Devilbirds 4

Hey, I wrote a bit more. Kinda surprised myself here. Anyway, I hope you like it and even if it is quite late now have a happy new year.

Disclaimer: Neither game nor story are mine and will never be

"Katsuragi, why do we have to patrol the whole area out here? It is not as if the whole action is in the garden right now. And I want to be there too." A girl with short blond hair, a black leather top and a fitting pair of panties exclaimed loudly, as she jumped over the rooftops through the city, impatiently looking for someone to vent her frustration on.

"Higa wants us to search for the few unwinged stragglers, this girl isn't the only one who is still unwinged and he wants as much as he can get. Therefore, we have to continue to be on the lookout Sai. Even if it isn't the most interesting thing to do, if it helps our Ashikabi it is worth it." Her brown-haired companion in her yellow jumpsuit answered.

"I know, but look around nothing is happening here." Sai continued to whine, only to be ignored by Katsuragi. After nearly another hour of fruitless searching on the city roofs, the two-girl team decided to rest on a nearby apartment complex, sitting down. Katsuragi sat down on the ledge to look over the illuminated city, whilst Sai still stood and looked around, more bored than anything else.

"When do we call it a day and return back Katsuragi? I don't think we will have much success tonight." She asked, only to notice that she was ignored again. Before Sai could grab Katsuragi by the shoulder and spin her around, Katsuragi gripped her, pulling her to the ledge and pointing over at a slightly higher roof.

Standing up there was a whitehaired person, clad in an expensive looking purple coat. Impressive was also the katana he wielded at his side in an elegant dark-blue sheath. Looking at him for a short time, Sai turned over to Katsuragi. "What are we waiting for? Let's get this unwinged one and return it to Higa." She exclaimed, barely keeping her voice down. Gaining a nod from Katsuragi, both of them silently jumped upwards.

Before any of them could start talking, the target already reacted to their presence. "I finally meet a few of the birds, only to have it to be weak ones. Where is the challenge in this city?" The mysterious one said in a smooth, dark voice, showing that he was male.

"You're better goddamn careful who you call weak, if you don't want to get an answer in form of a beating." Sai shoot back with nearly unrestricted anger. "If you were someone to fear, I would choose my words differently. But I have no reason to." Was the only answer.

Blinded by her rage, Sai unfurled the whip she carried, jumping at him to wrap it around his neck to choke him. To her surprise, she only met an empty spot. "What the?!" Was everything she could call out, before she suddenly felt a blinding pain in her chest and the sound of a sword being sheathed. Looking down, she saw a long cut, starting between her collarbones, travelling between her breasts and stopping at her waist. 'How did he do that, I didn't even saw him move.' Were her last thoughts before she collapsed.

With this situation unfolding in front of her, Katsuragi ran to her companion and tried to kick her attacker in the back of the head to get him away from Sai. Before she could reach her, there was a purple clad coat in front of her and she felt the cold steel in her stomach. Looking upwards, she saw a glint of a yellow glow from the face above her, as the sword was pulled out of her stomach and she fell on the roof.

"I expected more, even from weaker ones like them." Vergil said silently to himself, as he left the place with a last disappointed look towards his victims. "At least Yamato hasn't lost his edge, even after my passing and the restoration. It seems he took good care of it." Vergil concluded the evaluation of his beloved blade, before he sheathed it and looked back over the city.

"Let us see what became out of my son in this time. I wonder if he has the power to compete with me, if he couldn't even keep the blade away from me. "

And with a silent laugh, he jumped off of the roof into the night.

At the other side of the city in the Izumo Inn, Minato was still lying awake and thought about his mysterious 'encounter' in the garden earlier at the day. 'Who was that girl and what did she meant with "Save me, onii-chan"?' Turning around in his bed, trying to not wake Musubi who was sleeping soundly beside him, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by his phone signalling a message.

Reading it, his face slowly went pale before he turned around to his sleeping companion. "Musubi, wake up. We need to go!" He called out whilst shaking her shoulder. Opening her eyes with a sleepy look, she obviously expected a reason for the pale and worried face her Ashikabi had. Before she could ask though, he started explaining.

"Musubi, we need to go to the botanical garden quickly. A Sekirei, a little one who called herself Kusano, is in there and presented just like a trophy. We have to go and help her quickly." He stated.

"So you made another one react? You really are a strong one." Musubi exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Don't worry, we will be there fast." She told him, as she picked Minato up and jumped out of the window and up on the roofs before he had a chance to yelp in surprise.

Unbeknownst to them both, Miya and Kazehana were watching the leaving forms of the newest tenants. After a short exchange of looks, Kazehana ran after them keeping out of sight and a watchful eye on them after everything that happened in the last time. Focusing on the slowly disappearing form of her former comrade from the Disciplinary Squad, Miya sighed silently, going back to sharpen her blade for the time to come.

Standing on a nearby rooftop, Nero observed the layout of the park in front of him with Akitsu at his side. "I can already feel unwanted company in there. Let's be careful, I don't know who or what we will find in there. I really don't want to uproot the whole garden, if not absolutely necessary." He commented from his lookout, checking Blue Roses cylinder, before he snapped her shut and placed her in his holster again.

"The trees on the side should provide enough cover to go in and find your enemies without being noticed." Akitsu mentioned to him, also observing the area in front. Nodding approvingly, Nero jumped upwards, landing on the wall with a graceful front flip and gestured her to follow.

Looking at the display in his laboratory, Atlus could do nothing but smile at the effectiveness of their new acquisition. His frail form shuddered with delight, his hands running through his long brownish hair.

"I assume it worked as it should have?" He heard a cold voice behind him. Turning around, he bowed in front of his lord before he dared to speak. "Of course. They may lost in the end and the gate was lost, but our chimeric creature showed to be even more powerful than imagined."

"Then why didn't you sent another of those stingers to the second gate that is now swarming with drones of the MBI?" Sarazar asked, not even looking at his servant.

"I am deeply sorry, but right now it is more difficult than I thought to create one. If I had more willing subjects, an army could be created in a short time." Atlus stuttered the last words of his excuse, bowing down deeply.

"Do they have to be willing? Couldn't we just capture humans and sacrifice them for it, like you do for your foot soldiers?"

"No, the last time I tried to achieve this, my team and I only created crippled creatures, weaker than everything else. O-Of course we are working on this and it will just be a question of time!" He quickly tried to reassure his leader.

"I hope so. For the sake of your life. Your brothers research could be used without him, I think it will be possible to replace you too." Without turning around Sarazar walked near the table that was covered in hastily scribbled formulas and a few test tubes. "After all, you are trying to achieve this transformation even against the will of the sacrificed one." He continued, now looking at one of the papers in front of him.

Finally turning around, he focused his shivering researcher. "Anyhow, I think you will be of more use alive for now. Take the new Angelos and send them to Samur. We need to find out what is happening in the garden. I don't want someone to interfere with our plans."

"We have one other Stinger, we could send him with them. Surely there would be no one able to stop them all." Atlus exclaimed, trying to appease his master.

"I want you to redesign him, to make him stronger than every other of those demons out there. No matter if they are created by you or came from the hell realm. Now sent for them. I want Samas to leave as fast as possible." And with this last words he strode out of the laboratory, his coat billowing behind him and leaving a shaken scientist behind

After a short trip through the city, Musubi dropped in the outskirts of the garden, setting down a heavy breathing Minato, who looked really happy to have solid earth under his feet again.

"Alright, let's search for her then. Just give me a few seconds." Minato asked Musubi, leaning against a tree.

"Or you could just stay where you are and don't get in the way of my Ashikabi. I will make the termination quick and painless for you if you do. The Green Girl will belong to Higa Izumi this or that way." A voice behind him called out.

Snapping in the direction of it, both of them could see another girl, obviously a Sekirei too. Wearing a miko-like outfit, but her most defining features were the two giant blades she carried. Combined with her messy hair and slightly crazed look in her eyes, she radiated danger. "I am Kaiha. I will be your end here."

"I am Sekirei No. 88 Musubi. I will defeat you here for Minato." She loudly exclaimed, before she lunged at Kaiha. Surprised by her speed, Kaiha jumped backwards to avoid the hit that shattered the tree near here and swung her blades like an X, only to miss Musubi who jumped back quick enough. The only victim of her attack was a part of Musubis clothing, which obviously didn't interest her, as she continued the pressure on her enemy.

Being driven back, Kaiha knew she had no chance in a pure physical confrontation. Deciding to tip the scales in her favor, she dodged a left hook, using one of her blades for a horizontal swing Musubi gracefully dodged with a cartwheel, only to be hit by a giant cloud of dust as her enemy sliced her second blade across the sandy ground. Using the short distraction she gained with her counter, Kaiha ghosted back in the forest, waiting for the chance to surprise her naïve enemy.

Luckily her plan was rewarded as Musubi all but jumped between the trees, missing her hiding spot. Waiting a few more seconds, she jumped at her from above, swinging her blades like scissor to end her forever.

"Musubi!" Hearing the fearful cry of her Ashikabi, she turned around only to see the two blades approaching her head. What saved her was the strong gust of wind that created a small whirlwind and knocked Kaiha of balance. Still trying to utilize the element of surprise, she swung a blade at the face of her enemy. To her surprise it stopped dead in it tracks.

Musubi caught the blade between her palms, all but crushing it in small splinters. Looking her in the eyes, Kaiha noticed that the happy, naïve look in her eyes was gone replaced by a cold indifference. Before she could react to the destruction of her weapon, she was yanked forward by her enemy and felt a fist being buried in her gut, effectively folding her due to the force of impact and lifting her from the ground.

Collapsing on the ground and gasping for air, Kaiha felt a finger on her crest. Without being able to resist, she just heard the nearly silent prayer of her defeater.

"Fist of my contract! Break the unhappiness of my Ashikabi." Was the last thing Kaiha heard, before everything faded to black.

Pulling his sword out of the stomach of the enemy he threw it at, destroying the tree in the process, Nero's mood constantly got worse. 'This reeks of the work of a powerful demon. There is no chance anymore that an amount of the weaker ones could have caused a transformation like that.' He thought to himself, as watched the remains of the assaults he encountered.

Looking over his shoulder just in time to see Akitsu shatter the frozen statues she turned her reptile like enemies in. Making eye contact, he gestured to move forward with a nod of his head. Continuing their silent track to the middle, he saw a clearing and even more important heard a familiar voice.

"I, I think you are the one who called for me, are you?" Minato said, sitting in the middle of the clearing, looking at a small, blonde girl, who stood in the middle of it. From her posture, she looked like she felt a mixture of confusion and fear, as if she wasn't sure if she should cry or run away.

"You are Kusano, right?" Minato continued in, what he hoped to sound like a calming voice. He took the fact that she didn't move away as the sign to slowly move forward, with both of his hands outstretched.

Standing a bit behind him, Musubi observed the situation in front of her with growing interest. Seeing her Ashikabi getting close to another Sekirei made her extremely happy on the inside.

"I want to help you, I am not there to hurt you in any way."

"And that is a lucky decision for you. Now step back, before I make you." Stepping out of the woodwork Nero marched on the clearing, his weapons still sheathed, but his hand already on his gun.

The reactions were imminent. Minato nearly jumped in place and turned around quickly, his eyes widening at the sight of the opponent that entered the arena and especially at the sword at his back. Musubi, also recognizing him and especially Akitsu, flexed her muscles and looked ready to directly attack her. The excited smile she wore earlier didn't fade, but seemed to change in a slight confused expression as she noticed Neros arm and armament.

"You are the one from earlier? You're an Ashikabi too? And you are here to kidnap her? And what is with your body?" Minato blurted out, staring at him wide-eyed and positioned himself between Kusano and Nero.

"You're atleast somewhat smart if you recognize me. And I am here to protect a little girl from assholes like you that try to use her for their sick game. So back off, before I grab you and throw your ass out of the garden!" Slowly stepping forward, balling his hands into fist, Nero noticed that Minatos female companion started to tense up, getting ready to move. Preparing himself for the initial assault, he suddenly stopped as his sense picked someone else up, who got close.

"Come on, hurry up. We are nearly there. I don't want to lose the chance of finding her for Mikogami just because you are too slow." Perpetrator of this taunting comment was a blonde girl, wearing a summer dress with a yellow stripe in the middle. Stepping out of the bushes nearby, she gestured behind her, obviously to get her companion moving.

"Shut up Mitsuki!" Not stepping out of the bushes but completely eviscerating them, was a, at least to Nero, familiar face. "You!" Yomi exclaimed loudly, pointing her scythe directly at Nero, completely ignoring the rest.

In the next second, the whole situation escalated. Seeing red, in the literal sense, Yomi tried to finish what she attempted to do the last time they met, only to be intercepted by a wall of spikes Akitsu directed at her. Using the distraction, Musubi and Mitsuki decided to attack Akitsu at the same time from two angles. Nero, who was closer to Musubi, intercepted her punch with straight right punch, not only stopping her, but also completely knocking her backwards. Using the momentum, he swung his arm to the right and caught Mitsukis ankle with his spectral arm. The force behind it sent her face first on the ground before he swung her over his head and planted her six inch deep in the ground.

Suddenly stumbling, he noticed that a huge amount of vines spread on the floor, grabbing his legs and yanking at the limbs of Yomi and Akitsu, separating both of them. More annoyed than anything else, Nero ripped his legs out of the green and turned around, seeing the reason for the growth spurt. Clinging to Minatos leg and crying, Kusano was the centre of the mutated plant life, which started to form a protective barrier around her.

"Goddamned, now this guy is trying to steal her! That's entirely your fault!" Yomi accused Nero, cutting herself out of the vines and turned around to do the same for her partner. An alarmed cry of her made Yomi spin back around, only to see Nero pointing Blue Rose in her direction and pulling the trigger three times, much to the horror of every person in the vicinity.

Feeling herself drenched in warm liquid, Yomi slowly opened her eyes surprised that she was still in one piece. What surprised and disgusted her even more, was not only the blood she was covered in, but also the leathery skin and lizard like pieces, which laid near her. Seeing the partial intact limbs splattered on the ground nearly made her vomit. Unlike her, Minato couldn't surpress his reaction to the carnage and presented the remnants of his dinner to everyone on the clearing. Meanwhile Kusano had her face pressed against his leg, her eyes clenched shut and silently sobbing.

Clenching his Devil Bringer in anger, Nero completely ignored the attention directed at him. Hearing a cracking out of the dense bush near him, Nero directly aimed his now reloaded gun at the source of the sound and slowly charged it. Waiting for a clear field of view and ready to deliver another round of death, he slowly lowered his gun and cursed silently when he saw the familiar figures, breaching out of the bushes.

A few minutes earlier

"Come Mutsu, hurry up! Yomi and Mitsuki must be further inside, we have to catch up and continue searching for this Sekirei!"

"I think that just running blindly into the centre of the garden is a rather bad course of action. I have no idea what those things are or were they came from. It is only clear that they are dangerous. We should perhaps proceed more carefully now." Slowly sheathing his blade, Mutsu looked around once more. Out of all things he expected, peg-legged sock-puppets with blades weren't on the list. 'What has just become of this town in this short time. First this white-haired one, who is no ordinary man himself and now this things.'

"So what, you killed them. They weren't even a challenge for you and I am pretty sure Yomi and Mitsuki can handle those things. They are just dirt-filled cloth bags." And with this comment he ignored the worries of his bodyguard to simply continue his way into the center of the garden with a lazy strode.

Atleast until he heard the gunshots in the distance. His eyes widening in shock, he ran into the direction of the sound, calling the names of his two Sekirei. Cursing over the recklessness or even borderline stupidity of his Ashikabi, Mutsu sprinted after and past him, drawing his sword on the way to cut whatever would wait for him.

What he wasn't expecting, were both of his comrades drenched in blood, a vomiting Ashikabi with his Sekirei beside him and the reason for this whole oreal behind him. What surprised him the most was the one white-haired one he thought about earlier and especially the fact that he was not only armed, but also his choice of weapons.

'So he is the key to all of this' Mutsu thought, as he fixated Nero and readied himself for an attack, inwardly focusing on the possibility to kill him. The whole atmosphere became tense and it felt like the air charged itself with electricity as the stand-off continued. Both Nero and Mutsu knew inwardly that the other won't back off.

Nero slowly opened his mouth, whilst moving his left hand slowly to Red Queen on his back, his Devil Bringer still ready. Before he could talk to try and defuse the situation, all hell broke loose. Cracking out of the bushes were the violet clad twins, dragging a human between them who was most likely their Ashikabi.

Directly behind them and crushing through the trees, was the reason for the wild hunt, something that Nero knew very. It looked like a giant, green scaled snake, over ten meters long and massive. Where a head should have been, was only a flower like construct, somehow reminiscent to a carnivorous plant. Right on its tail were the offspring of the Echidna, zigzagging over the ground to their mother.

Opening up her flower-like head and presenting the female like form as she coiled up near the tree line, she greedily focused on Kusano, ignoring those around her.

"You! You little one will be mine and become the fertile ground my beautiful children will live and thrive upon!" She exclaimed with a high-pitched hiss, pointing at the trembling girl.

What brought her out of her hell-bent focus was the sound of an engine revving. Turning around she saw Nero, his sword now stuck in the ground and glowing with heat. "I thought you died in Fortuna. Guess I have to finish Dante's job then. Bring it on you hump of weed." He called out.

From the corner of his eye he could see the rest of the group changing their position against it, obviously seeing her as the bigger threat.

"Standing in my way is futile. This place will be mine, just like the rest of this city and neither you and your pathetic group nor those pesky summoners will stop me. Kill them my little ones! Make them ours just like those reptiles and bring her to me!" And with this scream, she plunged herself at the waiting part-devil.

Well I am done for now. Hope you liked it. If you do feel free to follow and/or favorite it. Or drop a comment.

If you didn't like or have some critique and the likes for me, please write them also down, either as review or PM. Everything in that direction helps. Also. if I have grammatical errors point them out. I am trying to get better, but still have a long way to go

Anyway