Of Demonic Firepower

Nearly an hour has passed since Dante was sent back to the beginning of Temen-Ni-Gru. Fortunately, the beginning wasn't very far, so Dante didn't lose much time. If anything, he may have gained some.

Regardless, Dante was nearly at the top. He could feel Vergil's presence get closer and closer by the step. It disturbed the young hunter for some reason, and it made his half-blood itch for a fight. It has been a whole year since Dante last saw Vergil, and the memories of which aren't very pleasent, to say the least. He had a couple things to say to his older brother...

"It'll be nice to see you again, Vergil." Dante smirked inside.

Dante was passing through a suspension millions of meters up from the ground. Or at least, it definitely seemed like it, for he could see the many city lights of the... well, city. Directly below him, however, seemed like an endless abyss of darkness. Should he fall off, there was no turning back. Thank the architects of Temen-Ni-Gru that the walkway wasn't very narrow.

As Dante came up on the door leading to the roof, he felt a huge presence of a demon behind it. It could only be one person; Vergil. Smiling, Dante drew his right leg back, then struck the door, throwing the large opening off its hinges and off the edge of the roof, to tumble and turn as it fell the immeasureable distance to the streets below.

Very shortly afterward, Dante quickly drew Rebellion, for the other demon had been unfazed by the incident with the door. "Hello, brother. It's been a while."

Vergil smiled. "Indeed, Dante. It's been nearly a year or so since I last saw you."

Dante shook his head. "Man, you sure know how to throw a party, don't you? I mean, no decor, no games, no drinks, no chicks --"

"Forgive me, brother. I was so carried away in thought of meeting you, I guess I forgot all about the preparations."

"Whatever you say, Vergil," Dante looked at the reflection of himself off of Rebellion's blade, then shot a glare into Vergil's eyes. "So, I'm here now; wanna get the real party started?"

Vergil chuckled as his right palm found the hilt of Yamato. "Indeed. Let's... 'party.' "

Dante brought Rebellion in front of him in a defensive position and sidestepped to his left. Vergil only stepped onto the overhang along with his brother. Both sons of Sparda proceeded nearly into the center of the bridge, above the city. Above the abyss.

It wasn't until Vergil drew Yamato from its sheath that Dante lunged forward to attack. Quickly, Vergil deflected to his left, but was slightly caught off guard by the roundhouse Dante threw immediately afterward, but not to the extent that he was hit by it. Once steady, Vergil went for an upward attack of his own.

Dante, not having put his boot down yet, stomped the katana into the stonework below him. He then jumped off of it, preparing for a hammer slash against Vergil's throat. He was unsuccessful, as Vergil ducked out of it. However, Vergil did catch sight of a tuft of white hair as he ascended for an uppercut.

Dante met knuckle-to-knuckle with Vergil halfway. They exchanged smirks as Dante caught sight of Vergil switching his grip on Yamato. They broke away from each other's clutches just soon enough that Dante only got a small slice across his stomach from Vergil.

Dante, somewhat enraged, lunged forward again, this time with Rebellion in a thrusting position. This, too, Vergil deflected, and afterward, exchanged blow after blow of the Devil Blades.

After a short moment, Vergil jumped out. "Nice to know you haven't gotten rusty, Dante."

Dante smirked again. "Ditto."

Afterward, Dante pulled out the shotgun. Vergil, already prepared, windmilled his blade once so that he not only caught all of the buckshot, but neatly organized them on the tip of Yamato. Vergil then spinned into a horizontal slash, which sent the buckshot right back at Dante.

Dante, being more of a brute, swung Rebellion and hoped for the best. One, two, three, four -- He was okay. He heard five chinks at his blade, which meant he got them all. He exhaled and stared into the face of Vergil, with a faint glimmer in his eyes. No, Dante was not crying. Rather, something was igniting within him.

Vergil caught sight of this. "You are only now discovering your hidden power?"

Confused, Dante replied, "Don't bet on it."

"Pfft!" Vergil looked away for a moment, before lunging himself at his younger brother. Dante, having been stumped by Vergil's words, was caught off guard and impaled by Yamato.

"Hmph," Vergil's eyes glared unto Dante's as his life force painted the floor. "Why haven't you embraced your power, brother!?"

"Because I'm not a monster," Dante said, voice trembling, "like my father..."

"It is the key to revealing who you really are inside! Your lust for power, your desire for strength -- Don't you agree these feelings would make life... 'fun' ?"

Without waiting for an answer, Vergil kicked Dante's body off of his demon katana. More blood splattered as the young Devil Hunter's being hit the floor. He was stunned for the moment. Dante could only watch as Vergil approached his side and knelt down.

"I need this," Vergil said as his palm enveloped the amulet around Dante's neck.

Still unable to move, Dante could only squirm in place. He could only manage to mutter, "No..."

"It doesn't look like you're in any position to stop me, brother." Vergil said as he ripped the amulet from its bearer, and placed his other hand upon the blade of Rebellion. As he picked it up, the blade immediately began to draw blood, but the Dark Slayer never flinched. He could barely feel it. Once it was completely in his possession, Vergil fixed his grip on the hilt of the weapon, and began to walk away.

Dante was utterly powerless. He still could not move. Angry to no extent against his brother taking two of his closest possessions, Dante tried his hardest to get up and attack him, before he got too far away. The aggravation getting to him, he found himself slowly rising upward.

However, Vergil was more attentive than Dante gave him credit for. His demon brother quickly spun around and stuck Dante to the ground with his own weapon; Rebellion.

Vergil shook his head. "You disappoint me, Dante..."

Dante, with all his rage, was finally able to shoot his being up to confront Vergil. His fist met Vergil's sword midway, but it didn't faze him. He was too angry to feel pain right now.

Amazed, Vergil smiled. "Ahh, so there is a devil in you, after all..."

Dante was attempting to reach for Vergil's face and slam it into the ground, but Yamato was proving to be a bit of an obstacle. It was inching into Dante's arm further and further, every time he jerked. Eventually, Vergil was able to throw his weight all to one side and launch Dante into the air. The older brother only watched as his younger plunged into the black abyss, with Rebellion still stuck in his gut.

"Pitiful," Vergil stared into the darkness with angry eyes. He then turned back for the door - or where the door would be - to the roof. "Well, at least I have what I need now..."