Devil May Cry - Volume 2 - Chapter 1.3

Phase 1 
Part 3 
 
"Can't this thing go any faster?" 
Enzo and Beryl were rushing back up the mountain in Enzo's car, which had been damaged by the helicopter's shockwave.

Not that it was in great shape to begin with.

"Calm down! This is about as fast as it goes." Enzo had agreed to take Beryl up the mountain once he'd realized he didn't actually have any information for her after all.

It was either that or return her deposit, and Enzo would rather face up to another demon than issue a refund.

"Dante," he muttered.

"No matter how far I get, you always drag me back.

Poverty is a harsh mistress." 
Dante was finding this particular life-or-death battle a little more trying than usual life-or-death battles through which he usually waltzed.

The she-devil standing before him was advanced well beyond the underlings he had dispatched before the helicopter blew up.

Its eyes shone with intelligence, indeed it probably had the rare 
ability to speak in human tongues.

The beast was able to generate a steady stream of fireballs and also appeared capable of twisting space to move short distances without warning.

Dante reckoned it could take on a small army without breaking a sweat.

But then, so was Dante himself.

"What's the matter? Scared already?" 
The mercenary had already shredded the demon's wings and hacked off its hooked claws.

The creature was cut off from its regenerative powers while in the human world, allowing Dante to inflict some incredible damage.

Nevertheless, the she-devil was pushing him to his limit.

The devil howled mournfully.

Following the death of the King of the Underworld, it had rallied a personal army amid the chaos and broken through to the human world in hopes of swift victory over easy prey.

The silver and red blur that now attacked it had been completely unexpected.

Despite destroying the temple and feeding on scores of weak humans, it was on the verge of despair.

Of course, Dante knew nothing of this background.

All he knew was that he had once defeated the demon's king and would soon do the same to the creature itself.

He stabbed at the beast with Rebellion.

The devil cried out, it’s back flush against the cliff face.

The succubus charged Dante.

It focused its little remaining magic into a broken claw, raising it high from a killing blow.

The Devil Hunter was less than impressed.

"Good try, but pointless." He flashed Rebellion once more, cutting off the demon's howl at its source.

The she-devil's head rolled onto the riverbed.

But the creature's body barreled forward under the momentum.

Yellow bile gushed from its open wound.

Dante watched the creature crash to the ground out of the corner of his eye.

"Got some exercise today after all." He wiped the blood off Rebellion and returned the sword to its sheath on his back.

Then Dante picked up the remains of the devil and bellowed into its oozing neck.

"Tell me.

What are you after?" 
But the demon couldn't respond; Dante had severed its vocalcords.

"It'd be easier if you just came out and told me like a good little demon," he said coldly.

"I'm not fond of torture, but I won't hold back if it's necessary." The headless demon began to shudder in fear.

It was about to learn why Dante's nicknamed Devil May Cry.

"There he is.

There!" 
Beryl peered into the darkness from the safety of the car.

The road had exposed a stretch of the scarred ravine beside it, including a silver-topped figure standing on the edge of a crater.

Enzo pointed out Dante excitedly.

"Thanks.

I'll get out here," Beryl said.

"Wait! You don't know what's out there..." 
Enzo moved to keep her in the car, but it was too late.

Beryl had flung herself from the moving vehicle and landed delicately on her feet.

She was already dashing through the thicket toward the ravine.

Enzo's plea was swallowed by the darkness as Beryl pushed forward.

Already she could feel a subtle burning in her body.

Her old wound throbbed with heat; she knew the devil was near.

I'm not going to let you get away this time! 
Bitter memories of the temple's annihilation ran through her mind.

She could have sworn she’d mortally wounded that demon.

But it had shrugged off the attack, escaping beneath the earth.

Beryl knew that demons with such power were rare.

The searing pain in her chest superseded all other concerns, channeling within her a ferocious rage.

Dante and the headless demon came into view as she descended the ravine.

Beryl slid down the cliff face, whipping out her rifle and catching the beast in her sights.

"This time I'll finish you." 
Beryl fired off five shots in quick succession.

The rifle had been designed to bring down tanks.

Its ordnance could punch through steel plates, and although it wasn't the most accurate weapon on the market, it was lethal enough to take out its target through sheer force upon impact.

"Hey! What kind of greeting is that?" Dante spun around and fired off five rounds of his own.

His bullets tore into those already in the air, raining gunpowder and casings onto the dry riverbed.

The impacts created a shockwave that knocked Beryl to the ground.

Enzo appeared from behind her.

"What did I tell you? That's why you need to cool your head!" he shouted breathlessly.

"Only a fool picks a fight with Dante." 
Beryl staggered to her feet.

The suffocating pain in her chest had subsided.

She glanced woozily around the riverbed, trying to regain her senses.

And then she saw him.

Silver hair flapping in the wind.

That ridiculous red coat.

A cheeky smile and two of the biggest pistols Beryl had ever seen.

"It can't be!" Finally she realized what she had done.

Her obsession had pushed Dante from her vision as she focused on the demon.

Luckily, he was unharmed.

"What a way to say hello," Dante muttered.

"A little too hardcore for me, though." 
Beryl stared at him, her mouth agape.

"Your job had been completed, babe.

Why don't you verify it with your own eyes?" Dante winked and gave Beryl a light pat on the back.

And with that, the night's commotion came to an abrupt end.

"Well, for the time being, let me apologize." 
Beryl was mortified.

She bowed her head slightly to Dante, who seemed to relish the attention.

The trio had lit a makeshift fire inside the temple ruins and cleared out a suitable space for relaxing.

In fact, the entire area was essentially a vacant plot of land.

"I've got to finish my mission," Beryl said.

"I'm sorry I got you mixed up in it." 
"I don't mind missions," Dante said lightheartedly.

He inspected Ebony and Ivory by the firelight.

He had been intrigued by Beryl's story and wanted to hear more; she was one of the few people to attack him and emerge unscathed.

"What was the demon doing here?" 
Beryl screwed up her face.

"It's a long story.

And frankly you're not going to believe it." 
"Try me," Dante said.

"That devil got away in the confusion.

I hadn't even beaten any information out of it." 
"I'm after a statue called the Beastheads." 
Dante and Enzo leaned forward intently.

The small middleman had fetched some water from the trunk of the battered car.

Tossing back their drinks beside the fire, listening to Beryl tell her story, the pair couldn't help but feel like they were camping.

"I've been chasing the statue for years.

Long before I became a Devil Hunter.

I was dealing with demons." 
"What is this 'Beastheads?" Enzo asked.

"Exactly what it sounds like-a small statue with three beastly faces.

Each head is supposed to look like a dog or a wolf or something." 
"Supposed to?" 
Beryl looked down at her shoes, feeling awkward.

"Well, I haven't actually ever seen it myself.

The statue was smuggled out of the Underworld after a war two thousand years ago." 
"Demons." Dante was uncharacteristically attentive.

"Yep, I ran into little situations a few years ago, and now I can sense the aura of the Beastheads.

I've used that ability to track it down." 
"And to suck unwitting strangers into your nonsense, like you did with me!" Enzo spat.

"I'm sorry." Beryl made a face at the little man before continuing.

"Anyway, I was in the temple when it was destroyed.

I had tracked the Beastheads to its treasure vault.

But the demons had already beaten me to it.

That succubus Dante was wrestling with had beaten me there." 
"I wasn't wrestling, I was winning!" protested Dante.

"And anyway, it looks like it got the best of you." 
"I was unacquainted with the surroundings," Beryl retorted.

"More importantly, I didn't want to argue with the people trying to cordon off the mountain." 
"So you hired Dante to be the opening act!" Enzo cried with realization.

"I was desperate! If I lost the Beastheads here, I might have spent decades chasing hopeless leads trying to get back on track." 
Silence fell on the camp as Beryl's story came to an end.

Enzo handed her another drink by way of truce.

Finally, Dante broke the silence.

"Where is this Beastheads now?" 
"There's no way to know for sure.

But my senses tell me it was probably-" 
"Taken by that devil, I see." Dante brushed off his pants and stood up.

"That's as far as your story goes." 
Dante's eyes had a familiar gleam that troubled Enzo.

It was an expression that usually meant a lot of risk with little chance of money changing hands.

"What are you going to do, Dante? Don't tell me you're thinking of going after that demon!" 
"I accepted the invitation that brought us this far.

Not sticking it out would be a shame.

Besides, the Beastheads is an item from the Underworld, and that means this is a job I can't refuse." 
"Here we go again." Enzo rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you stop showing so much interest in these unprofitable occult jobs and get your priorities in order? I've got a nice list of gigs that could make us-er, I mean you-some series cash." 
"Sorry, Enzo.

That's just the kind of guy I am." 
Beryl had watched the transaction from the sidelines for long enough.

"Hey!" she said crossly.

That got their attention.

"Dante, my commission for you is over.

Don't meddle in this thing any further.

Just to be clear-don't get involved in any way.

Tracking down the Beastheads is my life's mission, and I won't have either of you two interfering in that." 
Her beautiful facial features morphed into a stern grimace.

Beryl stood up and slung the anti-tank rifle over her back.

"Thank you 
for doing what I asked you to do.

But don't even think about going after the Beastheads!"