Chapter 22

Ruby emerged from the store, Dante's signature red coat draped over her shoulders. She scanned the area outside, spotting more demons lurking about.

"Looks like the welcoming party is still here," she muttered,

Ruby looks behind and sees Dante's damaged store. "You guys really did a number on this." She turns back, surveying the demons prowling the streets. "Time to clean up this mess."

Gripping the Rebellion sword tightly, Ruby dashes forward. The demons lunge at her, but she sidesteps their attacks with ease, countering with a series of swift slashes. The blade cuts through the demonic flesh, and Ruby's Stylish Rank climbs higher with each successful strike.

A group of Pride demons charge at her, their clawed hands reaching out to tear her apart. Ruby darts forward, her blade flashing as she cuts through their ranks.

As the Pride demons fall, a new threat emerges - the alluring Lust demons. She keeps her focus, dodging their attempts to ensnare her. She leaps into the air, raining down Ebony and Ivory bullets upon them.

Landing gracefully, she switches back to the Rebellion. She dances between the Lust demons, slicing and slashing with precision. Their shrieks echo through the streets as one by one, they succumb to her relentless onslaught.

The last Lust demon crumples to the ground, and Ruby takes a moment to catch her breath. Her eyes scan the area, searching for any remaining threats. But the streets are now clear, the only sounds the distant rumble of the city.

Ruby rolls her shoulders, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Not bad," she murmurs, a hint of a grin on her lips.

Ruby saw smoke appearing and disappearing on the nearby rooftops. She didn't know what it was, but it felt like a bad sign. Gripping the Rebellion tightly, she scanned the area, searching for the source of the disturbance.

Suddenly, a dark figure materialized in front of her, its tattered robes flowing ominously. Ruby's eyes widened as she took in the skeletal mask and the massive scythe clutched in its bony hands.

"What the..." Ruby muttered, her brow furrowing in confusion. This creature was unlike anything she had encountered in the simulation so far.

The Hell Vanguard let out a bone-chilling screech and charged at Ruby, its scythe slicing through the air. Ruby barely had time to react, raising the Rebellion to parry the blow. The impact sent shockwaves through her arms, and she stumbled back, her heart racing.

The Hell Vanguard vanished, only to reappear behind her. Ruby whirled around, bringing the sword up just in time to block another powerful swing. She gritted her teeth, straining against the creature's strength.

"Okay, this thing is tough," Ruby said, her eyes darting around as she searched for an opening.

The Hell Vanguard unleashed a barrage of attacks, its scythe a blur as it struck from all angles. Ruby danced around the battlefield, her movements frantic as she struggled to keep up with the relentless assault.

Sweat beaded on her brow, and her arms ached from the constant parrying. She knew she couldn't keep this up much longer. Desperate, she tried to land a few counterattacks, but the Hell Vanguard seemed to anticipate her every move, vanishing and reappearing to avoid her strikes.

Ruby's heart pounded in her chest as the creature loomed over her, its glowing red eyes boring into her.

The scythe descended, and Ruby's world went dark.

Ruby stood in the stark, empty space, her frustration evident on her face. She glanced around, seeing the chat window filled with mocking emotes and taunting messages.

"So that's how it's going to be, huh?" Ruby muttered, her brow furrowing as she read the jeering comments. But she wouldn't let this setback demoralize her. Gripping the Rebellion sword tighter, she steeled her resolve.

"I'm not giving up that easily," she declared, her eyes narrowing with determination. This was just a challenge to overcome, and Ruby was never one to back down from a fight.

Gripping the Rebellion sword tightly, Ruby stares at the "Continue" button, her gaze unwavering. With a deep breath, she presses it, determination burning in her eyes. The world around her shifts, and she finds herself back in the dimly lit streets of the city, facing the imposing figure of the Hell Vanguard once more.

This time, Ruby is prepared. She analyzes the creature's movements, anticipating its attacks. When the scythe swings towards her, she deftly parries, the impact sending vibrations through her arms. Ruby counters with a flurry of strikes, her blade a blur as she seeks to overwhelm the Hell Vanguard.

The creature vanishes and reappears, but Ruby is ready. She tracks its movements, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. With a well-timed dodge, she lands a series of powerful blows, her Stylish Rank climbing steadily.

Ruby grits her teeth as she delivers the final blow, the Hell Vanguard's scythe clattering to the ground. The creature lets out a haunting death wail before falling to the ground.

Ruby stands there, chest heaving, her grip on the Rebellion sword tight. A sense of accomplishment washes over her, but she barely has a moment to savor the victory.

The ground suddenly begins to tremble beneath her feet, the vibrations growing stronger by the second. Ruby's eyes widen as she looks around, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance.

Then, in the distance, a towering structure starts to emerge from the earth. Ruby's breath catches in her throat as she watches the massive spires of the Temen-ni-gru pierce the sky, the demonic edifice rising up with a rumbling roar.

"What the..." Ruby breathes, her gaze fixed on the ominous structure. She takes a step back, her heart pounding in her chest.

The Temen-ni-gru continues to ascend, its dark presence casting an eerie shadow over the city. Ruby feels a chill run down her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.

Ruby watches in shock as the Hell Vanguard, which she had just defeated, suddenly rises and flees towards the ominous Temen-ni-gru. She grips the Rebellion sword tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Hey, get back here!" she shouts, but the creature ignores her, disappearing into the shadows of the tower.

Ruby turns her attention to the Temen-ni-gru, its dark presence looming over the city. She can't shake the feeling that this is where she needs to go next.

"Alright, let's do this," she mutters, steeling herself for whatever horrors might await her within the demonic tower.

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