[ HELLRAISER ] __ Vergil Sparda · Nelo Angelo shrine (Devil May Cry).

and strictly theory

Ever since I played Devil May Cry 4 and got to level 6, the level where you resurrect Yamato and are joined with the spirit of some blue demon, I couldn't shake off the certainty of it being Vergil. Just everything about that scene. From the famous line of his desire for more power statement and the fact that Yamato was finally able to be controlled.

Here is my rather long theory about how Nero could be an inheritor of Vergil's power (or himself), rather than Sparda. This theory is taking both official evidence this game provided and my friend, Macgirl-13's awesome and her belief of The Order representing a side of Vergil, and the Order wanting to breed a demon to power this "Saviour". We wouldn't be writing this if the strong evidence wasn't there and how we fail to see Sparda the more we play it.

I'm sure you're thinking that, well, you know damn well I'm a Vergil fangirl (my friend is, too), so I would think this. But I have evidence to back most of this up. I've not left one stone unturned, it's not something I've just pulled out of my ass.

Please respect the fact that I'd rather not see this essay blasted everywhere. Forums are fine, because I don't care for those, but journal communities I do and I'd rather not have this being made an example of where I can see.

The Acsension Ceromony

Many members of The Order Of The Sword take part in an "ascension ceremony" eventually (perhaps when they've met certain requirements or achieved something). The Knights are awarded with these fragments, and in turn, are gifted with new abilities. During my raging discussions, Macgirl-13 pointed out a beautiful theory about certain members. She believes that the each member of the Order represents a side of Vergil. You can easily say that the Order are representing Sparda and not Vergil, but since when was Sparda power-obsessed? It's obvious that Sanctus represents Vergil's power-hungry side. And when Sanctus was defeated by Nero, he exclaimed, "How could you defeat me when I'm clearly the more powerful one?" -- which mirrors Vergil's own disbelief when he was defeated by his brother who he considered "inferior" to him.

Credo seems to represent Vergil's skills as a swordsman. And, at some point, Vergil's devotion to his next of kin (though we all know Vergil wasn't open about it). Agnus could represent Vergil's "bookish" side, the one who constantly thirsts for knowledge. You just have to look at Vergil's prologue in DMC3. You can imagine him reading every book in that library and who knows just how long he's been there.

Now, Nero could represent Vergil's desire to protect the one he loves. In a way, Nero IS Vergil's human side. When you see how Sanctus belittles Nero for loving someone (a human trait) -- and if it IS true that they all represent Vergil -- you can see just how conflicted Vergil must've felt. He must've thought, "I need more power! I need to cast aside all my humanity to do so because that's what the books told me (i.e., Sparda defeating the hordes of Hell with the full might of his demonic powers)!" However, he was held back by his emotions -- a popular belief as to how Dante managed to defeat Vergil in the first place. In the final scene where they attacked each other, Vergil never raised his sword. It could mean a lot of things, but to me it's his emotions playing the vital part. He could NOT kill Dante because he still loved him and he was still his brother. And as the older twin, he was supposed to protect him.

Agnus, as we all know, is a scientist - a researcher. He created man-made demons and has somehow, acquired Yamato -- but the devil arm is broken and he can't seem to control it. Down in his quarters, there's also a lab where he creates those white knights you later fight in the game. These white knights go by the names of Bianco Angelo and Alto Angelo, and what interests me about these are the fact that they're created from fragments of a demon they call "Dark Angel" (and, much like Nero, are often surrounded by this blue aurora). Now, I am aware Nelo Angelo translates to "Black Angel", but we all know of the translation issues with that name and the Order don't really know much about this "demon" or Yamato itself and Agnus has only been into this research for a few years so his experience may be lacking.

In Devil May Cry 4, Nero is sent out to capture Dante, and heads out to Fortuna castle, there, he stumbles across a lab, where, in turn, he discovers Agnus. Agnus notices Nero's "arm" and takes quite a fascination to it. After capturing Nero by pinning him against a wall with a sword or three, he states he wants to experiment on Nero, and Nero refuses to play along and spits blood in his face. Agnus orders a few Bianco Angelo to take Nero out, and as they stab him, he loses conciousness. He has this flashback (the intro from the instruction manual), Kyrie sounds distressed and Nero sounds weak and powerless to do anything about it, at this point, Nero wakes up in a possessed state, and as he writhes around, Yamato flies over to his right hand (note, Nero is left handed where as Vergil is right) and after an explosion of rage that knocks Agnus flying across the room and destroys the knights, Agnus stares up to where Nero is and Nero is joined by a huge blue demon, bearing resemblance to a mix between Nelo Angelo's armour and his Devil Trigger (with a scabbard in his left arm from where he pulls Yamato out while in the devil triggered state -- just like in the third game) -- stating that ever since that attack, his arm changed, and a voice echoed "Power... GIVE ME MORE POWER!" and then states that if he becomes a demon, then so be it. He will endure exile -- ANYTHING to protect her. Agnus flees, and Nero, eventually, snaps out of it and seeks answers. (The "flashback" will be explained when I have more firm ideas. There is NOTHING in this game to go on.)

This desire for more power is not Sparda. This is more of a Vergil thing. Sparda was the strongest demon to ever live, while Vergil, being a hybrid, was never gonna match his father's power. For this, he was never going to be able to protect those he loves and just like his mother, will lose them. Another thing I'd like to mention is the fact that Sparda was never power hungry and he's 100% demon, so why would his "spirit" influence Nero into such a statement? Only Vergil could use Yamato. Only Nero could restore and control it. And was joined by the spirit of some blue demon weilding Yamato. In cutscenes, it triggers when he's helpless and wanting to protect Kyrie. Though it's a devil trigger during the actual gameplay.

To back this up further, as I'm aware that Yamato did once belong to Sparda (it was the same with Rebellion, too). Yamato's NERO profile just states the sword is magic, and gives Nero access to new powers. In Dante's Yamato profile, it states that it's a sword that once belonged to his brother (not Sparda). Rebellion is a physical manifestation of DANTE'S power (it's what awakened his Devil Trigger), it's the same with Yamato being the physical manifestation of Vergil's power. Dante mentions the sword meaning a lot to him, also, and not because of it belonging to his father, but to his brother.

With all this in mind, the sword chooses to fuse itself with Nero through his right arm and can only really use it during his Devil Triggered state and only briefly out of it.

Another thing to notice is that his right arm does glow purple, and it did make me think Sparda. But I did a little test, and I had it on "automatic", so the arm would charge up on its own rather than doing it manually all the time. I rule Sparda out once again, as when Vergil is using Yamato and Judgement cut, they glow purple.

quotes and comparisons

He's mentioned in them all. In this game, yes, Berial mentions that some 2000 years ago, he did fight Sparda. Can someone please point a demon out Sparda did not fight 2000 years ago? He took on the entire population of hell alone. He even goes as far as comparing Nero to him. In Devil May Cry 3, before demons even worked out Dante wasn't human, they pointed the same stuff out to him. Only a handful actually went as far as realising he is a son of Sparda. There are really no hints to believe that demons believed this of Nero. Berial was the only one with a brain, since Bael and Dagon didn't really mention much and Echidna thought he was human. Now, when Dante comes along, Berial's reaction is greater, as he's more enthusiastic by this adversary as it's the son of Sparda (plus, Dante's killed his compatriots in the past and wants to take this opportunity avenge them).

The Saviour requires blood of Sparda to run. Let's take a look at Temen-Ni-Gru. Legend goes, Sparda sacrificed his own blood and that of a priestess to close the tower - the link to the human and demon world. Along comes Vergil. He's no Sparda, but, obviously, being a son, he has that blood. In the sacrificial chamber of the tower, he cuts his palm open and uses his own blood. However, it doesn't do anything. I'm led to believe his blood was enough and HE figured he'd use some of Dante's BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY NEEDS MORE. THIS SHIT AIN'T WORKING. Still doesn't work during their battle? Arkham comes in and tells Vergil he's been playing them all since the beginning. Now that Vergil and Dante are weakened, it's easier for him to claim that power by revealing what Vergil's really missing -- the blood of the priestess. He uses his daughter, Lady, at this point (also, Lady is a descendant of that priestess). Vergil's blood was enough. He wasn't aware Lady was required so foolishly thought he needed more. It's the same with the Saviour -- originally, they intended to use Dante to form the core, but he was proving far too difficult to capture for this. Nero was easier, because it was love that drove him blindly and Nero was right in front of Santcus and The Saviour at the time, why struggle getting Dante at this point when another carrier is there? I know Sanctus pointed out that Nero inherited Sparda's power. He could have done that EASILY through Vergil's blood and, just like if they captured Dante, Nero will do, because that blood's with him. Also, note, Sanctus admitted he'd rather use Dante -- why would he do that if Nero was more Sparda than Dante?

Something else I'd like to point out with my belief that it's not Sparda's blood entirely is that during the first fight with Sanctus, he points out that Nero's not in Dante's league, but still put up a decent fight. Some belive, Dante, according to this game, has surpassed his father in terms of strength and ability. So, since Sanctus intended to use Dante to form the Saviour's core and now decides on Nero as being an "okay enough," a last minute option. If Nero was a full-blooded descendant of Sparda, then why not choose Nero in the first place? It's odd that Sanctus implies that Nero does, indeed, carry the blood of Sparda, but not as good as Dante -- implying that Sanctus knows that Nero is an "incomplete demon." He is still largely human. This probably means that Nero IS a descendant of Sparda through Vergil, but something must've happened in his conception (which could've been artificial) that made it unable for him to inherit all of Vergil's powers. It was all the Order's doing and they wanted to "breed" a demon that could power their Saviour, but they weren't able to perfect it and got Nero, a child who bore Sparda's physical appearence, but none of his powers. Little did they know that Nero had demonic powers in him. They were just very well-hidden. Vergil's demonic lineage would be potent enough to manifest itself even if the "experiment" is imperfect; it just needed a catalyst for Nero's powers to come forth. And what better catalyst would that be other than Yamato, the weapon that bears Vergil's powers?

At the end of the game, Nero compares himself to Sparda. Nero's a demon / possessed the power of a demon and they're bad in many human eyes. However, he points out that he's not like the rest of them, for he is able to love a human, just like Sparda before him.

Never could take those legends too literally. But I do know that Sparda had a heart. A heart that could love another person, a human. And that is something you lack. -- Nero.

He was talking about Sanctus, who is human. Nero, being demon or just harbouring that power, was pointing out that, though he's demon, he's more human than Sanctus and Sanctus is obviously no Sparda for that lack of love. Just comparing himself to Sparda, is all. Like the whole "Devils Never Cry" thing, if you shed a tear, it's a sign of being quite human. If you can love another, that's also, a sure sign to humanity.

To me, Sparda is long gone. The only weapons that still state belonging to him are: Force Edge / Sparda and Luce & Ombre (however, even those twin pistols I'm uncertain about now, as Trish uses them and in the second game, it gives out little information for them). There's no way he can be cloned without a body or blood, and that's why they wanted Dante captured, but that wasn't proving an easy task (and this game states that his powers are now stronger than his father's). Nero was chosen because he'd stop at nothing to save Kyrie, and another opportunity to use the blood of Sparda through those Dark Angel fragments arose.

What first triggered this

Okay, I've had little to say about what's stated in the instruction manual. Reason being... it doesn't really tell us much. I'd rather not pull anything out of my ass for this just yet and I'd rather go on something solid like I did for this. Eventually, I'll cover it to the best of my ability. But there's seriously nothing explained about that.

In the end!

I do hope you've enjoyed what you've read!