Chapter 32: Reunion.
*Days after the game*
The second half of August…
I, Alex and the Gremory group were receiving a farewell from the underworld at the station in front of the main residence.
"Well then, Vergil-sama. I look forward to the day we can meet again. You may return here any time without hesitation. Think of the Gremory family as your own family.", said Lord Gremory, Zeoticus.
Family huh…
"I'll keep that in mind", I replied.
"Vergil-sama. Please take care of Rias in the human world. Since my daughter can be so selfish, I worry.", said Venelana.
"M-Mother! W-What are you saying!?", said Rias as her face turned red.
"I'm already doing that", I said.
"...Uu, I'm also being moved to tears. The future of my family is bright...", said Lord Gremory as he was crying. What the hell are you crying for? This isn't a funeral.
"Wait a minute, dear. Isn't this where the father is supposed to retaliate by saying something like [I won't give up my daughter yet!]?", said Venelana.
"Even if you say that Vergil-sama has surpassed my power already, so isn't it enough already? I think it will be fine even if I settle down soon."
"Please wait until Rias has graduated from high school at least before talking about retirement."
"Hold on to your dignity, will you? A lord shoudn't be like this", I said.
"See, listen to Vergil-sama. He's telling you to get a grip.", said Venelana as she comforted Lord Gremory.
"Rias, send us a letter during your remaning summer holidays.", said Sirzechs as he was carrying Millicas in his arms. Grayfia was standing behind him.
"Yes, onii-sama. You stay well as well, Millicas."
"Yes, Rias-nee-sama!"
We had boarded the train and were giving our last farewells to Sirzechs and the others from the window.
At that moment, I noticed. Sirzechs, Millicas, and also Grayfia.
…
A simple, happy family of three… Such a warm scene, I'm glad for them.
*The returning train*
I was standing near the window of the train's corridor, looking at the purple dimension corridor outside.
Think of the Gremory family as your own family.
…
"Family…", I muttered.
"Looking so distant, Vergil"
I turn to see Alex walking towards me.
"Alex huh… shouldn't you be taking a nap? It's still quite a way until we're back home.", I said.
"It's fine, I already have my rest while you're at the game. Besides, being in there with them, it's… kinda awkward.", he replied.
"Hmph, guess we're the same. We're both back from the grave, after all"
"Nah, only me. At least you still alive. That's what I'm glad."
"Hmph"
We then both look outside to the purple scenery.
"I heard that you kissed Rias", said Alex.
"Who told you that?", I asked.
"The Gremory group just had a talk, Koneko suddenly mentioned about how you obtained Balance Breaker"
"…"
"Oh don't be shy, it's fine to kiss the woman you love", said Alex as he made a teasing face.
"I'm not shy"
"Then why is your face red right now?"
"Just the heat"
"Cut the horseshit"
…
A silence broke out.
…
"When I kissed her… I had a vision", I said, broke the silence.
"A vision?"
"It was… a familiar memory, one that I've experienced a long time ago: Our simple, happy family, gathering around the table, having a meal while talking trivial stuff… all was very peaceful… but there were differences"
"differences?"
"The me that was there, is an adult, a bit older than I am now. I also invited another person, a girl"
"Hold on. Let me guess, Rias?"
I nodded at Alex's guess.
"I was introducing her to my parents, we had our laughs, hold hands, everything was warm, heartful you can even say."
"That's a good dream, right? So what's wrong about it"
I make a breath and said.
"It was… until the inevitable happen"
Alex became confused, but he quickly realized what I meant, he then looks down.
"I see…", said Alex.
"Since you already know it, I don't have to say it. Granted that Kuroka was there and she was spreading malice around using her mystic arts, to me, I felt that came for me, instead of her. So tell me, Alex, how can I have such warm, happy life, when that scene can still happen?"
There was no answer.
I decided to walk back in to the cabin.
"Let's go back inside."
Alex stood for a while, before following me back in. before I open the door…
"We can have this conversation another time, but at least, don't tell them.", I said.
"Hmmm… very well. But remember, Vergil, you're the one who need to overcome your walls the most, not them."
"No one knows that better than I am"
Having said that, I opened the door. As we walk in, Rias greeted us.
"Ara, Vergil, have you had your time looking around?"
"Yeah, Alex joined me earlier, so we decided to come back to rest a bit", I said as he nodded.
As I sat down on my seat. Koneko suddenly sat on my lap. I'm not sure what's going on, but her cat ears are out and they're twitching.
"Koneko?"
"Nyan~"
She smiled with a smile across her whole face. I was perplexed to respond, so I just patted her head, which make her smile even more.
I then saw Asia had teary eyes, Rias scowled with narrowed eyes, and Akeno was giving off pressure with a silent smiling face.
They keep up with that until we arrived back in the Human World.
As we arrived at the station, I stretched myself.
"Well, we've arrived. Now then, let's return home, Asia…"
When I turn to Asia. There was a kid with delicate features drawn near her.
What… this kid… he was at the Young Devil's gathering party.
"Asia Argento…We finally meet."
"U-Umm…"
Asia was bewildered.
"Oi, you there, what business do you have with Asia?", I asked but he ignored me. He just kept his attention to Asia.
"... So you've forgotten me. We should have met at that time."
That time? He then suddenly revealed his chest and showed a big scar there. It was a deep scar. Asia's eyes opened wide when she saw that.
"…! That wound, could it be…"
"Yes, my face couldn't be seen back then, but I am the devil from that time."
"…"
Asia became speechless at those words.
"My name is Diodora Astaroth. That time you weren't able to treat it to the point where a scar wouldn't remain, but my life was saved due to your Sacred Gear."
Huh…
No wonder why I felt something wrong about you
So you are the Devil who cause Asia to be excommunicated from the Church.
Diodora tenderly took Asia's hand and kissed it.
You little…
"Diodora? You're Diodora, aren't you?", said Rias as she recognized him.
"Asia, I came to meet you. I apologize that I couldn't greet you at that meeting. But, I think the encounter between you and I was destiny. —I want you to be my wife. I love you."
….
That little brat had proposed to Asia right in front of me.
The hot summer had come to an end, and the autumn that would likely become long would soon begin.
*Epilogue Chapter: A new Enemy*
*Home*
As we arrived home, I was unable to let go of the event that just happened.
"That brat… what makes he think he can just come here and wing his way with Asia as if he owns her…"
Rias was trying to calm me down.
"Vergil, calm down, I know that Diodora coming here doing so was something very disturbing, but you can't attack him without a good reason"
"Call me paranoid, Rias, but something about that kid is so wrong that I can't let go of, and that was before the commotion earlier."
Rias was about to say something, but then she halted to think, after a while she said.
"Hmmm, maybe you're right. There is something wrong about him…"
She then continued.
"But it's pointless to think about it when we don't have any leads. I'll contact Maou Beelzebub tomorrow for detail"
Hmmm
She has a point.
"Very well, then…"
Before I can finish, suddenly, an uneasy sensation ran across us.
"What is that?", Rias said as she noticed something and pointed behind me. As I turned around…
DUUUUUUN
It was then a distortion in space occurred, and a portal suddenly opened.
"What the hell….Woah!"
I got sucked into the portal!
"Vergil!", shouted Rias as she tried to reach me. But before she could, the portal closed, and I was adrifted at high speed in the dimensional vortex.
*Later*
After a while of being adrifted in the vortex, I was out of the portal, as I regained my senses. I realized that I was… falling!
As I was floating in the air, wiggling chaotically, I slowly regained my balance. By the time I was close to the ground, I was ready for landing.
As my feet touch the solid ground, I bend my knees to distribute the kinetic energy of the impact across my body. My landing caused the soft soil to get gouged up.
"Arghh!"
I grunted a bit due to the sudden landing, as I shook my head to clear myself of the shock, I started looking around.
"What is this place?", I wondered.
Right now, I'm currently inside a massive, somewhat circular-shaped room that made of some form of black-colored demonic substances. All the surfaces a rough, uneven. The ceiling is so high, the room can be equivalent to a tower.
PULSE
Suddenly, a wave of red glow traversed across the surfaces. It's like they are transmitting something.
PULSE
It happened again, multiple pulse continued to flow uniformly until I finally followed the direction that the waves was moving towards. The waves were moving from the top down, as they show signs of convergence, I looked along the waves until they reach the one end of the room.
What that is there gave me a huge shock.
A colossal humanoid demonic creature with 37 eyes along all its' body and head, large sharp teeth and claws. Its' whole body was coated in the same substance that made up this room, but the patterns are more like that of thick, root-like wrappings. The "roots" encircling its' face and reaching up to form a spiked "crown" on its' head.
The creature is sitting on some sort of throne made of a form of dull-white substance, with skull-like shapes all over it, multiple holes on it are leaking a red fluid that looks like… blood. The blood also reaches down the floor, create a red pool surrounding the throne.
There's a massive orange crystal mass that is glowing and floating by creature's side.
The creature initially just sits there, unamused of anything. But then it opens its' 37 eyes and looked at me.
I readied my stance as I asked.
"Who are you?"
…
A silence broke out, with the two of us keep on staring at one another.
…
—!
What is this… horrible premonition? This… uneasiness?
That creature… I'm no match for it.
But… why is its' aura… so familiar?
Then suddenly, the demonic figure uttered with a distorted, echoing voice.
"Vergil…"
—!
That thing… knows me?
"Boosted Gear!"
I shouted as the Red Dragon Emperor Gauntlet appeared on my left arm.
"Balance Break!"
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]
I cladded myself in the armor of the Sekiryuutei, the Boosted Gear Scail Mail.
"I don't know who you are. Dragging me all the way here was a big mistake"
"…"
The creature did not answer, it then put its' right hand forward… and a massive crimson fireball was projected!
I evaded by leaping to the sides. The fireball collided with a black wall and completely vaporized it!
Using the momentum earlier, I moved in to deliver a blow.
Countless tentacles with barbed tip sprouted from the creature as they homed at me. I evade them all using acrobatic moves. As I was close to it…
"Hah!"
I make a straight punch to the demon.
DOOON!
An force explosion occurred, I made a hit… or so I thought.
When the dust settled, I was shock at what I see.
The orange crystal that was floating suddenly warped in front of the demon and block my fist!
I then bounce back using the crystal as the platform.
—!
This thing too… why is it's aura so awfully familiar.
SHAKE
Now isn't the time! I need to keep on the offensive!
I then balanced myself in the air as I prepared multiple spheres of demonic power. I then launched them towards the creature on the throne, but the crystal just casually deflected all my projectiles.
Tch! In that case.
I landed a distance away, I slide back and entered my Iaido stance. As I moved my right hand to grab the blade for a Judgement Cut…
—!
I felt nothing in my hand! When I look down to my hip…
—!
Shit! I forgot I don't hav…
DOOOOOON!
"Guha!"
In that moment of carelessness, I got struck by a tentacle that came from the floor, it pierced my armor and pinned me to one of the black walls.
I vormitted a bucket of blood. The tentacle the retracts and I fell flat on the floor.
[Partner!], yelled Ddraig.
"What is this… monstrous… yet… familiar… strength…? I… didn't even… made a scratch…", I weakly said.
The demon then once again puts its hand forward, immense black demonic energy gathered on its' palm.
Is this my limit?
Is this how it's going to end?
I struggled to stand up, but I keep on falling down due to the wounds.
The massive sphere of demonic power then comes straight at me!
I braced for impact.
…
But then…
A crimson and black sphere of demonic power went from behind me. It collided with the black demonic sphere generated by the demon and…
BOOOOOOOM!
An explosion sounded! the two spheres cancelled each other! Who did that?
As I turned around.
"Fuuu, it seems that we made it in time"
"Vergil, are you alright!?"
It was Sirzechs and Azazel!
"Sirzechs? Azazel? How?", I was confused. Sirzechs then treated me with healing magic.
"Rias called, to be honest, I was confused when she said that you were suck in a portal. As I arrived, Sirzechs was also there, we hastily investigated the surroundings and were finally able to open the portal. But we realized immediately what the portal was, so we both came here as fast as we could."
Azazel said that, before looking at the demon on the throne.
"Yo, it's been quite a while since we last saw each other huh", said Azazel.
"Indeed, how do you do, Current Demon King of Inferno, Urizen?", said Sirzechs as he also looked at the demon.
What!?
"Who is this Urizen?", I asked.
"You haven't known this since you were out for 2 years, Vergil. During your time of absence, this mysterious demon took over the empty throne of the Inferno, he managed to subdue most demons resided in that realm and crowned himself as the new Demon King. "Urizen" is the codename we called to identify him", said Sirzechs.
"So there was already a new top dog huh. But why is this thing, its' aura, is so familiar?", I asked.
"So you've noticed huh…", said Sirzechs.
Huh?
"What is it that you two haven't told me?", I questioned them.
"Yeah, it might be difficult to believe this, Vergil… but that thing over there… he has the Yamato", answered Azazel.
…
—!
Seeing my shocked face, Azazel continued his explanation.
"At first when the demon surfaced, we thought that it was you, due to the identical aura wavelengths. The strength is also up to match, as our assaults on both sides was unable to make a dent at his fortress. All that assumptions went out of the window upon your return though."
"Hold on! That thing has the Yamato!?"
"Yes… alongside the lion share of your powers that was missing, Angelic and Demonic alike.", said Sirzechs.
—!
I felt like my tendons is about to burst! I went for another charge, but both Sirzechs and Azazel stopped me.
"LET GO! I'LL KILL THAT THING!", I shouted.
"No Vergil! You can't! That thing is far more powerful than you right now. We must leave!", said Azazel.
"Sirzechs, change to your true form! You can kill that thing!", I said
"I can't! This place is preventing me from doing so! Even if I can, he is currently being empowered not just by your powers, but also the power of the whole Inferno!"
—!
"!"
"!"
We then all noticed that Urizen is about to fire a mass of demonic power. Accompanied it are the same tentacles that attacked me earlier.
The combination attack was launch with terrifying speed!
"Oh no, you're not getting him!", said Sirzechs as he prepared a massive sphere of destructive demonic power. Azazel followed by conjuring a massive spear of light. Their combination attack collided with Urizen's, and was on a stalemate. The force and pressure of the collision slowly torn down the room.
"Come on! Our attacks won't hold out for long! We have to leave!", said Azazel.
"Nrghhh! LET GO!", I struggled as they both pulled me out through the gaps of the collapsing room.
"I can't fall back here! I did not get to know this much only to leave empty-handed!"
DOOON!
I got punched in the face by Sirzechs.
"Stop hitting yourself! If you die here, how do you suppose to care for those kids!? What the hell am I suppose to tell my sister!?"
—!
"…"
I became silent by those words, despite my frustration.
Azazel then holds both of my shoulders.
"If you're frustrated, then think of ways to get stronger and actually win! That thing already bounded us with powers beyond comprehension, but not you, Vergil! You're the only hope everyone has left to defeat Urizen.", said Azazel.
"…"
After a moment of silence, I looked back at the demon through a gap in the falling stones.
"Is that what you call it?", I asked gruntly.
"Yes, Urizen, the new Demon King… That is the name of the demon that took your sword and powers"
Urizen…
Just you wait, you piece of shit…
I'll reclaim what is mine.
We then left the damned place, with Azazel and Sirzechs reopened the portal.
Author's note: And that's the end of volume 5. You know, one of the most difficult things while writing this story, is that when you've witness the badassery of Vergil at the end of DMC5, it's difficult to write the arc during the time of him being weaken. But endurance is needed, for a thoroughly-developed story. Bio update incoming. Enjoy.