Nero
"Can't you hear it? The cry of your soul?" a voice as cold as ice spoke, one familiar yet unrecognizable.
"What? What's that supposed to mean?" the young man began to rub his head, his blue eyes gazing around at the darkness surrounding him alongside the figure standing before him.
The apparition began to approach, it's clothing being of the colors black and blue, it's skin as pale as snow with hair even whiter.
"What does it call out for? What does your soul desire above all else?"
Confusion flew over Nero at first as he listened to these words, an answer coming to him that he considered speaking. However, he scoffed slightly, dodging the question by asking the entity the same thing.
"Why are you asking me? What does yours want?"
A smile cracked onto it's face, it's eyes as red as blood as it stared into Nero's blue ones. "Power. I need more power."
It was in this moment that Nero recognized the voice, realizing it belonged to none other than himself, that he was speaking with a being bearing his face.
"Yeah... I could take that, too." he replied at last.
"I gave most of my life to the Order. I believed in what Sanctus said, in a better world... And now that I see what he truly wanted, what we were truly supporting, you won't let me help!?" a female voice complained.
"Look, it's nothing personal. You can't handle Sanctus, and that's not even touching Argosax. I'm asking you to look after the kid while he takes his nap. You helped get him into this mess, make up for that by keeping him out of it from here on." the voice of the devil hunter shot throughout the house.
Nero slowly opened his eyes, the sight of the ceiling being the first thing in sight as he listened in on the conversation.
After a brief silence, the woman spoke up once more. "What are you going to do then?"
"Well, my brother's sealed himself in with Argosax. The way I see it, while he deals with him, I'll go after Sanctus. He's still out there, and will be as long as Argosax's power keeps him up as some puppet. Once Vergil kills Argosax, Sanctus should be easy."
"You really think your brother will defeat him? From what you said earlier, both of you had a hard time facing him in the demon world." Raillyn spoke, worry in her voice.
"From what I could see, Argosax is weakened after that beating he took earlier. If Vergil can't beat him now... Then I'll just have to kick his ass for letting his little brother down."
"You jest so lightly now of all times?"
Another moment of silence came before the sound of footsteps could be heard by Nero.
"I'll be back. Give the launcher back to Lady if she gets here first, will ya?"
At last, the young man rose from the bed he had been laid in. Despite the battle, he had no wounds left unhealed and seemed in good condition as he then traveled down the short hallway, making it just in time to see the red coat of the Devil Hunter flow behind his uncle as he walked outside, shutting the door behind him.
He turned his head to Raillyn, seeing her leaning against the wall beside the rocket launcher Lady had lent Nero before.
Her green eyes widen slightly upon seeing Nero. "Oh. You're awake."
"Something like that." he replied before looking around the room, trying to locate his blade and revolver.
Raillyn took a step towards him. "You should rest."
"Hell no." he replied as he began to walk around, checking for his weapons. "I'm going after them too."
She sighs slightly, looking down. "There's nothing you can do. There's nothing either of us can do, apparently." finally, she looked up once more. "Argosax is in the demon world, and Dante is going after Sanctus."
"That bastard killed my mother." he began, his blue eyes focusing on her. "I don't give a damn what Dante says. This is my family matter too, not just his!"
Raillyn widened her eyes slightly before closing them, another sigh escaping as she stepped back.
Watching her step back, the teenager then decided to ask a question. "Where are my weapons? I'm gonna need 'em."
"Dante left them by the back door." she said as she leaned against the wall, arms folded.
Not giving a reply, Nero left the room to grab his equipment and prepare to be on his way, walking down the hallway to reach it.
He had walked for a short time, his footsteps echoing as he walked on the hard streets, the outline of his uncle becoming clear as he went further.
Once he was sure it was him, he called out as his steps became faster. "Dante!"
Hearing his nephew's voice, the devil hunter slowly turned to face him before letting out a sigh.
"Had a feeling you'd follow anyway." he commented, arms crossing.
"I'm coming with you!" he stopped once he got close enough.
Dante shook his head as he looked down. "Look, kid, I get it, but you've done enough. Let me and your old man take it from here."
"Hell no!" Nero protested. "This is my family too! They killed my mother." his fists clinched, the demonic arm glowing a bright blue as he became angrier.
He placed a hand on Nero's shoulder, his blue eyes looking at his nephew as he spoke. "You've been a great help, Nero. But I can't let you keep this up. You're strong, kid, but you're not ready for this. Not yet. I won't let you get yourself killed. Understand?"
"Not ready? You're the one who gave me this!" his hand was placed onto the sword handle of the Red Queen on his back. "You told me to stay behind once already, and now my mother's dead. I'm not doing it again!"
Dante took his hand off his nephew. He took a few steps back, his head nodding.
"Alright, kid. Come at me, then. If you land a hit, I'll let you go." the devil hunter held his arms out, leaving himself vulnerable.
He looked at Dante as he became lost in thought, thinking this whole thing over.
"What? You've seen what I can do, kid. Don't hold back. A little cut isn't gonna do a lot."
After hearing these words, the Red Queen was pulled off Nero's back.
He gripped it with both hands before rushing at Dante with a yell, swinging the blade down and causing it to hit the ground bellow.
The hunter in red was already behind Nero, slowly walking. As he prepared for the next strike.
He widened his blue eyes before turning to see where the footsteps came from, swinging his blade once again after spotting Dante, seeing he was uninjured.
The same results were gained, the blow hitting the ground.
Dante moved so fast that it was as if he were warping from one place to the next. While it wasn't quite his brother's level of speed, it was impressive.
Seeing the incoming attacks from his nephew, he was swift to dodge each by stepping out of the way, rolling, and finally ducking, not getting a scratch on his head.
Becoming angrier, Nero increased the speed and strength of his attacks, no longer holding back.
In the end, he was met by the palm of Dante's hand which sent him flying back to the ground.
Letting out a deep breath, Dante lowered his hand as he looked to his brother's son.
"You can't do it, kid. You're strong, but you're not strong enough yet. Head back. Make sure demons don't kidnap that Raillyn chick. Had enough kidnappings for the day." he turned his back to him, walking away from the scene.
He rose from the ground slowly, turning back to his uncle. He considered continuing, but what would be the point he wondered. If he couldn't land a hit, Dante wouldn't let him follow, and it was clear he couldn't land a hit.
Frustrated, Nero stood up as he watched Dante leave the area, contemplating what he should do.
Vergil
As he descended further into the depths of Hell with the demon general, Yamato left it's sheath and began to send countless slashes faster than the eye could see.
Each slash was met by a blade glowing of white, orange, and red created by Argosax as he fell, keeping his focus on Vergil while doing so.
Vergil was uncertain if this demons power rivaled his own, or if it was a lack of focus, but he took note of how Yamato wasn't easily slicing him to bits.
His gauntlets and grieves began to manifest, holy light escaping them as he put all of his strength into a downward punch.
The demonic general lifted it's blade in hopes of blocking the strike, but it was in vain.
His sword created shattered due to the devil in blue's might, his chest being struck by a fist that sent him into a faster fall until it finally struck the ground covered in a red liquid resembling blood.
Vergil struck the ground immediately after, a burst of holy light shrouding the area due to his fist colliding with the ground, though it swiftly faded out, a blue light taking it's place.
After all had become clear, Vergil stood tall in his demon form. He pulled the Yamato from it's sheath on his arm before rushing at the demon, letting out a demonic yell.
The two powerful devils clashed, a flurry of slashes from Yamato colliding with blows from Argosax's created blades.
Vergil had been struck by Argosax's blades, blood flowing from his wounds before they regenerated within a split second.
Argosax had been dealt just as much, if not more damage than Vergil had, Yamato tearing into it's flesh countless times. It regenerated as well, however.
The Son of Sparda's demon state only lasted so long, forcing him back into human form and drastically lowering his abilities.
He still regenerated at a fast rate, but it progressively became slower. He kept up with Argosax for a moment, even without his demon state, but it was short lived.
Getting a gash on either shoulder, and a punch on the chest, Vergil was sent back, landing on his back with a yell.
The demon let out a low, twisted laugh as it slowly walked towards the devil in blue, it's blade in hand transitioning into the shape of a long whip.
Vergil rose up, using the unsheathed Yamato for support as he got onto one knee. His blue eyes showed one emotion he had become used to over the course of his life. Rage. And it was currently all directed at Argosax. His hair had fallen down, making his face identical to Dante's.
At last, he rose up, stumbling a bit before rushing at the demon with a yell, swinging the Yamato thrice despite only one swing being comprehended.
Argosax took two of the hits, the third barely being avoided by a swift step to the side.
He extended the whip, striking Vergil across the back with it at an extreme speed.
The son of Sparda had been weakened, and due to this, he was struck with ease, causing him to let out another yell mixed with a growl.
He fell down once more, his hand keeping him from going face first into the blood like liquid.
He let out several deep breaths. "Is this it? Am I truly to be defeated by a mere general?" he asked himself aloud.
The demonic general turned to Vergil yet again, approaching once more as it prepared to strike again.
He closed his blue eyes, letting out one final breath.
Before he could do another action, he felt what almost felt like arms wrap around him from behind.
"Vergil, it'll be okay."
The words from the all too familiar voice rang through his ears, forcing his eyes to open up widely.
In this moment, he felt his strength return. Whether it was pure determination, or something far more, he didn't know.
"Abigale." he whispered to himself before looking up to Argosax, a small smile forming on his face as he gripped the Yamato tightly.
Argosax formed a second whip to go in it's other hand. It's wings extend, allowing it to fly at a fast rate towards Vergil.
At last, the Son of Sparda stood as he felt a burst of energy flow through him. He muttered one word. "Die."
In a burst of light, he was in his demon form yet again, and he flew at Argosax almost as if he were in four places at one time, each image going in a separate direction around the demon until they all simply faded out.
Mundus' general froze in place as hundreds, if not thousands of slashes that seemed to slice through the fabric of reality pierced his flesh, each incredibly massive.
It was almost as if Argosax was completely frozen in place.
The devil in blue reappeared, his demon state subsiding as he returned to his human form.
He was down on one knee, the scabbard of his blade in one hand and the hilt in the other until they finally came together, sheathing with a snap.
In the exact second Yamato was sheathed, the slashes registered to Argosax. Blinding light came from him as he began to slide into hundreds of tiny pieces, but he exploded with a demonic yell before he did.
Argosax was dead.
Vergil rose slowly, his eyes shut as the demon behind him exploded. At last, they opened as he turned to see what had been left of the demon.
There was nothing...
Nothing but an orange sphere that glowed brightly. The demon's soul.
The Son of Sparda lifted his hand, forcing the soul into his grasp to absorb it, and claim what was now his power...
(I guess you could say he had renewed motivated.
Okay, sorry for the bad joke.
I am... so sorry for the delay. It has been like four months, and I am truly sorry I kept all of you waiting. I hope you can forgive me for that.
The truth is... I never forgot about this. I've been tossing around many ideas, and I honestly think I've been thinking to much on future plans for this whole story, and what's to come.. and I haven't thought enough on the now. So again, I am deeply sorry.
That said... I wanted to make this story twenty chapter like I did Rite of Heritage (minus the prologue and epilogue), because it'd be like DMC. Twenty missions. But I don't think I can. I'm afraid it'll be drug out if I go that far. We're already nearing the endgame, and after this chapter... you probably know what the endgame is. If you don't though, well I won't spoil.
I hope you all enjoy. Thank you for being patient.)
