Hey guys, Alito Here!

Damn I haven't updated this shit since September? That's wild! I feel I apologize every other upload, but I do want to give context as to why this time. I recently got a new job in journalism, and have been swamped with work on that. Hopefully I find a good schedule to get my writing time in order.

So far 2020 has been a busy year for me so far. I got a new job, and a whole bunch of other things coming up.

Guess we'll have to see how my time is to update this a lil more periodically.

So Dead or Alive has been a game I've put a lil more effort into playing and its story is still confusing as all hell. Still, it keeps my interest well enough and I can decipher what's what. Xtreme Vollyball is...interesting, if you catch my drift lol

Devil May Cry came out with a mobile game called Pinnacle of Combat. It's basically DMC3+ to me. Other than that, I've not heard much on this Devil May Cry anime made by the same people of the Castlevania animation, but I wait with baited breath for some news.

Anyway, now that I'm back for a while, let's get on to the story.

DISCLAIMER I OWN NOTHING. DmC: Devil May Cry and Dead or Alive 5 belong to their respective owners.


Chapter 46: Recruitment Part 6: Awaken


UNKNOWN AREA

UNKNOWN LOCATION

The descending tunnel of sheer nothingness, had finally given way towards an inscribed wall of ancient sigils and the blood splattered across it. The entire structure was old; barely held together with time not on its side. Despite its old appearance, it remained a strong cut off point for the dark cylinder tunnel.

An armor-encased hand was the first in many ions to come into contact with it. The warmth of the old wall relinquished dormant memories for the armored demon. He had felt a sense of great euphoria that he could only vaguely recall from a fortnight. Now he could practically see the days of old flood back into his mind like a roaring lake.

"Yes…this is it." Agnolo said in satisfaction. "After so many millennia of this agony, I may finally achieve that which was mine. Finally, I'll—"

Agnolo's moment of nostalgia had been interrupted by the sensation of four individual's aura beginning to burn at his backside. His elation had quickly plunged into a pit of exasperation at the possibility of another battle to take part in. He had no patience for the folly and instead settled on putting his slave to good use once more.

"Kill them." Agnolo said at the tip of his fedora. "And then, dispose of yourself."

The twitching super ninja, Ryu, was forced into a stuttering bow against his will, before disappearing into a mist of black crow feathers.

Agnolo could vaguely sense that his control over the great ninja Ryu was slowly seeping away from him. Any more effort to keep his grip on the ninja's mind, and the damage could be lethal. It would've been such a shame to lose such a competent warrior so soon. However, it did not matter to Agnolo whether the ninja kills them, or they kill him; either way, he had used him for what was needed. Now all that was left, was for Agnolo to claim his prize on the other side of the wall.

He reached his hand forward, and in it appeared a new sword; vastly different from his usual one.

"Ah…the Yamato…how nostalgic."

Agnolo held Yamato to his hip and dropped into battojutsu stance. He waited only a moment to gather his energy, before unsheathing the katana across the door. At first, only a glimmer of light was seen going across the lower half of the door. It only required Agnolo to gracefully sheath the katana once again for the lower half to finally fall away into dozens of pieces.

What greeted him was an intense light on the other side. He could barely contain a grin forming underneath the armored helmet.

"Soon…soon, I shall be freed from this accursed armor…soon…I shall return as I was…"


Ryu had appeared further down the giant, preverbal rabbit's hole in search of the familiar sources of energy. Though still under the vicious control of the Grip of Murder, the possessed super ninja struggled to stop himself from even doing the simplest of footsteps. It was as though he was in no manner of control of his own body—shackled as its prisoner. Despite such disadvantages, the super ninja continued to struggle, and fight off the possession with everything he had; refusing to submit.

"Ryu!"

Suddenly, the body stopped. He heard a familiar voice that rang a moment of clarity to his mind. He looked forward to find that it was a lone man; one that he had known for many years as his alley, and his greatest friend.

However, what his friend held in his hand spelled another realization. Not even Ryu's eyes could be spared from being forced to stare at the katana gleaming in what little light was in the giant tunnel.

"Ryu…are you there, old friend?" Hayate called out to in Japanese. "Can you hear me?"

Ryu did not respond. He could only shakily get into battle stance as he pulled out a demonic-looking black sword with a sharpened crossguard and A curved blade. Despite the readiness for a fight, the Ryu deep inside was still resistant to the full control of the curse.

"Yes…I know you are there." Hayate said with relief. "Back in the ice prison, you reached out to me for help—I know you did. I…know you'd want me to do what is necessary…even if the results are dire…"

There was a trembling grip on Hayate's sword that had been filled with uncertainty and fear for his dear brother-in-arms. However, he quickly tighten those nerves for the hopes that it would all be resolved.

"I am sorry…" Hayate solemnly whispered before shouting: "NOW!"

The possessed ninja suddenly felt something press against his back. Before he could even react to it, a flash of light overwhelmed him; burning the body like a furnace and making Ryu scream in agony. His body convulsed as he fell to the knees and finally flat on his face in utter silence.

Hayate cringed at the sight of his fellow ninja forced to endure the pain of being burned by a heavenly light. However, he had seen exactly what Vergil had said would happen to Ryu. The Nephilim stood behind the downed Ryu to see the red infection around the ninja's arm begin to slowly materialize into ash bit by bit. It then peeled away into small particles of dust in the wind. Both Momiji and Rachel appeared with Hayate to see the disintegration process unfold for what felt like minutes on end, despite being only one.

"How long will this process take place?" Momiji asked.

"A couple minutes." Vergil responded. "It has to remove every trace of the curse from his body."

"You said there was a risk factor involved in all this…" The blond huntress brought up.

"Yes…" Vergil replied grimly as he brushed the back of his unkempt white hair. "Should the Grip of Murder be as severe as I recalled, then it's already bonded with his soul. And if that's the case, the spell I placed on him could very well eat away at his life."

The three reacted in a similar fashion; looks of horror that left them speechless, before Hayate confined in Vergil's words the fastest.

"I see…" He said, head hung down. The girls comforted him with consoling hands to his back.

"But this is only a speculation." Vergil quickly retorted. "It usually takes more then a couple of days for the curse to bond with its host to that degree."

"So, we can only hope." Hayate figured.

"Yes…which is why you three should stay with him until the process is complete."

All three looked back at the white-haired Nephilim with uncertainty.

"What about you?" Rachel questioned.

Vergil replied as he turned on the heel and walked down the tunnel. "I can only assume the puppeteer is up ahead. I'll need to deal with him as soon as possible."

Hayate wanted to join the Nephilim; not to assist him, but to be able to savor sweet vengeance to the bastard who turned his ally into a bloodthirsty monster. However, it only took the smallest grown from the unconscious Super ninja on the ground for him to realize where he was needed more. He would've considered it a great shame to his place as the leader of the Mugen Tenshin name if he left a fellow ninja behind. He, at least, wanted to be present should anything befall Ryu.

"Vergil!" Hayate called.

The Nephilim looked over his shoulder, and once again, instinctively reached his hand out to catch the Jinran-Maru by its sheath. He looked back at Hayate to see if he was certain of lending his prized katana to a stranger, not once, but twice. The familiar narrow eyes that hungered for cold-hearted revenge answered for him.

"Please…kill that bastard."

Vergil heard that request loud and clear. He only nodded and proceeded onward, while the girls and Hayate waited patiently for Ryu's recovery.


TIME SQUARE (Limbo)

NEW YORK (Limbo)

10:23 AM, Thursday

Dante had fought many things in his life that gave him the creeps. Demon ghost, Demon wolves, Demon spiders—any horror inducing thing, but just add the word demon at the beginning. Dante had seen in all. However, this was where he had to draw the line. Especially when the enemy crosses the line and creeps up with a hand ready to ram up one's rectum in a thick blanket of fog.

Both Dante and Barbatos had felt the emotional sting of the headless beast's sword clash with their own, and tried their damnedest to dodge whatever attacks it threw at them. However, their movement felt sluggish as their bodies became heavy. The two had been able to gain distance from the fight, but witnessed the massive creature slowly disappear in a large mass of mist without a sight.

Both looked around for a single trace of him, but could barely see a thing in the mist. Luckily, Barbatos was able to smell its horrid stench before Dante could, and was able to point him out within seconds.

"Dante! Behind you!"

"Oh, hell no!" Dante yelled frantically.

He turned on the heel and swung his sword right at the demon's approaching hands reaching low. It had howled a retched squeal as it took steps back from Dante to heal its hand.

"That scared the goddamn shit outta me!" Dante said shakily.

"No! Don't let it know your fear!" Barbatos warned in exhaustion. "It will only give it more power!"

"Hey! When it comes behind you; about to give you the worst fisting of your life, you remember those fuckin' words!" Dante yelled.

The two turned back to the headless creature to see it bring its sword up over his body. Both countered the giant sword with their owns. The weight behind it almost pushed them into the concrete. As Barbatos held it down, Dante took that chance to run his blade across Headless' own, until he was able to launch himself towards it; blade first, ala Stinger. Force Edge cleaved through its chest with enough force to send Headless back a few steps.

From there, Dante ripped Force Edge from its chest, and proceeded to swing a few times, before performing a deadly Trillion Stab against every part of his torso. The blindingly fast thrusts were far too much for the headless to take and it finally retaliated with a swing of his sword to knock Dante back.

The sheer force of the sword itself suddenly threw Dante off his footing.

"Shit…!" Dante hissed.

The blade was only a few inches away, before being intercepted by another. At the second of contact, Barbatos grabbed Dante by the back of his jacket and jumped a distance away from the Headless being, whose wounds slowly began to heal back up again without effort.

"Ugh…! Thanks for the save." Dante said in between breaths. He was surprised that the red-skinned demon would even help him like that.

"Something is wrong…" Barbatos realized. "It should have been weakened enough to kill it by now."

"Y'think it's been possessed by somethin'?" Dante suggested.

"No, I would have sensed an evil incantation. This is something else entirely." Barbatos looked at his glowing purple sword, then at Dante's. "The Divine Confetti isn't enough. And there is no escape from this treacherous fog."

"So, what? We just die here?-!"

"I-I…I do not know…Let me think."

"No time for that!"

Both Barbatos and Dante watched as the thick fog had revealed The Headless right in front of them with another attack of his massive sword.


Kasumi could barely keep herself conscious any longer.

Through her best efforts to keep awake, it felt as though the weight of a boulder was bearing down on her and the others. Her strength slowly sapped from her body, and the energy to even perform a genjutsu-breaking technique had failed. She looked behind her to see that Lei-Fang and Hitomi had already fallen victim to the deadly fog. She could only hope that they were just unconscious, but didn't want to wait to find out for herself.

Even so, Kasumi's own strength had begun to reach its peak. Just keeping her body from the floor had become too much to bear. What hurt her the most was not the anguish she experienced, but the shame in letting herself be subdued by such a measly trick. The miasma couldn't have been no worse than Limbo, and yet, down she easily went.

No more. She just couldn't take it any longer. Down the kunoichi went to the ground. Fighting off the urge to close her blurry eyes once and for all. She feared what could happen if she did. She desperately tried to find something to hold on to for leverage. Anything at all.

But then…she saw something. Or better yet, someone.

Whoever it could be was draped in black. Kasumi could barely make out who it was, but judging by the sounds of heels, she could only assume it to be a woman.

"Pathetic…" It said in a soft, yet venomous voice. Definitely female, and also very familiar.

"W…Wh…" Kasumi attempted to utter.

"Why…? Why must you be the one to…?"

Kasumi finally recognized the voice. It had sounded so familiar because she'd heard it all her life…it was her own.

Before she could think on it any longer, she felt something sprinkle onto the top of her head like bits of salt. This strange substance seeped into her scalp and course through her body in only moments of contact. Suddenly, Kasumi's eyes cleared, and her body slowly began to regain its lost energy. The strength in her arms and legs returned to her, allowing the Kunoichi to get back onto her hands and knees to rise again. Though her legs still felt like jello, against the odds, she still stood up with the support of one of the seats.

In front of Kasumi was the black cloaked woman whose face was submerged in the shadows of her overturned hood. Kasumi's eyes went wide. There was no mistaking the identity of this person. She'd know that black cloak anywhere.

"I…I remember you." Kasumi said with certainty. "You were there when my village was being attacked…the hooded figure who fused with that clone of me."

"Phase 4."

Kasumi raised a brow. "What?"

"That is my name; Phase 4."

"Phase…4? What does that mean?"

The hooded woman did not reply to Kasumi's query. Instead, she held her hand out with an old bag in it. Whatever it was, the small bag seemed to emit a purple-glowing energy.

"If you wish for your friends to live, I would advise sprinkling this onto them." Phase 4 instructed.

Kasumi had regained enough of her strength to stand on her own amidst the fog surrounding her feet. She looked at the small sack for a moment, before turning her attention back at the two, unconscious girls. Regardless of the reason, her friends came first.

The copper-haired kunoichi took the sack and ran towards her two friends. She took a knee and unwrapped it to reveal a billow of purple-glowing substance that resembled salt. She begrudgingly reached her hand into it, expecting pain or a burning sensation. Instead, she was surprised to find it as soft as beach sand. She stretched her hand out to spread the substance over Lei-Fang and Hitomi.

"Don't use too much." Phase 4 said, "You'll need to plunge it into your enemy."

Kasumi didn't turn around, but couldn't contain her curiosity. "Why're you helping me?"

No response from Phase 4.

"Is there a plan by Donovan that involves me being alive?"

Again, no response.

"Does it...have something to do with ALPHA-152? or Dante?"

There was a small silence before Kasumi heard the sound of Phase 4's coat rustle.

"...Till we meet again…Kasumi."

Kasumi felt the presence of the cloaked figure suddenly vanish from the scene.

Before she could ponder what the motive was for this 'Phase 4' to help her, she was interrupted by the low groans of her two comrades slowly regaining consciousness.

"Ugh, what happened…?" Lei-Fang muttered.

"My body feels…blegh…" Hitomi reacted.

Despite being worn for ware, Kasumi was relieved to see the two were alright and attempting to get back on their feet just as she did. Once she knew they were alright, she turned around to see just what she expected; nothing. Not a single trace of the cloaked clone to be found. Though she was thankful for the aid, there was still confusion as to why. They were enemies, weren't they?

"Kasumi-san, what happened, and why are we surrounded by all this dark fog?" Hitomi asked.

"There's no time to ex—"

"—and what the heck is that thing?-!"

Lei-Fang frantically pointed out the café's window towards the decaying giant without a head and swinging a massive sword at Dante and a red-skinned fellow. In all of the strangeness, Kasumi had failed to notice that Dante was right outside the cafe, fighting for his life. Whatever the creature was, Kasumi knew it to be nothing but trouble. She was also curious as to who it was that fought alongside him. Whoever it was, she could sense its demonic presence from the store.

"You both stay here." Kasumi demanded.

"Oh, no problem!" Hitomi nodded desperately in agreement.

Kasumi peered down at the small sack in her hand, then back at the headless monstrosity outside. In that moment, she recalled what the cloaked clone said; use it to plunge into her enemy. The next move was clear.


Dante and Barbatos had once again gotten distance away from the headless goliath, breathing harshly, and the last of their enchantments to their swords beginning to fade away. Meanwhile, the terrible beast had not lost a single stride in his step, and howled its retched, hoarse cry through the hole in his neck. It hadn't been apparent to the two of them, but the fog around them had begun to grow so thick that they could barely see any of the neighboring buildings around them.

"The fog is becoming worse." Barbatos panted. "We will need to end this fight before it is too late."

"I'm open to any bright ideas." Dante opted.

"I…I might have a plan." Barbatos paused, and then smiled at him. "When I give the signal, you charge in for the kill."

Dante didn't quite understand the demon's motives, but nodded. "Alright. You better know what you're—huh?"

Before either of them could do a thing, both suddenly heard a strange grinding sound of flesh, followed by the agonizing cries of the headless one. They looked back towards the scream and saw that, from its opened neck hole, there was a seeping purple mist that it clawed at desperately—as though something had fallen into it.

Both were about to question if either of them had something to do with this new development. However, landing right in front of them was none other than the kunoichi herself; fluttering sakura petals flowing around her.

"Hey, Kasu—"

Not another word came from Dante's mouth, before she rushed to her feet. Kasumi threw one of her kunai towards the red-skinned demon, who was far too exhausted to react in time. He was sent onto his back with a kunai in his chest and him writhing in pain. She took off towards the downed Barbatos with sword in hand to finish him off. Barbatos sat up to prepare himself, but had his sight blocked by Dante's back. Dante quickly picked up on what she was about to do, and rushed in front of her with arms spread out.

"Kasumi, wait!" Dante called out.

The copper-haired kunoichi saw her companion and was immediately brought out of her ninja mode; back to reality. She stopped on her heels and withdrew her weapon in confusion.

"D-Dante, what're you doing?" She said. "That's a demon behind you! He's—"

"I know! I know, look, just give 'em a break, alright? He's not on our kill list…yet. It's Barbatos, and he's helping me."

"Barbatos?-!" Kasumi exclaimed. "You mean the demon that almost killed Kokoro and kidnapped us, Dante? He's a demon! You don't seriously believe that—"

"Watch out!"

All three instinctively leaped upon Barbatos' call. They had gotten enough distance to see that the headless giant had become hysterical—aimlessly swinging his arms around in an absolute panic. Its head had begun to catch on fire in pink flames, along with its entire body becoming inflamed from the inside. Still, the beast stood, and move with swinging sporadic arms.

"We will have to discuss our unlikely partnership later." Barbatos said, ripping the kunai from his chest. "All that matters is our survival."

"Yeah, so play nice, you two." Dante warned.

Kasumi couldn't believe what she was seeing. Up until now, she had always known Dante to hate demons and all that they were. What made this one any different, whether helping him or not? She wanted to know more about this 'alliance' but knew now wasn't the time. The giant came first.

"Fine then." Kasumi said hesitantly, before going into battle stance. "But if this is a trick, know that I will not hesitate to kill you."

Barbatos smirked. "I like this version of you more and more."


UNKNOWN LOCATION

UNKNOWN TIME

Vergil's travels took him towards the end of the circular tunnel, and right towards its final destination. The massive circular door had been besmirched with a massive, clean, diagonal cut to the lower half of the door to make an opening. Inside was far too bright for him to see through without squinting his eyes. The blue Nephilim could only assume it had been done by Agnolo.

Vergil ran through the opening, and into the light that awaited. At first, it was far too bright for him to see a thing inside. He had to wait until they could adjust. However, he did hear the sounds of wind whipping in his ears. The smell of fresh grass fused with the stench of Limbo. He felt his feet touch soft grass mixed with stone.

Finally, his eyes slowly began to make sense of what was in front of him, and what he saw was beyond his own expectations.

He had stood in a strange new realm filled with lush grasslands overtaking mountainsides. At the center was a single watering hole surrounded by bushes. Beyond that was an old home that was being reclaimed by nature. And further ahead were mountains as far as the eyes could see. It all would've been strange enough. However, what created a sense of eeriness was the separation of these structures from one another. Everything had floated in the air—similar to Limbo. The mountains were slanted to the side, while the watering hole had slowly drifted towards him. The old house seemed to stay in one place but every so often broke apart as quickly as it could put itself back together.

"What is all this…?" Vergil wondered. "This wasn't here when I visited with father…what's going on here?"

Rather than stand by and ask questions, Vergil continued onward into the unknown by leaping off of the grassy plains, and onto the cobbled path that lead to the watering hole.

He gazed upon the splash of water that rose from a small geyser continuously. But that wasn't enough to distract him from what truly got his eye.

Just before the watering hole platform, sat a mansion of decrepit stature that eerie resembled Vergil and Dante's old home. Vergil was only able to admire its décor for a moment, before the entire structure suddenly shattered apart into multiple pieces. Rather than it all falling towards the cloudy abyss below, the millions of pieces were all frozen in time, before quickly returning to its original, towering form as if it didn't break at all.

"Wait…what was that?" Vergil wondered. In those seconds of its frozen shattering, he swore he had seen something in the center of the broken home. He waited a total of twelve seconds before the home once again broke apart into frozen pieces. At the center of it was a glowing sigil that resembled old magic. The closest Vergil could grasp was the port keys that Kat would usually make.

But before Vergil could see it much longer, in twelve seconds, the house rebuilt itself. Vergil determined the last time the old building shifted and estimated a rough calculation of a twelve seconds of stability, before another twelve seconds within its frozen state. He could not afford to wonder what would happen if the home closed in on him if he didn't make it.

"I can make it." Vergil said to himself, hoping those wouldn't be his last words.

The moment the house opened up again, Vergil took off from the platform and landed onto the grounds of the shattered home. He ran up onto the stairs and took off across the old tiled floors. Five seconds before closing. He was only a few feet away.

Three…

Two…

One…

Only inches away before his foot would've been crushed, but he had nonetheless made it through the port key. He had collapsed onto hard, cobbled ground, submerged in darkness. He sat up to rub his throbbing head, but was met with a breeze of wind just in front of him. It may have been dark, but Vergil could make out the downward flight of stairs with dimly lit candles; red on one side and blue on the other, to cast a fraction of light down.

Vergil used the Jinran Maru for support to lift himself back up. He hazardously walked down the stairs. He had never seen such a location with his father upon entering this realm. There was an odd sensation as he walked down the stairs. The further he traveled, the queasier he became. Whatever lied at the bottom had the blue Nephilim grip the shinobi katana tight.

Once he had reached the very bottom of the stairs, he stared down a tunnel that lead to, what he could assume, was a massive area that was fully lit with light from above. At its very center, Vergil could see a figure in metal and a cape, standing there.

No doubt in the Blue Nephilim's mind; Agnolo.

Vergil ran through the tunnel and towards another small flight of stairs before he found himself in a room, he had almost lost himself in. The first sight was the giant stone statue of a man, staring down at him with an eye the size of the truck. He seemed to be cupping the entire circular area in his arms, while a pair of wings from his back; one angelic while the other demonic, held the rest of the room up. The only form of real light came from the hole in the roof above. Vergil couldn't believe what he was seeing, nor make sense of what it all was. However, he quickly recalled what he was there to do, and continued onto the center of the room, where he stood in Battojutsu form against the armor-cladded demon.

Vergil saw the one named Agnolo; still clad in his metal armor, black ripped cape dancing in the light breeze, and his helmet seemingly cracked and ready to break. In his left hand was none other than Vergil's treasured sword, Yamato. He gritted his teeth in anger at seeing what was rightfully his in the hands of this monster.

"Vergil; Son of Sparda and Eva. An unholy merge of the warring Angel and Demon races—Nephilim. The birth of such an unholy coalescence. Such beauty, in the marrow of pure bloodshed."

"So we meet again, Agnolo." Vergil said, seething with anger. "I've regretted letting you and the other Knights of Hell free, but I will make amends here and now."

A hardy laugh erupted from Agnolo that made his head tilt back. It was through this laugh that Vergil realized that he did not sound like anything he expected a demon to sound like. Instead, he sounded very much human, yet he couldn't help but feel this…strange aura surrounding him.

"Yes…this is what I have come to expect from a Nephilim—fortitude."

As he spoke, more cracks began to form on his mask.

"I have longed to see the third species, once again, thrive from the ashes of the past. Such fools; believing that there could be peace amongst the Angels and the Demons by merging them into one entity. The folly of the once great Nephilim of Origins has led me to believe that it was never the goal to attain peace…"

The helmet had reached a point where it could no longer sustain itself and was about to break into pieces.

"…instead, it was within the Nephilim's best interest…to rule."

Finally, the helmet had fallen apart. Its remnants scattered across the ground. Vergil could see the back of this demon's head for what he really was.

But then…Vergil froze.

He had almost dropped the Jinran Maru in utter disbelief. His eyes had opened wide and his mouth slight agape. A cold chill ran down his spin as Agnolo turned to face him. It was then that he saw in his other hand was none other than Rebellion, his brother's keepsake sword. But that was only a forethought in the Nephilim's mind. The sight that he couldn't begin to fathom was who was underneath the mask all this time.

"N-No…No, that…that can't be…!" Vergil stuttered in shock. "Y-you…! You're supposed to be—"

"—dead? Far from it." He said confidently. "Not when there is still so much to do…"

He brushed his brittle hands across his long hair, that seemed to glow in the bright sun above. And those eyes; those unnatural eyes. Even with the rugged features of facial air and premature lines on his face, he still was the one that Vergil distinctively remembered.

His father told him stories, but never did Vergil expect to actually meet him. And yet, there he was; long, snow white hair, shimmering blue eyes, and a matching aura to both his and Dante's own.

"I-It's really you…" Vergil uttered. "I-I always believed we were the only ones. But you're real…you're the real Seditio."

"Yes…oh, how I have missed this planet." He said joyously, arms raised to embrace the rays of the sun. "My poor, defenseless brothers…you both have suffered at the hands of these putrid creatures in this accursed realm…but not anymore."

He looked back towards Vergil with a cold glare that set Vergil back a few steps.

"Now…it is time I awaken your true potential."

Seditio raised Rebellion up, blade pointed to the ground as if the plunge.

"Awaken, Sons of Sparda."

The tip of the blade had pierced into the ground, creating a perfect ripple of sheer aura to manifest across the area. Soon a blast of both red and blue air had blown from Seditio's wake and quickly filled the room. It washed over Vergil with such intensity, that he swore he was going to fall onto his back. There was a burning sensation that erupted within him that felt agonizing, but at the same time, euphoric. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. And it only continued to overwhelm him. His mind had begun to go blank, and soon his own consciousness fell into obscurity.


Kasumi had used up the last of her shuriken and kunai on the wild, headless giant, while Dante and Barbatos could no longer keep themselves from harshly panting out of exhaustion. Regardless of what they had hit the beast with, it still continued to let out that ungodly roar as its swung its arms around with no aim; just pure pain and anger keeping it going now from the purple aura in its body.

"Fuck…!" Dante exasperated. "…What's it gonna take to bring this bastard down?"

"I…I don't know…" Kasumi said breathlessly. "No matter what we throw at it, this…thing just won't quit!"

"There is nothing else we can do except fight on until it gets tired." Barbatos said.

"Perhaps you should talk to it. After all; you're both of the same species." Kasumi said with a hint of impatience.

"As it stands, this demon is of another realm of Hell. I have no indication of what it's saying." Barbatos confirmed. "I would have gladly put an end to the skirmish by now."

"Or this could be a diversion, while your goons attack our friends." Kasumi noted with suspicion. "What's to say you're not keeping the two of us here as a means to an end? It wouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility for a demon."

"Hmph. Even now, I am still treated as a pariah amongst you both." Barbatos said with a chuckle. "Believe what you will, but I have no intensions of dying to this abomination."

That was still not enough to convince Kasumi that something wasn't up with Barbatos. The more he tried to convince her that he was on her and Dante's side, the memory of his evil doings and hearing of what he had done to Kokoro made her stomach turn. Something in her gut told her to not give him an inch, no matter how he appeared to be.

"Once this battle is over, we'll need to discuss what to do with him later, Dante…Dante, did you hear me? Hey Da—"

Kasumi looked across Barbatos to find Dante, motionless with his face in a state of panic. The only indication that let her know he was still conscious was the harsh breaths he let out. Sweat glistened down his face, while his fists shook. He could barely keep hold of his sword, let alone keep balance. He began to sway back and forth, as though he would trip and fall.

"Dante?-!" Kasumi called, running to his aid.

"Wait! Back away!" Barbatos said, grabbing Kasumi's arm back. "Do not go near him!"

"Why?-!" Kasumi exclaimed, ripping her arm away. "What have you—"

"This isn't my doing! B-But…I know what this is…!" Barbatos said in the first sign of panic that Kasumi had ever seen from him.

Meanwhile, Dante felt something suddenly overcome him. There was a burning in his chest that felt like his heart was on fire. He breathed as hard as he could, but could barely feel the air escape his lungs. His skin began to feel as though it were burning all over. His head throbbed a migraine so bad that he thought his skull was going to rupture.

Then, suddenly the pain became too much as he cried out in agony. His body suddenly felt light enough to lift him off of the ground and into the air. The very crust of conceit below him, ripped apart at the presence of a black and red mist surrounding him like fire.

He was pierced by rays of red energy that traveled into his very core, corroding and transforming it into something else entirely. This strange energy that began to course itself through Dante's veins had altered his entire appearance. His skin had become a pale white; red veins bleeding through the surface. Strangely enough, his coat had also altered into a shimmering glow of blood red. And finally, there was his hair; it had been bleached of all its color, and grew a few inches into what was left of a snow-white shade.

His piercing red eyes had opened to a world of black and white that was submerged in a mist of his own manifestation. The moment his feet touched the ground, the shockwave had sent the headless giant into the air. It helplessly swayed itself free, but was at the mercy of Dante's new form.

Kasumi stood there in horror. She remembered this form from when Mundus arrived at DOATEC. That same frightening aura that surrounded him, and even the bright red coat with the white hair. It was a sight she could not easily forget, nor did she want to have the displeasure of seeing again. But there it was again. This horrifying image of a creature that she had once known to be her friend.

"No…! Not again…!" Kasumi uttered. "What's happening to him?-!"

"I…can't believe it…!"

Kasumi looked back at Barbatos; his widened eyes didn't leave Dante for a second. Even he began to feel weak at the presence of this otherworldly power they were surrounded by. Still, he held his ground enough to not be lifted into the air as the Headless was.

"He did it…" Barbatos uttered. "Seditio has returned…!"