Devil May Cry (novels)

The novel begins with Dante, under the alias Tony Redgrave, confronted by the thug "Mad Dog" Denvers for the ninety-ninth time.[3]^: 9 Dante kills all of Denvers' men and leaves. As Denvers reminisces about how Dante's appearance two years previously caused the fall of the local underworld, he is killed by scythe-wielding devils screaming Dante's name.[3]^: 15–16

In Bobby's Cellar, a mercenary hideout, Dante talks with his partner Grue. He then leaves Bobby's Cellar, heading to Goldstein's Shop, run by gunsmith Nell Goldstein. Bantering with Nell, Dante mentions he wrecks guns quickly due to the rate of fire he employs.[3]^: 24 Returning to Bobby's Cellar, Dante acquires a lucrative job with Grue.[3]^: 32–36 During the job it becomes clear to Dante and Grue that it is too dangerous, so they retreat.[3]^: 43 Later, as both men evaluate the aftermath of the pitched battle, they are attacked by the corpses. Dante destroys them, though Grue freezes.[3]^: 44–48 Afterwards, Grue and Dante eat dinner with Grue's family.

At Bobby's Cellar Enzo introduces a new mercenary named Gilver, a tall man swathed in bandages who wields a katana. Gilver fights Dante, proving himself equal. Deciding to settle the fight with drinking, Dante wins and Gilver is robbed by the bar patrons.[3]^: 58–69 After leaving, Dante is beset by demons and an undead Denvers.[3]^: 71–75 Dante awakens in the home of a local woman, who he spurns before leaving.[3]^: 77–83 He learns that killing Denvers has led to a bounty being placed on his head by the Oz Club. He leaves to confront the club directly.[3]^: 90Entering a bank, he fights the same demons once again. Defeating them he runs into Gilver, who has slaughtered the Oz Club.[3]^: 97

Weeks later, Dante and Gilver are now being paired on numerous jobs and Grue is missing.[3]^{: 101–103} On the way to work, Dante stops by Nell's home, giving him two handguns and warning him about Gilver.[3]^: 107 Dante runs into Grue, who has been taking assassination jobs.[3]^: 114 After leaving Dante, Grue kills a heavily in debt thug. This sparks a demonic transformation among the thug's friends and Grue's hiding place is revealed by Gilver. Grue ignites a grenade on his chest, trying to kill Gilver.[3]^: 121 Dante and Gilver continue as partners, and Enzo reveals that Grue did assassinations because of his daughter Jessica's illness.[3]^: 130 Dante goes to the hospital and finds it overrun by demons. Dante faces the demon in charge, who is feeding on Jessica's despair. He kills the demon and Jessica, shattering the connection between the human world and demon realm.[3]^{: 134–141}

Due to the hospital massacre and Grue's disappearance, Dante is publicly scorned by other mercenaries.[3]^: 146 Gilver converts the patrons of Bobby's Cellar into demons while Dante goes to Nell Goldstein's for rest. Soon after he leaves, an explosion engulfs Goldstein's Shop in flames.[3]^: 153 Dante charges in, finding Nell working on two handguns made especially for him: Ebony and Ivory. Giving him the handguns, Nell then dies. Dante ceases using the Tony Redgrave alias.[3]^{: 154–163} Dante returns to Bobby's Cellar and confronts Gilver. Amidst a furious sword fight, Gilver shoots Dante with the shotgun purchased at Nell's shop.[3]^{: 173–187} Fatally shooting Gilver in turn, Dante is horrified to discover that Gilver is his brother Vergil.[3]^: 190

Much later, Enzo drops by Bobby's Cellar and helps Dante leave. In the novel's epilogue, Dante sits in his shop as Devil May Cry begins.[3]^{: 195–198}

The novel begins as a redheaded woman, Beryl, storms through a temple. As a priest tells her that no evil is within the temple, they are attacked. Warned by a scar, Beryl expends her anti-tank gun on her foe before it flees.[5]^: 8–13 Dante and Enzo talk about work in Dante's shop, Devil May Cry. As they discuss Dante's work habits and Trish's non-presence, Dante gets a call for work.[5]^: 22 As Enzo drops Dante off near the temple, Dante races towards the evil he feels and discovers humanoid demons, who he fights.[5]^: 32 Enzo finds Beryl on the road and agrees to take her back up the mountain.[5]^: 37 Beryl catches up with Dante as he finishes his foes, and she nearly hits him with her weapon by accident. Beryl then explains the Beastheads, a demonic statue which she has chased for years.[5]^: 42

A youth named Ducas is awakened by a demon crashing through his roof. In the demon's hands is the Beastheads statue, which Ducas takes. Chen, the boss of organized crime in the area, quickly arrives. Chen dismisses Ducas and instead focuses on the dead demon and discovers that Ducas has the statue.[5]^: 56 Meanwhile, Dante broods about the Beastheads.[5]^: 60 Beryl locates Dante's office, having tracked down the Beastheads to Ducas. Beryl persuades Dante to help her investigate.[5]^: 68

Ducas' good luck continues and he is learning to control the Beastheads, allowing him to see the future and sees Dante killing him.[5]^: 73 Moments later, Dante and Beryl crash through the window as Ducas hides. After they leave, Ducas escapes by sprouting feathered wings, which Beryl and Dante notice.[5]^: 77 Ducas lands on a building, encountering Chen. Chen offers Ducas safety, sending his demonic minions to stop Dante. Dante dispatches the foes with ease, though Beryl finds herself overwhelmed. As Dante and Beryl decide to confront Chen,[5]^: 89 Ducas finds himself alone on a yacht. He places the Beastheads in his mouth and chews it to pieces to consume its power.[5]^: 91

The Beastheads, now an enormous three-headed dog, tracks Dante and Beryl to a sea-side cliff. The despair the Beastheads causes nearly incapacitates Beryl. Seeing Dante fight reminds Beryl of the Dark Knight, Sparda, a fairy tale she was told as a child. She gets up and aids Dante, though defeating the Beastheads causes them to warp somewhere.[5]^: 106 Beryl dreams, remembering how the Beastheads corrupted her father. She awakens in a cave with Dante. Dante investigates and discovers they are in a parallel world where Mundus captured him as a child and his brother Vergil led Mundus' lieutenants against him. Dante agrees to fight Mundus a second time.[5]^{: 117–121} The village housing the rebel demons is attacked by an army, all of whom resemble Trish. Mundus' former lieutenants give their lives to aid Dante in killing Trish, an action he regrets.[5]^: 143 Griffon leads Dante to Mundus' castle. Dante and Beryl enter and Dante defeats Mundus a second time while Beryl watches.[5]^: 153

Beryl and Dante awaken in Chen's labs, where Chen performs experiments on demons. The building vibrates as Chen acquires the Beastheads' power.[5]^: 170 They attack Chen, killing his minions and causing him to flee. Dante and Beryl follow and are caught in Chen's trap.[5]^: 178 Chen discovers that the Beastheads consumes human souls but replenishes demonic power. Dante carves his way out of the trap while Chen devours the Beastheads statue.[5]^: 186

Chen and Dante clash, both using the Sparda's sword-style. Chen gains the upper hand until Dante hurls his sword through Chen's head. Beryl uses her gun to punch through Chen's defense, allowing Dante to destroy the Beastheads.[5]^: 197 The book ends months later with a white-hilted dagger flying through Dante's front window, bearing an invitation to the museum seen in the beginning of Devil May Cry 2.[5]^: 201