Mission 3: Hell on Earth

[DarkSlayer]

”Oh man…” Zacheus groaned softly as both Armando and Judas fell, leaving only himself and Nero. Dante stood behind his desk, glancing around at each of his guests that lay unconscious, stroking his chin.

”I didn’t expect everyone to go under, at least not right away…”

”You bastard!” Zacheus roared, drawing a single pistol and pointing it at Dante, but before he had the chance to pull the trigger the demon had already vanished and reappeared before him. Dante picked him up by the collar and brought him to his feet.

”Whoa there bud, I don’t appreciate it when people point guns at me in my own home.” His eyes narrowed as he spoke, holding Zacheus’ face close to his with a frown. His frown quickly turned into a wicked grin as he thought, and he turned to his desk and picked up the swirling black essence.

”In fact, why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” Dante snickered, turning back to Zacheus. ”Here you go, bud. Play with this for a while.” He slapped Zacheus’ chest with the essence, forcing it into the man. Zacheus gasped from the impact and stumbled the moment Dante let him go, glowing with a dark aura. His eyes blackened completely as he sank to his knees, his soul being ripped from his body and hurled into the depths of another.

The floor was cold and hard, and it felt like there were tiny patterns and groves beneath his fingers. Zacheus was regaining consciousness, his head still spinning from whatever it was that had happened. He arched his back up, leaning on his elbows as he slowly worked his way into a sitting position, rubbing his face and his eyes, groaning. He made a mental note not to miss next time he pointed his gun at that man.

”Ugh. Hello?” Zacheus called into the darkness. The only response he received was the sound of his own voice echoing off the unseen walls.

”Wonderful…” He grunted as he rose to his feet, brushing himself off. He stopped suddenly as a cold chill shot up through his spine. A soft laughter echoed through the room, but was muffled by the sound of his hand brushing his pants. He stood perfectly still, hunched over with his right hand on his left leg, straining his ears for any other hint at what awaited him in the darkness. His eyes began to adjust to the dim room, and after a moment he could make out the walls around him. He seemed to be in a large circular room with no entrance or exit—that he knew of. There had to be a way out though, especially if he had some how gotten in.

The laughter he thought he heard just moments before rang out again, louder this time. Zacheus desperately searched his surroundings to find the source of the laughter, whipping around to see a pair of glowing red eyes level with his own across the room. These beady red eyes belonged to a shadowy figure, the same size as Zacheus. In fact, the more Zacheus stared at it, the more he felt like he was looking into a mirror. It grew long wavy strands of shadowy hair that fell into a pony tail, its face stretching slightly forming a prominent chin resembling his own.

”What the…” Zacheus mumbled, narrowing his eyes to try to see the figure clearer. He drew a single pistol and pointed it at his smoldering dark clone and fired. The bullet flew directly into the forehead of the clone, causing its head to bend back slightly. Zacheus lowered his pistol and stared in horror as the clone’s head bent forward with no visible signs of injury or damage. It glared back at him with a devious grin and pulled a similar pistol from its waist and pointed it at Zacheus’ head.

”Shit…”

[DarkSlayer]

”Grrargh! Hold still!” The giant demon snarled as he swung his massive clawed fists at Corte, crushing small craters into the walls and floor. Corte was too preoccupied to fight back. His mind was still trying to comprehend how he had gotten there to begin with, and how he was going to get out. He dashed around the demon, dodging the enormous paws that were so intent on destroying him. There were no doors, no windows of any sort; just the large hole in the ceiling. Escaping through the hole would be simple enough with his wings, but eluding the demon would be another story.

The demon became more and more enraged as he watched Corte dodge his attacks with little effort. Watching his prey gaze up at the ceiling angered the demon even more. The silver and white strips of energy that were etched into its paws and arms began to glow brighter as it reared back with one arm.

”THERE IS NO ESCAPE!”

The demon’s thunderous roar was followed by an explosion of light and energy as its fist came crashing down on the ground near Corte’s feet. The demon’s cry had caught Corte’s attention, giving him just enough time to glance at the beast before the impact, witnessing only the giant glowing fist crashing down before him. Corte tried to jump out of the way, shielding his face with his arms, but it was pointless—the blast caught him just a foot off the ground and hurled him across the room. He flipped backwards and caught himself on the wall, crouching low to absorb the impact. He let himself slide down the wall and landed gracefully on the floor before dusting himself off. Staring into the beast’s good eye as he straightened his uniform jacket he could tell that the only way out would be through him.

”What a pain…” Corte sighed, resting his right hand behind his neck, cracking it as he rolled his head slightly to one side. The demon was not impressed. Without hesitation, it lunged forward with another powerful punch, but this time Corte was ready. He leapt into the air, just above the demon’s fist. As debris from the wall and floor flew into the air, Corte hung almost suspended in the air, smirking up at his giant foe. The demon’s eye widened as it followed Corte, watching him sprint up its outstretched arm, sword drawn and at the ready. It pulled back in an effort to throw him off, but its efforts were in vain. Corte slashed low along its face, cutting deep into the demon’s cheek. The demon snapped back, flailing in pain—successfully throwing Corte from his shoulder. It covered its cheek with one paw, swinging its free paw wildly at Corte as he fell. Corte held his sword up to defend against the force of the swings, staggering slightly once he landed several yards away.

”GRAAAAGH! I will KILL YOU!” The demon howled, arching backwards releasing a great burst of energy. The nubs on its back burst open, revealing four beautiful white-golden wings as three circular seals rose up from the ground, surrounding the demon. Corte watched in awe as the entire room was illuminated from this great light. From those wings shot many beams of light that curved around the demon and flew into Corte’s chest, one after the other. The pain he suffered from the attack was unbelievable; there were no visible signs of outward damage, but every organ in his body felt as though they were melting. Corte was lifted into the air with each beam of light, higher and higher until the last beam sent him crashing to the floor. Upon impact he vomited blood and curled, writhing in pain.

”That’s a…pretty neat trick…” Corte chuckled weakly as he struggled to get up, his vision blurred slightly from the pain. The demon’s wings sealed themselves once more, and it dropped down onto all fours, growling deeply. As Corte rose to his feet the demon charged wildly, leaping into the air as if to pounce on him. Corte lowered his head, covering his eyes with his hair and grinned, wiping the blood from his chin.

”My turn.” He whispered with a grin. A golden aura began to glow around Corte as the demon descended upon him, its jaws opened wide as if to swallow him whole. Just before the beast’s front paws could touch the floor, Corte’s wings erupted from his back, sending out a spherical shock wave. The burst of energy overpowered the demon, sending him reeling backwards to the center of the room. Corte stood firm, holding Fallen Angel’s hilt level with his closed eyes, his white wings spread and his pearly white armor glistening in the glow of his aura.

I had hoped to go just a bit longer before releasing my wings, but it looks like I’ll actually need to start trying if I want to leave in one piece.

Corte drew a long breath and released it slowly, lowering his blade to one side and opening his eyes. The dust began to settle around him as he folded his wings back, taking his first step towards his foe. The demon reared back on its hind legs and roared, stomping the ground several times with one foot. The force of the stomp shook the room, causing a large metal cage to fall from the ceiling, landing just a few feet from the beast. The demon swung with all its might, hurling the cage across the room at Corte. The cage connected with its target and shattered, kicking up a large amount of dust and debris. The demon watched, its glowing red eye searching the dust for any signs of its prey. Corte stepped out of the dust towards the beast, seemingly untouched by the attack. The demon growled and stomped again, causing another to drop nearby. It dashed over to the second one and sent it speeding at Corte who slashed upwards, slicing the cage clean in two. The two halves spun wildly across the room and crumbled against the far wall with a loud bang.

”You’re right…” Corte began in a calm, cold tone, ”…there is no escape—for you.”

[Undying]

Durante rolled away from a blast of blue fire, narrowly avoiding losing his hand. The bluish horse, though it whined and stomped, moved little, relying on its fire to harm Durante. For his part, Durante preferred to leave the initiative to the animal, thinking it more prudent to study it before attempting to kill it. But he was growing bored of this cat and mouse game, so he decided to speed the game. Drawing out Force Edge, he inched closer to the horse, holding the sword at the ready. The horse eyed him with a blank stare, then whined and stomped again, sending out waves of blue fire.

Durante didn't dodge. He ran through the fire, accepting the stinging burns, and slashed the horse's legs, then shot up and stabbed into the creature's neck, trying to sever its head. A gout of flame pushed him back before the wound could be any deep. Durante charged before the flames even started to subside, jumping on the horse's back and stabbing into its head. It reared in pain and shook him off, tossing him onto the carriage it had attached to it. Without thinking Durante stabbed the carriage, cracking it. He ripped Force Edge out, sending a fair chunk of the aged wood flying wild.

The horse finally charged, whining loudly. It ran amok, straight into the wall. Durante jumped away, thinking the beast would ram against the solid rock. Instead, it simply vanished. He stared, astonished, until a creak behind him warned him. He jumped away in the last instant, a sharp spike of the carriage's wheel passing a hair from his leg. The horse went on, melting into the wall. Durante thought about his father's stories. There was one that particularly caught his attention. A story about a horse...

“Geryon!” Durante remembered what his father said. The demon horse could control time and space, going through walls, and slowing and speeding time. He now knew what enemy he was facing, and what a gift his father gave him. Only now, he had to defeat the demon his father subdued so long ago, a demon resurrected by his own power. Bringing Ragna out to his other hand, Durante swung both blades, testing their balance. He wanted to take the demon out with his full power.

Geryon burst out from the wall behind Durante, charging at full speed, the carriage firing missiles as he ran. Durante ran towards his equine enemy, dodging the missiles, and slashed with Ragna, then stabbed with Force Edge, then cross-slashed in from of his face, drawing deep lines of burning flame on Geryon's chest. He Tricked to avoid the gout of flames and landed squarely on the horse's back, stabbing both blades down into its back. The horse whined and crumbled down, and Durante jumped from its back, thinking the battle over.

Then the horse burst into blue flames again, and rose into the air. Durante sighed. “What must I do to finish my battles quickly and painlessly?” Geryon snorted, and the carriage exploded, forming a glowing orb of energy that floated through the air, joining with Geryon. It reformed on Geryon's back, slowly becoming human-shaped. Durante tightened his grip. The human-shape was an armoured knight of sorts, wielding a massive polearm that ended with a mace-head. But what drew the slight gasp from Durante's lips was not the very impressive weapon, and not the sheer size of his new double enemy, but the many ridged armour it wore. Overlapping plates, sprouted spikes from the forearm, the knees, and the shoulders. Two bull-like horns rose from the creature's helmet, and another two spikes jabbed straight up. All obscured, the creature rode cloaked in shadows and flames.

Durante didn't wait for the creature to fully emerge. He charged, almost disappearing as he moved, and attacked. His swords bit into Geryon's flesh, and the rider responded by slamming the weapon down, cracking the floor. Durante was nowhere near it, having moved away already. Both his swords, forming an X below Geryon's head, slashed together like scissor blades, but to his shock the horse and the riders were nowhere near him. They stood behind him, and the giant polearm descended down, cloaked in flame. Both swords shot up to block, and Durante nearly went into the floor from the force of the blow. Cracks ran below his feet. Mustering up his demonic strength, he pushed it away, and charged in again, trying to fell the horse, understanding that the rider's main advantage over him. Dashing below Geryon's midsection, he jumped and began to slash furiously, swords working in harmony.

Interesting... I don't think I have ever comprehended how difficult it is to fight with two weapons of similar length...

By the time he landed, Geryon was whining and running about the room, blood and fire dripping from its belly. The rider seemed undisturbed by the horse's wild movements, adjusting its balance to keep sitting on the steed. After a few minutes of wild buckling, the horse finally calmed, and immediately came charging at Durante, the rider holding its huge mace down low for a sweeping attack. Durante used Trick again, avoiding the attack. The rider came around again, sweeping the mace. Durante dismissed Ragna and grabbed the pole, hanging onto it with one hand. He swung himself for a moment and then let go, flying above the rider's head. Ragna showing in his hands, he dove down, swords extended.

The instant his swords touched with the rider's helmet, both rider and horse vanished. Durante's eyes widened in pure shock as the mace slammed into his midriff and sent him flying. He slammed against the wall and fell to the ground, the breath blasted from his lungs. He pushed himself up, and lifted his swords for another attack. Geryon and its rider charged again, the giant mace swinging menacingly. Durante didn't move, eyes scanning the area, focusing on the demon steed and its mysterious rider. Could they teleport? Durante wanted to see Geryon's power in action, to see him slowing time.

And find its weakness.

“I'll kill the horse... and claim its power...”

The words echoed in his mind. Power... power... power... that was his true goal, his true calling. His uncle, father, grandfather, were all merely targets to test his power. And he had to achieve more of it.

Durante's face became blank. His emotions vanished. All thoughts focused on the horse. Ragna lowered to defend his side, and Force Edge floated before his chest, ready to take the hit. Geryon closed in, and suddenly, the mace rammed against Durante's back. He flew across the room, looking at the rider exiting the wall. Although the hit was almost crippling, it hardly registered in Durante's empty mind. He lifted both swords again, and suddenly began to glow blue.

The horse charged again, and Durante waited, eyes focused on the ground before the horse. The creature neared drawing closer. Durante didn't move, and again, the mace rammed into his side, rolling him across the floor. He regained his footing almost at once, sliding across the floor. The horse came in for another charge. Just as it neared, Durante used Trick again, reappearing farther away, near a wall. He ran up it and jumped as high as he could, opening his wings as he did. Floating high above the arena, he saw Geryon rush into the wall, apparently not realizing where Durante vanished to.

Now Durante had seen all he had to. When the horse came near enough to where he was, it unleashed a reddish wave of energy that slowed down time. Durante realized that because of that wave it seemed as if Geryon and its rider were teleporting. But now that he knew Geryon's method of attack, he had the counter. Gliding around the room, he spotted the telltale rippling of the wall that announced Geryon's approach. Smiling he folded his wings, beginning a slow descent. Geryon sniffed the air and lifted its head, whining loudly. The rider lifted its mace as well, but Durante surprised them by flapping his wings lazily, spiraling away and landing on the other side of the room.

“To fight you up close would be suicide, so I shall destroy you in another manner...” Ethereal, almost invisible blue appeared all around them. Durante concentrated, creating six of those swords around Geryon. The horse looked at him with maddened eyes, and Durante smiled coldly as the swords cracked and shattered. Razor sharp and jagged pieces flew all around the demon horse, so thick that they could not be avoided. But Geryon tried anyway. He charged and released his time-slowing energy, almost freezing the shards in place. They continued to move, so slowly that it was hardly visible, while it charged through them, blue fire and blood erupting form where it scratched itself.

But it forgot Durante. Just as Geryon and its rider were about to enter the wall, Durante appeared before them, both swords stabbing into the rider's helmet. With a powerful downward motion, Durante sliced through the armour and landed on Geryon's back. He lifted his swords, intending to continue his deadly assault, when he realized there was no rider anymore. Geryon stood perfectly still, waiting for Durante's actions. The demon hunter looked around, surprised. There was no rider, no humanoid creature swinging a weapon anywhere at all, and Geryon stood beneath him, breathing gently.

Suddenly Durante had an odd thought. The demon horse was a product of his own power stirring the essence of Geryon's power. Destroying it would mean making it slumber again, so there had to be another way.

“You wish for a rider...?” He sheathed his swords and sat in Geryon's saddle. The demon horse looked back at him, snorted once, and suddenly an electrical sound erupted all around them. Durante blink, and when his eyes opened he was no longer inside the arena. He was standing above Divali, sword poised to strike. The realization of victory made him smile, but Divali, seizing the instant of distraction, jumped away, so fast he left a blur.

“I don't know what's happened, dear Durante, but I'm afraid you've lost your chance. My speed far surpasses yours, and all I require-” He was cut short as Ragna stabbed into his chest, narrowly missing his heart. Durante smiled at him, and ripped the sword out, sending a spray of blood into the air. Divali hissed in pain and started to move, when Force Edge stabbed into his right shoulder. Durante lifted Ragna again, aiming for the head, and Divali realized that there was no escape.

Or so it seemed.

Divali melted into the floor, merging with the stone. His skin took on the tone of the ground, and his body seemed to have melted around the sword.

“'I bid you farewell, for you, Durante. I believe that we shall meet again, soon...” with that, Divali vanished completely. Durante stood for a moment longer, before his legs gave away and he fell down to his knees.

“That... was more... than I bargained for...” he said through gritted teeth, breathing hard. Quicksilver drained him so much that he could barely feel his own demonic power. But what usefulness! He stood no chance against Divali's speed in a regular fight. But with this ability, he almost killed him. And yet, he realized that he had to develop new ways of using Quicksilver, as he now had two weaknesses he did not want.

((Not my best, but it was hard to come up with a way to make this more than a regular slashfest. Anyway, I present to you... Quicksilver!))

[DarkSlayer]

Bang!

Zacheus watched in horror as the barrel of his ghastly clone’s pistol exploded. The bullet shot directly into his forehead, and everything went black. He could feel himself falling backwards, expecting to feel the cold concrete floor greet him as he landed.

This is it, he thought, It’s over…

He could feel his blood run cold, anticipating the chilled grip of death, but the only thing he felt was the cold floor beneath him. Then it came. The pain was excruciating. His head felt like it could split open at any moment, and he reached up with both hands and clasped his face, screaming.

How?! How am I still alive?!

But his head was swimming with both confusion and immense pain. His cries were suddenly drowned out by an evil laughter that echoed through the room as it began to quake. Four large pillars emerged from the different quarters of the room and rose to the ceiling. Between them walked the dark clone as they rose, twirling his pistol around his finger staring down at Zacheus with a devilish grin.

”It’s been so long since I’ve had someone to play with.” Doppleganger snickered in a deep, demonic tone leaning down on one knee over Zacheus, who was struggling to open his eyes enough to examine his hands.

There’s no blood… Zacheus’s mind raced, ignoring the threat that loomed just inches above him. I’m still alive…?

Doppleganger watched with a look of annoyance as his prey blatantly ignored him, too shocked to hear his taunts.

Bang!

Zacheus cried out in pain once again as his clone fired another shot into his right leg, rolling over and curling up clutching his thigh.

”Isn’t it amazing?” Bang! Doppleganger chuckled as he slowly fired shot after shot into each of Zacheus’s limbs. ”No blood,” Bang! ”No wound,” Bang! ”All of the pain and suffering.”

Zacheus lay writhing in pain, wondering how the hell he had gotten into such a predicament and cursing to hell the man in the red trench coat. The shadow figure stood over him now, cackling wildly, twirling his pistols on his fingers.

”…Who are you?!” Zacheus spat, trying to deal with the incredible pain surging through his body.

”Who am I? Why, I’m your inner demon! And right now, you're in MY domain.” A devious grin spread across Doppleganger's face as he rest his hands on his hips and gave a great kick to Zacheus's head, sending him flailing across the room into the wall on the far side.

Great. So basically I'm in purgatory. Zacheus thought to himself as he struggled to move. The pain was still incredible, but it was fading. Doppleganger was right; if he could just bear with the pain, he might be able to find a way to defeat this 'inner demon'.

"Oh, one thing I forgot to mention; though there are no visible wounds, you can and will eventually die from the shock. That way I can play with you for a bit longer." A sinister laugh echoed through the cavernous room as Doppleganger raised his pistols once more, aiming for Zacheus.

"Oh, well isn't that convenient..." Zacheus grumbled, raising his pistols just the same.

[Ymir'sEmbrace]

The white surrounded him. It embraced him, consumed him… suffocated him. Armando didn’t understand why everything was like this. He could remember the shop, and choosing the twin spirit before the whiteness took over. None of this made any sense-

“Heheh…” Simple laughter echoed around the space; a single child’s voice that rang out clear in the thickness of the void. Armando opened his mouth to call out to the laughter but nothing came out. It was then that he realized he was no longer a human body. He looked down to make sure he was all there, but there were no legs or torso, only a bright void that continued with no end.

“Heheheh…”

“Hahahahaha!”

“Hehehehehehe…”

So many voices, each in different tones and volumes, all laughed at once. At him? No, at something funny? Perhaps. He didn’t even want to understand, but the laughter kept an irregular beat slowly grating his mind, they grew louder and still louder yet as the mingled voices seeped into his mind, contorting and twisting his consciousness. He wanted out, he wanted out of this overbearing emptiness. Just as he felt himself at wit’s end the laughter stopped with a sudden and deafening slam as if someone had closed a door. Whatever form of being Armando now was searched for the source of the laughter and then he saw himself. Armando stood before him, dressed in a thick coat that reached down to the floor, a tussle of fur waved about the collar. His warm eyes and creased smile stared back at himself.

“Oh Armando, how do you do?” The man had a different kind of smile than the genuine smile that Armando had always thought he gave off. Instead it was an indifferent and arrogant smile that spoke volumes of the man’s character. But it wasn’t the smile that caused him alarm. It was the eyes. They were so calm yet they gave off a radiance that seemed to make the whiteness cower and shrink away.

“Gilgaros.” The sound came from everywhere at once, both booming and soothing. His voice? “Why have you entered here?” He knew the words to speak. They were his own. They became his thoughts the instant he spoke them, as if he knew this conversation and how it played out perfectly before-hand but learning of it the instant he spoke.

“Now now Armando, this is the first time we’ve truly been able to meet. As such, I was hoping this would be a cordial visit. I wish to thank you for housing my soul for so long. Soon we shall part ways.”

“I am aware as well. Destiny shall be put into motion through that tower. However, I am surprised you have no intentions of ending my existence here. I will destroy it all in the end.” How did he know any of this? Armando tried to think why he would say that but it didn’t come to him. Was he not meant to understand? “I have tainted one of them, I had hoped to affect both, but in the end the child was lost.” He gave off a smirk, or was it merely the thought of a smirk? That didn’t make any sense to him at all other than that he knew what he spoke was truth and was meant to be. Gilgaros seemed to have caught the unseen gesture and lowered his head, the smile gone from his mouth.

“In the end even your influence will have been too minor to change his destiny. I shall stop your wanton destruction; this world shall be mine to rule.” He stopped and turned his head as if looking off into the distance though clearly there was nothing there. “He has started to have the visions. Can you keep him suspended upon your strings long enough to keep the puppet from completing his task? I wonder.” With a wave Gilgaros stepped out of the space leaving Armando alone with the buzzing loneliness once more. He tried to think why he knew how to respond, and how his words rang out so clear when even now he couldn’t manage a single whisper. Before he had a chance to attempt anything more he was pulled from his thoughts as he opened his eyes.

He was sitting, one knee resting on the ground, the other leg bent as his hands held firmly onto the stone below him. It was a barren room, met with a taste of destruction which left once intricately crafted columns to lie about in shambles. Behind him stood a long iron gate and a twin to it stood roughly twenty feet ahead of him. He took a few furtive steps in the room, the shadows wavering softly in the light from the torches placed around the room.

“He’s here brother, the other one.”

“Yes, it seems we must test both.” Armando looked up to the twin voice that spoke out. Two statues stood in resolute silence, their hands grasping twin scimitars that had faces for the hilt. They whispered amongst themselves about twin souls sharing one body and each being their master. Armando didn’t care; he just wanted to end this. The memory of that room still hung in his mind.

“I believe he’s not listening to us.”

“Yes, the other was much more sociable. Perhaps he isn’t aware of what he must do here?”

“It matters not, it is his turn now!” With that final phrase the twin statues moved to life, jumping immediately down to Armando, their deeply curved scimitars arced and aimed for the priest. Armando attempted to jump into the shadows, as he had done countless times before, but he couldn’t manage it. At the very last second he rolled to the side, catching the thick arm of the blue guardian square in the face.

“I am to fight you both?” Armando was a bit shocked at his own voice. How long had it been since he last heard it? Surely not more than a few minutes, yet it felt completely foreign. “Explain to me the rules, how do I fight without a weapon?”

The two guardians kept their resolute silence as they continually slashed at him. Armando dodged their charging attacks with grace and posture as he scanned the room for anything that could become a make-shift weapon. Nothing!? In that instant of thought he dropped his guard and took a full forward slash across the chest which ripped at his priest’s robes and sent him falling back to the wall.

“Is this the strength of your resolution?” The red guardian finally spoke to him as it jumped through the air, landing a vertical slash that was mere centimeters from Armando’s face.

“What resolution, what point is there to this fight?” Armando was done. He was tired of this constant fighting, of a fate he wanted no part of. Mundus had made sure to crush every last hope he had of ever overcoming his fate. He would awaken as Gilgaros and become nothing more than a memory of himself.

“A man of the cloth who has no resolution? Does your faith not give you hope and strength?” The blue guardian spoke now, as both of the twins jumped backwards to the opposite end of the room.

“What use is there in relying on something as feeble as that?” At his breaking point, he no longer cared of his image, of his insecurities, of anything at all. He finally felt free to speak his mind, even if it was to demons that were about to kill him for nothing more than a trial. “I didn’t join the church out of any true feelings. I simply wanted to escape my past life. I wanted to be free of my sinful nature. I believed….yes, I believed in a lord, and that if I gave my life to him then I could be redeemed. But I never felt any true feelings for that religion. A part of me was simply afraid I had let my life run out of options. It was my only chance at redemption for my past.” The twin guards stood still, paying perfect attention to what Armando had to say. “Faith was an excuse for me; a way for me to simply pass on my past without any worry of the repercussions.”

“Then why have you so fervently defended that faith of yours, never giving in to your more human nature despite your lukewarm feelings?” The blue guardian spoke up again, his eyes firmly on Armando. “We can see into your soul, we know that you have fought bravely to uphold the tenants and beliefs of the religion you chose to serve, and you never once gave in to weakness as so many others have before you. Truly, if you felt nothing at all for the religion why fight so hard for it?”

Armando looked up, a new feeling rising up inside him. Is this the man he truly was? “You are right. I can’t say I felt nothing for Christianity. I let myself become enveloped in that holy light so that I had something to protect and uphold. And I did uphold my end of the bargain. For some reason I used to feel at ease simply because of that. But now….now I have all of these new feelings coming out; this anger and rage, this hatred for so much.” He was a grown man, but he couldn’t hold back the tears. Everything he thought he cherished in life truly meant nothing to him. He remembered his days as a matador, the memories of the cheap thrills he once pursued simply to prove his existence. “I guess this is the awakening of Gilgaros then. This is how I will feel from now on.” Armando resigned himself to his fate once and for all. This was the end and he knew it.

“Gilgaros? The fellow before you? You are not him. You are Armando Regal. He has nothing to do with this fight.” The red guardian spoke up this time, a faint hint of confusion masked behind a strong sense of knowledge. These guardians were not simply testing his strength, there was something more they were after.

“Wh…what…?” He couldn’t even bring himself to say anything else. A wave of regret and relief flooded over him at the same time. He realized it now, Mundus’s lies. He was not a part of Gilgaros’s soul, waiting to be awoken. No. He was Armando Regal. The memory of that white room suddenly came back to him. All of the confusion that had wrapped around him, the insecurities and fear he let himself be wrapped up in, all of it was gone now. A strange sense of calm and peace fell over Armando. “So these are my own feelings. This is me without the influence of Gilgaros; I guess the Armando the world knows is an amalgamation of us both. So within this realm….I am free of that past. I have a clean slate. I am whole.”

Armando kneeled down once more. His hand grasped the black robe that draped across him and with a great and angry force he ripped it off. The black cloth hanged loosely in his hand, covering over his entire right arm. As the cloth seemed to corrode away, streaks of light shot out from the growing holes that filled the entire room with a calm glow. With a grim smile Armando punched into the earth with that glowing hand that seemed to vibrate with a life of its own. As his hand disappeared into the rock below both guardians pulled up their swords and prepared to strike. As they barreled down on him Armando stayed in his kneeling position, keyed into a stark silence. With a great force he began to pull something up from the broken rubble of the ground. The white light that enveloped his arm slowly worked its way up into a point at his hand, taking shape. Within a blinking moment both guardians slashed at him, within that same moment Armando dashed forward, catching their blades with the tip of a strange sword that shone with an unearthly light. All three blades met at the perfect point, an impossibly calculated strike that sent the arms of both guardians rearing back. Armando looked up from his slow crouching position, that stark silence that had covered his entire being was now concentrated into his gaze. It was a quiet rage that seemed to shake the very foundations of the twin guardians that stared back at him. Lost in that silent rage he had but one thought left in him before he stood up, his rapier aiming for its victim. He would have his body back, of this he was sure.

[SageOfHalo]

Disclaimer: I apologize for the short post this time, but I at least wanted to join in the fun. my next post will (hopefully) be longer...

Getting off the plane, Dr. Blayze sighed heavily and stretched. "Man, these long plane rides get worse and worse every time." Grabbing his duffel bag, he made his way to the ramp, along with the crush of other people arriving in Fortuna City. Once in the airpoirt, it took him a moment to regain his bearings, since it had been over a year since he had been here. "I wonder who else is here." he thought to himself, as he looked around for the taxis. After stopping by Baggage claim to grab his suitcase, he hailed a cab, and gave the driver the address of a non-descript office building downtown, but Dr. Blayze knew exactly who he would be finding there. After arriving, he took the elevator up to the 6th floor, and there he found suite 660[1], known by most as Devil May Cry. He knocked on the door first, but getting no response, he opened the door and let himself in[2]. Looking around, he called out, "Hellooo! Where is everyone? don't tell me that you all went to that creepy looking tower on your own without me..."

[1] I just made this up, working with the whole 666 thing... plonk me if you don't like it.

[2] i am assuming that all personnel are not in the main room, and that the front door is not trapped or warded or anything. Again, if I guessed wrong, just have teh receptionist ask me if I have an appointment or something.

(DS): Good to have you back buddy, but I'm afraid Devil May Cry is actually its own building. It resembles a large townhouse as far as size, and the interior of the lobby almost resembles that of a bar with a pool table, a jukebox, a single ceiling fan and Dante's desk. The walls are lined with demon heads impaled on swords and pictures of half naked women with black stars over their nipples. (That's Dante for you.)

Aside from that, DMC is actually not located in Fortuna City. The name of the city that DMC resides within actually is NOT revealed, even in the actual story of the game, so bear with us on that.

Also, the characters are currently located in the lobby of DMC, with Dante and Trish waiting at Dante's desk. Feel free to make any necessary changes and erase my message here when you're done.

[DarkSlayer]

The battle between Corte and Beowulf seemed to last forever; Corte had summoned his armor, and Beowulf had released its wings. They went blow for blow; Corte’s blade to Beowulf’s clawed fists, each impact causing an explosion of energy. The chamber they had been fighting in had resembled ruins more than a chamber at that point, and Corte knew that something was going to have to give soon. He could feel his power starting to wane, and the harder he fought, the more desperate and savage the demon became.

”Why?! Why wont you die?! You’re just a human! I should be able to crush you!” Beowulf howled with rage. Corte could tell that his resilience was getting to the demon, and that he just had to hold on a bit longer to whittle him down. The demon’s attacks came faster and harder as the demon came to the end of its patience.

Perhaps I can use his strength to my advantage…

The demon’s giant fist came, and Corte feigned a parry. Instead, he used the momentum of the fist to spin him in place, stepping aside just before the contact and slashing back at the demon’s face once he had spun around. His blade slashed upward along the demon’s good eye, blood spraying every which way. The demon recoiled, clutching its face and screeching in agony. Corte jumped back defensively, expecting the monster to swing wildly as it had done before, but it only stood growling with its face in its paws.

”You may have taken my sight, human, but I can still smell you.”

Thanks. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.

Corte knew that even if the demon could still smell him, it would still have a difficult time landing a blow. This was his opportunity to end this fight and put this demon down for good. Beowulf wasn’t ready to go down yet, not without pulling that last ace out of its sleeve. As Corte gathered himself and caught his breath, Beowulf stood up to its full height with both arms raised above its head. The streaks of silver began to glow once more as both fists slammed down, and for a moment Corte expected the point of impact to erupt with energy as it had time and time again, but it didn’t. Instead, columns of energy erupted from the floor at what seemed to be random locations and intervals. The force of the impact had also seemed to destroy what little integrity the chamber had left, causing large chunks of the walls and roof to come crashing down. Beowulf’s rampage didn’t end there. His wings flapped several times as the three seals appeared around his body once again, and he fired hundreds of rays of light from his back. Corte knew all too well what was about to happen, and decided that this was a perfect opportunity to test his shield. He summoned forth a wall of light on his left arm and braced himself for the beams, dodging the pillars of energy all around him. Each beam of light connected with his shield and vanished instantly, as if they had been absorbed. At that same moment Corte noticed Fallen Angel had begun to glow and then it all fell into place.

I did absorb the energy. But was it only light energy? Holy energy? He neither new nor cared at that particular moment. Only the fact that he had somehow absorbed the energy and stored it mattered to him now. He could feel it surging within his arm, waiting to be unleashed. He could see a smoldering glow rising from the plated armor on his right arm out of the corner of his eye as his shield faded. It felt good – almost as if he had caught a second wind. Corte stood firm, holding Fallen Angel high above his head with both hands, his head bowed and his eyes closed.

This is it. He was calm, collected and confident. He jerked Fallen Angel down sharply so that the hilt was level with his face and opened his eyes, staring at his enemy. A moment passed and he inhaled slowly, filling his lungs and easing his mind. He flipped the sword and held it with the blade pointing down, thrusting it quickly into the ground where he now knelt. He felt the energy leave his body and flow through the sword. No, it shot through the sword into the ground. The floor beneath the demon began to glow ominously, and a great pillar of white flame erupted, incinerating anything and everything within. The demon’s cries rang out into the twilight void beyond the chamber as it flailed about in the flame, and it was silenced not a moment later – its body crumbling into a mix of ash and scorched flesh and bone. The flames vanished, leaving only a smoldering ring and burning ash floating through the air. Corte’s armor had vanished as well, but he remained knelt with his blade embedded in the stone floor.

A single feather fell from his wings as he rested, almost meditating over his victory. He had combined his remaining strength and the energy he had absorbed from the demon’s attack to ensure its demise. All at once, the rest of his wings molted and vanished, surrounding him in a bed of pearl white feathers.

Damn. I think I may have overdone it a bit… His eyesight had grown hazy since his last attack, and the room was starting to spin. He stumbled to his feet and tried to focus on the smoldering corpse. Was it moving? There was definitely something moving. A bright orb of light rose from the ashes and hovered for a moment before drifting towards him.

Shit. I can’t move. My body wont move… He knew he couldn’t handle another encounter of that proportion. If that orb transported him to another demon like the one he had just slain, it would mean certain death for him. The orb hovered at arms reach, glowing and flowing with energy. Its aura was strangely soothing, and after a moment Corte found the courage to reach out and touch it. There was a small flash, and in that instant it was gone. Corte could feel his hands become much heavier, and when he opened his eyes he saw why. A pair of silver plated gauntlets had formed around his hands with streaks of white light flowing through them, along with a pair of matching greaves on his feet. He felt…lighter. The chamber around him began to crumble and shatter into the void, and him with it. He was so tired, all he could think about was closing his eyes and resting.

Just rest…

[Kendaric]

Two down Kendaric thought as he watched Dante's home intently. He could feel the souls of his demons from the tower and he had hoped the Dante was not stupid enough to do what he was in fact doing. Giving demon power to humans was not the brightest thing to do in this world. But Kendaric was not as surprised given Dante's long history of ignorance. "Then again..." he murmured to himself "perhaps that fool actually knows what hes doing this time." He smirked slightly his emotions under control again. "And the boy got Quicksilver of all things; and a fitting choice for the Angel as well." Kendaric's eyes opened to the sight of his wife hovering before him, her eyes filled with worry and dismay.

"I am..." Kendaric started but before he could finish he was flying into the air his breath stolen from him. "sorry..." he finished mentally to Vadaria as she blasted him into the air. Kendaric knew that there would be more to her assault and attempted to prepare himself for what was next. However before he could even reach for his blade she was there in his head shredding him of his ability to think. His reaction time slowed as he drew his blade to defend against a blow he had already been dealt. Kendaric swam in the sea of his own mind trying to stay afloat in a place where there was normally no water. His efforts were in vain and he knew that, but he would not fall to her with out a fight. He focused his mind as much as possible to one purpose... emptiness. As Vadaria pummeled him again and again with his own thoughts she paused and jumped back knowing what her husband was doing.

Her stance lowered and her daggers were drawn as she continued to mentally butcher Kendaric waiting for what she hoped he would not accomplish. Kendaric sank willingly into her murky depths and let the water douse his flame. His mind could not be free in her presence and he had to force himself to cut his ties with his own nature. As he sank she appeared above the water watching him sink. She smirked knowing that he would not be able to let go of his carefree nature. "You lose love..." she sang out to him in his own mind. and in that moment Kendaric's mind died... the ever present wind died completely forcing the water to calm around them. Kendaric faded into the watery abyss his mind shrouded in darkness.

Vadaria vanished from his mind as the water began to boil. From the depths a jade glow flared and the water began to evaporate quickly. Kendaric's body straitened and he took a firmer hold of his blades as his eyes flared open to reveal his piercing lavender orbs. He Fell sharply towards the ground stopping just above the broken down buildings he had been knocked to. As he took his stance a golden wall seemed to form around the two of them. "No my love I have yet to begin..." He said softly. Vadaria grinned as she hovered down in front of him "So an all out fight then... do be gentle love." she said with a playful chuckle.

[DarkSlayer]

Corte woke suddenly from his restless slumber, gasping sharply as his eyes shot open. He sat up quickly, clutching his head in his hand glancing about the lobby of the Devil May Cry. All around him he could see his comrades lying lifelessly, just as he had been moments ago. How long had he been unconscious? Were his friends suffering similar battles with fierce demons? More importantly, would they survive? A door opened from behind Dante’s desk, and a familiar face stepped forward.

”Ah, you’re finally awake!” Cried Dr. Blaze. He rushed over to Corte’s side and helped him to his feet. ”How’re you feeling?” The doctor eyed him furiously from head to toe, inspecting him as if he expected to see some outward change in appearance.

”Dr. Blaze?” Corte said at last, finally coming to his senses. ”I-I’m fine. Just a bit shocked, that’s all. When did you arrive? And how long was I unconscious?” Corte demanded, his face now stricken with a growing concern.

”I see. Well, I’ve only just arrived. As for how long you were out, my guess would be roughly forty-five minutes or so. Dante informed me of what had taken place, and why his lobby had people strewn about it." Dr. Blaze chuckled, glancing around the room at the others that lay propped up against walls or furniture. ”So tell me, what was it like?! What happened?!” Dr. Blaze asked, staring at Corte with new eyes, burning brightly with a passion to learn and understand.

Corte thought for a moment before responding, trying to remember what had happened. It seemed so far off to him, almost like a dream he had had many nights past.

”You’re referring to the essences that Dante had presented?” To this the doctor nodded eagerly. ”Well, I’m not quite sure how to describe the sensation at first touch…” Corte’s face wrinkled slightly as he gathered his thoughts, absent-mindedly fiddling with his gloves. ”It was cold to the touch, but as it became a part of me a great warmth came over me. My body began to smolder, as if I had just been covered in flames and they had been put out. Then everything faded to black…”

Corte recounted the events with the demon Beowulf as best he could, with as much attention to detail as possible. The Doctor watched him intently, nodding every so often as if to make a mental note. He was especially delighted to hear how Corte had defeated the demon.

”Intriguing!” Dr. Blaze half whispered aloud to himself, staring at Corte’s left arm. ”Tell me, could you produce that shield of light for me? I would very much like to take a look at it.”

Corte stared at him with a raised brow, not sure what to think of his odd request. ”I suppose.” Taking in a deep breath Corte summoned forth his white armor, along with his white wings which he folded carefully behind him. Raising his left arm he gathered to him tiny particles of light that seemed to be drawn from all around them, forming a great shield made of a golden light. The Doctor leaned in closely to examine the curious device, stroking his chin carefully and nodding slightly.

”An experiment!” cried Blaze, standing up stiffly and walking swiftly towards Dante’s pool table. Picking up the eight ball, Blaze turned and hurled the ball across the room at Corte yelling, ”On your guard!”

The ball sped towards him and crashed into the shield of light. It could not break through the light, and instead dropped to the floor with a loud thunk.

”I see…” the doctor mumbled, staring at the ball with great interest. ”Well then, how about this?” and with that Blaze shot a great burst of fire towards Corte, which was absorbed almost instantly after crashing into the shield.

”Ha-HAH! Absolutely fascinating!” Dr. Blaze cheered, clapping several times. ”It requires a great amount of strength and energy to summon and sustain, so for now I’ll be returning to normal if you don’t mind.” Corte said in a cold tone, and without waiting for a response his armor faded, along with his wings and shield.

”I see. Well with that kind of stopping power, I’m sure it comes at a great price.”

”Indeed.” He was glad to see that the good Doctor was alive and well, but being examined right after coming out of a hellish nightmare was beginning to annoy him.

”And what of this new power you’ve obtained? May I see it?”

”I’m afraid I’m going to respectfully decline your request.” Corte said sternly, trying his best to refrain from sounding annoyed. ”Tell me, where is Dante? I would like a word with him.”

”I see. Perhaps another time, then.” Dr. Blaze looked mildly disappointed at being denied a chance to see a demon artifact. ”Dante? I'm afraid he left with Nero not long ago to assist Lady with ridding the streets of the demons that have been stirring up trouble.”

This annoyed Corte even more, as he had many questions he would have liked to ask Dante then and there, especially pertaining to the outcome of his battle and the safety of his friends.

”Very well, then. I will remain here and keep watch over the others until they’ve awakened. With any luck, they’ll be safe until he returns.”

[Undying]

((Sorry for the massive unpostiveness >.>'. A little side-story to get Durante into moar character evolution. Written while half asleep. Sorry if it sucks. Arrt. Color code later, too tired to do it.))

Detective John McLeod was no field man. His expertise was in studying evidence in a comfortable office, sitting behind his large mahogany desk and looking over photographs of gruesome scenes, finding the tiny details that have escaped the eyes of the field people, those who were so good and running about and shooting, but could not discern the difference between and old screwdriver and a new one.

So there was none more surprised when the chief called him up to his office and informed him that he was going out to a field mission with Linda. And none more annoyed. John hated Linda. She was one of the most beautiful women in the station, but he couldn't stand her uncouth style and rough personality. What's more, he hated her tendency to pull her gun at the slightest aggravation – something that ruined many crime scenes and evidence.

Grumbling under his breath he walked back to his office, intending to take his jacket, but instead stopped dead. Linda was sitting in his chair and glaring ferociously at the door, which he just opened. It took him a moment to get his wits back.

“Hello, Linda. Nice day outside.”

“Not that you ever look outside, John,” she said roughly. He wanted to slap her, but managed to keep calm.

“Yes, well, its still a lovely day, and we have been assigned as a team-”

“I know!” She cut across him again, flaring. “I wouldn't have accepted it, but this is my last chance, and by god, if you make me fail-”

“You are the only person to blame for your failings, Linda,” he replied coldly. He stepped into the room, picked up his jacket, and walked out, shooting a frozen “meet me at the Bar'n'Burger at 7:00 o'clock PM. Study the case until then.” Over his shoulder.

Linda stared. She never knew the docile and humble John had such a side to his personality.

John hadn't realized he could be so rough, as well. He's never experienced such impulses before. But he knew it felt awesome. He felt a new spring in his step, and felt more manly than ever before. He almost laughed out loud when he left the police station, heading towards his home. He had the case files in his personal drawer, ready to be reviewed already.

He never noticed the dark figures moving on the rooftops, watching his every step.

“He's almost ready,” said Goh, his red eyes glowing as he watched the human walking.

“Really?” Answered Toch, his green eyes also focused on John's figure. “What happens when it hatches?”

“He'll just become the first servant. We can continue making them once he's mature... and the best part is, we're going to do it naturally!”

Goh and Toch laughed evilly and vanished, returning to their shadowy lair. As soon as they have, Durante walked out of the shadows, blue coat swishing lightly. He's been tracking those demons for long, now. Every time he laid eyes on them, his hand shot to his sword, his mind going blank. But every time, he stopped himself. He had to wait. He had to be patient. He had to...

But what do I care?

He struggled with himself for a while, then turned and waited another few minutes, when the woman, Linda, walked out. A very beautiful woman, she was aware of her good looks and have always considered herself to be worth more than anyone around her. Manly attention did little to diminish her ego, and Durante thought that if nothing else, this would teach her some manners.

He moved, stalking her steps from the building roofs. His suspicions proved right when she did a sharp turn to the right, her blond hair trailing behind her, and went into a dark alley. A mysterious figure, clad in black and wearing a top hat, stood there, apparently waiting. When it spotted the blond movings its way, he removed his hat, revealing black hair.

Durante could not hear what they were saying, but he frankly didn't care. He waited until the encounter ended and swooped down, landing soundlessly behind the man in black. With a flash, Durante knocked the man out cold and dragged him up the building, to the rooftop.


Linda and John met at the appointed time, with Linda walking into the restaurant a minute to seven to find John already there, reading the files. She was surprised to see a slight smirk on his face, and a general air of a man who was immensely enjoying himself. She thought she'd never seen him quite like that. He was always reserved, and removed. She always thought of his as the typical nerd who got a job thanks to his studying skills.

She didn't like this new development. She wanted an easy, insecure John that she could shove around as she pleased, so that she may have an easy job and not too much interference. She approached him, intending to start talking, when he talked without even looking at her.

“Not bad, you've actually gotten here on time.” He pored over the report again, then took a little sip from his coffee. “I trust that you've gone over this case?”

She sputtered for a few moments, than sat in front of him, silent. If bullying didn't work, then she figured she could use his charms on him. He wasn't much of a looker, and she didn't think too many women paid him much attention. She sat frozen for a few moments, and when he looked up at her, eyes narrowed in irritation, purposefully crossed her hands beneath her breasts, emphasizing them.

“Yes, I have,” she replied slowly. “Listen, John... I think we've gotten on the wrong foot. I know my reputation, but it's really not who I am. I could-”

“That's none of my concern,” he cut across her coldly. “We are together only to complete this mission. After that, I don't want to hear about you. Ever.” Her mouth fell open, and he continued, mercilessly. “According to the details, the homicide was done four hours prior to the discovery of the scene. The victim was always found inside a room locked from inside, and there were no traces of forcing the door. What do we get from this?”

Linda mumbled something, and John angrily continued. “We gather, that either the killer was shooting with a sniper-rifle from outside, or they were able to kill their victim through other means, while the victim was inside said room. Unfortunately, the presence of claw marks denies that possibility. But, as there is no signs of an animal inside those locations, it raises the mysteriousness. Therefore, we will go to the latest crime scene, and look over it. It has been discovered,” he looked at his watch, “this morning.”

Linda kept her mouth closed.

John nodded, got up, and walked, without a second glance back. Linda followed, understanding that she's been beaten. When they arrived, the place was mostly deserted. The apartments nearby have been cleared by the police, and only the presence of two police cars hinted that anything happened. The duo entered the small two-room apartment, and even Linda, who was around on other murder scenes before, couldn't suppress a gasp. The body had been raked with claws from neck to navel, exposing all the internals. Whatever those close belonged to must've been huge, as the organs were half outside, as if pulled when whatever it was clawed the poor man.

It took her a moment to realize that John wasn't at all reacting to the scene. He almost seemed to be enjoying himself. That puzzled Linda. As far as she knew, John had never been on a crime scene, let alone a murder scene. But, he seemed curious, interested, not at all revolted as she'd expected. He bend by the body and observed it.

“Interesting that they didn't move it...” he said, smirking. “They must've been afraid whatever did this will be back to finish its meal...”

“What-?” She gasped, but John was already moving about, shooting orders.

“Shut up. Get a camera out and start taking pictures of everything that's here. Pay special attention to possible tracks or unusual signs on the floor or walls, or ceiling. Well, what are you waiting for? Chop chop!”

Linda mumbled something and started to move mechanically. She was completely confused, her mind working through a fog. What was going on here? John, the placing, well-mannered, plump little man who was always nervous around her because she was so glamorous, so in control... this was supposed to be so simple, she just had to give him a little attention, flirt a little, and this pitiful, useless excuse for a man would've bent to her will so easily...

She barely paid attention to her surroundings, and ran straight into the open door of a closet. She stumbled back, rubbing her head, and shoved the door, wanting to close it. It bounced back, and a sharp grunt echoed through the apartment. Linda stepped back, staring, as a small animal walked out of the closet, sniffing the air. It looked roughly like a dog, but its torso was elongated and slightly humanoid, with the front legs changed so they reminded clawed human hands. Its jaws and claws were black with dried blood. Linda stumbled back, but the odd creature merely moved away and jumped out of the window. She heard an angry sigh behind her.

“You could've at least taken its picture, you know!” John was scolding again, angry. “This is most important evidence, and from what I saw it looked like it had something to do with the killing! What kind of an officer are you, anyway!?”

Linda snapped.

“Who the hell do you think you are!?” She screeched, raising her hand to slap him. He caught it easily, but she didn't stop. “You miserable little excuse for a man! You've never been out of your tiny little office box! Stop commanding me like you know everything! Just because you never get laid, just because you've always been hated everywhere, doesn't mean you get to order me around! I'm- I'm!”

John yawned. “Are you quite finished yet, Linda dear? If you are, then you're still going to have to take photos of everything, and I'm still angry at you for missing the potential killer. Now, off you go.”

His demeanor stopped Linda. This was too much! Too many strange things at once, oddities she couldn't handle. She was used for things to go her way easily – whether it was by simple manipulation of greedy and desperate men, or giving them their what they wanted, or just by bullying – and this was completely different.

John being so completely immune to her charms was the first sign that something was wrong. And that odd creature was the final straw. She crumbled down to her knees and gave a sob.

John was looking at Linda from behind the corner. She was definitely breaking. This irritated him. He needed her in working condition if he was to solve this case properly. And he wanted to solve this case. He wanted to find whoever it was that was responsible for those killings, and...

He almost drooled. It hadn't even occurred to him that something was strange about him or his behavior, that his thoughts were not his own. He had power, and that was all he cared about. He was nearly drunk with it. He liked his new attitude. It made everything seem so... easy.


Durante sheathed Force Edge, the remains of a Pride crumbling before him. This chase was beginning to bore him. Linda showed her true colors as soon as something slightly gruesome appeared, John was clearly succumbing to his demonic infection, and if nothing changed soon, he figured he'll leave. Time was getting short anyway, and he was going to have to deal with the new Temen-ni-gru all too soon. He considered killing the culprit himself, but dismissed the idea. Such a low class demon wasn't worth his time. Sighing he plopped down, pouting. This wasn't turning into the big chase he'd hoped it would. He thought that there would be more gunfights and crazy car chases.

“Guess you can't believe everything you see on TV...” he mumbled, just as a gunshot echoed from the building. John and Linda both ran out, chased by the dead body. Durante's eyes sparkled. Now this was fun. Zombies!

He waited for a few more seconds until the creature was brought down by the gunfire, and to see John grabbing Linda and running away.

“Well, now...” Durante smirked. “This is what I'm talking about.”

He figured this would be a fun past-time until all the others finish their business. He was planning on making a grand entrance to the Temen-ni-gru, and could hardly be there first.

[Ymir'sEmbrace]

((Holy Hiatus Batman! That's right boy-wonder. This RP appeared to be dead, but in fact was simply waiting for the opportune moment to start right back up! Armando post to follow (hopefully sooner than a month from now, but hey, finals are coming up) ))


The entire cave shook with the heavy sound of thunder that crashed and resonated around the hollowed cave. Judas stood, struck directly by the accompanying bolt of energy. Nevan stood atop the stage, her devilish laugh barely audible against the waves of bolts that came crashing down from the dark ceiling. With each flash of light, black blots shot out from her ever-swirling dress, a swarm of darkness that never stayed in any one shape until unleashed towards their prey. The black blots took the shape of bats, infused with the same demonic electricity that Nevan controlled at will.

Judas stared at the onslaught with weary eyes. Though he was aware that the battle was only taking place in his soul, where time had no meaning, his mind still perceived a flow of time, and this battle had taken entirely too long. With a single heavy sigh Judas dashed forward, dodging the bolts of lightning and tearing out his dark whip to handle the bats. In his rush he held the whip straight out as it turned into a blade with a delicate point, sharp enough to pierce through her dress, hitting a strange emptiness within. Without hesitation he began to draw power through his weapon into the strange entity that comprised her dress, melding his darkness with her own.

“A new tactic?” Nevan conformed to the ground and appeared behind him, grasping his shoulder and letting her own energy into his body. The pain of the electricity running through every last muscle of his body was enough for him to remain standing, frozen in place. In spite of the pain Judas managed a weak smile. “Enough with the fighter act Judas.” Nevan let go of his and let her dress seep out into the ground below as her naked, pale form swept slowly across the cold stone floor until coming to a rest at the center of the stage. A single thin thread of her shadow dress remained connected to Judas, delivering a constant charge to keep him in order.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t play around with me, but your boyish taunts, your vigor for battle. I know they’re all lies. I know you’re still just as afraid to fight as you were since you fought Emelious, and I know that you find me to be too much for you to handle.” Nevan held out her hand, her lips pouted and her finger uncurled seductively as she mocked him. “I wanted to fight a real man. Someone cool, calm….collected. Instead I’m given yet another child. Someone who can’t even put me in my place. I saw into your soul Judas, I know what I fell in love with-!” Nevan barely managed to let out a gasp as the shadow that had been pulsing at her feet rose up around her, covering her entire body. The smile on Judas’s face disappeared, replaced by an annoyed frown. His shadow extended out underneath him, growing as if some invisible light had been displayed against his form.

“I guess even an idiotic slut can have a bit of insight. Yes I was scared, and yes, I acted like a fool. You’ll only hear this once. Sorry.” Judas began to pace back and forth in a small line. “I see that you don’t want me to play with you at all, and quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if this would work. But it seems I was always the stronger one here.” With a small snap of his fingers the swirling shadows that surrounded Nevan’s entire body began to tighten around her, smothering her and crushing her bones. At the same time Judas’s shadow showed its true hideous form as it began to contort and twist into a gaping maw that swallowed Nevan’s shadow energy, consuming it whole. When the sick display ended Judas walked up to Nevan’s pale form, almost unrecognizable after the process. A small sigh escaped his tensed lips. “Though I guess you shall do.”

With a flick of his blonde hair he picked up the twisted form and began to forcibly reshape it. As the body almost looked human once more, a bolt of purple lightning descended upon the two, enveloping them in a black light which left the entire cave in darkness.

A low note emanated from that darkness which reverberated through the cave. A few quick strums of a string and more deep notes shot out, each one unleashing a bolt of lightning that illuminated Judas’s serious gaze and an object in his hands before plunging the entire room into darkness once more. Finally a light pierced the darkness from above, illuminating Judas and Nevan, the demon now a pale blue electric bass guitar that stood as tall as Judas himself. He plucked at the strings made of pure plasma repeatedly, his eyes almost bored by his own actions. As he picked up speed and alternated rhythms a low and steady beat could be heard that seemed to cause the air itself to shake about. As the shadows writhed around the two, Judas finally closed his eyes and ended the riff, the shadows around them taking the shape of Nevan’s bats which then shot off into nothingness.

Judas opened his eyes and realized he was back in the Devil May Cry office, his body now slumped against a couch in an awkward position. Dante gave him a cool stare before laughing a bit to himself and walking off.

[Undying]

((Right, rush job - done in less than three hours. Will wrap zombie storyline in the next post. Sleep. Come on RP, BREATH!))

John and Linda were both shaken, but their reactions were entirely different. Linda was sitting near the laboratory, sobbing uncontrollably. John was inside, dissecting the dead body, trying to understand how did it continue moving. However, after over three hours of looking at every part of the body, he could discern nothing. And indeed, for a human the body was indeed just a dead body.

“No germs, viruses, or outside control devices...” John sat back on his chair, annoyed. He could see nothing!

Or at least the human couldn't. A small voice in the back of his head kept whispering to him, but he ignored it, thinking it impossible. Magic, indeed.

On the roof of the same building, Toch and Goh were sitting opposite of each other, holding hands. Their dark, distorted human forms rippled in the darkness. The egg inside the male was facing stubborn resistance. His mind was far too ordinary to accept the supernatural, which hindered the transformation. However, the two demons did not intend to waste their time any longer. They cast their spell, beginning John's slow descent into demonic form. The spores in his body slowly sprouted and sent their roots through his soul.

Of course, the man himself was unaware of anything, except that he had reached the only possible conclusion.

“When all the impossibles have been eliminated, then the possibles, however unlikely, must be the truth,” he quoted, pursing his lips. There was no other explanation to it – the only way a dead body could continue moving would be if that body was controlled by an outside force. Since he found no traces of any objects or material, then the last outside force that existed was...

“Magic.”

He shrugged. What did that leave him with? Magic would need a caster, someone who pulled the strings. But the house had no traces except that small wolverine creature that Linda described before completely breaking apart.

“So if I trace that, I could get somewhere... but how?”

The answer was simple. He got up, not noticing that his hands slightly discolored, turning very slightly darker than before, as if black ink was slowly flowing from beneath his skin.

Durante stayed low, concealing his presence. The green and red demons seemed to be speeding their plans considerably for some reason and he decided that he would soon be able to destroy them. Whatever they were planning, Durante had already decided that he would kill them both before they try it.

He suddenly noticed the policemen leaving the building. The man was pulling the woman, who seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. The two demons followed and Durante followed them, to a building near the main police station. The barking of dogs and the stench clarified the building – it was a dog pen.

Durante understood the man's logic, and nodded in silent appreciation. The man was sharp.

A few hours later, John, having secured the necessary permits to use several police dogs to follow the scent from the crime scene – which was quarantined due to the firefight – dragged the nearly unconscious Linda into his car, and set to drive. Since the woman was in a complete state of disorientation and he had no idea where she lived, he drove to his own small apartment.

When he stopped, he decided he had had enough of dragging her around – not to mention his nosy neighbors would weave tales of drugs and crime if they so much as saw him walking with a woman by his side.

“Wake up.” He slapped her lightly. He head lolled and she made an incoherent sound in response. He slapped her again. “Wake up, Linda. I won't keep on dragging you around like a drugged whore.” She was still mumbling, but at least seemed to understand what he wanted. They exited the car, and walked – well, Linda stumbled – through the stairs up to John's apartment. Neither of them noticed the three figures that watched them with interest.

Toch and Goh didn't seem to realize that Durante was near enough to them to catch their conversation, and continued speaking normally.

“The next stage is starting. The seed will want to reproduce now.”

Durante scrunched his face. Reproduce? They couldn't be referring to John and Linda...

He's going to rape her.

Durante wanted so slap her, but as his sword, he could hardly do so. He settled for a mental frown.

Then, both demons vanished suddenly. Durante sensed the incoming attack to dodge it easily, avoiding the powerful punch. The green eyed demon assumed its demonic form, lizard-like and winged. Durante didn't even bother trying to fight. The number of civilians was far too great. He jumped away, unfolding his wings and drifting lightly away. He thought he managed to avoid the fight, when a red figure passed behind him at amazing speed, tearing away a piece of his wing. Durante grunted in pain and spilled down, folding his wings.

He stood on a rooftop, and both demons landed behind him. He didn't turn.

“Who are you two?”

“Does it matter?” The green-eyed replied, smirking. “You're dead.” He charged in, moving quickly, but hardly as fast as the red-eyed one. Durante already realized their strategy and powers. Almost yawning he dodged the strike, placing Force Edge right where he anticipated the red-eyed demon's attack. The block was perfect, and he proceeded to slash with Ragna, cutting a deep gash in the green-eye's head.

“Sad.” He said calmly, landing in a crouch and sliding back, both weapons outstretched. The demons both turned to him, growling. Durante blinked once, and then charged. Trick sent him right in front of the green-eyed demon, both weapons slashing in from both sides, intending to cut the creature in two. The red-eyed demon came in at amazing speed, catching the green-eyed one and carrying him away.

Or he thought he did.

Quicksilver activated, and both demons slowed to a crawl. Ragna and Force Edge hit both at the same time, slashing them in half. Durante smiled, and immediately fell to his knees, his energy sapped by Quicksilver.

“You two are so old fashioned,” Durante sighed, unable to move properly. The two demons, turning into smoke, chuckled at him. When they vanished, he added, “and I simply must get a better version of this Quicksilver, or I will die one day by any of those simple morons.”

He resigned to waiting right there until his energy returned, so he forced himself to lean against the low fence. His eyes closed and he drifted into deep sleep.