[By the time Nero intervened with Dante and Vergil atop the Qliphoth, both twins had exerted much of their energy into their own battle with one another. Vergil also was not interested in a true fight against his son, not one where there was the chance Nero could be significantly injured. Thus, Vergil irrefutably lost that fight against him that day. And while Vergil would not say that those factors somehow undermine that victory for Nero, he has begun to wonder if perhaps it has set unreasonable expectations.]

[Nero should be just as proud of what he's managed today as he is over his victory atop the Qliphoth. Perhaps even prouder. But Vergil senses that rather than taking pleasure in finding a way through Vergil's guard or correctly reading his movements to avoid a blow, Nero instead only buries himself in frustration when his next strike doesn't land or it ends up that it was a feint and he finds himself quickly facedown again.]

[Vergil sheathes Yamato as it strikes him just how much this is like looking into a mirror. Nero fixates on his perceived inadequacies to the detriment of everything else, and his temper only increasing as a consequence in frustration with himself because of what he believes he should be capable of versus his actual performance. Historically and even now, Vergil is much the same way albeit his frustrations these days do not stem from shortcomings he identifies in battle.]

This isn't a real fight, Nero. [In contrast to Nero, Vergil does not adopt a stance again. He stands there opposite his son, trying to convince him that this has been enough for today rather than encouraging him to push forward instead.] There is no need to push yourself to exhaustion today.

[He shakes his head slightly.]

You've done well, but it will defeat the purpose of this to press on any further.