Still not mine.
The first chapter has been edited, basically I wrote it quickly on a whim. And after rereading it the amount of typos pretty much horrified me, plus I beefed it out a little more. Anyway, onwards!
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Three blue coat tails whipped around in the wind that blew atop the demonic tower called Temen-Ni-Gru. A delicate shade of blue made of some kind of silky material, soft and yielding at first sight but somehow there was the suggestion that it could stand up to some hardship.
Vergil, eldest child of the legendary Dark Knight Sparda stood looking down from the immense height at the city, which seemed like nothing more than lines breaking through an arid landscape. The streets becoming parched cracks in the earth from this view. Anything smaller was impossible to make out but still he stared determinedly downwards.
He knew that down there, imperceptible even to his demon blood enhanced vision his little sister was striding towards the tower and destiny.
Destiny yes, he would finally get what he desired and accomplish the goals he'd dreamt of ever since the night of their mothers death. No before then, when he'd grown up with the stories of his father, he'd known what he'd wanted to do, wanted to be like him, to surpass him.
He half fancied he could spot a red blur rushing through the streets, hear the challenge she would inevitably fling up at him. He clenched his fist to cease the excited trembling that began at just the thought of confronting her.
Patience. Control. The biggest differences except gender between him and his twin. He would maintain them now, and the fight would come.
"Hurry little sister, hurry to me."
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There was something oddly amusing about swinging on the poles at the now deserted Love Planet. She'd seen the show girls do it many times when she'd been hunting down Enzo in here. Though occasionally she'd just hang around for a night of fun and drinking herself, she usually preferred to stay in her shop. Now she was doing it for herself she was convinced they were making it look harder than it was.
She used her hands to propel herself upwards on the pole, wrapping her legs around the top near the ceiling and spreading her arms out in mimicry of one of Candy's favourite moves… and got a face full of silver hair for her trouble. "Okay, this is why the long haired girls don't do this one." she muttered, letting herself slide downwards and flipping forward to land in a perfect split, tossing her hair back as she did.
She blew the lingering stray strands out of her face before climbing to her feet. That was enough for fun for now, and at least one secret desire out of the way.
Another being that she'd pretty much smashed up the bar area on her way in, and stolen the shotgun that had been hanging there temptingly on the wall. Really who had a shotgun on display in the doorway? It was like asking for a bar brawl or some guy to shoot another's brains out. Or in this caser for a enterprising young demon hunter to incorporate it into their arsenal.
She straightened her jacket, and checked that her weapons were comfortable in their holdings before turning to stride back out into the open where the villains where waiting for her.
Half-way across the room though she paused, sneaking a glance back at the stage, so tempting…
She broke, giving into desire she turned round and dashed back to the stage, launching herself upwards to grab the end pole and swinging round it dizzyingly before letting go. She flew off in the direction of the door, hitting the ground before it and kicking it open with a whoop. She soon barrelled out into the waiting street to find… nothing.
She'd at least hoped for a few demons to slay.
But up ahead the entrance to the dark tower loomed like a gaping mouth. Her fingers played idly along the handle of Ebony as she contemplated it briefly. Nothing like going in through the front door, though she'd forgo the knocking.
Dante stalked forward, keeping her senses on alert for the anticipated ambush. "Guess the rest of the entertainment's inside." she mused, gazing upwards a moment before shrugging and entering the demonic tower.
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Elsewhere another young woman, though this one was completely mortal, was also aiming for the tower. She gunned her motorbike and shot forward through the ruined streets, shooting the scythe's that lingered about the houses or tried to attack her as she did. Mismatched eyes stared determinedly ahead at her target.
Nothing would stop her.
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"Arkham."
Vergil fought to keep his disappointment from showing at the too soon arrival of the scarred demonologist. As occasionally useful as he was, Arkham had also turned out to be incredibly annoying as well and anytime Vergil didn't have to deal with his endless intonations of his own past and attempts at a grand commentary of events was a blessing.
He did know his past and the history of his bloodline thank you very much, he had lived it after all.
"Well? Doesn't it excite you? The Temen-Ni-Gru has revived, the great one who once ruled this earth as the medium between this world and the Demon world." The madman approached Vergil slowly, coming to stand beside him.
"Isn't it a magnificent view?"
Not particularly. The young hybrid deadpanned in his head.
"The greatest minds of their time, they who revered evil, constructed this edifice-"
Here we go again. He boredly tried to tune Arkham out, watching as a Blood Goyle flew across the sky in front of him. He idly contemplated skewering it but just let the creature fly on in the end.
"-for which it was intended!"
Oh he was finished. "That's none of my concern." Vergil interjected hurriedly, whilst trying not to sound as if he was hurrying and just desperate to shut Arkham up. Only his objectives were important here. "Did she have it?"
"Of course." Oh, and now Arkham sounded bored. Not that Vergil cared if he was was throwing a tantrum over having one of his stupid speeches interrupted. "She's taking good care of it."
The blue clad half-devil let his hand move to cup his half of the amulet, looking down at it solemnly.
"After all it is the only memento left from the mother you both lost."
"But she has no idea of its true power." He said before Arkham could start again.
However it seemed he would have been cut off anyway as a Vanguard appeared., landing in front of Vergil with a piercing cry. The master of Yamato could see the wounds still healing on it, his sister had improved, but not enough if she couldn't finish the thing off.
He paid it no mind, turning to leave. But the stupid thing for some reason decided to follow him. Well, he supposed he shouldn't let it off for failing him.
With a whisper Yamato cleared its sheath, stabbing backwards into the Vanguards heart. A second later it was sliding back home neatly, and Vergil carried on.
Behind him there was an explosion of sand, and the Vanguard was no more.
And Arkham didn't say a word, thank Hell for small miracles.
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Well, she'd been expecting something big and ugly, this took the biscuit though.
It was a dog. A big fucking ice covered mutt with rancid breath and three heads!
Her knowledge of Greek mythology was lacking, she didn't put much effort into the research side of her job unless it was a defensive spell or something similar. She just didn't consider it worthwhile, but hell, even first graders could probably tell her what the big bad puppies name was. Cerberus, Guardian of the Underworld.
After wandering the tower and slicing up the lingering lower demons she found there she'd entered the large chamber picking up on the huge demonic presence, and had been disappointed in what she could only presume was the worlds ugliest ice sculpture. But basing her opinion on the rest of the architecture she'd seen demons had a pretty shit sense when it came to interior decorating.
Give her an army and she'd have this place looking ship-shape in no time. Dante just plain knew style.
Of course, then the thing had cracked and fallen apart to reveal an even uglier dog. If you threw two sticks at once, would it try to go in opposite directions? Or even three if you had an extra arm.
"Leave now mortal! This place is not for the likes of you!" The middle head, eyes glowing red boomed out into the arena like space. Its eyes glaring down coldly at the Devil Hunter who stood confidently, smirking back up at it.
"Wow… I've never seen a talking puppy before, if this was Cruft's you'd definitely win Best in Show!" She said cheerfully, pacing from side to side.
By its evident confusion it probably didn't understand what 'Crufts' was, but it certainly realised that it had just been insulted.
"You measly human bitch! How dare you make a mockery of a being such as I?!" it reared back before plunging forward against the rattling chain which held it, a blast of icy breath momentarily surprising Dante so she to duck low to avoid it.
Looking back at the formation she laughed, "Hey cool! Modern art!" before turning back to face the doggie. "Hey take it easy Lassie! You wanna go for walkies? C'mon puppy! Lets go!" Bending over she clapped her hands together, making waving motions with her hands like this three-headed hellhound was your run of the mill Labrador..
"You'll regret this wrench!!" The dog roared, icicles shaking free of the ceiling and tinkling down as it strained against the chain.
"Showtime puppy! Lets go!" Dancing on the spot she lifted her hands up boxer style and took a few punches to the air. "Come on!"
She didn't advance right away, keeping back and whipping out Ebony and Ivory to start shooting at Cerberus' head, the beast was forming ice over itself like a shield, she'd have to get rid of that before she could hope to hit it.
Ebony and Ivory were perfect for it, she ran from side to side, dodging the gigantic balls of ice the mutt threw her way whilst unleashing a constant barrage of bullets at its head. The ice cracked and shattered before falling away to the ground, seeing her chance she holstered her guns and rushed forward with Rebellion, jumping up high to slice at them whilst she still could.
She eventually had to jump back to avoid the ice that was forming again to avoid getting caught in it herself. She landed in a crouch and rolled to the side as a massive paw slammed down milliseconds behind her. She climbed to her feet and ran back to repeat the process again.
She managed to jump in twice more before she was forced to abandon that tactic as the demon called forth a hail of giant ice javelins from the ceiling. She grunted as one impaled her through the shoulder, falling to one knee she reached over to full it free with a hiss.
"Foolish wrench, you think you can defeat me so easily?!" The dog seemed to be gloating almost.
"Easy puppy, just cos you scored one doesn't mean this battle's over yet!" She tore forwards, feeling her flesh knitting back together as she did, it worked. Cerberus stumbled back as she caught him by surprise, hacking and slashing at every area she could reach.
Relying purely on her instincts to avoid the crashing paws and snapping teeth she darted back out of the way only when she realised she'd sustained too much damage to risk continuing this attack in such close quarters.
At a safe distance beyond the reach of the chain she stopped, breathing hard and letting herself heal in between dodging the ice that the now bloodstained Cerberus invariably shot at her. He was looking a bit worse for wear, she let herself smirk in growing confidence.
Then she had to pause as a new sound aside from shattering ice and angry growling and stomping rang through the chamber. The sound of snapping metal. "Uh oh…"
All of a sudden she was caught in a whirling dervish of teeth, paws and ice. She struck back whenever she could cursing the millennia old chain that had just had to snap right here, right now. A shriek of surprised pain was wrung out of her as jaws clamped around her foot, roughly swinging her from side to side and causing unbelievable agony up and down her leg.
On either side both the other heads tried to get in and grab her, and she realised that if they did, she'd be ripped in half and this game would be over.
With a supreme effort she lurched upwards, fisting a hand in the short fur of the dogs muzzle and thrusting Rebellion upwards, right into one malevolently glowing eye. A pained howl sounded through the chamber and she was suddenly tumbling down through the air as the demon dog stumbled about and shook its head in pain.
Disorientated she hit the floor and rolled, needing to get to fresh space as fast as possible. The instant she did she sheathed Rebellion and brought out Ebony in one hand and the shotgun from Love planet in the other. "Eat this mutt!!" She snarled and let him have it, right at the middle head and through the bleeding eye.
It worked, the hellhound reared back and as one all three heads howled in mortal agony before falling heavily onto the ground. Still breathing, still alive, but definitely defeated.
Groaning Dante heaved herself up, limping slightly until her ruined leg fixed itself and she stood in front of Cerberus, watching the mutt cautiously in case it summoned up the energy for one last attack.
"You- you're not human are you?!" it demanded, staring at her disbelief.
"Heh, who knows? I'm not entirely sure either." She chuckled triumphantly.
"Regardless," it nodded at her thoughtfully, and new respect she found to her shock. "You have proved your strength. I acknowledge your ability, so I will give you my soul, so that you might go forth and triumph." it almost seemed to grin at her. "You have my blessing."
The three great heads bent as one before there was a blinding light which she had to shield her eyes from, when she looked back, her gaze drawn upwards she could see an object floating there. She held out her hand and at once it drifted down towards her as if called. The moment her hand closed around it the light disappeared and she found herself grinning.
A sanchaku! Three headed version of a nunchaku. It was deathly cold to the touch and she could feel the frost burning against her fingers. So this was a Devil Arm was it? What could be gained only through the defeat of a powerful demon, she'd never gotten one before.
She experimentally whirled it around, getting a feel for how to use the chain to send each individual club flying where she wanted it too. Growing in confidence she soon had it flying in every direction, laughing at how easy it was to manage and the light fluid motion it gave, ice blocks formed where she hit it against the ground.
Eventually she stopped, "Too easy. Thanks puppy." she grinned, putting it away in one of the inside pockets of her coat, a cold weight against her back.
"Looks like this is going to be even more interesting than I thought." Feeling energised by her victory she strode on.
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Phew, took longer than I expected to get this one out. But here you go. I really enjoyed writing the actual battle here XD I haven't had much experience with action scenes and I like how this came out.
If you don't know Cruft's is like, the biggest dog show in the world and takes place in England. I think Cerberus could definitely win that :3
And why does Dante refer to the Hell demons as Scythes whilst Vergil calls them by their proper names? Simple, Vergil bothers to do research and find these things out, Dante looks at something and picks whatever name sounds best. XD
Next chapter expect much zooming forward, I don't want to write much more before I get to Mission 7.