Chapter 2: Hell’s Final Gambit
The night sky above Red Grave City was a swirling storm of hellish energy, pulsating with raw, unstable power. The Rift, a gaping wound between dimensions, remained open, its edges flickering with a chaotic mixture of Doom's infernal corruption and DMC's dark underworld essence. It bled horror into the world, spewing forth abominations that defied logic—demons that were neither fully of one hell nor the other, but something far worse: twisted hybrids of pure nightmare.
At the heart of it all stood the Doom Slayer. He had seen countless horrors, faced the legions of hell time and time again, but this was new. His grip tightened on his Super Shotgun as he surveyed the battlefield. The Rift had to be closed. Permanently.
The streets trembled as more monstrosities clawed their way into reality. A massive, grotesque being with the body of a Doom Baron and the shifting, ethereal wings of a DMC demon lord screeched into existence. Its presence alone sent a wave of corrupted energy washing over the ruined cityscape.
A beat passed, then the Doom Slayer moved.
The crack of his Super Shotgun echoed like a war drum. A hybrid demon's skull detonated under the sheer force of the blast, sending bone shards and brain matter flying. Before the rest could react, he was already upon them, his Doomblade flashing in an arc of brutal efficiency. He carved through flesh, armor, and bone with zero hesitation.
Nero, watching from a rooftop, blinked in disbelief. "Okay, is anyone gonna talk about the walking tank, or…?"
Dante, still grinning, twirled Ebony & Ivory in his hands. "Let him cook, kid."
The Doom Slayer didn't just kill; he annihilated. One demon, half-formed from the Rift, attempted to lunge at him. With a roar, he grabbed its head and crushed it in his gauntleted fist before using the corpse as a battering ram against another incoming foe.
Vergil, arms crossed, observed the carnage with a narrowed gaze. "Efficient. Merciless." He frowned slightly. "But is he in control?"
More demons rushed forward, and the Slayer welcomed them. He vaulted over a charging Hell Knight hybrid, landing on its back and burying his blade deep into its spine. A quick pull and a wet rip later, the beast crumpled, lifeless. He was an unstoppable force, his every movement honed by centuries of warfare.
Despite his relentless assault, the Rift only grew stronger. The streets cracked as its energy warped the foundations of the city, transforming buildings into grotesque, half-living structures of bone and steel. The sky turned a deep crimson, lightning crackling through the storm of chaos.
Dante finally let out a low whistle. "Alright, that's a problem."
"No kidding!" Nero snapped. "Can we shut that thing down or what?!"
Doom Slayer, without a word, lifted his Crucible blade. It pulsed in sync with the Rift, resonating with the dark energies surging from within. The air around him grew heavy, thick with unstable power.
Vergil's eyes flickered with realization. "He intends to close it himself."
Without hesitation, the Doom Slayer bolted toward the Rift. Demons, sensing his intent, immediately converged on him in a frenzied swarm. They knew what he was about to do—and they couldn't allow it.
The Rift pulsed violently before a monstrous form began to take shape. A towering beast, larger than any the Slayer had faced thus far, rose from the swirling abyss. It was an unholy fusion—the sheer bulk of a Doom Tyrant fused with the regal, twisted elegance of a DMC Demon King-type entity. Its form constantly shifted, its flesh an unstable mass of writhing energy and molten armor.
It roared, the sound reverberating across dimensions. Reality itself twisted in its presence, its power too great for the mortal world to contain.
For a moment, even Nero faltered. "Okay… that thing's new."
Dante simply smirked, watching as the Doom Slayer did not hesitate. He didn't pause, didn't strategize, didn't acknowledge the creature as anything more than another obstacle in his path.
He just RUSHED in.
"Oh," Dante chuckled, spinning Rebellion onto his shoulder. "I like this guy."
The Slayer met the beast head-on, his Super Shotgun blazing. The initial blast staggered it, but only for a second. The creature retaliated, swinging a massive claw wreathed in hellfire. The impact sent the Slayer skidding back, his boots digging into the cracked pavement.
The demon pressed the attack, its form morphing mid-motion. One moment it had the brute strength of a Cyberdemon, the next it wielded the speed and shadowy elegance of a DMC demon overlord. It was a nightmare given flesh, an entity forged from the worst aspects of two hells.
But the Doom Slayer was undeterred.
He switched tactics instantly, holstering his shotgun in favor of the Crucible. The glowing red blade ignited, humming with destructive energy. With a roar, he surged forward, dodging a sweeping claw before driving the blade deep into the creature's chest.
It shrieked in agony, its body convulsing as the Crucible's power attempted to sever its connection to both hells. It lashed out wildly, but the Slayer was relentless. He twisted the blade, ripping it free in a violent arc that sent a torrent of demonic ichor spraying into the air.
The beast stumbled, its unstable form beginning to unravel. It let out one last, defiant roar before its body collapsed into a writhing mass of dissolving flesh, vanishing into the nothingness from whence it came.
The Doom Slayer wasted no time. He turned back to the Rift, his armor stained with fresh gore. He raised the Crucible once more, preparing to deliver the final blow that would end this invasion.
The Rift pulsed violently, as if sensing its impending doom.
And then, something stirred deep within its depths.