Chapter theme: Theme for A Promise- /g3xt00BoFAA
Terminology:
SDT: SUBTERRANEAN DEMON TRIBE, often used to describe sentient and non-aggressive demons.
USF: UNITED SUBTERRANEAN FRONT, the recognized sovereign citizens of the Ebott. Valley demon association.
NNH: New New Home, the town's name. The only city of the USF society.
Central: Central Government, central city, main human settlement where the Grand Senate is instated.
WG: World Government, The coalition of governments, cities and island states, headed the Grand Senate.
WM: World Military, the standing widespread military for the entire world bar a few states and countries.
OTS: Order Of The Sword, a religious faction mainly situated in the city of fortuna, radical Sparda worshippers.
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this story are based on a loos,ely fictional and exaggerated version of reality, of what is possible, of what could be, to understand this is to understand that there is no agenda… Make your own conclusions, what you think is right.
I own nothing.
Sin Trigger.
Life… Has a way of throwing curve balls, to surprise those who let their guard down to change. Vergil thought that Crono was nothing more than a mindless brute when he first saw him, a man who'd so rightfully earned his boot to the side… And his lover Bianca, a kind woman who to him could do no wrong… Yet enabled the behaviours of a foolishly crass man defending him even.
But it was all wrong… And in the time Vergil has spent at their bar, he realized that his initial statement couldn't be further from the truth. And he was grateful. Not only had they begun to advertise RISE through the means of posters and pamphlets, that little bar was a far more comfortable base of operations than that dingy little apartment in the slums of Fortuna.
Business had picked up remarkably since then, Vergil was a half devil in strength after all… And who better to defend against a devil? It was barely morning and the first call of the day had marked the hour, further away than typical…
Indeed.
Far deeper into the island of Fortuna, the ground erupts. The ground quivers and shakes with the force of a bomb crescendoing along the rythem of a footfall. Each step, each roar, each blow is enough to rend dozens of trees from their roots.
A devil bore its might on the villagers of the town situated outside of the main city, bordering the almost endless forestry that marked the rest of the castle.
Villagers run in panic, attempting to escape the slow and yet unwavering onslaught of a demon thirty meters in height! Dozens of knights with swords and specifically modified weaponry circle the creature, trying to harm it to no avail. Their swords bounce off its flesh as if striking metal, the demon is of higher standing.
It seems there is no hope.
But of course one must stand against the horde of escapees, the citizens of this village bisecting in a path around him as he walks slowly through, a child crashes into his leg and falls to the ground; rubbing his head, the small boy looks up to see a devil eyes malign and flaming.
However, his eyes are not directed towards him.
The devil offers his hand, bringing the child up to his feet and brushing him off before continuing his journey… The infernal blood within burns brighter, his blue eyes flaring to life as he makes it through the crowd and to the other side.
A knight of the Order is kneeling down at the outskirts of the battle, "It's… It's impossible…" Says the man, but the devil merely walks past.
Recognizing his silver hair, "H-hey! Vergil, what the hell are you doing here?" The knights of the order had become quite well acquainted with the half-devil, especially considering….
"Trying to steal the spotlight again huh?!" The man was dark in skin tone, a man with blood running down his face.
He growled at the half-devil, "You always show up… Dammit." Suddenly, the half-devil had a sword in his hand… His sword.
Looking down, the knight blinks as he realizes in a split second Vergil has taken the sword from him.
"I'll give it back."
And without a further word, Vergil disappears into thin air, in burst of speed appearing at the very side of the massive demon, it's mindless howling echoing throughout the land as Vergil levied a single strike through its arm; the huge appendage is severed in a single blow.
And with his might, Vergil kicks off the appendage and sends it careening towards the recoiling demon; the colossus falls through several trees and collapses, its severed appendage rolling off.
Flipping in the air several times, Vergil lands on his feet in a crouched position before assessing his next move. He stands to his full height and looks to his weapon, the sword he'd appropriated was drenched in blood and sinew.
As was he.
The various knights and Order of the sword warriors turn to see Vergil, shock etched across their features. The half-devil then brings the blade up to his face, inspecting it further.
"Terribly crafted… surprised it even cut through so well." It was mangled and bent from the force of his blow, and so he merely tossed it away back towards the knight he took it from.
Of course, the ground continued to shake as the demon got up again, Growling in actual anger now. Vergil glanced backwards towards the villagers as they continued their screams and made haste to escape.
The demon on the other hand, only had one target now… "Sparda… I can smell… Sparda…" Vergil smirks at the voice, so small and vapid…
He begins to slowly edge his way towards the recovering demon. Such a large demon had somehow made it to the physical world, perhaps the forest and its mysteries were to blame?
No matter.
Vergil stared down the demon, "So… You thought it prudent to terrorize this town? With your giant size, you thought it easy?" Vergil snarled as the demon growled at the sight of him, muttering the same name over and over.
"Sparda..."
Vergil stood against the demon, his puny form silhouetted by the growing inferno ahead… Spines and demonic growth appearing across the demon's body, enraged! It's eyes burn a searing red, and with a mighty roar that sends trees and men flying away…
He coils his remaining fist back, rippling demonic tissue and muscle foretelling hell on Earth. But the half-devil stands against these hurricane force winds, unimpressed.
And as the fist slowly descends from his eyes, Vergil sighs and raises an arm, blue lightning coiling around his body and runes beginning to appear into existence.
And then the fist connects.
Vergil hardly reacts as winds kick up around him and a single word exits from his mouth, a foretelling of annihilation.
"Devil, trigger…"
The resounding explosion would be remembered for years to come, a chorus of lightning and blue energy vaporizing the surrounding area and knocking away all the OTS knights. Standing at the base of a smoldering crater, Vergil can smell the copper scent of blood, covered head to toe in guts, the steaming viscera slides off of his body.
The demon has been erased.
Just as quickly as he comes, Vergil leaves. Stepping through the village with blood and guts draped over his body, his white hair stained red. And yet… The people clap for him, ignoring his terrifying demeanour, and ignoring the order…
Suddenly, a pudgy man runs up to him. "You have my thanks sir! You've saved us all!" Vergil looks at the man with a mix of stoic ease and a gentle gaze, his stoney face hardly changing yet still… There's something warm in his eyes.
"It was my pleasure, and do not dither to call upon RISE again if you have further issues…" The crowd cheers for him as he leaves, a huge departure from a week ago… But when presented with a hero, humans naturally cling to the idea.
However, much to his knowledge, Vergil couldn't sense the frothing anger of a knight watching from afar… His blade bent in two, Vergil was no hero to he. The unnatural being left, and left he did the villagers to the wrath of the order.
The man turned to the villagers, raising his mangled sword to them. "Who called that man here? Did you not see what he just did? No regular man is capable of such a thing!"
"Does it matter?"
"Of course it matters you foolish civilians! You may have coincided with a demon."
"Where's your proof?"
The man felt a murderous tick. "Mark my words, those who cross the order, they will be punished." His tone had a finality to it, as if he was decreeing it as law. Those who watched this confrontation between man and knight, they held their tongues so as to not draw the ire of their lords.
After all, what if the white haired warrior was not there to save them one day? Who else would take his place?
Further inland…
"Ahhh! ACHOOO-" Before the boy could even finish, a warm cloth came over his nose and caught his sneeze instantly.
He wipes his nose, "Thanks Mother." Credo grumbled before inhaling the rest, his head snapping to the side as Bianca gave him a small slap.
"What did I say about inhaling your snot little guy, knock it off already it's gross."
"But my nose is itchy if I don't."
"Blow your nose Credo, would you do this at school?"
"No, they have tissue dispensers."
Bianca sighed and ruffled his hair, smiling at her son. "I'll call and see if your father can grab any tissues after he's done working." Credo nodded before sliding off the stool of the bar.
His mother was awesome but it still was annoying how much she prodded and poked at him all the time, Credo was only five years old but he's tough. Tougher than most kids he thinks. Smarter too, the other kids at school just don't get it.
Speaking of school, Credo was happy, today was combat training! The yellow eyed boy shook at the idea, unable to contain his excitement.
"You think I could use a real sword soon, like a real sharp one?" Bianca carried his backpack over and helped him slip into the straps, patting him on the shoulders.
"Oh I don't know son, your father has been in the order ever since we were kids and he's still not eligible for being knighted, he's failed the last couple dozen times he's tried to apply." Credo frowned at that, crossing his arms.
'That's stupid, father is the strongest… Well, besides Vergil maybe.'
He didn't like to think about what happened that night, he was sound asleep in the backrooms. The sound of commerce in this bar was something he's known since he was a baby… It was soothing to him.
Regardless, Credo shakes his head. "But still Mother I'm going to be a hero for you, I want to save you guys and stuff, like Sparda!" The kid acted out a few fencing moves with exaggerated motions and sound affects, twirling in place only to trip over a foot.
"Credo!" Bianca stumbled over to the boy who'd fallen on his behind, "What have I told you about looking where you are going?"
He rubbed his behind as he stood up, "A clumsy boy will be a clumsy knight?" Bianca rolled her eyes at him before looking up. Credo blinked a few times before following her gaze.
Awkwardly standing there was Blooke, Vergil's friend. "... Oh… I'm sorry Credo…" His robotic voice sent shivers down the boy's spine, he took a step back and gulped.
Bianca didn't notice, "Ahh sorry about that Blooky, he's a little clumsy." The SDT looked away and scratched the back of his head, glancing back down to Credo.
Credo didn't like how he was looking at him, a voice in his head told him to push the demon away. "Hm…" But the SDT only blinked a few times, catching his mini glare with a somber expression.
Bianca looked between them for a second, frowning and raising a finger. "Give us one moment please." She gave him a wide grin before dragging Credo away much to his rebellion.
It wasn't his fault, she supposed.
Burger-... Brandon slid next to Blooke, "Hey chin up buddy, that little shit doesn't know what he's missing out on!" Blooke sighed and rolled his eyes at Brandon's language.
He sat down at the table, "Don't be so crass…" Resting his head down, he sighed again while reminiscing.
Eventually his ear rang with incoming communications, he accepted it and shot to full attention as a computer display appeared in his eyes. A call to handle a demonic threat, they've been coming in more and more lately with requests for Vergil specifically. Blooke scanned through his heads up display and saw the incoming call location, the Order Church just down the road…
'I'll call Vergil quickly.'
He tapped the side of his head, static fuzzing in his hearing. He waited for Vergil to pick up his reception.
"Vergil speaking." Clear and concise.
Blooke tracked the calls and the location, "More callers have come in, there is a fire at the church just down the street from the bar… A demonic flame." He heard a tsk over the reception, and Blooke felt his serious demeanour fall away.
"Right, a fire hell demon has made it into Fortuna… I'll put an end to it, end communication."
Blooke sighed and relaxed back in his chair, that was the second call today already… He could only imagine how tedious it is for Vergil, running all over Fortuna to fight demons… Well, if anyone could do it, it was the half-devil.
Just about to place earbuds in, Blooke brushed a hand over his face and released his tension. "... This is not what I imagined when you asked me to go on tour with you, Mettaton…"
All those years ago in New New Home, he recalled the exact day Mettaton finally revealed himself as his lost cousin. He'd thought for so long that Mettaton abandoned him, that he moved on… But soon after Vergil freed everyone, Mettaton revealed himself and begged for Blooke's forgiveness.
He forgave him of course, and not even a day later Mettaton cemented their bond with a body made by Alphys herself. One that would allow him to interact with the material world, and all its people.
At first he didn't know about it, and didn't want to be forced to interact with others… But Mettaton convinced him eventually, and then? They travelled the world, just Mettaton, Brandon and a few others spreading the idea that the SDT were good…
And he was there too, but not really.
And now?
'This isn't like anything we've had to deal with before.'
Mettaton knew almost immediately that this city was different from the others, a good majority of the world didn't even let him perform in their borders, even less allowed his content to be streamed.
But Fortuna? It had potential. There are no regulations on media or media consumption. Blooke was glad that this place even with the order acting as it does, and the rampant hatred of SDT kind… It was better than most places were.
But Mettaton wasn't satisfied with that.
He felt a tap on his shoulder, "Hey Blooke, can you walk Crono to school for me?" She dragged the child over to him and gave him a small smile. "Unless you want to help clean and do the dishes." She smiled even sweeter, gesturing to the glasses and dishes spread all throughout the bar.
Bianca… She was nice, even when they first met when Vergil first arrived here. She never looked at him like he wasn't there, like he was just a freak demon… The bar was a nice place to be, even with Crono around.
But he wasn't sure if it was the best decision…
Blooke levied a poker face, pulling his earbuds out with a slight grumble. "... Sure." Excess water wasn't good for him anyways, and while the idea of being alone with Crono's son disturbed him somewhat.
Crono… Oh how the man was terrifying.
Bianca quickly shoved them both out the door before slamming it, she then poked her head out, "Oh and be safe! The school is just down the road to the right of Mario's, you can't miss it!" She then slammed the door in their faces again, leaving the SDT and his child companion out in the chill morning air.
…
Blooke blinked a few times as he watched Credo begin forward without a word, shaking his head before matching the child's resolute pace. He doesn't seem to want him there, he isn't outwardly aggressive like Crono but it still manages to make Blooke uneasy
His musings are interrupted when Credo grunts in exertion, the child hops onto a cinder block foundation before climbing up and balancing high above.
Blooke gulps as he goes higher and higher until reaching the top, while he himself almost trips over a homeless man sitting underneath.
"Watch it freak!"
"Sorry..!"
"You better be sorry you damn infernal, I'll kill ya the next time you so much as look at me!"
Blooke quickened his pace, matching the boy's descent until he reached the bottom once again. Credo then leapt off the last block and tripped, falling onto his arms and knees. If Bianca was there she would scold him for getting his white school uniform dirty.
Blooke on the other hand was just worried if he'd hurt himself.
The demon rushed over to Credo and held a hand to him, "Are you alright?" He says, watching as the young boy shakes his head and offers him a half glare.
Blooke retracts his hand after a moment, furrowing his artificial brows and sighing. Credo then gets up by himself and continues walking without a hint of care, ignoring the SDT.
The journey continued in silence for a moment longer.
"... Mother told me to be nicer to you, but you a demon… It doesn't make sense."
"... I'm sorry…"
Credo blinked a few times, "Don't say that, can't you just change your body to human or maybe learn to be human?"
"... My soul is a demon's… I can't just change…"
"Oh, that sucks."
He was so young. It was sad that even now he was reflecting the feelings of his father, well… It had been quite some time since he saw Crono, ever since he healed the man with the star… Crono threw himself into work and was hardly at the bar. Only coming around to hang out with Credo, he tried to ignore everyone else.
It was a tough adjustment.
Credo shook his head, "I'll be a hero okay? I don't want a demon to protect me." He said, glaring at the SDT with defiance.
That was just the norm wasn't it?
The order of the sword had engrained the hatred of demons deeply into all of Fortuna, even the SDT's were not immune to this. There was no law against them, but there was no good will towards them… Mettaton's show was still a hit with humans across the globe, but in Fortuna? His influence might as well not exist.
They commuted through the lower district until less and less homeless were present, the smell, even the infrastructure seemed brighter the further they went from the slums.
And of course they passed by the flaming church.
Credo snapped his attention towards the rumbling inferno seemingly erecting a wall around the church, "What the! That's a huge fire!" He began towards it only to be stopped by Blooke, pulling the small boy against his metallic body.
Blooke stared down at him worriedly, "Don't… It's not safe…" Credo met his gaze with a rebellious one of his own.
"Didn't I say I don't want you to protect me? I'm a big kid."
He groaned and tried to wriggle out of his grasp to no avail, releasing a gasp of breath. "I want to see it! Hmmmmm!" He groaned before deflating and relaxing into the SDT's hold.
Blooke merely shook his head, looking towards the countless bystanders watching it go down. "Vergil is there helping them out… So don't worry… Oh, I mean… It's gonna be okay?" He fumbled with his words, trying to be helpful.
But Credo was lost, smiling suddenly. "Vergil? Those guys are gonna get their butts kicked then!" Who? Blooke shook his head.
Yet, he actually smiled at that, it seemed he wasn't the only one who admired Vergil… After all,
He did save them from the darkness those few years ago, and it seemed that he turned his eyes to these people now.
"I wonder… Would they hate him too… If they knew?"
He then glanced at the young boy beside him, "Would… Would he?" .
"Call the Order- anyone!"
He wore blue marred by blood, matching his eyes; a long cloak, gold on the inside, it flourished in the wind.
"What are they supposed to do, magically douse the fire? It isn't natural!"
His features harden as he approaches the crowd from behind, gloves hands clenching.
"We have to do something Romulus! Ms. Auria is still in there!"
"Of course that crazy bitch didn't get out in time!"
The crowd seems to part instinctually around him, sensing his strength, he is taller than the crowd is and his white hair stands him out like a beacon.
"Wait, someone's heading towards the fire!"
"It's the white haired devil hunter?"
Vergil feels a hand on his shoulder, and he wonders if the man who stopped him could even comprehend what would happen next.
His eyes are orange, "Hey that's fire dumbass, who the hell you trying to play as?" He says, sweating as he fails to stop Vergil's momentum.
"I have a job to do."
Screams ignite through the crowd as he walks forward, the man lets go of him and scrambles away from the flame as Vergil is bequeathed in fire. He walks through the inferno unharmed, brushing off his cloak as he scans around the OTS Church only to realize the inferno is entirely focused on keeping people out.
There is a woman here, or… Something else entirely?
"Shit! Get this bastard away from me!" He hears her say roughly, a sailor's tongue if he's ever heard one. A dark haired woman with orange eyes, curious.
Two demonic eyes burst from the flames, "YOU HUMANS HAVE STOLEN THE FIRE KING! YOU MUST PAY IN BLOOD!" A globule of fire shoots through the air, slamming against the ground.
The woman leaps into the air while holding her behind, "I DIDN'T STEAL SHIT YOU STUPID DEMON!" She's afraid the flame has caught in her rags, her dress.
Vergil could only blink, he suspected that the demon was upset. But her reaction was just as curious.
"How curious…"
The half-devil reached out to the woman and grabbed her by the wrist, "You're only going to infuriate the demon, stay-" Vergil actually yelped in shock as he felt two rows of teeth bite onto his hand, gnawing away at his skin.
Vergil was disgusted, "You uncouth harlot, what are you playing at!" He waves his hand up and down trying to get her off but she refuses to let go, growling all the while.
This woman was no ordinary person, he decided. She had pitch black hair which was frizzled and unbecoming, she wore rags after all.
Her teeth sink deeper into his flesh, still unable to draw blood. "Agh what ith your skin made of!" She asks with a crazed voice, Vergil almost forgets there is a demon present.
The demon curls around them like a fog of flame, not close enough to harm them… But Vergil could smell the infernal. "That smell… I know you, but where?" The half-devil stops shaking his arm and focuses, making eye contact with the demon's incorporeal form.
The half-devil finally tosses the 'woman' away, "Why have you come here, demon?" Vergil asks with a deadpan, his eyes narrowing.
The demon doesn't respond for a moment, "Ahh yes I remember now! Sparda… You are his kin, then surely you know! My lord has been taken from fire hell, by the human filth!"
The half-devil narrows his eyes, "And what exactly would I know about such a thing?" Stealing a devil… The ruler of fire hell? What could even constitute such a claim?
The demon takes the form of a bipedal man wreathed in flames, standing at the center of the church with a frown. "Nothing? Not even a spawn of Sparda can tell me where my lord is located? Despicable!" The flames burn hotter around him to match his fury.
Vergil flexed his aura, "Watch your words carefully, infernal…"
"It took all my strength to even appear here in this abandoned place, and yet I have no leads! So be it, but mark my words, Sparda son. I will bring my wrath down upon the one who stole my lord." The demon swore before beginning to take his leave.
The flames burned hotter and hotter and set ablaze the inner sanctum, chairs and the center podium catching fire too. The woman who attacked with a bite quickly scampered away from the growing flame.
Vergil glared at the fire growing ahead of him, embers licking around his body. But he knew no fear.
Lightning coiled around his being, runes following. And his body bursted into an explosive force, cutting through the flame and dispersing the demon at last and along with it, the flame that threatened to consume the church of Sparda.
With the flame gone, Vergil could see the statue of his father standing just ahead behind the podium. Now a devil, he matched the gaze of his father.
'A devil? He's a devil? That's ludicrous!' She thought to nobody in particular, staring at the back of the weird blue devil who was also a man. He had… Saved her? From the fire? The hot stuff?
Why?
Are demons good? Are they bad? His holiness can't tell! But standing before her is a devil no less than the one terrorizing this place… And he saved her from a devil burning bright and malign. Her orange eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place down, her mind as jumbled as it was.
He released the transformation with a blast of light, returning to his human form and turning to face her quivering against the door. Ash and soot covering her face, a woman hardly over the age of adulthood… Vergil reached down to her, reaching out.
"Do not bite me."
…
"Okay, Mista Devil."
When they exited finally with the devil-man pulling her out of the church and into the outside world, he was larger than life… But seemed to be averse to the attention, he accepted the thanks leveraged to him. But just as quickly as he came…
The devil left, but he also left something else behind. His kindness would grow in the heart of the woman, however crazed she may be… A devil had helped her. A devil had shown her kindness… These feelings… They can't be right?
Can they?
The guy with orange eyes frets, and the normals clamor around her like sheep, people who ain't seen much for themselves. The man cries and pampers her for whatever reason, her brother she thinks, the guy with orange eyes. The rest just laugh and take photos, record, moving on without a second glance. They didn't care less whether she lived or died, not really.
And her scattered mind for once… Was fully focused on a single person, a single entity.
He saved her.
Looking to the sky, towards wherever the devilman may have gone, Auria feels a true smile grow over her lips.
Vergil watched the city from far above, the bustling markets, the bustling people, all blind to the suffering of others. It was easier that way he supposed, but Vergil could wonder if one day, some day… People would see the same as he does, learn to act for the sake of others truly, even when it cannot benefit yourself?
So many people went unnoticed, not merely demons. Those born lesser and without the means to achieve their desires were condemned to the streets, their suffering ignored, their plight ignored.
"This city is diseased, but they only need… They only need something true to believe."
The half-devil sighs upon the statue of Sparda being constructed over the city, pulling out a compendium with a single V etched onto it to mark its owner. Until the call of his next mission, he would remain here until then and look upon this place of mirthless and sin.
The struggles of the demon with a heart, he must be associated with the demon who has none. But just as the dark knight showed… Anyone can wake to justice.
Even men.
"In my heart I know that humanity will die rather than change, I know that better than anyone. But right now I don't have a choice, I'm not someone who can change anything… But you can."
'If you did It father…'
'Then… so can I.'
Vergil recalled the words of his best friend, the words he'd been told so long ago.
'Demons… Humans… Even if they are set in their ways… Can they not still choose to change, to be better every day? Even if the jealous and cruel ones exist, there will always be demons who are kind… Patient, as long as the perseverance to do the right thing still exists in man or beast… This world will be one worth protecting!
Vergil shut his eyes for just a moment, "I made a promise."
Wandered through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
A mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
,In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear:
How the chimney-sweeper's cry
Every blackening church appals,
And the hapless soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down palace-walls.
But most, through midnight streets I hear
How the youthful harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse.
