Chapter 9: For You

Nero didn't waste any time; he couldn't. He took off sprinting into the entrance of headquarters. There was a small awning, then the last stretch of the Gran Album. Headquarters towered above him, a milky white building, void of design save for the Order of the Sword emblem on the front. The entire featureless building seemed to be a mask for the true evil beneath it. Nero couldn't help but curl his lip in disgust, realizing that he wore the same emblem on his clothes.

None of that mattered. He had to get to Kyrie, and he even had a decent idea where she would be. There was a restricted section inside of the building, a place where Nero didn't have high enough clearance to go. It was as good as any place to start looking.

He blew out of the awning, then skidded to a halt halfway down the last stretch of open bridge. It had widened out to much more manageable proportions, now the width of a freeway. At the far end, two white knights stood guard. When he approached, they locked into combat stances, shields up and lances raised. But they were not meant for Nero.

Two assault lizards silently leaped past him, rushing then engaging the knights. They battled back and forth, neither group able to land a heavy blow. The battle abruptly stopped when both sides caught sight of something descending down the face of headquarters.

It was another knight, but unlike the white ones, its armor was gold. The armor was almost identical in every way, except of course for its color. It hovered down on a pair of pointed metal wings The new knight was armed with an Order rapier. Nero recognized the exceed port on the back of the blade.

The knight touched down, its greaves clanking only the slightest as it came into contact with the stone. The wings on its back slid off its shoulders, then pressed together, forming the shield in its left hand. It boldly strode forward towards its comrades. The assault lizards bounded straight for the new opponent. With a single sweep of its sword and a tweak of exceed, the gold knight cut through both of them, not even breaking stride. It stood between the two white knights, all three taking up battle positions.

Nero growled and sprinted straight for them. The gold knight pointed his sword, and by some unheard command, the white knights launched themselves at Nero, their shields folding back into wings, lances outstretched in charge.

Nero gleaned off of their lances with Red Queen, going straight for the gold knight. It was ready to meet him with its sword. Their blades clanged off each other, the heat from the exceed gauges like an out of control furnace between them. The knight parried a blow from Nero with its shield, then skidded back. In an instant, the two white knights were in front of it, forming a phalanx with shields raised to protect their commander.

The shoved at Nero, then stabbed forward. He vaulted back to avoid impalement. A new order was given, and the white knights launched themselves at Nero again, first one, then the other. The second one blew past, knocked him off balance. The gold was right behind them, bringing its flaming rapier around in an arc.

Nero blocked the blow with the equally hot Red Queen, feeling the blow travel up his arm and the blast of heat into his face. He engaged in another quick skirmish with the gold knight before one of the whites came soaring back. The other took position opposite of it, pinching Nero in the middle. They hurtled towards him, trying to smash him between themselves.

Nero hopped out from between them, the turbulence from their passing ripping his coat about in loud flaps. He attacked the gold again, but once again, the whites formed their protective phalanx.

Nero retreated, prepping Red Queen for the maneuver that came to his head. It was the same one he'd pulled in the cathedral plaza. The knights launched, one at a time, just like he'd hoped. He ducked low, then razed Red Queen in a horizontal line, opening the exceed all the way. He felt his shoulder graze the first's lance, but he ignored the burst of pain. Queen connected, slicing cleanly through both shield and armor. The knight fell in half, the forward momentum sending it into a viscous spiral that hewed it apart further. Nero spun on the ball of his foot, maintaining his speed forward and ducking under the second lance. This time, Queen bit through from behind, cleaving the second's shield away. He nicked the gold knight's blade, sending it stumbling from the force.

Nero came out of his spin, alight in red and blue fire. His hand flashed to his left hip, eyes locking onto the dazed and shieldless white knight.

"You're goin' down!" he roared, then swept his arm up. Yamato in all its beauty materialized in his hand, slicing cleanly through the armor. He brought the katana around again and again, eventually pulling Red Queen into the action for a two-some. When he finished with a viscous cross blow, the knight fell away into a dozen pieces.

"Ashes to ashes..."

Nero spun and brought Queen and Yamato on the gold leader, hewing off both arms in one strike, then unleashing a barrage of strikes that cut it apart like tin. The gold knight fell away, disintegrating. Nero swept his blades down, mock clearing the blood from them.

"Dust to dust..."

Yamato retreated back into Devil Bringer. Nero felt a slight burst of fatigue. It was either because Yamato had left him briefly, or he had used to much power in the Yamato/Queen frenzy. He shook it off; he didn't have time to rest.

The grand hall of headquarters was void of life. The bridge connecting the larger part of headquarters was up, and although Nero hit the switch to lower it, some type of plant held it firmly up. He was blocked.

Okay, so find a way to unblock yourself!

Nero turned and bolted through a side door. He knew what he had to do. Back in Mitis Forest, he'd seen similar plants. When he touched them, they withered and died. He didn't know why, but it was probably from the fruit that Devil Bringer absorbed from Echidna. All he had to do was touch a part of the plant, then try the switch again.

He pushed through more doors, moving both higher and deeper into the front of headquarters. All around him were cages of various sizes. Most of them were empty, but several housed demons. Thick bars held in a vicious pair of assault lizards, while another held a duo of silent frosts. One cage sat packed with twittering scarecrows, though it looked like they had been killing each other.

The cages must have been for Agnus's experiments. Nero ignored the twisted zoo, going through the only other door in the room. It led to a staircase that spiraled endlessly upward. For Nero, it couldn't end soon enough. Agnus probably took her straight to his own quarters. If he was seeing stuff that involved his twisted research, he had to be getting close. At the top of the stairs and one final door, the path widened out into a room. He looked around in every direction, desperately trying to spot Kyrie's white innocence in the macabre settings. Part of the tree had crept into the room, but that's not what caught his attention.

The room was spacious, smaller cages littering the corners, stained with blood and waste, thankfully empty. It was dimly lit by several candelabras, though something far different hung amongst them. It looked like a giant glass jar, filled with red light. Suspended in it by some kind of field was Kyrie.

Her auburn hair was gently floating, as if it were under water. She was still, almost peacefully sleeping, had it not been for the pained look on her lips and behind her closed eyelids.

Nero gasped and took a step forward; beating wings filled the air. Agnus returned, hovering next to her.

"So...you've come..." His words from Fortuna Castle. He showed his gladius.

"What have you done to Kyrie!?" Nero yelled.

"Why don't you check and find out?" mocked Agnus, "But don't expect me to be as easy on you as I was last time."

Nero wouldn't want it any other way. He would gladly kill anyone who dared to get between him and her.

"If I have to kill you to save Kyrie...then let's roll!"

He flexed his right arm, Devil Bringer purring in a bright blue. Nero's face was set, daring Agnus to make the first move, which he gladly did. He swooped down, away from Kyrie, then slammed his gladius at Nero. He sidestepped underneath it, then backed away as Agnus swiped horizontally. His strokes looked powerful, but they were slow.

Agnus shot back, hovering a few feet above the ground on his glossy wings. His gladius disappeared in a flash of light. He raised his arms, the air behind him shimmering orange.

"Time to dissect..."

The light formed holes, portals, and gladii began to launch from them, spinning wildly. Not caring how he was able to summon demons, Nero banked away from the hail of blades. The ones that passed him unfolded, taking to the air in their bird forms, then began to swoop again. He lost track of one, and it sliced him up through the collar bone. Agnus gave an excited laugh and pumped his arm enthusiastically.

Yamato breathed, taking his pain away. Agnus swooped into the fray, drawing his hand back. Another portal opened, spewing a gladius into his hand. The two crossed swords in the cloud of demons. Agnus had advantages in both weight and agility, but Nero had a trick up his sleeve.

He mimicked what he did in the containment room. He snatched a gladius out of the air, then hurled it at Agnus. He shrieked in surprise as it shattered on his carapace.

Not so smart, huh? Couldn't see this coming again?

Nero volleyed a few more swords in his direction. One eventually broke through his armor, sending a spray of blood into the air, as well as a few white feathers. The single glaring red eye flashed.

"Your strength will be mine!" he cried than flew forward, grabbing Nero before he could defend himself. Agnus's thin slender fingers coiled around his throat. Hot electricity crackled at his grip on his neck, sending him into a seizure. He felt himself getting weaker and weaker as his demonic energy was sucked out.

In a panicked thrash, he yelled, and Yamato fluxed, a bright blue wave pulsing from his body. The force broke Agnus's hold on his neck. Nero fell to the ground on his knees, holding his throat. He could barely breathe. Before he had the chance to recover, Agnus smacked him with a gladius. The blow knocked Nero off his feet and into the fetid cages in the corner. Yamato worked furiously to repair the wound that almost spliced him in half.

A sudden burst of power coursed through Nero. His eyes blazed red with fury. Yamato fluxed again, clearing the twisted rubble away. Nero drove forward, Red Queen in his hand, Yamato in the knight-familiar behind him. He met Agnus head on. Despite the crazed scientist's tactics, he proved to be decent at swordplay.

Nero pushed Agnus back in a rage, insect wings carrying him high to the ceiling. A green aura began to glisten around him. The air trembled with an unseen force.

"Time to die..."

Nero jumped up, Yamato aiding his leap. He opened up Red Queen's exceed, using her as a rocket to further propel himself. His jumped arced just level with a very surprise Agnus. He unleashed a barrage of strikes, knocking the insect back to the ground.

The air behind Agnus shimmered again, a portal opening and spewing out a pair a cutlass fish like Nero had encountered in the castle tunnel. They dove into the ground, only to shoot up from beneath his feet. Nero rolled back over his shoulder to avoid them, then again as they nose dived back into the ground.

When he straightened, Agnus had procured two more. He spun a few times, building his momentum, then hurled them at Nero. The demonic fish spun like discs. Fortunately for Nero, he couldn't aim for dick, and was able to dodge them easily, letting them fly and obliterate some more cages.

Nero lashed out with Devil Bringer, clocking the scientist in his insect mandibles. He jumped up and grabbed him by the throat, then slammed him into the ground. Not letting go, he ripped him high into the air, then slammed him face first into the stone floor. At some point, Agnus tried to summon a sword, because several malformed gladii spilled out of nowhere. Nero grabbed one in each hand, then slammed the dull blades deep into his back. Agnus shrieked in pain as his own swords cracked his armor and lacerated his innards. Nero iced the cake by slamming Red Queen's hot blade in after the swords, then ripped it out painfully, the force of the action knocking him back across the floor.

With great effort, Agnus took to the air, managing a few feet. Blood was pouring from the holes in his midsection, which he tried to hold closed with his free hand. Still, he managed to procure a blade.

"Uggghhhh...Damn you!" he screeched. "DAMN YOU!! I will kill you! I WILL kill you!"

Nero laughed. Yamato's power retreated inside of him, too taxed from the battle to show its presence anymore. He didn't care. He was going to kill Agnus. It was over; game, set, match. He was tired as hell, but he wouldn't need much more energy to finish him.

"Is that all you got?" Nero mocked fighting past his pants, spreading his arms. Red Queen glistened in his blood. He pointed her tip at him. "I think it's time to put you out of your misery!"

Agnus let out a shrill yell of anger, raising his blade for one last desperate charge-

-but was halted when a white streak crossed in front of him. Another joined it, then another, and another. White knights were swooping into the room, circling Nero.

Fuck! Not now!

They dove, lances pointed. Nero stepped and parried as they shot by. He caught one by the lance, then hurled it away, only to get sideswiped by another. Back and forth he was jostled about, unable to do anything but block.

The shell of the Alto Angelo was weak, but it would serve its purpose as a vessel quite well. Sanctus hovered into the room after the Biancos began their assault. Agnus had failed miserably; truly he was unworthy to possess the ascended form of an angel. Though this failure could be overlooked, just this once. Agnus was the one who activated Nero's latent powers. Their plans had accelerated.

His subordinate's single red eye widened in surprise at his prescence.

"Your Holiness!" he gasped, managing a bow.

"That's enough Agnus," Sanctus said tiredly. "Go and prepare for activation."

Who needed Dante? They had everything they needed right here. Now it was just a matter of drawing the boy in, and that certainly would be easy enough.

"Right away."

Agnus flitted out of the room, holding his wounds. Sanctus turned his attention on Nero. The boy truly was magnificent. The way he moved to avoid the Biancos, even though he was bordering on collapse, was amazing. Every grunt and effort was tinged with energy, like a ferocious beast that was cornered. He turned away from the sight, and let his gaze rest on one of the final pieces: Credo's sister.

He removed her from the containment vessel. One last look over his shoulder made him stop. The boy was furiously warding off the knights, trying to push closer. He caught two lances under his bare arms, then shoved them and the Biancos aside, but not without some difficulty. He was slowing. One last blow from a stray knight sent his rapier flying, though that hardly stopped him.

"Let her go!" he screamed as he jumped up after them. Two Biancos moved to intercept, but were quickly blown away by his right arm. "Kyrie!"

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he thought he heard the girl murmur the boy's name in response. Nero's demonic arm drew closer and closer. Sanctus actually had to move back to avoid him. His hand stopped short, just close enough to pluck the necklace from around her neck.

His face, twisted in frustration, melted into sorrow as he began to fall away.

Pathetic.

No...

A knight slammed into him, the lance missing just underneath his arm. It planted him back to the ground. He'd been so close...so close to saving her. Now she was too far away, tucked under the arm of a gold knight.

"You have indeed inherited Sparda's power..." hissed a familiar voice. It was old man Sanctus.

That bastard!

The old man in the suit of armor simply turned away. Two more white knights cocked their lances, then dove. Nero's eyes burned red before they slammed down onto him. Yamato fluxed, throwing the knights from their dogpile and into the wall, where they collapsed with a clutter to the floor. He was on his feet, screaming in fury, but he was too late; Kyrie was gone.

He looked down, trembling, to his right hand. Her necklace sat in the glowing palm of Devil Bringer. With his left, he traced the delicate floral pattern, then stopped. The edges of his vision were turning blurry.

Nero dropped to his knees, then began to pound Devil Bringer into the arm, screaming in frustration with each blow. The last hit shattered the stone, sending long cracks beneath him. It wasn't working. He couldn't yell loud enough, Devil Bringer could never hit hard enough, not enough to bring her back.

Nero screamed again, unleashing another anguished barrage.

Author's Note: Agnus embodies two types of bosses: the kind that drain your health and replenish their own, and the kind that prefer to summon things to fight you instead of himself. Both really irritate me. With my Xbox dying suddenly on me (red lower right quadrant flash), I won't be finishing Hell and Hell mode anytime soon. I was just barely able to finish the game with a super character before it croaked. We're just about to the halfway point. Next up: Nero bumps into a familiar face. Let me know if things are still good!