Devil May Cry Naval Base, Cafeteria
Mamiya's cornered against the wall by Dante classic wall-slam style.
"Mamiya…" Dante says, lifting her chin.
"Y-Yes…?" Mamiya blushes.
"I need a favor."
"W-What is it…?" Her face flushes as he leans closer.
"Make me a strawberry sundae."
"Y-Yes, a straw huh?" Mamiya blinks.
"Strawberry sundae," Dante repeats.
"What're you doing, Admiral?" Akagi yanks his ear, smiling.
"Just asking for a sundae," Dante says, rubbing his ear.
"Strawberry sundae?" Akagi asks.
"The best dessert ever. Delicious."
"Make it!" Akagi now wall-slams Mamiya.
Main Gate
"None shall pass! Leave!" Cerberus growls.
"I'm here to see Admiral Dante—" the Marshal tries.
"I guard this gate. Stay, and I'll crush you!"
The Marshal, with escorts, came to discuss the frozen village but is stuck at the gate, blocked by Cerberus. Escorts urge retreat, but the Marshal tries reasoning with the intelligent beast. Thirty minutes pass in stalemate.
"Who're you to Dante?" the Marshal asks.
"He proved his strength. I acknowledge him as my master," Cerberus says.
The Marshal's baffled. Controlling a monster? Kaga arrives.
"What's happening?" she asks.
"About to eat these trespassers," Cerberus says.
"They're the Admiral's guests. Let them through," Kaga orders.
Cerberus steps aside, shocking the Marshal. The beast obeys her.
"Sorry, Marshal. Forgive the rudeness," Kaga says.
"What's going on?" he asks.
"Ask the Admiral."
Office
Dante and the Marshal sit across a table, Akagi, Kaga, and Houshou standing behind Dante. The Marshal glares.
"Some reports are missing details," he says.
"Whoops," Dante replies.
"What's that thing outside?"
"Cerberus, our pet demon dog."
Dante recounts the village mission and aftermath.
Flashback: Return to Base
Dante, Tenryuu, and Tatsuta return, greeted by the shipgirls.
"You okay, Admiral?" Houshou asks.
"Yup, got one back," Dante shows the Cerberus devil arm.
"How'd it go?" Kitakami asks.
"Freaking wild!" Tenryuu boasts.
"Back~," Tatsuta says.
Tenryuu brags to Kitakami and the destroyers about the village. Dante interrupts, "Got someone to introduce."
Cerberus's nunchaku form glows, transforming into the three-headed beast.
"GRAAAH!" it roars.
Shipgirls panic; destroyers cry. Tenryuu, shocked, shields them. "Why's it here!?"
"Calm down. Sit!" Dante orders. Cerberus obeys.
"It's our new guard dog. Well-trained, won't bite," Dante says.
The shipgirls are skeptical. Akagi steps forward, offering her hand. "Paw."
"(Akagi-san!?)" the others gasp.
Cerberus struggles to gently place its massive paw on her tiny hand, careful not to crush it.
"Kind of cute," Akagi giggles.
The shipgirls relax slightly, some even chatting with Cerberus. Dante sends it to guard the gate.
Present
"You're taming demons like Yokosuka's Admiral?" the Marshal asks.
Dante opens the window, calling, "Hey, mutt!"
Cerberus appears. Dante gestures, and it becomes the nunchaku again. He sets it on the table.
"This is a devil arm, a demon turned weapon. You earn it by gaining their respect or taking their soul. Cerberus chose me," Dante explains.
"Still demonic power," the Marshal says.
"It's how you use it. I've got it under control."
"What do you think? Demons killed your old base's comrades," the Marshal asks the shipgirls.
They're uneasy demons are their enemies but Akagi speaks firmly, "We hate demons for what they did. But we trust Admiral Dante. He'll keep us safe."
The shipgirls know Dante's reckless, superhuman, and odd, but his kindness earns their trust. They don't yet know this trust will be tested.
The Marshal softens. "As a friend, I want to trust you. As Marshal, it's tricky."
"Sorry," Dante says sincerely.
"I'll overlook this," the Marshal says. "The village's ice vanished after you left. All villagers died—frozen."
Dante glares at Cerberus, silent on the table.
"The report mentioned 'Jester' as the mastermind?" the Marshal asks.
"Yup, he stole my devil arms," Dante confirms.
"How many are left?"
"Three. Plus two powers taken from me."
"Powers?"
"Some demons give raw power, not weapons. Those were stolen too."
"We rely on you against demons," the Marshal says.
"My mess, my cleanup," Dante says.
Ooyodo enters. "Admiral, fleet's back."
"I'll greet them. You coming, old man?" Dante asks.
"Might as well."
"We crushed the enemy and cleared the area! Easy for Tenryuu-sama!" Tenryuu brags, despite the minor mission.
"Hold up," Dante says. "Roll call. Numbers!"
"1!" Tenryuu.
"2~," Tatsuta.
"3," Kitakami.
"4!" Akatsuki.
"5!" Ikazuchi.
"6!" Inazuma.
"7♪," an unfamiliar voice.
"…8," another.
"Everyone's here~," Tatsuta says.
"Six went out, eight came back?" Dante asks.
Ooyodo explains shipgirl drops.
"Whatever. Names, ladies?" Dante asks.
"Kisaragi, please keep me close," one says.
"Hatsuyuki… nice to meet you," the other says.
"Kisaragi and Hatsuyuki, huh? Stay if you want. Now—" Dante starts.
"Admiral, come quick!" Akashi interrupts, running.
"What now?" Dante groans.
At the factory, Akashi points to a Divinity Statue. "It wasn't here this morning!"
"It's a Divinity Statue," Dante says. "Offer Red Orbs, and it gives stuff—ancient alchemy creations."
"Red Orbs?" Kisaragi asks.
"Crystallized demon blood," Dante says.
Kisaragi and Hatsuyuki are lost.
Dante offers Red Orbs, producing an item. "Holy Water. Good against demons. Keep it," he hands it to Kisaragi.
"Thanks," she says, staring at it.
"Can it make resources?" Akashi asks excitedly.
"Dunno, never tried," Dante says.
"Let's do it!"
"Used all my orbs."
"Ugh, lame!" Akashi groans.
"Is it safe?" the Marshal asks.
"No harm," Dante assures.
Main Gate
The Marshal prepares to leave, Houshou seeing him off.
"How's he doing?" the Marshal asks.
"Every day's chaos. He was calmer when we met long ago. I'm a bit thrown," Houshou says.
"He seems younger now. Never expected this reunion," the Marshal says.
They reminisce, hinting at a shared past.
Night
A red-haired woman watches the base from afar.
"When will you find me, kid? Can't wait," she says.