A/N: Hooray, a not-seven-month update! Various things inspired this chapter, and it is the longest one to date (four hundred words short of four thousand). A lot of things happen throughout this chapter, and after this, there is one more to go before this will be completed. I may post an epilogue, depending, and then the sequel to this. So many ideas, so little time.
Warnings: SPOILERS FOR BATEN KAITOS/ORIGINS. Also mild violent imagery.
Pairings: Vergil x Sagi and Dante x Kalas. Both play a major part in this chapter.
The crack is almost over. One more chapter and this should be completed, but fear not. I have ideas for a sequel. It will live on. (The crackiness that is.)
Demonic Humanity
Chapter VIII: Defeat. Reunion. Return.
He was defeated. They were reunited. Two great evils return.
Marno rolled his eyes from in front of "the two lovebirds", as he put it earlier. He heard Kalas cursing at Dante because he did something perverted, but all he got in response was snickering and something that the god would rather not repeat. He had to admit that young love was cute (Dante was young to him, since the swordsman was over five thousand years old), but there was something that disturbed him. He felt Sagi's presence, but he also felt something else. An evil, maleficent power from long ago, and it was a power he was too familiar with. The blue haired god shook his head off the thoughts as he continued walking. It couldn't have been who he thought. That evil, twisted, demented madman was killed by Sagi in their world. There was no way that he could have been sent to this world.
Unless he was sent here when he died.
Marno grit his teeth. That madman was the reason that his life was ruined, cut short long before his time. He was the reason his family sold their souls to the Dark Brethern, so they could gain more power to defeat him. In the end, they had failed, and Sagi had been the one to destroy him once and for all when he was sent to the future. The navy haired swordsman felt warmth coursing through him when he remembered that his family, his brothers, his sister, had been the ones to save Sagi and the others before he killed them.
"Is something wrong?" a gentle voice asked Marno, causing him to jolt in surprise. "Please, fear not. My name is Daimon. I am the spirit residing in Kalas."
"He's a spiriter?" the god replied through his mind, realizing that the angelic power he felt in his fellow swordsman must have been this spirit. Daimon, she said her name was. Daimon… I know that name from somewhere.
"Yes. I came to him the night his grandfather and brother were murdered. We've been together ever since. Despite one incident that happened, we're still together. We always will be." Daimon replied, affection brimming in her voice for the insensitive young man. Marno figured that Kalas' guardian spirit felt more than a human/spirit bond towards him, but it wasn't his place to say anything.
"Ain't that cute, although yes, something is disturbing me. You feel that evil presence, do you not?"
There was silence for a few moments before Daimon spoke up. "Yes. What is that? It feels like his power."
Marno blinked in confusion. "His" power? Who was this spirit referring to? Unless she was who he thought she was…
"Daimon. Are you the same Daimon that was residing in Balheit?"
Silence ensued for a couple of minutes before the spirit replied, "…Yes. When he died, I was sent back to Nekton, Shrine of Spirits. It was not until twenty years later that I bonded with Kalas."
"I knew her name was familiar." Marno said aloud, turning his head when he heard Kalas clear his throat. "What is it?"
"I can hear your conversation, you know." the sapphire haired swordsman clarified, tapping his temple. Dante gave him a confused look, but Kalas flicked his forehead. "Okay moron, let me see if I can explain this. I have a spirit holed up in me, and her name is Daimon. We've been together since I was sixteen years old, and she's saved my ass plenty of times. I just heard her," Kalas pointed to his temple again, "and Marno" He pointed at Marno, "having a conversation about some guy's power. Do you mind explaining so that we know what the hell to expect?"
"Some guy's power?" Dante cut in, raising an eyebrow. "What, so there's more than Arkham in there? C'mon, give me a break."
"Sagi is there, as well as your brother." Marno began, rolling his eyes when the red clad half devil muttered under his breath. "In our world, there was an evil, demented madman. No one knew his true name. All we knew him as was "Wiseman", but believe me, he was not a wise man at all. He trapped a person's magna essense, or their soul, in a magnus. They would become spirits, unaware of what was going on. They lived their lives as normal, although some would realize that they had passed into spiritual form, but say nothing to their loved ones. Wiseman would take their magna essense by force, a lot of the time. In Cujam, he had followers who gave up their magna essenses willingly in order to throw away their "useless bodies" and continue their life with their hearts. That's why they became spirits."
Kalas' eyes were wide, while Dante looked as if Marno had grown two heads and five arms. "That story is real?" the sapphire haired young adult said after a few seconds of silence. "We learned about it, but everyone thought it was nothing more than some kind of a legend."
"All of this shit is confusing the hell outta me." Dante added in.
Marno shook his head. "This story is real. Let me continue. In order to save the world from Wiseman, my family went to the Cor Hydrae, the Dark Brethren's lair, in order to gain their power. Seph, Thoran, Pieda, Ven, Marno. My brothers, sister, and myself. I told you this before, Kalas, but I never told you the whole story. You may know my family as He, Che, Le, and Bo. The sibling gods of Malpercio."
Kalas stared at the god as if he just told him his best friend died. His face had a look of horror on it, and he had a hand raised up to his mouth in shock. "Your family… is Malpercio? You told me that you were Ar, but your entire family was—"
The half devil seemed to know what was going on, as he gripped Kalas by his shoulders with a strange look in his eyes. "Listen to me. How the hell were you supposed to know that innocent people were the so called "evil" gods back then? You did what you had to so that your world would be protected. Its present and its future. It ain't your fault, alright?" He slapped Kalas on the face a few times. "Now, get it together. We still haven't heard the rest of that ancient's story."
The young man shook his head before nodding and using Dante so that he wouldn't fall over. "I understand. Go on, Marno."
The god nodded. "We got their power, for a price. Once we defeated Wiseman, they would take our souls. We agreed, and fought one of them—or should I say, Sagi, Milly, and Guillo fought them. That part isn't important." Marno added when he got confused looks. "What is important is that the evil, sinister power I'm sensing belongs to that same madman. Wiseman. Daimon, the spirit hosted within you, knows of him. She was bonded with another person, Balheit, before he was killed, but I'm sure you heard that in our conversation."
"I heard. We'll have to face someone that you couldn't defeat back then?" Kalas asked, looking skeptical. "How are we supposed to do that?"
"I'm stronger now." Marno replied easily. "Plus, we have the two sons of Sparda on our side. We won't be defeated that easily."
"Damn right." Dante smirked, wrapping an arm securely around the blunet swordsman. "After all, I'm not letting anyone steal this from me again."
Kalas snorted. "I'm not a possession, you ass." Although he sounded annoyed, a genuine smile was on his face. "Let's get this over with."
What is Sagi doing inside that monstrosity that Arkham has become? Arkham killed him, did he not? Vergil wondered, shifting back to his human form. "That is nothing to concern myself with. I must get him out of what Arkham," he said the devil human's name with a snarl, "has become before he becomes a part of him. That, I will not allow."
The older son of Sparda unsheathed his prized katana and jumped off the ledge he was standing on, landing behind the former human. His image was in the form of his father, but the blue clad half devil knew that it was a matter of time before Sparda's power overwhelmed him. He would strike seconds before that moment arose. It would be the time when the vermin was the weakest, thus the perfect opportunity to end his pathetic excuse for a life.
He heightened his senses to his demonic ones without changing forms, seeing that the teenager was leaned against something with a weak look in his once vibrant turquoise eyes. His sword was gripped loosely in his hand, but a vibrant, holy light was pulsing out of the sword. It was something that confused Vergil. How could holy light be coming out of his sword? As far as he knew, in order to summon holy light, a person required two things. To have a pure soul and know the words of the ancient scriptures to summon it, but the words were written in Latin, a language lost centuries ago. The fact that Sagi had knowledge of Latin was rather impressive, considering his young age. Vergil had to take into account that he came from a different world, but Latin was a confusing, complex language no matter where a person came from.
Paralyzing Arkham where he stood without the devil human realizing it, the half devil closed his eyes and spoke in his mind to the youth, hoping that his demonic powers would reach through Arkham's (albeit pathetic) demonic powers. "Sagi. Can you hear me?"
Those eyes widened before the teenager looked around, confusing evident on his face. "Who's there?"
Vergil would have sighed in relief, but that was out of character, so he settled for a sigh that he hoped sounded exasperated. "Please do not tell me that being stuck in there for however long has ruined your memory."
"Vergil?" the turquoise haired teen questioned, suspicion in his tone.
"Yes."
"That's surprising." Sagi mumbled to himself, but the older son of Sparda heard it so clearly that Sagi may as well have been standing next to him. "Why are you here?" Surprisingly, the teen's tone held no malice, just mere curiosity.
"That is unimportant." was Vergil's cut response, and he heard the youth huffing in annoyance. It was rather endearing. "What is important is getting you out of there before you become absorbed into Arkham completely."
"I don't want to become a part of this creep. No thanks."
The half devil allowed himself to chuckle, but it was short lived as his eyes snapped open. Arkham had turned around, a sinister smirk on his face. "How cute. You forget that Sagi is inside me, Vergil. I can hear your conversation clearly." The devil human raised his sword. "You were too late in stealing his powers, and now they are mine!"
Vergil took his battle stance, but before they could clash, a voice echoed throughout the area. "You are absolutely pathetic. I am far too strong to be taken by a weakling such as yourself."
"What!" Arkham yelled angrily, turning around.
The blue clad half devil looked as well, and he felt demonic power coursing through his veins immediately. It was the same power that he felt when he first rescued Sagi. However, it was much stronger this time, and he felt the urge to go on one knee and bow his head to one who was stronger than him. He snarled, resisting the urge. He would not lower his head to anyone, even a stronger demon.
The source of the power stepped through the entrance, followed by two others. Vergil wasn't focused on them; instead, he was focused on the demonic power. His face was covered in a mask, but he saw a purple glowing mark through the fabric, and his eyes glowed a malevolent crimson. His hair was a navy shade, reaching his shoulders, while his attire consisted of various robes with multiple designs throughout the fabric. He had black pants on, with a katana strapped to his hip. The demonic power was pulsing off him in vibrant black waves, and the urge to kneel before one stronger than him passed through Vergil once again. He snarled, resisting the force, and the demon looked at him with an amused smirk on his face. It was almost as if he knew that the older son of Sparda was resisting kneeling before him.
"You heard me, you senile old man." the demon retorted, the smirk widening on his features. "Your feeble powers are much too weak to capture me. Now, you will pay for putting Sagi through so much hell." He took his katana out of its scabbard, and it glowed ebony black. "Kalas, Dante. You know what we have to do."
"Hell yes! This is what I live for!" Dante replied, unsheathing Rebellion and pointing it at Arkham. "Let's put an end to this, whatd'ya say, hotshot?"
Kalas shook his head in exasperation at the red clad half devil. "I am rather pissed off that he used me as a wall ornament," The swordsman grinned, summoning his sword from a card. "so I guess I'll return the favor by making HIM a wall ornament!"
The half devil and the human shared a look before screaming out their battle cries and charging at the devil human. Dante shifted to his demonic form and flew up into the air, shooting multiple purple lightning bolts at the blob that Arkham had become during Marno's speech. Kalas' sword glowed a vibrant green shade and the light lit up his face, a wide smirk crossing his features. "This might hurt a bit!" he yelled, raising his sword. "Chaotic Illusion!"
Time seemed to stop as the spiriter slashed at Arkham six times. The first slash was at his front, leaving a gaping wound. The second, his left side. Third, his back. Fourth, his right side. Fifth, his underside. Sixth, his front once more. Arkham yelled out in agony as the sword slashes left gaping wounds throughout his body, and time started once again. Vergil was, in short, amazed at the power Kalas possessed. It was different than Sagi's, but it was in the same league. He sensed that it was a pure, holy power, while Sagi's was more on the evil, malevolent side.
It seemed to be the perfect time to strike after Dante stabbed at Arkham's front multiple times, widening the wound, and Kalas used a holy attack to deepen it even further. Yamato lit up, and Vergil smirked, charging the demonic aura at the devil human. It slashed at his front once again, causing Arkham to rear back and howl in agony. However, in seconds, a bright light evaded from the wound, and Marno seemed to disappear within the light.
The two half devils and the human were confused before someone flew out from the light, their feathers scattering through their powerful wingbeats. They stayed in the air for a few moments before landing, their katana clenched in their hands. Turquoise hair stuck to their forehead, and bright eyes of the same color stared at Arkham with an angry look within their cores.
"For everything you've put us through, you're going to pay!" Sagi screamed, his sword igniting with a vibrant holy light. The light stretched throughout his entire body, and his wings seemed to get twice as large, while his eyes were bright, turquoise spotlights on his face. The youth raised his katana, charging towards Arkham and slashing at him with powerful, angry strokes of his sword. The light cut through his demonic body as if he was paper, and he was screaming something in Latin. "Suus furor," he yelled, slashing three times at Arkham's weakened front, "DEI!"
He slashed at the devil human two more times before crashing into him, feathers bursting from the attack. Arkham reeled back, howling in pain, and Sagi looked at Kalas, who had a surprised look on his face. "Kalas, now! Use your spirit's power!"
The swordsman looked confused for a moment before he realized what the youth was saying. He nodded, flying up into the air as a blue bubble of pure power surrounded him. "Ego sum lux, domitor tenebras!" he chanted in Latin, and a holy light appeared from above Arkham. "Exaudi vocem, CANDIDUS SERAPHICUS!"
The holy light increased in size, and it smashed down on Arkham, blinding everyone in the area for a few moments. They heard Arkham scream, "I have the true power of Sparda…!" before he disintegrated, leaving behind a sword and two amulets.
Kalas flew down, his wings disappearing as his two feet landed on solid ground. "That, was tiring." he huffed out, surprise coursing through him when he felt two arms wrap around him. "Hey! I'm fine, you know." The swordsman rolled his eyes before burying his face into the familiar leather. "Doing a spirit spell is tiring, that's all."
"That better be it." Dante muttered, burying his face in Kalas' blue hair. It had been far too long that he had stood in one spot and held his partner, so he resisted the urge to do something perverted. Just this once, though. he added in his mind, inwardly snickering.
Sagi closed his eyes, feeling his wings disappear as well as his sword return to its original magnus. It crossed his mind to keep his eyes closed, but he decided it would be a childish thing to do, so he opened them. He was met with Vergil's nonchalant ones, but he could have sworn that he saw some other emotion in those icy depths. "You looked for me, didn't you?" the teenager asked, deciding that he would get Vergil to explain even if he had to drag it out of him. "Why did you?"
"I had to look for you. For I had to apologize for what I have done to you." the half devil replied, staring into the turquoise eyes that he had come to adore. "What Arkham told you that time was true. However," he held Sagi's gaze, even though it had become angered, "what he failed to inform you of was that I had given up that plan."
The anger faded from the youth's vibrant eyes, confusion replacing the emotion. "Given it up? Why?"
The older son of Sparda was one who never let his emotions get the best of him. This time was no exception, despite the fact that it was an emotional moment (a fact that he admitted). Seeing the youth, moderately unharmed, despite what had happened to him, relieved him. Of course, that was a fact that no one would know, except Sagi—he would not know now, but someday. "There was something about you that I wanted to learn more about, so I decided that taking your demonic powers would be unwise."
"That's it?" Sagi crossed his arms, annoyance on his face. "Give me a bit more credit than that. You don't give up that kind of plan because the person interests you."
"The kid's a bright one!" Dante yelled from a few feet away, and Vergil had the urge to cut his tongue off so that his brother would shut up. "C'mon Vergil, just tell him! I'm sure he's used to psychopaths falling for him!"
"Psychopaths falling for me?" Sagi repeated, as if he was testing the words. Vergil's hand twitched to reach for his sword to silence his brother, but he thought better of it. "True." the turquoise haired youth said after a couple of minutes, causing the half devil to look at him with confusion. "I'm used to psychopaths and weird people falling for me. I mean, Geldoblame was the weirdest person I ever met-"
"Geldoblame cecidit tibi? Quod suus crassa!" Kalas yelled in Latin, confusing the Sparda twins. Latin was a long lost language; how was he speaking it so easily?
"Erat minor tum. Minor!" Sagi yelled back, laughing, and Kalas followed suit soon afterwards. "Post omnes, non Melodia cadere tibi?"
The sapphire haired swordsman groaned at what the youth said. "Don't remind me."
Sagi snickered before looking back at Vergil, a loud laugh passing through him at the dumbstruck look on his face—or as close to dumbstruck as the half devil allowed to show. "Latin is the main language of our world." he clarified.
"I see." Vergil murmured in response, walking forwards and allowing his hand to ghost over the youth's cheek. "I will say this—I am glad that you are still here. I was "sad" when I heard that Arkham had killed you."
The youth blinked stupidly before closing the distance and embracing the stoic older son of Sparda. "I'm happy."
A ghost of a smile appeared on the blue clad half devil's face before he returned the embrace. It was an odd thing for him to be doing, but he felt more content than he had in decades. This is right. I know that it is.
"Ain't that adorable." Dante said suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence. Vergil shot him a heated glare, but his younger brother shrugged his shoulders. "Now that we have our men back, why don't we get out of this dump?"
Kalas hit his boyfriend upside the head, but he nodded. "I'd rather get out of here as soon as possible."
Vergil agreed silently with them, and he felt Sagi nod against his chest. They turned around to leave, but two voices echoed throughout the area, causing the maledieter and the spiriter to stop in their tracks.
"You did not think you could escape me forever, did you Kalas, you sickly raven?"
"I have cooooome to sssssteal your magnussssss..."
"Geldoblame!"
"Wiseman…"
There was quite a bit of Latin in this chapter, so here it is, translated.
Suus furor... DEI! - It's the fury... OF A GOD!
Ego sum lux, domitor tenebras! Exaudi vocem, CANDIDUS SERAPHICUS! - I am the light, vanquisher of darkness! Hear my voice, SHINING SERAPH!
Geldoblame cecidit tibi? Quod suus crassa! - Geldoblame fell for you? That's gross!
Erat minor tum. Minor! - He was younger then. Younger!
Post omnes, non Melodia cadere tibi? - After all, didn't Melodia fall for you as well?
The second was a play on what Kalas says before a spirit spell. I had to put vanquisher instead of dispeller, otherwise it wouldn't translate.
The final showdown is in the last chapter. Let's hope my writing of battle scenes improves so I can write the dramatic final showdown.
Big thank you to WookieCookie and Ivory Tears who have reviewed every chapter and have been my most devoted readers.
