Limits - Part II
Vergil proceeded up the mountain, being that it was the only obstacle in front of his new quest. Discovering he was on Hsaudo Rin from Leviathan, Vergil knew he had a chance to do what his father could not and destroy Aeolus. In his mind Aeolus posed as much of a treat as Mundus being a king in his own rights.
The sun started to settle over the mountain creating a unique setting of color streams to outline the sky line. Unnoticed by Vergil as he continued his slow uncaring walk up the rocky path, a tall dark man walked amongst the mountain top's peak giving the appearance that he was floating across the clouds.
The resurrected son of Sparda had finally found what seemed like an entrance into the mountain, a cave with torches outside its walls. He walked to the threshold of the cavern to see torches lighting his path then lifted his head in light of the stalking presence near him.
"Do you wish to hinder my path as well?" Vergil said speaking to the black, toga wearing man posted up against the mountainous terrain beside him.
"It doesn't matter. Whether you go into the Inner Sanctum to face Aeolus or stay here to face me, you will die." The man spoke calmly seeing Vergil as not being a threat at all.
"Sorry to disappoint you but my death is something that I won't allow to come twice in a lifetime." Vergil finally looked in the man's direction taking hold of Rafier as he did. "But there is something I must find out, so I will grant you this site as your burial place…Marion."
"The arrogance of humanity," the large demon vented stepping of the wall towards Vergil. While he walked black greaves and gauntlet braces outlined with gold appeared on his hands, both bearing claw-like features. As he stood over Vergil his towering body dominated the atmosphere, standing at least three feet taller than him.
As both the devils eyes met the intensity of the situation sparked; Vergil noticing the defiant resilience of his opponent and Marion witnessing Vergil's cold lust for power. Through examining Marion's physique Vergil saw an insignia of six circles descending in each other and ending with a dot, upon his arm.
"I will crush you," Marion informed in his stern voice. Immediately after he attacked with furious punches that were so powerful vacuums of wind followed in their wake.
Vergil found he could barely avoid the strikes, having his own speed negated because of the wind vacuums created by Marion. The vacuums even stopped Vergil from countering with the power of Rafier, which seemed somewhat irresponsive.
"He's strong," Vergil thought, "but these vacuums shouldn't be causing me this many problems."
Suddenly, Marion drove his foot into Vergil's chest pulling him closer within his vacuum. The force of the kick launched Vergil into the cliffs causing a slight amount of debris to fall.
"Are you done playing yet, I'm ready to get serious." Marion taunted taking a striking stance.
"You must excuse me," Vergil replied, "I wasn't expecting a challenge on this island. And really…I'm still not." Vergil got up preparing for round two.
Marion charged towards Vergil attempting to behead him with his claws. Dodging the assault Marion's claw broke into the mountain side drilling a crater right through it. As Vergil prepared to dash out of
harm's way Marion grabbed him by his throat and slammed him into the wall, forcing him to drop Rafier, and then rushed his knee into his stomach.
Not letting up the dominate devil planted his elbow into Vergil's back causing him to lift in pain just enough to kick him sliding to the ground. Vergil struggled to stand as he coughed up his own blood, his white hair falling out of its spiked state.
Marion picked up Rafier twirling within his claws, "I don't know whose power was keeping you in this world as a demon," he tossed the scythe down to Vergil, "but you're obviously human now."
As Vergil listened to Marion's word and took in how he showed pity to him by not killing him it dawned on him. "That force that took me over when I fought Leviathan…could it have been my demonic power…" Vergil conflicted with himself, "No…I couldn't have lost that…that wasn't me…he said I was a slave to someone's power…not my own…"
"Haven't you noticed your diminished power child, you'll never be a true devil," Marion taunted walking to Vergil only to kick him over and sit his foot atop his chest, "for even Sparda's blood has its limitations."
Almost if Vergil had now accepted his death flashes of his life ran through his mind. Times before he denied his humanity as kids with his brother. He recalled when his mother gave them both an amulet on their birthday, not to long after, gaining the devil arm of his father Yamato; both of which he had lost possession of.
One of the most frightening memories Vergil saw was the sight of his mother lying in Dante's arms as he continued to fend off the demon horde that attacked him. It was here when he decided that humanity was weak and that to protect himself he would have to embrace his demon half.
Yet the images didn't conclude there, the fights he would there after face Dante in played continuously through his mind. He saw his own skill sharpen but Dante's power grow far beyond his own as he accepted his humanity.
Marion picked up Vergil by the collar of his throat and prepared to strike Vergil as his body fell back in a limp position, "Are you ready?"
"I should have let go of my hatred but I want give up here." Vergil managed.
Marion took a slight interest in Vergil's plea and noticed Rafier resonating with a crimson aura from the corner of his eye, "I regret to mention its' too late to demonstrate a fighting spirit." He darted his claw towards Vergil's head only to see the void of his attack.
Turning around, Marion saw Vergil fully revived within the air gripping onto Rafier. His newly excited state created a white aura to surround his body which clashed and fused with that of Rafier. Falling to his feet the wind blew open Vergil's coat making him look like a black coated Dante. But in no time he ran his hand through his hair back into its spiked style.
"You're right my fighting spirit has long since ceased to exist," Vergil stated in response to Marion's earlier comment, "But my human spirit has yet to taste the thrill of battle."
"Well if you feel so ecstatic I guess I can't stop hiding my power," the devil guard boasted ripping off the top of his toga.
In a sudden twist of his body's muscles the fierce devil's upper body nearly doubled in size sprouting rugged brown fur. The greaves and gauntlets shattered off Marion's body after his limbs gained the
bestial upgrade. And his head became like that of a wolf, being hunched over within the crowd of its bushy mane.
"I'm the perfect combination of speed and strength," the devil growled, "And your 'human spirit' is no match for the prowess of a God."
"All that has changed is you've become a big dumb mutt who needs to be house trained." Vergil smirked with a sort of enjoyment almost like Dante.
"Now there will be no excuses when I spill your blood throughout the Inner Sanctum and release the seal of Sparda from my body."
"Well enough talking." Vergil commanded slamming Rafier to the ground.
In a blur of speed Vergil had teleported underneath Marion's tall frame, kneeled down as if preparing to jump. As Marion looked down at the son of Sparda Vergil grinned reversing his hold on Rafier. Launching himself up, Vergil spun Rafier around upper-cutting the devil hound into the air.
Jumping off the werewolf's chest Vergil used the height of his ascent to add power to a follow up attack. As he twirled Rafier towards Marion the devil snapped to attention stopping Rafier's spin directly under its blade.
"Did you really think that would work?" Marion taunted overpowering Vergil's grip and tossing him to the ground. Quickly recovering to his feet, Vergil was immediately met by the fangs of Marion.
As the beast swiped and slashed, Vergil struggled to avoid the even stronger vacuums of wind. Suddenly, Vergil remembered how strong the impact of Marion's attack was when he struck the mountain side. He hastily phased back to the wall and began thrilling Rafier above his head causing a vortex to surround his body.
"Defending won't help you now," Marion barked. He charged at Vergil full force like before, not assuming Vergil to have any reasons behind this tactic.
During the collision of Vergil's vortex and Marion's vacuum the pull of Vergil's vortex reversed drawing him closer to Marion. Being sucked in to the void Vergil held Rafier along the extension of his arms and started to spin in the velocity of the reversed vortex. The blades of Rafier began to shine intensely with its crimson aura as Marion caught onto Vergil's plot.
"He used the power of my wind vacuums to increase his own speed and power," Marion thought as he raised his arms to defend already realizing the outcome. "Perhaps I was wrong about humanity…"
Within seconds Vergil had crossed through Marion with Rafier dicing across his entire body. As Vergil held his stance behind Marion, the devil's seal faded from his arm. In no time after, Marion's body spewed with blood from the slashes of Rafier's cuts. Before Marion's body was able to fall it faded into an energy that was then absorbed by Vergil.
Looking down Vergil saw the same gauntlets and greaves that Marion wore before his transformation. "The perfect balance of strength and speed," Vergil thought, tapping his foot on the ground twice.
Appearing to take no action Vergil walked into the cave causing the flames of the torches to extinguish as he walked pass. Though it was far too quick to see, Vergil made his mark within the mountain as multiple holes were drilled straight through its sides.
Walking through the twist and turns of the cave Vergil wondered about the loss of his power, more importantly how to get it back.
If you're wondering, what happened with Nero in DMC4 when he used Yamato to awaken his demonic side just happened with Vergil and his humane side. But don't worry he's not getting weaker because of this as his next bout will surely demonstrate.