The Reaper
Part Two
The graveyard was devoid of life, full of old and worn tombstones. A thin mist hung in the air. Dante and Vergil stood in the centre, looking around them.
"See anything?" Dante tried to sit on a tombstone, but it collapsed at his touch.
"No. It's been two hours already, and the only thing unusual in this village is the disturbing locals," Vergil replied in a bored voice. "I'm starting to think this was a colossal waste of time."
"Don't be so hasty. The night has only just begun," a mysterious voice announced from behind them. The two mercenaries turned.
In a clearing twenty feet away a dark figure had materialized. He had long, dark hair, and eyes that glowed an unearthly purple. He was wearing a black cloak, and held a seven-foot scythe, with a massive hooked blade.
"He wasn't standing there a second ago," Dante said in surprise. As the figure strode towards them, he eyed their weapons.
"Have you come to challenge me? Normally people flee in terror from my presence. I haven't had a duel against mortals for centuries."
Vergil unsheathed his sword, but Dante got out Ebony and Ivory.
"Time to put these things to the test." Dante rapidly fired at the figure, spraying him with bullets.
"Woohoo! As I was telling you before, Vergil, chicks dig guys with swords AND guns. You gotta admi-"
"Dear brother, perhaps you should take a look at what you're doing," Vergil sounded slightly amused. Dante saw, to his shock, that the bullets had simply passed right through the specter, who did not appear to have been harmed at all. The ghostly figure crooked a smile.
"Is that the best you've got?" he mocked. Vergil ran at him, holding his Yamato sword and preparing for a horizontal slash attack. The specter evaded, and sped away, circling the brothers. He glided across the ground as if on skates. Suddenly he rushed towards them and span in a circle, holding the scythe far out. It hit both brothers and flung them into nearby tombstones, which smashed on impact. Dante got up and stumbled.
"Whoah. This guy's good." Seeing Vergil was up as well, they looked each other in the eye and nodded. It was time for a dual sword attack. The brothers were on either side of the figure, and dashed towards him, Dante aiming to slice his torso and Vergil his legs. Both swords penetrated, but to their horror the specter had not even flinched. Shaking his head as if disappointed, the Reaper stuck his scythe into the ground and spun on it, knocking both brothers to the ground again. This time it was harder for them to get up.
"You are weakening," the specter observed. He propped himself on his scythe. "You two are the most fun I have had in a long time, it would be a pity to finish you so quickly. I will spare your lives for now, but I hope for a rematch." The figure walked away and disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving his opponents to ponder over what had just happened.