Beneath the high-octane fight sequences and almost anime-like aesthetic, the Devil May Cry franchise has a very deep story. Each game tells a different tale, but all of them stem from the complex bloodline of the Dark Knight Sparda. Once a high-ranking knight of Mundus, lord of demons, Sparda rebelled against his very nature and sealed off the human world from the demon world. He then fell in love with a human woman named Eva and had two twin sons: Vergil and Dante.
The first few Devil May Cry games centered on the younger twin, Dante. Born of a demon and a human, Dante's mission in life is to exterminate demons while making some money on the side through his demon-hunting business, Devil May Cry. As more games got added to the series and as Dante got older, Capcom decided to add a new protagonist - the devil hunter Nero. Though he sports the same white hair and cocky attitude as Dante, Nero's backstory was shrouded in mystery for a long time. But after a couple of revelations in Devil May Cry 5, it is clear that Nero's parentage deserves more expounding for the sequel.
Who is Nero?
Nero was first introduced in Devil May Cry 4 as the series' new deuteragonist alongside Dante. Orphaned at an early age in the island town of Fortuna, Nero was adopted by the family of Kyrie and Credo. He grew up alongside his sister and brother and eventually joined the Holy Knights of the Order of the Sword - a religious organization that worships Sparda as a god. After it was discovered that Sanctus - the leader of the Order of the Sword - was using the citizens to gain demonic power, Nero defeated him and joined Dante's demon exterminating quest as a devil hunter.
Towards the final act of Devil May Cry 5, players discover that Nero is in fact the son of Dante's older twin brother, Vergil. Nero's connection to the family of the Dark Knight Sparda explains his physical features: from his white hair to his superhuman strength. It also explains his unique Devil Bringer arm - a demonic arm that replaced his flesh-and-blood one in Devil May Cry 4 - as well as his ability to use Devil Trigger. Last but not least, being the son of Vergil allows Nero to use the Yamato - his father's iconic katana. While not as stoic as his father, Nero does share traits of both Vergil and his uncle Dante. He is often serious and prefers to work alone like Vergil, but he has a tendency to be cocky and possesses a good heart like Dante. Though he can be rough around the edges, fans of the Devil May Cry series have become fond of Nero as he appears in more games.
Who is Nero's Mother?
Very little is known about Nero's mother; only that she was a citizen of Fortuna who was in the city at the time when Vergil visited it in his youth. It is inferred that she may be the hooded woman seen at the start of Vergil's campaign in Devil May Cry 4, but this hasn't been proven yet. While Nero's mother may be human, her true nature is unknown as Nero himself seems to possess power that even his father and uncle don't understand (as evidenced by his unique Devil Trigger transformation at the end of Devil May Cry 5).
Exploring Nero's mother's backstory is something fans would be very interested in moving forward with the Devil May Cry series. Not only would it explain Nero's powers, but it would also shed light on both Nero and Vergil's backstories. Having his mother be in the game (assuming she is alive) would allow her to explain why Nero was orphaned at such a young age. It would also allow her to tell her side of the story concerning his birth. Everyone knows Vergil as a stoic and reserved character, but by some miracle, he became smitten by Nero's mother and sired a son.
Considering the end of Devil May Cry 5 sees both Vergil and Dante trapped in the demon world, now is the perfect time for Capcom to make Nero shine as the main character. His appearances in past Devil May Cry games usually put him as one of the multiple protagonists players can control, but never as a sole character. Devil May Cry 6 could be an opportunity to peel back the different layers of Nero's character, and the inclusion of his mother would be a great jumping-off point for such an endeavor.
Devil May Cry 5 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.