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

[carvemyname]

So. You eat the fruit, you defeat Urizen. What do I do?

[ V gives him a level look. ]

Figure out a way to gain more power quick, because otherwise you'll just get knocked unconscious again - or worse.

[ Dante truly thinks about that for a moment, before reaching down to pick up the shattered Rebellion. ]

I've got an idea.

[ Without waiting for an answer, or even giving warning, he proceeds to stab himself in the torso. ]

[superstylishsquid]

..........You know, if you missed being run through that much, I'd have been happy to volunteer.

[Okay, he knows Dante is...probably trying to accomplish something here, but he couldn't resist the sass.]

[carvemyname]

Has he gone mad?!

[ V doesn't get what Dante is doing at all. ]

If Yamato can tear apart and separate... What can Rebellion do?

[ But it's not working. Dante lets out a frustrated growl, blood dripping down. After a moment, he pushes Rebellion in deeper.

And then it disappears and he starts to transform, red lightning crackling across his body. ]

[superstylishsquid]

...You're merging it with your own soul, so you can repair it easily. I guess that's one way to get a personal Devil Arm.

[He holds out his hand, and the Alastor appears in it in a flash of purple light.]

[carvemyname]

Oh you got... That back. [ Excuse him for speaking stilted, he's currently doing something intense! ] Go ahead... and keep it. It's yours.

[ The lightning finishes forming and then a sheer shockwave rolls off of him. Rebellion disappears. ]

...

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah, decided it was worth the trip to be able to bring my all.

[He can easily create new ones, but this one gives off an aura of power in the way the copies don't.]

You should be able to will the result into your hand now, but... [Something about this feels...awkward? Not quite that, maybe unbelievable? He'd resigned himself to not getting this back so long as Dante was alive. It's hard to get his hopes up, what if Dante finds out how strong his claim to it really is, and demands it back?] Technically, this is yours now. That kinda is what claiming a Devil Arm means, even if the soul inside manifest a new body.

[carvemyname]

[ Dante straightens up now that he's not being stabbed in the guts anymore and eyes Alastor. ]

So how do I make it yours? Do I gotta chant something?

[superstylishsquid]

I...people don't normally just give up Devil Arms, unless they're passing them to someone else...but I guess the same method should work.

[He stabs the blade into the ground.]

Just...hand it to me and confirm you're giving it up for good.

[carvemyname]

[ Dante picks it up and hands it over. ]

I'm giving up the devil arm Alastor for good.

[ V wonders if this takes care of what Alastor had been worried about earlier. ]

[superstylishsquid]

[It's likely subtle from Dante's end, but to Alastor, he feels an immediate effect as he takes the blade back. He's his own devil again. It feels good, subservience has never suited him.]

...Right, we should get going. [The sword vanishes.] Urizen shouldn't be able to disarm you, now that the Rebellion is a part of you. If your sword breaks, just push a bit more energy into it and it'll be good as new.

I'm sure he'll be in a hurry to get to the fruit as soon as it ripens, so the more time you can buy me to get there first, the better. V, you said you know a way in?

[carvemyname]

I do. Follow me.

[ V starts to walk off, feeling relieved they're separating from Dante again. Dante, in the meantime, calls Rebellion to his hand and smiles. ]

Nice.

[superstylishsquid]

[He follows, honestly also relieved they're leaving Dante behind. He's not as apprehensive as he was before, but now he's just...confused.]

...So, this entrance. What's the head room like?

[wholelyconsumed]

Maybe fifteen or so feet? The ceilings are pretty high.

But it doesn't smell the greatest.

[superstylishsquid]

That's plenty.

[Sparks fly off his body as energy builds up, then bursts outward in an effect not unlike Devil Trigger. The change is much more dramatic, however, as he roughly doubles in size. His hooves click against the broken pavement, and he stretches his now-partially luminescent wings wide.]

I wanted to make sure you'd recognize me before, but now I might as well take advantage of being all here.

[wholelyconsumed]

Well.

[ V is not sure how to handle this. The usual human instinct of fear, when it comes to demons, is gone. No, instead he is fascinated? And something else he can't really identify. ]

That is certainly something.

[superstylishsquid]

[As much as he exudes an aura of power, there's nothing intimidating about his posture. He's carrying himself differently, due to the change in leg shape, but his movements are as easy as ever. The reaction even brings a smile to his lips.]

This is my true form. It has its drawbacks in areas built for humans, but I don't think I'm going to have to worry about whether or not a human scale chair will hold me just now.

[wholelyconsumed]

You're closer to Urizen's size now. That will benefit you.

[superstylishsquid]

Not surprised he's taller than I was a minute ago. No offense, but by demon standards, humans are short.

[He gives V a clap on the back. To a healthy human of V's built, the result would probably be an awkward stumble...]

[wholelyconsumed]

Oof! [ Yeah, this is V losing his balance and falling to the ground. He feels pathetic. ]

[superstylishsquid]

[His eyes widen and he quickly moves to at least slow the descent. He doesn't dare make a quick enough grab to pick him up, not with his claws large enough to easily rend human flesh.]

Woah, sorry about that. You alright?

[wholelyconsumed]

...yeah. I'm fine.

[ The fact a demon is apologizing to him is puzzling. It's enough of a distraction that he doesn't immediately notice the increased cracks in his hands. ]

[superstylishsquid]

[Alastor, on the other hand, is paying close attention to V as he helps him upright. He's remarkably gentle about it, well aware of how easy his size would make it to cause a human pain without even noticing.]

...You sure? It looks like something's pretty wrong, actually.

[wholelyconsumed]

...that's. Uh.

Don't worry about it.

[ This is embarrassing. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Right, because it's perfectly normal and not at all concerning when a human's skin starts looking ready to fall apart.

Look. I know my kind...aren't usually the sort you want to know when you're vulnerable. But if you're counting on my help, I should at least know if I should worry about your hand falling off or something.

[wholelyconsumed]

...

[ V sighs. It's a good point, one he shouldn't ignore. But exactly how much can he tell Alastor? ]

I'm almost drained of power. Of life.