DEVIL MAY CRY

THE

BATTLEGROUND

CHAPTER X

Author's Note: The reason why this chapter didn't get sent in as soon as I had planned is because a family member very close to me passed away recently. All my attention and focus was dedicated to that. Karimaru, you pretty much read my mind about adding Lady to this story. She won't, however, make an appearance just yet. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
Nevan could almost smell the rotting breath of the great Demon Beats preparing to devour her flesh. As they closed in on her, she stood up. Using her powers, Nevan up her hands and created a large wall of bluish white lightning energy that spread across the small prison. It now divided her and the beasts.

One of the beasts came a little too close to the lightning wall and caught its nose on it. It sparked as the beast pulled back and screeched. The four Demons started to slash and claw the wall, hoping to tear it down.

Nevan looked around frantically. She could find nothing that would help her in subduing her four new enemies . At least the wall of lightning would keep them at bay until she could reach the lever near the door. However, that task seemed more difficult than ever now that the demons had been released from their holding cells.

Nevan now wished she hadn't been so stubborn and purposely used all of the energy from the orb in the shrine.

She closed her eyes. "Sparda," she thought aloud. "Please help me."

In his deep train of thought, Sparda was instantly stricken with a slight feeling of panic. He shook his head and opened his icy blue eyes.

He glanced around the shrine suspiciously. Nothing. He did not know why, but somebody he was acquainted with was in danger. All of a sudden, the uneasy feeling came back.

An eerie image of four great Demon Beasts surrounding a large flash of light flooded Sparda's mind as he blinked heavily. Somebody needed his help.

Then, from within the image, came her voice.

"Please Sparda. If you can hear me, help. Before it is too late."

Sparda closed his eyes quickly. He tried to think of what Nevan said.

"Look inside my soul…" Sparda tried not to think of the danger that Nevan was in. He tried to concentrate deeply on the orb.

"What is inside my soul that could be strong enough to restore power within the orb?" he wondered.

Sparda's concentration was breaking. He was losing his thoughts.

"Concentrate, damn you!" he spoke to himself.

"This is a riddle. There is nothing inside my soul that could release this power. Demons do not possess souls…"

Sparda frowned hard. He was on the right track. "Nevan knew this…"

Sparda placed his hands back on the altar to try to lean forward when he felt the handle of the sword that bore his own name.

"But what is in a soul?" he thought as he opened his eyes.

"Power, strength, courage, honor…" he said as he slowly raised his sword and gripped the handle with both of his charcoal hands.

"Everything that my sword possesses…my soul is not inside of me…it is inside of my sword…"

"It is my sword."

With one clear motion, Sparda slashed down on the crystal orb with his sword. Instantly, it shone rays of uneven purple light that broke through the dense, foggy air of the golden shrine.

The power that Sparda needed was now restored to the crystal orb. After a moment, the purple light spread across the entire shrine and engulfed Sparda in the process. Sparda's image shrunk down in size and began to swirl clockwise into the orb.

Soon, he was gone from the forest.

The force field of lightning that Nevan had created was slowly diminishing.

The beasts would soon get through. Just as Nevan thought it was all over for her, a great flash of purple light filled her eyes. Within an instant, Sparda stood beside her with his sword by his side.

He looked at Nevan, then looked at the beasts. She waited for the signal. Sparda nodded and Nevan once again held out her hands. The wall of lightning snaked up her arms, then retreated back into her hands.

With one easy, swift motion, three of the four beasts' heads lay on the prison floor and Sparda's sword dripped with blood. The Demon's bodies fell one on top of the other, each shooting streams of blood onto the floor.

Nevan wondered why Sparda hadn't done away with all of the Beasts. Perhaps his sword was not long enough to behead all of them at once.

No, something was not right. Nevan knew that if Sparda wanted all of them dead, they would be dead.

The one Beast left alive began to slowly crawl up to Nevan. She began to crawl backward to the back of the prison once again. A look of pure fear swept her face as she glanced up to Sparda.

"Sparda…please!" Sparda's expression was lifeless. Even though the last Demon was growling loudly, Sparda spoke in a very low tone.

"Why should I stop this beast from taking your life, Nevan?" he asked calmly. Nevan kept on glancing back and forth between Sparda and the Beast.

"I…I helped you in the forest, I…" Nevan stumbled to find the right words. Sparda conveniently interrupted her.

"You betrayed me, Nevan. You chained me up. You left me to die in that forest."

"Nevan shook her head. "You must understand it was Mundus's orders! I had to do it!"

The Beast planted a paw on Nevan's bat dress. She tried to move away, which only tore it. The Beast planted its other massive paw near her shoulder, ensuring that its prey would not get away. As it leaned in close to her face, Sparda spoke.

"This is the same speech you fed to me last time, Nevan. I shouldn't have trusted you again."

The Beast roared loudly as a small trickle of thick saliva fell from its mouth. Through the roar, Nevan let out her last plea.

"I know what Mundus is planning to do!" She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.

It never came. Instead, she felt the large body of the Demon fall on top of her. Sparda pulled his sword from its neck.

He secured his sword to his back, then heaved the massive dead carcass of the beast off of Nevan. She exhaled slowly many times before looking up at Sparda.

After a moment Sparda gritted his teeth.

"Tell me."

Nevan swallowed and revealed Mundus's plans. "Do you remember the two Amulets that your sons had possession of?"

Sparda answered. "Of course I remember the two Amulets." He closed his eyes and barely spoke the next words. "They were from Eva."

Nevan continued. "Mundus knew where the two amulets were hidden. They were in an ancient temple in the Human World."

Sparda interrupted. "So that is why Mundus was in the Human World at the Temple. He was after the amulets."

Nevan nodded her head. "Yes. He wishes to merge the Demon World with the Human World once again."

Sparda spoke again. "But he already tried that. My son stopped him."

Nevan answered quickly. "Yes, but back then, he did not know the true power of the amulets. And believe me, Sparda, he does have enough power this time around."

Nevan finished. "He released me from his power and left me here to die once he figured out I did not destroy the crystal orb in the shrine. He wanted me dead." Nevan took a moment and continued.

"Then, he mentioned something about going to confront Bolverk and Arkham."

Sparda sighed, then held out his hand. Nevan grasped it and Sparda pulled her off of the cold, prison floor.

Without speaking a word, Sparda walked over to the lever near the chamber door and pulled it. The door opened. Nevan slowly walked over to Sparda.

"Now that Mundus does not control me any longer, I think I'll try seeing things on the other side from now on. On your side, Sparda."

Before they left the Prison, Nevan placed her hand on Sparda's chest.

"Thank you."

Sparda nodded. "You will soon learn, Nevan, that not all Demons are evil." At that very moment, Sparda was instantly reminded of Dante and Kade. He looked past the Prison Chamber door to the long, dark hallway that lay beyond it.

"And there are two out there that we must now find."

The Demon Gatekeeper simply laughed at Dante's threat. Though the rest of his stone figure was motionless, its eyes continued to glance back and forth between the two warriors.

"You wish to return to the Human Realm, yet you choose to show the only one who can grant you access to it any respect?"

Dante gritted his teeth and looked at the massive statue. The Gatekeeper let out a chuckle.

"I would expect a little more class from the son of Sparda."

That did it. Dante was infuriated as he walked up to the statue. "You God Damn piece of…!"

Kade quickly rushed up to Dante and stopped him by placing his charcoal hand on Dante's red-clad shoulder.

"Dante, you mustn't. Remember, he is a Gatekeeper. They are some of the most dangerous Demons in the Underworld."

Dante didn't even bother to look at Kade while he was speaking to him. He took his hand and knocked on the statue's base with his knuckles.

"Yeah, well he doesn't look so tough to me."

The Gatekeeper figured he had toyed around with the two enough.

"You show courage, Son of Sparda." As the Gatekeeper spoke, an entranceway on both sides of him opened up. Above each door, there was a carving of a human skull. The entranceway on the left had one dark ruby eye set in the left socket. The entranceway to the right also only had one dark ruby, which was in the right eye socket.

"We shall see if it will hold up to the two trials."

Kade frowned slightly. In the past, he never had to perform any such trials in order to gain access to the Human World.

The eyes of the Gatekeeper fixated on the left door. "The entranceway to the left involves a test of both skill and knowledge." His eyes then fixated on the door to the right. "The entranceway to the right involves a test of brute strength."

After hearing of the trial to the right, Dante's eyes seemed to light up with a slight form of excitement.

Dante and Kade both glanced at each other. They did not have much time to decide. Before Kade had time to open his mouth, Dante grinned. "Do you even have to ask which one I want?"

Kade shook his head. "I assumed you had a little more brawn as oppose to the skill of knowledge, young Dante." Kade replied, his green-veined lips curling into a small smile.

Dante cracked his neck from side to side. Kade took a deep breath. The two companions slowly approached each entranceway. Dante looked over to the other side of the Gatekeeper and gave Kade a nod.

Kade nodded back and slowly entered the unknown.

When Mundus was confronted with the news that Bolverk had chose not to complete his mission in the forest, he was not sure how to react.

There had never been a previous situation in which this particular instance had occurred.

Being the great Demon General that he was, Bolverk was granted his own Temple in the midst of Hell's higher planes. A gift that Mundus, and only Mundus could grant. Bolverk was, after all, one of the greatest if not the greatest Demon Champion that stood at Mundus' side.

As Mundus approached the entrance to Bolverk's Temple, he sighed. This would be an interesting conversation indeed.

As he entered, he soon discovered that Bolverk's Temple was cold and dark. Large, purple silk drapes were strewn across the roof that fell all the way to the Golden-plated floor. Near the back of the Temple, there was a large window beside an outside balcony. Near the other side of the Temple was a large shrine-inspired set up that involved large candles and numerous small statues.

Mundus walked the length of the temple until he reached the window near the back. He glanced through it. Sure enough, standing with his back to Mundus, was the great Bolverk.

Mundus took his glance away from the window and walked outside on the balcony.

Bolverk stood with his feet planted, resting his massive hands on the ledge of the golden balcony. For the first time in a while, he was not holding his sword. Instead, it was leaning against a large warrior-type statue that was actually a place for his armor inside of the Temple near the shrine.

As Mundus approached, Bolverk glanced at him, then looked back to the planes of Hell.

Oddly enough, on this night, the sky was not orange and red like the usual fire clouds that raided the sky. Instead, the sky was such a dark shade of blue, it would appear to be black if not for the few stars strewn across it.

Mundus stood beside Bolverk, but decided not to rest his hands on the ledge of the balcony. Even he had respect for one's personal space. The two were very similar in size comparison.

"It is so rare that we are rewarded with a night such as this, Lord Mundus." Bolverk decided to break the silence.

Mundus nodded as he surveyed the dark night sky. "That is true, General. Though, I am not sure that I hold such a special place inside of me for it like you do."

Mundus looked over to his warrior. "I gave you orders, Bolverk."

Bolverk bowed his head slightly. "I know, my Lord." He let his hands slip off of the ledge as he slowly left the small balcony.

"And I knew it would not be long before you came to confront me about them."

Mundus could barely hear Bolverk's last words as left the balcony. "Do not worry, my Lord. I will defeat Sparda. I have before. I will do it again."

Mundus followed him inside with his hands placed behind his back. "May I know why you chose not to complete your task, then?"

Mundus wasn't so much angered as he was curious. Whenever Bolverk was given a mission, he would complete it just that way Mundus wanted, with no exceptions.

He was by far the perfect Demon.

Bolverk continued to walk. "I did not see it fair to eliminate Sparda when he had been chained for several hours. He was weak. It would not have been respectful."

Though Bolverk was very skilled I the arts of combat, he would always battle with the utmost honor and respect for his fellow enemy.

This is something that plagued Mundus.

"I would fully understand your reasons, Bolverk, if we were talking about some lower-class Demon such as a Nobody or a Marionette. Yet, I fail to realize why you spared the life of my sworn enemy…and your greatest rival."

Bolverk stopped. He turned his back to Mundus and walked over to where his sword was leaning. He began by taking off the armor on his arms, then removed the large armored breast-plate that he wore. Even with the main parts of his armor removed, Bolverk was still a giant, towering Demon.

Mundus clicked his teeth together a couple of times, then unclasped his hands from behind his back.

"While I have a great deal of respect for you, Bolverk, no one ever turns their back to Mundus."

Mundus walked closer to Bolverk. He was beginning to sound a little angrier. "Now, I asked you for your reasons. Answer me."

Bolverk looked over his shoulder, but did not turn around. "I gave you my reasons, Lord Mundus. Now if you will excuse me, I believe I need some rest if Sparda wishes for a rematch."

Mundus' eyes seemed to flare with pure fury. "Do you forget that there is another Demon General next in line to you that could easily take your place?" Mundus waited for a response.

Bolverk never had the pleasure of ever dueling or sparring with the Demon General Marcellus, but knew that he was almost similar to Bolverk in every way, including skill and size. He was also feared by just about every other Demon in the Underworld like Bolverk.

He was created by a Demon Sorcerer named Guildenstern, whom Bolverk knew little about. He gave this General the name 'Marcellus' because it reminded him of a great mortal man whom Guildenstern killed and used parts of to create him.

Bolverk responded to Mundus' question, but not with the answer he had hoped. "Leave my Temple, my Lord. Before we both engage in an argument that will surely end unfavorably." He knelt down on his knees before the shrine, closed his one eye, and began a praying ritual that he performed every time after a battle.

Basically, Bolverk was trying to tell Mundus to leave before he did something he would regret, something that Mundus was smart enough to pick up on. Even though he was the leader of Hell, he would not want to enrage Bolverk to the point of any physical confrontation.

Mundus knew when to choose his battles.

He nodded and turned to exit the Temple.

"I will go now and speak with Arkham." Before Mundus left, he turned back to Bolverk, who was still on his knees, caught up in the proceedings of his ritual.

"Perhaps I will also pay a visit to Marcellus." Bolverk opened his eye and shot a look at his Master.

"At least he is a General who can follow orders and complete a task that is given to him." With that, Mundus left the cold Temple.

Bolverk simply directed his attention back to his shrine. He paid little attention to Mundus' comment, attention that he soon figured would be better spent on his ritual. He closed his eye, bowed his head once again, and continued to perform his ritual with the company of the starry night sky.

Author's Note: I think it's safe to say that some of you will be a little disappointed that Nevan wasn't torn to shreds in this chapter. Trust me when I say it works better with the plot and will make the story more interesting now that she has turned to the good side. On another note, this story is past the half mark and almost coming to an end. Some of you will be happy to know that a sequel to this story is a thought somewhere in the back of my mind. I've already planned it some of it out. If I choose to write it, I will do so immediately after the end of this story. Also, both Guildenstern and Marcellus are taken from the 'Onimusha' Series. I didn't know the true origin of Marcellus' name so I created a story about how it came to be. Let me know your thoughts on if I should write the sequel or if I should just finish it as one story, and, like always, please R&R.