Now he could use Yamato. Vergil drew his blade, lifted it high above his head, and—

“ROYALGUARD!”

Vergil stopped inches away from Dante’s face. Dante held his right hand up with a low block from his left. Vergil darted back.

“C’mon, Vergil,” said Dante. “Don’t you wanna hit me? You were talking up a big game earlier. Something wrong?”

The Royalguard style was Dante’s most powerful technique. If he blocked at just the right moment, he could absorb the energy of any strike and redirect it back at his opponent. As far as Vergil knew, the only limit was his timing. The most foolish thing Vergil could do was attack recklessly. Even he had to respect the Royalguard.

“What, are you scared?” Dante quickly lurched towards Vergil, then back. He laughed and placed his hands in his pockets.

All of Vergil’s Devil Arms. There had to be something to subvert the Royal Guard. He pondered it for a moment before making his decision.

He brought out the Defibrillators of Chaos. Dr. Kratos. He rubbed them together rapidly until the blaze glowed a bright white, and he darted ahead.

Vergil held out the paddles. “CLEAR!” About a foot away, Dante raised his arms to guard. But Vergil wouldn’t hit him just yet. He threw one of the paddles towards Dante’s leg and tugged. The chain wrapped around his ankle and tightened around the paddle’s handle. Dante looked down.

“Uh-oh.”

Vergil yanked the chain and swung Dante in an arc overhead. Just before slamming him into the ground behind, he could see Dante move his arms to block the impact. But Vergil wouldn’t let it happen. He pulled on the chain again and altered the trajectory to be parallel to the ground, with Dante’s face just inches from it. Dante had whiffed the guard. And so Vergil could complete his strike. He slammed Dante against the cave’s wall and cratered it. The Qliphoth rumbled on impact. Dante fell to the ground and groaned.

- Ragnarust Round 4