(I was gonna save this for the end of the Monster Hunter Arc, but since I've been gone for 2 months, this is the least I can do in terms of actual DMC content. If, you've already read Visions of V, or at least caught up to it, then not a lot will be new aside from V's motivation and some conversations.)
….In the beginning, I did not know why I was brought into this world.
I did not know what my role would be while I was here….
A Mysterious figure watched from a close distance as his two "Companions" wreak chaos upon a group of Orcs.
Red Lightning striking down mercilessly on them as they instantly get burnt to a crisp, while the shapeshifter immediately tore through them like a hot knife through butter.
But what I do know, is that we are not meant for this world…
"Hahaha! Come Little piggies! Gotta do better than that!" Griffon cackled as he continued to rain thunder down on his opponents.
Griffon, quite the foul-mouthed fowl. The only one of the trio capable of speaking and moving quite a distance without being tethered to me.
Though, he has had quite the downgrade ever since he last was 'alive'. Going from the size of building to a normal eagle, doesn't seem like he cares about his size, he's still quite a powerful foe to deal with.
A goo-like puddle formed from the ground up as it solidified into a Panther with faint red markings all over its body. The Panther growled lowly as it looks like it was communicating with Griffon.
"Don't be such a pussycat! He's fine! As long as he doesn't get caught off guard, ol' Shakespeare over there won't get hurt." Griffon said as he continued to send rows of thunder towards groups of Orcs…
Shadow, an even stranger entity than Griffon. With the ability to shapeshift it's body, you couldn't tell what it might do next, maybe it'll rush towards you with sharpened claws, or maybe it'll pin cushion you…
...Who knows, what matters is that it'll be too late for you to decide.
I closed my book as I looked over to where my companions were, "Are we done here? The flyer only said we needed 50, and I'm no genius but…" I looked over to the mountainous pile of burnt and mangled corpses ranging over 50, "I think we have more than we need…Let's go back."
"Aw c'mon V! Things were just getting good!" Griffon complained as he slowly followed behind me.
Without a second thought, Shadow immediately deformed back into the earth and appeared under my feet as a misty shadow.
"Don't complain, it's not like they were any more skilled than a toddler." I said back to him as Shadow began to take me back to that Town of Beginners.
"It's not the skill that makes things any fun, it's the number of them that shows up. That way I can smite them all in an instant." Griffon said as he chuckled to himself.
"Pretty big talk for a 'Pigeon sized' Demon servant…" I retorted back.
"Oooh...so you wanna play that game...alright then, you string beaned prick..." Griffon said as he continued to fly next to me.
Our arrival to this world was...odd, to say the least.
It all started during Tsukiyo's time of leave a couple months back…
As the massive demon bit into him and overloaded him with demonic energy, something inside of him broke and released the 2nd Son of Sparda, Vergil, giving him a bit more freedom in the form of a body…
..Including me ...a useless husk filled the negative emotions and memories of when I, or We, became that thing…
Of course, I wasn't the only one who escaped his mind…
Alongside me, were the 3 other hauntings of his past.
Griffon was the only one to appear to with me at that time, the other two...
Well...we'll get the other 2 later…
"Hey Sleeping Beauty! Are you gonna stay asleep or are you actually going to do something to get rid of that thing?!" Griffon shouted as he dragged my body away from the demon that nearly killed me.
As cocky and arrogant Griffon can be at times, I do owe him my life after he saved me from nearly getting killed.
He left me at a safe enough distance as we talked for the first time.
We've already come to an agreement where I'm powerless without any Weapons at my disposal, so we've made a deal, or a contract of sorts…
Without the ability to use the Yamato, let alone being able to hold it, Griffon will be at my command to defend me from any threat.
For him, I have to supply him with as much demonic power my body can physically produce.
What confused on the physical part?
Let me explain: Their source of power comes from me. I own an oddly magical book given to me from...an old friend, and use that to supply my power. If I use too much power, or if I can't produce any magic, then they'll begin to suck my life dry.
My body will begin to decompose at a slow speed, and I will slowly die along with those three...
...but as long as I have my book, I will stay alive.
I had to find this out the hard way when Griffon went overboard and struck the demon with a strong thunder attack.
With that large attack, it took away enough magic from me to bring me to my knees…
But the Demon did not disappear. It looked severely weakened, but not enough to kill it.
Flipping through the pages of my book, I looked for a way to see if there was something we could do to defeat the enemy, and that was until I flipped to a certain page…
With the words glowing a dark ominous energy it read:
Bring me my Bow of burning gold,
Bring me my arrows of desire,
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand!(1)
Those words began to burn a mark in the palm of my hand as a steel cane protruded from it.
Those words from the book spawned this cane, my only weapon to defend myself and defeat enemies.
Griffon being happy...wouldn't be a wise choice of words.
I'd say he was more...livid at the fact that all I had was a cane, and nothing more. But he soon understood what power this cane held as I stabbed the weakened demon, making it dissolve from existence.
After that, a new agreement was made; Griffon weakens the demons, and I finish them.
Our celebration would have to wait as Vergil began to regain his consciousness.
With something like Griffon out in the open, talking isn't an option when it comes to demons. Especially ones that haunt your past…
We wandered around the village where the different species of monsters lived as we tried to find our way back to the village of beginners.
Thankfully, the memory of where the carriage traveled through was still fresh in my mind.
It didn't matter how long it took to get there, whether it be 10 minutes or 10 hours, I need to know…
...Why was I brought here?
It took 4 hours to arrive there, although it was in the middle of the night.
With no money to procure any food or shelter, I'd have to head to the 'Tavern' to find a job.
I wasn't surprised to see that it was still closed, but that's expected when it's late at night.
I wandered throughout the night and around the town until I found a closed down church in the more...lower end portion of the town.
As I entered the building, I was glad to see that it was completely vacated. This would have to do for now.
"Are you serious? You're gonna sleep here??" Griffon asked.
"I do not care where I lay my head, as long as it keeps me dry and not exposed out in the open, it'll do…" I said to him.
"We're living in an abandoned building man, there's no windows and the doors are already busted! It's basically the same!" Griffon continued to complain.
"Compared to you, I can't appear and reappear at will. My body is permanent, unlike yours…" I said as I took a seat up in a booth up front, "Now quiet down, I need to rest for tomorrow."
"Hold on, isn't it taboo for demons like us to kick our feet up in a church?" Griffon asked as he couldn't keep his beak shut.
"The church has been abandoned, there are no holy ones residing in this place anymore." I said as I tried to fall asleep.
"I don't know man, a cross is a cross no matter how you split it." Griffon seriously needs to shut up.
"Sigh...think of it this way; We are not from this world, this worlds religion does not apply to us. We don't need to pay attention to them." I told him as he finally shuts up.
"Alright...so what do I call you?" He asked once more, "Can't call you Vergil, some people already know your name here."
"I...don't know yet. We'll cross that bridge when we get there." I told him as I fell asleep.
~ 8 hours later
"Come on off-brand Vergil, rise and shine!" Griffon said loudly as he woke me up, "We've got a big day today, don't go sleeping in!"
I got up groggily as Griffon perched himself on a booth close to me.
"We've got a long day ahead of us, buddy. Better get those scrawny limbs-" I grabbed Griffon's beak and closed them together forcefully.
"Rule 1: No excessive talking." I said tiredly.
How much energy does one bird have this early in the morning...
"Ugh! Finally…." Griffon said as he finally broke out of my hands.
"Come. We're heading into the guild. We can get quests there and get stronger." I said as began to head towards the exit, "But, you can't be seen."
"What? What does that mean?" Griffon questioned.
"With the exception of the Boy, this town isn't very...tolerable to demons, it's best for you to stay hidden." I told him.
"Fine. I'll back to being your ink for now…" Griffon stubbornly accepted.
As I began to walk to the guild, I couldn't help but feel calm around here, it's as if I'm back home...though, it's their home and not mine…
Finally reaching the Tavern in a short time, I looked around as I looked inside.
It's still the same as in his memories…
"Umm, excuse me sir can we help you? Are you lost?" A woman in blond hair said as she walked up to me.
~ ~ ~ ~
Wow, not a bad body…
Hush
~ ~ ~ ~
"No. I think I'm in the right place, this is the Adventurers Guild, am I right?" I asked her.
"Uh, Yes this is the place. Are you hoping to become an adventurer? If so, then I can help you with that. Follow me." she said as she began to walk towards a booth.
I followed her to the booth as she brought out a circular device.
"Please place your hand over the sphere." She said as she turned on the device and made it glow.
I place my hand over the sphere and to my surprise the sphere began to glow brighter for a moment before it dimmed down completely.
"Huh? That's never happened before." the woman said before examining the object.
~ ~ ~ ~
Uh oh, the Jig's up, buddy. Make a run for it while you still can!
Silence, nothing has been suspected yet..
~ ~ ~ ~
"Ummm, sorry for asking this but…" the woman said as she looked up to me.
I have not been made yet…
"Are you sure you want to become an adventurer? I'm not one to judge, but I don't think you'd be suited to become one, especially with your stature in mind…" She said hesitantly.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hahahahahahaha! I mean she isn't wrong you know! It already looks like the wind you could knock you down!
~ ~ ~ ~
"Oh, there's no need for you to worry about me. I already have a companion who'd fight for me. I am a summoner." I said trying to convince her.
I pulled out my book and flipped to a random page;
"Silent, Silent Night,
Quench the holy light,
Of thy torches bright,
For possessed of Day,
Thousand spirits stray,
That sweet joys betray." (2)
~ ~ ~ ~
We're really going this route aren't we?
Do we have a choice?
I mean we could always--
No.
Yeah, figures…
~ ~ ~ ~
My book glowed a dark violet before Griffon appeared before me and the woman in the booth.
"Caw! Caw!" Griffon said mimicking a bird of some kind.
"Oh! What a unique bird! What's its name?" She asked mesmerised from Griffons form.
"I call him Griffon, I'm not entirely good with names…" I said to her.
"I see. Do you have any other companions?" she asked me.
"Sadly no, I have yet to discover any more companions to aid my journey." I said as I sort of lied to her.
"I see. Alright, well this machine doesn't seem like it wants to work, so I guess I'll to do this the manual way…" She said before she brought out what looks to be a typewriter of some kind and a small needle.
"Please prick your finger and squeeze a drop of blood on this card." she said as she handed me the card and needle.
I did what she said and handed her back the card, "Alright, I guess this one seemed to have worked." She said as she continued to work with the typewriter.
"Oh. Hmm." She said to herself with a troubled face.
"Is there anything wrong?" I asked her.
"Um...I don't know how to say this any other way, but…" she said hesitantly.
"But?" I repeated.
"But...all your stats and possible abilities...they're blank. Most of the stats here are blank. The only ones that appear to be normal are Health, Agility, Defense, and...DT?" she said, not understanding my circumstance.
"There isn't a name either, but at least I can change this." She said as she worked on the typewriter.
"What's your name?" she asked me.
"...V." I said after giving it some thought, "Just put down V."
"Are...you sure? This name can't be changed once it's officially made." she said as warned me.
"It's fine. I have no name, and I am but two days old…(3) V will be fine…" I told her.
"If you say so." she said as she accepted my new name.
~ ~ ~ ~
V huh? Sure, I guess that works…
~ ~ ~ ~
"Alright Mr...V, your adventurer card is ready to be used, that will be 20,000 eris." she said as she held onto the card.
"I...was not aware that I needed money for this." I said as I checked my pockets, only to come up empty.
"Sigh….why do people these days never have any…" the woman sighed in annoyance, "It's fine, it's fine. If you go to that board right there, you'll see a couple of quests posted for today. Find one that gives 20,000 or more eris and you'll earn this card. Though, I do suggest that you find a party to-"
"It's fine. I think I'll be able to hold my own…" I said as I interrupted her and headed towards the board.
There were quite an amount of quests to do, ranging from simple exterminations to scout mission to general labor work.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hey, pick a fun one will ya? I wanna see how I scale up to regular monsters.
If he insists….
~ ~ ~ ~
I grabbed a poster off the wall and took it with me as I left the Tavern.
Quest:
Take out the nest of Goblins in the old ruins.
Location: South of Axel walls, 20 miles away.
Rewards: 50,000 eris along with any valuables found.
~ ~ ~ ~
Goblins? Really?
With the amount of firepower we have, I'm afraid this will have to do. We need you stronger so we can survive.
We cannot rely on the boy and his party if we are to survive.
~ ~ ~ ~
Aside from the two of us, we're on our own….
For the next 40-50 minutes, we walked our way towards the ruins for our quest. But with my limited stamina, I needed to take frequent breaks.
This body really is weak.
I need to procure some kind of mode of transportation.
As we got to the old ruins, I could already tell that something was off, and it wasn't because of the dismembered Goblin body.
Griffon reappeared from my body as he began to fly next to me, "Something ain't right uh...V."
"You're right, You'd think that there would be some kind of scout looking out for the rest of the group to warn them of invaders. That or they're stupidly prideful of their strength." I said as I observed the mangled body.
"Oh wow, a joke. Looks like you do have a sense of humor." Griffon retorted.
"Come, we need to investigate further." I said as I began to walk deeper into the ruins.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Are you serious? You see a dead body and the first thing you wanna do is look for the thing that did this?" Griffon asked
"Why of course." I said as used my cane to drag him closer, "If this thing can do this to a Goblin, it's all the more reason for me recruit it."
Griffon broke out of my hold as he flapped behind me, "God, you people are insane."
As we walked further into the ruins, we began to spot more and more mangled bodies, most of them cut in half, dismembered by a claw, or have their entire upper torso missing.
"What the hell happened here…" Griffon said as he saw all these bodies.
"Shadow happened…" I replied.
"Shadow? You mean that Shadow? The shapeshifter?" Griffon asked.
"Yes, that one. We need to recruit it as soon as possible." I said as I began to quicken my pace.
"Why? What's gonna happen?" Griffon said as he followed after me.
"The same thing is gonna happen to it as it did to you yesterday, it'll run out of magic for it to even function." I said as I began to hear some voices and a low moan.
I slowed my pace as I looked ahead.
Just like I expected there it was, Shadow, a black panther with capabilities of shapeshifting out of magic and laying on its side.
It didn't help that it was already surrounded by a dozen or so goblins.
"Oh boy, that's a lot of them. Poor kitty got bested." Griffon said as he chuckled to himself.
"Griffon, can how many can you strike at once?" I asked him as I began to hold my cane like a sword.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa V. Trust me, I think I can take all of them out in one go." Griffon said as he began to fly ahead.
If he says he can…
Griffon was on top of Shadow as he soon became the Goblins main attention, "Hey you ugly midgets! Eyes up here!"
Griffon began to raise its wings above his head as his body began to crackle with electricity.
I brought my book out as and began to read it as I could already feel my body deteriorate.
Unexpectedly, a couple of the Goblins began to throw their spears and rocks at Griffon as he charged his attack.
"Ow, ow, ow! Hey you little shits!" Griffon began to complain as he stopped charging and started to evade the objects coming at him.
It was foolish of me to even trust his judgement…
Luckily, he was flying away from Shadow and dragged enough of them to let me near him without getting spotted.
Shadow groaned lowly as he saw me.
"Look at you, torn down and weakened. All from mere Goblins." I said to it, "Aren't you ashamed? To be bested by these kinds of creatures? Even after fighting Dante?"
"You could form a contract with me and I'll make sure your talent isn't wasted. Though that's your choice, become a slave to me or rot away for all I care." I said as I antagonised it more.
Shadow groaned lowly again as part of its body began to deform and get close to me.
I expected it to form the contract with me, what I didn't expect was Shadow stabbing through my right hand to form said contract.
Shadow body began to dissolve and cover my entire right arm in the same tattoo pattern like Griffon yesterday.
I stood up with the help of my cane as I turned to a page in my book;
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly,
Shall feel the Spiders enmity.(4)
"Shadow," I said as I summoned him, having him appear in front of me out of the ground.
Shadow roared loudly as he garnered the attention of all the Goblins that was chasing after Griffon, "About damn time!" He said as he flapped slowly regaining his stamina.
All of the Goblins began to rush towards me, daggers, spears, and slingshots in hand.
"Go." I commanded Shadow as I pointed my cane towards them, "Leave nothing behind."
With my command, Shadow rushed towards the Goblins at full speed before it dove into the ground. Soon after, tentacles began to pop out from the ground and thrash at every and all direction, leaving not only dismembered bodies but limbs and body parts no longer recognizable (Shadow move: Breakthrough.)
When it comes to standard enemies of this world, there seems to be no trouble in taking them out. Griffon and Shadow can handle themselves perfectly….
...The only problem with them is the fact that they can't take out demons completely, that's when I have to step in…
This is good to know. Makes my job much easier in the long run.
With a couple of stragglers on the side, they began to run off in different directions to get away from us.
"Oh no you don't!" Griffon said as he began to strike the remaining Goblins with his thunder.
Well then, I guess our work here is done.
"So, I guess the little kitty is here to stay." Griffon said as he flapped back to me.
I didn't say anything to him as I proceeded to head towards the exit while regaining my power.
"What?" Griffon asked by my lack of response.
" 'Trust me, I think I can take all of them out in one go' " I said as I mocked him.
"Oh come on! They had spears and rocks! How was I supposed to fight against that?!" Griffon said as he complained.
"Simple, you wait until we have some kind of plan. Rushing in without a plan will kill you." I told Griffon as we continued towards the exit.
Shadow made a low groan towards Griffon as it walked beside me.
"Yeah, like you have any right to talk, Mr. I'll-blaze-right-through-them." Griffon retorted to Shadow.
"Enough chatter, we're heading back." I said as we finally got back outside.
Shadow groaned at me as he began to form into a puddle of mist.
"Hey, Pink Panther here wants you to ride him. Says he'll get to where you need quickly. I don't know if that's some kink for him or not." Griffon said as he disappeared back to becoming my tattoo.
I'll admit, while skeptical at first, using Shadow as a mode of transportation was convenient to say the least.
We even manage to cut our travel time by 20 minutes.
"I have finished my quest, ma'am." I said as I laid down the quest paper.
"You...did this all by yourself?" she asked in astonishment.
"Yes, I did. Now, the card if you may." I said sticking out my hand.
The woman sighed as she handed me my card, "Why am I getting the strangest of people…"
"Here, the rest of your money." The woman said as she gave me a medium sized pouch.
"Thank you." I said as I was about to leave the tavern.
So this card holds my 'status'?
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
General
Upgrade any of the attributes by 1 for 1 point
Current Level : 1
Strength : 10 --Status--Normal
Vitality : 300/300 (Increases by 50 for each level up)
DT : 600/600 (Lasts 10 minutes)
Stamina : 2
Defense : 8
Agility : 2
Luck : ???
Faith : ???
Dexterity : ???
Will : 20
Intelligence : 50
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Looks like I'm going to have to upgrade myself if I want to survive in this world. I'll start working on that tomorrow...
~ ~ ~ ~
Is that it? You're just going to go back? Let's go do other quests while the sun's still up!
Fine, this time, don't go charging in by yourself.
~ ~ ~ ~
I went over to the quest board and proceeded to look through for something to do…
...until something caught my eye.
Emergency Quest:
Mysterious black slime terrorising local swamp. Guarded by humanoid black golem.
Location: 15 miles west of Axel town.
Reward: 200,000 eris.
~ ~ ~ ~
Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. It's here?! That abomination is really here?!
~ ~ ~ ~
I tore off the flyer from the wall and began to make my way towards the swamp.
Griffon, despite being within city walls, appeared in front of me.
"Are you insane!? You know damn well that that thing isn't going to listen to you! It didn't even listen to Mundus, and he was the top dog of the Underworld at that time!" Griffon said as he tried to persuade me.
"That's all the more reason to recruit it. With its power like that, it'd be a waste to let it get destroyed by these 'Adventurers.' " I said as I began to walk.
"V, buddy, pal, ol' chum. Listen to me, please. This isn't going to end well. It was chained up and restricted for a reason! It's not like he did it for shits and giggles you know!" Griffon continued, "Me and Shadow can do enough as it is, so why don't we-"
I shut Griffon up as I used my cane to drag him aside and hid in a nearby corner.
"Sigh...Why can't Tsukiyo come back already? He's just made things so much more difficult…" A voice nearby said, it was a boy by the sounds of it.
"Well it's not like he had a reason not to, we haven't seen what he's gone through and with everything that happened earlier, I'd say he's sort of has a reason to do so." Another voice said, a girl this time, "Besides, I'm more worried about Dark-...Uh….Aqua what are you doing?"
"I smell some demons nearby…." Another voice said, another girl this time, but quite annoying, "Show yourselves! I'll purify you back to Hell!"
"Shut up already! We already have people looking at us strangely! We don't need anymore stares!" The boy said.
"Griffon, get lost. Now." I whispered to him.
Griffon immediately disappeared back into a tattoo, while I made my attempt to escape the town.
As I finally escaped the town, I soon made my way towards the west of this town.
Griffon appeared once again while still trying to convince me to not 'negotiate' with Nightmare.
"V, please. Don't do this, we've only been born for 2 days, 2 DAYS! And after 2 days you really want to throw your life away!?" Griffon continued to plead, "Come on, pussycat, even you know how powerful that thing is. I know V can't hear you, but at least put up some kind of fight!"
A low growl was heard from beneath me as Shadow continued to guide me towards the West.
"Who cares about serving the Master! Your blind devotion is gonna get us killed!" Griffon continued, "V, please. Tell me we have some kind of plan. You said it yourself, rushing in without a plan will get yourself killed, right? Right!?"
"You are correct, I did say that. Though for a beast like this, no amount of plans will completely prepare us for this." I told him as I continued to focus.
"We're fucked….We're fucked! We're so fucking fucked! Godammit V! I wanted to enjoy my 2nd life a little bit more before I bit the dust you know!?" Griffon cried in terror.
We continued to make our way to the swamp, and in a matter of 20 minutes, we reached our destination…
The flyer said that the swamp was covered in the black slime, and that Nightmare was guarding this area…
I guess what I read was them putting it lightly…
This entire swamp area already is already oozing with the stench of death and decayed animals/plants/ and any living thing that stepped in here.
Tree's are rotted from the inside, the bones of old corpses have already wilted and are starting to decompose, and the water...Well...let's just say that one sip will cause a very painful death...
The swamp might as well already be considered a quarantine zone…
...And we're already about to step foot into it.
"V, wait…" Griffon said he stopped me from walking into the decayed swamp, "Before we go in there and inevitably die, I gotta ask...Why are you going this far to get stronger? Why did we hide from those people earlier, and what's the point of us being here?"
"Look, I know this is a lot coming from me, but I just have to know, Why are we here?" Griffon asked solemnly.
It is very rare for a demon to show emotions, especially when those demons were once considered a significant threat to all of humanity at one point.
"It's not a surprise to say that we came from Vergil, and I apologise, but I don't know why we're here. We were once part of his own nightmares that once haunted him, but more importantly we are the living manifestation of what he used to be; Anger, Pride, Greed, and Fear. Everything he hated, hanging over him like a guillotine." I said as I began to look at the book that Vergil was once given from his youth.
"But given that circumstance, I do not trust nor suspect that he has been reformed, not in the slightest. Decade after decade of fighting and seeking for power, one cannot change their ways in an instant. He's destroyed too much, threw everything away, for such a foolish goal such as Power. It is sin that I will not let him repeat into this world, even if it costs me my own life."
"You ask me why, why go so far to recruit Nightmare into our ranks? So I can tell you 'To stop Vergil if he ever goes back to what he once was.' Vergil's own existence is enough of a reason to stay weary and suspicious.
"Should that day ever happen, we will head to Vergil and stop him at once. I will not allow bystanders to get involved with this, not anymore. The alternate Dante, might serve to be useful as he is his natural Rival, but the boy, Tsukiyo, is deadweight to us." I said as I finished my speech.
"Alright. That's a good enough reason…" Griffon said as he finally stopped resisting to the idea of taking in Nightmare, "C'mon, let's go get the big guy."
"Good, now let's hurry before-" I wanted to say more until the dark water around us started to tremble and soon pull us in the water.
"V!" Griffon shouted as he saw me sink.
It was strange…
While I was pulled into the water, it didn't feel like I was drowning. As a matter of fact, I don't think I felt anything at all.
All that was happening was me falling down ever so gently in a dark abyss.
But unlike an abyss, there was at least a surface to land on.
On this surface, there was nothing in sight, just pure Darkness…
As I continued to look around, I soon began to hear voices…
"C'mon bro! Let's go outside!" A voice echoed.
"No. Leave me alone, I'm reading." Another childlike voice said.
So...this is his memory…
My began to swell as all this happened.
How long has it been since those two had an actual conversation…
Not like it matters anyways, we're in a different world now. I don't think there's a chance to ever talk to him again..
My thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of a voice, a woman's voice.
"Vergil!" the woman yelled, "Vergil where are you?"
Despite being separated from Vergil, part of me wanted to reach out to that voice.
Well, at least I wanted to…
The Darkness around me started to melt as a scene was starting to form.
This scene…
Oh, this scene…
Nightmare's name seems fitting after all…
The woman in front of me, would soon be a burnt corpse as the image of her would be burned into my mind.
Had this been Vergil himself, he would've lashed out at the sight of his mother being burned in front of him…
I walked up to the illusion of the mother and waffed it away, making it disappear.
...But to me, this is only a mere illusion.
The scene around me began to fade as the Darkness began to creep in again.
The only difference is that there was a mirror right in front of me.
As I walked up to the mirror, I saw Vergil.
Everything about him actually looked like him, I tried to take a closer look only to find that the Vergil in the reflection was coming towards me, or towards the mirror.
As he came closer, his image started to change.
The closer he got, the more paler and lifeless he looked.
Up until he looked like that thing...
Now you're just mocking me…!
I smashed the mirror in front of me with the cane, even the mirror itself was an illusion..
Is this all Nightmare is going to do, just torment me until I go mad?
If so, then he's already too late…
It takes a Madman to go headfirst into a Nightmare!
Behind the smashed mirror was what I was looking for, the true form of what Nightmare was.
A formless blob of black ooze and tarred bones…
...but in the middle of it all was the core, it's very heart...
The closer I stepped towards it, the more it tried to run away and protect its very core.
By the time I was close enough to take its core, I used most of my demonic power to cover my hand in a protective layer to reach in for the core.
And as if everything was just a Nightmare, I was able to resurface from the swamp water. Like nothing ever happened at all.
"V!" Griffon shouted happily, "You're alive buddy! And with that Thing's core! Let's smash it and-"
I looked at the decayed swamp and saw the water and black ooze surround me as it saw me with it's very heart.
"No, no, no, no! Not this time you monster! Make one wrong move and our buddy here will- WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Griffon shouted at me as I gave Nightmare back it's core.
"We had our trump card against it and your giving it back?!" Griffon said as he perched on my head and tried to peck it.
"I think you're mistaken, Griffon. I'm not giving it back, I'm bestowing it to it." I said as Nightmare took back its core, "It should already know that it's been bested."
As Nightmare began to take back its core, all the black ooze in the swamp began to form up in a single blob in front of me and soon envelop me in it.
Part of the ooze began to sink into my skin and evaporate away. All that became of it was a necklace that looped around my neck a couple of times.
With this, my party is complete…
"You're insane V, you're insane!" Griffin began to complain.
"Crazy? Maybe. But insane, no, not in the slightest." I responded back
"You never changed from your original form you know…" Griffon said, "You're still pretty power hungry…"
That may be, but at least I am not powerless.
Not anymore...
"So what's next? You can't fit any more familiars in that body, and there doesn't seem to be any more familiars around…." Griffon asked
"What's next, you ask?" I said as I began to head back to the town, "What we need is to prepare. There is no telling when Vergil will return to his old ways. Until that day comes, you three will have to get stronger. We cannot do this alone…"
For the next couple of weeks, I began my journey to train and make all three of my companions stronger.
Facing all kinds of enemies, demons, goblins, orcs, hellbats, and other things alike.
Each day was a repeat of the last;
Wake up in the church, do quests, eat something since this body requires food, and go back to the church to rest.
This was the only thing I was required to do…
….until I met a certain demon.
He was unusually dressed well despite being a demon and wore a mask with the roman numeral 2 etched onto it.
I was surprised to see another demon reside in this town aside from the boy and his other companion.
It seems this demon is a user of clairvoyance. The ability to see into the future.
I was able to know this since he anticipated my arrival before I stepped through the small shop he co-owned with the other demon. And before I was even able to say anything, he rejected my request.
"If Moi looks into thou's future, there is a chance that thou's future may not come true." he said, "Besides, if Moi doth decides to look into Thou's future, what's in it for Moi?"
"What's in it for you? You say?" I said to him, "Well then...how about an Insurance of some kind…"
"Insurance?" He said skeptically.
"Yes, Insurance." I said as a took a seat nearby, "Insurance for the future. A future not even you can predict."
"Oh, really?" The demon said as he seemed intrigued, "Is thou making a threat for Moi?"
"Oh no, no. I'm not making any threats here. I'm only saying, that there is a chance that something could spiral out of control. Something so out of control, no amount of Clairvoyance can fix the outcome.
"Besides, you told me if you look into my future, there's a chance that it may not come true." I said as I began to lean closer to the demon, "And I want to make damn sure, that what you see is something that never happens."
The demon once again chuckled to himself as he took a seat in front of me, "Thou is a very interesting person. Hard to say that Thou is the same person as demon who resides in the child." The demon said as he began to stir some tea.
"If you know who I am, then you know how powerful he can get. Which is why you should-"
"There is no need." The demon said as he interrupted me.
"Moi has already looked into Thou's future and saw...quite a dilemma." The demon told me before he took off his left glove, "Moi could tell you, but Moi does not have the time to do so, so showing Thou should make things easier."
The demon took his exposed hand and barely touched my forehead before I was flooded with flashing images all of them from this moment up until one fateful day…
The flashing images stopped at that point before I was back at the small shop.
"It's much worse than I expected…" I said as I began to laugh by myself, "But…"
I stood up from the chair with my cane in tow as I got myself a new sense of determination, "This is exactly what I needed…."
"Hmm...such a strange fellow Thou is." The demon said as he put his glove back on, "But now that Thou hath seen the future, what shall Thou do now?"
I chuckled to myself as he asked me that question, "You're a user of Clairvoyance, and yet you ask me that question. Shouldn't it be obvious?"
"Hmpf, Thou shall call Moi Vanir. Moi will await your next Visit, V." Vanir, the demon said as he gave a slight bow as Ieft the shop.
~ ~ ~ ~
So...uh...what are you gonna do? I mean I'm no mind reader like that dude, but I don't like left being in the dark either.
It's simple. We continue with what we've always been doing. Get stronger, earn enough to survive, and await for Vergil to return to his roots…
...Though, we will need quite a chunk of change for the near future…
What for? It's not like you'll be able to use a Sword and Shield with your arms like that, no offense…
Foolishness Griffon…
We'll need the money to hire the Fill-in Dante.
Huh? Why him?
You'll see…
~ ~ ~ ~
For the rest of the time that I live here, I've managed to earn quite a large amount of savings from quests that pay heavily.
I've had Griffon tail the boy, Tsukiyo, over to a resort of some kind and I've even met him in person. He still has some ways to go before he can keep up with Vergil and the Dante Fill-in, Kosuke.
And the boy has even left the Town temporarily to get stronger.
It's all coming together, slowly, but it's guaranteed.
All that's needed now, it to take the first step…
I knocked my cane gently on the door as a voice was heard on the other side.
"Come in!" the voice said.
As I opened the door and stepped through, I saw an Elf woman rummaging through some boxes and rearranging something to the side as a man in his late 20's was lying back on a chair with his foot up on the desk.
"Devil May Cry. How can we help you?" The man in the red coat said.
….In the beginning, I did not know why I was brought into this world.
I did not know what my role would be while I was here….
But now…
Now I know why…
...I must prevent a future of Vergil destroying this world for his lust for power…
...I'll do whatever it takes to stop him...
Even if it means killing him...
Reference:
1 - William Blake - Jerusalem
2 - William Blake - Silent, Silent Night
3 - William Blake - Infant Joy
4 - William Blake - Auguries of Innocence.