Thy own humanity learn to adore.

Welcome to my Vergil shrine, where I will be putting all my cringe thoughts and feelings for this emotionally constipated eldest daughter with mommy issues. He's just like me fr.

Vergil is a character and the main antagonist in Capcom's action/adventure series, Devil May Cry. Vergil is the older twin brother and archenemy of the series protagonist, Dante and the father of current series protagonist, Nero. I will try my best to summarize him in chronological order of the manga/games but I can't make any promises. There's a lot of ground to cover and in classic Capcom fashion, shit is all over the place and debatably canonical. Apologies in advance for the nightmarishly long wall of text...

Vergil and Dante are the children of a human woman named Eva and a demon known as Sparda, a legendary Dark Knight that betrayed his own kind for the sake of humanity. As a child, Vergil was raised alongside Dante in a secluded home in Red Grave City. He was the quieter and more bookish of the two. He was particularly fond of poetry, especially William Blake's works, a fondness that stayed with him to adulthood(remember this). Despite his quieter nature, he shared an intense sibling rivalry with Dante and often fought with him, much to their mother's ire. In the Visions of V manga, Eva puts emphasis on Vergil being the big brother and needing to be the more mature of the two and tells him he needs to resist Dante's instigating to fight, despite Vergil's multiple attempts(unseen) to tell Dante no and avoid him. If he's anything like the Oldest Child(TM) I am, I think he resented being expected to bear the brunt of responsibility/maturity while the younger sibling is often excused for their shitty behavior simply for being... younger. Especially condsidering he and Dante are probably mere minutes apart. I know he resented this mentality because minutes before his life changing event, he laments to himself in the playground he'd run off to: "I didn't promise him anything in the first place! Even mama! So what if I'm the big brother, Dante is the one to blame!" I know they were both children and both were acting a bit bratty but... I think Vergil was within his right to be upset at both his mother and brother here.

Before their eighth birthday, Eva gifted the twins two halves of an amulet, known as the Perfect Amulet. Very incredible name, I know. This amulet will play a large role in Vergil's life, but we will get to that later. Some point after this, Sparda disappears and later dies. We have no idea how, because Capcom never tells us. I guess half the fun of him is the mystery though, so... yeah. Sparda’s absence leaves Eva and the twins vulnerable, something that does not go unnoticed. Mundus acts swiftly, sending his minions to eliminate the last remnants of Sparda’s legacy.

When Mundus’s legion attack the Sparda family, Vergil is at a nearby playground after a particularly nasty fight with Dante (in other iterations, he is in a cemetery but I am going to go with the most recent information we have as canonical fact). As he runs, he realizes that his mother and Dante are home, unaware of the hoard just outside. Being the good son that he is, he runs home to attempt to warn/protect them. He arrives to see his home in flames, the shock of which leaves him vulnerable to attack. He is swiftly cut down and stabbed multiple times. He calls for his mother and brother to save him, unaware that Dante was told to hide by their mother, who went to look for him before she was killed.

This attack, combined with his cries for help going unanswered, awakens Vergil’s inner demon and summons his beloved Yamato to his side. With this new found power, he makes short work of his attackers. Believing himself abandoned by his mother and brother, Vergil runs from his home and and vows that he doesn't need anyone. All he needs is power. Off he goes into a lifetime of abandonment and mommy issues that will haunt him well into adulthood. Leave before you’re left, the only person you can trust is yourself, etc. etc. etc. Oh, little Vergil... you make things so much harder on yourself...

So he took his wings, and fled, then the morn blushed rosy red, I dried my tears, and armed my fears, with ten thousand shields and spears.

We meet Vergil again in the city of Fortuna, many years later. I don't think we know his age in any game other than 3 but, I believe he is around 17-18 in his DMC4 appearance, since it takes place sometime before 3, in which he is aged 19. This is pure speculation but, it seems to be the popular consensus among fans that it takes place at least a year before 3. But who knows, it may have only taken place months before. Anyway, Vergil has become obsessed with power and gaining more of it. To what end, I'm not even sure he knows but I think he tells himself it's to protect himself(and secretly, i think, to make up for the family he failed to protect). In his quest for power, he has become obsessed with his demonic lineage and is researching information on his father, Sparda.This quest for knowledge leads him to Fortuna, where Sparda is being worshiped as a god.

During his time in the city, he meets a woman. We know less than nothing about her other than that she is a member of the religious cult worshiping Sparda. Devil May Cry is really bad about having like. little to no explanations for things in favor of having a ton of really corny, over-the-top action sequences. While I enjoy the mystery surrounding the woman that charmed Vergil's heart, I wish we knew more about her. I love when emotionally guarded characters meet someone that gets past their icy exteriors and worms their way into their hearts, even if it's only for a brief moment. Vergil, someone who deems himself so above humanity and their simple, base desires ends up falling for and having a sexually intimate relationship with a human. it is sooooo much fun to think about. During his brief affair with this mysterious woman, he unknowingly sires Nero (#TeenMom). Before he can discover he has a son, he leaves Fortuna and his beloved in search of more power that he is so desperate for. I know a lot of people think the lady in red was a one night stand that he didn't care about but, i really think he loved her. Even his theme song in dmc5, bury the light, references her as his secret love:

"Secret love (A derelict of dark summoned from the ashes, the puppetmaster congregates all the masses) Bloodline yearns (Pulling strings, twisting minds as blades hit, you want this power? Then come, try and take it) Dark minds embrace (Lurking in the shadows under veil of night, constellations of blood pirouette) Crimson joy (Dancing through the graves of those who stand at my feet, dreams of the black throne I keep on repeat)".

There's a really cool breakdown of these lyrics that someone on Genius made that keeps me up at night: "A possible reference to the love of Eva and Sparda, Vergil and the unnamed mother of Nero, or a parallel of both relationships. Both Vergil and Nero, as descendants of Sparda, are drawn to darkness i.e. their devil side rather than their human one. “Secret love” is also a reference to “The Sick Rose” by William Blake in the passage: Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love. Taking this suggestion further, “The Sick Rose” is a poem about love that is corrupted by a worm. The worm can be taken as a reference to death and general decay (Vergil’s own suffering of several deaths, and the decaying body he was left in), and perhaps that death’s affect on the love he felt for Nero’s mother. The worm is also a phallic representation, taking the “Crimson joy” (Sexual desires) of the rose (The woman), and “does thy life destroy”. Nero’s mother was considered a prostitute for premarital sex in the religious and sexually repressive Fortuna. In short, Vergil having sex with Nero’s mother corrupted her and ruined her life, while Vergil’s deaths between DMC4’s prologue to DMC3 and DMCV further represent him as the worm." Like good god. So much to tear into here but, we still have so much ground to cover, so I'll move on for now.

And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

When Vergil is 19, he finds himself back in Red Grave City. He's still researching daddy dearest and while doing so he comes into contact with a man named Arkham. Arkham is obsessed with the Black Arts and, unbeknownst to Vergil, becoming a God. For some reason Vergil lies to Arkham about what he's truly looking for when Arkham asks if he's reading about Sparda's legacy. I think this is another self-preservation, only trust yourself tactic but his tone throughout the cut scene in the library with Arkham is strange... He seems subdued, withdrawn, almost melancholy. Is he missing Nero’s mother? Growing weary in his search for power? I like to speculate but I guess we will never know for sure. He’s lived a lifetime at 19 and I personally think its wearing on him already. Little does he know it can get so much fucking worse. But it’s okay, he’s about to find out!

During the time he spends with Arkham, the two concoct a plan to raise the Temen-Ni-Gru. It’s a legendary, unholy tower dedicated to evil and within the tower is the true gateway to the demon world... This tower was originally sealed by Sparda thousands of years ago. When Sparda sealed the tower he also willing sealed away his own powers alongside it. Those powers are what Vergil and Arkham are after and so they begin breaking the seals to raise the Temen-Ni-Gru.

Again, Vergil’s tone is weird throughout these scenes. He is still reserved, withdrawn. His tone is not like this in the rest of the game. It’s cocky, resolute, and sometimes almost playful. He’s sure of himself, of what he’s done. Before they raise the tower it’s like he’s trying to convince himself this is the sure path. When he closes his eyes, bows his head and says "It begins..." it sounds like he's bracing himself for the worst. Maybe he is. While Vergil breaks the final seal of the tower, Arkham pays a visit to Dante to ensure he still has his half of the perfect amulet.

They are successful in their tasks and as the tower rises, Dante ponders what fun Vergil has in store for him since they last met over a year ago. He’s referencing the prelude manga for DMC3, which I believe has been partially retconned so I’m gonna be skipping over it. Or Vergil was 17 when he was in Fortuna, 18 when the manga took place, and 19 during DMC3, which is fully possible but. Only Capcom knows and they aren’t giving us a solid timeline so. I’m skipping it.

As Vergil broods on the edge of the tower’s peak, Arkham goes on an insanely long winded monologue about how wonderfully evil the tower is and Vergil hits him with a swift #idgaf. He only cares if Dante has his half of the amulet, which Arkham confirms he does and that he's taking good care of it, since it's the only momento they have left of their mother. Again, Vergil's voice is strange to me here. He's gruffer and colder but he still has this melancholic tone. Vergil ponders his own amulet and I can’t help but wonder why he held on to it for so long after believing his mother had left him for dead. It’s not like he’d always known it’s true purpose, for a long while it was just a birthday gift from his mom that he loved. Lots to think about. Vergil gives us more moments with the amulet again later so I will move away from it for now.

Later, Vergil does more brooding on the tower's edge. They're literally just waiting for Dante to bring the amulet to them at this point so I like to imagine Vergil had more than enough time to think about many different things, including Lady's presence in the tower. He seems very Knowing when he tells Arkham they have an uninvited guest and I know this was Vergil testing to see if Arkham would confess to knowing her, which he does. Arkham also hits us with a line that has inspired probably some of the worst iterations of Vergil's character that I have had the misfortune to witness (looking at you 2025 DMC anime!) "A storm is approaching." Vergil side eyes Arkham as he leaves to confront Lady.

When Dante finally makes it to the top of the tower, he and Vergil share some snide remarks. Just putting this out here to get it out of the way, I hate Dante. He's annoying and drives me insane. That being said, DMC3/DMC1 are my favorite iterations of his character. Probably ironic considering I like Leon and Dante was originally going to be Leon... but oh my god the never ending one-liners and never letting a moment linger are so. yeah, I know it's his own way of coping with the shit that happened to him but, christ. enough. it's especially bad in 5 for me, but. Anyway, Vergil and Dante fight. He questions Dante on why he’s so reluctant to embrace their demonic heritage and Dante makes another joke and tries to attack Vergil again. Vergil hands Dante his ass on a platter via Yamato through his gut. Vergil hits us with a line that his own son will later echo: “Without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself.” Nice save, dumbass. Almost let it slip you felt powerless to protect your family and instead of having an uncomfortable conversation with your brother about what happened that night, you’re doing all this. Incredible.

Vergil snatches Dante’s locket from him, holds it to his forehead, and in an attempt to cover up this embarrassing display of sentimentality, pretends like he was only slicking his hair back again. Yay.

ADMIT YOU LOVE AND MISS YOUR FAMILY STUPID!

Vergil pulls an “AHHHH PSYCH!” moment on Dante, runs him through, AGAIN, this time with Dante’s own sword the Rebellion. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound... Arkham shows up, asking if Vergil finally has the amulet and he confirms he does and that they can finally break the spell Sparda cast all those years ago. As they leave, Dante’s inner demon is awakened and he tries to attack Vergil again before Arkham interrupts them and tells Vergil to forget it. Vergil hesitates but obeys and they leap off the side of the Temen-ni-gru. Onward to more familial misery.

Dante is swallowed by a leviathan while chasing after them while acting a fool. oh, to be 19 and stupid with new demonic powers... this gives Vergil and Arkham time to break the seals on the final doors to the sacrifical chamber. Or does it...? Arkham goes on another monologue about fear while Vergil gives us some cute annoyed glaring. It seems to me like Arkham is trying to provoke Vergil here, both with bringing up his dad later and this ranting about fear. We know by now that fear is the thing ruling Vergil's life, so I imagine this rant cut to the quick.

Once they're nearly to the chamber, Arkham starts going on about how it must be fate that the one undoing Sparda's seal is his own son. Vergil is quiet until the doors open and this is when he chooses to bring up Lady once again. And by bring up, I mean throw it in Arkham's face that he knows she's his daughter and he knows thats why he hasn't killed her. He's ultimately proven wrong about this later but... damn. Not letting Arkham getting away with trying to rile you up and shitting on daddy dearest, are you Vergil? Arkham goes to tell Vergil that's none of his business but Vergil quickly makes it his business by ramming Yamato through his gut. There's a youtuber that I really enjoy watching that does deep dives on Vergil's character and DMC in general but. In this video she suggests(around the 11:30 mark is where this scene begins) that Vergil doesn't actually care about killing Lady(I agree), that the point he was trying to make is that he already knew that Arkham has sacrificed his wife, therefore he should have no issue sacrificing his daughter as well. She goes on to say that this information is why he decides to kill him: to prevent him from turning on him later, since he obviously had no qualms with killing his own wife, and out of disgust of what the man has done to attain power. It's interesting to think about, that Vergil is potentially still clinging to a human's morality of right and wrong. I both agree and disagree with it. Vergil does seem off in other scenes, his human side is raw and obvious. While he's still very human in this scene, it's not the quiet hesitance of before. He's childish. Being a huge fucking brat, tbh. Throwing a tantrum like a child that's had a toy taken away. He's being nasty, trying get a rise out of Arkham, like Arkham did with him only moments ago. He mocks him, tells him it's no wonder his attainment of power is incomplete, can't even kill his own daughter. What an idiot, right!? But Arkham sees Vergil for he is; a boy too big for the boots he's in and gets under skin with a simple quip back about Vergil also being incomplete being. He's still part human, after all. This makes Vergil lose it. He tells him to shut up before dealing the killing blow. As Arkham falls, Vergil tells the dying man that now that the final door is open, he has no use for him anymore. Hit 'em with the old, "It was actually Me using You! Not the other way around, old man!" Nice try... we all know he hurt your feelings.

While I like to think that Vergil did what he did out of disgust for what Arkham has done, I also know everything he's doing is through the lens of a scared little boy that doesn't like being reminded he is, in fact, a scared little boy. What he did to Arkham here seemed to be more out of preservation of his ego than any kind of rational, moral thought. Given Vergil's own penchant for familial violence, I'm not sure he really cares who Arkham kills to get the power he wants but. maybe he does? After all, I tend to think of his constant fighting with Dante, no matter how violent it gets, as his fucked up way of playing with his little brother the way they used to. He knows neither of them can truly die so it doesn't matter how rough they are. He doesn't see it as murder he sees it as a coversation, a way of catching up without talking about all their bottled up feelings. Lady does say at the beginning of the game that they both seemed to derive a sort of sick pleasure from their fighting. They're both still children at heart who had to raise themselves. They didn't really get to grow up normally past 8 years old. They fought a lot at 8, it's pretty much all can remember from their time together as children, so its what they do. I know Vergil likes to act like he truly hates his brother, Dante does too. "I just don't like you." actually... you both are desperate for family and belonging somewhere again. yay.

After killing Arkham, Vergil proceeds to the sacrificial chamber where he is confronted by a demon called Beowulf, a gatekeeper of the Temen-Ni-Gru. This thing has already had it's ass kicked by Dante, so the minute it smells Vergil (who it thinks is Dante) it attacks. Vergil makes quick work of this thing. Like he barely blinks before he cuts it's head into a deli platter. Incredibly Bad Ass... Vergil takes its soul as a Devil Arm, cute gauntlets and greaves that look like paws, and proceeds to kick the shit out of Beowulf's dead body with them... dkfdkgjhfgjdf. this scene is so cute tho, god help me. Little dude is so chuffed.

Vergil's got everything he needs to break the seal on Sparda's power, the guardian of the seal is dead, and he got some cute new paws out of it. Time to start this party!

He brings the two amulets to the center of the room where they begin to float before joining together to create... the perfect amulet. They sink into the portal and all that's left is Sparda's blood. Vergil's more than prepared to offer it. He cuts his hand(with his lower lip trembling the whole time, btw) and bleeds over the portal and.... guess what Vergil gets! A whole lotta nothin'. The ritual doesn't work and holy shit, Vergil is upset. "Why isn't this working?!" Literally one of two times his voice raises like this and the second time is to call Jester an insane buffoon. He wonders if something might be missing, "must more blood be shed?" This line does add some points to to the human morality argument. What's more blood spilled for this power he wants? He and Arkham have already spilled so much. This shouldn't be an issue for him so why does it seem to be now?

Dante shows up, never late to an opportunity to antagonize his big brother. He teases Vergil about being in bad mood and talks about how HIS mother's amulet was the key that unlocks the portal to the demon world. HIS mother. not ours. Classy Dante... as usual. I really think this just makes Vergil feel more othered from his family and further cements his belief that he was abandoned but, if it does, he's not saying. Vergil explains to Dante that the amulets WERE the key but were later given to humans as gift. Dante tells Vergil he really doesn't gaf and asks if he has some more time to play a game with him. Play swords with me bro. Again, can y'all just talk? Vergil says "Why not. We share the same blood, I'll just use more of yours to undo daddy's little spell." He looks chuffed again, he really likes these paws. They fight, again. No one saw this coming, I know.

They're interrupted by Lady firing Kalina Ann at them but they both want to keep on fighting so they save one another from her rockets. They try to ignore her but Lady, who had been told by Arkham that Vergil manipulated him into doing all of this, is determined to kill Vergil for what he's done. She tells him as much, claiming that he "forced him into this." Vergil, his voice softening to it's earlier melancholy tone, asks "Is that what you think?" Before Dante continues their fight. I think Vergil felt a little bad for Lady here. He thinks he understands what its like to be betrayed by a parent, like she has been. Idk, it's odd to me he even entertained speaking to her at all, let alone so gently. He does call her a foolish girl but it's not really condescending imo, like he was being condescending to Dante earlier about the blood and sounded nothing like he did with Lady here. Just felt more like pity to me and less like wow what an idiot. Again, don't really have concrete evidence of this, it's just my read of the scene.