Devil May Cry: Volume 1 (OFFICIAL NOVEL)

Phase 2: Part 4

Tony felt the presence of a pursuer right after he left Bobby's Cellar.

The tracker had masked himself well, but not enough to escape Tony's killer instinct. It was a mistake common to those who entered the underworld, either because they were used to battle, or they were overconfident in their ability. Tony raced through his options, betraying no sign that he was on to his pursuer. He could stop and quicky turn, attacking his second shadow with a lethal blow to the throat. He could crush the guy's head, preventing a tiring fight.

Tony continued on his way.

He needed time to strike at the Oz Club and take out its leader before they could organize and return the favor. It was an unprecedented course of action, and Tony knew his enemies were unlikely to expect him to go on the offensive.

But unlike an actual club, his adversaries had no headquarters or public face. He would have to run into a knowledgeable foe and beat the information out of him. I might as well start with the closest clue, he thought.

Tony quickened his pace. Suddenly, he whirled around, catching his follower unawares. The first thing he noticed was that this person wasn't alone. The second thing he noticed was that both stalkers were barely out of childhood.

"I've got something that I want to ask you," he announced. The two boys yelped and pulled their triggers. But they were too inexperienced to hit their target even from that close range. Tony lashed out, sprawling one to the pavement with a kick that sent teeth flying. The other youth emptied the rest of his clip, but he wasn't quick enough to tag Tony. The boy ran out of bullets. A stream of bile trickled down his chin as Tony kicked him hard in the stomach.

"Didn't you hear me? I just want you to answer a question," Tony said. He looked down at his prey with a smile. "I might look cool, but I'm actually really clumsy. I can't promise not to break your spine if I kick you again."

The wind kicked up the tails of his new coat, which licked the air like red flame. Tony knew the boy would see him as a bloodstained devil. He might even wet his pants.

"Who ordered you to hunt me down?"

The youth answered with a quivering voice, telling Tony the name of his superior.

About six hours later, Tony stood on a downtown corner. He had worked his way through another score of would-be assassins before discovering where the Oz Club had last assembled. He found himself in an upscale business district, staring at a marble bank. It was the middle of the night and the streets were empty.

The bank looked normal. But Tony could smell the unmistakable scents of blood, smoke, and metal. Nothing could mask the stench of death.

But there was something more. A dark, unnatural presence tingled along Tony's nervous system. The rotten atmosphere had no earthly origin, but Tony sensed it all the same. He unsheathed his sword.

"Strange place to meet," he said lightheartedly, trying to draw out anyone lurking in the darkness. It was then that he heard the voice.

"DAAANNNTEEE!"

It was the same voice he'd heard before. It scratched across his mind like nails on a chalkboard. Tony kicked off the ground and shot into the air. He twisted around and smashed through the locked entrance to the bank with a single blow.

"DAAANNNTEEE!"

The uncanny voice rang inside the building. Tony ran forward, sword raised. He didn't spare a moment to examine his surroundings.

"DAAANNNTEEE!"

The voice followed him deeper into the bank. Tony bolted up the escalator, inexplicably drawn toward a room on the upper floor.