"Power…I need more power…" is Vergil's most famous saying. Let's see him puts his newly gained power to the test. And what sacrifices he made to obtain it.

A Devil's Bliss

Chapter 2 – Memories of a Devil

The grotesque chamber of Mundus' sanctum was filled with the dark emperor's generals. Most of them sat in the shadow of darkness, their form given shape by the demonic aura of their eyes. In the light of assorted candles placed around the prince of darkness' throne, the greatest of his minions awaited eagerly. To the left of the throne was the large demonic bird known as Griffon, cowled within his wings. And to the right was the menacing demonic beast lit dimly by his magmatic blood. The glimmer from his multiple eyes radiated a deep blue unlike that of its red demonic aura which embraced his scorpion-spider body. He was Mundus' second in command, Phantom.

"Phantom," Griffon began, "Do you know what our master has summoned us for?"

The gruel mouth of Phantom started to spit with flickers of lava as he begun to speak, "He has told me nothing. The last instruction he gave me was to prepare his army for his return to the human world. Yet that was not to take place for at least another decade."

"Ever since Sparda disappeared his majesty's actions have been crude and unpredictable."

"Never speak of that traitor's name in my presence," he growled, his body temperature rising in sequence.

"So disturbed, aren't we?"

"…" Phantom simply growled.

"I suppose you haven't heard of the rumors: that Sparda lives…" Phantom's face became low with concern. "But I'm sure our majesty would not choose him over you again. Not even the legendary Sparda can overcome the actions of his betrayal."

"The right over Mundus armies belongs to that of the demon beasts. The devil knights have proven they aren't worthy of serving directly under his majesty."

The wall behind Mundus' throne crawled like inorganic flesh. As it rattled unresponsively, the league of devil knights standing in the shadows fell to their knees. The devil beasts turned to the throne & wall awaiting the tremendous demonic presence to reveal itself.

"Lord…"

"Mundus…"

Almost as if it were ripping into existence, the avatars of the dark prince phased above the throne. A slight void waved spikes of energy around the orbs as they slowly grew smaller taking the shape of eyes. The fleshy wall jumped from their seams to glue and tie itself in construction of yet another one of Mundus' host. Its form was modeled after the statue Mundus had created on Mallet Island, only with raw demon skin of that area.

"Master," Griffon spoke, "Your court has assembled per your request."

"Hmm…" Mundus scanned the room making eye contact with each of his demonic minions as they glowed in an assortment of colors within the darkness. "Someone's missing," the deep voice corrected, sending Griffon into spin.

"But I called each of your knights here myself," the bird cocked, unable to define which of his peers were missing.

"Don't concern yourself," Mundus shot a piercing glare at Griffon, "It will be here shortly." The room was overcome with silence but the impatient Phantom tired of waiting.

"It isn't my place but…"

"THEN DON'T SPEAK," the emperor commanded, "I have summoned you to announce who I have chosen as the general of my army." Phantom's mouth crawled from the anticipation of his name being called. "Enter now,"

All of a sudden an eerie gust of wind swept through the room simultaneously lighting blue flames to the candles hanging on the room's walls. The ominous light gave sight to the hideous knights who followed Mundus and the cathedral like appearance of the room. The large steal doors slowly crept open as a violet cape whistled into the doorway. A demonic aura pushed out from outside the door's frames as the cape crawled back to its wearer. The possessed figure made a slow entrance which only hardened the already fright consumed demonic faces of the devil knights.

"The legendary Sparda…" Phantom announced, his recent concern of Sparda's revival now made fact. But his fear and speculation was immediately dismissed as Mundus continued unperturbed by Phantom's outburst.

"Before his death, Sparda lived in the human world for centuries," he started, as the warrior made his ascent up the aisle. The man's eyes glowed with an intense red, deep blue veins pumping visibly across his face expressing his stress to contain his power. "There he met a mortal woman of which bore his child," Mundus continued, his knight steadying his walk. A spitting image of his father before him, the white haired devil wore a violet suede coat, traced with gold outlining, that complimented the gold pendant he wore, and attached at the collar by a Sparda's personal demon diadem. "Welcome…the Son of Sparda as the devil knight, Vergil… But fear him as your general, The Nelo Angelo…"

"Sparda had a child?" Griffon asked, while whispers of the same ran through the court. Phantom's expression remained still and silent as he witnessed Vergil's final steps to Mundus' elevated stature. The prince of darkness slowly floated to the ground as Vergil kneeled to down respectfully, holding his treasured Yamato behind him. "Interesting…"

"Rise Vergil, your army awaits your command," obediently the devil set up and turned to face his new minions. His eyes dimmed their demonic red glow but relinquished Sparda's trait crystal blue eyes for a dull grayish blue which balanced his pale complexion. He raised Yamato in front of him, horizontally, as his new servants stared in preparation.

"Bow…" Vergil directed, "Or fall." The intense approach excited Mundus greatly knowing that it was he who had created this perfect warrior. The devil knights, though some reluctant, fell to their knees one by one.

Griffon's gigantic mass squabbled in front of Vergil. He looked up at Mundus then down at Vergil and in a mighty flare of red lightning the demon expanded its wings, folding one behind him and another in front of him. "As a lord in my own ranks and a former follower of the legendary Sparda, I humbly do your bidding as long as my master sees you…fit."

Vergil lowered his katana with a grin then turned to the unwavering Phantom. He quickly unsheathed Yamato pointing its tip at the giant then addressed the others, "Leave us…" The devil had demonstrated his command with just his presence as the rest of his court quickly left the large arena-like room. Griffon wrapped himself within his wings then leapt into the air teleporting in a flash of crimson sparks. Mundus watched quietly as the newest of his knights faced one of the only demon beasts who could be ranked as a devil knight.

"Insolence," Phantom called, choosing to ignore Vergil who uncaringly turned away to precisely twirl and sheathe Yamato. "Emperor, the devil knight Sparda betrayed you and sealed your army under the weight of humanity two millennia ago. Now you've chosen his son before me. My loyalty is unflawed."

"And this is the only reason I haven't killed you for speaking against me," Mundus returned, his eyes stirring a dark red.

"Pardon me, Mundus but this…half-breed isn't worthy of leading your army."

"If you feel so strongly about the matter, handle it yourself and prove your worth to me."

"A test," Vergil said, "Very well, I shall test this power I've been deemed with." Vergil gripped the hilt of Yamato and in a blue flare of energy he triggered his newly embraced demonic form. The violet cape, seen teetering through the door earlier, wrapped around the dark knight's body gripping his build. He tossed it from his shoulder turning to face Phantom revealing his black armored body racing with blue veins which extended to his cape also. A set of violet horns drove from the front of his head down the side of his face, each radiant with blue lines. The devilish look continued from the horn like structures on his knees to the strong orange gleam of his eyes. With Yamato completely transformed to better represent Vergil's demonic state: its extent was longer, the blade was wider bearing teeth on its blade and it now embodied a blue highlight with an equally inspiring aura.

"It's complete," Mundus stated as Phantom also raised his demonic energy.

"You have proven your physical traits to be that of Sparda," Phantom announced drawing one of his spiderlike legs into the air, "But you are no comparison to him in power." The Phantom launched his leg at Vergil who effortlessly held the demon off with only Necro-Yamato. He lifted his leg up to show his cold glare to Phantom from behind the blade then taunted him to come forward.

Enraged the beast added more weight to his leg then shifted his weight to throw his stinger tail at Vergil from the side. But even this was unable to faze Vergil as he caught the tail with just one hand, the other still guarding with the devil's blade. Unimpressed by Phantom's inability to fight him, Nelo Angelo twisted his sword under the beast's remaining legs tripping him then slammed Necro-Yamato into the ground. Before his body even touched the floor Vergil twirled around tossing him into the wall.

"Pathetic," Vergil cited, his voice nearly muted in his form. "Is this the best your army has to deliver Lord Mundus," he asked sarcastically. An electric charge coursed over the steel door going unnoticed by the devil knight.

"Actually, your true opponent has just arrived."

Vergil turned around to see who Mundus referred as his opponent. A woman radiant in demonic energy that sparked of her body watched as Mundus floated into the background, his body stitching into the walls as he retook his avatar state. The woman's blonde hair, fell to her side pass her leather crosier which matched her black leather pants and black heels. Her blue eyes shined even through the static of her dark aura.

"Trish," Mundus called, "Give Vergil a challenge."

She agreed with a head nod and began walking forward. A pool of lava bubbled up behind her, Phantom no longer lying were Vergil threw him earlier jumped up from the liquid unable to surprise anyone. "Another human posing as a demon, what scum," he cried causing Trish to stop and turn slightly towards him.

"Sorry the grown-ups are talking…" she mused, raising her hand towards him. Her hair lifted into the air from the static clinging rising over her body. A bright flash came over her eyes as the charge surged through her body into her arm like a loading canon before blasting an array of lightning bolts towards the demon. With so much power not even Phantom's body could withstand the attacks as he was sent flying through the door without regard.

"Impressive," Vergil complimented, "Now, face me." Strongly influenced by Mundus seduction of power all this time he failed to realize the resemblance Trish held with his mother Eva. To all accounts Mundus had upheld his end of the bargain. Promising power, he had taken Vergil's potential to something far greater than he ever expected. Vowing to resurrect Vergil's mother, the prince had delivered once again, though it was in his own image in which he created her. However, with the dark slayer unable to recognize his on mother's image, at what price did his requests come?

"So you're the one Mundus has chosen to lead his army," Trish began as she made a sexily induced walk towards Vergil, "You look mildly different from when I met you ten years ago."

"What…?" Vergil questioned, turning to see Mundus then quickly back to face Trish.

"Don't worry, you're not suppose to remember. I believe you said that the only thing which mattered to you was power, not memories."

Vergil twisted his head in confusion in attempts to remember but he was only brought agony as he dwelled deeper into his seemingly vacant past. "Darkness," he moaned lowly, his mind was chained within. Yet, a single three-prone light shined in to break the darkness to calm the agitation. The red eyes of the king he had sold his soul to, Mundus.

"He says you're better than me," she continued as the devil shook off his dizziness, "Personally I think the blood of Sparda is overrated."

Without another word Vergil extended his hand towards Necro-Yamato which faded in an abrupt flame to appear in his hand the same way. He looked at Trish as she prepared to face him without a weapon. More than confident he tossed his blade to her, the Necro-Yamato reverting to its normal state. Trish caught the blade by its hilt quickly discarding the sheath to question Nelo-Angelo, now within his human state.

"You…" she couldn't find the words as the dark slayer held his hands behind him, such as royalty, "Are something special."

She ran in at Vergil full speed with Yamato sharply in her grip. With no hesitation the she-devil hurried to decapitate Vergil with a clean sweep though he was able to avoid it. Her attacks were rash and sloppy, very easy for Vergil to avoid as she chopped back and forth from his right to his left. But to Vergil's delight Trish's movements became tuned and developed as he was made to adjust his speed with every attack.

Trish started to become angry as she came to the realization that Vergil was toying with her. In a shocking display the devil surprised Vergil by flipping in a flurry of corkscrew kicks that hid the potential for Yamato align with or between her strikes. Noticing his space was being cut down all this time, per Trish's plans, the dark slayer finally took action.

Most precisely, Vergil grabbed her left leg as it swung down on him then stopped her right hand from slashing him with Yamato. With an unpleasant grunt, Trish was able to break Vergil's flawless technique with an electrically packed slap. Vergil gave a smirk to show his thrill from the sudden adrenaline rush then tossed her along the wall, pinning her down by his grip over her arm and leg.

For the first time Vergil had finally took in Trish's beauty admiring her ventilating outfit. Trish followed his eyes, his body growing closer to her own, as they finally met her own. "Aren't you charming?" she asked, coming to only one conclusion of what was running through Vergil's mind. Her eyes began to brighten with a white light while her demonic aura elevated as before. Suddenly, a large surge of electricity overcame her body overwhelming both of them.

Vergil was flung through the air to the opposite wall but landed on his feet seemingly unfazed. When the surge died down Trish stood there with Yamato still hand sparking with power. She turned to see the dark katana absorbing her demonic energy taking on the traits of her aura. She quickly took this unexpected nature for what it was worth and swung Yamato towards Vergil. Taking on the traits of its current wielder, the dark blade emitted a lightning blazed slash towards Vergil.

It was unapparent if Vergil was surprised or not as he just stared at the energy spike under his unaltered coldness. The devil, rather than dodge the attack expanded his arms in preparation for it. Confused by these actions herself, Trish watched on to see her power being deflected to the either sides. After the charge dissipated, the mysterious woman bared witness to what had thrown off her attack. Vergil had retriggered his demonic state once again becoming Nelo-Angelo. The strong demonic aura flaming around him was the obvious reason why the attack didn't harm him.

All of a sudden, the devil knight combusted in a rage of blue flames that teleported directly before Trish. The black armored devil's cape circled around them as his dominating presence overcame her. In a swift flash the slayer pulled his cape from behind her causing her to spin around enabling him to slam her head into the wall. Yamato fell to the ground but was caught by Vergil and instantly turned into its new demonic form while Trish's blood dripped from the wall. In matrix fashion, Vergil made an unreal jump and kneed his horn-like extension into Trish's back, tossing her to the ground as he fell. The unmatched devil made a slow walk to Trish holding Necro-Yamato ready to deliver the final strike.

"Annihilate it," Mundus broke his silence, addressing Vergil's hesitation. Trish set up realizing her purpose was to die in order to complete corruption. The reasons behind his defiance seemed to be of a different influence than his own will. The memories Vergil tried to recall earlier spiked up in his mind as flashes. The devil he had just conquered in battle's face streamed through his mind for reasons he didn't understand. "Vergil, do as I command!" Mundus yelled.

Obediently Vergil raised his sword over Trish preparing to kill the demon Mundus referred to as 'it'. But the gleam of his mother's amulet corresponded with a face resembling that of Trish stayed still in his mind. Suddenly, the devil dropped Necro-Yamato to his side and gave his master his answer, "No…"

"You would defy me," the enraged Mundus questioned, his eyes throbbing with energy.

"You chose me to lead your warriors but she is the only warrior who's presented any skill," Vergil turned around now in his human state. "So I'll train her to be an army onto herself."

"…" Mundus sighed, wanting to both punish Vergil for his disobedience but reward him for his cunning. Though the ties between Trish in his knight's memories could eventually pose a danger he decided she could also keep him at bay.

"She's mine Mundus…" the son of Sparda declared, unable to define his attraction to her himself.

"Defy me again Vergil and your pet will be the least of your concerns," the dark emperor threatened, choosing to leave Vergil with his creation.

The legendary dark knight had a successor, his son. And as Vergil turned to assist the devil who resembled the mother he couldn't recall, Mundus plotted against the last of Sparda's bloodline. For unbeknownst to Vergil, he had a brother. A human with a devil's blood driving him to destroy the hell his father had banished and devil that killed his mother. Mundus knew that Nelo-Angelo would one day have to face Dante and their meeting would either solidify his reign over the human world or end his dominion over hell.

No, this isn't a Trish/Vergil fic because that's too weird for me to write. But their relationship will be explored slightly and it will define the overall scheme of the story. Okay I guess that would make it a Vergil/Trish fic. Go figure.

Anyways, moving on, I like reviews and would like to thank those who gave one. I also like any types of alerts so thank you guys/girls too.

As you see, it took ten years for Mundus to fully corrupt Vergil. I'm not gonna skip another ten years into the future so the next chapter you'll see some 'character development.'