KanColle X Devil May Cry: Devil Trigger Protocol

In the Devil May Cry Naval Base's command room, Ooyodo handled fleet reports. "First Fleet, Kongou. No sign of the Admiral yet," came Kongou's voice.

"Junyou here. Still no Admiral," Junyou reported.

"Third Fleet, Jintsuu. No trace of him," Jintsuu added.

"Understood. Keep searching," Ooyodo said.

Days had passed since Dante vanished. Naval Headquarters ordered all bases to search, but no leads surfaced. Two days remained before the search would be called off.

"Hoosho-san, still no sign…" Ooyodo said.

"I heard," Hoosho replied softly.

Suzuya holed up in her room, regret gnawing at her. "Admiral's an idiot! I hate him!" she'd said, not meaning it. But if those were her last words to him… "Admiral…" she whispered, guilt overwhelming her.

A knock came, and Haguro entered with a tray of food. "Excuse me…"

"No thanks," Suzuya mumbled.

Haguro set the tray on a desk. "You have to eat. The Admiral's surely fine."

"You don't know that!" Suzuya snapped.

Normally, Haguro would apologize, but not today. "When I first came here, I was scared of the Admiral. He kept talking to me, though, and I saw his kindness. Then I learned he's a demon, and I got scared again… but he's still kind. We all shared a dream about him."

Suzuya stayed silent.

"In it, he fought his brother and a slime-like demon," Haguro continued. "They battled, but he won. In reality, he's beaten giant whale demons too. I believe he's okay!"

Suzuya didn't respond, leaving Haguro flustered. "Don't you trust him?"

"I want to," Suzuya said, voice breaking. "But I told him I hated him… I didn't mean it, but if he's gone…"

Tears fell, and Haguro hugged her gently. "He knows you didn't mean it."

"I want to see him!" Suzuya sobbed.

"Everyone's searching. It'll be okay," Haguro said, thinking, Please come back, Admiral. We're falling apart.

At Naval Headquarters, the Marshal asked, "Still no sign?"

"No reports," Yamato said.

"Search ends tomorrow, right?" he said.

"Yes," Yamato confirmed.

Please be alive, the Marshal thought.

In the city, a giant horse demon pulling an explosive spear-laden carriage wreaked havoc. The Army tried to respond, but the horse vanished quickly, forcing them to cordon off its range and stand guard.

One day until Dante's search ends.

The next morning, the Naval Base's cafeteria was grim. No one spoke. Today, Dante would be declared dead, ending the search.

"Still nothing, Ooyodo?" Akashi asked.

"Nothing," Ooyodo said.

"I'm heading out after eating," Tenryuu said, standing.

"Wait," Ooyodo said. "Supplies are limited. We need to plan—"

"I'll go alone. Saves resources," Tenryuu interrupted.

"That's not the point—" Ooyodo began.

"Enough," Kitakami said.

"What?" Tenryuu snapped.

"Listen to Ooyodo. Blind searching won't help," Kitakami said.

"Then stay here," Tenryuu shot back.

"Don't disrupt us," Ooi said. "We all want to find him. Don't make it harder."

"If you all pulled it together, we wouldn't be here!" Tenryuu yelled.

"Tenryuu-chan!" Tatsuta called as Tenryuu stormed out.

"Sorry," Tatsuta said. "She loves the Admiral and is anxious without him." She followed Tenryuu out.

At Headquarters, the Marshal's phone rang. "It's me… Good, send him fast… Please… What? Don't ask me that!" He hung up.

"That was…" Yamato said.

"My granddaughter. She found Dante," the Marshal said.

"He's safe!" Yamato said.

"But she's in a bad mood," he added.

"What happened?" Yamato asked.

Three days later, Dante's return was confirmed, and the Kanmusu gathered at the pier. His ship docked, and he stepped off, exchanging brief words with his escort before they left.

"Yo, I'm back," Dante said.

"Are you okay?" Akagi asked.

"It was rough. Got hounded by a noisy 'poi poi' girl, and their Admiral was a smug jerk," Dante said.

"…Huh?" Akagi said, confused.

"No this, no that—what was okay?" Dante grumbled.

"Uh… what?" Akagi said.

"You were waiting, right?" Hoosho said. "We missed you."

"Sorry, overslept on a desert island," Dante said.

"Your usual jokes?" Hoosho smiled.

"Only a little," he said, grinning.

His familiar smirk reassured them. "Admiral!" Kongou and the destroyers rushed him.

"Easy, I'm beat from the trip," Dante said, noticing some lacked energy. "What's up? Not hyped for the reunion?"

Hoosho explained the fights during his absence. "Fights happen in families," Dante said. "I've been there. Make up… or need punishment?"

"Up to you," Hoosho said.

Dante handed Agni to Kitakami and Ooi, and Rudra to Tenryuu. "You're in charge of them now."

"…What?" they said in unison.

He spotted Suzuya's absence. "Where's Suzuya?" he asked.

"She's…" Haguro began.

Suzuya, still in her room, knew Dante was back but couldn't face him. Without knocking, Dante entered. "No welcome? Harsh."

Suzuya turned away, silent.

"Still mad?" he asked.

"Not mad…" she mumbled.

"Don't look it. I left those guys with Kitakami and Tenryuu," he said.

"I didn't mean it…" she whispered.

"What?" he said.

"I didn't mean I hated you," she said.

"I know," he said.

That broke her. "I missed you!" she sobbed, clinging to him.

Dante sighed, noting the emotional Kanmusu lately. "Can't stick around."

"Why?" Suzuya asked.

"Old man summoned me," he said.

"I'm coming!" she said.

"You don't have to—" he started.

"I'm coming!" she insisted.

At the gate, Dante boarded a car for Headquarters, only to find Tenryuu, Kitakami, and Ooi in the back. "Why're you here?" he asked.

"Demon fight, right? Take me!" Tenryuu said.

"I'm just here 'cause Kitakami is," Ooi said.

"I said so," Kitakami added.

"Made up yet?" Dante asked.

Silence.

"Get out," he said.

"I was wrong!" Tenryuu said. "Said too much."

"Sorry…" Kitakami said.

"Sorry," Ooi echoed.

Now they make up? Dante thought, glancing at Suzuya, who smiled, signaling to go. "Families are a pain," he muttered as the car left.

At Headquarters, the Marshal said, "Brought a crowd, huh?"

"They don't listen," Dante said.

"That's devotion. About the demon—horse-like, pulling a carriage," the Marshal said.

"I know him," Dante said.

"One issue: the Army sealed the area. They're feuding with the Navy over defense rights. You can't go in openly," the Marshal said.

"More fights?" Dante said, eyeing Tenryuu and the others, who looked away.

"So, what? Sneak in and kill it?" Dante asked.

"Exactly. Don't stir up the Army," the Marshal said.

"Sneak? That's a joke, right? That demon's tough. It'll get loud," Dante said.

"Just hide your identity," the Marshal said.

"Fine. Let's go," Dante said, leading Suzuya and the others out.

"You didn't mention your granddaughter's base," Yamato said.

"Forgot!" the Marshal groaned.

At the sealed city zone, Army soldiers stood guard. Tenryuu rode shotgun. "What's the plan?" she asked.

"Got one," Dante said.

The car approached the barricade. "Area's sealed. Turn back," a soldier said.

"Demon hunter here. Heard there's a demon to kill," Dante said.

"Some plan," Ooi whispered.

"No civilians. Turn back," the soldier said.

"Got it," Dante said, reversing.

"That was your plan?" Suzuya said. "No way they'd let us in."

"Thought going bold would work," Dante said, revving the engine.

"What're you thinking?" Kitakami asked.

"This real?" Tenryuu said.

"No way!" Suzuya said.

"Don't be reckless with Kitakami here!" Ooi said.

"Time for a real car stunt," Dante said, cracking his neck and flooring it.

"Stop!" the Army shouted.

Dante ignored them, speeding up and crashing through the barricade. A TV helicopter caught it all, broadcasting to the Naval Base and Headquarters.

At Headquarters, the Marshal yelled, "What's he doing?!"

Yamato was speechless.

At the Naval Base, Hoosho sighed, "He's reckless again…" and nearly fainted.

"Hoosho-san!" Akagi gasped.

"Stay with us!" Kaga said.

"That's Tenryuu in there, right?" Souryuu said.

"Is she okay?" Tatsuta worried.

"Awesome! So cool!" Miyuki cheered.

"What's that!?" Satsuki said.

"Classic Admiral," Kisaragi said.

"Amazing! Did you see, Akatsuki, Inazuma?" Ikazuchi said.

Akatsuki and Inazuma were stunned.

"Go, Admiral!" Fubuki shouted.

"He's an idiot, isn't he?" Murakumo muttered.

"Like a movie, Jintsuu-chan!" Naka said.

Jintsuu was silent.

"So cool!" Kongou said.

"Hiei-neesama?" Hiei said.

"He broke the Army's barricade!" Junyou laughed.

"We'll get chewed out again," Ooyodo said.

"Business as usual," Akashi said.

Some Kanmusu cheered; others stared in shock.

In the city, Ooi yelled, "What was that!?"

"Thought we'd die!" Suzuya said.

"Not over, right?" Kitakami said.

"We dying today, Admiral?" Tenryuu asked.

"Fun, huh?" Dante grinned.

They drove aimlessly until a dimensional rift opened, revealing Geryon—a horse with a flaming blue mane pulling a spiked carriage.

"Missed you, Geryon!" Dante said.

"It's huge!" Suzuya gasped.

"Too big!" Ooi said.

"Army's coming!" Kitakami warned, spotting military vehicles.

"They don't get it," Dante said.

Geryon eyed Dante. "Chicken race rematch? Bring it!" Dante said.

Geryon charged, launching explosive spears. "Bad, bad, bad!" Kitakami screamed.

"Something's coming!" Suzuya shouted.

"Kitakami-san!" Ooi cried.

"We're dead!" Tenryuu yelled.

Dante swerved onto the sidewalk, using parked cars as shields. Flames roared, engulfing the Army's vehicles. Dante returned to the road, chasing Geryon.

"No mercy, huh?" he said.

Geryon fired spears at a building, sending debris crashing down. "We're gonna die!" Suzuya screamed.

"We won't," Dante said.

"Seriously, we will!" Kitakami said.

"Do something!" Ooi yelled.

"I am!" Dante said.

"Dead!" Tenryuu shouted.

"Shut up!" Dante snapped, drifting to dodge debris. "That's Dante's Driving School for ya!"

"End this!" Suzuya begged.

Dante fired at Geryon from the window, but it vanished into a rift, reappearing behind them. "Behind us!" Kitakami yelled.

Geryon charged, aiming to crush them. Dante spun the car 180 degrees, driving backward, shooting Geryon's mane. It fled into another rift. Dante spun back, chasing. "Tenryuu, take the wheel!"

"What!?" Tenryuu said.

"Now!" Dante ordered.

"I've never driven!" Tenryuu said.

"Steer and floor it!" Dante said.

"Brakes!?" Tenryuu asked.

"Don't!" Dante said, climbing onto the roof.

"Shift up!" he shouted.

"Shift what!?" Tenryuu said.

"Up a gear!" Dante yelled.

With Suzuya and Ooi's help, Tenryuu shifted. The car hit top speed, catching Geryon. Dante leaped onto the carriage, firing Ebony & Ivory. Geryon swerved, its spiked wheels grazing the car, slicing off the roof.

"What'd you do!?" Dante yelled.

"Nice breeze," Kitakami said.

"Yup…" the others agreed.

At a T-junction, Geryon drifted left, throwing Dante off. It vanished. "Tenryuu, front!" Suzuya yelled.

"Brake!" Kitakami said.

"Admiral said no!" Tenryuu said.

"Don't listen now!" Ooi snapped.

"We'll die!" Suzuya said.

"Damn it!" Tenryuu hit the brakes, the car grazing a wall.

Dante scanned for Geryon, but it never reappeared. After circling the city, they slipped past the Army and returned to the base.

That night, Agni wailed, "Why separate me from my brother! Explain!"

"Quiet, or I'll melt you down!" Ooi snapped.

"Melt? What's that?" Agni said.

"Here we go…" Kitakami sighed.

"Why part me from my brother! Explain!" Rudra echoed.

"Stop asking! Talk to the Admiral!" Tenryuu said.

"Let us sleep!" Tatsuta pleaded.

"Life's tough!" the weapons groaned.