Andras, the Marquis of Hell, dashed towards Vergil with frightening speed, appearing as a blur with a cloud of dust following him due to the velocity of the wind he created from his speed. He drew a large broadsword, with the blade itself emitting a bright glow, and slashed down at the son of Sparda. Vergil was able to perceive his attack and swiftly whipped out Yamato just in time to clash against Andras' blade. The blades met and a shock wave imploded around the two devils clearing away quantities of dust. The impact of Andras's clash caused Vergil to skid backwards against the ground several feet before stopping, sparks flying from the swords as Vergil grit his teeth.
Andras's massive eyes glowed slightly, emitting an ominous dark red glow. The two glared before breaking their embrace and began their duel. Andras slashed repeatedly with his blade while Vergil defended with Yamato, as he held his scabbard in his other hand. Andras slashed horizontally as Vergil deflected it and countered with a horizontal slash but Andras blocked by bringing his sword sideways, sparks flew out from the collision of the swords before pushing away Vergil then spun his sword once and thrusts it forward with ferocity intending to impale Vergil through the chest.
The Dark Slayer front flipped above Andras in evasion, but the Marquis quickly turned and waved his sword as it glowed brightly and released an arc of energy towards Vergil. Immediately as he landed, he turned and brought Yamato in front deflecting the attack, but caused him to take a step backwards. Andras was quick to act as he unleashed several more waves of energy by swiping his blade. Vergil countered by deflecting the first three, then teleporting to dodge the rest before he manifested his Blistered Swords, the phantom blades all aimed towards Andras, then darting towards the devil with mighty speed.
Andras covered himself with his massive feathery wings and spun rapidly, deflecting the Summoned Swords. As he stopped he waved out his wings and arms in unison, unleashing one final wave of energy towards Vergil, but was shocked to see that he did not hit his mark. He looked up to see Vergil rocketing down to him from above, his sword sheathed as he gripped the handle tightly, and when he was close enough, he whipped Yamato in the blink of an eye and attacked Andras with a mighty slash. The collision caused another explosion of dust and cracks to form on the ground below.
When the dust cleared, Vergil narrowed his eyes to see Andras unharmed and merely blocked the attack with his blade, holding it with one hand. He shoved him back, Vergil back flipping twice and landing, only to look up and see Andras suddenly in front of him and grab him by the hand with his talon-like hands before smashing his head once against the ground causing Vergil to grunt. Andras raised his blade up and struck down for the killing blow, only to see that he hit nothing, and an after image of Vergil was left behind for a second. His red eyes widened with shock upon this, how was he so fast?
He quickly dismissed it and leaped away from a sword striking the ground overhead, creating small explosion and a curtain of dust roughly nineteen feet in length from the attack to burst out of the ground. Landing on the ground he looked up to see Vergil approaching slowly, with a dark expression and sword in one hand. Andras planted his sword on the ground, placing his palms on the hilt, "Hmm. It appears the tales that speak of your power aren't exaggerated. But unfortunately, son of Sparda, I am not impressed." he spoke in a rather taunting manner. Vergil frowned but then gave out a small chuckle, "Unimpressed? How embarrassing. Perhaps I need to rectify your statement." he replied causing Andras to narrow his eyes by an inch, not moving but being cautious nonetheless.
Suddenly, Vergil teleported in a flash and appears at Andras's side in a millisecond slashing down with Yamato, only for Andras to anticipate the attack and deflects the attack, forming a spark of energy but was slightly surprised to see that Vergil was gone immediately after the sparks dissipated and was by his left side, swinging Yamato horizontally forcing Andras to duck and counter with a stab of his sword, but hit nothing as Vergil was behind him and slashed vertically in a flash, cutting Andras in the back and knocking him forward, but the Marquis swiftly recovered and unleashed a wave of energy from his sword as he spun towards Vergil but missed once again.
To the common eye, it appears as though that Andras is being assaulted by multiple blurry shapes that dashed around him from different directions with numerous sparks igniting around the combatant, forming from the constant clashing of swords. Vergil slashed three times rapidly, cutting Andras in the chest causing him to stagger back, the son of Sparda immediately reared back and thrusts Yamato forward, aiming for the demon's heart. But suddenly Andras turned his head, eyes glowing bright red and unleashed a discharge of red energy from his eyes that spread out and knocked Vergil back several feet. He stopped himself and looked up to see Andras walking forward, his eyes giving off a demonic glow, and a faint but fiery aura slowly engulfing him.
"You have potential as they say. But I still haven't seen enough. I will adhere to the rising strength of the battle, don't disappoint me, Son of Sparda." he told him in a deep demonic tone. Vergil was unfazed but sheathed Yamato with a clink as the hilt hit the sheath. "I was going to stay the same thing to you, devil." the cambion replied. Andras raised his blade, keeping it above him for a moment, before he swung it once and caused a strong shock wave along with a tremor behind him from the wake of his blade clearing away the dust that was being formed from the output of his demonic aura. Vergil remained perfectly still, eyes narrowed and focused intensely as the two devils were locked in a challenging gaze.
After a moment, the two suddenly disappeared in a flash, and a kinetic wave of power erupted above the battlefield, with Vergil and Andras clashing swords once again, sparks flying out constantly before they broke the lock flying backwards but Andras rocketed towards the falling cambion with a mighty flap of his wings creating a faint sonic boom in the process. He slashed as he was close enough but Vergil teleported immediately in evasion. He appeared on the ground and quickly dashed to the right, dodging Andras; the demon crashing down with the intent of smashing him down against the ground, an explosion of dust and debris igniting. Vergil skidded to a halt but instantly charged with great speed towards the demon. Andras's eyes appeared within the cloud of dust, glowing an eerie color of red before he too quickly charged and clashes swords with Vergil.
The two devils repeatedly hacked and slashed with their blades. Vergil slashed in precise angles rapidly while Andras blocked and countered with his blade. The sword glowing bright with each strike he made, and Vergil noticed that the strikes of the blade were slowly getting stronger. Vergil parried two strikes before he back flipped from the third one and waved Yamato unleashing a crescent wave of blue energy, but Andras countered by deflecting it his left wing and swung the same wing forward, releasing several razor sharp feathers from his wings and imbued with demonic energy as the tips themselves had a bright crimson glow. Vergil swung Yamato rapidly several times as he knocked away the feathers, but his eyes widened upon seeing Andras immediately in front him and approximately three inches from his face as he was propelling himself at Vergil.
An explosion rung out with a cloud of dust engulfing the two. Flashes of light along with the repeated clanging of swords was seen and heard within the cloud. The dust was cleared by a kinetic force of energy as Vergil was seen flying back, before planting his feet against the ground skidding back a few feet and came to a halt. He looked up to see the Marquis immediately flying in a burst of mighty speed and prepared to skewer the Dark Slayer. However, Vergil's hands were suddenly engulfed in a flash of light and was now equipped with the Avarice saws. He whipped out them out once as they dislodged from the handles, he activated the saws before he threw the left one towards Andras whom dashed to the side in evasion before jumping up from the right one coming at him horizontally then ducked from the left that intended to shred his head, he spun sideways while straightening his body as the two saws came from opposite directions horizontally with the intent of slicing his legs and torso off.
As he landed, the ends of his wings gave off a red glow before he spun once, spreading out his wings and unleashed a swirling form of red energy that deflected the Avarice saw blades. They returned to the handles as the chains pulled them back to Vergil whom growled slightly. He reared his sword backwards and flung it once unleashing a large wave of energy, forcing Vergil to roll to the side before he quickly jumped back to avoid being impaled by Andras from above as the Marquis plummeted down and pierced the ground where Vergil once was with his blade. The son of Sparda wasted no time and and swung one of the chain-linked demonic saw blades down at Andras whom parried the strike. But Vergil wasn't finished as he brought the second one down only to meet the same counter from the demonic owl-like demon. Vergil continuously swung and spun the two spinning saw blades rapidly in a vertical angle down upon Andras while the demon began to struggle against the onslaught.
Vergil finished his combo by front flipping several times, in crouched position, he appeared like a sphere with two chain-linked saw blades connected to him as they spun along with him swiftly. Finally, one saw blade slashed down Andras's body while shredding it causing him to grunt. Vergil crossed his arms as he swung the chained saw blades around Andras and they wrapped around him twice, the saw blades coming at him from each side intending to turn his head into minced meat. The demon, however, was quick to act and unleashed a burst of energy with loud cry of fury. Vergil was knocked back as he staggered only to be slashed twice across the chest by Andras, before he was then stabbed once in the chest. Andras finished by thrusting his blade forward and released a stored quantity of power in his blade that knocked back the Dark Slayer even further. Vergil crashed to the side of the tower. He crumbled down and fell to one knee. Andras's eyes flashed once, swung his blade and charged with a flap of his wings.
When Andras neared close, preparing to deliver the killing blow to the seemingly weakened cambion. Vergil suddenly looked up and attacked, sporting the Beowulf gauntlets and grieves. He turned, and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick against the Marquis of Hell, the first kick struck the side of his face, followed by the second that knocked him up in the air. Vergil rears his fist back as the Beowulf gauntlet glows bright before flying up in the air in the pursuit of Andras then delivering a powerful uppercut against his chin and causes him to back flip rapidly like a wheel. The attack ended with Vergil's signature Lunar Phase as the son of Sparda performed a series of rapid somersaults that bombarded Andras with multiple spinning kick before he knocked him back down to the ground with a strong heel kick. Andras crashed to the ground in a large explosion of dust.
He landed down a few feet away from where Andras crashed. The Beowulf weapons dissipated. A moment passed when then Andras slowly walked out of the rubble and brushed away some dust off of him and gazed over at Vergil whom glared back. The Marquis approached him as Vergil slowly tensed, preparing for anything. He stopped a couple of feet away from him. "Good. Well done." He said much to Vergil's surprise and confusion. He reached over behind him, when his blade flew towards him and grabbed it before sheathing it in his scabbard. He looked over to Vergil once again. "I had to be sure." He began when Vergil asked, "Of what exactly?"
"That you are truly the son of the Legendary Dark Knight."he finished causing Vergil to narrow his eyes and lower his sword, "That's what the battle was for? A mere test and a waste of time?" he asked with agitation in his tone but Andras wasn't fazed as he shook his head, "No. You do not truly understand the potential and character of someone until you fight them." he explained as Vergil raised an eyebrow before Andras then turned to his side and began to walk forward with his wings acting like a cloak. "If you'll follow me." he instructed him, but Vergil hesitated for a moment before he walked in pursuit. They reach the tower that Vergil was told to travel towards, "I see you're fond of battling all that come across your domain." The Dark Slayer told him. "In a manner of speaking. Take it as a principle that I follow. And I don't exactly rule this part of the Demon World with an iron fist. I hold authority but in the end I am but a speck." he replied.
"Hm. I can see that. I take it that the Dark Lord rules this circle instead?" Vergil questioned when Andras and he began to walk on a sidewalk next to the River Styx. "Indeed. Well, we're not certain to be honest." he revealed to which Vergil blinked. "What?" Andras slowly stopped and turned to look at the cambion. "The Dark Lord has been...absent ever since your father fought and imprisoned him here in the Demon World. Many demons believe that he lurks about in the darkest corners of Hell, in the guise of a certain demon or others and being observant of the activities that run amok. Others say that he perished at the hands of Sparda, and his soul has become the lock itself. And is hidden within the City of Dis." he told him.
"City of Dis?" He said with confusion as Andras nodded. "Yes." Vergil crossed his arms, "And what exactly is the City of Dis?" he asked. "The City of Dis holds Hell's deepest secrets and the worst violent and treacherous sinners. And at the side of the walls, fallen angels guard it and flaunt the kingdom of the Devil." He answered. "How lovely." Vergil quipped in a sardonic tone.
"Dantalion sent you did he not?" Vergil narrowed his eyes slightly, still not exactly trusting Andras." Yes. He did. Is that a problem?" But the Marquis shook his head. "Not at all. In fact I have been expecting you. He has praised your abilities and I couldn't help but test them out for myself. Apparently none of the words were a farce." He complimented his talents but Vergil was not flattered, "I'm also determined to carve out the hearts of the Seven Demon Princes. That's why I seek your master." he continued. "Ah yes. I know of that. Hmm. Most interesting."
"What is?" The Dark Slayer asked. "I've witnessed deals being created with my master to return the soul of one, in exchange for a price. But never have I seen one whom would literally raid the depths of Hell not only to escape, but to retrieve what was lost of his being during the torment." Vergil said nothing but simply let out a slight grunt before saying, "The will of Sparda runs strong through my veins." With a hint of pride in his tone. "Anyway, if your master has taken a leave of absence, then who rules this circle aside from you?" he then asked to which Andras replied, "One of his generals."
"I see. Argh this is ridiculous. If your master is absent, then how will I be able to carve his heart out?" He said with frustration. Andras looked over to the shore of the River Styx beyond then back to Vergil, "Don't lose hope now, son of the Dark Knight. It is said that his general is a creation of my master's power. And thus, it is highly possible that he possesses his essence, thereby, allowing you to carve out the heart of the general." He explained allowing Vergil to smirk in anticipation. He was about to speak when he then felt a tremor. A moment later, he felt another one but stronger this time, when suddenly a massive shape leaped out of the charred bushes and roots of the bog and landed with a strong thud.
A foot, or rather a clawed paw, landed on the ground with great force. It was a massive black wolf with red irides and black pupils. It let out a fierce growl as its lips curled back revealing a set of vicious and razor sharp teeth. Vergil glared and took a step back, gripping the handle of his blade with one hand preparing to draw. Andras, strangely, remained calm. The wolf let out a great roar and bounded towards the two. But before Vergil could slay it, Andras raised a clawed hand up and the wolf slowly stopped in its tracks much to the confusion of Vergil. The massive wolf growled lowly as it lowered its head, very close to the Marquis. Andras then stroked its snout to its cheek back and forth to calm it. "Calm down, old friend. He is an ally." he assured it.
Vergil eyed the two of them and returned Yamato, drawn by two inches, back into the scabbard. The wolf towered over both demons, and was roughly fourteen feet in height. "I take it you two are acquainted?" Andras did not answer for a moment and did not turn to face the Dark Slayer. "Quite so. This is Akareus. My battle companion." He replied. Vergil took two steps forward, ignoring the growls of threat from Akareus only for Andras to comfort him once again. "There is much that you hide. Isn't that right?" he questioned him as though it was an interrogation. "You thought correct. As I said before, I am a Marquis of the Demon World and this circle. It is here that perform the tortures to the most violent and wrathful of sinners. The sinners whom were blinded by fury and lost all sense of reason and mercy." He revealed, to which Vergil raised an eyebrow slightly in doubt.
"Is that all?" He pressed further, wanting to be certain that Andras would not attempt to slay him with his guard down. "Not exactly. I am considered to be one of the most violent and dangerous demons in the entirety of the Fifth Circle." He stated further, and Vergil let out a small chuckle, skepticism leaking from his voice, "From what I've seen, I doubt it despite your skills." he taunted causing Andras to slowly turn to him with narrowed eyes, "It is best that such a test of my anger would not be performed, Son of Sparda." he told him in what seemed to be a threat or warning. Vergil merely shrugged slightly and glanced over to the Styx as the souls that are tormented thrash about violently in agony. "I see you're still in a state of uncertainty." Andras spoke out to him.
"Humor me. You're a Marquis of this circle in the Demon World. And the last Marquis tried to kill me, only to meet his painful but swift demise. How do I know that you're not like the other fiends in this damned place?" He questioned him with aggression. Andras stared for a few moments before he turned to face Vergil completely as his wolf companion remained behind and ever vigilant in case Vergil would try something. "If I truly was like the others, our battle would've been far longer and I would prevent you from reaching that of which you desire. Plus, I'm a demon of violence and wrath, so manipulation is not really my strong suit. And if it was you would've caught on and my head would by laying by your feet. Surely you're intelligent enough to understand that." he assured him.
Vergil was quiet for several moments before sighing and nodded once, "Very well then. Regardless, you don't exactly strike me as a demon of violence." Andras simply shrugged in response, "I am only wrathful when I need to be. It is because of my nature that military leaders summon me in times of war. That could also prove to be a disadvantage, for my sheer presences incites a war." He patted Akareus' side once, commanding him to return to his master's quarters. Akareus let out a small growl before leaping away into the forestry and bound off. "Fascinating. Now then, I want to cross this damn river. And no, I will not allow you to carry me." He quickly informed him but Andras chuckled at this simply, "I wouldn't dream of it."
He turned from him. "There is a way to get through." Andras then flaps his wings and ascends to the air at the top of the second tower of which they reached when they walked past the river. He then throws a lever which then unleashes streams of lava that run down the narrow guiders on the sides of the tower. This in turn causes the statues to come to life, as they slowly raise their heads up, opening their mouths and unleashing beams of flames. Andras then lands down back on a branch near Vergil.
"The tower acts as a beacon to summon Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld who ferried the newly arrived souls of the dead across the rivers of Styx to their impending punishment." He stated. Vergil narrowed his eyes then looks in front of him, a pier being a couple of feet in front of him. A mist begins to slowly manifest around the river, when a long wooden, and nearly rotted ferry approaching the cambion as he stands at the bank of the river near the pier. He could see a tall and thin individual, rowing slowly with an ore as he approaches. Vergil remains silent as he stares with a blank expression. The ferry approaches, as Charon is revealed to be an elderly man judging by how skeletal his arms are, donning a black cloak, the hood covering his face, and long white hair flowing down from within the hood. Andras lands down next to the son of Sparda and offers him three gold coins.
"You must offer him those coins to access the ferry. Make haste, Son of the Dark Knight, Sparda." He flaps his wings once and takes off. Vergil looks at this retreating body then back to Charon. He approaches the ferryman whom extends his arm out slowly, as it creates sickening cracking sounds, and opens his hand to retrieve the coins. He drops the coins in his palm, when the elderly demonic figure closes them slowly and places them in the pocket of his cloak. Vergil steps in the ferry. Charon turns his head to look at him, "The location." he says in a menacingly chilling dark voice.
"City of Dis." Vergil answered. The ferry slowly begins to turn around and Charon rows as he uses the ferry to cross the Styx. Vergil looked up to see Andras hovering above him with his wings spread. "This is as far as I'll go. I can do nothing more but wish you luck on your journey through this circle of the Demon World." He said. "What will I expect when I reach Dis?" Vergil asked him. "As I said, the City of Dis is the capital of this kingdom in the Demon World. It houses the one of the most foul demons and fiends imaginable. But it shouldn't be an issue for one such as you."
Vergil simply scoffed silently. "However, trying to reach the city itself once you have crossed the River will be a task most difficult. That's why I've assigned a subordinate of mine to aid you in your travel." He told him, then looked up to see that he has gone far enough. "This is my stop. Farewell, Son of Sparda. You're going to need every bit of luck you have." His last words were ominous in a way, but Vergil cared not as he sighed and leaned back, awaiting to reach the end of the River Styx. While he and Charon rowed across the damned river, a shape surfaced by a few centimeters within the sludge-like liquid before diving, following them.
I don't own the characters of Devil May Cry or Mythology. Read and Review.