KanColle X Devil May Cry: Devil Trigger Protocol

Devil May Cry Naval Base, Command Office

Dante sat on the office sofa, staring at the magical artifacts on the table, deep in thought.

"I'm taking these artifacts, hah! Hyahahaha!"

When he first arrived in this world, Jester stole his artifacts.

"But it seems their goal is to pit powerful demons like you and me against each other."

He couldn't leave the stolen artifacts or demons unchecked. So he fought—had to. He reclaimed all the artifacts and power. Jester, when appearing, left cryptic hints.

"This world had a war long ago. After it ended, shipgirls and Abyssal fleets started clashing. It's like they're mimicking that war, foolishly!"

"Even further back, this world had demons and those who fought them, right here in this place called Japan."

"History repeats, Dante. The demon world's revival can't be stopped."

History repeats?

"The Abyssal threat hasn't just been in Japan—it's been global for decades," the Admiral had said.

So, is the Abyssal war just echoing past events? People change over time. Could this happen naturally, or is someone orchestrating it? If so, could they control such a global flow?

"How did you learn all this? It's not easy to know so much in an unfamiliar world."

"Of course, but a kind human told me."

Who's that human? Someone versed in this world's history, aware of demons. Are they manipulating wars? If so, they're no ordinary person.

"But you'll end up helping anyway!"

Jester's aim is to make Dante fight demons. Does his fighting revive the demon world?

Dante: "Tch… that circus freak pisses me off…"

The hints are too vague. It feels like being toyed with by an invisible force. Thinking yields no answers, only frustration.

Then, someone burst in.

Kongou: "Admiral! Burning Love!!"

Kongou leapt onto Dante, landing neatly on his lap, arms around his neck, rubbing cheeks happily. Noticing his lack of response, she looked at him.

Kongou: "Admiral, you okay? You look scary…"

Dante's face was grim.

Dante: "...! Sorry, just thinking."

Kongou: "Something troubling you?"

Dante: "…"

Kongou: "Can't I hear your worries?"

Dante: "Not that you can't. I just don't get what that circus freak's up to."

Kongou: "Jester, right? But I believe with you and us, we can stop any scheme. Rely on us more!"

Dante: "…"

Her sentiment warmed him, but if things got dangerous, he'd keep the shipgirls away. This was his world's problem—his responsibility. If an enemy he failed to defeat caused this, he had to settle it.

Kongou: "Can't we help you?"

Dante: "Heh, I'll call if I need you."

A faint smile reassured Kongou. Then, an intruder appeared.

Hiei: "Sis, too fast… huff, huff…"

It was Hiei.

Hiei: "Sis!? So jealous!"

Seeing Kongou clinging to Dante, Hiei got excited. Her usual antics made Dante's brooding seem silly.

Dante: "Let's build something to lighten the mood!"

Factory

Construction proceeded with Akashi, Kongou, and Hiei present.

Dante: "So, what's it gonna be?"

Hiei: "A battleship! I wanna see my sisters!"

Dante: "Sisters?"

Kongou: "Yes! We have sisters, Haruna and Kirishima!"

Dante: "Guess I'll build blind."

Hiei: "Why!?"

Dante: "Makes it fun."

Akashi: (Please think it through…)

Dante tossed in random materials and hit the build button. The timer appeared.

Hiei: "That's definitely not my sisters!"

Dante: "Too bad."

Kongou: "Guess we wait."

Akashi was relieved he didn't dump all the materials.

Using fast-build materials, the result was…

Yuubari: "Yo, kept you waiting? Armament test cruiser, Yuubari, reporting!"

Leaving Yuubari to Akashi, Dante returned to the office.

Command Office

Back in the office, Ooyodo informed Dante of a mission from headquarters.

Ooyodo: "Deploy a fleet to the western southern route and eliminate the Abyssal fleet."

Dante: "Perfect, I was bored. Time for a sea stroll."

Ooyodo: "You're going?"

Dante: "Worried?"

Ooyodo: "...Of course."

Dante: "Trust me a bit. You know I don't die easy."

The shipgirls had seen Dante survive being stabbed by Agni & Rudra. They trusted his resilience but still worried.

Ooyodo: "Fine, but don't be reckless."

Dante: "Heard that one before."

Western Southern Route

Dante led a fleet of captured shipgirls: Akagi, Kongou, Hiei, Haguro, Shigure, Shiratsuyu, and himself.

Kongou: "This is the mission area."

Dante: "Let's clean house."

Shiratsuyu: "The Admiral's out here…"

Shigure: "Yup."

Shiratsuyu: "Floating with gear on…"

Shigure: "Yup."

Shiratsuyu: "You're not shocked!?"

Shigure: "Saw it when we met, so not really."

Shiratsuyu was stunned by the novelties.

Akagi: "Spinning the compass."

Akagi, dragged mid-snack, acted composed but wanted to go home. The fleet followed the compass.

Shigure: "…! Torpedoes!"

The fleet dodged at Shigure's warning.

Haguro: "Where from…?"

No enemies were visible.

Akagi: "Likely submarines."

An ambush submarine fleet.

Dante: "Destroyers handle subs, right?"

Shigure: "But we didn't bring anti-sub gear."

Dante lacked underwater weapons. Trouble.

Dante: "Akagi, spin the compass. We're out."

The fleet fled at full speed, Shigure and Shiratsuyu dropping depth charges to escape.

Akagi: "Enemy fleet spotted!"

A vanguard cruiser fleet: two elite heavy cruisers (Ri-class), one light cruiser (To-class), two destroyers (I-class). Elites glowed red, seen by shipgirls as stronger Abyssals. Dante saw differently.

Dante: (What's with them?)

Drawn to the elites, Dante charged alone.

Shiratsuyu: "Hey! I'm going first—gah!"

Hiei grabbed Shiratsuyu's collar. "Fleet action!"

Haguro: "Akagi-san!"

Akagi: "Support the Admiral! First strike team, launch!"

Akagi deployed aircraft.

Kongou: "Firing! Fire!"

Cannon fire began. Dante ignored escorts, dodging shots to target an elite heavy cruiser. Shipgirl fire split the enemy fleet. Dante slashed with Rebellion, dodged by the cruiser but severing its main gun. The second cruiser fired; Dante evaded, countering with Ebony & Ivory.

Dante: (Definitely demon scent from them.)

Up close, he confirmed the elite heavy cruiser reeked of demons.

Dante: (Why these guys…)

The disarmed cruiser launched torpedoes. Dante jumped, cleaving it vertically with a helm-breaker. It sank, split.

Shigure: "Admiral!"

A shell from the second cruiser neared. The fleet took out escorts, rushing to Dante, but the shell exploded where he stood.

Kongou: "Admiral!"

Shiratsuyu: "Commander…?"

Silence fell. Smoke cleared, revealing Dante unharmed, shielded by a magical barrier.

He threw Rebellion at the remaining cruiser, its spinning blade slashing repeatedly. Ebony & Ivory's rapid fire finished it. The cruiser sank, Rebellion returning to Dante's hand.

Hiei: "Commander! Stop charging alone! Think of us covering you!"

Shiratsuyu: "You okay? That was an explosion!"

Dante: "…"

The four shipgirls noticed his odd demeanor.

Akagi: "Admiral, charging alone isn't your usual style."

Dante: "…"

Kongou: "Admiral…"

Kongou, who'd seen his grim face earlier, worried most.

Akagi: "What's wrong?"

Dante: "That red-aura one…"

Akagi: "The elite heavy cruiser?"

Dante: "Elite… they've been around long?"

Akagi: "Yes, confirmed for ages."

Dante frowned. Normal Abyssals lacked demon scent, yet elites had it—and had existed for years. Abyssals and demons might be linked.

Dante: "The elite smelled like demons."

"Wha!?" the fleet gasped.

Shigure: "What's that mean? Demons and Abyssals are separate, right?"

Dante: "Thought so, but elites have the scent. Something you don't know might be at play."

Akagi: "Let's focus on the mission."

Shiratsuyu: "Ugh, I don't get it!"

No one had answers. The fleet pressed on to find the main enemy force.

Following the compass, picking up ammo en route, they hit a snag.

Shiratsuyu: "A whirlpool!?"

Hiei: "Eek!"

Dante: "Haha!"

The fleet fled the whirlpool, but Dante spun with its rotation.

Haguro: "Commander, it's dangerous! Get back!"

Akagi: "Admiral, enemy main fleet!"

An Eastern fleet: two elite battleships (Ta-class), four destroyers (I-class).

Kongou: "Those battleships too…"

Dante: "Yeah, faint demon scent. Closer, it'd be clear."

Akagi: "We'll start."

Akagi launched aircraft, sinking destroyers with bombers and torpedoes. Shiratsuyu and Shigure mopped up survivors. Kongou, Hiei, and Haguro bombarded the battleships.

Dante: "Handle one, I've got the other."

Hiei: "Again!?"

Dante charged a battleship, firing Ebony & Ivory. It returned fire.

Dante: "Why do you smell like demons?"

The Ta-class, humanoid, said nothing.

Dante: "Quiet, huh? Shame to sink a beauty, but here goes!"

Equipping Beowulf, Dante dove in, punching its midsection, lifting it. He jumped, using it as a springboard, then flipped, raining bullets. A final Killer Bee kick slammed it into the sea, sinking it.

Kongou: "All guns, Fire!"

The second battleship sank under combined fire, except Akagi's.

Akagi: "That battleship had the demon scent too?"

Dante: "Got stronger up close."

Hiei: "Can we save tough talk for the base?"

Dante: "Let's head back."

?: "Um…"

Dante: "Hm?"

Aoba: "Hi, Aoba here! A quick word, please!"

Dante: "…"

The fleet, having crushed the main enemy, headed back.

Southern Contact Sea Route Control Secured!

Night, Devil May Cry Naval Base, Courtyard

Dante summoned Houshou.

Houshou: "What's up?"

Dante: "Today's elites smelled like demons."

Houshou: "From Abyssals?"

Dante: "Know anything?"

Houshou: "Elites are stronger Abyssals. Above them are Flagships. We only saw them as tough foes, not demon-related."

Dante: "Got it…"

Houshou: "But…"

Dante: "…?"

Houshou: "The navy once studied Abyssals. Ask the Admiral."

Dante: "Good idea."

Parting with Houshou, Dante returned to the office.

Command Office

A phone rang.

Dante: "Devil May Cry."

Admiral: "It's me."

Dante: "Perfect timing."

Admiral: "Hm? What's up?"

Dante: "Got questions for you."

Admiral: "I heard you reclaimed all artifacts. Wanted to talk. I'll visit in two days. Good?"

Dante: "Fine. I'll ask then."

Admiral: "Two days, then."

Dante hung up. Aoba burst in.

Aoba: "Commander, Aoba overheard!"

Dante: "…"

Aoba: "You fight demons, right?"

Dante: "Yup."

Aoba: "And you're half-demon?"

Dante: "Yup."

Aoba: "Let me interview you!"

Dante: "Interview?"

Aoba: "I'll dig deep!"

Dante: "And what's my reward?"

Aoba: "R-Reward?"

Caught off guard, Aoba hadn't expected a quid pro quo.

Dante: "Not for free, right?"

He approached; she backed up.

Aoba: "Uh, well—eek!"

Pinned against the wall in the dimly lit office, Dante loomed.

Dante: "So?"

Aoba shut her eyes in fear. "Fine! Take my body! …Huh?"

Opening her eyes, Dante was gone—off to dinner, leaving her behind.

Aoba: "What?"