Reality is that which, even if you stop believing in it, continues to exist and does not disappear; it only keeps moving forward along the path you walk. Your reality is not always the reality of others.
We find DANTE emerging from the alley where he was, with thousands of questions in his head, and he is greeted by REX, who hadn't left; he was merely waiting for him.
DANTE HERALDI: Oh, REX, it's you, what happened? I thought you had gone ahead.
REX: I caught a familiar scent and came back. I thought you were in trouble… That person with you was BELL, right? Why did he come back?
DANTE HERALDI: You have a good sense of smell; yes, it was him.
REX: DANTE, you shouldn't speak with him, he is a very evil being, I feel he is hiding something.
DANTE HERALDI: (walking toward the palace) Perhaps you are right, but for the time being I will trust him a little; maybe he just wants to help us and have some fun. Alright, let's go, REX, it's time to finish our business and then leave.
Our friends enter the palace and are guided by a few soldiers at the door up to the office of Mayor EVY, and in that place ISAMU was also waiting for their arrival.
MAYOR EVY: Come in, take a seat.
DANTE HERALDI: Thank you. How are you guys, now that everything is over?
ISAMU: In reality, none of this is over; you know the most troublesome one of all this is still missing.
DANTE HERALDI: Yes, you're right, and that's why I came; I want to ask you, ISAMU, would you accompany us to defeat Mictlantekuti?
MAYOR EVY: Wait, he is the protector of this city, it would be very con…
ISAMU: I accept, no problem.
MAYOR EVY: But ISAMU, think of this town.
ISAMU: That is precisely why I accept. We cannot leave that thing alive; think about what else he will do to destroy our town, and now that Dante is here, don't you think there is a better opportunity to put an end to that thing? Besides, I don't know if you've noticed that these lands shrank; I don't know how, but a short while ago they stopped doing so. Does anyone know why this happened?
DANTE HERALDI: You are right, I feel that the power that kept these lands vast is disappearing. I think after killing Tezcatlipoca these lands are in danger, but it seems someone has interfered with this.
REX: Who could it be?… The only people I know who are that strong are you, Dante, and Quetzalcoatl, and also BE…
From one moment to another, Quetzalcoatl appears, having followed after Dante.
QUETZALCOATL: I think I could answer that.
MAYOR EVY: Miss Quetzalcoatl, please, come in.
REX: It seems you've grown fond of being in that female body.
QUETZALCOATL: (looking annoyed at Rex) It seems you never shut up, dog, and yes, I've gotten used to it; it's better to keep my powers at their peak at all times. Well, to the point, it was I who stopped the shrinking of these lands after recovering all my power; I believe this small world should not disappear.
ISAMU: But to what end?
QUETZALCOATL: Rest easy. After learning my true origin, I feel I no longer have a purpose to pursue; I have decided instead to stay here and help them as their guardian god.
MAYOR EVY: (Stands up happily from his chair). That is wonderful, are you sure of what you say?
QUETZALCOATL: Yes, these lands are good. With my powers I can make them larger, and with the people who come, we can make them prosper.
ISAMU: Interesting.
DANTE HERALDI: But Quetzalcoatl, does that mean you are not going to help me complete my mission?
QUETZALCOATL: Relax, Dante, I am going to help you, and then I will return to this place. (Gets sad) I don't know how to return to my original dimension, and I doubt that skinny fellow Mictlantekuti would help me, and now this is my reality.
DANTE HERALDI: I'm glad you're taking it so well.
REX: I feel very happy for you, Quetzalcoatl.
ISAMU: I like your way of thinking, Quetzalcoatl. In the end, our lives were also spent elsewhere; now they're here. I'll help you too, Dante, and then I'll also return to this place; I have nothing to do anywhere else but here.
DANTE HERALDI: Guys, I really appreciate it.
MAYOR EVY: Well, gentlemen, is there anything you would like to say to conclude this meeting? I have a lot to do before you leave this place.
DANTE HERALDI: All I have left to say is that I appreciate everyone's help, and that in two weeks we will be leaving this town, so that you can prepare, and once again, thank you for everything.
MAYOR EVY: You are most welcome, Mr. Dante; you have contributed so much to this town. Now, there is nothing else, right?
Our friends shake their heads.
MAYOR EVY: Then I thank you for coming. I have to go elsewhere and check on the repairs to the gates where you fought; there is much to be done. Thank you for coming.
Our friends say goodbye, and Quetzalcoatl, along with Dante and Rex, leave, leaving Isamu behind; he was heading off to train more. On the way, our heroes talk.
QUETZALCOATL: You know? I have other things to do; head on home without me.
DANTE HERALDI: Sure, take care.
REX: Where is she going?
DANTE HERALDI: It's better not to know; remember she is a goddess, hehe. Right now, I would like to help ISAMU with his wounds. What do you say, REX?
REX: Sure, do you think that can be done? According to what he says, he has been here for a long time and his wounds are still almost the same.
DANTE HERALDI: Anything is possible in this world, remember; later we will ask Quetzalcoatl. Now it's time to train for a while; I have to polish my skills.
Our friends head to the house and, upon arriving, meet Elena and talk a bit about the departure that will take place very soon.
DANTE HERALDI: (happy) Hello, my love, how are you? And where is MALEKIN?
ELENA: (Blushing) Uh, you see, he told me he was going out to exercise a bit on the outskirts and do a little investigating.
DANTE HERALDI: Oh, I see. Well, I just want to tell you that in a week we will be leaving and I would like you to prepare. I saw that you have become stronger (smiles at her).
ELENA: Yes, apparently thanks to Mr. Fausto.
DANTE HERALDI: Heh, another debt to pay with the old man. Well, see you later. Come on, Rex. One more thing: if MALEKIN comes back, tell him we are by the west gate training; I would like to speak with him.
ELENA: Yes, don't worry, I'll tell him.
Our friends leave to train by the west gate, and we see them spar against each other. After some time, Dante is analyzing all his skills while REX is playing with some strange creatures similar to butterflies, but larger. A few hours have passed, and we see DANTE sitting on a log looking at his stats while REX is lying down next to him. Suddenly, MALEKIN arrives at the location and greets DANTE.
MALEKIN: Hello, Dante. Elena told me you were over here. What happened?
DANTE HERALDI: You see, MALEKIN, I am pleased to inform you that Isamu is going to join our team to fight against Mictlantekuti. Furthermore, I am glad because I just saw something interesting in my stats: my powers are at their maximum. There was a requirement, which was the blood of a god, and after killing Tezcatlipoca, I managed to break my limits; now I am stronger.
MALEKIN: Sounds great to me. There is something I want to tell you too: I was looking for that bastard who escaped.
DANTE HERALDI: And what did you find?
MALEKIN: Honestly, not much; this place has shrunk quite a bit compared to the beginning. Apparently, killing the god brought problems with the place's ecosystem. I found a cave and discovered blood, but nothing more; apparently, that guy is no longer in this place.
DANTE HERALDI: It doesn't surprise me; that fool is very slippery. I hope he rots in this place, and if I find him, I will have no mercy on him.
REX: Dante, don't worry, I will help you find him if necessary (wagging his tail).
DANTE HERALDI: Thanks, Rex, I really appreciate it. By the way, Malekin, we will be leaving this place in two weeks; I want you to get ready.
MALEKIN: Alright, Dante, I know my performance lately hasn't been the best, but I will push myself harder. I had better take my leave; I'm going to train. (Walks away).
DANTE HERALDI: Good, I expect a lot from you, Malekin.
REX: See you later, Malekin.
Our friend MALEKIN says goodbye by raising his hand and walks off, while DANTE and REX stay behind to train a bit longer. Once time passes, they return home, and we see DANTE and REX alone in their room, where DANTE is lying on his bed and REX is resting on the floor. After a few minutes in silence, REX sees his friend looking uneasy and begins to speak.
REX: Dante, sorry to bother you, but I see that something is troubling you.
DANTE HERALDI: Heh, I guess you know me well; truth is, I don't know what I'm going to do. Remember what happened in the alley? There's something that is bothering me way too much.
REX: Where you met with Bell? I guess that demon told you something, right?
DANTE HERALDI: Yeah, I'll tell you, but promise you won't tell anyone, okay?
REX: I swear.
DANTE HERALDI: You see, Bell told me that there are worlds that were created by humans. They have the ability to create worlds just by imagining them; if they write them down, other universes are born. He told me that this power is people's "free will"; since they were created in the image and likeness of the creator, they have this power. That's why there are so many universes and things are getting mixed up, and it's driving me crazy, like not knowing if we're even real.
REX: (shocked) This is too much to process, (calms down), but anyway, tell me, Dante, do you think that matters? (Dante is surprised). Truth is, we were alive, living a shitty life, but now we are here in another reality; what does it matter if we are real or not, I think the best thing is to live our life and move forward with it. Honestly, I feel comfortable being here with you; to me, you and everyone I met in this place are my reality now. What difference does it make where we came from? This is our reality and we have to live it, of course, as far as we can, hehe.
DANTE is left astonished by REX's words; meditating on everything he said, he pauses to think and responds.
DANTE HERALDI: hahahahahaha, curse it, to think a dog would give me life lessons on human existence, but you're right, Rex, what matters is living, and you know, in this place it would be ideal to make it our reality.
REX: Don't tell me you want to… stay here.
DANTE HERALDI: It would be great, I was thinking about it, Rex, and I think that after defeating Mictlantekuti, I will stay here. Don't tell anyone, it will be a surprise.
REX: (wagging his tail) Really? How great, yippee, I look forward to it.
DANTE HERALDI: Truthfully, I would love to just stay and not go any further, but if we leave that thing alive, he will come back for us.
REX: You're right, friend, let's finish him off and then build our lives here.
DANTE HERALDI: All of this will end very soon, I swear, Rex, and our lives will be fine. (Gets sad) It makes me sad to think I won't see my children again, but as Bell said, life goes on with or without me, so I'd better rebuild my life here and hope my family is in good hands.
REX: I believe they are, my good Dante (climbs onto the bed and licks him).
DANTE HERALDI: No, Rex, stop it, hahaha.
After this heartwarming talk, our friends gain a period of peace.
After a long time of peace, our friends are finally ready to begin their march once more, and we see how the two weeks have passed quickly. Now they stand at the entrance of the cave to continue their path and defeat MICTLANTEKUTI in order to lead their peaceful lives, and behind them, most of the town is there to say goodbye and cheer them on.
MAYOR EVY: I wish you the best luck in the world; I hope you achieve your goal. I don't know if you will make it.
DANTE HERALDI: Thanks, Mayor, I'll bring these two back to you in one piece (pointing at Quetzalcoatl and Isamu). You'll see that we will make it. Alright, guys, let's move.
We see how our heroes enter the cave with firm determination; what new adventures await them, we will soon find out.