Author's Notes: As you will see in this next chapter, I'm taking a new route with this story...I really hope you enjoy this chapter as I took QUITE a while to write this...And I had other stuff that took over my mind in between..for example Bleach...but anyway...Capcom owns the characters and the series...I just made up a storyline. Enjoy :)

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Dante rushed into the the hall. Dim, blue light rays poured in through the stained glass windows above. Pillars lined the outer edges of the room, creating long shadows as the lights from adjacent windows blasted the pillars from behind. The entire hall, furnished in a deep, grey stone, was melancholy and grim. But all these details weren't noticed by Dante, as he saw what was on the other end of the hall.

A single stone altar, decorated with red cloth, stood about 30 feet from him. Though it was also not the altar that interested him, but what lay there: Trish. Unconscious or dead, he didn't know, but considering there was still color in her skin, Dante was allowed to be at ease.

For a split-second.

Right beside the altar, his back turned from Dante, was a blue-clad teenager. He turned, now aware of the Demon Slayer's presence,

"Welcome, Dante...I'm glad you could make it. You've eliminated my subordinates, superiors, and hell, almost myself. But in the end, I will resurrect the Legendary Dark Knight...I have his sword..and apparently, the key to it, this Amulet." He pulled out the Perfect Amulet from under his blue jacket, displaying it to Dante as if it were a trophy.

"Now...I will open a gate to the Underworld..and revive...the Legendary Dark Knight...Sparda..." Nero drew ForceEdge off his back, twirled it upside-down, and stabbed it through Trish's abdomen.

"NO!!!!!" Dante's yell blasted through the entire hall as he witnessed another person he cared about ripped from his life...Nero raised the amulets up to the sword, where they were instantly absorbed. The sword transformed into a gruesome, curved-edge blade. Trish's eyes were flung open as she let out an ear-piercing scream. Golden lightning enveloped her body, and began to be absorbed into the Sparda sword in a maelstrom of energy: Trish's energy. The energy encircled the demonic sword, and finally dissipated. Trish's body had disappeared.

Then, in an instant, a shockwave of crimson-black energy blasted out of the sword blowing Nero away and causing Dante to struggle to even keep himself on the ground. Nero landed on his feet, albeit in a crouched position, and observed what happened next. The power that was released in the shockwave started to congregate behind the sword, swirling like a hurricane. It finally took the form of a floating circle. The solid energy started to seep to the rim of the circle, revealing a lake of blood, filled with ruined statues and sculptures.

Nero had succeeded in opening a portal to the Underworld. He ambled towards the altar, completely immersed in the sight of the portal, which brimmed with crimson-black energy around the edge, spilling out and dissipating, like ripples in water.

Light suddenly filled the portal, creating a shaft of ice-blue energy that pierced from it. Power. Dante rolled out of the way to avoid the energy that threatened to injure him. It was strong..much like his own power. The shaft of light faded, and a blue mist poured out of the portal, resting around the sword. It crept past Nero, and started to take a shape. First a vague orb, then it grew appendages, taking a human-esque shape. The mist-figure walked into Nero, and all trace of it disappeared.

Nero's spine snapped backwards and he let out a blood-curling howl. His Devil Bringer lit up in a beacon of light, almost blinding in intensity. The light faded, and Nero brought his Devil Bringer to the hilt of the Sparda sword, and ripped it out of the altar, settling it to hang at his side. Air blasted away from Nero as power surged through him. He flipped the sword, and stabbed it into the ground. Dante stood, his own hand clasping the hilt of Rebellion, wary of what was to happen next.

What happened next, he most likely would not have expected. Nero took his Devil Bringer hand, and ran the hand through his hair, eyes closed. The hair was left spiked backwards. He let his hand drop, his face no longer the same, and opened his eyes. The eyes were no longer Nero's dark blue, but the ice-blue of Dante's.

"Long time no see...Dante..."

Dante was thunderstruck. V-Vergil? That's...there's just...no WAY!!!

"Dante, you're being very quiet. How about...heh heh...a kiss from your brother? Or better yet..." At this point, Nero/Vergil had the Devil Bringer raised in front of him, closing it into a fist, "How about a kiss from this!?" and he thrust it out a Dante, a large ghost-fist flying straight at him. With barely any time to react, Dante swung his sword down at the Devil Bringer's spectral attack. The two connected, and Dante was pushed backwards, sliding along the floor, leaving dust tracks as he went. He finally gathered the strength to push downwards, through the specter, as it retreated back into the arm from whence it came.

"It's good to see you haven't lost all your reflexes, brother. But this is where it ends..." Vergil took his Devil Bringer arm and rested it on the Sparda sword. At that instant, both fighters disappeared, Air Tricking towards each other. Vergil's sword was vertical against Dante's, which was in a horizontal defensive stance.

"Not good, Dante. You're on the defense already!" Vergil slid the sword downwards sending Dante sliding backwards once more. Vergil charged at him, the Sparda sword dragging along behind him, and was brought upwards. High Time. Dante had blocked it, but was nevertheless thrown upwards, Vergil lifting off after him. They clashed in the air, their speed creating a blade-wind so powerful that they were gliding down to the ground. They continued their clash: Rebellion against the Sparda sword. A battle of kin.

Dante launched a Million Stab, many of which Vergil parried, but the ones he didn't cut through fairly badly, spraying blood in jets out his back. Red Queen was swung off Vergil's back and now it was 2-on-1. Dante's strikes were being deflected as Vergil's parries increased in velocity, the only things visible to the human eye were the gleams of light that danced on the blue-clad brother's swords. Dante was thrown off balance with a final parry from Red Queen, and Vergil swung downward with the Sparda sword.

A loud clang echoed through the halls as Agni & Rudra's Whirlwind connected with Vergil's swipe. Both the combatants were thrown back from the force of the attack, and both stood 5 feet from each other. Dante Jet Streamed at Vergil, who responded in kind. They passed each other, each spurting blood from wounds they had just inflicted on each other. Dante flipped the scimitars and smashed them into the ground, rolling out a carpet of flame at Vergil's back. He turned with the Sparda sword, sending out a gust of wind that canceled out the flames.

"Looks like we're even, bro," Dante remarked. From under his jacket, Dante pulled out his Shotgun, and Gun Stingered towards Vergil, who was blasted in the face and sent flying. Smoke was all that remained as Dante rested the Shotgun on his shoulder. Through the smoke were heard three blasts of steam. It was the Exceed! Vergil tore through the smoke with Red Queen as Dante barely raised his Ice Age technique in time to deflect the sword. Cerberus did him well in this situation.

Vergil launched a combo with Red Queen, slashing at Dante who parried each strike with Just Guard. Vergil High Rollered at Dante, who didn't parry perfectly with the last Just Guard and was thrown up into the air, Vergil once again following behind him. They clashed again, this time Red Queen versus Rebellion, until Vergil caught Dante with his Devil Bringer's spectral arm, throwing him down with Buster. He brought him up a split-second later with Snatch, but Dante had a surprise: Nevan. As soon as he reached Vergil he summoned Nevan and Air Slashed him through the chest, sending him flying back. Dante Air Hiked backwards, summoning Beowulf onto his body, aiming for Vergil with a Killer Bee as he began to descend. Vergil had already recovered, and just barely noticed Dante speeding towards him when he raised his Devil Bringer arm to catch Dante's foot. The impact sent out a shockwave that scattered every piece of dust in the vicinity.

Dante flinched, seeing his attack had little effect, which in reality, it had a lot more than it seemed: Vergil's feet trembled with the impact. He's become much stronger...as expected from my little brother...but I won't let him win! Vergil changed his grip from Dante's foot to his ankle and grabbed it with both hands, spinning, and flinging Dante in the direction of the altar and the still open Hell-Gate. Dante landed on his back, still sliding towards the altar, stopping before it as if he were some sort of sacrifice, a goat that was to have its throat slit. He panted, exhausted from the ferocity of the sword duel. Vergil, too, was becoming exhausted, especially from taking Dante's Killer Bee head-on.

Dante conjured Rebellion into his hand, Beowulf disappearing from his body. Vergil Stingered towards Dante with Sparda, Dante doing the same with Rebellion. The two blade tips crashed into each other, and remained that way for an even second. Then the wind blasts from each fighter's Stinger blasted the both of them away. Dante materialized Nevan back into his arms, and launched a Distortion, which Vergil countered by swinging Sparda in a maelstrom of blade swings, scattering the electric bats. But this was merely a distraction: Dante Reverb Shocked towards Vergil as he rested his sword, and thus was still hit by a swarm of bats, cutting and electrocuting him at the same time. Dante flowed into a Feedback, and Crazy Roll, cutting Vergil clean in half with the final strike. But being a half-demon, Vergil's wound had sealed up instead of becoming fatal. Nevertheless he was thrown onto the ground, face down.

Why??? Why is this happening??? Vergil brought himself up to the ground and pulled his Devil Bringer arm back, an orb of energy forming in his open palm. He thrust the orb towards Dante, who unleashed his Ultimate. The orb crashed against the golden wall of energy, leaving dust to spread around it. The Ultimate had done its job. Dante...you have become much stronger over the past few years...Dante summoned Beowulf onto himself again and charged a Straight. Vergil launched a spectral fist which Dante rammed into with the Straight. It was a ruse. Dante launched a Zodiac the moment he smashed into the spectral arm. The Zodiac was heading straight for Vergil. He slashed with the Sparda sword, the energy blast exploding as it was cut apart by the Devil Arm. But where did Dante go? He was answered with a yell from above. Dante had Air Tricked above him, and was now landing with a Helm Breaker. Vergil could only lift his sword, blocking horizontally with two hands. The two blades collided-

The sound of the impact reverberated through the hall, echoing, a church bell in a place that needed none. Dust was once again strewn across the arena due to the shockwave from their impact. Vergil was on one knee, Dante balanced above the air, clinging to his sword, still in the stance from the attack. The red-clad warrior pushed off from his brother's blade, back-flipping. He let go of Rebellion, catching it in a back-handed position as he landed into his Drive stance. A burst of white-hot power surged across the blade of Rebellion, as if the blade where engulfed in white flame, but the flame was shooting upwards across the blade. This was a much more powerful version of Dante's Drive. Let's see if this works! Dante swung the sword, back-handed, at Vergil, releasing a white-red crescent that cut through the ground towards the elder brother.

Vergil swung the Sparda sword to his lower left, sharp edge away from himself. The crescent reached Vergil, who lashed out the Sparda sword, upwards to the right, colliding with the attack one-handed. The crescent was lifted from the ground, becoming unstable, until it finally fizzed out, Vergil swinging the sword completely outwards. The sight he beheld the moment his sword was at its peak height was not pleasing. Dante had gotten right in front of him, in Devil Trigger form, Rebellion at the ready.

"You left yourself wide open!!!!!!" Dante yelled in his warped voice. And the blade slashed, from right hip to left shoulder, a wide gash, blood spilled for a moment, until the wound was healed...But demonic blood cannot heal a damaged pride...

Why..?...Why is this happening?? Why is Father's power failing me...?...Is my brother THAT much stronger than I am? Than FATHER was??? No...I can't lose...I will beat him! I MUST beat him!!!!!

Vergil screamed in agony and anger, his soul screaming at his brother, at his lack of power, at his weakness. Dante unleashed Dance Macabre at his brother, slicing him apart. He finally unleashed Million Stab, and thrust Vergil backwards, who landed on his back, broken in body and spirit. Dante relinquished his Devil Trigger, and watched his brother intently.

He stood, no longer willing to fight, and yelled out to the heavens, out to the world,

"FATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY!?!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!? WHY CAN'T I BEAT HIM!?!?!?!" And with that, the Sparda sword crackled with crimson-black lightning that traveled up Vergil's Devil Bringer arm, completely engulfing his body. He rose into the air, power surging through him. He curled into a ball, and then let loose the energy within the sword: a supernova of energy, allowing him to Devil Trigger with the power of his father's sword.

Vergil drifted to the ground, stepping down gracefully in his father's Devil Trigger form. Sparda was unleashed. His arm, though, remained the same, but was lit with a different light: a crimson shade, with the scales being a deep, brownish-black. Vergil lashed out with the Devil Bringer at a pillar taking hold of it. The spectral arm was now a dark red fire, instead of the defined replica of the former arm. He pulled the pillar out of its place, and swung it at Dante's right side. Dante leaped above the pillar, Air Tricking forward, and landing with a Helm Breaker.

Dante gaped at what had just happened: Vergil had caught Rebellion with his left hand. The specter-arm smashed into Dante's left side, sending him crashing into another pillar. Vergil leaped into the air and spread his insect-like wings. Dante thrust forward with his sword in front of him. Vergil was caught completely off guard. He Stingered in the air!? The broadsword impaled Vergil, leaving it covered in blood. Vergil grabbed hold of Dante's throat with the Devil Bringer, and flung him away as he floated in the air, sword through his gut. He gripped Rebellion's blade and thrust it away from his body. He twirled the sword between his fingers until the hilt rested in his hand, and shot it like a spear at Dante.

Dante shifted to his left, catching Rebellion with his right hand, and Air Tricked to Vergil. He reached his destination, Devil Triggered, and swung Rebellion back-handed at Vergil. Vergil had drawn Sparda, and blocked Dante's horizontal strike. Dante slid the blade past Vergil's sword, flew away from him, and launched another powered-up Drive. Vergil cut it in half horizontally, the two half-crescents flying above and below him, whilst Dante had gotten right in front of Vergil with his sword poised above his brother's head. Vergil dodged Dante's strike, and came down with a swipe to Dante's back, but Dante ducked, and cut Vergil's right thigh. They began to clash again, the intensity of the strikes echoing through the chamber, and causing their blades to shudder with each impact.

Vergil drew Red Queen, and along with Sparda, performed a Streak/Stinger cross at Dante. Dante leaned back as far as his body would let him, and he touched the slash/stab combo. Then Vergil shot downwards in a two-sword Helm Breaker, bringing Dante with him. He was cut and slammed into the ground by the large swords. His Devil Trigger relinquished, Dante slowly got up off his back, Vergil floating in front of him, devil wings spread. He closed the wings, stepping down onto the ground, stepping towards the crater formed around Dante.

"You can't beat me brother. That is the simple truth." Vergil announced in his warped voice, as if telling it to the whole world. "I have unlocked our father's power, and it is mine, none other's. Don't try to stop me." And with that his Devil Trigger switched off, and he turned to the Hell-Gate behind him, coat twirling as he spun, walking off. Dante stood, yelling,

"Vergil!!!" He wavered, and stabbed Rebellion in front of him so as to keep his balance, "VERGIL!!" Vergil turned, to see the face of Rebellion staring at him in the midst of a painful yell, and the face of his brother, bloodied, with a hot-blooded stare. He turned away, walking up to the circular portal. He looked over his shoulder, and, cold-heartedly, told his brother,

"Don't follow me..." and he placed his right hand onto the portal, which surrounded his body in a flash of light that dissipated to show his figure in the Underworld-side of the portal.

"VERGIL!!!! DON'T LEAVE!!!" But Dante was too weak to move. He could not stop his brother. To his horror, Vergil drew the Sparda sword off his back, brought it above his head, and spoke to him more gently than he had in at least 10 years...

"Goodbye...my dear brother..." and with those words he cut across the portal's surface with the sword. The portal started to show a black line diagonally over its surface. From that point, the circle began to fall apart in shards, and Dante saw his brother's face for the last time: a bitter expression, cold, but maybe even one of regret. The circle shattered, and Vergil was gone.

Dante gasped, as if shocked that his brother disappeared. Tears slid down his cheeks, and a scream echoed through the hall, through the stone palace, through the frozen lands surrounding it, through Dante's own heart...