Red Grave City.
Dante and Vergil were born here.
They lost their mother.
Dante changed his name to Tony Redgrave.
Dante and Vergil meet, they fight.
Vergil lost.
Vergil needs more power.
Vergil is dying.
Vergil destroys the Red Grave city.
In late January, with unforgivable weather, Vergil and Dante embark on a trip back to the beloved city where they were born, Red Grave. They filled the trip to the city with silence. Vergil carried a thin black book, embedded with artistic golden wings on the cover and the Yamato. Dante bought his guitar case filled with weapon.
The world fell silent, just as Vergil was so immersed in the words he read from the book in his hand, made him forgot his surroundings. Sometimes Vergil returned his attention back to the real world, glancing from behind the book. He's safe. There are no enemies around. He is always alert everywhere. Unfortunately, his paranoia didn't affect his twin at all. In front of him, Dante lay, covering his face with the red scarf Nero had given him at Christmas, trying to sleep before they reached their destination.
In Vergil's mind, the city holds a lot of memories.
Wind blows the fallen leaves from the trees. Vergil sat on the branch, enjoying the afternoon while reading the book in his hand. It wasn't too hot that day, so Vergil wasn't too worried about the heat.
Vergil regained his composure, ready to read until the voice called out to him.
"Vergil, let's play." Dante shouted from down the tree, holding two wooden swords in hand. His gigantic eyes stared at his brother, hoping that he may have changed his mind and play together. Sadly, Vergil just glanced and completely ignored his younger brother, who didn't want to go, and left him alone. He returned, focused on his book. "Come on brother, aren't you tired of reading books all the time?"
Vergil rolled his eyes. "Go away Dante, before I make you cry." He warned even though he wasn't serious. Dante snorted. Of course, he didn't give up so easily.
Dante threw the two wooden swords. It flew swiftly up the tree towards Vergil. The older brother's eyes narrowed. The book closed instantly, as fast as Vergil's hand formed a defensive pose by using his book as a shield. His other hand grabbed the sword, altered the direction and turned it back to Dante, who ducked before it jabbed him and land to the ground near his leg. Vergil gives a final death glare so his brother won't interrupt him.
"Not cool." Dante growled.
Vergil snorted, re-opened the book he was holding, and mouthing fool to his twin.
Dante picks up both swords, seated leaning under a tree with a heavy sigh.
"Why don't you want to play with me?" Asked Dante, who started playing with wooden swords. Vergil glanced at Dante from above, simply capture his tiny figure. He couldn't see his twin's expression. He pretended to read, but his mind completely lost somewhere.
"Do you hate me?"
Vergil, taken aback. He shifting in at the tree. "Why do you say that?"
Dante finally got his brother's attention. They stare at each other.
"Because you always refuse to play with me." There was a hint of sadness in his voice. "If I leave and don't come back, will you miss me?"
Vergil blinked. Of course, he did not understand the meaning of what Dante said. But Vergil got the gist of the conversation. "You can't just leave Dante, you're stuck here with me."
Dante turned his face back to the ground, which he found more interesting than their previous conversation.
"I hope so." He whispered.
"Dante, Vergil, playtime is up. Come back and help with dinner." The twins looked at their house. Eva dignifiedly stood at the door. Her long blonde hair flowed beautifully, contrasting the black and red clothes she wore against the backdrop of the twilight sky. Her beautiful face shone warmly along with a sweet smile that always painted on her face.
Dante stood quickly, glanced at his brother once more. He looked back at Vergil, stuck out his tongue and jumped in joy towards the house. Stupid brat.
Vergil jumped down with ease. Walked casually to his mother and Dante to prepare dinner.
Vergil never forgot those memories.
Unfortunately, the good things replaced by the worst one, including the attack that night. Sadness, regret, and deep anger welled up, make a big lump of hatred in his heart. The flash of memory when he stabbed himself with The Yamato was still vivid. The smell of blood bursting out, swallowed up by the darkness of the silent past. The turmoil of despair never dissipated when Dante defeat him.
Vergil sighed. Can he forget his past and move forward? Compared to him, Dante seemed to understand more about the problems he was facing. It's just that Dante is more open and willing to talk. Whereas Vergil had a very hard time expressing it. Just thinking about it gives Vergil a headache. He went back to reading his book. Remembering every sentence written beautifully on paper.
I heard an Angel singing
When the day was springing,
Mercy, Pity, Peace
Is the World's release
Angel, huh?
His mother looks a lot like an angel.
Vergil closed his book, placed it next to the guitar case that Dante brought and stared out the window, which presented a beautiful view. The tree has lost its leaves. Piles of white blankets covered entire building. His hand reached for the window, feeling the coldness of the empty surface, without turning his face to the cold plains outside. This world is strange indeed.
"Seeing what you like?"
Vergil looked up to find Dante sitting up straight, looking at him.
"Nothing special. " He replied in a calm tone.
"The underworld it's different from here." Dante started the conversation, staring out. "I almost never tiring of seeing this colorful world."
This was not the first time Dante had expressed his thoughts so easily. Vergil barely recognized his brother, whom he had known all along. In the past, Dante was a very hyperactive child, liked to annoy and complain. His rash attitude didn't change. But now, Vergil could see the changes little by little. Dante also seems wiser, though his childish nature never goes away. All the time they spend changing each other character and Vergil enjoys every second.
A small smile appeared on the corner of Vergil's lip. He subconsciously looked back outside, hope for the best.
The train stops at the station at four in the afternoon. The sun's light almost disappeared on the horizon, replaced by a dark sky studded with stars. The lights flickered, illuminating the dark city streets. Red Grave City probably wouldn't recover quickly, seeing a few people passing by.
"Give me the Yamato now, Vergil." Dante holds back his voice. He's hand grabs the Yamato sheath when Vergil is busy with his book. Vergil glared back, tried to take back the beloved sword.
"I don't want it. That thing…" he pointed at the guitar case. "… Not efficient. I prefer to grab The Yamato in my hand." Vergil replied no less fiercely. For a few seconds, they glared at each other, trying to determine who wins. Luckily, the people had gotten off first, so they didn't have to be bothered by all the bickering of the two white-haired men.
"Why do we do this in the first place? I don't see any urgency about my sword being seen in public."
"That's because you don't care. Let me tell you one thing. I have to deal with people, so they didn't have to report you to the police." Said Dante regretfully.
"Then don't. I don't understand because this town does not have many people as I recall. They don't care, anyway."
"For god sake."
"You started this meaningless conversation."
"Come on, Verge, we can do this without fighting." Dante furrowed his brows. "Wait, but you like to fight."
"Shut up Dante. You are not helping at all here." Vergil snatched the guitar case and The Yamato from Dante in a flash. "You may not eat pizza for the week. Period."
Dante growled.
The first to step off the train was Vergil with a sour face because he had to stuff Yamato in Dante's guitar bag and sling it over his shoulder like a musician. Although annoyed but Vergil still obeyed. He groaned in annoyance. Why is he being influenced so quickly, especially by Dante and Nero.
Vergil looked around carefully, looking for a figure who might have been waiting for their arrival, trying to forget the annoyance that was directed at Dante earlier. "Find him?" Dante peeking from behind. He stretched his body, trying to release the stiffness.
"I didn't see him. Maybe he did not come." Vergil gets a little worried.
"Wow, what kind of bullshit is that? I think he's outside and waiting, like usual."
Dante pulled the guitar case along with Vergil, dragged him like a sack. "Can we walk more normally?" Vergil hissed. Dante chuckled.
"No, brother. We weren't normal since a long time ago, with our white hair, of course. So is your son."
Vergil wrenched the guitar case and glared at Dante, walked faster as shame crept up his pale face. Dante's words were always hit right in the sore spot and annoyed him. Why in the world he always listens to his younger brother and he always loses to him. It's because he's the older? That can be right.
Vergil's furious footsteps stopped when he saw his son, Nero, leaning against Nico's van. He looked like a ten-year-old child with a dark blue beanie that almost covered his entire head and a thick scarf shielded him from the cold. At first, Nero looked annoyed. Maybe it's because of the cold. But when his gaze fell on Vergil, he smiled.
"Here." He waved at them.
The twins approached.
"Well, I've spoken to Trish and Lady before." Nero opened the van door, ushering Vergil and Dante in, then he closed the door. Nero rubbed his body, trying to find warmth. "They said a group of demons gathered in the downtown and the pier. The ladies had gone to the pier and we're going downtown." Nero folded his arms and paused for a moment to stare at his father. His guitar case didn't match his cloth he's wearing at all.
Vergil wears a black high collar coat with a navy blue cravat that is almost hidden inside. The black long pants and faded black combat boots that always he wears when they go hunting. From afar, people think Vergil wants to go to a funeral.
"And why did we agree to go there?" Vergil said sarcastically, getting a bad vibe when they talk about the hunter, the both women. Nero rubbed his nose, trying to hold back his laugh. Dante watch carefully because he noticed Nero's strange gaze towards his brother. A second later Dante share the gaze back to his nephew.
Vergil turned around with raised eyebrows. He was expecting his son to answer, but nothing came out. He only heard a giggle. "There is something funny?"
"Well…" Nero pointed at him, all of him. "I have to thank Dante and his peculiar taste." He let out a chuckle and Dante laughed so hard.
Vergil let out a groan.
Damn it, Dante.
"I can only drive up to here." Nico glanced in the rearview mirror. Cigarette perched on her pretty lips. A puff of smoke gathered, making Nero cough slightly as he opened the side window, letting the cold winter air came in. Nico was very insensitive this day. Because it pissed her that, in fact, Vergil was in her van. Or they miss the warm place back in Nero and Kryrie's house. Who knows?
"Any news from Trish and Lady?" Dante asked, moving closer to the front seat.
"Nope." Nico replied, blowing smoke. "If anythin' happens, this phone has been ringin' a long time ago." Nico pointed at the phone on the dashboard.
"What are we waiting for, then?" Vergil joined the conversation. "We must not delay too long."
"I hate to say this, Verge. But I see nothing that should rush us." Dante looked at his brother, sitting on the chair near the jukebox. "You can feel the demon from here, can't you? There are a lot of them gathered in one place, and that's really strange."
Nero frowning. He said nothing because he also felt the same way. There were a lot of demons here, and not one of them attacked. Even on the way to downtown, they were nowhere to be seen. Nero had a bad feeling about it.
"What Dante said is true." Lady opened the van door, which automatically made all the occupants stare at her. Trish followed behind.
"We're in trouble."
"So they set up summoning ritual and demon barricade in here. How is that even possible?" Nero stared in disbelief at Tris and Lady.
"I mean, can demon even do that?"
Lady scoffed. "I wish I had an answer to your question, shocker. But I'm sure we'll find out when we get there." Lady said that because she herself wasn't really sure what had happened. She recalled what happen couple hour ago.
Trish took her motorbike and let Lady be a good passenger in the back. Lady felt a slap of wind hit her face and a foul smell that pierced her nose getting closer. Tris said nothing because she knew where they were going.
A big empty road in front of their eyes. Trish stopped the bike and looked around. A demonic aura was just around. Strangely, not a single demon appeared and hit them with a stupid face.
Too quiet. That's what the two female demon hunters thought. Lady didn't like it because she could sense something dangerous around them.
"Should we split up?" asked Lady, carrying Kalina Ann.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Trish closed her eyes, sharpening senses, trying to locate any demons that might be hiding. When she opened her eyes, she was pensive. Lady looked at her, hoping for something.
"Let me guess. They're no longer here."
"Not really. They're here." Trish looked at the building beside them. "But they're dead."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, I know where they are."
When she and Trish went to the pier, of course, they found the devil. But they did not prepare for what they saw afterward. The demons were already dead. Someone finely dismembered the bodies like slaughtered by a butcher. Their bodies stacked neatly, forming a large circle formation.
Trish and Lady approached to see what was really going on.
"Something definitely happened here." Lady looked at the circle closely. Her hand holding Kalina Ann strengthened. She thinks whatever happens, they don't want to be here now.
Trish jumped past the outer rows of demon corpses, looking inside. "I thought someone had done it on purpose." Lady walking towards Trish, while she pointing to the center of the formation. "What do you think?"
A symbol with the image of the sun being the center point of the formation. The rest of the pictures of the formation are ancient writings which Lady can't understand what they mean. All she knew was that formation made from something disgusting. With her fingertip, Lady poked at the writing, realizing that demon's blood. "This is crazy." Lady muttered.
"You're right. Someone or something has done something ridiculous. Could it be to lure us out?" Trish gave her opinion and Lady responded.
"If so, why here? Red Grave's been dead for a few months thanks to him. Why bother?"
Trish sighed. "I thought something big was going to happen. We have to get out of here immediately." Trish warns Lady.
"You are right."
Dante stood in one of the old buildings that had just rebuilt, with binoculars in hands, staring farther into the half-destroyed city. His eyes found a strange aura rising like the ocean there. It carried a strange vibration to Dante, as if trying to attract him to come.
He turned his gaze elsewhere. Far in the east, the demon hordes set up strange barricades with their ugly bodies. Most of them were Empusa and Hell Caina.
Dante snorted.
"Dante. Did you see something?" Nero shouted under the building. His nephew had taken off his beanie and left it in the car. The Red Queen sat beautifully on his back with pride. And Nero looked more and more like his father, the younger version of Vergil, with less arrogance. But still annoying.
Dante let out a breath landed right beside him.
"It's true what Lady said. The barricades are up in the east and west. For the summoning ritual, I can't see it."
Nero nodded, looked a little tense. "Are you all right, Nero?"
"Uh.. Um, I dunno. I mean, why are they doing it here? This town has just rebuilt. Few people are coming. I don't want something bad to happen again. Not like the Qliphoth." He looked at Dante. "Didn't you guys destroy the Qliphoth tree by the roots?"
"We've already destroyed it. Don't worry Nero."
Nero's worries sounded unfounded, but seeing his nephew uncomfortable made Dante feel the same way. Dante patted his shoulder, giving a reassuring smile. "We'll do whatever it takes to stop the bad guys, as usual. Don't worry, kid. We've always got your back."