I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! Welcome, DMC and Darkstalker fans! Let's do a little recap on the situation, Dante has met up with Anita, a Mysterious Witch woman, who warns of a mysterious second function of the Temen Ni Gru, a function that could destroy life as we know it! What is it, and can Dante stop it? Read on...
The next morning, Dante woke up, and smelled a strange, yet pleasing aroma. He quickly ran down the stairs, and into the grand dining hall, and saw a spread of various breakfast items; eggs, bacon, pancakes and the like! Around them were the Darkstalkers he came to know; Jon, Felicia, Lilith and Morrigan. Dante seated himself across from Lilith, and said, "Hey, where's the new girl?" Lilith said, "You mean Anita? She's the reason why we're eating like this!" Then, it hit Dante, Anita must be in the kitchen! "Oh, I get it! Well, remind me to thank her!" Then, as if on cue, Anita stepped out, wearing an apron and covered in flour, and said, "No need to, you just did." Dante then said, "Well, then, let's see if this stuff is as good tasting as it is good looking! Dig in!" And with that, Dante began helping himself to a plate of two eggs, three strips of bacon, four sausage links, hash browns and three pancakes. Wolfing them down, the others just looked at him, wondering if he was half demon, or half pig? They quickly disregarded this, and went to get their own food.
As soon as breakfast was finished, Dante got up and said, "Well, if nobody needs me, I'll be going." Morrigan then spoke to Dante for the first time since the "incident," "Where, may I ask, are you going?" Dante chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I won't be far. Does anyone have a cellphone?" Then, Felicia quickly jumped up and said, "I do! I carry one in my bag, in case anyone needs me for a gig!" "Excellent," Dante said. "I'll be on cell if you need me, so, if the slightest problem erupts, Felicia, you contact me. As for the rest of you, hold down the fort, and keep the home fires burning, and if I'm not back by dawn," and with this part, Dante directed his attention to Morrigan, winked at her and said, "call the President." And with that, Dante left.
Outside the courtyard, Dante walked toward the train, and opened the back car, revealing a blood red Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with the words, "Devil," emblazoned in black letters. He pulled it out, and revved it up, making his departure known. Then, he rode off, heading towards who knows where.
Meanwhile, inside the castle, the others went to their rooms. Everyone, except for Morrigan and Lilith. "You know, sis, Dante isn't all bad. Sure, he may have buried his face in your peaks, but he didn't mean it. He really is a nice guy, Morrigan." Morrigan then said, "Don't be deceived. Sure, Dante may seem nice at first, but all he is, and all he will ever be, is a steel-hearted demon killer." "You're wrong, sis," Lilith protested, "because I've seen him, and he can be really sensitive. True, he may be a powerful demon slayer, but he is half human, and every human has a sensitive side." Morrigan began to think, and then, slowly, she did remember that even before the whole incident, that Dante did seem sensitive, and she never detected his aura wavering in lies. She let herself smile in her memory of Dante's sensitivity. "Maybe...maybe he isn't as hard as he let on."
As Dante roared down the highway, Dante was still thinking of what Anita said, about the tower's second function. Then, he entered a strange looking town, called "Los Demonios." Dante laughed at this name, an obvious take on Los Angeles, which meant City of Angels, so this would be..."the City of Demons." He roared into the town, and saw that a bunch of the lowest people were here, druggies, con artists, grifters, and such, but none so much as the punk population. This was obviously a city forged by the outcasts of human life and it looked like it had flourished. Then, something caught his eye, a poster.
The poster was plastered on the window of what looked like a topless joint, and it had a man, fairly muscular, shirtless, wearing a pair of blue jeans with the Australian Flag plastered on the top left side, ratty dark hair, black fingerless gloves, and playing a red guitar that sort of looked like a Fender Corvus XL model with teeth. But what really caught his eye, was the man's skin tone. This guy was in serious need of a tanning bed, because he was grayer than a stormcloud. His pose was reminiscent of the victorious pose that gladiators struck when they defeated a lion. And underneath the picture was an announcement of a concert, in bold print and red, "ZABEL "LORD RAPTOR" ZARDROCK, THE KING OF HEAVY METAL, LIVE! ONE NIGHT ONLY, AT THE LOS DEMONIOS HELLDOME AT 8:00 TONIGHT! BE THERE!"
Dante was intrigued. Not only was there going to be a concert featuring his favorite type of music, if he was lucky he may get action in the demon hunting sense. He revved off to the Helldome to see this concert and was ready for anything.
The Los Demonios Helldome, a large building, with fake turrets and gargoyles, and painted blood red, with a black dome on top, and at least the size of two football stadiums, lengthwise, this place was a proverbial rat's nest, filled with Goths, punks, and heavy metal fans, clamoring to see their idol perform live in their city. Dante had arrived at this damned concert hall, and got himself prepped.
Packing Ebony and Ivory as always, and placing his shotgun on a holster in the back, as well as Rebellion, and walked up to the ticket booth, where a skinhead who obviously was a steroid popper and had not enough skin for his tattoos sat in attendance. "Ticket please." Dante then said, "I don't have a ticket, but I'm still going in to see this so called 'king of heavy metal.'" Then, the over-brawned man said, "No, you're not. No one sees Zabel without a ticket. So, no ticket, no concert. Now, beat it, ass-wipe." Dante then said, "I don't think I made myself clear. I said, I was going to see this guy, and one way or the other, I'm gonna. So, if that means going through you, then okay, I'm up for a workout."
This is when the skinhead got mad. Some skinny punk was challenging him? Well, what did he have to lose? He got up, standing to his full 7'11" stature, and said, "Anytime you're ready, meat." Dante set himself up in a martial arts stance, while Mr. Steroid picked up a large metal bat. "This is gonna be quick." The skinhead charged in first, bat raised, ready to turn Dante's head into a bloody pulp, and struck...
Nothing. Dante had apparently vanished, because, all the skinhead struck was air. Then, he felt two taps on his shoulder, and wheeled around to see Dante. "Hey, not bad for a first try, I actually felt some wind there! But, in order to beat your enemy, you must remember these rules. One, always analyze your opponent. Take for instance, you. Now, you have muscles the size of most bowling balls, so you outmatch me physically, but unfortunately, in speed, I truly am better."
The musclebound moron then came in for a straight punch to the stomach, but Dante just vaulted over his beefy wrist and landed on the ground behind him. "Second rule, find out your enemy's weak point. A man like you, so big and beefy, probably wouldn't fall from a gunshot or a knife stab, but with the excess muscle mass up top, a couple of well placed kicks to the knees, or behind them..." Then, Dante kicked the back of the knees of his attacker with pinpoint precision, causing the kneecaps to become dislocated. "YAAAAGH!" Dante finished his statement with, "and the only thing left to do is say 'Timber!'" Then, on cue, the meaty brawler fell to his disabled knees. "Finally, never get angry during a fight, because if you do, you'll fall. Now, I said I'm seeing Raptor, with or without a ticket. Is that clear? Or do I have to give you another crash course in fighting?" The skinhead shook his head, frightened. "Good."
Dante made it into the stadium, and stood outside the door of the concert, so he could get a good look of this so-called "Metal Lord." Then, the lights in the concert hall were lowered, and smoke poured from the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen," the speakers boomed, "the Los Demonios Helldome is proud to present, for the first time, the King of Chords, the Lord of the Licks, the Herald of Heavy Metal, ZABEL ZAAAARDROOOOOOOCK!!!"
Then, the stage erupted in a flash of pyrotechnics, and a band of demons appeared, humanistic demons, each on bass, drums, keyboard and back-up guitar. Finally, the man of the moment, Zabel Zardrock popped out of a hydraulic trapdoor, guitar and all. His blank eyes scanned the crowd, and he smiled fiendishly. He lifted one hand, and said, in an Australian accent, "Are you ready to rock, Los Demonios?!" The crowd cheered wildly. "I can't hear you! I said, 'ARE YOU READY TO ROCK!'" This reaped a seriously loud cheer from the crowd. "All right! Then, LET'S ROCK!"
The drummer tapped his sticks three times, and the band began to play a cover song to Disturbed's "10,000 Fists in the Air." This got the crowd practically on it's feet and moshing. Dante just said, "This guy ain't half bad." Then, Zabel started to play Killswitch Engage's "The Edge of Heartache." This got more moshing and dancing from the crowd, and a few topless flashes from some of the girls. Dante rolled his eyes. "Geez, people will do anything for attention in a rock concert."
Zabel spoke after the song. "So, Los Demonios, are you havin' the time of your lives!?" The crowd responded with a tremendous scream. "Well, I know I am! So, what do ya say I blow the roof offa this place!" Then, the crowd exploded in excitement! "All right! Then, let's get to the point and ROCK THIS JOINT!" Then, he began to play a series of power chords, and began to play one of his new songs, "The Mindkiller," but then, as his drummer pounded the snares, 50-some odd demons appeared!
Half of these demons were at least the size of the Hellsloths, if not taller, wore ratty brown robes and were equipped with staffs with small spiked balls (Hellgluttons). The other half were skinny, wearing black hoodless robes, and carrying large golden coffins (Hellgreeds). Dante then smiled, and said, "Well, looks like the show's over, and the party's just begun!" Then, kicking up Rebellion, Dante prepared himself, but then heard a scream of anger, originating from Zabel!
"I don't believe this! One break from all these demons is all I ask! Well, look's like me concert's been canceled, which means I can take this disguise off!" Then, spinning his guitar, he then played a devastating chord, and a ring of black flame erupted around Zabel, and suddenly, Zabel's skin was ripped off of his body, but something was weird about the rockstar, because the skin that was burned off was actually a second skin!
The body underneath was actually the same musculature and color, but his face was more skeletal, and his chest had a strange pattern, like a stretched upside down "Y", and his stomach was sunken in and had the appearance of a mouth, with four fangs running across the top and bottom. His teeth were yellow, and his tongue was abnormally long. During this change, Zabel let out a rockstar scream, and then leapt out of the flames, and came careening down, his legs changed into a powerful saw blade (Skull Splitter), and sliced one of the Hellgluttons right down the middle! Dante was amazed.
"Well, look's like Jon ain't the only one with something to hide." Zabel then looked at Dante and walked up to him. "'Ey! Aren't ya scared? These things are demons, ya know!" Dante rolled his eyes and said, "Really? Wow! I thought they were the I.R.S., but then again, what's the difference!" Zabel laughed out loud, and said, "Ya know, you're all right! What's your name, man?" The crimson clad hero said, "No time for that, but I know who you are. Zabel Zardrock, a.k.a., Lord Raptor, the Demonic King of Heavy Metal." Lord Raptor then said, "Well, I'm impressed! Ya know your demons!" Dante then said, "Yeah, and speaking of which, we'd better take care of the ones with the coffins, before..."
As if they were waiting for Dante to say this, the Hellgreeds slammed their coffins into the ground and the tops opened, revealing a sort of six lit cylinder, and from within it came two ghostly spirits, spiraling down into the ground. Then, when the spirits hit the ground, the ground erupted, and more demons appeared, these ones were the size of Hellprides, and wore a red sort of jester's outfit, and had serrated scythes (Helllusts). "...exactly, that happens." Lord Raptor just laughed and said, "Well, whaddya know!? More fans! Time to treat them to a real rock show!" Then, Lord Raptor began to play a very loud chord, and unleashes a powerful sonic wave, shredding 19 of the demons, and breaking the coffins of the Hellgreeds.
Dante said, "Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, but when at a rock concert..." Dante raised his hand, and streams of purple electricity appeared around it, then, in a thunderclap, Dante was holding Nevan, spun it and tuned it up, and then, setting it up like a rockstar, Dante screamed, "ROCK OUT LOUD!" Then, Dante played a few quick chords, summoning surges of lightning and swarms of bats around him, then in a face-melting finale, Dante sicced them on 20 of the Hellgluttons, destroying them instantly. Lord Raptor then said, "I really like the guitar, mate! Care to join me for a little jam session?" Dante laughed and said, "I thought you'd never ask!"
The two rocking warriors were ready to fight against these demonic hordes with only one tool, ROCK N' ROLL! Both unleashed a devastating chord, releasing a combination of sonic waves and electric-bat energy. This combination tore through the army like nothing. This enraged the demons beyond all normal comprehension! They began to charge in, angry, and ready to kill these rockin' fighters. Lord Raptor smiled and said, "Stand back, man, and let me show ya how it's done!" Lord Raptor jumped in the air, and turned his hand into a sword, and started attacking the Helllusts and Hellgluttons with frightening speed, but only did minimal damage to most of them. This got him a little angry. "Okay, the gloves are off! YO, OZZY!"
A basketball sized purple demon with only one red eye and a toothy smile appeared from the ground. "Yeah, Boss?" Raptor smiled and said, "Time for the old 'E.D. 2' routine!" Ozzy smiled and said, "ALRIGHT! I love the 'E.D. 2'!" Ozzy jumped onto Raptor's hand, clamped onto it, and metamorphosed into a chainsaw. Suddenly, Raptor was wearing a vest, tattered pants, and his hair was slicked back, and he said, "Groovy." He then pulled Ozzy's tail, which was currently in the form of a chainsaw pull-string, and revved him up. Then, Raptor charged in, and started shredding the demons with devastating ruthlessness. Next, Raptor pulled an organic shotgun out of his wrist, and began to blast the demons repeatedly. Finally, he lifted the gun into the air, and said, "Alright you demonic screwheads, listen up! See this? This...is my BOOMSTICK!"
The demons jumped back, just in time to hear, "LET'S ROCK!," and be shredded by a vortex of electricity and bats, generated by a kick ass Jam Session by Dante on Nevan. "THANK YOU! GOOD NIGHT!" Raptor laughed, and said, "Now that's a guy that knows how ta rock! Wouldn't you say, Oz?" Ozzy de-morphed and jumped off of Raptor's hand and said, "You know it, Boss! This guy rocks as hard as you do!" Lord Raptor laughed again, and then, felt the Earth below his feet shake! "What the?"
The ground ruptured near the stage, and revealed a giant stone monster, spikes running down his arms, horns on his head, and blood pumping through various cracks in the monster's skin. "Hey, Boulder Boy!," shouted Raptor. "There's only room for two hard rockers here, and you ain't one of 'em!" The monster just bellowed in response! Dante said, "Well, a Paleo Guardian. I haven't seen one of those since the big Carribean job. Well, looks like I get to have a little fun after all."
Knowing that Nevan wouldn't have any effect on a creature made of stone, Dante whipped out his shotgun and twirled it in his hand, ready to attack. The Paleo Guardian lifted his fist and slammed it into the ground, causing a massive earthquake. Dante, however, jumped over the tremor, and unleashed a powerful Charged Shotgun blast which peppered the monster's hide, and got it very angry. Dante, smiling, then charged in with an improvised Stinger with his shotgun, and stabbed it into the monster's gut, and unleashed another Charged Blast, causing a massive rupture, exposing his blue innards, yet still the monster was still standing, and angrier than ever.
Raptor wasn't about to get left out of the spotlight, so he said, "Okay, Ozzy, let's get ready for the big one! The old Air Raptor!" Ozzy jumped in the air, screaming with joy, and then burrowed underneath and popped up underneath the creature and swallowed him whole, and transformed into a basketball hoop, as the stone creature fell onto the floor in the shape of a regulation basketball, while Raptor was dressed up as a basketball player, with jersey, shorts, a headband, and sneakers, with the number "00" on them, as he grabbed the monster ball, dribbled it, and then jumped into the air and slam dunked the creature into the hoop, and was restored to his normal form (Hell Dunk). Then, Raptor returned to his normal rockstar form. "Now, that's 'ow we do it, Raptor Style! Yo, Yank!" Dante heard the call and ran over to Raptor, saying, "What's up?" "So, whaddaya think o' me artwork?" Then, Raptor pointed to the defeated Paleo Guardian, in a heap, and near death. "I call it, 'NEXT TIME, DON'T RUIN ME CONCERT!'" Dante said, "I don't know if it's art, but I like it! By the way, I'm Dante." "Nice to meet ya, man! So, you headin' somewhere?" Dante told Raptor all about how he met Morrigan, the job he took, the battles he fought, the castle, and Anita's warning. "Well, if the world's in danger, it means, my career is in danger! No world, no concert! I'm in! Just tell me where we're shackin' up, D-Boy!"
Suddenly, Dante's cell went off, and Dante, always ready, whipped out the phone and answered. "Talk to me." "Dante!," Felicia shouted in worry, "You need to get over here immediately! Someone just showed up, severely injured! We need your medical expertise!" Dante hung up, and said, "Come on, Zabel, we gotta get to Morrigan's castle, and now!" "No prob, Dante! Ozzy, get the Raptormobile!" "You got it boss!" Ozzy jumped into the air, and a few seconds later, a fancy, yet demonic Rolls-Royce came crashing down, with the words, "Zabel Zardrock, Rockin' King!" in drippy red paint! "Well, now that's fancy!" So, the two jumped into the car and bolted off into the street, en route to Castle Aensland.
In the desert where Dante fought against the Hellsloths, the blue coated warrior looked at the carnage, and smiled. "You haven't changed, brother." Then, he continued on his way, but then, a Hellsloth jumped into the air, screeching, and..
Was sliced neatly into three pieces. "Fool." With that, the azure warrior walked off.
Well, it seems our little group has gotten bigger! With Raptor on the team, baddies are in big trouble, but who is this mysterious stranger that Felicia was yelling about? I'll give you a hint, it's the winner of the contest I had, Knight 25! Congrats, for being the first to answer my question! Expect your chara in the next chapter! Until then, this is Skyhawker saying, "See you in your dreams..."