obscuring Zack momentarily from view.

It only last of little more than a few seconds before both combatants jumped out of the slight cloud, but this time, it looked like Zack's arm was repaired somehow and Dante could see some traces of blood along the forearm but he didn't know how it was done exactly.

'So what did his blood do exactly?' Dante wondered as he eagerly waited to see what else the slayer could do. As far as he could remember, he didn't recall ever seeing a semblance focused on blood manipulation before and was extremely curious. Havasu was also scowling as the damage he'd inflicted was so easily mended. It didn't last long as the slayer reinitiated the attack, Zack responding in kind as they closed the distance. The exchange was furious, coming off as little more than a blur to the inexperienced eye. Dante watched with rapt attention, appraising the skill level and the threat level it could be given.

Even in his clear anger, Havasu's skills were not dulled while Zack maintained a near poker face as he matched foxfire blow for blow. In an opening moment Zack lashed out with a kick, impacting Havasu's gut and forcing him to skid back while coughing. They remained at a distance for a few more moments before getting back into it, neither backing down. As the two continued the borderline homicidal assault, Dante listened in to the conversations going around him as the younger hunters spoke.

"Damn …" Yang breathed out as she struggled to track them. "… Is this a little … much?"

Just to apparently prove her point, Havasu managed to land one haymaker across Zack's face, a good bit of blood splattering out while both fighters continued.

"They look like they're trying to kill each other," Ruby nearly squeaked, looking a little green from the blood and random cracking sounds.

"I'll admit that this is a little more than was expected for friendly spars," Lucian said as he scratched his chin but otherwise didn't seem bothered at all.

"Don't worry about it," Dante muttered without taking his eyes off the fighters. "If it gets too out of control, I'll step in …" he said with a slight growl in his voice, making a few glance nervously at him.

They kept making comments but by then Dante tuned them out as he noticed Havasu and Zack speaking slightly while they attacked each other, his eyes narrowing as he read their lips.

"… Half-Moon Massacre …" he caught Havasu mumble to Zack's momentarily widening eyes.

"… Don't know … Can't remember …" Zack replied only for a particularly vicious fist to bury itself in his gut while Havasu snarled.

"How can you NOT REMEMBER!?" roared the angered slayer before he lashed out with another cross that collided with a return from the bloody slayer, forcing both to distance themselves.

Silence reigned as both panted at each other, a large assortment of bruises lining their bodies as Dante glanced up to the aura bars. Both had dropped to a little over 70 percent and if the atmosphere was any sign, things were heating up. Both slayers were now close to their previously discarded weapons and Dante knew the fight had gotten significantly more deadly. He was right on the money as both picked up their respective short spear and machete, their eyes hardening as they prepared to charge.

Barely a few seconds passed before they surged at each other with renewed vigor, and the slightest hints of bloodlust, before they passed each other with their weapons outstretched. After a span of silence Havasu coughed just before a section of his upper bicep burst as if there were mini explosives just beneath the skin. Some of those watched gasped while the slayers tried to figure out what the hell happened, Dante included.

He saw Zack cut him with the bloody weapon but nothing else seemed odd about it. He glanced to Zack's team to see Rayne smirking while the other two looked unsure of the fight, probably wondering why the pair were at each other's necks. He took his eyes off them and looked at the slayers again as Havasu inspected his arm before looking to Zack while speaking.

"Explosive blood, huh? You've gotten stronger with that damned semblance," he said with a hint of venom in his voice.

"Again, I've never fought you before," Zack replied as he readied his weapon.

"You keep thinking that," Havasu muttered as an orange glow surrounded the injury before it slowly started to heal, though comparatively speaking, far faster than what aura was normally capable of. "If I didn't know any better …" Havasu said as he started to circle the arena while looking at Zack. "… I'd say it felt like the blood was trying to get deeper into the muscle but with your aura in it, my aura reacted making it explode … what a nasty ability."

Zack frowned for a moment, possibly upset that Havasu likely figured it out so quickly before he spoke himself. "And you on the other hand have mastery over your aura. There's no other way I see someone focusing their aura on healing otherwise."

"Huh, and he finally says more than a one-liner," Havasu taunted without humor before suddenly rushing towards Zack.

The slayer's eyes widened though he managed to block the thrust that would have run him through, aura or otherwise if going by the condensed layer of orange aura coating the spear tip. At that the pair resumed the exchange of blades, nicking each other while failing to hit any critical points though every cut Havasu received quickly popped in a similar fashion to the first making him hiss in pain. Dante had to guess that by simply wearing away at each other, Zack was on the lead with his semblance enhanced weapon. Their weapons glinting red and orange respectively, both starting to aim for more critical spots.

Dante could feel the tension growing even more and the students were getting anxious, especially Lily sitting right beside him on Athena's lap. One of her hands had grabbed onto his arm while the other at the hem of Athena's shirt as she looked at the combatants. He tried to reassure her be holding her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze while his eyes trailed to the opposite side of the arena, making eye contact with Zack's captain, Asteria. They both nodded, an agreement to act should they decide the match had gone far enough.

Dante then returned his eyes to the match, seeing both with even more cuts but now, Havasu's eyes were glowing orange as his pupils narrowed, his canines extending slightly to give him an animalistic appearance. He watched as they disengaged for a moment before Zack suddenly held his hand out. Nothing happened for a moment before Dante's eyes widened as a pool of blood next to Havasu's foot suddenly rippled before a spike of blood jabbed out at his calf. Havasu noticed in time to dodge with a scowl but took his eyes off Zack.

The albino capitalized on that and closed the distance with a thrust aimed to the gut. It connected but rather than go through, the tip was stopped by a dense layer of orange aura. Then Havasu's hand latched onto the machete blade, his hand coated in the aura as well to prevent any cuts, before he lashed out with his short spear as a form of bat, knocking Zack across the temple. Zack weathered it though and kicked off Havasu while wrenching his machete free and gained some distance.

The pair looked at each other as they recovered their breath, both down to the 50's in aura. Havasu looked worse for wear thanks to the explosive nature of his injuries but it looked like he wasn't really paying attention to his injuries.

"… Damn Youhei …" Havasu muttered under his breath, making Dante frown as he translated the word used.

'Mercenary? I would get that since we all are but …?'

Zack frowned as well, probably wondering why Havasu was calling him that but whether he knew what it meant was up in the air. However it seemed like the moment was over as Havasu suddenly got into a deep attack stance, his body crouched forward with his short spear aimed towards Zack at his side, his killing intent spiking considerably. Zack responded in kind, running the palm of his hand over the machete edge to give it a fresh coating of blood.

At the act Lily buried her face in his chest, having moved into his arms as the fight progressed and she got more nervous. This was one of the downsides of being an Alpha hybrid. She may not have any experience but her new animal instincts could read the atmosphere and bloodlust perfectly and now she wanted security by being in his arms.

'Shit,' Dante thought as he let go of Lily and handing her to Athena while looking to Asteria again, getting a crisp nod from her.

He looked to the combatants before they could charge, noticing how their muscles were coiling for the attack. Then, like a rubber band stretched to the limit, the pair sprung, their movement breaking the tiles under them as they went for the kill.

Crack!

However … neither met their mark. In the time they charged Dante and Asteria had moved. She and Dante practically materialized in front of the fighting slayers and took them down before they could even react to them. Asteria had kicked down Zack's machete, getting the blade to impale effortlessly into the stone tiles while her palm struck him dead in the chest and knocking him back several feet. Havasu on the other hand was not so lucky since Dante really wasn't in the mood after having a terrified Lily hanging onto him earlier.

He caught Havasu's spear with his left hand before sweeping out Havasu's feet from under him, sending his body sprawling onto back. The entire thing happened within a second, one moment the slayers were about to try and kill each other and now, both their respective superiors as slayers appeared and took them down. Dante caught several surprised gasps from the audience but paid it no mind as he looked at the dazed Havasu as he recovered from the momentary surprise. His eyes had reverted to the regular maple color though his anger was still palpable.

"Fights over …. A draw," he said in a steely tone as he glared Havasu down.

"Like hell it is!" Havasu returned as he started to stalk forward to try and continue.

"Too bad, I called it," he said as he tossed Havasu's weapon to the floor beside him, having held onto it when he knocked the slayer away.

"Who are yo-"

He didn't let Havasu finish as he closed the distance and grabbed him by the throat before driving him into the wall behind him, holding him a foot off the ground while his eyes shifted into their draconic silver form. He knew no one could see them at this angle so he used the added intimidation factor to curb Havasu's anger for now.

"Your commanding officer," he answered to Havasu's interrupted question. "Now … the match is over. Go cool off and then we can revisit whatever issues you have with Rojos later … got it?" he added with a feral growl as his voice deepened.

Havasu returned a glare for a few seconds before releasing a tense sigh and then slowly nodding. Dante then let up the pressure so he could drop to the floor while rubbing his now sore throat. Dante watched him as he then recovered his weapon before walking out of the arena. After a few seconds Dante sighed as well while his eyes reverted to the human form and he made his way to where the other slayers and mentees were. He plopped down back in his seat and looked at the staring faces.

"Yes?" he asked humorlessly.

"You ok?" Athena asked in a soft voice.

"Just tired," he replied as he wrapped one arm around her waist to bring her closer to his side, an act that she eagerly followed while Lily returned to sitting on his lap while looking at him with innocent concern.

"So who's next?" Dante asked as he looked at the other slayers.

"Well …" Thantos started as he eyed where Havasu left. "I guess Cicero and I will take up that bet against Kiara."

"Bring it," Kiara said with a wink as she got up, her spear at her side.

"Yay," Cicero added in a sort of mutter as he followed after them.

Dante just silently watched them go before he thought about what to do with Havasu. He could go and talk to him but it didn't look like he would be very responsive right now … especially not to him considering how he ended the match. Dante sighed in annoyance as he noticed several concerned glances being directed his way which he decided to ignore for now. He just watched as the next battle began, his mind not really focused on it but he managed to pull an air of interest …

She watched as Athena snickered while Dante chuckled, the pair sitting at their dinner table while eating together. She herself was just about finishing her pasta that Dante had made for them tonight, the meal being both hearty and healthy for Hunter needs. After Havasu and Zack had fought, the rest of that slayer's team had left meaning that Athena didn't get her fight. As for the others … well, she didn't really want to pay attention after being scared to wits end with the last match. Still, for now it wasn't really a concern to focus on so she dropped her musings to pay attention to what was happening now.

She had a small smile as she watched them, feeling almost nostalgic about the scene though she couldn't recall why. It was a problem she'd had since they rescued her from the mountains.

She couldn't recall who her parents had been or even what they had looked like … only her first name and the pain she suffered thanks to those doctors before she was saved by Dante and Athena. It was odd … she almost felt like she'd seen this exact scene before … her parents teasing light-heartedly about the day and occasionally bringing her into it or trying to embarrass her with how she kept getting tomato sauce on her cheeks.

'A family … my … family …' she thought with longing as she looked at them. They were all she could remember that wasn't swept in nightmares. She wasn't sure when it happened but at one point she mentally started to think of Athena as 'mom' … but she never had the courage to outright say it. She knew that they said they would take care of her and they had been kind but still … how would they react if she said it? Even she was old enough to get that she wasn't their actual daughter … even if it was what her heart wanted. Her eyes focused to Dante for a moment, a swirl of emotions mixing within her as she looked at her guardian.

Somehow she knew he was the strongest and the one who protected her but at the same time...she was scared of him, even though she didn't want to be. She could still remember the sight of him in the mountain. Cold silver eyes that held sadness as well, the scent of blood and death surrounding him, her every instinct screaming to run … or hope that the end came painlessly. One glance had been enough to make her panic and cry when she last saw them though at that time, all they had was sadness and pain in them. She almost felt ashamed for doing that but she couldn't help it, regardless of how much she tried, the thought of those eyes still terrified her.

But she felt as though she was getting better. She was more comfortable in his presence and when she'd been in his arms during those fights she felt so … safe. Like there wasn't anything that could get to her when she was in his arms. It was moments like those that she sometimes wondered how he would react if she called him 'dad', but for the same reasons she couldn't say it. He wasn't her dad, she couldn't remember her real one, and she didn't know if he would even like it.

Who was to say that someday they might have their own actual child and not want her? She had been left alone before … who was to say it wouldn't happen again? That they would get tired of her or that she'd do something wrong and they just toss her …

"Lily, are you ok?"

Dante's voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she looked at them, noticing that they were both looking at her with concern.

"Huh?" she voiced, not catching that she sounded strained.

"Sweetie … why are you crying?" Athena asked in a soft and motherly tone while reaching over with a clean napkin and dabbing at her cheeks.

Lily brought one of her hands to her eyes by reflex, feeling the wetness that confirmed her tears. As she paused in surprise, Dante moved around the table and knelt beside her chair while looking at her with soft, hazel eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a gentle tone as well before suddenly she lunged at him and hugged him.

She barely noticed him momentarily stiffening before returning the hug as a powerful sob racked through her body. She didn't know what made her do it, his warm eyes or that caring tone … all she knew was that she wanted to be held close. She didn't even try to stop the tears or sobs that escaped her as Dante scooped her up in his arms and held on to her. She could feel Athena standing close as well, rubbing circles into her back to calm her down. After a few moments she felt small vibrations rumbling through Dante's chest and into her trembling frame, a familiar warmth surrounding her.

He was humming, his usual act when either feeling content or trying to comfort someone. She could recall several nights falling asleep to that humming … those nights were blissfully nightmare free. If anything, her hold tightened on him as her sobs died down, her head resting under his chin as Athena kept rubbing her back. After some time she calmed down enough for Dante to speak again in a gentle tone.

"… Sweetie … what's wrong?"

Her chest swelled with warmth at hearing him call her that. Dante always used her name while Athena usually was the one using the pet names as such but having him say it for the first time brought a feeling of reassurance that she desperately needed. She sniffed a bit before tilting her head slightly so she could look at him.

" … I …" she tried to speak but her voice sounded weak, her eyes still stinging from the sudden downpour of tears. "… W-will … you l-leave me?" she asked in a near broken voice, her earlier fears resurfacing even as she was held so close to him.

"Why would you ever think that?" Athena asked with clear worry as she stepped to Dante's side and in her line of view. "… Of course we won't."

"B-but … I was left … before …" she reasoned weakly. "… I don't w-want … to be a-alone …"

A fresh set of tears started again as she looked at them through blurry eyes. Her answer was Dante tightening his grip on her as Athena moved closer to hug her as well, surrounding her from all sides. She cried again for some time as they hummed and murmured soothing words respectively, letting her get her emotions out. After she finally calmed down again Dante spoke in a far more stern though still warm tone.

"We won't leave you like that Lily. You know we care about you and want to keep you safe and I can promise you … we'll always be there when you need us."

Hearing his words caused her growing fears to wither down, her head slowly nodding into his chest to show that she heard before she felt Athena give her a kiss on the cheek. They remained silent for a while before they heard the sound of a scroll going off in Dante and Athena's room. She felt them shuffle before Athena left with another parting kiss on her cheek and then walked off to handle whatever it was they were being called about. After some silence Dante sighed as one of his hands rubbed her back before he slowly pulled her off and set her back down on her chair.

He then kneeled down in front of her with a gentle smile as he placed a hand at her cheek while running a thumb over it, making her lean into his touch. They remained silent for a bit while Lily caught Athena speaking in their room but wasn't focused enough to make out anything being said … though Athena sounded annoyed. Before she could start to wonder why, Dante spoke again, getting her attention.

"Feeling better?" he asked to which she nodded, making his smile grow. "Good."

He then stood fully up and moved to the kitchen, retrieving a container from the microwave and bringing it to her.

"Then let's get you finished up with your meal so then you can get a bath and bed."

"But I don't feel sleepy," she protested as she took the flask with the familiar 'punch' her guardian had her drink.

Regardless of the tender moments or emotional turmoil, Lily was still barely ten and like any child her age, felt the need to resist trivial things like baths and early bedtimes. All her protest got was a chuckle from Dante as he ruffled her hair a bit before sighing as he looked at the door to his room.

"I'm going to see what the call is about, be back in a bit."

With that he walked off while she uncorked the flask and took a sniff of the mystery drink. Thanks to the rather … bloody … event earlier today, the trademark scent was rather fresh in her mind and she frowned again as matched it to the smell of her drink. She just couldn't get it. It smelled like blood but it didn't taste anything like what she believed blood should taste like … if she ever happened to but she thought that was gross.

She thought about it as she started to drink the 'punch', her body seeming to fill with energy as her senses sharpened. There was always a rush after these drinks and then there was a calming effect as the drink settled. While enjoying her drink, her thoughts returned to the similarities it had to blood.

She couldn't remember much of her past but her body did have 'memories'. Familiar sensations, tastes, smells and such that often gave her a sense of déjà vu. Like the time she took a bath with Athena and the older woman washed her hair for her. It felt so comforting and natural, like it was something that was a very common occurrence. As such she could in a way recall having tasted blood once some time ago when she probably pricked her finger on something and by instinct, stuck her finger in her mouth.

The taste had been nasty. Somewhat coppery and bitter, with a strong aftertaste that bugged her. The drink she had now was more like a slightly bittersweet cheery with a refreshing tinge left to it afterwards making the drink the favorite part of her meals. For the life of her she could not figure out why her favorite drink smelled … and looked like blood … but clearly had a different taste. Not to mention she was pretty sure drinking blood was something only monsters in stories did … or that woman with the black and red eyes in the mountains … and the fangs.

She shuddered at the memory but with that shudder, she spilled some of her chin and shirt making frown as she looked down at herself. She got up from her chair and went to the bathroom to clean up. She quickly entered and turned on the lights … only to gasp in shock and horror.

Looking back at her was something from her nightmares. Those eyes, the red color surrounded in black, narrowed pupils looking straight back at her. The lips were slightly parted to reveal two silvery fangs dripping crimson along with the chin and shirt. It was the face of a monster … her face in the mirror. A trembling hand moved up to touch one of the fangs … and retracted as if burned when it made contact. She'd known her teeth had changed along with her head and ears but the teeth had never been that long.

She had never seen her eyes though, since every time she had her drink, it was in the kitchen and she was usually long finished before heading to any room with a mirror when the high of her meal wore off. Her frame started to tremble as she took in her appearance … being a near perfect match to the woman who bite her … that monster … and she was one now too.

Her thoughts raced within a whirlwind of chaos, incoherent at times, as she tried to understand what was going on. Had Athena and Dante ever seen her like this? Did they not know what she was? She recalled Dante facing the bat woman, how he showed his disgust and anger as he nearly ripped her apart before those ships arrived with more people in white masks. She knew they were Hunters that slayed monsters, like that woman was a monster … and now, so was she.

New tears started to cascade down her face as new fears bubbled within her. What if they saw and treated her the same. What if she was dangerous and would someday hurt someone? Panic started to clutch at her chest as she imagined Dante's eyes again in their silvery form but this time … full of nothing but disgust and directed at her while Athena also looked at her as if she was something foul. She couldn't bear the thought of it … to be so outright rejected … it would crush her.

She didn't know when it happened but her feet suddenly bolted, not conscious of where she was going. Glimpses of running out the door, a hallway, falling down a set of stairs only to get up and keep running. It was dark and clouded, leaving near complete darkness though her eyes could discern trees passing by. Her heart was hammering in her chest even as she silently cried, branches scratching at her skin, but she was too panicked to notice.

She just kept running, not wanting to have Dante and Athena see her for what she was. She would leave before they could reject her, hide herself away so others would be safe from her … she was a monster after all …

Author's Rant: Yep, that happened. Hopefully the fight was to your liking and I skipped the other slayers for the surprises later on. Hope you all enjoyed and let me know your thoughts!

A pleasure, Jbubu