DEVIL MAY CRY

THE

BATTLEGROUND

CHAPTER XI

Author's Note: I would like to send a sincere thanks to all of you for your condolences. And yes, Bustahead, it does mean something coming from you. I was grateful that all of you sent me your condolences. Now, onto the story. I would like to clarify that although both Guildenstern and Marcellus will now become main characters in this story, The BattleGround should not, in any way, be considered a crossover story with Onimusha. No one has stated that it is, but I thought I might as well tell everyone just in case they think it might possibly become one. On that note, I don't understand why there isn't an Onimusha section in 'Games'. If there were, I would definitely write some Onimusha stories. Read and enjoy.
Sparda and Nevan moved as quickly as they possibly could down the long, dark hallway that branched off from the entrance to the Prison.

Even though Sparda wanted more than anything to find his most trust-worthy companion and his son, he didn't even know where to start searching. He also knew that if he wanted to stop Mundus before he entered the Human World, he would surely need their help.

As Sparda continued to walk, he glanced over at Nevan. She looked much more confident since she decided to join him in his quest, and since Mundus had released her from her duties, she could finally act on free will and speak her mind when she wanted to.

"Nevan, Dante and Kade are in Hell somewhere. I cannot find them on my own. I need your help." Sparda eagerly awaited her response.

Nevan looked at Sparda. "Whatever I can do to help, darling," Nevan replied, smiling slightly.

Sparda continued. "I sense that no harm has come to them yet, but definite harm will confront them soon. Is there any kind of portal or orb that we could look into to see where they are?"

Sparda bowed his head slightly. "I haven't had the luxury of roaming around Hell in ages. I had to remain hidden in the Sanctuary for so long…"

Nevan stopped in her tracks. Sparda stepped forward. "What is it?"

She narrowed her eyes and began to rub the fingers of a single hand together. She appeared to be in deep thought.

After a moment, Sparda did not get a response from her. He wished she would break from her thoughts soon, but knew not to rush someone when they were so deep in thought.

Finally, Nevan's eyes widened and she responded with an answer that Sparda had hoped for. "Yes! There is! We must go down the dark staircase that leads into the Lower Regions. There is at least one orb down there that we can look into. We must go soon, though."

Nevan looked at Sparda and told him what he already knew from experience. "You know as well as I do that Mundus always sends his minions to clean up the mess afterwards. They will be here soon."

Sparda nodded. The two walked the entire length of the dark hallway. At the end, Nevan looked both ways, trying desperately to remember which way to go. She quickly turned right and walked down the path there. Sparda followed.

Other than Bolverk, there was only one other General in the Underworld that had his own Temple. Skeletons of Demons and mortal men that were chained up lined the two side walls and the back wall. Although there was a giant throne near the back behind the large pillars, The Demon Warrior Marcellus decided to never sit in it.

There was just enough light from the small torches and fire lamps in the dark Temple to reveal two other figures standing by Marcellus.

Marcellus was the type of Demon who seemed to be mute, although no one was exactly sure if he was.

He wore a dark gray steel mask that had an opened mouth that curved down at both ends. The sides and back of his head were covered with several platelets that were attached to one another. Two large, gray demon spikes shot out of the top of his helmet. His eyes shone blood red. His shoulders looked even broader due to his golden-lined gray shoulder harness that started on both sides near his neck and ended halfway down his massive biceps. His forearms and hands were covered with golden plated charcoal steel armor, as were his legs from the kneecaps down. His grayish-orange sash pants barely showed because of the larger golden plated charcoal platelets that covered the outside of his massive thighs. His skin was mainly colored a whitish-gray, but was accented with greenish-brown patches that formed unfamiliar designs. The most noticeable detail of this Hulk was the giant 'Man Killer' curved sword he held in one hand. In the other, he held a giant, circular shield that matched his armor; golden plated and charcoal.

To Mundus, he resembled a Samurai Warrior, only Demonized.

To his left stood the cunning and elusive Demon Sorcerer named Guildenstern. He himself wore a charcoal black cloak that was also lined with golden plating. His face was composed of beady little red eyes and two rows of sharp, narrow teeth. His head was like nothing Mundus had seen before. It resembled a large snail at the back, but curled over in the front. It was tinted beige and orange. In one hand, he held his long, narrow staff that had a giant purple crystal near the top.

To Marcellus' right stood the scholar Arkham. His eyes, normally orange and blue, were still blood red. Mundus still held power over him. He held the same small red book between his large, cold hands. The reflection firelight seemed to shine on his twisted, deformed skin on the left side of his face.

As Mundus approached the three, they each bowed in unison. Guildenstern and Arkham both bent over. Marcellus, however, did not. He only bowed his head. It was most likely the only part of his body he could bend due to the massive amount of armor he wore.

Mundus crossed his bulging arms as he stopped mere feet from his servants. First, he decided to address the group as a whole.

"As you may already know, The Legendary Dark Knight Sparda will most likely be entering Hell soon if he has not already. Where? I have yet to find out."

The corners of Mundus' mouth stretched into an evil grin. "Soon, he will be none of my concern. After I merge the Demon World and the Human World with the two amulets, will have more power any past, present, or future Demon could ever dream of."

Guildenstern stepped forward. "Sire, my spies have informed me that two others who wish to stop out plans are also in the Demon World."

Mundus frowned. "Who are they?" he questioned.

"There is one by the name of Dante Sparda."

Mundus gritted his teeth. Somehow, he knew that the Demons Arkham sent after Dante would fail in their mission. He had only himself to blame, however. Arkham was, after all, possessed by his Dark Magic. "I knew he would still be alive."

Mundus looked straight at Guildenstern. He knew there was another Demon that rescued Dante, but he didn't know who it was. "Who is the other?"

"He is a Demon warrior who carries a swift blade and wears a cloak."

Mundus already knew what Guildenstern was going to say next.

"His name is Kade, my Lord."

Mundus clenched his fists. He looked to the closest stone pillar and struck it. It cracked in the middle, sending small shards shooting onto the floor.

"So Kade has chosen to interfere with Mundus' plans as well!"

Mundus stopped for a moment. He looked to Marcellus.

"I have decided what your first mission will be, General Marcellus."

Marcellus' armor made a small clashing noise as he straightened his massive back at attention. Mundus was well aware that Marcellus with could not or would never ask what his mission was. Marcellus standing at attention was all he expected. He continued.

"You will track down a small group of renegade Demons who decided to rebel against me long ago along with Kade and Sparda. They have been on the run ever since Kade and Sparda disappeared. When last I checked, they were still within the outer Regions of Hell's Planes. There, you will find a Demon woman. She leads the pack…"

Mundus stopped briefly for a moment, remembering past memories of when Kade decided to betray him.

"She is also a very close companion of Kade's."

Guildenstern looked over to Mundus. He himself had quite a history with both Sparda and Kade when they served under Mundus' rule. Every creation that Guildenstern came up with; every Soldier to Low-class Demon that was made was tested on them both in order to obtain certain battle data and observations.

Kade and Sparda were never defeated.

But that would all change soon….

Mundus looked over to Guildenstern. "Guildenstern, you will accompany Marcellus on his mission. I was going to send one of my other top Generals, but it seems he is no longer interested in doing what I demand of him."

Both Marcellus and Guildenstern knew exactly whom their Master was speaking of. Somehow they always knew that Bolverk was far too noble of a warrior to complete every task that Mundus gave him.

Now that Mundus was done addressing his General and his Sorcerer, he looked over to Arkham, whose blood red eyes shone like fire in the darkness of the cold Temple.

"Since you failed your first mission since your resurrection, Arkham, you must now prove your worth by performing another."

Arkham slowly nodded in approval.

"Your mission regards the two amulets, within the Ancient Temple located in the Human World. They are guarded by an old form of magic that, to my knowledge, cannot be unlocked."

"If I had figured out how to unlock the magic spell, I never would have had to confront Dante in the Temple…"

Mundus took a moment.

"I have tried many times to break the spell with the aid of my sorcerers, but I cannot."

Mundus glanced down to Arkham's small book. "But with your book of spells…." Mundus looked back up to Arkham.

Mundus took a moment for the information to sink in to Arkham's possessed mind.

"You will accompany me to the Human World. You, Arlham, will break the spell using the knowledge within your book and I will retrieve the two amulets."

Arkham slowly nodded in approval once more. Mundus nodded in return.

"I trust you all will do your duty. Failure will not be tolerated." Mundus looked at his warriors. Arkham and Marcellus both nodded.

Guildenstern was the last to nod. He knew that it was an empty show of allegiance. Mundus, however, did not.

As Mundus turned his back to the group, Arkham slowly walked behind him. They soon reached the entrance to the Temple and left.

Marcellus looked at his creator. Guildenstern crossed his scaly arms.

"Go, Marcellus. Complete your mission like Mundus ordered."

Guildenstern's large, grotesque mouth formed into a grin. "I have different matters to attend to."

Sparda and Nevan stood in the dimly lit chamber within Hell's lower levels. Six small windows placed evenly on each wall let the hazy blue light in from the outside.

In the center, the two could see a large, narrow spiked altar that rose from the stony ground. Two small spikes jutted out of the middle. Sitting atop the altar was a large, marble-like spherical stone that emitted its own form of light that mixed with the blue light within the room.

Nevan was the first to approach it. Sparda followed.

"That is the seeing stone, on top," Nevan said as she pointed a single finger at it. Sparda nodded.

"How does it work?" he asked, frowning slightly. Never in his long stay in Hell had he ever seen such a stone. Then again, he was exiled from almost every other part of Hell that he hadn't had the pleasure of seeing ever since he decided to betray Mundus.

Nevan looked up at the stone. Using her own height to her advantage, she lifted up her arms and gently took the stone from the top. She placed down on the two small spikes in the middle of the narrow altar.

Nevan slowly closed her eyes and placed her hands She began to utter strange words that were very unfamiliar to Sparda's vocabulary. The large stone began to shake as the two small spikes held it in place.

As Nevan finished saying the chant, the stone stopped. She smiled as she opened her eyes. Sparda was about to say something when he was silenced by Nevan's hand. She took the tips of her fingers away from his mouth and put them to her own, making a 'silence' motion. Sparda waited in anticipation. He was anxious to find his son and companion, and finally end Mundus' reign.

Nevan and Sparda were now able to see their own reflection in the large stone as the power that occupied it seemed to fade. Sparda was very confused.

Nevan looked over to him.

"It worked."

Nevan put one hand on her hip. "All you have to do now is walk up to it and ask what your Demon Heart desires, darling."

Sparda nodded to Nevan and slowly walked up to the altar.

"I wish to see the images of two Demons. One is my son and the other is my closest companion. Where are they?" He waited.

Nothing.

He looked back at Nevan and frowned. Nevan sighed and threw up her hands. "How many Demons do you think occupy Hell, Sparda? You have to be more specific than that."

Sparda quickly turned back to the stone. "Their names are Dante and Kade. Where are they?"

Slowly, the stone produced a watery image of Dante wandering down a small set of stairs on a narrow staircase. Next, it produced an image of Kade walking slowly toward a large brick wall near the back of a small room.

Sparda blinked once or twice. "I think I know where they are."

Nevan looked at the image of Kade in the stone, then looked up at Sparda. "Where are they, Sparda?"

Sparda waited for the next image that the stone would produce. It would surely prove his instincts to be right.

They were indeed.

The stone produced the image of a Gatekeeper statue in a room surrounded by candles. Oddly enough, the statue never moved anything except for its eyes, but now, a sickening grin stretched across its face.

"They are in the Gatekeeper's Tomb. It is located beyond the Portal near the Sanctuary."

Sparda looked back at Nevan. "They are in severe danger." Sparda turned around and began to walk toward the entrance.

"Stop!" Nevan shouted as she gently picked up the stone and placed it back up to its original place. "They will know we were here if I do not put it back."

She joined Sparda at the entrance. Sparda looked back to the stone one last time. It still displayed the image of the grinning Gatekeeper.

"I know how to get to the Gatekeeper's Tomb. I won't take very long," Sparda reassured Nevan. They both quickly exited the small Chamber.

As Dante slowly crept down the small steps that made up the narrow staircase, he heard a low, growling noise. He stopped.

He quickly unclasped his sword from his back and whipped out Ebony with his other hand. As he did, he saw a large stream of nasty breath come from the bottom of the staircase.

Whatever it was, he was ready to take it down.

Author's Note: I just finished playing God of War and it was absolutely amazing! It reminds me very much of Devil May Cry and Onimusha. If you are into Greek Mythology, or kick-ass action/adventure games, I would definitely recommend picking this game up. Like always, please R&R.