The Devil of Zero
Disclaimer: Neither The Familiar of Zero nor Devil May Cry belongs to me.
The Training
– The Cambion –
Mott Estate
Night
Siesta stared on, barely cognizant of the entities around her now, her focus entirely on Mott's corpse.
On the one hand, he was dead, and that made part of her glad. No need to drag it out, just get it over with and be done with the slime.
On the other hand...HE SHOULD HAVE SUFFERED!
Some part of her mind raged at the relatively quick death Mott had, when he should have been slowly skinned, mutilated, picked apart organ by organ, all the while alive and cognizant. The screams would have sated Siesta's newly awakened darker half, filled it full of the dark emotions it craved. But now, it still hungered, and sought out the nearest victim.
Namely, Vergil.
– The Devil –
Without much in the way of warning, Vergil found himself ducking as Siesta swiped the sickle of her kusarigama around, clearly attempting to shorten him by a half.
While sudden, Siesta's assault upon his person wasn't quite as surprising as she probably intended. Vergil's own experiences with awakening part-Devils (namely, himself and Dante) pointed towards a notable surge of bloodlust immediately after the event triggering their awakening. Dante had expressed this quite clearly in the aftermath of their duel atop Temen-ni-Gru, eviscerating a flock of Bloodgoyle demons and, showing the overconfidence that was both his trademark and a side-effect of the transformation, getting swallowed by the Leviathan. On Vergil's part...well, they were still looking for the 'Shinjuku Slasher', although the latest theories he'd heard prior to Temen-ni-Gru assumed that the 'Slasher of Ikebukuro' was responsible.
At any rate, Vergil was hardly surprised to find Siesta assaulting him. Even if, technically, her awakening episode should be less strenuous and shorter than the half-devil twins' own episodes since her devil blood was more diluted, hers was also accompanied by what appeared to be a lot more trauma, which only naturally fueled her Inner Devil.
Stepping back, Vergil drew Derflinger again, only for the sentient backsword to be immediately assaulted with the iron weight and wrapped in the chain attached to it.
"Hey! That hurts!"
Just as planned.
Vergil allowed himself to be pulled towards Siesta by a tug on the chain, summoning Zima onto his limbs and drawing his free hand back for a punch. The intent behind the kusarigama's strange design was for the wielder to disable their opponents weapons and draw them close for the kama part of the weapon to slice into their torso and eviscerate their internal organs, the fact that the most common melee weapons in feudal Japan were spears, naginata and the samurai's katana were unsuited for point-blank melee combat only helped. This was easily rectified if the victim carried a weapon suited for such ranges, like a knife, dagger, or a Devil-empowered gauntlet with the ability to freeze a target into a block of ice.
Between the inhuman airspeed he was traveling and the force behind the swing itself, Vergil gauged the impact of the Zima's gauntlet to be quite capable of impaling a moderately well-armored man onto his forearm. Luckily for Siesta, she was protected by an inherent resilience imparted onto her by her Devil heritage that prevented her stomach from being so rudely ruptured. Even then, the knuckle spikes pierced her skin, leaving shallow gashes in her flesh that, more than likely, would heal in a short time. Quite naturally winded by the blow, Siesta was too slow to react before Vergil grabbed her by the head and slammed her face-first into the ground.
Repeatedly.
"Bit harsh, don't you think?" Derf asked as Vergil allowed Siesta's newly bloodied head to fall into the small puddle of blood and rubble that lay in a crater.
"Not at all." Vergil replied simply. "Merely enough to ensure she'll be unconscious for a few hours while we finish up here." The Son of Sparda rolled Siesta onto her back before lifted her up in the traditional bridal carry, nodding to Gelus as he walked out the manor's doors.
"Ooh! You're using THAT spell, aren't you?" Zima hissed excitedly.
"What spell?" Abaddon sounded rather suspicious.
"Well, you know that mortal, Dante?"
"Vergil's brother?"
"No, his namesake, the one with the second name Alighieri. After Hell got wind of his 'Divine Comedy', some of the more powerful Ice Devils had a marvelous idea for a spell based off of his depiction of the Ninth Circle. Unfortunately, it's not suited to be used in combat, but it's perfect for leaving one's mark."
Behind Vergil, there was a steadily growing blue-white glow, followed by the strange chanting of the Frosts, a simultaneously guttural and sibilant chorus of hissing that steadily grew louder as the glow grew brighter, until there was a final flash, followed by a gust of arctic wind.
"I can just imagine the looks on those idiot mortals' faces now!" Zima exclaimed gleefully.
– The Princess –
Royal Palace
The Next Morning
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A Manticore Knight, achieving a remarkable speed considering his armor, burst into the strategy room, drawing the attention of not only Henrietta, but Wales and Tristain's generals.
"What is it?" Henrietta asked, frowning. There had to be a good reason for one of the knights of her most elite order to interrupt a meeting as important as this!
"I-it's Lord Mott!" At that, Henrietta sighed. Mott was a troublesome person. His excesses, well-documented as they were, had been tolerated by the Royal Family because of his political connections between the different noble families and institutions, in both Tristain and other nations. As a Royal Messenger, who regularly went into potentially dangerous situations as a herald and diplomat, as well as a more mundane sort of royally appointed mail-carrier, he was allowed some leniency in his…indiscretions. Henrietta, personally, wouldn't be at all displeased if his ability to perform was…crippled.
"What did he do now?"
"He's dead!"
"What!" Both pleased and alarmed, Henrietta looked closer at the Manticore Knight. He was flushed and sweaty, and had a look of fear in his eyes. Whatever he had seen had unnerved him, an elite knight and experienced battle-mage, so much that he couldn't even keep his composure in front of his princess and her confidents and advisors.
"His outer guards are gone, only blood stains left, and the manor…the manor is frozen in an enormous block of ice!" At that, the room erupted into shocked murmurs. Ice was nothing new, created by mages with proficiency in the elements of wind and water, but to freeze an entire manor in a solid block? Basic ice spells required at least a line-class mage; something like this would need three square mages!
"Have you confirmed that Mott is dead?"
"…yes."
"How? If his manor is completely frozen-"
"His corpse is frozen directly in the front of the ice."
– The Devil and The Cambion –
Frost Lair, Tristain Academy of Magic
"Ooh…Vergil-san…not there…" Siesta moaned. She felt light touches on her, all over her body, making her feel quite aroused…well, until suddenly one of the 'light touches' turned into an intense pain in her head. A hiss and a hand to her head as she sat up properly conveyed her pain. "Ooh…Marteau, can you ask Emily to fill in for me? I seem to have the most terrible…head…ache…" Siesta trailed off as she took in the chamber she was in.
It was rather crudely carved out of stone, and seemed to be very deep underground or inside a mountain, given the amount of stone she could feel surrounding it…
Wait…I can feel stone?
"Siesta." The voice drew attention back from her strange, newly discovered sense back to the room and the person speaking. She was currently resting on a small cot that was in turn atop a stone shelf carved into the side of the chamber, covered by a sheet. On the opposite side was Vergil, in all his cool, collected and calm glory, sitting on a similar shelf. For a moment, Siesta just blinked. Then she glanced down, and realized that the only thing that protected her modesty was in fact the sheet. She felt heat rushing to her face, as her gaze switched back and forth from her barely covered from to Vergil, who just sat, gazing coolly at her. Then, as she started to really get flustered, he got up, gathering a set of folded clothes from beside him and setting them in front of her, before exiting the chamber to the right, through a small passage in the wall.
Still flushed, Siesta changed into the clothes, which she was surprised to learn was a simple black set of tunic and trousers made of some fine cloth – nothing so extravagant as silk, but still something much better than what she was used to wearing – and a pair of what looked like women's riding boots.
Shortly after she was dressed, Vergil strode back in. Siesta would have started blushing again, except that Vergil's expression seemed even more serious than usual.
"Siesta." He started, a bit of an urgent note in his voice. "I need you to tell me what happened in Mott's manor." Siesta hesitated, as Vergil reclaimed his seat, before sitting down on the cot and beginning the tale. Of how Mott had bought her contract for an enormous sum from the academy, and of the trip to his manor in his carriage, where he touched her, and of the arrival at the estate upon which he'd ordered her to bath. She hesitated then, before slowly telling him about the would-be rapists. She saw Vergil's eyes narrow, and his expression tighten, so she hurried to the vision. Of Chi no Ishi, her great-grandfather, and of the mountain and buildings in the vision. She was surprised to see a glint of recognition in Vergil's eyes, and decided to ask him about it later. Another, shorter hesitation preceded her description of the massacre she committed and of the feelings when she'd killed Mott. She expected revulsion, disgust and horror.
Instead, Vergil merely nodded as she finished her tale with her attack on Vergil.
"I see." Vergil murmured, apparently mulling the story over. "Allow me to lay out the facts as I see them: You, Siesta, are a third-generation Cambion, a mortal with some Infernal blood, the blood of Demons and Devils. Your ancestor was Chi no Ishi, a lesser but still potent Devil who resided upon Mount Fuji in Japan, on my homeworld." Siesta started at that tidbit, her eyes widening in shock. "You experienced your Infernal Awakening with the stress and danger, triggering a state of enhanced bloodlust, under the influence of which you slaughtered the majority of Mott's guards and Mott himself." He paused, letting her absorb this information before continuing. "As I see it, you have two choices right now: To ignore and abhor from using your Infernal power, and to try to rejoin human society at large." Siesta was about to speak, to choose that, before Vergil finished. "At which point you would be quickly discovered, imprisoned for suspicion in Mott's death, and summarily executed as a scapegoat." Siesta's mouth audibly clamped shut.
"A-and the other?"
"Stay here with me, and learn to control your powers." Siesta, again, found herself staring at Vergil in shock. "As a first-generation Cambion, a half-Devil, I know far more about the Inferno than anyone else in all of Halkeginia, and having trained for years after my awakening, have far more experience than you can hope to obtain quickly enough to survive on your own." Siesta looked doubtful still. "I can teach you how to defend yourself, with both mortal and Infernal methods, how to properly utilize your Devil Arm, how to think tactically and strategically, and how to harness your Infernal Energy for Sorcery."
"Sorcery?" Siesta wondered. "What's that?"
"Put simply, the magic of Hell." At the sudden look of hunger in Siesta's eyes, Vergil had to repress a smirk.
He had her. As oppressed as she and the rest of the mundane humans were, he knew any one of them would leap at the chance to gain something to become more equal with the nobility. Judging by her reaction, Siesta would be more interested in Sorcery, to counter the nobles' own elemental magic.
Unfortunately, I will be able to help only minimally there. Sparda had been a part of the 'traditional' Infernals, those who focused more on physical prowess and less on the esoteric powers of Sorcery. Of Abaddon and Zima, the former would probably be more help, having been one of the Original Fallen who had made extensive use of Sorcery to inflict far greater damage than he would otherwise physically.
"Damn right."
"I think I'll go with the second option, if it's alright with you, Sir Vergil." Vergil blinked, having been caught up in his thoughts.
"Very well then. Let's start immediately." Standing, Vergil walked out of the chamber, Siesta scrambling to follow as he proceeded through a passage that eventually exited into a larger circular chamber, about thirty feet across. Siesta noted several other passages, their entrances iced over and pale figures behind them. "First, your physical training. As I'm sure you've noticed, your physiology has been enhanced by your awakening." Siesta blushed. Her figure, already enough to draw the attention of many nobles, Mott among them, had been…'enhanced', so to speak. Aside from that, she was definitely more fit than before. "This is a result of one of your natural abilities as a Cambion, regeneration, which uses the Infernal Energy you produce naturally to enhance your body to a physical ideal, as well as the traditional near-instantaneous healing. While this eliminates the traditional need for a work-out to develop or maintain muscle, you still need to grow familiar with your new capabilities, your strength, reaction speed, and gain control."
With that said, Vergil took a position, assuming a form for one of the martial arts styles he'd learned, and told Siesta to copy him as he moved slowly through the forms. Watching her, he occasionally gave some advice, adjusting her stance once in a while. Vergil didn't actually expect her to become proficient in martial arts any time soon, just enough to build a base that she could eventually expand from should she decide to pursue it, in the process familiarizing herself with her new capabilities. After about an hour, they stopped.
"For a beginner, you're progressing rather well." Vergil said, not noticing Siesta's blush. "Now, you should rest. Your body is naturally producing the energy required for Sorcery, and you should have stored enough tomorrow to begin practicing." He did notice the predatory gleam in her eyes at the mention of Sorcery. "I, personally, am not overly proficient with Sorcery, but I do have some help in that area. But for now, rest. If you need anything, call for Gelus." Vergil gestured towards one of the sealed passages, the ice melting away for the elder Frost to step through. Siesta stepped back as the reptilian Demon approached and bent on one knee before her.
"Greetings, Milady. I am at your service."
– The Zero –
Louise's Room, Tristain Academy of Magic
It was nearly three hours after Louise usually dressed and went to eat breakfast, and there the pink-haired Valliere still was, in bed. Shivering in fear.
Mother would be disgusted if she saw me now.
But yet…with what she had seen…what she'd learned of Vergil had been the tip of the iceberg…she'd thought he'd been some sort of hero…seeking power to more easily deal with the Infernal hordes…but the truth…
Louise had no idea how to deal with this. She could confront him…but Vergil was quite obviously dangerous. He wouldn't be at all disturbed or slow in hacking her to pieces if he thought she was a threat…the scores of slaughtered men and the memories attested to that. And that was without the demonic Frosts that were at his beck and call.
She could run…and Vergil might not pursue…but if he did, the Frosts, which had proven to be great trackers, would catch her quickly…and eat her if Vergil gave the go-ahead…
What to do…
The door cracked open, and Louise could see the brilliant blue of Vergil's coat in the opening.
Too late.
Sorcery File: Circle of Frost
A recently designed (by Infernal reckoning) spell, Circe of Frost draws its inspiration from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, in particular its depiction of the Ninth Level of Hell, a frozen wasteland with Lucifer trapped in the center of it, constantly frozen by his beating wings. While the only such similar areas are those sections of hell ruled by Ice Devils, they liked the description enough to recreate it with a spell. Circle of Frost is a spell that freezes a select volume of space into a hellish ice, trapping the souls of those inside it, dead or alive, in the ice and using their torment to shape it in such a way as to forever leave an impression upon witnesses. Due to this, no Circle of Frost is exactly the same, with different visages and expressions of torment molded out of the ice's surface. The Infernal Energy required is such that only a Devil or a group of Greater Demons can successfully cast the spell, and even then it takes too long to cast to be effective in combat, taking long enough and giving off enough energy to warn a target to get out of the way. Thus, it's usually used as a 'calling card', Ice Devils typically leaving Fire-aligned Demons and Devils locked in an absolute prison of ice when they win a battle.
– The Author –
Happy New Year!
Well, looks like someone's getting screwed, and not in a good way, eh?
Review Replies:
pyromania101: Oh yes, the destruction heehee.
Orchamus: I specialize in oddity.
Zaralann: Thank you.
Takeshi Yamato: Played the beta. Interesting. If I ever get a job, I'll probably get in on it.
Well, you get that filler out, and I'll get the bio out, eh?
Eh, I'm not one much for lemons.
Lunatic Pandora1: Well, it's more like parts of his psyche, but essentially correct.
Viking Girl: Thank you.
You got one right.
Hypothetical Spiritual Entity: Not at all.
No, not really. His Devil half is pretty much just the part of us that makes us want to punch someone in the face, just multiplied by a couple thousand. So long as he keeps his more murderous impulses under control, they don't really have anything to fear from his Inner Devil.
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EVA-Saiyajin:…My chapters are god?
Knightmare Gundam of Ni