DMC5 AU (For @whollyconsumed)

[superstylishsquid]

[It's not often that Alastor lingers outside of Movieland after paying a visit to his friends on this side of the silver screen, but this time...this time something's wrong. A deeply unnerving type of wrong that's far too familiar. The demon bugs, Empousae, only enter this world to feed a Qlipoth sprout. Checking the news confirms his fears, and gives him a location at that.

Joe, Silvia, and Jet are doing their best to protect people from the wandering demons, but Alastor knows enough to head for the source. He doesn't bring them with him, not for this. Anything else, maybe...but he knows what he's going to see when he gets there, and it's not a sight he wants to inflict on them. Not one he's sure they could handle, spared the horrors of truly gruesome deaths as they have been.

What he sees is what he'd expected. It's a scene from a nightmare. Last time, he'd held back and tried to stay out of things. That had resulted in Mundus, to say nothing of countless innocent lives lost that he might have saved. This time will be different. This time, he'll tear this infernal plant up by the roots if he has a chance, even if it risks all of Hell knowing he's escaped his prison.

The first step to that is loosening those roots. Flying above the carnage of the city, it's easy to spot their weak spots. He's surprised to also see something human shaped moving down there, but the root is the first priority. Calling a replica sword to his hand, he takes a plunging dive down, blade point first, to tear open the straining membrane of the root. It's messy, the boil-like protrusion bursting open in a shower of blood, but it's efficient...and he rather thinks the image it results in, of him kneeling with his sword buried in Qlipoth flesh and surrounded in blood splatters is a striking one. Even if he is going to have to wipe the bloodstains off his armor and clothes.]

Comments

[wholelyconsumed]

That's the guy.

He is a nasty piece of work.

[superstylishsquid]

I take it he's also the one who put Dante in the proverbial infirmary? Sounds like I've got a serious challenge ahead of me.

[He's both excited, and a little bit afraid. He's not at all sure he can pull this off...but he's very sure he'd never stop regretting it if he turned tail.]

[wholelyconsumed]

Tell me more about your power.

I've been the one gathering allies for this.

[superstylishsquid]

I'm good enough that I managed to take control of the entire Thunder Hell, for one thing.

[He holds up a hand and pounds his fist into it.]

Seems like you can ask your feathered friend for details on that. I'm an electrical devil, and also a pretty good swordsman if I say so myself.

I can also teleport, though that'll be most relevant once I actually find a way into the tree.

[wholelyconsumed]

I can lead you into the tree.

I know the entrance.

[ But is it smart? ]

[superstylishsquid]

We'd be better off clearing out a few more roots first, though. It'll make it easier when it comes time to tear the whole thing up.

[wholelyconsumed]

Do you have experience with the Qlipoth?

[superstylishsquid]

...Kinda. I was around when Mundus nurtured his. I was too caught up in trying to pretend I wasn't worried about anyone else to step in, but I did keep an eye on it.

[wholelyconsumed]

You're pretty old.

[ V, that's rude. ]

[superstylishsquid]

[Not to a demon. He grins, standing up proudly.]

I wasn't exactly a greenhorn even then. Lemme guess: glad to have someone around who's old enough to have seen the Qlipoth before, and isn't quite so frantic as your spring chicken there?

[wholelyconsumed]

You caught me.

It's certainly a useful change.

[superstylishsquid]

One thing to keep in mind, though. Last time, human cities weren't half as dense as they are today. We'll have to shorten the timeline I'm used to...wouldn't be surprised if we only have until tomorrow if we wanna avoid having to deal with the Mundus sequel nobody wanted.

[wholelyconsumed]

He's already impacted the population of this city... as I'm sure you can tell.

[ The ash bodies do disturb him a bit. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah...and it was probably close to everything he needs. Last time, it took three of what the era called moderately sized cities to feed the tree. This time...

[So much death, so quickly...he lets out a disgusted growl.]

Well, I guess the fact that it's likely done with the mass murder is a twisted kind of upside.

[wholelyconsumed]

I suppose it is.

But I doubt this city will recover after.

[superstylishsquid]

Probably not, no.

[His fists clench, and he turns to glare at the tree.]

We should get to work. You have any plans other than helping with the weeds?

[wholelyconsumed]

Finding Dante.

I need to give him something.

[superstylishsquid]

Good luck with that. It's...simplest for everyone involved if he never even finds out I'm here.

[wholelyconsumed]

You seem afraid of him finding out.

Bad blood?

[superstylishsquid]

In a sense. Technically, I'm one of his Devil Arms.

I don't think he even knows I haven't been home in almost a decade.

[Or if he does, he hasn't realized he can force him to come back.]

[wholelyconsumed]

He's not exactly perceptive, is he?

[superstylishsquid]

Not really, no. The number of times he only noticed a demon was getting ready to pounce because I started throwing sparks at him...

Pretty sure he'd figure it out if he saw the spirit of one of his old weapons standing right in front of him, though.

[wholelyconsumed]

We don't need him at all if I find someone else to wield a fancy sword I've gotten ahold of.

[superstylishsquid]

A fancy sword, huh...

[There are a few weapons he can think of that fit said description...including himself, but he'd know if the rest of him was anywhere in the vicinity.]

Well, like I said, I'm not afraid to take my own swing at this Urizen. Not entirely sure I'm mad enough at Dante to leave him MIA, but I'm sure your game of Where's Waldo will be easier without the looming threat of a demon apocalypse.

[wholelyconsumed]

I don't need to find him if we get rid of Urizen.

I'm not that attached to him.