Vergil leaned his back against one of the few remaining pillars that were sturdy and gave himself a moment to relax. The place was noiseless, save for the building’s occasional creaking and crumbling. This building was once his family home, the place where he was born, and the place where he was meant to be raised. However, what was supposed to be a warm, safe haven from the war against the Angels and Demons, was now a ruined and abandoned shell of a home. The Great Demon Lord Mundus had found their fake paradise, as a result, his father was punished with an eternity of torture and isolation for betraying him. As for his mother, her beating heart was ruthlessly torn out of her body and eaten. His very own mother was killed and branded a whore by that wretched monster; absolutely no consideration to her pride as an Angel was made when Mundus dishonoured his mother like that.
However, whether it was lucky or not, Vergil and his brother Dante were able to escape. If not for their parents’ decision to temporarily seal away their Nephilim natures and hastily hide them away in the human world, then perhaps the both of them could have suffered fates just as bad or, most likely, even worse than that of their parents. As a result of their escape, the two of them were separated, but, after several years, they were able to reunite and defeat Mundus. However, who would have thought that after finally avenging their parents and freeing the human world from demonic rule, the both of them suddenly turned against each other due to a disagreement. Someone needed to take Mundus’ place after his defeat, but neither twin saw eye to eye with that subject, for Vergil did not understand why Dante was so against the idea of the both of them reigning over the humans. They were Nephilim, the perfect guardians to help and rule over humanity. As a result, the boundary between the world of Inferno and Earth was left unsealed due to the Nephilim twins’ conflict. Furthermore, Vergil was unsure of the effects of Mundus’ death on Purgatorio, the war-ravaged world that the angels and demons fought in before Mundus’ army won and successfully sealed it off, essentially preventing any angels from interfering with the demon’s takeover on Earth.
Vergil had much on his mind. That’s right, he had too many things to worry about and contemplate due to his brother’s unexpected rejection, so why did these wretched demons decide to add one more troublesome thing onto his plate?
Glancing at the snow-haired female that laid unconscious on the ground before him, Vergil heaved out a sigh. After his altercation with Dante, he was left in a critical state, and, to add insult to literal injury, he was unexpectedly dragged into Inferno due to the instability between the human world and Inferno. With some newfound strength, he was able to literally survive hell and come back, however, he was no longer the same person after that ordeal. Along with his newfound strength, he was able to gain the ability to control demons. It was not as strong as he had initially thought to have been, so he had been biding his time as he developed some plans alongside his skills. The human world needs someone to watch over it and stabilize order between the other supernatural worlds, so if sacrificing the last remainder of his family allowed him to achieve that… Then so be it.
The Hunter demon that brought the unconscious female to Vergil said that she was a human who could prove useful as a witch. It would not be easy, but if what the demon said was true, he really needed the benefits that a witch could offer. With the fact that he still has to lay low as he formulated his plans, it meant that he’d also need someone like her to be able to personally and accurately scope out the situation in the human world. The demons at his disposal are not exactly the most useful of scouts for information, for they could no longer easily hide themselves due to the merging between the two realms. As such, although Vergil has lost his trust in others, he resolved himself to make it so at least this one won’t disappoint him. After all, if he can’t gain the trust of one human then how could he ever hope to reign over all of them as their guardian.
After having moved the female to the least dilapidated room in the ruined mansion, the Hunter demon’s sleep magic had worn off and she began to wake up. With a groan, she gently massaged her temples. After a few seconds of blank staring, the female sat up on the burgundy French loveseat that Vergil had laid her on. At the sight of Vergil, no fear or apprehension could be felt from her. It was as if she had woken up in her own home and had not just experienced a kidnapping from a demon. The snow-haired guest held Vergil’s inquisitive gaze, then, Vergil realized at that moment that this person was not a simple one.
“From one demon to another, huh…” The snow-haired female quipped, her voice heavily laced with mockery.
The female’s casual attitude was outside of Vergil’s expectations and he wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that. “Don’t worry, you’re safe for now.” He said with a reassuring tone.
As she crossed her legs, she tossed a relaxed smile. “I sure hope so. That guy wasn’t exactly gentle.”
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Vergil felt the corner of his mouth twitch after hearing her comment.
Seeing that Vergil didn’t say anything, the female continued the conversation. “So, where is this place?”
The ivory-haired Nephilim eyed the female before him. She was most likely younger than him by two to three years, chances were that she had been aware of her witch powers her whole life and now he had allowed an incredibly suspicious person know of his existence. Witches these days were mostly unaware that they were witches, but there are a handful who are aware and capable of using and cultivating their abilities. Of course, due to Mundus’ actions, witches are on the brink of extinction; the unfortunate witch demons were products of Mundus’ many witch hunts.
Despite his apprehensions towards the individual before him, he nevertheless had to deal with her one way or another. “This place is my home. Please forgive its current state.” Vergil replied.
The female hummed as she glanced around the barely passable room. “I’m not one to judge...” Turning her gaze back to man before her, she questioned further. “And you are…?”
After some silence, he decided to indulge her. “My name is Vergil… And seeing how you know about the existence of demons, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that I’m a demon hunter of sorts.” With a flick of his chin, he gestured towards the female to introduce herself.
With an iridescent smile, she spoke. “I am Veya.” Leaning forward on her seat, she directed a provoking expression towards Vergil. “And as you already know, I am a witch.”
Vergil felt his senses tingle at her words. Unconsciously, he reached towards his blade, Yamato, at his side.
Veya’s eyes followed the Nephilim’s movements. Leaning back, she spoke in a lighter tone. “My powers are only newly discovered though…”
Realizing his behaviour, Vergil stood in a more relaxed manner and moved his hand away from his weapon.
Predicting the incoming silence, Veya took charge of the conversation once again. “You said you were a demon hunter?”
Vergil nodded and decided to sit down on the single sofa in front of the female. “I’m guessing that you are curious about certain things pertaining to demons.” He said as he placed Yamato on the dusty table that separated them.
Veya’s expression became solemn, her long eyelashes cast shadows on her gorgeous face as her gaze looked downwards, admiring the Nephilim’s blade. “The world is in chaos. These monsters that used to dwell mostly in Limbo are suddenly released into the human realm and there is nothing that the regular human can do to even defend themselves against them.”
Reaching forward, she drew two circles on the dusty table top and a line between the two rings. “Two realms. Inferno and Earth.” She then rubbed the line away. “All of the sudden, the power separating the two realms has disappeared, causing the two to essentially begin merging.” Veya drew another ring encompassing the two circles. “Inferno and Earth are realms with different creatures and different laws... So different that should the two worlds fully merge, the weaker one of the two will be completely annihilated.” After a slight pause, she crossed out one of the inner circles.
Vergil looked at Veya’s grave expression, her metallic eyes, with an unusual reddish tinge, felt as if they pierced right through him. “So, you fear for the impending doom of Earth.” Vergil remarked.
With a wry smile, Veya agreed. “The power which separated the two realms needs to be restored and this needs to be done as soon as possible.” Vergil observed as she retracted her hand and fiddled with a blood red diamond ring on her right ring finger. The white-haired pair held each other’s gazes as the conversation paused.
“A power as strong as a Great Demon Lord is needed in order to gain balance between Earth and Inferno.” With a sudden condescending smirk, Veya spoke further. “Isn’t that right, Vergil, son of the demon Sparda and angel Eva...”
In the blink of an eye, Vergil had unsheathed Yamato and pointed it at Veya’s neck.
Despite the Nephilim’s figure towering over her and his blade pointed at her jugular, the snow-haired witch’s expression didn’t change. “I swear there were two of you. I wonder where the other one is?”
Vergil grit his teeth, he did not like the way her presence caused his senses to be on edge, he should have gotten rid of her the moment that stupid Hunter demon brought her before him. “What do you want?”
The young witch leisurely patted some dust away from her maroon scalloped shorts before tilting her head up to once again meet Vergil’s gaze, this entire time she had not moved from the seat she had woken up on, her attitude unnerved the Nephilim before her. “I desire many things, but, at the moment, I need someone to get rid of a certain demon for me.” Veya’s gaze moved towards a certain spot on Vergil’s upper body.
Veya’s gaze caused unsavoury pain and memories to resurface in Vergil’s mind. The fatal wound that Dante had inflicted during their battle still hadn’t fully healed yet.
The snow-haired witch’s metallic eyes suddenly glowed a deep and haunting crimson. “Forget it. I’ve more or less figured out what happened between you two Nephilim.”
Suddenly, their surroundings changed along with the booming noise of what sounded like earth shattering and grinding. The ruined mansion that Vergil called home changed to a charcoal black and the sky had changed to a scarlet hue, matching the eerie glow of Veya’s eyes. Before him, the witch’s form also changed to one that was see-through, only the outlines of her body and her glowing gaze could be seen. It was an astral form, but one that Virgil had not seen before.
“It’s unfortunate, but you would be causing more harm than good if I let you be.” Veya’s tone felt cold as it echoed around the ivory-haired Nephilim.
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