Round 2
Dante vs. Vergil
Anyone who had spent more than two seconds with the Brothers Sparda knew they couldn't be any more different. However, this was patently obvious in their match graphic. On the left, Dante yawned, putting his hands up with a cocky grin on his face. On the right, Vergil turned his back to the camera, dramatically sheathing Yamato.
"Why do I hate Dante?" snapped an indignant Vergil, "Because he won't acknowledge our heritage as the rightful rulers of Hell. Instead, he wishes to galavant across the human world, eating pizza and consuming cheap thrills."
"Yeah, Vergil says that all the time," a reclined Dante's pre-recorded interview cut in, 'That with our father's gifts we are the rightful rulers of hell and blah blah blah. But what did that get him? All kinds of fucked up, and his son won't even talk to him."
"Certainly I've made sacrifices along the way," Vergil cooly added, "Bonds both familial and romantic have been cast aside, but I truly believe our father would want ultimate power for his legacy, and for that, I must eliminate Dante if he stands in opposition."
Dante was back on screen now.
"He's way too serious all the time," he lamented, "I have no doubt he thinks this is a duel to the death, even though all the Smashers are on the same side."
"For the reputation of the finest family in Hell, I will move on and display my power, and when I win this tournament, I will take our father's rightful place as king."
"Just because this is an exhibition in comparison to our usual shindigs, that doesn't mean I'm gonna hold back," Dante beckoned the camera forward, "Bring it, tough guy."
"I've been looking forward to this match all day!" 9-Volt squealed, "And I'm gonna throw to someone who feels the same way before somebody grouches up the proceedings, Futaba!"
Ignoring Cranky's grunt of indignance, Futaba spoke when she got the cue.
"Keep it stylish!" she said, "This has been the main event of the round in my mind, but I've always preferred Dante to Vergil. What kind of loser doesn't use guns anyway?"
"And there you have it! Let's throw it down to entrances," 9-Volt beckoned.
A fast, triumphant guitar solo played over the speakers, going even faster when the drums kicked in.
Bless me with your gift of light
Righteous cause, on Judgment Night.
Aboard Cavalire, Dante zoomed out of the tunnel onto the stage, before he could make it, the music abruptly cut, spotlights changing to near Tunnel B. Dante stopped his bike at this, nearly crashing as he slid to a halt, frowning deeply as the spotlights revealed a choir of Goombas and Toads atop risers, dressed in all black.
"I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING!" they sang, "PROVOKING BLACK CLOUDS IN ISOLATION!"
"Show me your motivation," urged the pre-recorded voice of Vergil, about half of the crowd chanting along.
Vergil strode out to the heavy drums and guitars of Bury the Light, while Dante limply walked to the center of the arena, towing Cavalire the whole way, the bike disappearing as he got to his destination. Mills appeared when Vergil made it to the center, but Dante snatched the microphone out of Dante's hand.
"Hey dickhead," Dante spat, "Thanks for ruining the vibe. We should skip the introductions so I can kick your ass faster,"
Vergil grinned, "Only if you agree to Battlefield as my choice of venue."
"Heh, as boring as ever hey Vergil?" Dante mocked.
"If you wish to carry on with useless formalities, be my guest,"
"You're on!" snapped Dante.
Dante handed the microphone back to Mills.
"So," began the wire frame referee, "The stage is Battlefield. The rules are three stocks, items medium. Smashers, get ready!"
With that, the brothers with demon blood disappeared.
Stage: Battlefield
Rules: 3-stock, items medium
Music: The Duel (Devil May Cry 5)
3
Dante appeared in a red burst of light.
2
Vergil appeared in a blue burst of light, straightening his undershirt.
1
Dante gave Vergil the bring it gesture, to which his twin brother grinned ever so slightly.
GO!
"Die," Vergil hissed.
Disappearing in a blue burst of magic, Dante fired a rocket from his rocket launcher. Appearing into existence at the exact space where the rocket flew, it exploded on impact. Before the explosion even dissipated Dante had slashed Vergil with Devil Sword Dante with eight vertical cleaves. Vergil teleported away as Dante leaped into the air, readying the rocket launcher once again.
"You act like I haven't thought about our fight at the Tree ever since we got to this place. Do better," mockingly lectured Dante.
Before Dante knew it, Vergil had teleported to him, a barrage of Judgment Cut slices cutting him out of the air, sending him to the ground.
"You insult me. It's like you don't know me at all,"
Dante jumped again, firing yet another rocket.
"Mirage Blades!" Vergil called.
This time, a blue jolt of demonic energy knocked him out of the air, the two projectiles colliding with their intended targets Dante was up first with yet another rocket, but Vergil batted it away.
"Pathetic," was all he had to say.
In blurs of blue and red, the two whizzed around the arena, clashing swords. On the fourth encounter, Vergil's Judgement Cuts slashed Dante, knocking him onto his back. Dante rolled away just in time to dodge the impending Judgment Cut.
"Just when you think one's got the other pinned down, the other makes a move," 9-Volt announced.
"And I think it's about to get worse!" cried Cranky.
The two weaved in and out of each other's line of fire, projectiles both demonic and man-made whizzing past. Eventually, Judgment Cut and launched rocket began colliding with their intended targets.
"Alright, enough!" shouted Dante.
He leaped forward, intending on cleaving Devil Sword Dante into Vergil's skull. However, a ring of Mirage Blades appeared around Vergil, slicing Dante as they orbited him, eventually knocking him away.
"Foolishness Dante," growled Vergil, "Is that the best you can do?"
"Not even close and you know it," Dante responded.
Vergil teleported above Dante, slicing him with one downward stab, and then another as he teleported away.
"Oh? Then do something," the blue-clad twin hissed in a mocking tone, "Storm Blades,"
Blue blades surrounded Dante, the brothers again darting around the arena in a cat-and-mouse game. Eventually, these along with a barrage of Judgment Cuts sent Dante to the floor again. A sliding stab with the sword with several rocket launcher blasts rocked Vergil.
"Dante's back into it!" 9-Volt yelled.
"Yeah, you'd think Vergil would stop firing him up at some point but nobody listens to ole Cranky Kong,"
"Enough, Storm Blades," growled Vergil.
The blades surrounded Dante again. This time, Vergil teleported in and out of downward slashes. In response, Dante fired more with his rocket launcher., barely acknowledging when the Storm Blades that had once circled him turned inward, stabbing him
"For the love of the Banana Bird and the Stamper Brothers, enough with the rockets," moaned Cranky, "This is like a Goldeneye multiplayer match dictated by seven-year-olds,".
Vergil teleported within arms reach of Dante as soon as his next rocket fired, unloading into his red-clad brother with a series of kicks. In response, Dante slid with his sword extended once more, impaling Vergil in the chest. Vergil simply stepped backward out of his predicament to the amazement and horror of those in Smash Stadium.
"Ah," Vergil grinned, "There we go,"
Dante grinned back. The two got into position, charging past each other, swinging wildly.
Vergil teleported back to the opposite side of the arena, launching one more Judgement Cut as Dante emptied the reserve ammo on the rocket launcher.
"Damn it," hissed Vergil falling to his knees.
Before anyone could register, Vergil had teleported again, ready to cleave Dante.
"ROYAL GUARD!" shouted Dante
In an instant, his sword had been replaced by a pair of fiery gauntlets with matching kick pads. Dante coiled back for an uppercut.
"DIVINE DRAGON!"
In a fiery spiral, Dante launched upward, Vergil landing face first on the ground as they fell.
"Heh, you got me with that last time," laughed Dante, But not again,"
Dante began to shuffle his feet.
"Check out this shit," he bragged.
And then, he began to break dance, a flurry of kicks pelting Vergil as he spun on the floor, a hook kick ending the unanswered combination, and sending Vergil into the top Blast Zone.
Dante: 3
Vergil: 2
Vergil teleported off the healing platform, impaling Dante through the chest much as had been done to him earlier.
"I'm not going to lose to the likes of you little brother," he whispered into Dante's ear, "Especially one with this much money and pride on the lie.
Dante began to laugh. Vergil's forehead scrunched in fury as the laughter got louder.
"What's so funny, you idiot?"
Dante wiped away a single tear, "So, you do care about money after all,".
In a single movement, Dante pulled himself off of the sword, jumping into the air and spinning, pelting Vergil with his sword. Then, as he landed, he walloped Vergil with a series of punches with the same gauntlets from earlier.
"Dante mixing it up," 9-Volt called
As he planted his sword in the ground, spinning off of its hilt, Vergil teleported away.
"But Vergil is wise to it," countered Cranky.
Vergil teleported back to Dante before he could even decide upon his next move, butting him with Yamato's hilt twice, Rocket launcher and Judgment cut sent both brothers flying again. Dante was the first one up, adjusting the top of the weapon. Vergil teleported to him just as Dante fired the weapon, a continuous jet of flames replacing the usual rockets.
Vergil teleported away, seething as he fell to his knees.
"You rotten bastard."
A Judgment cut, followed by another Judgment cut allowed Vergil to teleport forward, once again stabbing Dante through the chest.
Vergil chuckled, "This is closer to the way I remember old times,"
Unlike earlier, Vergil removed the sword from Dante's chest cavity, causing the demon hunter to fall.
"Excellent," purred Vergil, "Heavy Rain Blades,"
Blue jolts of demon energy rained down on the defenseless half-demon. Vergil called for Storm Blades once again, a quartet of Judgment Cuts sending him flopping to the ground. Dante got up to a single knee, wincing in pain as he did so.
"What's the matter, brother? Given up?"
"I've never given up when we've fought!" spat Dante, "Not when we were kids, sure as hell not now."
Vergil chuckled, "That's not how I remember our spats as children."
"That doesn't surprise me," Dante laughed, "You did always have an inflated view of yourself.
A Smash Ball appeared. Immediately, Dante began to rain punches onto Vergil's stomach, who only sneered down at his fallen brother. Six Judgment Cuts in addition to twelve Mirage Blades breaking the Smash Ball.
"I'll show you true power!" Vergil yelled.
Vergil sliced all over the battlefield, zipping to and fro, covering nearly every square inch of Battlefield while Dante remained frozen in time. Finally, Vergil stopped, kneeling and sheathing his blade. The arena became full of balls of Judgment Cut's aura, knocking Dante to and fro, eventually knocking him off-stage, into the right Blast Zone.
Dante: 2
Vergil: 2
Dante jumped off the Revival Platform, spinning and firing his guns. Unfortunately for him, as soon as he tilted his body, Vergil knew to step away. As soon as the clips of Ebony and Ivory had emptied, Vergil jumped into the air.
"Spiral Blade!" he called.
Blades began to orbit Vergil, cutting into Dante. Vergil performed a flip, driving them both into the ground. Vergil pulled his Yamato arm back.
"Million Stab!"
A blinding whirl of sword blows pelted Dante as Vergil's magical blue blades cut him.
"Blistering Blades, Spiral Blade," Vergil shouted.
As the blades that surrounded him reinvigorated themselves, blades stuck themselves in Dante's shoulders, who was backpedaling, wincing through every step. Now, Vergil cast aside his sword in favor of gauntlets. Cocking his fist back, the gauntlet revving with electricity, Vergil charged one punch, and then another.
"All this while those Spiral Blades are still tacking on the damage. It sucks to be Dante,"
"Yeah, it sucks he was born into a character action game and not a game with a single action game, like me," sarcastically agreed Cranky.
"Spiral Blade, Blistering Blade," Vergil called again.
Despite Dante now trading back punches with his own gauntlets, Vergil's demonic tricks tacked on more damage.
"C'mon Dante," shouted Vergil, "Give me your best shot!"
"DIVINE DRAGON!"
As they had before, Dante and Vergil shot up into the air. But even in mid-air, Dante had pulled his arm back for another uppercut.
"DIVINE DRAGON!"
The combatants rose further into the air, but as Dante cocked back another one, Yamato reappeared in Vergil's hand, an upward slice sending Dante to the top Blast Zone!
Dante: 1
Vergil: 2
"You fool," Vergil growled as he fell to the floor, "The manner in which you show off is much too predictable. Even more baffling is that you insist on doing it even at risk to yourself."
"Eh," Dante shrugged, "Woulda looked smokin' sexy,"
"I've had enough of your braggadocious behavior, your stupid alliteration."
"But you just alliterated there!" Dante whined, "Braggadocious behavior, that's alliteration,"
"You mouthy, arrogant little-"
Vergil was cut off by a running motorcycle being thrown at his face. Vergil cleared it away, teleporting to Dante.
"DIVINE DRAGON!" cried Dante.
Teleporting right into the uppercut, Vergil was nothing more than a punching bag as one twin unloaded on another. A hammer fist sent him to the floor, but Dante came spiraling down, flaming legs connecting with the unsuspecting back of Vergil. Before the man who wielded Yamato knew it, Dante was atop Cavalire again. Dante revved the motorcycle, causing it to execute a perfect flip, the impact sending Vergil into the air. As Vergil fell, Dante rocketed Cavalire into the air, falling after him. Vergil could do nothing but grimace as he was run over by a motorcycle.
"And I thought Wario hitting people with his bike was annoying," gagged Cranky.
Vergil's follow-up- Judgement Cut knocked Dante off the bike, but Dante was in gauntlets before he landed, flip-kicking Vergil into the air.
"It seems like the worst thing Vergil ever did," 9-Volt quipped, "Was put Dante in an underdog situation!"
Dante has split Cavalire in two, lazily juggling Vergil as he was flayed about helplessly in the air.
"Hey Travis," Dante called, "I can work with some Persian Clubs myself, just call me Dante-baby! Human world numbah one! Demon Kingdom, hack-tooey!" Dante spat on the ground."
Knocking Vergil higher than usual, Dante pulled out a tightly wrapped pair of nunchucks covered in crystals.
"Great," sarcastically cried Cranky, "More to add to the unceasing parade of gimmicks,"
"Watch your mouth," 9-Volt squeaked, "That's King Cerberus! That comes in the form of nunchucks and a lance, the latter of which is how he usually does that pole-spinning move we saw earlier."
"PERCUSSION!" Dante screamed.
Dante slammed the nunchucks into the ground. A torrent of purple lightning erupted around him, as Dante jumped into the air flinging King Cerberus, the nunchucks thwacking a defenseless Vergil.
"A nunchuck and a lance," Cranky guffawed, "They really must be struggling to keep the attention of the ADHD-riddled brats these days."
By now, Vergil had taken the offensive with a few well-placed Judgment Cuts., but Dante had magically applied the gauntlets, sword, and fist colliding. The two were knocked back by the finishing blows of their combos, occupying opposite sides of the arena. They whizzed towards each other once again, Judgment Cuts and Spiral Blades pelting Dante, the quick-witted devil hunter able to parry half of the onslaught, remaining standing through the attacks that hit him.
"C'mon bro, is that the best you got?" asked Dante.
Vergil did not answer, instead unleashing a flurry of Judgment Cuts As Dante was lifted into the air, falling after the last Cut, Vergil concentrated hard, and a clone of blue fire appeared, throwing out even more Judgment Cuts.
"Remember when I said I'd show you true power dear brother?" Vergil growled, "I meant it,"
Dante whipped out Ebony and Ivory, Dante emptying the clip of his trusty pistols into a startled Vergil.
"Million Stab!"
The pistols in Dante's hands were replaced with the Devil Sword Dante, hitting Vergil with a flurry of blows identical to his own Million Stab technique. Suddenly, Dante was on top of Cavalire again.
"FULL THROTTLE!"
The big erupted, fire pouring out its exhaust as it immediately went to top speed. The bike bulldozed forward, dragging Vergil from one end of the stage to the other, a flip kick driving him to the Blast Zone for a second time.
Dante: 1
Vergil: 1
"You know Dante," Vergil said through gritted teeth as he stepped off the Revival Platform. All this nonsense you bring to the table embarrasses me. Guns, nunchucks, fucking motorcycles, it sullies or family name."
"You think I'm trying to embarrass you, Vergil? I'll show you a whole new meaning of embarrassment C'mon!" Dante clapped, beckoning him forward.
"JUDGMENT CUT!" roared Vergil.
"ROYAL GUARD!" Dante roared back.
Vergil's tried and true attack did nothing. Cavalire was split in half, knocking Vergil up into the air. Dante followed him up, lazily resting two halves of the motorcycle over his back as the two wheels shredded Vergil. Vergil flipped away, blue energy pulsing through him as he charged his next attack.
"MIRAGE BLADES!" shouted Vergil
"ROYAL GUARD!"
The blades bounced harmlessly off of him Vergil teleported to him, only to be cleaved upward by Rebellion. Dante sliced Vergil six times, pulling him back with King Cerberus as he was knocked away, continuing the beating with Rebellion. Vergil teleported to the other side of the arena as Dante laughed, parrying more Mirage Blades.
"Damn man," exclaimed 9-Volt, awe in his voice, "Usually you have to set up a Tool-Assisted Speedrun to look this good."
"Tools are for fools I say," began Cranky's rant, "In my day, all we had to beat games was our grit and know-how, yes sir, it was a better time back then."
"What, like when Billy Mitchell used shakedown tactics to make sure he held the top record in your game?"
"H-hey!" Cranky stammered, "We don't talk about him?"
As the commentators bantered back and forth, Dante had just shrugged his way through a Judgment Cut.
"You mock me," hissed Virgil, summoning and launching another Mirage Blade.
Dante pulled a rose from his trenchcoat pocket, throwing it, blocking the projectile.
"Yeah," he laughed, "It's kind of the point."
Vergil screamed, teleporting again, only to be cleaved upward again, once again pummelled in the air, and pulled back into the fray via King Cerberus. When Dante spiked him back down, Vergil teleported behind him, slashing him, only for the blows to be parried.
"Are you seriously trying to 'nothing personal' me? Didn't know you were a weeb too, you should come to anime night with Sans, Travis, and me. We're halfway through ZOE Delores I,"
Vergil found himself too stunned to move, a prime target as he was once again knocked into the air and cleaved. Once again spiked down, Dante's gauntlets rematerialized. He charged, jumping into the air.
"SPINNING BIRD KICK!" he cried.
Pelted by a spinning revolution of kicks, Vergil was completely stunned by the barrage of kicks, and then the barrage of punches that followed. The gauntlets were now completely engulfed in flames on all four of his limbs. With a loud grunt, Dante executed a wheel kick that sent Vergil to the Blast Zone for the final time.
GAME!
Placing a hand on his pelvis and thrusting it, Dante then proceeded to moonwalk through the Mansion Courtyard, spinning and pointing at the camera, activating four bottle rockets, two on either side of him.
DANTE WINS!
Vergil stood arms crossed as Rita went to interview him.
"Vergil, you had the match well in hand, but Dante simply turned up the volume and won it. Takes us through it,"
"A less principled man might consider that Dante's way is the way to do things based on the beating I just took. They also may consider that my way of doing things is old-fashioned."
"But you're not, are you?" dryly asked Rita.
"You're smarter than you appear," Vergil snidely nodded, "I would hope that half the Rhythm Haven universe strives to your level of intelligence, though I doubt that they do."
"Thanks, I guess?"
"You're welcome," Vergil said completely sincerely, "I will not ascribe to Dante's foolishness ever. I will attain power in the ways of my forefathers, based on grit and skill alone. I will achieve it brother, just you watch."
With a dramatic flare of his trenchcoat, Vergil walked away.
"Alright," Rita sighed, "Mister Zero, Dante, the floor is yours,"
"Yes, I am here with one of the three men to go into next round's three-way, Dante! First of all, congratulations on the win. Were you nervous out there?"
Dante shook his head, "I've fought Vergil a gazillion times, this time was no different."
"I thought so, so I thought I'd ask you this. How do you feel about going into the first 1 versus one versus one battle in Smash history since The 12's final match?"
"Well, first of all, that's a hell of an honor," Dante began, "But I'd hope the other competitors bring their best. Master Chief is the only one that rivals me in terms of the crazy weapons we bring, but he'd better pray that he's as versatile with 'em as I am. Krystal's crazy, and Travis is my bud, but I hope they liven things up too. I'm only gonna take so many fireballs or Tombstone Piledrivers before the party really gets crazy!"
Dante walked away, heading up the tunnel to a high-five from Chun-Li.
"Saw that Spinning Bird out there my friend," Chun-Li smiled, placing her hands on her hips, "I didn't think you'd been studying me."
Dante shrugged.
"Well, when one of your best friends is one of the best ass-kickers in the universe, you pay attention."
Dante's eyes wandered, finding Vergil being consoled by Game and Watch, as well as Wolf.
"Heh, what a zoo crew," chuckled Dante.
Chun-Li followed his gaze, her expression darkening, "I'd imagine they would be more annoying than Wario's crew if such a thing were possible."
"Whatever," Dante shrugged, "Whatever it takes to stroke his ego, as long as that doesn't involve kicking my ass, I'm good."
"Travis and Krystal, you guys are up," Shulk announced.
Travis stood up, opening his jacket to reveal a Hatoful Boyfriend t-shirt, taking a high five from Dante as he jogged towards Tunnel A, humming a triumphant tune.
"Is he humming the Rocky theme?" Snake asked no one in particular.
"Hey, Rocky's a good movie old man," Travis protested.
While Travis and Snake bickered, Fox made a grab for Krystal's hand.
"Good luck Krystal," Fox mumbled, "You've got this."
Krystal read his thoughts. They were sincere.
"Thank you, Fox," Krystal said.
Trying to understand the warmth that Fox's touch gave her, she moseyed down Tunnel B completely unaware of anything around her.
"Erm, Krystal," Shulk called after her.
Krystal backpedaled to face the clairvoyant.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Well, I was wonderin' considering that you've reconciled with Fox, I was wondering if you wanted any changes done to your entrance music or ring announcement.
Krystal's ears perked up in recognition.
"Well, since you mentioned it..."
Krystal whispered something in Shulk's ear. The administrator nodded along, smiling.
"Yeah," he said with an agreeing nod, "I don't think he'll mind. Anything else?"
Krystal rubbed her chin in thought. Again, her eyes lit up, whispering something to Shulk. Shulk whispered something back, Krystal shook her head, whispering slower.
"Ah! Got it! Good!"
Krystal nodded, walking down the tunnel once again. Her ears perked up as she heard Fox agree excitedly, while Falco begrudgingly went along. She smiled wide. This was going to be an entrance to remember.
.
