Samsara Space: They're all begging me to heal them one more time.

"Ding—Welcome aboard the express train to heaven."

Soothing classical music played in the elevator, a stark contrast to the chaotic world outside.

"This music taste is terrible." Dante picked at his ear in disgust. "Can't they play some rock music?"

"I think it's alright." Nero leaned against the wall, looking nervously at the top floor that was getting closer and closer. "At least it's better than that scientist's screams."

buzz-

After the conversation about musical tastes ended, the elevator continued its smooth ascent. Aside from the loudspeakers still blaring, it was unusually quiet for a moment.

This quietness seems a bit... too leisurely for a team about to face the final boss.

"Gentlemen."

Zhang Yuan suddenly broke the silence.

He walked to the center of the elevator, his back to the transparent glass curtain wall, the city behind him burning in flames, like an apocalyptic scene.

"Since we still have some time, how about we assign the roles for the upcoming performances?"

"A performance?" Nero frowned. "You mean the battle plan?"

"No, it's a performance."

Zhang Yuan corrected him, his voice carrying a peculiar infectiousness in the confined space.

"Don't you think the Pope wants to play the savior, and the Sage wants to play the creator god? This stage is so grand; if we just go up there and start hacking and slashing, wouldn't that be letting the audience down?"

Dante whistled. "Interesting. So what role am I? The protagonist?"

"No, you are the 'Jester' who breaks the rules."

Zhang Yuan pointed at Dante, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Your task is to create chaos and attract the sage's attention. Let him know that so-called 'order' is nothing but a joke in the face of true free will."

"The clown? Ha, I like that name." Dante twirled his pistol, seemingly quite pleased.

Zhang Yuan then looked at Bayonetta.

"As for this beautiful lady, you are the 'judge' of this play."

"That sage claims to represent the light, so let him see how the witch from the shadows uses a purer power... to shatter his halo."

Bayonetta adjusted her glasses, her red lips slightly parted: "Sounds good. I'll make him understand that sometimes darkness is more dazzling than light."

Finally, Zhang Yuan looked at Nero.

"And you, young Spartan descendant."

His voice became low and solemn.

"You are the only... 'variable' in this play."

"Variables?" Nero was taken aback, not even having time to consider the hidden meaning behind the simple words "descendants of Sparta".

"That's right. The Pope and the Sage, they calculated everything, but they overlooked you."

Zhang Yuan pointed to Nero's heart.

"Your anger, your love, your obsession with protecting someone at all costs... that is a power that even the gods cannot predict."

"So when the curtain rises, don't hesitate."

"Use your hands to tear the script to shreds. Go and... snatch your girl back." Zhang Yuan continued to play the role of the riddle teller, earnestly convincing the naive Nero.

Nero clenched his fists, the anxiety in his eyes gradually subsiding, replaced by a burning determination.

"I will," he whispered. "I definitely will."

"very good."

Zhang Yuan nodded in satisfaction, then pointed to himself.

"As for me... I'm just a backstage staff member responsible for handing out props, providing lighting, and... collecting ticket money after the curtain falls."

"Ha! That's what you really think!" Dante laughed.

Just then...

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The walls of the elevator shaft suddenly cracked. Countless lizard-like climbing demons and winged gargoyles surged in.

"Ugh, another team-building activity is coming up."

Bayonetta sighed helplessly, drawing her dual pistols. "Can't you just let me touch up my makeup in peace and quiet?"

"Perfect timing, exercise after a meal."

Dante devoured the rest of the pizza, drew his greatsword, and declared, "Whoever kills the fewest people treats everyone to midnight snacks!"

"Boring." Nero said this, but the Crimson Queen in his hand was already roaring and burning red.

The battle erupted instantly.

This was not a close battle at all, but an extremely stress-relieving "lawn mowing game" played in a confined space.

"Since we're going to compete on speed, let's make it even more exciting!"

Dante laughed loudly, leaned back, and instantly transformed his hands into a pair of fiery gauntlets.

"Rising Dragon Fist (Real Impact)!"

boom!

Crimson flames shot into the sky. Dante unleashed a punch, instantly turning three lizard demons that tried to pounce on him into a shower of sparks.

Immediately afterwards, he seamlessly switched to dual pistols in mid-air, using the recoil to stay suspended in mid-air, and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the monster horde below.

【Style: S(Savage!)】

"What a rude man."

On the other side, Bayonetta elegantly adjusted her glasses. Facing the gargoyles surrounding her, she didn't panic, but instead slightly shifted her body, just as their claws were about to strike—

【Witch Time】!

The world seemed to slow down. A purple, illusory clock appeared in the air.

Bayonetta leaped up, stepping on the gargoyles' still claws, her magic guns on her legs spitting out purple magic bullets. At the same time, she summoned huge magic high heels, crushing the gargoyles into powder as if they were cockroaches.

"Good children should be punished."

She even had time to blow a kiss to a (non-existent) camera.

In contrast, Nero's art style appears particularly "hardcore".

"Get down here, you son of a bitch!!"

Nero roared and swept his greatsword across, sending several grunts who were trying to sneak up on him flying. Then, his blue demonic hand instantly extended, grabbed a scythe-wielding grim reaper flying in mid-air, and slammed it to the ground like a rag doll.

boom! boom! boom!

Nero didn't need any combos at all. He simply rode on the demon's back, his Crimson Queen sword roaring as he slashed down with red blade effects until he had turned the demon into a pile of scrap metal.

"That's power!"

And Zhang Yuan...

He stood in the very center of the elevator, in the safest spot, with a holy light shield around him. He was flipping through the Alchemy Manuscript he had seized from Agnas, occasionally raising his hand to apply a buff.

"The one on the left isn't quite dead yet, give it another shot."

"There are quite a few red souls on the right, don't break them."

"Keep your formation in place, and don't splatter blood on my trench coat, it's brand new."

"Shut up! You slave owner who only knows how to talk!" the three shouted in unison.

……

Despite complaining and constantly being wary of teammates (stealing monsters from each other), the four of them worked together remarkably well.

As the elevator ascended, countless demons screamed as they plummeted into the abyss.

Finally, the last gargoyle was crushed by Nero's demonic hand.

The elevator returned to silence, except for the loudspeaker playing classical music that was still crackling.

"call……"

"Not bad, old man," Nero scoffed. "Not as useless as I thought."

"Old man?" Dante's lips twitched, and he turned to Zhang Yuan. "Boss, is this considered a work-related injury? How do we calculate compensation for emotional distress?"

"It'll be included in the bonus." Zhang Yuan closed his book and said with a smile, "provided... we can handle that big guy up there."

"Ding—We've arrived at the Papal Palace on the top floor."

With a crisp beep, the elevator finally came to a stop.

The door slowly opened, revealing the massive, solemn, and majestic final battlefield.