Hey guys, Alito Here!

And I have been absent for quite some time, haven't I? Guess my job's really getting most of my attention these days. Lol

Anywho, I figured I'd get back into the swing of things with this series as well as my other fanfics that desperately need updates. I hope I don't loose the drive to continue on and then be gone for another month or two.

So now we're here at the second to last arc of this story. The TOURNAMENT ARC! FINALLY!

Also, sidenote, I notice some in the reviews mentioning my adding in Nico from DMC5. However, I don't think I ever added Nico. The only ones from the classic series I put in were Lady, Trish, Dante, Vergil, and Jester. Unless I'm mistaken, Nico hasn't (and probably won't) show up in this story.

Second note: It's kinda sad that even now in 2020, people still comment on my story with some childish animosity simply because I use DmC instead of the classic version. I dunno what you expected when you opened this story, but it certainly wasn't gonna be the classic series. But hey, that's a review I can enjoy reading so that's all that really matters to me lol

Also, with the respective stories' universes:

DMC5:SE is finally out; continuing the age-old tradition of Vergil being included as either DLC or a special edition. My only gripe is that we're once again stuck with Vergil using the same three weapons as all his other past games. Only this time, he has Force Edge mirage, and not the actual Force Edge.

And DOA…I actually dunno. I haven't been keeping up with DOA in a minute. I know it's got new characters in Venus Vacation, which is all fine and dandy, but it's a shame that DOA's combat and fighting game style is taking a back seat to beach cuties and volleyball.

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 respected owners.


Chapter 50: The Beginning


LIMBO OVERPASS
LIMBO CITY
2:25 pm Thursday

The car had pulled up onto the side of the overpass that overlooked a deep and murky lake below. The driver's door opened first to reveal the white-haired Nephilim in black with Yamato in hand. The passenger's door was the next to open to revealed the current Mugen Tenshin Clan leader—now dressed in more traditional ninja garbs and his trusted sword on his back. Both back doors opened to reveal the hooded psychic of The Order, as well as the fellow Kunoichi of which Hayate trusted the most.

"This is it." Vergil announced.

"I still don't understand what this horrendous, disease-ridden city has to do with discovering the weakness to the Demon Lord." Ayane huffed.

"Patience, Ayane." Hayate assured her. "Vergil."

"Thank you." Vergil said, looking out into the horizon. "That is where this Phineas person most likely is."

Vergil pointed towards the Strange tower of television screens, and a massive antenna that seemed to point right towards the grey skies. Among the other buildings in the foggy city, this tower stood almost as high as the other structure that resembled giant wings in the ground. On the screen was the label; 'RAPTOR NEWS NETWORK.'

"That is Mundus' monitoring network: Raptor News Tower." Vergil explained. "It's essentially mind control that uses its massive surveillance to spy on the populous. It also acts as Mundus' personal eyes and ears."

"So, we're going to destroy the tower?" Ayane assumed with a tinge of excitement.

"No." Kat answered.

And that tinge had quickly dissipated.

"We can't afford to make hasty moves too soon." Kat explained. "Not until we know the full extent of Mundus' power."

"Kat's right." Vergil backed up. "There's no room for uncoordinated assaults. We need to play this smart and precise. That's why I wanted you two to accompany me."

"I don't see why I have to be here." Ayane said, "I've severed my ties to Limbo."

"You and Kat will have a special role to play in this operation." Vergil explained. "Barbas has CCTV cameras all over his domain. We'll need those disposed of first. You will enter the Raptor News Building while Kat will be in spirit form to guide you."

Vergil pulled a USB from his pocket and placed it in Ayane's hand.

"The main server room is your destination. Once in, you download Mundus' monitoring security mainframe. That way, we'll be able to mask ourselves from his cameras and take his mind control component from him."

Ayane eyed the USB with uncertainty painted onto her face. Hayate was quick to place his hand on her shoulder and speak some confidence into her.

"You have the most important task of them all, Ayane." Hayate told her. "Much of our success is on your shoulders. I hope you can bear the burden."

Ayane could see how large the responsibility was. It was just the task she needed to prove herself to her brother. She could not afford to fail.

"I understand, Hayate-sama." Ayane bowed.

"I'll do my best too, Vergil." Kat said confidently.

She expected to be given the same kind of confidence boost that Ayane received.

"Yes, sure." Vergil said without thought. His attention was only focused on the tower. "Have you drawn the port key yet, Kat?"

"O-Oh, yeah. I got it…" Kat said in disappointment.

She got down to one knee to prepare the gateway as she usually did. As Kat did so, Hayate could not help not see the downtrodden expression Kat wore. It was brief, but it gave the Shinobi leader a bit of insight on where Kat stood in Vergil's importance. And that worried him a great deal.

"It's done."

Hayate and Vergil stepped into the confines of the portal; back-to-back from each other.

"Good luck, you two. Our advancement lies in your hands." Hayate said.

Both girls nodded as they watched their two mentors quickly disappear in the small tower of light from below their feet. Once they were gone, Kat proceeded To pick up her parchment and walk back towards the car's backseat.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Kat's hand was just about to reach for the back door, when Ayane spoke up.

"Um…into the backseat so I can leave my body somewhere safe." She sheepishly answered.

Ayane scoffed. "Seriously? You're just gonna leave your body out in the open where someone could just break the window open and kidnap you?"

"It's not the first time I've done this. I'll be fine."

Ayane huffed with her arms crossed. "Well, I'm not fine with that. I've only been in this putrid city for a few minutes, and already, I can tell it's an infestation. There is no way I'm letting you do something so stupid."

Kat's fist clenched. "Stupid?"

Her eyes under her hood seemed to glow with a tinge of green that took Ayane a bit by surprise. Kat then, stomped up to Ayane with anger in her gaze towards the kunoichi. Ayane did not move an inch and returned an intimidating glance back at the young psychic.

"Everything I do—the blood, sweat, and tears I put into all of this, is not stupid." Kat fumed. "Vergil said that what we do today, could mean freedom from Mundus' grasp tomorrow! There is too much at stake for me to not take this seriously."

Ayane held her gaze to look for the smallest crack in the hooded girl's eyes—the smallest shred of doubt in her conviction to exploit. She clearly did not believe anything Kat had to say, and lumped to her being convinced into this secret war by Vergil's influence.

She never trusted Vergil from the beginning. There was something off-putting about his mannerisms; whether it was him speaking to people as they were below him, or the way he would look at people like Kat—those who have no physical strength to even be considered an existing factor in his eyes. She had seen such a stare in the dreaded memories of her father.

Kat could feel herself losing steam against the ninja. She would have faltered had it not been for the purple-haired kunoichi averting her eyes back towards the tower just in time.

"Since that's what you believe, then I will take your word for it." Ayane accepted. "Very well, we will procced as planned…"

Kat was about to breathe a sigh of relief…

"…However, you're not going in spirit form."

…that quickly hitched in the back of her throat. "W-What?-!"

"You heard me." The kunoichi stated. "I won't let you just leave your lifeless body out here where it could be compromised."

Ayane dramatically pointed towards Kat, who was more confused by the gesture than anything.

"Instead, you will be joining me." Ayane smirked. "It's time I teach you a thing or two about the covert ways of the Hajinmon sect. Be grateful of my charity."

Kat had gone blank for a moment, before she blurted out a simple; "Huh?"

Before any questions or instructions could be done about the operation, Ayane grabbed Kat's wrist and dragged her along while saying "Just come with me. And don't leave my side for a second."


?-?-?
RAPTOR NEWS NETWORK
2:43 pm Thursday

Kat hated dust. Especially dust from a barely-kept up ventilation shaft.

Nevertheless, she was forced to stare at the butt of her kunoichi acquaintance as they crawled through the dark, narrow vents for what felt like hours. She was just fortunate that she was not prone to allergies. Otherwise, the people bellow would've easily heard them.

"Not too far now, right?" Ayane whispered.

"I don't know since you wouldn't let me leave my body and look." Kat stressed.

"It's unbecoming of someone in your rank to rely solely on a gimmick." Ayane criticized.

"Gimmick?" Kat grew offended. "I'll have you know, that 'gimmick' has brought The Order that much closer to winning this war."

"Hmph. And yet, you all require our help to do it?"

Kat's eye twitched. She almost considered banging on the ventilation shaft just to take the pompous kunoichi down with her. But alas, she had a mission to fulfill. Vergil was counting on it, as well as Hayate. She could not be the one to compromise this hard work.

Kat stayed quiet, and followed Ayane, until she accidently bumped her face right into the purple-haired girl's behind. This made Ayane yelp, and look over her shoulder, enraged.

"S-Sorry! Sorry!" The hooded wiccan whispered. "It's very hard to see in here…"

Ayane ignored her apology, and nodded for Kat to squeeze in next to her. Kat struggled to push herself in between the metal walls and Ayane. It was even harder to do when Kat considered her large the konoichi's chest was compared to hers. Kat was never one for much jealousy of breast size like Neanderthal men and measuring their members. However, they were very hard to not consider when they were pressed firmly against her own, in a cramped space. They were so close, that Kat could feel the breath right against her ear.

Needless to say, Kat felt uncomfortable with the situation, but endured to the best of her ability.

"There." Ayane whispered.

Kat followed her red-eyed gaze through the slits of the vent. They saw a room with multiple security mainframes and a massive computer for the data drives. It all took on an eerie blue with only about two people sitting in their chairs to monitor everything.

"They're demons in disguise." Kat noted. "We should be careful in—"

Before another word left Kat's mouth, the space had become breathable again. However, her eyes blinked to the sight of thin black smoke. When she opened them again, Kat saw that Ayane had disappeared, only to then hear the sounds of men crying out in agony below.

Kat peeked and saw that the purple-haired kunoichi had easily dealt with the two men with ease.

"You can come down now." She called.

Kat rolled her eyes and muttered, "What, that's not a gimmick?"


LIMBO CITY (Limbofied)
CENTRAL PENITENTIARY
2:34 pm Thursday

Vergil and Hayate waited patiently enough, until they could see the demonic, eyeball CCTV's had finally lowered into dangling ornaments.

"They did it." Vergil said, "We can go."

Hayate nodded, and followed Vergil onto the edge of the upside-down bridge of the overpass. There, in front of them, they saw the maximum-security prison stand. Just like the rest of the world, and even the rain, it was all an upside-down mess of entropy. Hayate had to take a moment to get use to the oddity of the world around him. It became easier once he accepted Limbo's madness, and rolled with the punches.

Vergil leaped off the edge and used a grappling hook in his hands to swing himself over onto the other side of the security walls. He landed on one of the platforms connected to the wall, while Hayate needlessly appeared beside him in a mist of black feathers.

"Oh my god…" Hayate uttered.

Vergil had to agree. What they saw nothing of a maximum-security prison at all. Instead, all they bared witness to was a den of torture. Souls far beyond the eyes could see, were trapped in eternal damnation in the streets above them. The town buildings around them were plastered with images of Bob Barbas watching every single one of them. Streaks of red zoomed across the roads as if to symbolize moving vehicles.

"This…this is a prison?" Hayate said.

"It's Barbas' prison." Vergil answered. "This is where the souls that dare to question him are sent; whether alive or dead."

"Can we do nothing to save them?"

"No, they're already too far gone in Limbo." Vergil surmised. "The best we can do is focus on our goal."

"To find this political prisoner you spoke of?"

"Yes. I believe it's through him, that we find answers on how to defeat Mundus."

"And if not?"

Vergil was silent for a moment. Almost as though the very concept of the info Cerberus fed him could also be wrong. However, his eyes peered over towards the Yamato in his hand.

"Then…we do what's necessary."


?-?-?
RAPTOR NEWS NETWORK
2:43 pm Thursday

Ayane watched as Kat twiddled her fingers across the keyboard to some massive computer screen, in a relatively dark room of Data mainframes on the other side of a glass window. She seemed so focused on typing that Ayane wondered if anything would disturb her. Hell, Ayane almost wished security would bust right in so that she would not be bored sitting in one of the turning chairs.

"Are you done already?" Ayane groaned.

Kat rolled her eyes. "Not yet…"

"We've fulfilled our mission already. Was it not you who said that we could not afford to make any hasty moves so soon?"

"I was originally going to take down the security system and tv broadcast, but this…!" Kat said in amazement at the data appearing on the screen. "…There's so much more locked away in these files—personal data of every living soul in Limbo City, renovations for insidious plans to sap humans through a new energy drink, and even…wow."

"What?"

"They've even dipped into Kpop." Kat said, shaking her head. "Dammit, they've gone too far…"

This time, Ayane was the one to roll her eyes. "Can we hurry this on? I've got other important matters to get to then your fanaticism with eastern boy bands."

"Just a minute. There's some other things here I want to transfer to the USB." Kat insisted. "You just continue to guard that door."

Kat cyphered through multiple files of data that she felt were important for the Order to obtain; certain back-up codes for the building's security system, a fully surveyed layout of the building's weak points, and of course, the specific location to Mundus' private office at the top.

Eventually, Ayane joined Kat's side as she stared at the computer screen. All the kunoichi saw were numbers and characters on a black space. She grew bored just looking at the random files she had to watch. Security files, internal farming on human souls, secret security issued by a small militia, most likely from the father of the red-headed woman that's in their group, and something that had to do with.

To pass some time, Ayane decided to pry.

"Tell me something; why do you follow Vergil?"

Kat stopped typing and turned her gaze towards Ayane. "Excuse me?"

"I don't mean to pry too deeply…" She lied, "…But I couldn't help but notice he lacks any grace when it comes to reinforcing encouragement as Hayate-sama does."

"Well, that's just how Vergil can be." Kat shrugged, getting back to the computer. "He can seem a bit cold-hearted at times, but deep down he really does care about humanity."

"This isn't about humanity; this is about you." Ayane specified.

"There's nothing to say about me. I'm a soldier that's just trying to win a war."

"A war he forced you into?"

"A war I chose." Kat said rather sharply.

"Ha! Chose?" Ayane berated. "You look like you've barely touched a gun, let alone fight in a war."

Ayane leaned against the computer screen with her arms crossed.

"Why don't you just admit the facts; Vergil forced you into this fight."

Kat said nothing and continued on typing.

"I'm right, aren't I? You had no previous stakes in this unseen fight, until Vergil made you have them. I can tell you use to be some frail, little girl; pretending to be more than what you are."

Kat continued typing with harsher keyboard strokes.

"Just some brat looking for a place of her own with no one to guide her onward. It'd be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. What kind of woman are you?"

The keystrokes grew louder and more sporadic.

Ayane sighed. "I can only imagine how ashamed your family you feel abo—"

That was the last straw that snapped Kat with the sound of her hands slamming onto the computer table. An echoing silence sounded through the room. She did not even care if the guards were to walk in. Ayane did not flinch, and simply stood there with arms crossed and butt against the computer desk.

Kat finally turned her intense glare towards the Kunoichi. That seething rage was nice and fuming within the hooded girl's almost glowing eyes.

"You wanna know so bad about me? Fine, I'll tell you…" Kat exclaimed, before she took a deep breath to calm herself down. "…my parents died before I could even walk. I was taken in by a foster father who physically, and…other ways, abuse me for years."

Ayane's attention was all on the hooded girl; not breaking her gaze away for a second.

"It had gotten so bad that…I left my body as he had his way with it. I roamed around Limbo's hidden veil. The things I saw were beyond anything I'd ever seen…and that's where I found Vergil…He heard my cry for help, and helped me to deal with the demons—physically and literally."

Ayane was hesitant to ask but did so anyway: "And your father?"

Kat looked her dead in the eyes and said "I killed the bastard."

Right back to the computer Kat went; typing away in utter silence. She clearly had no more to say on the matter. Ayane understood such silence, and was almost inclined to let the silence ride on until it was time to leave the control room. However, something inside her felt a sense of empathy for the young girl's pain. It was strange, but Ayane almost saw a bit of herself in the hooded girl. It wasn't any of Ayane's business what Kat's life was, nor did she think talking to her would remedy the years of abuse. However, something inside of her forced her tongue to blurt out her thoughts.

"My father raped my mother."

That certainly stopped Kat in her tracks. She turned her wide-eyed gaze towards Ayane and blurted out "What…?"

It was a troubling to say it out loud, but Ayane could not take it back now. She had gotten this far, she figured that she might as well take a deep breath, and continue on.

"My father was a horrible man, as well as a vicious ninja, even from his childhood. At one point, he attacked my grandfather and left the village in disarray."

Ayane suddenly grew tense; almost reluctant to continue.

"When…when he returned, he only had one goal in mind…to rape my mother."

"My god…" Kat said, horrified.

"Oh, trust me; that wasn't the half o fit." Ayane continued. "After I was born, I was treated like the black sheep of my own clan. Everyone saw me and were only reminded of him. I felt like a stranger in my own family. I thought I had to run away from them at one point, just to find relief for my mental state…it was tough…"

Kat stared at the troubled kunoichi with an empathy towards her. She had known the feeling all too well of being a stranger in your own home, with the people who were supposed to love and accept you for who you are. Although the situations were drastically different, Kat could see herself in Ayane's pain; almost like looking into a mirror.

She wanted to reach out and embrace her, but knew the kunoichi would push her away the second Kat tried to open her arms. Instead, she stood there in silence—waiting for her to find the strength to either continue on, or cease before she twisted the knife inside of her even further.

Ayane took a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure. Though her chest still ached, she found what little she had in herself to bring an end to this tale.

"My brother…" She reminisced fondly. "He was the only one who truly gave me the impression that I was not an outsider. He gave me the love that I never thought I would receive from anyone else in the village. It's because of him, I've been able to rise through all the bullshit, and come out strong."

Kat could see how much she loved her brother, but could not help but be curious. "And your sister…Kasumi?"

That peaceful smile had quickly fallen off of Ayane's face. She seemed to stare up at nothing as her eyes grew wide; almost to the brink of hysteria. Kat realized that she had stepped on a landmine and was about to both apologize and beg for her life.

"Hold on!" Ayane blurted out, startling Kat.

"W-What?"

Ayane pointed up towards the monitor. "W-What is that?"

The wiccan followed Ayane's finger towards one of the files on the computer screen. It was in a small window in the documents section. In it were a few individual files that all read different names and titles.

However, one in particular caught Kat's eye. It was the only one that read as Japanese to her.

"Tenjinmon…" Kat read. "What's that—"

"Click on it!" Ayane shouted, startling Kat.

"Huh? B-But—"

"Ugh, move it!"

Ayane shoved Kat out of the way and took matters into her own hands. She clicked onto the file and a new tab opened up to the both of them. It was a long document of multiple pages attached. Each one held long paragraphs of detailed information, mathematic algorithms, and an evaluated timeline of something's life span. The pictures accompanied by the timeline were of a large, green glass healing pod—big enough to fit a whole human inside.

"What is this?" Ayane muttered.

"It looks like…they were creating something." Kat pointed out. "See? There's a small black piece within the chamber. It's…glowing?"

"Fast forward."

Kat did as Ayane instructed, and pressed the fast forward button. The screen sped through the video with people quickly zipping past the camera. As time passed, the black clump of flesh had begun to morph before their very eyes. It grew a stub that mutated into a long arm, and a piece of its muscular chest. Its body had even changed colors from black to a dark maroon. Soon, the head formed on its shoulders bit by bit.

Half of his face formed into a man's face. Then came his strange looking facial hair of a mustache, that stretched across his cheek. It ended just shy of his ear, into a bald head with stress marks lining down to its sharp, up-turned eyebrow. His eyes were blank of pupils that stared into nothing.

"Huh. That's an odd-looking creature." Kat commented. "But I wonder what it's for? What's your prognosis, Ayane?"

Kat waited for Ayane's usual hotly attitude to come out, but was shocked to hear nothing but silence.

"Ayane…?"

Kat turned towards the kunoichi. What she saw on her face sent chills down the psychic's back.

Ayane was petrified with a look of sheer terror. Her skin went pale and sweat glistened down the side of her face. She almost looked deathly ill from Kat's perspective. Then her breathing increased; so much so that Ayane had to grab her chest just to try and calm her rapid heartbeat. It was too much for her to even stand on her own without the support of the computer desk.

"Ayane!" Kat rushed to Ayane's aid. She held the weakened kunoichi up to prevent her from collapsing to the ground.

"I heard something in here!"

Kat's heart sank at the sound of muffled footsteps that were quickly approaching the door. She quickly went for the USB as the downloading process finished. She took out the USB and pushed it deep into her pocket, before attending to the dazed Ayane.

"Ayane, please, get a hold of yourself…!" Kat begged in a whisper.

Ayane did not say a word. She had still disassociated with the situation at hand. She could only think about the twisted horror that was back from the grave. Ayane believed that the past had finally been behind her; away from her horrendous birth father. Though there were bumps, she believed that her life was in a better place with Raidou dead. But low n' behold, he somehow managed to return and torture Ayane's psyche.

She had almost completely disassociated, until she felt a quick, sharp pain smack against her cheek. The sudden pain had knocked her back into consciousness; aware of the situation around her.

She was about to speak to Kat, when she suddenly heard the sounds of footsteps—now closer than ever before.

Ayane's sprang into action. She grabbed Kat by the arm and leaped off the ground with her. The two ended up in the vent they arrived in, and waiting as gunned men burst through the door with guns in hand. She searched the room, but found not one single soul.

As the security men searched the room, Ayane and Kat were silent in the vent. The hooded witch peered over towards the kunoichi; who was still in distraught while starring at the now-blank screen.

"Ayane…" Kat whispered. "…Did you know that thing in the tank?"

Ayane didn't answer right away. She had to gather her breathe for a second, before she could even begin to speak to her companion.

When she felt ready enough to speak again through a dry throat, she said…

"That…that was Raidou…my father."


NEW YORK CITY
DOATEC BUILDING
2:51 pm Thursday

Dante had been home for a couple days after the Venus island vacation. He figured a little rest from jet lag would've done him some form of good.

However, his mind could not waver from the small tidbit of information that the Boss Demon gave him. The thought of Vergil and him not being the only Nephilims anymore was strange in itself, considering he hadn't even heard of Nephilim not too long ago. Could it have been this Seditio person that Dante had heard about from Barbatos? Vergil also mentioned Seditio while they were examining Force Edge. Who really was this guy? Dante had to know more.

Suddenly, Dante heard the door knock to his room knock.

"Come in." Dante called.

He sat up once he saw the familiar copper-haired Konoichi open the door. Based on her blue robe, she seemed to have just arrived out of a shower. There was certainly an allure to her long, wet hair that fell onto her slightly exposed chest.

"Hey." Dante waved lazily. "When'd you get back?"

"A while ago." Kasumi answered. "I heard you had quite the adventure on one of Zack's islands."

Dante couldn't help but remember the best part of his time there, and couldn't hold back a grin. "It was. Definitely an adventure for the ages."

Kasumi was apprehensive to ask the white-haired Nephilim to elaborate. She had a feeling she wouldn't be like it. Instead, she opted to change the subject.

"So, what have you been doing in this…very empty room?"

Dante finally took notice of just how barren the room he sat in actually was. It was an empty space with nothing but a bed and a closet for his stuff.

"Ah, y'know; Just chillin'." Dante shrugged, snuggling deeper into his bed. "Vergil's off doin' god-knows-what, so for now, I'm just here; staring at the ceiling for hours on end."

"Is that wise?" Kasumi criticized, while taking a seat on the foot of Dante's bed. "The Dead or Alive Tournament is coming up soon. We should spend this time training."

"Believe me; training's the last thing you all'd want for me." Dante remarked.

Kasumi was certainly miffed to say the least. "You assume you'll win every fight?"

"Hey, no offense, but I'm a one-man murdering fiend. I've fought demons that'd make your whole clan quake in their ninja robes."

"Be careful; your ego's starting to inflate." Kasumi said, offhandedly.

"Yeah, yeah…" Dante waved off.

As silence enveloped the room again, Dante couldn't help but want to put his thoughts out into the open. It was Kasumi after all. He felt he'd grown comfortable enough with her to talk about personal things.

"Back on Venus…" Dante started, getting Kasumi's attention. "…A demon attacked me. He said something about another Nephilim—most likely besides me and Vergil."

"Really?" Kasumi said. "Do you think it's the one Barbatos mentioned? Seditio?"

"Most likely. If it is him, then news is starting to spread quickly across the demon world. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Mundus knew about him first."

Kasumi nodded. "Then…what will we do now?"

Dante had thought on it for a while. It was time he got some answers for himself.

He reached over, and into a small bag that sat beside the head of his bed. He rummaged until he felt the binder in his grasp. The white-haired Nephilim pulled out the small, old book Vergil had given him, and examined it again. It didn't look to be anything too important. With the way Vergil looked when he handed it to him, there had to have been some significance to it.

"That's the book Vergil gave you." Kasumi recalled. "I remembered he looked feverish over it. What could it be about?"

"Only one way to find out." Dante shrugged.

He cracked open the book, to reveal the first page—blank, save for one line at the top of its page. Just as he was about to read it aloud, he suddenly heard something speak right into his ear without a warning.

"Dear Dante, Dear Vergil—"

"Oh, shit!" Dante exclaimed as he threw the book towards the wall. It frightened Kasumi enough to make her jolt to her feet with kunai in hand out of nowhere.

"What happened?-!" Kasumi questioned.

"I-I…" Dante tried to spit out. "I heard my dad…in my head while reading that book…!"

"What? How?"

"I-I dunno, I just did!"

Dante had to catch his breath before he could even think straight. It was obvious he was the only one to hear it since Kasumi did not seem to react as someone in the loop of it happening. It was strange just how easily he could recall the very details of his father's voice that he hadn't heard in almost a decade. There was clearly something off-putting about the book; perhaps bewitched.

He didn't know whether or not he wanted to continue reading on. At the same time, however, something about that book allured him to continue exploring its confines.

He got out of bed and strolled over to retrieve it. Before he could even crouch down to pick it up, he felt a hand grab his arm.

"Dante, wait."

He looked over his shoulder to a concerned Kasumi, as her eyes darted from the book to him.

"I don't know about this." She mused. "I feel something off with that book. Call it intuition, but we should be weary of its pages."

"I know…" Dante said, "…but I'm sick of bein' in the dark. I deserve to know the whole story."

He moved his arm and crouched down to retrieve the book. He proceeded to sit back on his bed and continue reading through it. It was still an oddity to hear his own father speaking in his mind. Kasumi did not want to leave Dante alone with a cursed book, and opted to stand against the wall, in case of anything.

Meanwhile, Dante continued, while reading aloud.

"If one of you may receive this diary I have written, then that means I did not survive…

I am sorry for what has happened to us. I am sorry I was not strong enough to protect you both…

I am sorry that I had to separate you both…Know that your mother fought bravely against Mundus. Just as I will as well…"

He paused to mutter "Just as I will as well?"

"What could that possibly mean?" Kasumi wondered.

"No idea…unless…" Suddenly, realization hit Dante like a ton of bricks. "…I think this first page was written before he fought Mundus; after the attack on our home."

"After your mother…" Kasumi couldn't bear to finish the sentence without gloom forcing her tongue to fade into silence.

Dante continued.

"Know that we love both of you very, very much. You two are more than just Nephilim—"

"—You're his sons."

Dante eyes went wide. He immediately jumped out of his bed without a second thought, and a gun aimed at the entryway of his room. He was startled to see a man standing there without a care in the world. How did he even get in without him noticing and how did he know where he'd been? These were just two of the many questions he had to wonder while stressed over this stranger's odd appearance. But what puzzled him more was how frozen Kasumi had become. She hadn't moved a muscle and her eyes never blinked. She was frozen, along with time.

The man who stood before Dante was one with long, white hair and dressed in a shabby, black coat to match his rugged appearance. He seemed scuffed up in some areas, but stood pretty tall and strong to negate those imperfections.

"No one likes a creeper, buddy." Dante said, "Now how's about you tell me who the hell you are before I blast even more holes in that coat of yours."

The man chuckled to himself. Much to Dante's confusion.

"Yes, you certainly have your mother's spunk. But you carry your father's face." He said nostalgically, while strolling further into his room.

"I wouldn't move another step if I were you." Dante warned.

Seditio snorted. "And to think; a part of me has spent more than a decade with you, yet those memories reside as a fading inconsequence now."

Dante's brow rose. There was no way his assumption could have been correct. He couldn't have been the man Dante was told of…could he?

"Wait…you're Seditio, right?" Dante questioned. "Which means…you're also Rebellion."

Seditio nodded. He dropped to one knee and bowed to Dante—much to his confusion.

"It is nice to formally make your acquaintance again, son of Sparda."

Dante was at a loss for words. His gun dropped to his side, seeing Seditio as no longer a threat. Instead, he was baffled by the sight of him. He was his sword, but also his 'family' in a sense. All those years of fighting Limbo while swinging a living being around as a weapon; Dante could only imagine how Seditio felt throughout that strenuous time.

"I dunno whether to hug you for being the thing that's gotten me out of tight Limbo spots, or shoot you for jump-startin' my grey hair days."

Seditio chuckled, as he stood back up. "You should take the honor as a rite of passage. I have reached deep into your very soul and awoken the latent potential you always possessed."

"Couldn't have asked me first?" Dante grumbled.

"Regardless, I am fortunate to have the chance to finally meet you in person." He said with a somber smile. "I began to lose every shred of hope while imprisoned in that accursed realm of the Knights."

Dante scoffed. "So that was you—Agnolo. Buddy, I dunno who told you how to dress, but they really fucked you up."

"Hmph. I hardly want to hear such insolence from a man who settles for sniffing his T-shirt before putting it on."

"Hey, you've seen my life—don't gotta look pretty when blood's involved." Dante shrugged, "Now enough of the Marvel-movie small talk; get to the point. I know you can't be here for a family barbeque."

"Though I would enjoy the prospect of making up for lost time, I'm afraid we no longer have the luxury."

Seditio approached Dante. He was a bit cautious of his presence, despite being the sword he's carried with him for all his life.

He offered his hand, as if to expect something to drop into it. Dante looked puzzled, until he realized what Seditio had asked for. He placed the book into the older Nephilim's hand.

"This book…it holds the words of your father and all that he has done in the many, many years of his existence…" He reminisced, starring at the book so longingly. "…If only I could have done more to be by his side."

Seditio meditated on something for a moment, before he came to a conclusion.

"Perhaps it is better to show you, rather than tell you."