Damn it!
Wasn't there supposed to be a gun ban in this city? Why did people pull guns out at the drop of a hat?
Cautious as ever, Cael had already anticipated trouble. The moment the man raised his gun, Cael's hand shot out first.
"Dark Water!"
Buzz!
"What?!" The man stumbled, caught off guard by the powerful suction. Before he could fire, the gun ripped from his grip and flew straight to Cael.
Whoosh.
In an instant, the firearm changed hands. Cael gripped it firmly and fired without hesitation. No words, no negotiation. Mess with me, and you die.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets tore through the man's head. He collapsed, eyes wide in final resentment, brain matter and blood splattering across the floor. A bit even landed in the tonkotsu ramen. Too bad, noodles were ruined.
Phew.
Cael blew the smoke from the muzzle and said, "Denji, go hide first. I'm checking if this guy has any accomplices."
Denji swallowed nervously. "O-Okay." He dashed back to his room, knowing he'd be more of a liability than a help in the fight to come. That display just now… Mr. Cael's calm under pressure was terrifying. The man was dead.
But Cael didn't notice small, sinister details. The man's fingers twitched faintly. His right hand, resting over the left, had just been hiding something…
---
Two hundred meters from the funeral home, in a nearby alley, two women patrolled.
Tall, smoking, a short sword strapped to her back, and a cigarette hanging nearly burned out in her mouth, Hayakawa Aki scanned the area. Around twenty, sharp-featured, long black hair, with a strange lock tied separately. Her right wrist wrapped in a white bandage marked her as a member of Public Safety Special Division 4.
"Himeno-senpai, I'm out of cigarettes. Got one?" Aki glanced at the short-haired woman beside her.
Himeno, wearing an eyepatch over her right eye, was about a head shorter and around twenty-five. She always carried a gentle older-sister aura. "Yes, yes~" She shook her pack. "Oh, there's only one left? Aki, I want to smoke too."
"Let me have it. I'll buy you a drink later, senpai," Aki said flatly.
"Alright, alright." Himeno teased, hands on hips. "Someone once said smoking rots your bones, and they'd only smoke once in their life, remember?"
Click.
Aki inhaled, satisfied. "Phew, we Devil Hunters live short lives anyway."
"Oh, little sister Aki, making excuses now?" Himeno laughed.
Aki glanced at her calmly. "Senpai, you haven't even started drinking yet. Don't act drunk in broad daylight."
"Alright, alright. Business first."
Himeno pulled up a patrol map on her tablet, red crosses marking many locations. "We're tracking the devil responsible for the remains at the back-mountain mass grave. Only place left…"
"Lior Family Funeral Home," Aki said.
"Wow, Aki! You beat me to it!" Himeno hugged her playfully.
"You're lazy, senpai…" Aki muttered.
Just then, Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire shattered the midday calm.
"A gun?" Aki stiffened. The sound made her flinch—her entire family had been wiped out by the Gun Devil.
Himeno's playful mask vanished. "Target is the funeral home. Let's move, Aki!"
"Okay."
---
Inside, Cael had already grabbed the pistol and stepped outside. The man, relying on instincts, tore off his left hand… revealing a blade!
Clang!
A tall, monstrous shadow loomed behind Cael.
"What?! He's still alive?!"
Cael whirled, only to see three high-speed blade phantoms slicing toward him.
"So fast!"
Crackle!
"Repent in hell, trash who killed my grandfather!"
Katana Man, fully transformed, struck in an instant. Blades on his forehead and hands were coated in Cael's blood. One hit—Cael was sliced into six pieces.
"Ugh—!"
Pain surged exponentially thanks to the Dark-Dark Fruit's effect. Cael felt like he was fading out of existence. His body was being ripped apart.
"Heh, tui~" Katana Man spat on Cael's remains. "Small-fry devil powers. My grandfather was unlucky to fall to you."
He shook the blood from his blades and stepped toward the house. "That kid Denji owes us too. Since he's with this trash, I'll kill him as well."
---
But Cael's death triggered a change. The Dark-Dark Fruit's ability began to fade, revealing Pochita.
The small chainsaw devil glared at Katana Man, then walked to Cael's head, gently licking his still-warm cheek.
"Cael… Denji… hugged… Pochita."
"I give half my power to Cael… Cael, live the life you want… this is our contract."
Pochita climbed onto Cael's chest with its short legs. Using its claws, it opened a hole in its chest, infusing Cael's heart with devil blood. His heart rapidly merged with Pochita's essence.
Soon, a triangular pull ring sprouted from his heart.
Blood drained, Pochita faltered, eyes closing.
Thump… thump… thump!
Before fully collapsing, Pochita bit the triangular pull ring on Cael's heart and pulled hard.
Vroom vroom—buzz—!!!
The manic roar of a chainsaw exploded through the air.
___
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