Devil May Cry - Volume 2 - Chapter 3.2

Phase 3 
Part 2 

"This is just what I'd expect from the son of the Dark Knight," Beryl scoffed.

"Of course you'd have clout with demons like this." 
"Don't mock me.

I don't even understand what's going on here." 
Shadow had taken Dante to a small collection of huts halfway up the mountain where he and Beryl had first appeared.

Beryl had been discovered by some of his subordinates and taken there before Dante arrived.

Shadow described his band as traitors to the King of the Underworld, which neither Devil Hunter had a handle on yet.

Each of Shadow's warriors looked human, but they gave off a strange aura that threw Dante and Beryl.

Shadow had accepted Dante as an honored guest and blood relation to Nelo Angelo, the killer of the demon king in another world.

The possibility that Dante had lied about his origins didn't seem to have occurred to them.

What sort of demons are these? Dante mused.

They were currently resting in what seemed to be a meeting hall.

Shadow led just one faction of warriors; upon arriving at the outpost, Dante had discovered that the demons were amassing a secret army from various tribes to coordinate an attack against the King of the Underworld.

"A parallel universe? You're asking me to accept a fairy tale," Beryl grumbled.

"Yep." Dante wasn't actually sure about that, but he didn't have anything else as far as theories went.

That was good enough for him, but Beryl found it difficult to accept things on faith alone.

"Well, how long do you plan on sitting here? If this really is another world, we've got to figure out a way to get back." Beryl clutched her rifle anxiously.

She had reflexively adopted a combat posture, unable to relax in the subtle horror of the parallel world.

"Just one job," Dante said.

"We've got time for one job before we go home.

If the King of the Underworld is somehow alive here, we've got to take him down." 
"I thought you killed the King of the Underworld." 
"I'm just saying." 
Suddenly, Dante lashed out with Rebellion, skewering the air inches above Beryl's head.

He pulled the sword back before she could speak.

A green beetle wriggled on its tip, oozing black liquid from its cracked carapace.

The unholy insect was as large as a fist.

"This is a spy," Dante said grimly.

"The King of the Underworld knows we've allied with Shadow and the other rebels." 
"What is that thing?" 
"Just a bug.

But look at the way it glitters when I turn it.

It's been bathed in Mundus' power, and now it serves as his eyes and ears." Dante flicked the dead beetle to the ground and stood up.

The motion made Beryl recall illustrations of Sparda once more.

Dante had the legendary warrior's power and confidence, but this was offset with an unbecoming awkwardness.

She admired his tenacity and his ability to remain cool even when transported to this alien place.

Although she wasn't attracted to him, Dante had an undeniable charisma.

Nobody knew why Sparda had taken up arms against the King of the Underworld.

Maybe the answer lay hidden within Dante.

"Don't go trying to dig up dirt about my past while we're here." Dante was evidently thinking along the same lines.

"But won't it be cool to send Mundus to oblivion a second time?" 
Shadow entered the hall and genuflected before Dante.

"The leaders are gathered.

Please, this way." 
Dante slipped Rebellion back into its sheath and moved toward the door.

"Stop that," he said half-heartedly.

"It's not really my thing." 
 
"That sums up the current situation, sir." 
Shadow had shared a brief history of the rebellion and its strategic position, occasionally pausing to allow input from the other leaders.

The five men sat in a circle around Dante and Beryl.

Each looked like a normal human being, save for the warrior's build and an unusually ferocious aura.

"So my bro-" Dante caught himself.

"So Nelo Angelo is dead." 
According to Shadow, their commander had come up against the King of the Underworld in single combat but hadn't lived to tell the tale.

This clashed with Dante's own memory.

He had killed Nelo Angelo in combat back in the human dimension.

But that was a different world with different rules.

No matter his thoughts, Dante's expression gave nothing away.

"Yes," Shadow confirmed.

"He died several years ago, but the rebellion remains focused." 
"On overthrowing the King of te Underworld, yes." Dante nodded sagely.

"So explain something to me.

If you've been opposed to Mundus for all these years, why haven't you already done something about it? You've easily got enough power to form an independent government." 
Shadow raised an eyebrow in response.

"You understand the extent of our power?" 
"I can see it as clear as day.

Even in your pathetic human forms." 
"I see.

Your insight is as sharp, as might be expected from the brother of our great leader." 
At that, the other four men gathered around Dante, clasping hands and smiling meaningfully.

Shadow introduced them one by one.

Phantom was a squat bull of a man whose stance betrayed a fire that blazed stronger than the others.

Blade was as thin as his namesake, with a sharp intelligence shining from his eyes.

Griffon reminded Dante of Shadow himself, although he covered his feathers with a striking ceremonial battle mask.

Frost was cloaked in a chilling aura that stamped out every last trace of emotion.

Dante immediately realized he was in the presence of four extraordinary men.

"You asked why we fight to overthrow Mundus under a single banner." Shadow followed up the introductions by returning to business.

"We fight to honor our fallen leader Nelo Angelo, and the tragic Dark Knight Sparda." 
"Tragic?" 
Shadow and the other leaders regarded each other uncertainly.

"Master Sparda was betrayed by the humans." 
Dante felt his stomach churn.

"I don't understand." 
Phantom piped up for the first time.

"Sparda was the only warrior brave enough to stand between the King of the Underworld's designs on the human world." 
It was obviously a story that weighed heavily on the hearts of the assembled soldiers.

"Some of the humans quickly surrendered to the demon king.

They deceived and drugged Master Sparda.

He was paralyzed when they brought him to Mundus as a tribute." 
"That's not true!" Beryl blurted.

"I know the legends! Humans helped Sparda to resist the King of the Underworld." 
"History ran a different course on your world," Blade admonished.

His otherwise taciturn features pinched momentarily.

"Master Sparda was executed after the humans delivered him to Mundus.

We five made a pact to watch over his widow and two sons." 
The room fell silent as Dante and Beryl processed the information.

The story had shaken them both in different ways.

The idea that humans had betrayed Sparda shook Beryl.

Dante gazed into the far corner of the room with steely eyes and muttered a single word: "Mother." 
If Shadow heard, he gave no sign.

"We were originally created by Mundus to act as watchers over this dominion.

We were the sworn enemies of Sparda himself.

But his wife puzzled us.

She was only human, but somehow matched Sparda as an equal.

Her enormous kindness gives us strength to this day.

She begat Nelo Angelo, our great leader." 
Shapeless memories raced through Dante's mind.

His mother was his mother, no matter what dimension he found himself in.

He recalled her warm smile and instinctively clutched the keepsake amulet he carried at all times.

Even now, Dante found it easy to regress to childhood afternoons spent cuddling in her lap whenever he closed his eyes.

She was a generous woman who embraced life without judgment, and because of that she had been accepted by the hero of the demon world.

She and Sparda fell in love and produced two children.

Dante liked to think that she even gave Sparda peace of mind despite a lifetime of battle.

"That is everything," Shadow said.

"I'm sorry, Master Dante." 
Dante snapped back to attention and flashed his trademark grin.

"Well, at least we know you and I are in a similar position." 
Dante knew the five leaders wouldn't be able to marshal their forces to overcome Mundus.

The demon king was too cautious and clever to create minions more powerful than himself.

A traditional battle would be suicide, which was probably why the rebels were hiding in the mountains rather than engaged in a campaign.

If they were to win, it would require a completely random factor that the King of the Underworld could never have anticipated.

But none of the leaders had asked for Dante's help.

They were too delighted to be in the presence of Nelo Angelo's brother to think of anything other than hosting an honored guest.

Dante hadn't suggested a battle plan, and Beryl was still too deep in shock to hound him into an alliance.

Not for the first time, the room fell silent.

Dante broke the stillness.

"We seem to have been transported into your world by a magical tool called the Beastheads.

It appears to have the power to shift people between dimensions.

Who knows what else it can do?" 
Dante looked at each of the five men with surprising passion.

"The statue made its way from the demon realm to ours in ancient times.

Perhaps this Mundus of yours also has such a statue.

Do any of you know what I'm talking about?" 
The soldiers exchanged meaningful glances.

"If you know something, don't keep it from me," Dante implored.

"I'm serious." 
"Yes," Frost stepped forward with considered movement.

"We know of the Beastheads.

Obtaining it will not be easy.

It exists deep in the seat of Mundus' kingdom.

You can access the palace from the demon king's stronghold on your world.

The statue is located directly in the heart of the palace." 
"In the throne room, obviously." Dante rolled his eyes.

"It's always in the throne room.

That's all we need to know.

You've been very helpful." 
"What are you going to do?" 
Dante shrugged.

"I can't stay here.

I've got bills to pay back home, and if I don't get back pronto, I'm going to get an earful from all the chicks who are always calling me for dates.

I guess I'll have to take out this world's Mundus, too.

Listen, there's something I need to ask you guys." 
A mischievous grin broke out over Dante's face.

He leaned forward conspiratorially, clapping his hands on the backs of the two nearest soldiers.

"I'm gonna beat down the King of the Underworld.

Again.

Will you guys back me up?" 
 
"Sneaky." 
It was the first thing to slip out of Beryl's mouth once they returned to their room.

His proposal had yanked her out of her fugue.

"Why couldn't you just have explained why we really need to get the Beastheads? Why do you have to lie about it?" 
"The end result is the same.

It's more fun this way." Dante was absorbed in cleaning his guns.

Ebony and Ivory were scattered in pieces, which he randomly wiped with gauze and grease.

Beryl thudded to the floor in disgust.

"Can you even win against the demon king?" 
"Who knows?" Dante shrugged.

"This Mundus might be stronger than the one I killed, but I'm not the same guy I was, either.

I'll tell you what-I'm looking forward to what happens." 
"I don't think you should be so laid-back about this.

If we lose, we can't ever get back home.

If the demon king eats you or something, I'll have to kill him in your stead." 
"Hey, now you're cooking with gasoline," Dante quipped.

"Why don't you take care of things and I'll stay here and relax." 
Beryl sighed with exasperation.

Dante was obviously in no mood to take things seriously.

She had no idea what was going through his mind, and she worried that she wasn't carrying her weight.

She hauled out her rifle and began stripping it into parts for cleaning.

In this world, it was humans who brought Sparda down.

The revelation had burrowed deep into her.

She had known people who, driven by weakness, had transformed into demons.

The wretched Beastheads had corrupted her father, and now it had whisked Beryl herself to a strange parallel universe.

Did the demonic object wreak havoc on its human owners? Or was it only a mirror that reflected their true natures? 
The men who betrayed Sparda were cowards.

We're not the same; me nor Daddy.

Beryl and Dante sat quietly for a while, cleaning their weapons with automatic precision, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

It was the first moment of meditation either had enjoyed since entering the new world.

Beryl wondered what thoughts ran through her companion's mind.
 
"Attack! We're under attack!" 
Dante and Beryl shot to their feet at the piercing scream.

Beryl raced to the window.

What she saw left her stunned.

An undulating wave of gold covered the landscape.

It took Beryl a moment to realize what she was seeing.

Hundreds of golden-haired women stalked the mountainside, bearing down on the outpost like a tsunami.

"What's happening?" 
"This is perfect!" Dante joined Beryl to survey the scene.

"I was hoping for someone to play with!" He flashed a grin at his astonished comrade and leapt out the window.

As soon as his feet hit the ground, the golden horde turned in unison to watch Dante.

Beryl noticed that each carried a black sword and an expression of frenzied bloodlust.

Dante paid the women no notice.

Instead, he focused on a single figure in the distance.

The woman stood on an outcropping of rock, elevated above the crowd of warriors surrounding her.

She had the bearing of a commander and grasped an enormous sword not unlike Rebellion.

Beryl was less shocked by the spectacle than the single word uttered by Dante.

"Trish?" 
The figure seemed to have heard the question despite the gulf separating Dante and herself.

The woman pointed at the silver-haired warrior with her sword.

At that signal, the golden army descended on Dante.