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

[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.

[superstylishsquid]

...So too much exertion could be lethal.

[Ouch. He crouches down so that he's not towering quite so high over V and produces an almost comically normal sized green lollipop from magical storage.]

I'm no good at healing magic, but this might help a bit. I picked it up on my way back just in case, apparently an old colleague of mine has taken to making healing potions as candy now.

[wholelyconsumed]

Oh?

[ V accepts it, not allowing himself to think before popping it in his mouth. He's consciously choosing to trust Alastor. ]

[superstylishsquid]

An ancient blacksmith, name's Rodin if you're studied up on fallen angels.

[He disappeared from the underworld not long after he fell, but his weapons are legendary...and apparently his alchemy is pretty good too, since the lollipop has effects similar to the larger variety of Vital Stars.]

He's always done a good business supplying witches and warlocks with weapons and alchemical goods, so I decided to buy one on the assumption that you likely can't heal from serious injuries in a matter of seconds.

[wholelyconsumed]

Rodin? I should be honored to have this.

[ It's said in a musing sort of way. The lollipop is helping, and to boot, it tastes pretty good. He examines his skin and sees that it's a little more put together. ]

Thank you.

[ Something that was always difficult for Vergil to say. He finds it a little easier. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Considering he puts a limit on how many he'll sell to a single customer at once, probably.

[They do take significantly more materials to make than the smaller versions, so it is understandable that he wouldn't want to burn through his stock of prepared reagents too quickly.]

Think that'll keep you covered until you can take it easy?

[wholelyconsumed]

Yeah. It'll get me to the end.

But one thing you have to remember - I put the finishing blow in. This is critical. Nothing works otherwise.

[superstylishsquid]

If you insist, but that does complicate things. You'll need to be close by, demons like this tend not to stay incapacitated for long unless their body is completely destroyed.

I hope you have some way of shielding yourself.

[wholelyconsumed]

I could use my familiars.

Or we could track down Nero.

[superstylishsquid]

I can't guarantee he won't have a chance to target you. And if he realizes the kind of person I am, the kinds of people who'll wipe out a city to get their way love to take hostages. You'll need something tough, if you want to be there without getting hurt.

...But who's Nero?