Some would think it foolish to challenge him at all, Vergil thinks but gives no voice to it. Even if he were less talented or skilled with a blade, Vergil's raw strength and speed outclasses Mizu entirely. Most wouldn't likely even bother trying, and they would be quick to yield the moment the tide turned in Vergil's favor. But not Mizu. Mizu pushes forward and pushes himself hard to stay on his feet and in the fight for as long as he can manage, and it's Vergil that has to bring the fight to its end.
Instead, Vergil hums thoughtfully.
"You're beginning to sound like Dante," he says. "But I would hazard there's more truth to your words than his."
Dante and Vergil have fought one another more times than either of them could possibly count. So, Vergil could never reasonably claim that Dante knows nothing of his mind or what he might do when they fight one another. They both know each other well after all these years and conflicts between them. But Vergil would struggle to believe Dante is nearly as consciously thoughtful about it as Mizu is in navigating his knowledge of Vergil. He doesn't read Vergil as an open book as he claims. Dante moves on instinct, quick to react and change his approach if necessary, but it's never a carefully selected decision to counter what Vergil does. He doesn't intentionally bait Vergil into creating vulnerabilities that he can exploit. He's just as wild and unpredictable as Vergil is calculating and controlled. Fighting Dante is akin to taming the wind in that regard. He does as he wills for better or for worse, and perhaps that's why there's always been a part of Vergil that's enjoyed their bouts with one another. There is something of merit there with Dante's approach even if Vergil would be loath to acknowledge as much, and he knows he's doing well when he's able to defeat someone as unpredictable as Dante.
"You would find his approach more difficult to memorize than mine. He has good instinct, but that's the trouble with trying to predict what he will do."
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Instead, Vergil hums thoughtfully.
"You're beginning to sound like Dante," he says. "But I would hazard there's more truth to your words than his."
Dante and Vergil have fought one another more times than either of them could possibly count. So, Vergil could never reasonably claim that Dante knows nothing of his mind or what he might do when they fight one another. They both know each other well after all these years and conflicts between them. But Vergil would struggle to believe Dante is nearly as consciously thoughtful about it as Mizu is in navigating his knowledge of Vergil. He doesn't read Vergil as an open book as he claims. Dante moves on instinct, quick to react and change his approach if necessary, but it's never a carefully selected decision to counter what Vergil does. He doesn't intentionally bait Vergil into creating vulnerabilities that he can exploit. He's just as wild and unpredictable as Vergil is calculating and controlled. Fighting Dante is akin to taming the wind in that regard. He does as he wills for better or for worse, and perhaps that's why there's always been a part of Vergil that's enjoyed their bouts with one another. There is something of merit there with Dante's approach even if Vergil would be loath to acknowledge as much, and he knows he's doing well when he's able to defeat someone as unpredictable as Dante.
"You would find his approach more difficult to memorize than mine. He has good instinct, but that's the trouble with trying to predict what he will do."