Devil May Cry 5: Visions of V

Key visual.

Devil May Cry 5 – Visions of V – is an official manga series that serves as a tie-in to Devil May Cry 5. The manga was announced on March 7th, a day before the game was released.

The manga centers around V and will go into detail about the events following his birth and how he was led into the events of the game.

The manga is published by the electronic Japanese manga hosting website, LINE MANGA (LINE マンガ). It is illustrated by Tomio Ogata.

The first chapter came out on April 27, 2019 on LINE MANGA, with the manga updating new chapters every other Saturday afterwards. The prologue "Chapter 0" was available early on the site. Due to LINE MANGA's regional access service, the manga can only be read in Japan.

Release of a collected edition volume 1 is scheduled for November 15, 2019 from LINE Digital Frontier.

Plot

The story will center around V’s birth, how he meets his familiars, and other details that set up the events of the game.

Chapter 0

In Red Grave City, Griffon spots a demon and notifies V, who sit upon corpses of numerous demons and tells Griffon to ignore the demon if it is not coming near them. V reads "A Poison Tree" from his book and looks upon the Qliphoth tree. V narrates the Qliphoth is feeding off on human blood to grow a fruit for Urizen. The chapter flashbacks to many different point of V's life, one involving shortly after his birth with Griffon telling him they need to join forces if they want to beat Urizen. Another gives a glimpse of V obtaining his cane and Shadow for the first time. One moment shows Griffon warning V that not all demons will submit so easily and must be tamed by force as they face against a Phantom. Another sequence shows them facing against Nightmare, with Griffon wanting them to run away. The final moment shows V sneaking into a sleeping Nero's hospital room, vowing to use everything he can to defeat Urizen.

Chapter 1

After ripping Nero's Devil Bringer off, a weak and dying Vergil goes to the ruins of his former home in Red Grave City. While he doesn't fear death, Vergil's desire to beat Dante and his desire for power compels him to use the Yamato to discard anything that he believes that makes him weak. Vergil then removes the memories of his enslavement as Mundus's Nelo Angelo, causing them to manifest as shadowy creatures, as well as his decaying flesh and human heart. As a result, V and Urizen are born, with V being left with a human body that will eventually perish. As Urizen begins to form, V watches in fear and tries to crawl away, all while failing to strengthen his feeble body with demonic power. V reflects on how terrifed he felt about being powerless in front of Urizen's demonic presence as he finds Vergil's book of poems on the ground, causing V to remember Vergil's childhood with his brother Dante. When V internally express his wish of not wanting to die, Griffon yells at V to express his desire to live out loud and lifts V off the floor. Griffon takes V outside and drops him on a pile of garbage, mocking V a little bit before telling him to make a contract with him.

Chapter 2

In a deserted alleyway in Red Grave City, a young punk mugged an old man as a naked V approach the scene. While the punk focus his attention on V, Griffon attacks the punk from behind and knock him unconscious. As V steals the punk's clothes and jewelry, V comments on clothing style causing Griffon to rant at his nitpicking and tells V that must listen to his wishes. A flashback taking place outside Sparda's mansion shows Griffon half-jokingly pitching to V to make a contract with him. Annoyed at Griffon's yapping, V shuts his beak and demands that Griffon explain himself. Griffon reveals to V that he is the discarded memories that Vergil cut off with Yamato, specifically the "nightmares" of Vergil's time with Mundus. While Griffon states his doesn't care that Vergil discarded him, but as a "dream", he will disappear soon without a host. Griffon says the V will become his host since his body is also decaying and he can't return to being Vergil, as the demon side of him will never allow that to happen. He also stresses that V doesn't the power to defeat the demon half, therefore the two of them have to work together or they will die. Back in the present, V questions why would he need Griffon, angering him since been helping him. However, V clarify that he planning on "using" Griffon, not helping him, and voices his skepticism of his abilities. While exasperated V's demeanor, Griffon agrees to prove himself to V, who tells him to kill the Empusa that manifest in the alley. Griffon easily subdue the Empusa with a lighting attack, boasting to V if he still think he doesn't need him.

Chapter 3

V looks upon the fallen Empusa, wondering if its appearance in the city is because of Urizen. Griffon confirms V's theory, and states that due to how powerful Urizen is and the fact he has Yamato, Red Grave City will likely be infested with demons soon. Griffon chides V for acting arrogant when he can't even protect himself and mocks him as V picks up Vergil's poetry book. While V express his dislike of teaming up with Griffon, he agrees to work together with him because he doesn't want to die. As the two bickers with one another, the Empusa rises from the ground and attacks the duo, much to Griffon's shock. Griffon dodges the Empusa and lifts V in the air, questioning why his lightning didn't kill it and tries striking it again. However, the Empusa is still alive and recovers from the attack. Griffon suddenly runs out of demonic power, causing his form to become unstable and making him fall to the ground. Unable to fight, Griffon tells V that they need to hide, prompting V to break into a nearby antique store and drags Griffon inside. The Empusa attacks V, pining him down, but Griffon draws its attention and lunches a strong attack, despite his weak condition. V reflects how frustrating it is to be weak and decides to take action, breaking a glass case and retrieves a cane to stab the Empusa.

Chapter 4

After great effort, V is able to successfully kill the Empusa and collapse on a nearby couch. V wonders if he was able to killed the demon because of the cane, though it doesn't look like a Devil Arm. Griffon explains to V that it is not the cane, but V himself. Griffon deduces that because he is a essentially "dream" without any substance, so it's impossible for him to kill anything, and V must be the one to deliver the killing blow. Griffon states if this will work they will fight in the future, although V is doubtful that could do it since it took a lot effort just beat a low-level demon. However, Griffon assures V that he shouldn't be ashamed since the both of them are "pathetic" in their own way. Having reach his limit, Griffon's form begins to melt on the floor and tells V to make a choice quickly. Knowing he doesn't much options, V accepts he needs Griffon and places his hand on Griffon's melted form to begin the contract. As Griffon's form wraps around V's body, Griffon apologizes to V for thinking he will be a burden and the promise not to make fun of him anymore. With the contract complete, V gains tattoos on his upper body and arms as Griffon regain his proper form.

Chapter 5

In a flashback, a bloody Vergil is shown being tortured by Mundus, with his body proceed by spikes and Yamato broken. Mundus cursed Sparda and belittles Vergil for being weak due his human genes. Vergil defiantly provokes Mundus, who engulfs Vergil in dark energy and tells him that human heart makes him weak, and will transform him into his servant - Nelo Angelo - with any emotions or sense of self. In the real world, a panting V snaps out the memory as Griffon pokes fun at his expression. Suddenly Griffon suddenly sense another being like him nearby and urges V to find them before they disappear. Finding the deed troublesome, V is reluctant to do so, but Griffon states that they urgently need more allies. Griffon explains that three more memories took physical form after Vergil casts them out. While Griffon admits that they still behave like demons and will likely be aggressive, he believes that some of them will be willing to join them since they won't want to die or use force to tame them. V spots a dark human-shape figure in the street, who morphed its body and attacks them with a large spike, but V was able to block it with his cane. The figure reveals to be Shadow, another manifestation of Vergil's memory, and starts growling at V. After snatching V's cane away, Shadow flees, leading Griffon to speculate that since the cane smells like the Demon World, Shadow might think he can use into to go there. They follow Shadow to a alley way swarming with bugs and sees Shadow is about to disappear. Before V could help Shadow, a giant, speaking Phantom appears and threats to eat V and Griffon for trying to claim his prey.

Chapter 6

As V retrieves his cane, he moves to confront Phantom, telling the demon that he and Griffon were after Shadow first. Griffon tells V that Shadow is in his core state and form should return soon since he not completely out of energy yet, but advise that they should deal with Phantom before handling Shadow. Phantom recognizes V and Griffon, calling the former their "host". When Griffon tells Phantom to make a contract with V, Phantom hauntingly proclaims that he will never serve someone as weak as V, disparaging V and refuses to live tied to him, stating he would die than serve him. Angry at Phantom's insults towards, V provokes Phantom, causing the demon to attack him. V and Griffon manages to dodge and hide behind a large piece rock, dragging Shadow's limp body with them. Exasperated by situation, Griffon explains they cannot handle Phantom and Shadow at the same time, so V must forcefully tame Shadow. Before V could stab Shadow with his cane, Shadow regains consciousness and clamp his jaw on V's cane. Reflecting over his interaction with Phantom, V realize it's pointless to demand cooperation from Shadow and asks Shadow to make a choice - die or struggle and live - and if Shadow choose to live, then V says that he need Shadow. With Shadow's help, the group are able to attack Phantom and have enter his core state, allowing V to kill him. Relieve that they are all alive, Shadow affectionately licks V's faces as Griffon happily remarks how Shadow is taken with V.

Chapter 7

Once Shadow regains his composure, Shadow initiates the contract ritual with V and transforms into a semi-liquid state to warps around V's body. As V mentally connects with Shadow, more tattoos appears on his body, but is plague by another flashback of Vergil being tortured by Mundus and becoming Nelo Angelo. As he quietly undergoes mental and emotional distress, V contemplates how much he hates reliving the memories, but openly admits he needs more power to beat Urizen and must find a stronger familiar. Griffon remarks the they lost a major ally in Phantom, though he admits that Phantom wouldn't cooperate with them even if they tame him. Griffon warns V that all of them aren't very strong individually, so they must work as a team. However, V bluntly just ask Griffon if there is more powerful "nightmare" left they can have as an ally. Griffon nervously confirms that there is one more and leads V to an abandoned church. Although Griffon tries to talk V out of confronting the demon, V enters the church and meets the large Nightmare. Griffon frighteningly begs to run away since they have no chance of beating it, but V is determine to have Nightmare as a familiar.

Chapter 8

Griffon explains to V that the original Nightmare was created by Mundus, but was restrained due to having the power to destroy the Demon World. Griffon stresses that original Nightmare does not have a will of its own and it will only obey its master, meaning V is unable to communicate with the Nightmare made from Vergil's memories. With Nightmare blocking the door, V and Griffon cannot run away. When Griffon questions V if he has a plan, V tells him that he wants to gauge Nightmare's power and sends Shadow to attack. Before Shadow could land a blow, Nightmare quickly impale Shadow, leaving him in his core form. Seeing Shadow being taken out in a signal hit, Griffon panics while V stares in awe just as Nightmare prepares to fire its laser beam. While V barely dodges the laser, Griffon takes a direct hit and reverts to his core form. As V admits confronting Nightmare was a mistake, Nightmare captures V and engulfs him into its body, making sure to take away his cane. After V falling down a dark abyss, V lands in front a of a cracked statute of Mundus. V then sees a Vergil as Nelo Angelo emerges from the water-like ground and grab hold of V, causing V to realize that appearance of Nelo Angelo is just a worthless dream.

Chapter 9

As Nelo Angelo grabs V by his neck, V tries to banish it away since he knows it's an illusion, but it doesn't work. V is then shown memories of Mundus, Trish, and other moments of Vergil's time as Nelo Angelo. While disturbed by these memories, V sees an illusion of Dante shooting Nelo Angelo in the head, much to his shock. When area starts to dissolve, V falls deeper into the mental abyss and meets with Nightmare's consciousness, which takes the form of a giant eye. Realizing everything he saw was Nightmare's doing, V questions why Nightmare is showing him these illusions, believing that Nightmare is mocking V for his weakness and telling him that he, as Vergil, is inferior to Dante. With his hand upon Nightmare' eye, the area begins to break apart as Nightmare's body in the real world begins to emit light from the inside. Seeing this, a reforming Griffon tells V not to use so much demonic power or he's going to die. Plunging his hand into Nightmare's core, V channels his demonic energy onto it, causing Nightmare's body to crumble in the real world and release V from its slime. As V hold its core, V stands victorious as Griffon and Shadow watch with approval.

Chapter 10

Upon inspecting Nightmare's core, Griffon notes that its core isn't from his core or Shadow's, and tells V to kill Nightmare since it won't listen to him. Nightmare's sludge begins to move and forms a large skull-like shape in front of them, but does not attack them since V has said core. Griffon urges V to destroy Nightmare's core while they still have the chance, however Shadow alerts them to numerous demons that appear outside the church due to sensing demonic power. While Shadow tries to hold them off, Griffon tells V to make a decision quickly as they are cornered between a mob of demons and Nightmare, but V remains silent. A Death Scissors also appears in the church through one of open gaps. Nightmare then suddenly forms spikes to threaten V, who remains unfazed by Nightmare's intimidation tactics. V tells Nightmare that knows that Nightmare wants its core, or rather is "soul" back, and hands it back to him, much to Griffon's confusion. Nightmare then impales V from behind, yet he doesn't react in fear and calmly states that he not giving back the core, rather that he is "bestowing" it. Looking directly into Nightmare eye, V remarks that it should recognize him as its master. The familiar then withdraws the spike in V and starts the contract ritual. As more tattoos appears on V's body, Nightmare reforms itself into a smaller golem-like body. When V orders Nightmare to kill the invading demons, it uses its laser beam on them and crushes the Death Scissors, which V stabs with his cane to finish it off. While Griffon cheers at their good fortune, V abruptly falls to the ground, causing his three familiar to dissolve back onto V's body.

Chapter 11

After losing consciousnesses, V dreams of being in Sparda's mansion, appearing pristine and functional. Upon looking at a book, V concludes that he is experiencing an memory from Vergil's childhood, knowing that he is really laying on the abandoned church's floor after using up his demonic power. V reflects how powerful Nightmare is, deeming him the strongest of his familiars and could allow him to beat Urizen. However, V realize that the demonic power in his body isn't enough to sustain Nightmare a long time and believes it's foolish to battle Urizen with that limitation. Unable to seek out more familiars, V laments that he underestimate his abilities and proclaims that everything he did so far is pointless since he can't defeat Urizen. As V bitterly laughs at his situation, his surroundings begins to change, changing the manor into its ruined state after Mundus's attack on the mansion. When V admits that he's weak, he is suddenly taken into a dark, watery space and notice that Vergil's poetry book besides him. Wondering why he bother to take the book with him, V recites some lines from the book and remarks how Vergil threw away emotional sentiments for power. When a mirror forms in front of him, V sees a reflection of Dante and contemplates why Vergil lost to Dante even thoughts they are twins born with the same power. Acknowledging that he made a mistake, the mirror shatters as V wakes up to Griffon's screams. Griffon warns V not to use his power recklessly since it means the death of the familiars too, and then complains about their situation with the Nightmare's summon limitation and how V is already at his limit. Thinking about Dante, V tells Griffon that there is way to defeat Urizen. At the Devil May cry shop, Dante notice the his toilet won't flush, showing he lost the power and water since he is unable to pay his bills.

Deviations from the Main Series

Whilst acting as a canonical prequel to Devil May Cry 5, there are several retcons and contradictions to events in the Main Series. These include:

• In Chapter 1, Vergil's separation scenes was retconned so V and the Nightmare Demons were created apart from each other, with V lacking his signature tattoos and black hair. This formed the plot of the first nine chapters of the manga whereby V has to convince the Nightmare Demons join with him or else they gradually fade away.

Gallery

Art by Tomio Ogata

See also

• Devil May Cry 5: Before the Nightmare

External links

• LINE Manga Visions of V
• CAPCOM：デビル メイ クライ 5 公式サイト