So I found out that the arm arsenal thingy was in game (which is like so cool to put that detail in there)... let's say this is an alt universe where he broke it after the Qliphoth incident and Nico's still repairing it. Stay safe my dudes, you can make it through this quarantine :)
Saying goodbye is easy when it's only one person. It's hard when it's someone you love, but it takes a minute or two and then you're off. With kids (that aren't even yours), however, it takes few days plus an arm wrestling match. They should be thankful that I went easy on them this time, cause I was really tempted to crush their hopes again. Before anyone could get up, I prepped for the journey ahead. While I don't think I'll be gone too long, I stashed some extra Devil Breakers just in case. Once I finished packing, I knocked on the boy's rooms to wake them up. All but Kyrie came out in their pajamas, hair mangled in all directions. Kyrie was the only one who was ready for her day, wearing her usual cream wool sweater and long maroon skirt.
Technically I should be going back to work now. But since Nico is out as well, we are are technically on different weekend times which technically means longer weekend break. Plus Trish doesn't care unless if Lady harasses or the electricity is out again. Which has happened less since Trish took over Dante's position as payroll person. As I walked out the door, I felt something weighing me down on my back. Looking behind me, I saw a giggling Carlos clinging onto my back. With a smile, I plucked him off of my back and set him down onto the ground. Julio and Kyle ran up beside him, looking up to me. Like before, Kyrie stood in between the doorframe at the entrance with her hands running through her long brunette hair. I ran back over to her to give her one last hug. She wrapped herself around me as I did to her. Only this time I wished it could be longer. We kissed each other goodbye, then I walked towards the road. Before I stepped out onto the sidewalk, something tugged at my leg. Turning around, I saw Carlos holding on. He was the youngest of the group, being only 4 years old while the others were 6 and 7. Makes it easy for him to hop onto me since he's so light.
"Promise you'll be back soon…" Carlos pleaded, letting go of my pant leg. I knelt down to him and ruffled his black hair, making it more messy than it already was.
"I promise, Carlos," I replied sincerely. His face brightened up, then he went over to the rest of the kids to eagerly wave goodbye to me. I've never failed to keep a promise, nor do I ever want to with these kids. I caught a glimpse of Kyrie waving goodbye, clutching tight to her waving elbow. This will all be over soon, I promise Kyrie. And then, you won't have to worry anymore.
—
The streets of Heppin was slightly busier than I last remembered. More people, especially in their 20s-30s, can be seen everywhere. No signs of a demon invasion were to be seen around here. Every once in a while, a Devil Hunter would walk by with several weapons on their back. They tend to always stand out of the crowd, dressing in protective gear or multiple layers of clothing made of sturdy material. Most of the colors they wore blended into the city, others took a fashion approach. I stuck with my usual clothes of red shirt, blue trenchcoat and some nice combat boots. Nothing fancy or gaudy, unlike some who think wearing glass heels and nothing else is good. But who knows, maybe that's their weapon. I didn't expect Trish to fight until she kicked my ass when I said that out loud to her upon meeting her. How was I supposed to know that she was a demon!
After wandering the streets, I found the Devil May Cry van parked outside a small shop. Cars that are parked between the van took a small beating. Of course she'd bump into others. The shop's sign hung above the door, proclaiming"Rock's Gunshop". Not the most creative title but at least its blunt about what it is. As I walked into the store, a bell chimed throughout the store. No one paid any mind to the bell, continuing to window-shop. A black haired man popped up behind the counter and greeted me "Welcome to the shop, sir." His monotonous voice sounded as cheery as Trish answering the phone. As I went over to him, his face brightened up. "Ah, Nero isn't it?" he asked, sticking out his hand.
"Yep," I answered, shaking his hand. "Good to see you Rock."
"Good to see you too." Once he let go of my hand, he turned around towards the back door and shouted "Nico, Nero's here!"
Right on cue, Nico bursted through the back door full of energy. She had her mustard yellow apron on along with tan gloves that look like they fit a giant's hand. She claims it's her size, but I question if it really is. "Hey buttface!" she beamed, slapping the glass counter. And she's the one I'm going to be asking about going down to Hell for. God help me if she comes with me. She hopped over the counter and gave me a tight hug. Her tools dug into my stomach, making it an uncomfortable hug. Once she let go, she beamed, "What're ya doin' here man!"
"Just coming to visit, you know," I scratched the back of my head, with a weary smile. I tried to not show the amount of awkward pain that I have with the tools digging into me. She motioned me to go to the back door. I followed her to the back, going up to the upper portion of the store aka the apartment portion. It was well kept place with a living area, small kitchen and a hallway leading to some rooms in the back. Quite similar to our apartment's layout, though we have a few more rooms plus garage space right next door to it. Nico offered a seat on the couch as she sat on a maroon colored armchair.
"I thought I was going to pick ya up tomorrow?" Nico questioned, leaning forward in her seat.
"We're still up for that" I answered, reassuring her. "I just have a question for you—"
"How you and Kyrie are still a thing?" she chirped, resting her head on her hands. I frowned at her remark. I'm more than happy to be with her, we've been friends and maybe in love for years. She was the only one who talked to me as a kid… all the others called me the bastard kid.
"No," I cleared my throat, then continued. "I've had something on my mind lately, and I was wanting to ask you of something."
Her playful smile faded, raising her eyebrow. "What do you need?" she lowered her voice into a more serious tone.
"I'm going down to Hell to find Dante and Vergil, will you come with me?" I asked. The tightness in my chest finally disappeared, allowing for me to breath. However the sickening feeling still churned in my stomach. Especially with the look she's giving me now. Nico adjusted her glasses and crossed her legs.
"You sure you didn't take a swig of Julio's science project again?" she half-joked.
"I didn't! I swear!" I barked at her, feeling pressured. It was only one time and it looked similar to my drink. Good thing I had it or else he'd be accidentally giving out acid trips to people. At least it wasn't lethal, I only had a small cup. Exhaling, I calmly replied "I'm not trying to pull your leg, I'm serious about this Nico. I'm leaving tonight."
"Serious? You sound like you're batshit crazy right about now!" she roared. Nico pulled out her cigarettes and lighter. She lit her cigg and inhaled it in. "What gave you that idea?!"
"I'm not crazy!" I exclaimed, then recollected myself. Waving off the smoke in the room, I continued. "I've had these dreams of going after them. Normally I've shrugged it off but it's gotten worse, one with V telling me I need to find them or else they'll die. I'm not going to let these idiots die from a stupid tree or the red three balls thing. It's driving me insane."
She paused putting away the rest of her cigarettes in her pocket, then exhaled a puff of smoke. "Mr. Shakespeare man, whose half of your daddy, told you your daddy's gonna die along with the legendary Dante?" I slowly nodded, unsure of where she was going with it. "Dear lord you are one helluva crazy son of a bitch"
"So you don't believe me?" I gritted my teeth, clenching the wooden table. "I'm not lying why would I lie about this?!"
"I'm not sayin' you are lying—!"
"Then why do you think I shouldn't go?!"
"This is what happened to me all those years ago!" she yelled, taking the cigg out of her mouth. "I know what you are up to. You going after daddy cause you are worried about him or think he wants you. He wouldn't if he left you for dead on the streets!" She sighed, crushing her cigg in the ashtray. In a quiet mutter, she continued "I just don't want see you like me when I searched for him. That bastard just straight up left without a care, not even acknowledging that I told him I was his damn daughter. Please don't be stupid and go after them."
A sinking feeling pitted at my stomach lowered me into the couch. Relaxing my grip on the table, I rested my hands on my knees. There was a feeling that she'd not want me to go, but I hoped for the later. After so long, there's nothing that's changing my mind at this point. I don't care if I'm pushed away again, I'm going to help them. I stood up from the couch, and answered, "Family is important to me Nico… it's going to take a hell of a lot to get me separated from them. Even if they're the stupidest idiots on earth" I muttered, then began heading downstairs. "I'll see you, Nico."
"Hey where are you going jackass!" she barked, getting up from her seat. "HEY!" I stormed out of the room, out the door and back into the streets. As I stepped out of the shop, the sun has already begun to set on the horizon. I'll be back by the evening… I hope I can keep that promise.
—
Our journey to the tree was nearly finished. The trunk of the tree was only several miles ahead, just a few more stops before we can reach it. Of course it was swarmed by the biggest of fiends and stronger enemies like the Nobodies. Dante swung around his ice-coated nunchucks as we walked, somehow not sticking to his hands. Occasionally I could hear his stomach growl, thankfully he hasn't complained about food yet. Since I certainly do not need to think about that in a place where it's either eating the carcasses or die off. And eating weaker demons does not make you stronger, nor does it give you energy. As we drew closer to the tree, I began to think about how it saddens me to see it shriveled away. However in the end though, it never satisfied.
When we sat down, Dante leaned up against a rock gazing at a magazine while I sat crosslegged on the ground on the opposite side of him. Hunched over, he gawked at all the scantly clad ladies, the pervert. I respect women, unlike the disgusting scum. I continued to journal my entries in the black leather book. Writing has been more of the peaceful times in this horrendous journey with him. Ink sprawling out words, the motion of my hand writing feels more freeing than gripping the Yamato. I etched out some of my surroundings on occasion, taking notes on enemies. Some of the entries included dreams, mother always told me if I had one it helps to write it out. A lot of recent entries involve the time with Mundus or my mother getting killed. Sometimes it's of the times as my human form which had some nice moments in it. Must be due to getting closer, it brings out the worst of thoughts. Looking up from my book I saw that Dante was already snoring with his magazine covering his face. That foolish scum, I believe he used to do that with some of the picture books we'd have as kids even. Closing the book, I uncrossed my legs and rested against the other side of the rock. Staring up at the grey-ish blue sky, I eventually lulled myself to sleep.
—
"Lowly mortal, you cannot face me. Let alone know how to wield a sword!" a voice bellowed, roaring with laughter.
A heavy force pushed me to the ground, unable to get up from the puddle of my own blood. It stunk like rotting flesh, burning my nostrils. I tried to get up again but I collapsed to the ground. Violently I coughed up blood, adding more to the puddle. I cannot lose… not yet. Gritting my teeth, I reached over to the Yamato. It was so close to me, an arms-length away. However the more I stretched over to it, the more it felt like my arm was going to be ripped off. Just a little bit more… Barely grabbing the yellow ribbon, I pulled it to me and used it to raise myself up. Every muscle in my body screamed in pain as I stood up. No problem, I have been through worse pain. All of this will come to fruition… To be better… than Sparda. My legs began to wobble so I instinctively used my sword for support. His laugh echoed throughout the endless void, drumming against my body. He doesn't deserve, to even have such a form as this.
"I am not done yet…" My voice barely made a sound as I spoke. With all of my strength, I charged at the demon. Before I could hit him, a force threw me off making me fly in the air. The Yamato fell out of my hand, parting from me once more. Tumbling to the ground, I tried to slow myself down enough to be closer to the blade.
"You don't even have the strength to hit me anymore!" the fiend cackled. A root stabbed right through my stomach, halting me from doing anything. I screamed in pain as more began to wrap around me. It lifted me off of my feet, raising me up to the eyesights of the scum. It adorned itself in a marble statue look, with refined etchings that resembled a face and wings. With all that I can muster in the moment, I spat on it… only for it to land on the rocks. The sickening chiseled face and "perfect" looking human form, parading itself as it's better than me. In reality, it was a pile of pulsating flesh that slithers around. To hide itself, it makes itself into a statue. However, it doesn't hide the three hideous eyes. "It disgusts me to think that Sparda made a hybrid, spoiling his blood by mating with a measly human" Mundus spat, stroking his stone-like beard. "At least it proves that not even a Sparda spawn can kill me!"
"Just you… wait…" I coughed, feeling my arms being slowly ripped out of my body from the roots. More roots dug deeper into my body, entangling itself with the ones stretching my arms. "I will be better than you, and Sparda!" I screamed to him, scratching my throat. In a futile attempt I tried to reach for my blade again. I don't care, if I can make some sort of portal out of here I can come back with more strength. Grabbing hold of it, I began to cut myself out of the entangled mess I was in.
Mundus roared with laughter, raising the roots to wrap around my legs. The roots regenerated and stabbed through my chest, though I still kept hold of the Yamato with a death grip. Once he settled, he bellowed "What a pity, a lowly human is trying to fight me?! It couldn't even defeat its own sibling or myself!" He lowered himself closer to me. His stench became more pungent as he leaned in closer. With a snap of his fingers, he sliced the Yamato in fourths, crushing any hope of leaving. The last of what my father left us… gone. "What kind of weak mortal would dare to strike me? A foolish offspring that not just tainted the Sparda line, but fused it with humans who are grass to be stepped on. I will sniff out the rest of you mortals and strike down, just like I did with Eva."
—
Startled awake, I woke up with my heart pounding against my chest. Quickly glancing around, I sighed in relief. I'm not in the dream anymore, Dante's sound asleep right across from me. Putting my book back into my pocket, I noticed my hand shook feverishly. Any movement I made with it, my hand wouldn't stop shaking. Sleeping will not help me anymore. I need to cut down that damn tree. My nightmares will leave if I take it down. Getting up, I began walking to the trunk of the Qliphoth tree. It'll all be over when it's gone—
"Leaving so soon?" Dante called out, stopping me cold in my tracks. He took off his magazine and looked at me with a dead expression. "I thought you would've left a long time ago actually."
"What do you mean?" I gritted through my teeth. "Besides, weren't you asleep?"
"How do you think I avoid phone calls?" Dante got up from the ground, putting his magazine in his back pocket. "You can't help wanting that power still can you?"
Pursing my lips, I gripped the Yamato even more. The urge to cut hit him down right now to shut him up is very tempting. "Does it matter in the end? We are still going to cut it down. I'd like to get it done quicker."
"I think you still want that fruit," Dante snapped. "All you want is power right?! Why not just admit it? We all know it's true."
"There's no point in trying it again. Besides since you're here, you'll ruin my plans! Besides it needs an influx of human and demon blood and I'm not wanting to go through that again."
"Why not just kill me then!" he exasperated, throwing his hands up in the air. "You always go after whoever has power. Since I keep beating you now why not just kill me! Or would you like to kill Nero since that wouldn't make a difference?"
"I'm not going to kill anyone! If anything you've killed me before!" I barked, whipping my sword out. "If it wasn't for me, you'd wreck the house with your chaos! You are an uncontrollable monster!"
"Damn you!" he grabbed his sword, eager to attempt to rip me into a new one. He got into a battle position, pointing his sword at me. Unsheathing my blade, I get into a battle stance. Charging at each other, we take our first hit at one another and—
"Every time! Could you two shut the hell up!"
An impecable force stopped us from clashing swords. Like a lightening bolt, it struck between us. White long hair, horns that curve inward with feather like texture, long claw like nails that barely scratched our swords, glaring golden eyes.
"The hell you idiots doing?!" Nero roared in a distorted voice. He pushed us away as he reverted back to his human self. Like before, he scowled at our bonding time. Our previous bickering was put on hold at the sight of my son. How can he travel all the way down here without the use of the Yamato?
"Nero?" Dante scratched the back of his head.
I could feel Nero staring more at me instead of Dante, though that doesn't mean I'm frustrated by his appearance as well.