Hey y'all! I'm back with another chapter! Now then you'll be seeing character development with some of our DMC cast, something that devs who made the series had a serious lack of especially for specific characters like Vergil. There were so many opportunities to give him proper development and to see how adjusted if he didn't fell into Hell in DMC 3 but they just opted to repeatedly use him as a boss or final boss in their games which blows in my honest opinion. Even the bullshit reboot didn't do him justice. -_-
So I'll be doing my best to convey Vergil's change throughout the story as I go through chapters along with other characters. And if you haven't noticed yet, yes, Dante and Vergil both have a crush on Joharai which is the pairing. Vergil not used to human emotions will be awkward, Dante will be awkward with his experience on women and Joharai is going to be completely clueless. Oh. You ain't getting lemons or limes from me either. Sex scenes are just something I don't think I can write in my honest opinion. Fluff, angst, action and maybe comedy yes but sex is a big no-no. The closest you'll get is a makeout session or it's implied but that's it. Putting it out there right now.
Now onto the show...!
Nothing has ever surprised Vergil in his life especially when it came to himself. Though the Qliphoth incident had thrown him over a massive loop when both his human and demon sides became fully sentient. The demon side, Urizen had more thought to his actions once Vergil was whole but there was something wrong with V, the human side as of late. V had been quieter than usual now barely speaking, voice almost monotone and lifeless almost as if he was becoming a husk.
Upon questioning Urizen, Vergil understood why. Something was pulling out V from Vergil bit by bit. In turn, V becoming lifeless and soon voiceless for V's humanity was the last tie to his fallen mother, Eva. Urizen was Vergil's Devil blood and V being his human blood with their spirits balanced in power keeping the half devil whole. The very reason he was perfectly measured between the blood of both his parent's species. But if V vanished, Vergil's demon blood would swallow up every bit of his human blood for V no longer empowers it until nothing remained turning Vergil into a full demon.
In the past, abandoning his humanity never bothered him but after Dante and Nero knocking some sense into him(literally), working at Devil May Cry... The greatest influence which was meeting Joharai made him realize how foolish it was. The pomp princess was unlike any human woman he ever met. Strong willed, powerful and her kindness drew him to her. Losing his humanity would ruin everything.
V wasn't going to be taken from him. Vergil refused to have anything else stolen but he needed to find what was trying to take his humanity first. Imagine his surprise that while his brother and son were helping look for a replacement game to keep the Higashikata twins' tradition going that it lead to Vergil's answer.
"I found something." Vergil spoke grabbing Dante's and Nero's attention. "The Graveyard Arcade? I heard about that place! It was a really popular gaming destination since they not only have arcade games but the latest gaming consoles! It closed down two years ago after a child was found dead overnight." Nero explained. "It also has the only copy of the game Joharai was looking for! Nice going Verg but something else is up?" Dante asked noticing his brother's look.
"The Arcade is in a dead zone..." Vergil spoke. Dead Zones were parts of Redgrave heavily saturated in demon energy. These specific areas were really dangerous not because normally demons lurking about but sometimes powerful Devils who were attracted the Qlipthoth's remnants. All Deadzones had cameras monitoring any activity and military posted at the borders. Vergil pulled up something that disturbed both Devil Hunters. It was a camera feed from one of the zones and walking past the camera was a tall dark haired lanky male dressed in black and had black tattoos over his body.
Someone who shouldn't even exist to their knowledge. "Holy shit. That's V. But how? Didn't he and Urizen merged back so you could reform again?" Nero questioned. "Something is pulling V from my body and it's somewhere in that arcade. If V is pulled from me, I'll become a full demon." Vergil explained as Dante and Nero looked shocked and very concerned. "Fuck! No way am I dealing with the Urizen bullshit again especially a permanent one! Where is the feed coming from?" Dante asked.
"Lucky for us, the camera is outside the Death Zone where the arcade is. Though we'll need an eye in the sky for any demons. Something had taken out the camera a few days again and could still be there. If that game gets destroyed then the twins' anniversary is ruined." Vergil pointed out when a cry rang through the building. Pet Shop had flew into Devil May Cry landing on the desk. "That's Pet Shop. Did Jojo send you?" Dante asked as the bird shook his head no before approaching the keyboard. Using his talons, Pet Shop typed a message on the keyboard.
"'I came of my own will. I know what you are up to and plan to assist you. Mistress Joharai had gotten me out of a deadly situation and given me sanctuary in her home. I won't let something as important as this anniversary get ruined. My Stand, Horus, and I are at your command.'" Nero read as Vergil went into thought.
"If I remember correctly, Horus is a Stand that manipulates ice strong enough to crush boulders to dust and freeze his surroundings in mere seconds. Pet Shop, can you watch our backs from the sky and provide cover fire for us with as much hostility as you can?" Vergil questioned. Pet Shop actually grinned and the grin beamed with pride along with guaranteed pain for his targets. Vergil was already starting to like this sadistic falcon.
It didn't take long to get to the Dead Zone where the arcade was held since the Yamato could be used as transportation by ripping tears through the fabric of space and time. However the place had somehow undergone a rapid and peculiar transformation. Squares of data scattered haphazardly across the ground, a few buildings breaking into what appeared to be code and strange trees and objects spawning or tearing ripples of destruction through the landscape. Laying on the ground was an object all three Devil Hunters had seen before. It was a circlet with a mane of fire within the ring.
"That's the Fire Crown from Joharai's Kirby game! But how is it here?! Along with all of this?!" Nero questioned picking up the Fire Crown. "Something in this zone must be pulling and merging the environments from the arcade's games and bringing them into our dimensional plane. However it looks like it's spreading since that footage we saw was from a few days ago. There's no telling what sort of effect it could have on living creatures." Vergil questioned. Dante soon noticed something odd as he pulled his white and black guns, Ebony and Ivory, from their holsters.
"Guys, weren't there supposed to be soldiers here? And where are all those husks that came from the Qliphoth?" Dante questioned as the other two hunters armed themselves hearing Pet Shop's cry from above. The falcon called upon its Stand Horus which had the appearance of a demonic bird skeleton forged from ice. Horus had a pterodactyl shaped head, ribs that were more like centipede legs in appearance, no wing bones and massive talons as it's empty glowing eye sockets were brimming with malice. Giant spears of ice manifested around Horus before the Stand sent them crashing down at breakneck speed as something jumped out at the hunters.
The spears had pierced the attacker before it even touched them falling dead to the ground. The dead attacker looked to be a husk of a person but the disturbing thing was the code covering part of its body had mutated it. It appeared to be turning into a gas masked mouse character from Joharai's Sly Cooper game by the design before the body broke into data and disappeared. "That's bad. This data corruption turned the husks of the Qliphoth incident into some sort of video game monsters. I don't want to see what effect it would have on humans." Dante spoke disturbed at the thought.
The sound of groaning could be heard all around them. "We have to be cautious. There is no telling that physical contact with these abominations could turn us as well." Vergil warned. "Long range combat huh?" Dante questioned keeping an eye out for more monsters.
"Hey guys. The Fire Crown doesn't seem to be having any effect on me or where it laid at earlier. In fact, it looks completely perfect unlike the other constructs." Nero pointed out as both brothers saw the instability of the constructs which were glitching unlike the crown Nero had in his hands. "Maybe the power ups can serve as a sort of protection from the corruption. They'll keep our bodies from being affected the deeper we head in. Nero, you know more about this than us when it comes to these games." Vergil stated. Nero was the only one with experience on video games so he plays them in his spare time.
"Kirby power ups serve as transformations but can only take a certain amount of damage before you lose them and all of them take the shape of headgear which is no good here. The best bet is disguises like from Sly Cooper Thieves in Time, Samurai, Jailbird, Sabertooth and Archer. There's a fifth but I haven't got that far in the game. Anyway, look around and see what you can find! Keep your communicators on this time!" Nero explained as both nodded.
"Don't get infected! I don't want to explain to everyone that my brother or nephew turned into zombie rats!" And with that retort from Dante, they split up. Opting to go to the right, Vergil had found himself in what looked like the basis of a Prehistoric Ice Age from the digital frost, dinosaur bones, tar pits piping out tar bubbles and... Prehistoric Cave Penguins??? 'This is just bizarre.' Vergil thought eyeing the derpy penguins with bones through their nose like some witch doctors.
His eyes soon laid on what looked like a Sabertooth Tiger skin hanging above a formation of a pterodactyl nest. "I'm guessing that's the Sabertooth Costume Nero was talking about. It'll suffice for the mission." Vergil spoke eyeing the costume. It looked too easy to retrieve so Vergil grabbed a rock and tossed it at he costume. A giant green flaming skull shot from where the costume was, swallowing the stone with a mouth full of skulls before retreating into the building.
"If I remember correctly from watching Joharai play that '3DS', that's an Orne. A single touch is instant death. Flying over is too risky. I need something with reach that could grab it." Vergil questioneded before a loud beastish roar echoed through the ruins. It sounded like it came from a bit up ahead. Finding the source wasn't hard or took long but understanding it was a different matter. There were more of those corrupted data creatures but something was fighting against them. It looked like a prehistoric racoon caveman/hybrid with giant claws, large fangs with a single sabertooth like fang, animal skin for clothing and a cane with a crafted meteorite spearhead. Just like the crown, the giant beast was perfectly manifested.
"Nero...Do you know of a character that looks like a giant prehistoric raccoon? It appears to be against these data creatures." He called in. "Prehistoric Cave Raccoon?! That's Bob Cooper from the Sly 4 Game! If I remember from what Joharai said and I played, the Sabertooth Costume is found in his world level and he's the ally for that area!" Nero spoke over the com.
"Then maybe these ally characters can assist us in a way. What those this Bob do?" Vergil questioned his son. "Bob has the ability to climb on any surface and the abilities of a thief while being an effective powerhouse. In his bio, he was the best amongst his tribe for stealing pterodactyl eggs. He also happens to be one of Joharai's favorite ancestors from the game." Vergil nodded. He can get Bob to retrieve the tiger skin for him.
And if Joharai ever found out he let one of her favorite characters die, she'll neuter him with King Crimson or something worse. The thought made him shiver for a millisecond. With a click of Yamato, several of the mutants were sliced to pieces by unseen slashes. Judgment Cut, slashes so fast it can't be seen even by a demon's own eyes. An attack exclusive to him and Yamato. The cave raccoon seemed surprised by Vergil's appearance but no doubt appreciated it. "(Thanks. Don't know you but these don't belong.) Bob spoke in some sort of prehistoric language yet oddly Vergil could understand him.
He guessed it was game logic and decided not to question it. The silverette weaved through the green gas projectiles shot from the data monster's guns with impressive speed before he retaliated with throwing large blue energy swords that were summoned with a snap of his fingers. He watched as Bob slammed his cane into three of the datafied husks and they exploded upon impact before ramming a few others sending them flying. The rest only solidifying Bob's immense strength further. It didn't take long for all of them to be slain since Vergil's speed and Bob's strength were just too much.
(Good job. My name is Bob Cooper.) Bob spoke tail wagging happily. "I am Vergil Sparda. I need to make a request Bob. That tiger skin up there. Can you get it for me?" Vergil questioned as Bob looked at the mentioned skin. "(Sure. Only fair since you helped me out.) Was what the raccoon said before letting out a mighty roar then leaping towards the building. The giant beast sank his claws into the stone while his bushy tail held his cane safe and secured.
Despite not ever admitting it out loud, Vergil was impressed on how quick and agile Bob was for his size seen from the large cave raccoon scaling the building unhindered before reaching the near hanging skin in seconds. Using his tail like an extra hand, Bob grabbed the skin with the point of his spear like cane leaving the Orne none the wiser of its missing treasure as Bob leapt down to Vergil.
Vergil took the skin from Bob's hands before putting it on. It fitted his size and was quite comfortable if he was honest. A faint blue glow shone from him before dissipating. "(That should keep you safe from this bad ground stuff. Watch out though. Something scary and nasty up ahead by big wall. This should help.)" Bob spoke handing Vergil what looked like a fang oddly familiar to Bob's own sabertooth one.
"What's this for?" Vergil asked quite confused by the gift. "(Need more than sharp stick for up ahead. Use tooth for new tool. Seek nice redhead in yellow, she makes good weapon with it!)" Bob explained as Vergil looked back at the fang. Other than Yamato, he had no other weapon to use and he wasn't the type to like using guns. "You have my gratitude." Vergil said before taking off leaving the prehistoric raccoon who waved goodbye at the swordsman.
Dante in search of his costume found himself in what looked like a feudal Japanese town as bamboo were sprouting from the ground and buildings, dragon heads made of metal and red jewel eyes, strange glowing mushroom like plants and massive evil looking fireflies that crackled with electricity. Dante could see his costume which appeared to be an Archer Costume. However those evil looking bugs were swarming around it and from the purple lightning sparking on the insects, he didn't want to find out how much they pack a punch.
"Where is it? Where is it?" A raspy slightly high pitched male voice called out in panic. He turned to see a small blue furry gremlin creature with yellow eyes, a head with arms and legs to serve as a body, brown straps on his wrists and ankles, and carried what looked like a bag fully stocked with potions. 'Might be another video game character that got spat into the real world. No doubt an ally from what I'm seeing.' Were the thoughts of the hunter in red. "Hey, are you okay?" Dante asked grabbing the gremlin's attention.
"What are you doing here?! Non-characters can get corrupted this deep in the city!" The gremlin stated running up to Dante clearly worried about the man's safety. "I'm looking for something that can only be found in the Graveyard Arcade but I need a costume to get safely there. By the way, I'm Dante." Dante answered. "My name is Pop Fizz, a Skylander of the Magic Element. I guess you want that Archer Costume over there. Those Beast Mammoth Fireflies over there is in your way though. I can get it for you." Pop Fizz explained as Dante's eyes widened.
"Really?" The devil Hunter questioned. "Yeah. However I can't at the moment. Skylanders work alongside a Portal Master to keep Skylands safe. A Skylander's power is bound to our shared connection. My Portal Master is very kind to me. No one wanted me to help on their adventure so I was left on an empty destroyed rack all alone for weeks. But my Portal Master found me and took me home! We went on so many fun adventures together! Sadly when I found myself here, the Skytag, a symbol of a Skylanders and Portal Master's bond vanished. Without it, I can't do anything and can't even remember my Portal Master's own name." Pop Fizz explained as his ears drooped sadly.
"How about I find it for you? Your Portal Master no doubts cares a lot about you and I do need that costume. Do you remember where you appeared at?" Dante questioned as Pop Fizz looked ready to hug him. "Yeah! I remember a bunch of clouds and floating stone platforms up ahead. A Skytag looks like a gray tile with both a Skylander's element symbol and their Master's name! It should glow purple when you're near it." Pop Fizz explained. "Got it little dude. I'll get your tag back." Dante said with a thumbs up before leaving
Finding the place wasn't hard considering all the clouds floating around. He scanned the area for anything before noticing a purple glow on top of the highest cloud. "Jackpot." Was all he said before jumping onto a cloud a good 20 ft in the air. The cloud being from a game was solid so he didn't fall through it. It wasn't hard for the half devil to jump from cloud to cloud as he ascended to his prize. It took only a few minutes to reach the cloud and find the tag. The tag was small and had a shining purple jewel in the shape of a Northern Star but what shocked him was the name on the tag.
"Joharai G. Joestar. That means Pop Fizz is one of Joharai's Skylanders from her game." Dante spoke remembering Pop Fizz and Joharai's words. 'No one wanted me to help them on their adventures, so I was left on an empty destroyed rack all alone for weeks!/ The hardships they face in their respective stories just makes me want to hug them and beat the shit out of those who hurt em.' "Joharai... Just what kind of life did you have...to be so lonely?" Dante spoke to himself before heading back to see Pop Fizz.
Dante had handed Pop Fizz his Skytag and wasn't surprised from getting hugged. The Gremlin tossed a large purple potion at one of those glowing flowers. It brightened upon impact attracting all the giant bugs to it like a moth to a flame. "Thank you so much! I can finally remember my Portal Master's name! Joharai, I can't believe I forgot about her. Both of us knew what it was like to be lonely." Pop Fizz said. 'I knew it.' The devil Hunter thought as his guess was correct. "Jojo cared a lot about you huh?" Dante said.
"She talked to me a lot even not going on adventures. Jojo always wanted to make her own friends outside her family circle but kids would rather use her or hurt her. I can remember the times she came home with bruises or cuts. I can remember kids shouting 'Don't belong Jojo!' laughing at her." Pop Fizz explained as Dante clenched his fists. "She told me that misfits need to stick together but I belong in my game not here. Will you promise me something, Dante? Can you please look after Joharai for me? Many hurt her, especially her heart from not just weapons but their false words. Heal my Portal Master Dante. She doesn't deserve to be hurt and alone." Pop Fizz requested handing Dante one of his beakers.
Dante took it seeing the same Northern Star on it before giving the gremlin a determined look. "I promise. Maybe we can go on one of those adventures together when I visit Joharai again." Dante spoke as Pop Fizz smiled. "Thank you so much! Oh! There's a large gate up ahead. A seller named Anna has a shop over there. She can make a powerful weapon using that special beaker I gave you. You have to be careful though. I saw something large and nasty go past that gate. It smells like a boss battle lurks behind those doors." Pop Fizz explained as Dante nodded before donning the costume. "Heard you loud and clear. See you later Fizzy!" Dante shouted before heading out as Pop Fizz waved goodbye with a smile.
Now it was all up to Nero to get his piece but what is lurking within this zone? Why is V being taken? And just what is merging digital and reality? Find out next time on Fighting Spirit! Reviews are encouraged but flames won't be tolerated. I like to know how I'm doing with this so please leave a review when you can! Until next time, Jambuhbye!
