Hunter Among Reapers

by Dandy Chiggins

Nero's life takes an unexpected turn when while on a job he finds himself flung in a new world. Where not Demons but Hollows threaten the safety of mankind and Shinigami (Soul Reapers) are tasked with stopping them. Nero must find his path in the new world but it seems that like any good Devil Hunter he just cant help get himself tangled in all sorts of trouble.

31. The Enemy Of My Enemy

So things for me haven't been that great of late, literally the day after I posted the last chapter my parents tested positive for Covid and so our household had to stay in isolation for nearly 2 weeks. I myself didn't feel great but I never did a test so don't know whether or not I got infected. Either way, we're all good now.

As for other characters getting Devil Arms that likely won't happen. For the same reason why I don't plan on giving Nero a Zanpakuto or Quincy bow. It would take away the uniqueness of the characters. The Shinigami have their Zanpakuto's, the Quincy their bows and Schrifts, and Nero his Devil Arms. I feel it would lessen the story and characters if everyone could just do what everyone else can. Though, I may end up changing this for one or two characters later in the story. But for now, it is highly unlikely.

Beta Reader Wanted. So, as you may know a few chapters ago I asked for and received a Beta. Well, due to life, that Beta (whom I'm grateful for the help they gave me) is no longer able to beta anymore and thus, much of last chapter and all of this chapter I did without any beta (which is why the quality isn't that great). So, yeah, if any one out there is interested in being a beta then by all means send me a PM.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Devil May Cry

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The Enemy Of My Enemy

After killing every demon that came his way, Shunsui encountered a lesser demon that had the ability to talk. Instead of killing the demon outright, the laid back Captain had another idea. Putting on his best Yamamoto impression he played the role of bad cop and put the fear of Reio into the demon to give up what information it had on the tower.

"The Forbidden Lands," the terrified demon cowered at the blade to its neck, "that's where the source of Temen-ni-gru lies. In the lowest depths of the tower."

Shunsui thanked the demon with a quick death.

Taking the demons advice he had looked for a way to descend the tower only to come upon an inactive elevator. Though the elevator wasn't working the shaft would suffice, using his Zanpakuto he sunk into the shadows of the elevator shaft and used them to descend. Once he could go no further he exited the shaft and found himself faced with a lake of all things.

"This place gets stranger with each room." Reflecting off the murky lake was a starry night sky which had no logical right to be there. "Is the inside of this tower some kind of pocket dimension? Or perhaps the presence of a Hell Gate is warping reality? Well, I'll leave that for Kurotsuchi to figure out. As for me, I've got work to do. The sooner this mess is sorted the sooner I can get some sake."

Across the way he saw a waterfall with an obvious cavern entrance behind the water.

Much like the Seireitei, the way the Reishi was composed in this place made it impossible to form footholds and thus walk in the air. And so Shunsui had to leap across the gap between the stone walkway and the waterfall to reach the cavern.

Once inside the cavern he was accosted by many a lesser demons all of which he dealt with swiftly. At the end of the cavern he found a set of red doors, not a common sight in a cave but then again what about this tower was common. So with a shrug he pushed open the doors and went inside. Where he found…

"I'm beginning to think someone might have spiked my drink with acid, with all the craziness I'm seeing today."

The room in which he stood now resembled that of a burlesque opera house in the Human World. Complete with a stage carved into the limestone cave, with speakers, spot lights and even royal purple curtains draped over the backstage.

Hanging in the cavern ceiling were dozens of snoozing bats, that seemed to wake upon seeing the man below.

As he was about to turn and leave, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, putting him on alert mode. 'This demonic Reiatsu. It's in the same level of that three headed dog, maybe even higher. Great, just what manner of ugly foul demonic beast have I ran into.' Pulling out his sealed twin Zanpakuto, Shunsui readied to slay whatever retched monster came his way.

The bats stirred from their slumber and beat their wings to life. Shunsiu watched as they descended from up high and swarmed the ground below, where they all converged on one spot. Instead of crashing head first into the other, the bats were somehow merging upon impact, one by one many of the bats came together creating a black mass while the other bats flew around the mass. The mass of black began to shift in size and shape, becoming more humanoid. Then once the change was complete the demons true form was on full display.

this demon wasn't an ugly beast like he'd expected. In fact, going off the dopey smile and tongue hanging from his mouth, Shunsui was more than pleased at what he saw, his eyes roaming up and down the demon taking in the view.

The demon was a woman. And what a woman at that. Her body was lithe and slender while voluptuous in the right places. Her skin was a creamy grey while her eyes were orange and lips red. Her long blood red hair hung free and was all that covered her exposed well endowed chest. The only clothing she wore was a set of black handless opera gloves which were pointed out like bat wings and a dress resembling bats that covered all below were waist.

One thing was for sure to Shunsui. She may be a demon. But damn she was hot!

The demoness looked upon the Shinigami with an inviting smile. "Welcome sir," her voice was just as sensual as her body, "it's been so long since I've had any company here, and ever so dull. But you'll keep me company won't you, my handsome fellow."

Shunsui was always one to avoid fighting if he could, it was too much effort. He played things easy, so when an enemy gave him a chance to relax he took it. And even if he was conflicted, the swaying of her hips helped him to his decision.

He re-sheathed his blades and wiggled his brows at the demon. "Well if that's your wish who am I to refuse. Let it be known, Shunsui Kyoraku will always help a woman in need."

The demoness cooed, "Shunsui Kyoraku eh." She tasted the name on her tongue. "Such an exotic name for a mortal. But you're not just any mortal are you. I can feel your power." She slowly paced around the man, like a predator sizing up its prey, bats fluttering around her as she did. "I wonder what else you'll let me… feel."

"Flattery will get you everywhere". Shunsui turned his neck to look at the woman as she circled him, he could feel her slim fingers tracing the flowers on his kimono eliciting an even wider grin from him. "By all means. Feel away."

"Confident as well. I like it. Well, Shunsui Kyoraku, you may call me Nevan." Nevan circled round to his front, battinger her eyelashes at him, "Your first time… seeing us Demons and Devils that is?"

"Well I've seen a few this past hour but you're certainly the nicest to look at, my lady Nevan." And Yamamoto dared say Shunsui had a problem with chasing girls. "I hope you'll treat me better than they did."

"Oh I'll treat you alright," she winked at him seductively. "I'll treat you so nicely you'll never want to leave." She whispered as she leaned into his chest, edging ever closer to his lips, "How about I give you a taste of the treats I can offer."

"As tempting as that sounds," he could feel a rise in her Reiatsu, centred around her lips as if some dark power was emanating from them, "I think I'll have to pass."

Just as her mouth shined blue with light Shunsui escaped her embrace using Shunpo to get a few steps back.

"You seem like a lovely woman. It's a shame we met under circumstances like these. Any other time and I'd have you rejecting me at the bar. But as it stands I'm on the clock. So as much as it kills me I'll have to cut this short." He pulled out his twin blades knowing he couldn't hold back, judging from her Reiatsu alone she was a powerful foe. "Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer. Katen Kyokotsu!"

In place of two plain katana's were now two elegantly designed curved black and silver blades, one slightly shorted than the other and each a red tassel on the tsuka.

Nevan eyed the blades with apprehension, before shrugging them off and donning a let down look. "Most men read me poems after I kiss them, not before. Such a pity that it has to come to violence. I do so abhor fighting. But when against a man like you it makes me all tingly inside. Very well, if you're in the mood for some foreplay before the main event I'll play along." The red-headed demoness sauntered up to the centre of the stage, wiggling her hips as she did, before turning back to face the mortal Shinigami. More and more bats flew to her side circling her like a shield, sparks of lighting dancing around her as she reached a hand out in the man's direction. "I hope you like it rough, sugar."

"Sounds like you're into some pretty kinky games. But the thing is." Shunsui's hat cast a dark shadow over his eyes as his playful persona faded away. "When it comes to games, Katen Kyokotsu has her own favourites. She calls this one Kageoni." Hoping to end the fight before it even started, the game master sunk into the shadows beneath his feet. Unbeknown to the demon he slowly emerged from her own shadow cast behind her. Once his upper body was peeking out from the shadow, Shunsui thrust his right blade towards the demons back, but before it could pierce her body he noticed the floor beneath him began glow light blue, electricity crackling along the floor and shocking his very core. "Gggmrrppgh!"

Upon seeing the mortal dissolve into the shadow Nevan used her powers to coat the floor in lightning. By doing so she removed any shadows being able to form and the Captain was jettisoned out of shadow into the stage curtain behind, sparks of demonic lightning dancing on his body. Turning to face the man she blew a kiss, "Please darling, you'll have to try harder than that if you want to get your weapon inside of me," she winked sultrily without a hint of resent at the man who'd just tried to kill her.

'She's a lot stronger than I anticipated. This isn't going to be easy.' Picking himself up from the curtain, Shunsui flattened the strands of his hair that stood erect from the electricity, then corrected the hat on his head. "Sorry to disappoint, but ask any of my exes and they'll tell you I've never been the best at making women happy. The only woman I can please is right here," he lifted up his duel Zanpakuto, "Take it from me. Katen Kyokotsu's moody at the best of times. And you've just made her mad."

---

A loud bang heralded a swift end to several stone statues wielding swords, bullets shattering them to rubble.

Spinning Blue Rose on his finger, Nero put the revolver back in his holster. "Chess pieces. Seriously."

"There called Damned Chessmen." Sid said, coming out from the cover he'd taken once Nero had dealt with the enemies. "They aren't technically demons, but were crafted in the Underworld and had life breathed into them."

Nero snorted unabashedly, "Tsk… Don't care what they are, just seeing them pisses me off. Angus' freaking dice game left a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to things like this. This 'Lair' place best be worth it after all this."

"Fret not, I assure you the Lair of Judgement is where you need to go. It was there where the seal was created and only there it can be broken. Normally to get to the Lair one would have to move throughout all of the Forbidden Lands and open any sealed door. Luckily for you, in my millennia of being inside this place I discovered and even created many shortcuts. So we it'll be easier for us, bypassing most of the higher demons as you call them without need of battle. However…" The sudden reluctant tone drew the attention of the snow haired male. "There is one room we will have to go through that posses a problem, the Torture Chamber. Inside of which houses a devil of great power. The second you enter, the devil will notice your power, and I highly doubt he will allow you free passage."

"Things can never be simple."

So far, while travelling with Sid, for as annoying as his company was he'd at least kept true to his word and got Nero deep into Temen-ni-gru. And thanks to all the shortcuts Sid knew they were able to travel without much issues. But there was always a catch wasn't there. "Well if the demon wants to get in my way I'll take care if it. Been way too long since I've tangoed with a demon that can give me some real fun. So, this demon got a name?"

"Beowulf, the Lightbeast." Sid replied in kind. "One of the strongest of all Temen-ni-gru's Gatekeepers. If it's a challenge you're after then Beowulf will grant you that, no doubt."

Soon enough the unlikely duo reached a large open room that resembled a train station, complete with a train line and all. Only instead of a train car at the platform there was a flat open wagon. As they descended down the stair case Nero looked upon the broken stature at the bottom while Sid relayed information.

"This is the Temperance Wagon Station. We'll have to ride the wagon to get to the Torture Chamber."

Once at the end of the stairs Nero looked over the edge down below. 'Must be damn near fifty foot drop. This place is looking more like some dwarven ruins in Lord of the Rings.' Sid had already made his way onto the wagon, waiting for Nero to join. "A shame it's not an actual train. I always wanted to pull that steam whistle." He got onto the wagon and waited for Sid to activate it, when the demon did so the wagon rumbled to life and chugged along taking the two for a ride.

"Just so you know. If your plan is to lead me to this Beowulf in hopes it'll kill me so you can gain favour with the Sins then I'll put those torture devices in the chamber to good use," Nero threatened. "Or maybe I'll hand you over to Kurotsuchi to do with as he pleases. Between you and me, I think that's a worse fate."

"I'll take your word for it."

The two kept quiet as the wagon continued on its path. Normally this area would be swarming with demons but it appeared most had gone top side to fight the Shinigami and thus their journey on the wagon was the first bit of peace they'd had since the library.

"May I ask you something?" The mortal-devil hybrid gave Sid a side-eyed glance, then shrugged giving him the go ahead. "How much do you know of Demons and Devils and the Demon World?"

"I know how to kill them. For me, that's enough."

It didn't take a genius to know the boy was being purposely vague. "We demons haven't been around for a very, very, very long time. Yet you, are not only a half breed, but know more on demons than any mortal rightfully should."

"What can I say," Nero smirked with an air of breeziness, "I'm a quick learner."

It had to be more than that. There was something this boy wasn't telling him. No matter. There was time enough to learn of that. Besides, Sid had his own secrets he was keeping from the boy. As they say, knowledge is power, and with how weak Sid was, knowledge was all the power he had. He wasn't about to let the boy in on everything about Sparda, Mundus, the Demonic Invasion and so forth. It was the Humans that liked to say nothing is free, and while Humans were wrong on a great many things this was one such were they were correct. So if the boy wished to keep his own secrets so be it.

A few minutes later the wagon came to a halt as they reached the end of the line.

Their stop being a small stone platform with stairs leading up to a foreboding set of doors. A thick pool of lava lay beneath the stairs, oozing out of the pipes built into the stone.

'Underground torture chamber surrounded by lava. Talk about cliché villain hideout.' While Nero wouldn't give any point for originality, it at least was an ominous sight.

Nero and Sid got off the wagon and made their way up the stone stairs. The closer Nero got the more he could sense it. A thick heavy demonic Reiatsu was beyond those doors. So great the demons power had to exceed that of even Cerberus.

"You best be ready." While Sid was trying to reassure Nero, going off the demons sweaty palms and quivering lip, it was he who was in fear. "Beowulf is among the mightiest of the chosen Gatekeepers. And his rage knows no bounds. I'll be of no use in this fight, so you'll be on your own. So. Are you ready?"

With an affirmative nod Nero told Sid, "Everyone else is off fighting. It'd be embarrassing if I didn't do the same. What kind of Devil Hunter would I be if I let a bunch of Shinigami take out more demons than a professional."

"Well here goes." Sid pushed open the double doors allowing Nero to enter. "I'll wait out here until it's done." Once Nero walked past, he closed the doors leaving the mortal inside.

For a room labelled the Torture Chamber it was rather sparse on torture devices, being just a large jail like empty room with two cages near the entrance. Beneath the floor was a pool of lava, visible through the cracks and metal grates, the empty gap between the floor and walls left a two meter or so wide space where one could fall into the lava if not careful. Across the walls were pipes from which the lava spewed and at the end of the room was a pedestal with some sort of item placed atop.

Thick demonic Reiatsu loomed over the room like a miasma but the room was barren of all but Nero, whom was slowly walking around checking the room for any sign of the demon the Reiatsu belonged to, questioning where it could be.

His answer was received in no ill part to the thunderous boom that shattered a chunk off the ceiling above, rubble falling down all around. A large large heavy piece of rock was coming down set to land right on Nero's head, without moving from his feet he slammed his Devil Bringer fist into the rock shattering it to pebbles.

The one responsible for breaking the ceiling came plummeting down along with the stones, not too far from Nero.

Who let out a whistle at the sight of the demon. "Kool-Aid Man ain't looking to hot these days."

The demon was a hulking beast. Standing on its hind legs Nero came up to just above its knee. It was almost chimera-like, with its head resembling that of a lion only with one of its red eyes missing and a horn of sorts on its head. Its body was bulky, like that of a gorillas but the claws on its hands and feet were as sharp as a tigers. It had four wings on its back that light up in pure white as did its glowing veins on its wrists. To top it off, it had a scorpion tail.

Needless to say, Nero was none to impressed with its looks. "What happen to you. Your mother just whore herself out at a zoo enclosure and got you as a result."

Twitching his nose, Beowulf sniffed at the air with intent. "That smell. That retched stink. What filth dares enter my domain reeking of that odour!" With his one good eye he aimed a seething glare at the mortal below.

Knitting his brows Nero rose his arms and sniffed at his pits, and made a dramatic gag "Woo, guess you're right. But, hey, in my defence I have had a pretty long day. And I only wear cologne for the ladies."

The chimera demon paid no heed to his jest. Instead the gears in his mind were turning as it placed that scent. "I know that smell." Beowulf growled, salivating at his grinding fangs. "It's the stench of betrayal. The odour of the accursed traitor!" The scent and sight of the mortal only heated his boiling blood. "That traitor sunk so low as to fornicate with the mortals! He fell that far! No! I shan't allow it! I will bring his lineage to an end! I will annihilate every last one of his kin!"

"Traitors kin?" the Demon Slayer hadn't a clue what the hulking devil was on about. "Look pal, I think you got the wrong guy. See, I'm kinda new to these parts. No kin here, just me. So how's about you let me and my tour guide past and I'll tell the Tin Man and Scarecrow where to find there Not-So Cowardly Lion."

Diplomacy was met by violence.

"DIEEEEE!" Beowulf ran at the mortal slamming his clawed fist into he ground where he stood.

However, Nero managed to Trickster-dash out the way just in time before the claws shredded through him.

'Whoa. He's fast for a big guy. His claws just skimmed my coat.' If Nero had to hazard a guess he'd say this demon, this Beowulf, was stronger, faster and overall more powerful than that of Cerberus. Pulling Red Queen from his back Nero dug the tip of the blade into the ground and revved the exceed system. "Hope you brought the marshmallows…" flames laced across his long blade like a second coat, "cause I'm brining the fire."

"I will kill you!" Getting on all fours Beowulf charged toward the mortal at a speed which you wouldn't expect from one so big, closing the gap between them in the blink of an eye. Opening his jaw he craned his neck forward to bite into the boy.

When the sharpened fangs came bearing down on him Nero used the flat side of Red Queen as a shield to take the impact.

'He's strong too.' So strong that Nero could feel himself being pushed back, his feet skidding on the floor below, he had to actively plant his feet to the stone and push back with his own muscles to not be rammed into the door behind. 'Guess Sid wasn't kidding. This guy is tough.'

The demons immense strength reminded Nero when he had been on the reverencing from Zaraki's hits, though maybe not as strong, but much like Zaraki, Beowulf was far quicker than you'd expect at first glance. All in all, Beowulf was a tank yet moved like a panther. Deceptive and ferocious.

Pushing back with his own strength, Nero broke the stalemate between them. He brought down his sword in a diagonal slash but was intercepted by Beowulf's fist, a metallic clang heard upon impact.

Both Devil and Devil Hunter clashed. The strikes of Beowulf's illuminated fists aimed blow after blow on the young adult, yet Nero held firm and used Red Queen to counter and block the strikes he could and sidestepped and dodge those he couldn't.

Clings, clangs, and grunts were the primary sounds their duel made. Sparks, dancing along blade and fist when the two connected. Like a hammer on an anvil.

A left hook was thrown at Nero but he retaliated with a flurrying kick, deflecting the blow with equal force. Heavy fist came rocketing towards him, he jumped up over the fist and swung his sword at the devil, aiming for its neck. Yet, before his sword could even come close, Beowulf lunged forward, jaw open, and sunk his teeth into Nero's sword wielding left arm.

"Gragh!" Pain coursed thorough Nero, a river of needles. His blue coat becoming stained with red as the blood leaked from his wounds. With Beowulf's teeth being as long as they were they had pierced all of Nero's flesh and were trying to gnaw at the bones.

Treating Nero like a chew toy Beowulf shook his head in all directions. After half a minute of being taken for a poor man's take on a carnival ride, Beowulf threw Nero to the ground and proceeded to bombard him with punch after punch. The force of the punches caused the ground to crack and break, a small crater beginning to form. Dirt and sediment were torn up from the strikes, which covered Nero is a shroud of smoke.

"I'll pound you to mush!" Was what Beowulf intended, yet upon trying to land another strike his left hand was violently slashed across the knuckles by the mortals blade. "Grarrgh!" Gripping his bleeding hand, Beowulf stepped back.

Vaulting out of the mini crater was a scuffed up Nero, his clothes ridden with dirt and torn and blood staining much of his face, his eyes narrowed into deadly slits. "Alright pal. Now you've pissed me off."

Using Shunpo to clear the distance between himself and the devil Nero, swung Red Queen in an upward slash, revving the blade as he did. A red line traced across the demons torso, eliciting a screech of pain from Beowulf.

Nero didn't stop there however. Beowulf had landed many strikes on him while he was being pounded so now Nero had to even up the score board.

He drew Red Queen in a sidewards slash, cutting at Beowulf's left thigh. The devil tried to kick him away but Nero rolled out the way and let loose a flurry of slashes. He jumped up out the way of a fist which buried into the ground rather than him, before Beowulf could retract his fist from the floor Nero ran along his arm and revved Red Queen as far as the throttle could go.

With the sword glowing red hot from fuel and flames, Nero dived off Beowulf's arm getting right up in the devils chest and swung Red Queen in a crescent moon slash. "Chew on this!"

Upon impact a fierce explosion boomed from Red Queen, blasting Beowulf back half way across the room onto his back. A loud thud and grunt of pain coming from the beast.

If Beowulf hoped for a moment of respite he was in for disappointment. Wasting no time Nero ran over to the downed demon and jumped over the length of his body landing beside his lion-like head. Standing behind, Nero lifted Beowulf's head up and looped Red Queen over his neck with his left hand and with his right griped hold of the sharpened tip.

Once the daze cleared from Beowulf, he looked down and became fully aware of what the spawn of Sparda intended to do to him. With the great sword at his throat and the mortal behind him holding onto his blade there was only one thing he could have in mind. "Why you pathe-" Then he felt it, the sword beginning to dig into his neck.

"When this is over I'll mount you head on my wall." Nero pulled Red Queen with all his might. Trying to cleave Beowulf's head from his neck.

The devil resisted as best he could. Thrashing nonsensically and reaching up with his hands to try and pull Nero off, and when that failed ram fist after fist into the mortal to knock him away. Yet Nero fought on, ignoring the pain that wrecked his body each time he took a sledge hammer punch from Beowulf.

'Come on. Just a little more!' It took great effort on Nero's part but he never let up as he continued to pull Red Queen back towards him, and through Beowulf's neck. Yet, while the demon wasn't as durable as himself, he was still pretty damn was tough. So much so Nero had yet to bury his blade deep enough to cause any serious wound let alone death. But with each second and each pull he was getting closer and closer to cutting the devil's trachea. '…Just… a little… more…!" Suddenly Beowulf seized his thrashing, the air around the demon condensing with demonic Reiatsu. 'What's he-'

Without warning, a wide pillar of pure white light erupted out from Beowulf and enveloped the devils entire body. The power of the attack was strong enough to send Nero hurtling back, bouncing painfully off the ground.

"Talk about a lights show." Getting up off the ground Nero pushed back his loose platinum bangs back and locked eyes with Beowulf, whom was brimming with killing intent. "What do ya say. Best of two out of three?"

"Rraagh! Enough talk! It's time for you to die!" Beowulf charged towards Nero like a wild bull.

"Well if that's how it is." Mimicking the demon, Nero sprinted straight at Beowulf.

Both Devil and Devil Hunter were on course to crash into one another. Yet just as they were both in range, each one pulled back their right fist and slammed it into the others. The moment their punches connected a almighty shock-wave exploded upon impact, so great it sent both Nero and Beowulf flying into opposite sides of the room. Each one smashing into the wall and landing on their backsides.

---

In tight corridor among the upper floors of Temen-ni-gru a young woman wielding a Gatling gun riddled the demons with more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. Once they were all dead she took a much needed gasp of air.

"These demons are getting more frequent, and stronger ones keep appearing as well." So far Mary had avoided running into any of the higher demons, but she was now encountering more mid demons than she was lesser. And it was taking its toll. 'Well what does it matter. I never expected this to be easy.'

Opting to give herself and her Doll Flik a moment of rest she dismissed her Doll, her Gatling gun which was her Doll that had transformed into said weapon vanishing in a sparkle of light. 'With Flik I can create virtually any weapon I wish from his body, but the power of the weapon and ammo is dependent on how much spiritual power I have. I'll need to take a short breather before carrying and let my Reiatsu recover.'

While Mary was powerful, she wasn't as strong as her father or Kariya. Inside this tower with all these powerful foes she needed to tread carefully. Death meant little to her, but she refused to meet her end before ending her father first.

Speaking of…

"I must admit, I'm impressed with how far you've managed to come, my dear. You truly know how to make your father proud."

Spinning on her heels, Mary pulled out a pistol, a part of Flik she always kept on her, and aimed it at the bald man wearing a carefree smile, she replied in term with a snarl. "What are you doing here?"

Arkham raised his hands in surrender, "I'm not here to fight. Merely talk." Lowering his hands down he cupped them close to his chest. "I've been watching you Mary, despite having no experience in fighting demons you've taken to it like a natural."

"I like to think of it as practice. Every time I kill one of those things I picture your face," Mary was in no mood for his games.

"A tongue as sharp as your bullets. Though I see it's taken its toll." Arkham noticed beads of sweat running down his daughter. "Wondering why you can't siphon Reishi from this tower as we Bounts could in the Seireitei to hasten recovery. While demonic Reishi and mortal Reishi may both be Reishi on a technical level, they function somewhat differently and neither one holds to the same rules as the other."

"You think I even considered absorbing this sickly power into my body." Mary's disgust was all to clear. "Unlike you I have standards."

"So you've gotten all this way with just your own power alone." Arkham narrowed his eyes to analyse her before his smile grew. "I always knew you were strong. It's in your blood. Your power is already greater than that of the Shinigami's Lieutenants, perhaps with more time and training you might grow to rival even there Captains."

"I couldn't care less about any of that crap." Mary cocked the gun, "So I suggest you head back to your tea party with those little demon friends you've made. Because if you're not gone in ten seconds I'll put a bullet between your eyes. And this time I'll hit the real you."

He had to hold in his chuckle else wise provoke his daughter even further. 'She has her mothers fire in her'. Arkham began slowly and lowly, "Tell me, you've met the white haired boy. Nero, correct. Did you find him at all… unusual."

For a brief moment Mary was overcome with confusion, not expecting this to be a topic her father wanted to talk to her about. "You mean aside from his demonic power and that… arm of his. Can't say I have," sarcasm rolled off her tongue. "What's he got to do with this. He's not one of your lapdogs is he. This is between you and me. So lets settle this here and now."

"Oh Mary I have no intention of killing you." Arkham said aloud. 'Not before the ritual at least,' was what he said in his head. "As for the boy. Well, as you noted he's something of a special case. Indeed he is not an ally of mine nor did I bestow him his demonic powers as I did the other Bounts. In fact, he was born to his powers."

"What do you mean?" Now she was intrigued.

"Much like you are the child of a Bount and a Human, so to is the boy an offspring of a Human and Demon."

Mary's mismatched eyes widened, then hardened, "No… that… that's not possible. Demons haven't been around for millennia. I read as much in your own books you left behind at our family home."

You could practicality feel the distraught nature in her voice, all of which only increased Arkham's pleasure. "It's true Mary. It's all true. The boy is neither mortal, nor demon, but in fact, both. The blood of mighty devil courses through his veins. You've seen his abilities with your own eyes. When you felt his power did you not notice it was different to my own. That's because his demonic power came naturally. Though you are correct. Demons haven't set foot among Humans for millennia in our world. But that's because the boy isn't from our world."

Scoffing rudely Mary snorted, "So what, you're saying he's an alien."

"Of course not," responded Arkham levelly. "You may have overheard the Shinigami speak of it for they know the truth. The boy does not herald from this reality. He originates from another universe, one parallel to our own." He could see the disbelief in Mary, not that he blamed her. It was a lot to take in on just word alone.

"T-That's…" she couldn't even find the right words to explain how ludicrous it sounded. Then growled in anger assuming this must be a lie to get at her, "That's not possible!"

This time Arkham couldn't keep his chuckle down. "Mary, my dear daughter. Look around you. You stand inside the demonic tower Temen-ni-gru, which houses dozens of mighty demons including the fabled Seven Deadly Sins. I think what most people consider possible and impossible needs revision of late." . He opted to bring up another matter that had been on his own mind. "When you spoke to him before did he appear out the ordinary. Anything of note that was out of place with him?"

Having been told this apparent revelation was enough that Mary's mind was in such turmoil she lowered her gun pointed at her father subconsciously. Even her demeanour became less harsh as she spoke to the man whom she hated more than any with a now soft and addled voice. "…I …I'm not sure." A memory then flashed in her mind. "When we first me he… he seemed to freeze on the spot. Then later in the catacombs he spoke almost like we were friends, as if he knew me." She didn't think much of it at the time but now her mind was trying to find an answer to what this could mean.

Unfortunately so too was Arkham. 'As I suspected. Based on the boys behaviour when with Mary I can only speculate he must have some prior relationship with her. Though given my daughter has never met him the only answer must be, albeit however absurd, that in his home world he knew of Mary there and the two were close. It would explain why he acts so suspicious in my daughters company. My, my, this just keeps getting more interesting by the minute. I wonder. Could I use this against the boy somehow.' He'd keep this in his back pocket until he knew how to use it. "Well, I've said all I wanted to. I'll take my leave."

Blinking, coming of her inner stupor, Mary sharpened her face something fierce. "Hold it." She raised her gun back to his head. "You aren't going anywhere. I'll end this here and now."

Arkham wasn't the least bit concerned with the gun aimed at his face, remaining as calm as can be. "I can't allow that, not yet. We've still got our roles to play. Including you and the boy."

"Roles?" was Mary's prying response. "What nonsense are you on about now?"

"You'll see soon enough." With a wave of his hand Arkham, utilising the power of the Amulet on his neck which granted him minor control over the inner workings of Temen-ni-gru, caused the wall behind Mary to shift open.

The sound of moving bricks caught Mary's notice. She turned behind her to see the wall literally opening up, some sort of elevator behind it. "What's-"

By turning behind her however she took her eyes of Arkham, if only for the briefest of moments, but it was enough. Arkham ran forward and shoved Mary into the open elevator. With a snap of his fingers the chain-link door sealed shut trapping her inside. He was forced to put up a shield to stop the bullets she shot at him from impacting.

"No need to attack me Mary. In fact, you should be thanking me. This elevator will take you to the Forbidden Lands of Temen-ni-gru. The location you'll need to go if you truly wish to stop me." Slowly walking away from his daughter, Arkham silently commanded the elevator to begin its decent, calling out just before she was too far gone to hear him, "Fret not, Mary. For we'll be reuniting soon enough."

Inside the elevator Mary tried shooting and even punching her way free but the metal cage was too strong. All she could do was sit back and wait to be let out. "Damn that rat bastards!" She slammed her fist into the chain-link door, more so out of anger than in hopes of breaking it.

Trapped inside the elevator as she was, all she could do as she awaited her destination was think. 'From another world? Could it be so?' Stranger things had happened. 'But, why did he look at me like that? Just who is this Nero guy… and also… Who am I to him?'

---

Neither Nero nor Beowulf were having the best of times. Their opponents proving more than a match for the other, with the battle being locked in perpetual stalemate. Each time either Nero or Beowulf got the upper hand in battle their gains would soon be turned around by their foe. While Nero was able to get in more hits on Beowulf than the devil had on him due to possessing the superior speed, the devils thick hide provided enough protection that no punch or sword strike had done enough to kill him. And while Nero was able to dodge or block most of Beowulf's attacks he couldn't stop them all, and when they did hit they hurt like hell. If not for Nero's healing factor all his bones would be shattered by now.

While his healing had fixed the wounds of his body his clothes weren't so luck. His long coat being mostly tatters now and dried blood and dirt staining his pale white skin. 'Shit…' Nero tried to catch his much needed breath, his forehead was damp with sweat and his hair was clinging to it. 'These Gatekeepers are no joke. I hope everyone else I getting on alright.' Though his body healed rapidly his Reiatsu recovered the same as everyone else, and right now Nero could feel his draining from battle. 'If I went Devil Trigger I could probably end this fight here and now. But I have to save that for when I'm left with no other choice.'

Devil Trigger, much like a Shinigami's Bankai wasn't something you could just spam repeatedly. It had its limits in both how long it could be used as well as how many times a day it could be used. And for all Nero knew he might encounter demons even greater than that of Beowulf. If that were to happen and he was unable to go DT then…

No. He had to save it. He'd have to overcome the hurdle that was Beowulf without using his trump card. Sure the devil was strong but Nero hunted demons for a living. Besides for as banged and tired as he was Nero, by the looks of it the devil was in an even worse shape.

"H-How can this be …" Beowulf huffed through exhausted panting, "How can he be so powerful?" Sure the boy had Sparda's blood but Beowulf never imagined his power was on this level. In the time they'd been fighting he'd already sustained heavy injuries. Dozens upon dozens of bloody scars marked his body from where the hybrids sword had cut him. And bruises from where he'd been punched or kicked. If not for his enhanced durability and heavy armour hide he was sure he'd already be dead. 'No. I can't die. Not while one of the traitors spawn draws breath. I have to end Sparda's line no matter what!'

A furious growl escaped Beowulf, letting Nero know he was ready to go again. "Time for round three huh. Fair to say I took round one, I'll let you have round two. Meaning whoever wins this round. Well… game over."

"I'll carve you to to pieces and feast on your flesh!" Galloping forward, kicking up dust beneath his feet, Beowulf launched himself in the air, he balled his hands together and hammered them down atop the Hunter.

Using Red Queen to catch the attack, Nero spared himself from being crushed but the sheer force behind the blow sent his arms throbbing, with the already highly damaged stone floor cracking even more so. 'If we keep this up pretty soon there won't be a floor left.'

Uncupping his hands Beowulf used the opening in Nero's defence and grabbed hold of the teens arms, one in his left hand and one in his right. Raising the teen up to eye level, Beowulf's hot breath was felt on Nero's face.

"You know if you wanted a kiss you only needed to ask." Jibed Nero, as he was pulled closer to the Chimera Devil. But a kiss wasn't what the demon wanted. Instead Beowulf began to repeatedly slam his rock solid forehead into Nero's own. With his arms locked as they were Nero was unable to strike the demon and so was left defenceless as he was repeatedly headbutted. After taking over ten headbutts Nero's face was a red and purple puffy mess, his healing already in action as he felt his crushed nose fix itself. Yet, instead of asking for mercy Nero sent Beowulf a wry smirk, "You're face is even uglier up close. You're one ugly son of a bitch, you know that."

Beowulf got right up in the hybrids face. "Shut your mouth you filthy spawn of Spar-"

"How about you shut your mouth!" Seizing his chance, Nero swung both his legs at Beowulf once he got within range, his combat boots slamming into the devils jaw in a vicious uppercut kick that slammed the demons mouth shut making him bite his own tongue, dropping Nero in the process.

Once he landed on the ground Nero pulled his right arm back and to the side a large spectral demonic arm thrice the size of Nero's own formed into being, Jumping up to waist height of the demon Nero slammed both his actual Devil Bringer and ghostly one into Beowulf's chest knocking him back a ways.

"Gaargh!" Blood leaked from Beowulf's already crimson stained mouth. At least two of his ribs had just been cracked by the punch. Even in death Sparda was still finding a way to betray and humiliate him. "I'll fry you to ash!" Opening his wings to full span he fired off a barrage of light blasts.

"Bakudo #39 Enkosen!" A large spinning yellow disc formed in front of Nero, taking the brunt of Beowulf's light attacks. 'This is the highest level Bakudo I can use effectively at my current level.' And with how the shield was already starting to crack he couldn't just rely on this to protect him every time these lights were shot at him. 'Well if he's giving me a light show only fair I return the favour.' With Shunpo Nero got into the air avoiding the remaining light projectiles, just as his Kido barrier shattered. From his outstretched right hand came a ray of red.

The Cero took Beowulf by surprise, as evident by the widening of his eye, but he quickly recovered himself. Opening his mouth he fired off a beam of white light which met and impacted the red Cero head on.

Instead of exploding the beams began a game of tug a war to see which could push the other back. And so, Nero and Beowulf became stereotypical Shonen combatants, finding themselves locked in a beam battle.

Even when Nero landed on the floor he and the devil were still locked in their duel. Each one clenching their faces as they strained to maintain and increase the power of their attacks.

For Nero it was much harder said than done, clear by his groaning and grinding teeth. 'Of all my abilities, Cero's are the one I've had the least training with since neither Yoruichi or Kisuke can use them. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up before my hold on my Cero breaks.'

To give credence to his concern his Cero began to violently pulsate out of control, while Beowulf had no issue retaining his light beams solid stability.

Pure white slowly but surely pushed back deep red, as Beowulf's stable beam of condensed Reiatsu overwhelmed Nero's chaotic one. Not wanting to get hit head on by Beowulf's blast, as given how much demonic Reishi was channelled into it it was sure to be deadly, Nero let go of his Cero and got into a particular stance. As the beam of white was about to make collide with Nero, he activated Royalguard in perfect timing, absorbing the full force of the attack. Sparing himself any damage.

Yet Nero's smug victory was short lived as once the blinding light of the Reishi attack subsided the first thing Nero saw was Beowulf's tail zooming right at him, too fast and too close for Nero to dodge. The sharp stinger at the end of the tail pierced into Nero's chest and kept on going, bursting out his back. Leaving Nero hanging on the tail like a kebab skewer. Litters of viscous crimson gushed out of the Demon Slayers gaping chest wound and mouth.

"I'll spill all the traitors blood within you!" Raising his tail, Beowulf swung it left and right and down. Smashing the hybrid into the walls, ceiling and floor, over and over again. All the while Nero let out a series of gurgles grunts, dropping both Red Queen and Blue Rose in the chaos.

Beowulf whipped his tail downwards sending the Devil Hunter into the ground, yet when he tried to lift his tail he found he couldn't. Nero had dug his heels and all his weight into the ground proving to be an unmovable anchor at the end of the tail. A menacing sly scowl on the grandson of Sparda's face. Grabbing the tail with both hands, Nero yanked it out of his chest with a cringe inducing squelching sound, as copious amounts of his blood splattered on the floor in doing so. Once the tail was out of him he kept it locked tight in his grip. "Now then." Nero spat some blood out his mouth and sent Beowulf a wicked grin, "Hope you got your seatbelt on. Cause I'm taking you for a spin!"

"Let my tail go yo-" Beowulf was cut off when Nero gave his tail a tug, causing the devil to lose his footing and tumble to the ground.

With the thrashing tail still in his hold Nero began to move in a clockwise circle, starting slowly before getting faster and faster with each turn. Before long Nero was spinning so fast he was but a blur to the naked eye. The one whom suffered the worst of this was Beowulf, being lifted off the ground and helpless as he was swung around the room at breakneck velocity, his head becoming disoriented from being spun around so, it felt as though his skull was a washing machine and his brain being put in spin cycle.

Releasing the demon from his grip Beowulf was sent crashing hard into a wall head first. But Nero still had more planned. He Trickster-dashed underneath Beowulf as the demon began to fall to the ground. Nero's arm glowed bright with sparkling blue hue, he shot up like a rocket and buried his fist into Beowulf, giving the demon the full force of his own light attack Nero had absorbed with Royalguard.

The resulting explosion sent Beowulf flying up and out the ceiling of the Torture Chamber through the very hole he'd created upon his entrance.

Nero used his extended spectral Devil Bringer to reach out and grab hold of Beowulf and pulled himself up towards the demon high up in the air. Once alongside the devil, Nero climbed atop Beowulf's chest and channelled a large amount of his spirit power into his palm where a red orb was generated.

"Bury this light!" Summoning a Cero in his left hand, Nero released the crimson ray right at Beowulf's exposed chest before the demon could try to defend himself.

A brilliant red flash proceeded a large explosion that sent Beowulf plummeting to the ground below, where he landed back in the Torture Chamber with a crash so great a small crater was dug into the earth. A plume of smoke, dust and dirt mushrooming up and out of the ceiling high above.

Within the crater laying flat on his back was the heavily wounded, beaten and bloody Beowulf. His chest red raw and scarred from where the Cero had hit him point blank, and from the feel much of his ribs had been broken. Yet his primal rage was even greater than the immense agony he felt. Pain which had been caused by Sparda's kin. "…T-This *Cough* …Can't be happening… NO! I won't let this happen! I am Beowulf! The Lighbeast! I will never be defeated! Certainly not by those of his blood!"

"You want blood! I'll give you blood!" Descending from the sky, Nero landed atop Beowulf's already damaged chest. He jumped up and straddled the demons neck, then dealt blow after blow into Beowulf's face. Sharp demonic teeth being turned to splinters with each fist that buried into the lions face. "With how fucked up your face already is this might be an improvement!"

Crack jokes he may, but like Beowulf, Nero was bristling with fury and took it out on the demon responsible for driving him to that point.

Though Beowulf fought back hitting and clawing at Nero, the former Holy Knight ignored the attacks and continued his own assault. 'His attacks are getting weaker. He's used up most of his power.' Nero surmised. 'The again so have I. I can already feeling my wounds taking longer to heal as my own power is getting exhausted. I need to end this quick or else I'll have no more steam left.'

Keeping to that thought, Nero ceased his attack on Beowulf's now swollen and purple face and moved over to get atop his head. He wrapped his arms around the horn adorning Beowulf's crown and with all his might… yanked as hard he could.

"Arrrghh!" The demonic Gate Keeper screamed in suffering as his horn was torn from his head.

"Don't worry. You can have it back!" Using Beowulf's own horn like a spear, Nero jammed the jagged piece of bone into the devils one remaining good eye, a sickening popping noise echoing the room as he did.

Well, Nero did have a tendency to get a little too brutal in fights when he was pushed to anger. All that trained him, like Dante, Credo, Yoruichi and Kisuke had said as much.

If having his horn ripped off had hurt then having it rammed into his eye socket was a hundred fold worse. "Aaargghhyarh!" Beowulf thrashed about on the floor writhing in anguish, screaming like he'd never screamed before, holding his impaled eye socket with his hands as is if in hopes it would alleviate the pain, but it was to no avail. "Y-You… Why YOU! H-How dare you! …I'll kill you! I'LL BATHE IN YOUR BLOOD!"

Spurred on by pain and fury, Beowulf released a massive condensed beam of pure light all around his body, far more powerful than any he'd used so far. With Nero so close to the demon, and having used up much of his power, he didn't have the speed to evade, and so he took the full brunt of the blast and was sent careening across the other side of the room like a rag doll.

'Shit. Damn that hurt' Much of Nero's body had been singed black as charcoal from the light, his healing factor kicked in and began to heal his wounds but it was much slower than normal as his healing factor had already been over worked in this battle. Yet Beowulf was in far worse shape. The demons body was littered in injuries, dried and wet leaking blood covered him like a second skin. 'Nows my chance to end this. If only I had Blu-'. As he got to his feet he felt his foot brush up against something. 'Bingo.'

Beowulf could scarcely stand straight without falling. The combination of exhaustion and several broken bones and torn ligaments. But he refused to back down. Not against one of Sparda's kin. "Just because I've lost my sight doesn't mean you've won. You can't run from me. I can smell you. Smell that foul blood inside your veins!" He turned in the direction he smelt the mortal. "I'll kill you! Here and now! I'll end your life even if it costs my own! Anything to rid the world of his blood!" Using what little power he had left Beowulf channelled his demonic Reiatsu into his wings, aiming to cause a blast that would destroy the entire Torture Chamber and kill both himself and Nero. His wings illuminated as pure white as a winter snowflake. Blind as he was, Beowulf was unable to see the look of terror he was sure the mortal had. "If you have any last words I suggest you make your peace quick! This is the end of his bloodline once and for all!"

Instead of terror Nero wore a face of unrivalled snark, "Only one word. As a friend of mine likes to say always used to say..." with Blue Rose in hand he aimed at the blind devil and pulled the trigger, "Jackpot."

*Bang*

The duel bullets of Blue Rose collided with the horn still in Beowulf's eye. The force behind the bullets being enough to push the horn further inside Beowulf's head, until it protruded out the back of his skull.

Beowulf stood frozen solid and silent as if trying to understand what had just happened. Then the demon collapsed to the ground, a wide empty hole inside his head from which blood and brain matter came slopping out.

"That's one hell of a headache." Nero grimaced at Beowulf's wound, but felt no sympathy. Putting Blue Rose in its holster he walked over and picked up Red Queen and sheathed it on his back before making his way to the downed Beowulf whom was clinging on to his final moments of life. "If it's any conciliation you're one of the strongest demons I've ever faced. I'd say it was nice knowing you, but... we both know that'd be a lie."

"…" The tiniest of murmurs escaped Beowulf's throat, to quiet for anyone to hear.

"Huh." Nero peeked his brow. "Trying to talk even with those wounds. You really are one stubborn bastard, you know that."

"…Spa-…" Due to how intense his injuries were, Beowulf was fighting an uphill battle to even get out his last words. "…Spard-…" He reached a hand into the air and clenched his fist. "Defeated by one of your own kin," his voice was a hush gurgled whisper, a mix of bitterness and sorrow. "Even now you humiliate me. I hope you suffer for eternity… Sparda…" His hand fell to the ground as the last embers of life left him.

The name which Beowulf had spoken made Nero take a step back, his throat suddenly feeling dry and tight. "Wait… Sparda?" To add to the already overflowing sea of questions Nero had, another was now added to that pile. 'Sparda? Did he say Sparda. As in the Sparda, the Dark Knight. Dante's dad. Just what the hell is this place. What kind of mess have I woken.'

Once the adrenaline left Nero only now realised just how tired her was and went to his knees. "Damn… I feel like shit." His healing had fixed all the wounds on his body, yet his Reiatsu still needed to recharge the same as any normal mortal. Catching his breath he wiped the sweat off his glistening brow with the back of his chard and torn sleeve. "I really gotta fix my clothes. I look like a reject from Michael Jacksons Thriller."

After giving himself a minute of rest he got back up and stood straight. "Best go tell Sid the demons dead. This fight took me way longer than I wanted it to. Hope we still get to this 'Lair' before Arkham." As Nero began to make his way to the only doors in the Torture Chamber, Beowulf's corpse started to glow white. "What is this...?"

Nero went to grab Red Queen from his back thinking this was some final goodbye by Beowulf, but before he could Beowulf's body broke up into four separate orbs of white light which flew over to Nero and impacted with both his hands and feet. When the light faded Nero looked down to see on his hands and feet were a pair of gauntlets and grieves. They were silver-black in colour with glowing white veins and had an animalistic look. The gauntlets vaguely resembled a wolfs head with fangs and mane, while the grieves had talon like claws at the toes.

Bringing the gauntlets closer to his face for a better look Nero studied them over. "A Devil Arm? Ha. Bet Beowulf's rolling in his grave knowing I just got a prize off his corpse." Giving the Devil Arm a quick test, Nero threw a series of punches and kicks to get a feel for them. "Well, least I won't leave this tower empty handed."

After dispersing the Devil Arm, Nero went outside to let Sid know the devil guarding the room was dead. After expressing praise for his defeat of the demon, Sid pushed in a brick within the walls of the Torture Chamber which opened up a secret tunnel.

"We can use this secret passageway to get all the way up to the third floor of the Forbidden Lands." Sid informed. "Once we get there it's only a short walk until we reach the Lair of Judgement. So don't worry about being as tired as you are, we're unlikely to encounter any major threats on the way. Oh, but wait, there's something I need to get."

Nero watched was Sid walked over to the pedestal. The demon pulled out a box from his pocket and carefully placed the spherical item atop the pedestal inside, making sure not to touch the sphere for reasons unknown to Nero. "What's that?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with." After carefully placing the spherical item in the box Sid closed the lid and put the box back in his pocket. "Just something we need for later."

Both Demon and Devil Hunter entered inside the passageway. It was so small that for most of the journey they had to crawl on their hands and feet. But in the end it got them where they needed.

---

Some Time Later

Empty bullet shells clattered onto the marble floor. With the last of the demons in her way dead Mary put away her two smoking submachine guns. The guns themselves were creations of her Doll Flik, whom she hadn't summoned in full but only drew on his power enough to create the guns she was wielding. She considered unequipping the guns to lessen the Reiryoku it took to maintain their form but thought better of it. She was in an unknown place crawling with demons behind every corner, getting caught with her proverbial pants down was not something she was willing to risk.

After the elevator she was trapped inside came to a stop, she found herself in an entirely new part of the tower, one that looked far more clean and well kept than the upper floors she'd come from. It was a long semi-circular corridor connected to many different rooms.

'What was the purpose in sending me here.' Every door Mary tried to open remained locked to her, all she could do was continue down the corridor. 'Of all the things my father is, meticulous is one. Everything he does, he does for a purpose. If he wanted me to die down here he'd of made sure there were more demons. So if not that, then why bring me to this place. Just what is he planning.'

"Now that we have the Orihalcon. We can open the door to the Lair of Judgment."

"Good. The sooner this is done, the sooner I can get out of this building. If I have to solve one more light puzzle, I'll just call it a day and let Arkham win."

Mary recognised one of the voices but not the other. 'That sounds like… him. Nero. Who's he talking to. Their Reiatsu doesn't match the Shinigami. It almost feels like…'

"Strictly speaking Temen-ni-gru isn't a building, or tower, in a literal sense." Sid clarified, holding the Orihalcon in his hands, of which he and Nero had recently acquired. "It would be more accurate to call it a tunnel. Connecting the Demon and Mortal Worlds. Which is why the deeper into the tower you go the more reality is bent due to the power and energies of Hell seeping though. The Bount can control the tower with the Amulet, and the Sins can control the demons."

Hands in his pockets, Nero, who had used his magic to reform his clothes, gave Sid a peripheral glance. "If they control demons then what does that say about you."

"Control may be an exaggeration." Sid made clear. "More like influence. And they can only influence lesser and mid demons."

"Aren't you a lesser demon?" Nero pointed out.

"In terms of power, yes. But we demons aren't so easy to grade as you might think." Sid remarked. "There are demons far stronger, yet far less intelligent than I. It is with my mind I am able to resist the Sins influence. Plus, well… they despise me so much they haven't even tried to control me, likely instead wish to flay me when I have all my senses to better feel the pain."

Rolling his eyes at the demon, Nero replied with dry sarcasm, "Aw stop, you'll make me cry." Looking for more answers he queried, "If this place is a tunnel that merges the two worlds, then what's up with the Hell Gate. Isn't it already open."

"Not entirely." Spoke Sid. "Right now, Temen-ni-gru isn't fully active. When it is the tunnel will open and the two worlds will begin to merge. But, there exists a small crack in the tunnel, through which the demons are using as a Hell Gate for now. But, as you already noticed, only lesser and mid demons can get through that crack. But, if Temen-ni-gru reaches full power, then any and all demons will be able to enter the mortal worlds."

Combing a hand through his white locks, Nero sighed, "This place is so confusing."

Sid continued to rub his thumb over the Orihalcon. "We're nearly at our destination. Once we've reached the end of the Obsidian Path we'll find the door to the Lair of Judgment. With the Orihalcon we can open the door and get inside before-"

"-Watch out!" Nero pushed Sid out the way just in time as the place the demon had been standing was riddled with bullets. With his enhanced reflexes, Nero had been able to react in time once he saw an all to familiar woman pop out from the corner, guns in hand. "If that's how you great people it's now wonder you have no friends… Mary."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not looking to make friends." She kept one of her submachine guns trained on Sid, the other at Nero, moving slowly while keeping a watchful eye on both men. "Calling that thing a person is being too generous. I can sense his power, I know he's a demon."

Nero looked at Sid, giving him a double-take, then looked back to Mary and jibed, "I think just his jacked up face is enough to tell you what he is."

"And yet you just saved his life. Why? Are you working with him?" There was more than a hint of bitterness in Mary's accusation. "I should have known. You were born of a demon after all. Of course you'd ally with them. And here I was starting to think that maybe you were working with the Shinigami because you actually wanted to help them. In the end, you're no different than my father."

'Wait. How does she know I'm part demon?' The Devil Hunter asked himself, then scoffed aloud, "You really are a glass half empty kind gal aren't you. Guys just aren't into the edgy emo act now a days." She clicked her tongue at him. "Not that it's any of your business, but ol' Potato-Face here is taking me to the place where we need to stop Arkham and the demons. To make sure none of them get that power they're craving. I came here to destroy this place, nothing more, nothing less." He took a few steps forward, "Now if you'll excuse us-."

Without any forewarning, Mary fired her machine gun at Nero's head, who effortlessly dodged the bullets by simply titling his head to the side. "What makes you think I'll believe you for even a second. You're a demon, a devil, lying is what your kind does best."

"You've got some serious trust issues you know that." Nero said half jokingly and half serious.

Mary balked rather rudely at the absurd idea, "As if I'd ever trust a demon."

By now, Nero's patience was beginning to wane thin with her sour personality, no matter what he did or said she took it as offensive. "Yeah, yeah, you hate demons, I get it. Jeez, you sound like a broken record. I heard Lady was prickly back in the day but you're a full on thorn bush."

'That name again, 'Lady'. And the way he looks at me. It's like he both does and doesn't recognises at the same time. Is what my father said about him true?' It sounded impossible… but then again, so did the idea of a demonic tower jutting out the ground of an Edo era city in the afterlife. "Acting like you know me won't make me go easy on you if that's your angle. I don't know who this 'Lady' is but I'm not her."

"Clearly." He spoke dryly, but inside Nero chided himself for letting Lady's name slip from his tongue. "Well, this little chit chat has been really lovely but I've got an ancient demonic tower-tunnel thingy to destroy before it turns the Soul Society into a place that makes even Detroit look nice."

"Hold it!" Aiming both guns at the platinum haired hybrid as he tried to walk away, Mary put her fingers on the trigger ready to fire. "You aren't going anywhere. If that power my father is after is here then you're mad if you think I'd actually let you there. You might claim to be allied with the Shinigami, you might have even fooled them into thinking they're your friends. But you're a demon. All you care about is yourself and your own power. I bet that's why you're really here, because you just want to claim that power for yourself." She derided, full of animosity, "Besides, why would someone who's supposedly not even from this world want to save it."

Bewilderment engulfed Nero. 'What did she just say?'

All the anger, resentment and trauma she'd bottled after her mothers death was bubbling to the surface, given recent events. Just looking at Nero's face and feeling his demonic Reiatsu flow from him was making Mary's temper reach breaking point. She couldn't help it, when she sensed demonic power she thought of her father, and when she thought of her father she wanted to break something. "You're a demon, maybe not fully demon but demon never the less. I don't plan on letting a single demon live, and if that includes you then so be it."

Hostility was as clear as day in the woman's words and body language. There was no getting past her without a fight.

Relinquishing a tired huff of air, Nero shook his head, finding it funny that for once he was the mature one of a situation as tense as this. "Well if that's how it's gotta be. Sid, go on ahead, I'll catch up."

Throughout their exchange, Sid had kept safely behind Nero for protection. "Are… are you sure?" He was given a nod and gruff hum as a reply. "Well… alright. I'll have the door open by the time you arrive. Just don't take too long. I suspect the Bount is already on his way."

"Don't worry." Nero stretched, cracking the bones in his neck, a little to happy-go-lucky than one that was set to enter a fight normally should be, "This won't take long at all."

As soon as Sid began running Mary took her aim off Nero and pointed her weapons at the demon. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Nero flashed into being in front of her using Shunpo. He grabbed both her wrists and pushed them upwards, so when she fired her bullets hit only the ceiling, giving Sid the chance to escape as the demon left the corridor, leaving the young male and female alone.

Not one to be man-handled without protest, Mary kneed Nero in the groin of all places. Wincing at the cheap shot Nero released his hold of the struggling female, whom promptly jumped back to get some distance between herself and him.

"Please." Bluntly commented an irritated Nero, wearing a deadpan frown. "This isn't a bar fight. How about a bit of god damn decency." His healing could fix his bruised gonads, but that didn't mean he was happy about it. I mean come on, there were unspoken rules as to where you did and didn't hit someone in a fight.

"Shut up!" She yelled. "I'm sick of hearing you speak. You might play the role of a fool but you're a demon. Just like all the other monsters in this place. Just like him." The image of her father formed in Mary's mind, and now when she looked at Nero she saw only red. "I'll do whatever it takes to stop the both of you. I won't let one demon obsessed mad man be replaced by another."

Rolling his eyes, Nero's normally jovial nature was being driven away by Mary's immaturity. "I don't have time to try and convince you I'm not like Arkham. I've got a job to do. A job you're standing in the way of." Adopting a more cold persona, he threatened, "So you can either move out the way on your own… or I'll make you move."

"Oh really." To her credit, Mary wasn't the least bit intimidated by the Devil Hunter's stand-offish demeanour. "I'd like to see you try."

Pulling the triggers of her duel submachine guns Mary fired upon the cocky devil. Nero twisted to the left then to the right as Mary readjusted her aim, yet with his speed and agility he easily avoided every bullet sent his way.

The bullets moved in slow motion to Nero as he dodged them. "You realise this is just a waste of time right?"

"Just because you have more spiritual power than me doesn't mean I'll go down easy." She continued to fire a despite missing every shot. "Besides, I can sense your Reiatsu. By the feel of it you've just come from a battle which took its toll on you, you're weaker now then the last we met."

"True. But not what I meant." Gambolling towards the Bount, Nero grabbed her left wrist and angled to the side so she couldn't shoot at him, then looked her in the eyes. "You and I are after the same thing. The enemy of my enemy."

"You're my enemy as much as my father is." With her free right hand she sprayed her bullets at Nero, whom ducked underneath the gunfire, yet let his hold of her arm go. "I'll kill you just as I'll kill him!"

As Mary spun her guns around, Nero rose his right knee to block her arm. "Someone's got daddy issues."

"Shut the fuck up! You have no idea the type of man he was, the monster he is!" The emotions and memories of her father she'd buried deep within broke free from the dam inside her mind. Flooding her head and clouding her judgement. She needed to lash out to vent her emotions, and right now Nero proved a perfect punching bag. "I thought he was a good man, my mother did! We both loved him! Yet in the end he was just another wolf in sheep's clothing! I'll never let myself be tricked by a demon again!" The submachine gun in her left hand glowed bright, she tossed the gun into the air, "Zieg Dich. Flik!"

A large almost eight foot tall creature resembling an ant bore into being from the light.

'That must be her Doll,' correctly assumed Nero. 'But how did she make it appear from her gun?' Nero soon received his answer.

"Flick. Go full auto and give me a Glock." The ant Doll literal tossed one of its own limbs to Mary which morphed into a pistol. Then pointed its two antennae at Nero, which opened up at the tips and from which bullets rained out.

Shocked at first sight, Nero managed to react in time to outmanoeuvre the bullets they fired upon him. Thankfully, Baskerville filled in what little he knew on Mary's Doll from what he recalled from his time serving Kishu, 'Her Doll can create weapons with its body and even morph its own body into weapons. She can also issue mental commands to her Doll unlike most other Bounts which require to use verbal commands on their Doll, plus she doesn't need to fully materialise her Doll in order to use its power, only needing to do so if she wished to utilise more powerful weapons and attacks. But, the weapons are all dependant on how much Reiatsu she has. The less Reiatsu, the slower and weaker her guns. The sheer variety of weapons she can create however, is enough that you must remain vigilant.'

It reminded Nero of Dante's Pandora Devil Arm. 'If Lady ever saw this she'd go green with envy at the arsenal at her counterparts disposal.' But given that Walking Arsenal was currently using Nero as target practice he was less than inclined to appreciate it than he might have under alternate conditions.

The bullets fired by both Bount and Doll moved at speeds much faster than normal bullets from human made guns. Due to the guns and bullets being created by Mary's Reiatsu, akin to how Quincy's used their arrows. And likewise, also dealt much more damage than normal man-made bullets, not that it mattered as so far not a single bullet had managed to hit the speedy Devil Hunter.

He ducked, backflipped, twirled in the air and spun, all with the skill and grace of an Olympian gymnast and speed that would make Yoruichi proud of her student. The only thing hindering the grace of Nero's moves was the obscene comical noises he was making. As he "Yahoo'd!", "Wooo'd!" and even "Weee'd!" with each dodge.

Even more impressive when taking into account Nero hadn't fully recovered from his battle with Beowulf. Currently running at less than a quarter of his usual power, he'd need more time to recover the rest. Then again, the same was said for Mary, whom likewise had burnt through a decent amount of her spiritual power today and was in need of a rest to recharge.

"So what. You had a bad childhood. News flash. You're not the only person who had it tough growing up." As Nero flipped through the air doing a barrel roll, he used Red Queen while it was still on his back to bounce the bullets away in mid twirl before sticking his landing. "I mean, mine just left me on the door step of an orphanage. You don't see me shutting out the rest of humanity like you have."

Mary and Flik continued their assault as they tried to make Nero just another statistic in gun violence. "Quit acting like you know anything about what it's like to be human." Firing relentlessly, all her shots failed to make their target. "You're a demon. You're kind only care about themselves."

While simultaneously doing acrobatics, Nero pulled out Blue Rose and fired, literally shooting Mary's and Flicks own bullets out the air with his own. "Says the chick that's willing to put all of Soul Society in danger because she can't accept help from anyone."

"I'm the one who's trying to stop my father." So far all of Mary's and Flik's shots had been either dodged or blocked, and so Mary mentally commanded her Doll, which in response held two of it's limbs together, then merged and morphed them creating a minigun attached to Flik's chest. Hoping the overwhelming amounts of bullets would break the teens so far impenetrable defence. "Besides, why would I accept help you, you're just another dem-"

"-Demon. Yeah, I get it. You've said it enough times now." Knowing trying to dodge the incoming onslaught of rounds was nigh impossible even for someone of his speed in such an enclosed corridor, Nero opted for a different tactic.

Summoning the Yamato he unsheathed the katana and rotated the blade clockwise in front of himself so fast it was akin to a helicopter rotor spinning. The bullets both Flik and Mary shot at him were all sliced in half by the Yamato, and to add insult to injury, once they stopped shooting Nero then perfectly laid out all the bullets they'd fired at him in a straight line at his feet, flashing a cocky smirk in full display of his skill before calling the dark forged blade back into his Devil Bringer.

"But if you think only demons are capable of evil then you've clearly forgot that your father is more Bount than he is demon."

Both Bount and Doll were stunned, perplexed at how easily Nero had handled the orgy of bullets by using his slender katana he summoned from thin air to carve them apart like turkey on thanksgiving, and use that very blade to assemble the bullets into an orderly line.

But, Mary's stunned face quickly retreated as the curtain of red returned.

"Shut up!" Mary now devolved into just shooting nonsensically at Nero as her emotions completely clouded her battle sense. "He isn't a Bount! He isn't human! He's a demon! A monster! A murder!" Unknown to Mary, her eyes began to began to brim with water as the memories of her past came to confront her. "He killed his own wife, my mother! Just to gain power! He never cared about either one of us! He just played the role of husband and father until the day came when he no longer had use for us! Does that sound like a man to you!"

With how wild her attacks were it was easy for Nero to dodge and block them. "Looks like we have one thing in common." He moved in closer to Mary, ducked under her arm as she swung her guns across to hit him. Then grabbed both her arms in a lock and pulled her close, looking her in the eyes, honest empathy in his voice, "I have experience with family turning on you… and losing them."

Breaking out of his hold, Mary backflipped to gain some distance between herself and the snowy haired youth. "What do you know about family! You're a demon!"

Having enough of this verbal and physical spat with him, she mentally commanded Flik to use one of its heavy tier moves. The ant-like Doll removed the mini-gun attached to itself and tossed it to Mary. Once she caught the weapon it shined bright in a hue and morphed yet again, this time taking the form of an overly large rocket launcher.

To Nero the missile launcher Mary now had hoisted on her shoulder to support its great weight looked like a carbon copy of the Kalina Ann Lady wielded. Only given this was a manifestation of her Dolls power and thus imbued with Reiatsu, this clearly must pack a bigger kick.

Yet, this actually worked in Nero's favour.

Back during his time at Devil May Cry, Dante wasn't the only one who trained Nero in combat. Both Trish and even Lady did. At least when either female was free and could be bothered to get off their ass. Meaning Nero had experience at having a rocket from Kalina Ann fired at him and knew just what to do in such instance.

Once Mary fired the rocket she expected that the Devil Hunter would try to either run or dodge it. Yet, to her surprise he instead stood his ground. But it's what he did next that really caused her to go slack jaw.

Just as the missile was about to hit Nero he ducked underneath it and let it pass overhead. Then he somersaulted backwards in the air and landed atop the missile, which he then proceeded to ride like a surfboard. Showing off by spinning and flipping the missile using his feet and careful not to hit the walls or ceiling or floor. Once he'd felt he'd shown off enough Nero angled the missile in such a way as to divert its trajectory towards Mary and Flik. He backflipped off the missile and gave it a slight kick to increase its speed as he sent it right at Flik's feet.

The resulting explosion which engulfed the corridor in thick black smoke was enough to throw Mary off her feet, knocking her away as she tumbled across the floor, grunting in pain as she rolled across the hard floor.

As for Flik, the Doll thankfully didn't die from the explosion as the missile had been aimed at the floor beneath his feet, not the Doll itself. Likely intentionally by the Demon Slayer who had ensured to cause enough damage to defeat the Doll but not kill it, knowing if he did so Mary herself would die as a result. Though as wounded as the Doll was, Flik could no longer maintain its physical form and faded away in embers of light.

Though her body ached from the explosion, Mary gritted her teeth and pushed herself to sit in an upright position. Dead ahead of her was the platinum blonde walking right through the plume of smoke and dust the blast made. 'How did he know to do that. It's like he knew my attack before hand… as if he's seen it before.' She half expected him to finish her off, yet instead once he got within a foot from her he came to a stop and just looked at her with a face which made it clear he'd had enough of this fight.

"When it comes to family, I know more than you can imagine." Nero spoke with pure truth, born from experience. "Family can both fill your heart and break it all the same. But you can never let that define how you are. What Arkham did to you and your mother is messed up and he deserves to be punished for it. But he's hurt so many more people than just you. And he's about to hurt a whole lot more if we don't stop him. So instead of us playing shoot out with each other, how about we stop the one responsible for all this."

He offered Mary a hand to help her up. She stared at his hand, contemplating accepting it but her pride rebuffed his assistance and she got to her feet on her own, trying her best to shut out the throbbing pain her body was experiencing.

"This is my family. I have to be the one to end this." Unlike Nero who remained neutral, Mary was oozing emotion, her voice was raised but not to a full shout. Though from the way she spoke, it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else.

"Maybe this started out as just some family mellow drama. But it's become so much more now." Nero stated matter-of-factly, trying to get through to her. "What Arkham's doing. Raising Temen-ni-gru. Trying to gain that demons power for himself. Trying to merge the mortal and demon realms. It involves everyone. Not just you. Right now, the members of the Gotei are out there fighting the demons to keep them from escaping the Seireitei and into the rest of the Soul Society, or god forbid the Human World. A lot of those people are my friends. And just as they will do whatever it takes to protect this world, so will I. No matter the cost."

Whike Mary's head was cooling she still seemed rather hesitant. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because your right in one part. I did play a role in in all this." Opening up with full sincerity Nero said, "From what you said earlier I take it you've already heard, but I'm not from around here. The world I'm from, where all my family and friends are. I've lost it. When I met your father I was convinced he was the key into getting me back home. And so, instead of stopping Arkham when I had the chance I let him get away. Multiple times. So all this, this is on me. Every death the demons cause is my fault. All because I let my own self interests get in my way of stopping Arkham when I had the chance. So you see, we're not so different you and I." He let that sink in before he readied to return to Sid. This time Mary made no attempt to attack him or stop him from leaving. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go stop Arkham and this tower."

After taking only a few steps Nero was halted by Mary when she spoke.

"So it's true then." Her voice was even, giving nothing away. "You really aren't from this universe." He gave her a look that was hard to read, then nodded a single nod. "Then tell me. Back in your world, was there some like me. I can tell from the way you look at me something isn't right."

"My poker face that bad." Nero laughed, but his laughter held no humour to it. "Her name was Mary, like you. But she just went by 'Lady'. She was plain old Human, but one of the greatest Devil Hunters and the best gunslinger around. She even taught me a few tricks. I know you're not her. But, you remind me so much of her, just looking at you… well… it's hard, y'know…."

It was clear from his tone and face this 'Lady' meant a lot to him. "She sounds interesting." Mary said earnestly, trying to imagine the type of life her counterpart might live if she kept such company as him.

"That's one way to describe her." Chuckled Nero.

This little spat between them had actually been just what Mary needed. The years worth of emotions she'd buried deep within had longed to be released, and this fight had allowed her to release some of that steam, if just for a moment. Giving her a wake up call and allowing her mind to think clearly on the greater scope of threat her father poses, outside of just her lust for vengeance.

"My father took everything from me. All I've ever wanted is to pay him back for that." Mary said to herself, clutching the pendant in her pocket which housed a picture of her family, back when they were a family. Then looked to him and asked candidly, "You said you knew what he was after. And how to stop him and the demons."

"Yeah." Nero nodded, brow raised as to where she was heading.

"Well then." Mary announced bluntly, her voice lacking any bitterness to it this time around. "As much as I'd like to settle this on my own it's clear you and those Shinigami won't keep your noses to yourselves." She put her guns back in her holster to showcase she meant no more ill-intent. "So for now I'll play nice."

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This chapter took a long time to do as I was struck with writers block on several parts. And when I get writers block I get frustrated, and that frustration turns into me hating my own work so when I push past that writers block I tell myself what I write is crap, so get even more stuck on writing those parts. To be honest I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but felt it was high time to suck it up and do the best I could with it.

So Shunsui fights Nevan, I came up with this idea a while back cause I thought they would play well together based on personality and abilities. Also, Nevan uses some projectile attacks which makes her the closest thing to a gun slinging demon, and as you know it is Bleach law that Shunsui must fight the enemy that uses projectile attacks and guns. Legends say, even in fanfiction if Shunsui were to fight an opponent with NO RANGED ATTACK, that Kubo himself would hunt the author down for heresy. So my hands were tied.

Hope you enjoyed the Nero v Beowulf fight. Don't know why but I had a REALLY hard time writing it. Never been so stuck on writing a fight since Nero v Soi Fon way back in the day. I had a hard time getting it how I wanted, to make it where it was clearly a struggle for Nero to win as I didn't want Nero to just steamroll Beowulf. After all, while Nero is powerful he isn't the strongest person in the story. So it wouldn't make sense that the likes of Byakuya and Shunsui are having a tough fight against their opponents but Nero is just swatting Beowulf like a fly. It took me four rewrites of the fight before I finally got it to where I felt it sufficed.

As I said before, I'm looking to make fights more condensed than I have in the past. The Nero v Beowulf fight was quite long, but that's because it is the first fight in this fanfic where Nero fights a powerful demon and so I felt it deserved decent screen time. Let me know how this fight was so I know what I did right and what I did wrong to better the shorter fights in the future.

I can't find any DMC lore which states which demons are stronger than others in DMC 3. So just went off how hard they are in game to fight. So in terms of power Cerberus and Nevan are roughly equal (Mid Captain level in Bleach terms) while Beowulf is slightly stronger, though not by loads (also Beowulf did fight evenly with Dante even in the cutscene and managed to escape him after Dante blinded him).

Temen-ni-gru is a super confusing place. There isn't much solid lore on it that I could find and so I just had to fill in the gaps and make up my own lore and interpretations for what was missing as well as to try and make it so it can make sense in the Bleach verse. So if certain parts of Temen-ni-gru in this story don't match up 100% to DMC lore then that's why.