NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Despair Engulfed The World : Enchain ( fixed )
The clock struck noon, and the air was thick with tension across Tokyo. The entire nation had watched in shock as Makima's broadcast aired, her resignation from the Public Safety Devil Hunters sending shockwaves throughout Japan. The people felt a rising dread—fear and unease, all directed toward Makima, and an equally fierce distrust toward Prime Minister Kentaro. This shift, fueling Makima's strength, was exactly what she needed. With each terrified gaze and fearful thought, her powers surged back, revitalized by the renewed terror she commanded.
Standing beside Kang Woo, Makima allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, feeling her regained strength. She turned to Kang Woo, a rare smile touching her lips.
"I've got lots of stuff left behind at Public Safety," she murmured, her tone light, almost playful. "Probably my stash… well, I have to clean things up first." Leaning in, she placed a quick, affectionate kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, my husband," she whispered, "for helping me, time and again."
With a final look, she activated her darkness manipulation, drawing on the commandment bestowed by Kang Woo. A single dark wing unfolded from her back . With a graceful nod, she launched herself into the air, soaring toward the Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ .
Kang Woo watched her ascend until she vanished into the horizon, a flicker of amusement passing through his gaze. Makima… you're getting a bit arrogant stepping into enemy territory just because you're at the max level cap of this world, he mused, but then again, it's enough to stir Vought and The Seven out of hiding. He chuckled to himself. And that'll be interesting.
Around him, the remnants of Makima's broadcast were still felt in the air. Reporters stood frozen in place, unsure whether to approach him or retreat in fear. A single camera lay shattered at his feet, a broken testament to Makima's forceful declaration. Nearby, Swatto—the Supe who'd dared to challenge him—was still kneeling in dogeza, face pressed firmly to the ground, his entire form trembling as though on the verge of collapse.
Kang Woo glanced casually at his status window, where a new notification awaited him:
...…..
+200 Affection with Makima (185/100):
Makima is fully in love with you and worships you Far more than the Chainsaw Devil itself.
Note: Relationship is locked; cannot be altered.
Reward Traits:
Represent Concept of Control (Rank: SS)
Soul Dominion Enchantment (Rank: SSS)
...…
Abilities gained from 100 relationship:
Kobeni: Extraordinary Luck
Makima: Represent Concept of Control (Rank: SS), Soul Dominion Enchantment (Rank: SSS)
...…..
Kang Woo smirked to himself, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Nice haul of abilities. A faint thought flickered through his mind. Strange how the system's still functioning normally, even after I antagonized Gaia. His gaze drifted momentarily, remembering the clash—a punch into some kind of sphere, and the sensation of taking something… significant. That was Gaia's core, he mused, a sly grin spreading across his face. So, the system's bound to me now. And thanks to my Adaptation skill, Gaia can only grant me my power back—no penalties. Convenient.
With a pleased look, he glanced at his shop inventory within the status window, eyeing some recent entries with curiosity.
-
Benevolent Points Inventory:
Luxury Sedan – 10,000 Benevolent Points
Exotic Supercar – 35,000 Benevolent Points
Custom Classic Roadster – 50,000 Benevolent Points
-
Malevolent Points Inventory (The Seven's Items):
Homelander's Cape (Radiates Authority) – 8,000 Malevolent Points
Black Noir's Tactical Blade (Stealth Enhancement) – 6,500 Malevolent Points
The Deep's Trident (Water Command) – 9,000 Malevolent Points
A-Train's Speed Serum (Limited-Use Speed Boost) – 12,000 Malevolent Points
He tapped his finger on the status window with faint annoyance. The items suck. In a quick motion, he crushed the window from view, but almost immediately, a new paper materialized within it, shimmering with a faint glow.
He looked closer: it was a Discount Voucher for the shop inventory.
Gaia still dares to offer me a shop discount, even though the items are nothing but junk for a Demon King like me? he thought, a dark grin creeping across his face. Then again, I did threaten it for the discount, so I suppose this is partially my doing.
"Fine," he murmured. "I'll make this worthwhile."
With a smirk, he infused the Discount Voucher with his King of Chaos's reality-warping effect, then layered in his Adaptation skill to refine the shop's offerings to his will.
Holding the paper aloft, Kang Woo declared, "The Shop will be able to bring my dreams to life."
In that moment, a chaotic energy, threaded with demonic essence, wrapped itself around him, swirling and pulsing with raw, unrestrained power. The aura expanded outward, sending waves of force rippling through the air, thick with suffocating menace. The reporters, who had just stand-up from their dogeza after Makima left, feeling the atmosphere might cool down with her absence, found themselves horribly mistaken. This man the one who stood protecting her still held their lives in his hands.
Under the weight of his presence, they dropped back to their knees, faces pressed to the ground in absolute submission, praying silently that he might grant them mercy. They dared not look up, each one trembling under the sheer, oppressive force that radiated from him, knowing now that they'd underestimated his power.
Swatto, still in dogeza form and clutching his severed arm to his chest, felt a crushing terror fogging his mind. Please, make this stop, he thought desperately, scrambling in his mind for any Shinto god he could remember. Just… let me live.
Kang Woo glanced at the results of his actions with satisfaction, then opened his shop inventory once again, noting the expanded, tempting options available for both Benevolent Points and Malevolent Points:
...…
Benevolent Points Inventory:
Book of Vishanti – 2,000,000 Benevolent Points
Divine Axe Rhitta – 750,000 Benevolent Points
Playful Cloud – 200,000 Benevolent Points
Owl Quinque – 150,000 Benevolent Points
Quincy King Spiritual (excluding Almighty) – 1,000,000 Benevolent Points
Vision's Body (including Mind Stone) – 750,000 Benevolent Points
-
Malevolent Points Inventory:
Darkhold – 1,500,000 Malevolent Points
Chaos Sword Excalibur – 900,000 Malevolent Points
Kamutoke Dagger – 400,000 Malevolent Points
Dragon Kagune – 500,000 Malevolent Points
Zanpakuto: Ichimonji , Kyoka suigetsu – 1,200,000 Malevolent Points
Endo-Sym Armor Mark 50 (with Extremis App and Virus) – 600,000 Malevolent Points
-
Current Points:
Benevolent Points: 1,000,000 (for rescuing world from Lucifero)
Malevolent Points: 1,500,000 (partial count of past evil actions in hell)
Note: Points can be increased depending on your actions and can be converted between Benevolent and Malevolent Points at a rate of 2:1, and vice versa.
...
As Kang Woo scanned the list, he then inserted the chaotic discount paper he had modified to reveal something new. A message blazed across the status window: "All item prices will be reduced by 50%, and items will be updated in the future. However, to expand inventory size, one or two items on the list must be sacrificed."
A spark of irritation flickered in Kang Woo's eyes. Sacrifice, huh? he thought, annoyed by the limitation. But as he continued reading, his dark, predatory smile widened. Points can be increased based on my actions… The hint of wicked intent crept into his expression, unmistakably sinister, much like Sukuna's.
Turning his gaze slowly to the trembling reporters and the bloodied Swatto still kneeling before him, clutching his severed arm, Kang Woo let out a low, menacing chuckle.
"Hehh…" The sound rippled through the air, chilling everyone to their core, as he regarded them with a look that made his intentions clear—they were nothing more than stepping stones, fuel to stoke his ambitions.
With deliberate calm, Kang Woo moved closer, slicing the skin of his index finger to draw fresh blood. He lifted the bleeding finger, preparing an ancient resurrection spell named Ingal. His eyes gleamed with dark amusement .
"Did you know," he began, his tone soft yet chilling, "that in the sixteenth century, nobles played a… little game with their slaves?" His eyes gleamed as he watched their reactions. "They'd break their bones, one by one, savoring every snap. The slaves would beg, tearfully, for mercy. And the nobles… they'd place bets—how many broken bones would it take until the slave finally begged to die?"
He held up his bloodied finger, "Now… I wonder," he continued with a twisted smile, "how long until each of you realizes death might be a gift?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Makima arrived at the Tokyo Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ, still hovering in the air with her single dark wing. Before her was the window leading to her office. She smirked inwardly. I'm really starting to act like Kang Woo, huh? Always making an entrance.
With a wave of her hand, the wall shattered under her telekinesis, and she gracefully landed inside. She moved purposefully toward her mini vault and opened it, revealing stacks of cash—700 thousand dollars, neatly stashed away. Makima tilted her head, pondering. Should I send my rats to deliver this to Kang Woo? He hasn't moved from his location yet… though he can fly fast enough to cover any distance if he's in the mood.
With a thoughtful expression, she touched her chin. I should have brought a larger bag…
Suddenly, a holographic message popped up beside her, displaying:
"Manbarondenna from your wise husband since his dear wife left him XD lol lol lol. Yes or No?"
Makima glanced at the message, rolling her eyes. "I didn't bring a bag, anyway," she muttered, then pressed Yes.
In an instant, a sleek suitcase materialized beside her—a manifestation of Kang Woo's unique humor. The bag, aptly named Manbarondenna, was crafted from obsidian-black leather, its surface etched with intricate, shifting patterns that seemed to dance when not directly observed. Silver clasps adorned its front . ( img here )
Attached to the handle was a small note. Makima picked it up and read:
"This bag can hold vast amounts of objects with ease. It can even absorb your enemies if needed. Enjoy! —Your wise husband."
A subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Very convenient, Kang Woo," she whispered.
Opening the bag, she was met with an interior that defied the laws of space that ready to store anything she desired. With a simple gesture she directed the stacks of dollar bills into the bag. The money floated effortlessly from the vault and vanished into the infinite space within.
As she secured her belongings, Makima glanced down and noticed she was still wearing the elegant black dress from their date at the Millennium Castle on the moon's surface. Deciding a change was in order, she summoned her darkness manipulation once more.
Shadows swirled around her, reshaping her attire. In moments, she was clad in a crisp white long-sleeved shirt, complemented by a sleek black tie. Black pants and polished brown shoes completed the ensemble. To finish, she donned a long black trench coat that flowed gracefully with her movements.
Suddenly, the door to her room burst open, and a group of Public Safety Devil Hunter hybrids barged in, their expressions a mixture of fury and disbelief. Standing before her were Barem Bridge the Flamethrower Hybrid, Miri Sugo the Blade Hybrid, the Spear Hybrid, and the Whip Hybrid. They looked tense, clearly affected by her recent public resignation.
Barem Bridge stepped forward, his face twisted in anger. "What have you done, Makima?" he demanded, his voice laced with fury. "You've resigned from Public Safety, told all of Japan that the country's being sold out to Vought, and now there's chaos everywhere!"
Makima remained silent, her expression cold and unreadable. But in her thoughts, she smirked. Heh, the Flamethrower Hybrid, Barem Bridge… despite the severe damage to his soul from when I used him as a human shield to block the Hellblaze explosion, he still has the nerve to confront me?
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze icy as she looked him over. "Barem," she taunted, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips, "you can't even transform into your hybrid form anymore. So, tell me… what are you going to do about it? That was my clear intention from the start."
Before Barem could respond, Miri Sugo spoke up, his voice tense and laced with confusion. "Isn't… isn't your ultimate goal to use your contract with the Prime Minister to find the Chainsaw Devil?" He hesitated. This isn't like the usual Makima at all, he thought, unsettled by her behavior.
Makima's eyes glinted with a dangerous gleam, and her smile turned sharper. Without a word, she summoned a Hellblaze Bomb in her hand, dark flames swirling violently. In an instant, she hurled it at the Spear Hybrid, who had no time to react before the black flames engulfed him entirely, reducing him to ash.
Makima looked back at the remaining hybrids, her voice low and menacing. "Now there's no way you hybrids can come back. These flames consume the soul itself your resurrection abilities are worthless against them. Move… or I'll erase you all."
The Whip Hybrid, furious over her comrade's death, instinctively stepped forward, her face twisted in rage. But before she could act, Miri Sugo partially transformed his left hand into a blade and blocked her path with a silent glare—a look that clearly said, Act out, and we'll die instantly.
Barem clenched his fists, teeth gritted in frustration. His power, once formidable, had been severely weakened, leaving him with only his regeneration. But even that wasn't enough to restore his ability to transform into the Flamethrower Hybrid.
Makima began to walk past them, but paused. Her gaze sharpened as she turned her eyes onto Miri. "In your thoughts, you're probably thinking, This isn't the usual me, right?" she said with a mocking edge. "The usual me would just use the power of Control and enslave you."
Miri Sugo's eyes widened, his mind racing. Did she just… read my mind? Without using her Control Devil powers? His shock was unmistakable.
Makima's lips curled into a sly smile. "I'll humor you," she continued. "My goal… is already achieved." A brief, faraway look crossed her face as she recalled the warmth of Kang Woo's embrace, the way he had held her, full of love and acceptance. She admired him even more when he introduced himself as the Demon King, accepting her as his first wife—she, a mere devil from the upper layers of Hell. The memory only steeled her resolve. No matter the cost, she thought, I'll reclaim all of Kang Woo's power and return it to him.
Her voice broke through the Stand off . "I have a new purpose now," she declared, her tone cold and unyielding. "One of those goals… is to serve my king, to repay him for all eternity."
Makima's gaze then shifted to Barem, and her face turned deadly cold. Her eyes held no mercy, only a dark, chilling intent. "One way or another, you're going to get in my way. And I'm delighted that you will," she said, her voice dripping with a twisted satisfaction.
Since she had already unleashed her Soul Traits for the second time while trying to impress Kang Woo a few minutes earlier, fragments of her future self, Nayuta, began to intertwine with her mind. In her vision, she saw Barem an obstacle that needed to be eradicated. Her smile grew menacing, her eyes gleaming with sadistic delight .
"I've… got to do whatever it takes… to make you… suffer and die in the worst way possible," she whispered, her voice like a deadly poison, each word seething with malice.
With that, Makima walked past them, leaving an unspoken message a chilling reminder: This isn't mercy. It's borrowed time. One day, I will come to claim it.
Once she was out of sight, the Whip Hybrid finally broke down, her voice cracking as she cried out, "Speeeaaaaarrrr!" She looked helplessly at the ashes that were all that remained of her comrade. Miri Sugo placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer silent comfort.
Barem Bridge stood there, fists clenched as he wrestled with a harsh realization. I can't be the way I used to be… I'm too weak… too weak to achieve anything, he thought, bitterness and despair sinking into him as he acknowledged just how far he had fallen.
In the meeting chamber at the Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ, Japan's top officials sat around the table, each looking more tense and weary than the last.
Kentaro Ishita, Prime Minister
Hadaji Sakagami, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications
Shin Toma, Minister of Defense
Yuki Tomoda, Chief Cabinet Secretary
Tadashi Hasegawa, Former Minister of Finance
Miki Takanashi, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry .
Kentaro Ishita sat slumped in his wheelchair, his gaze sharp and resentful as he looked across the table at Tadashi Hasegawa, the former Minister of Finance and an influential powerhouse among Japan's politicians. Tadashi, an elderly man also bound to a wheelchair, bore an aura of authority that even Kentaro, the Prime Minister, couldn't eclipse. He was the kind of figure whose presence alone was more commanding than any title.
Kentaro's voice cut through the tense silence. "What are you looking at, you old relic?"
Tadashi regarded him with a smirk, unfazed. "Just observing the pathetic state you've brought upon yourself," he replied. "You've made a truly foolish decision, and now the hunter has become the hunted." His words struck deep, referring to Makima, who now had her sights set on them following Kentaro's betrayal.
Hadaji Sakagami, the Minister of Internal Affairs, spoke up, his voice tense. "Panic has erupted across the country. Riots are breaking out—people want the government overthrown after Makima's broadcast."
Shin Toma, the Minister of Defense, added, "The police are doing everything they can to control it, but it's spreading fast."
Suddenly, the door slid open, and Fumiko stumbled into the room, her appearance battered and bruised. Her face was a mess of swollen cuts, a gash on her cheek leaking blood, and her right eye almost swollen shut. She had deep scratches across her jaw, her hair disheveled and streaked with dried blood from the skirmish she had barely survived.
"Aki, Himeno, and Kishibe…" she managed to say, her voice hoarse and broken. "They've decided to betray us."
Tadashi smirked, unfazed by the news. "What happened to you? You look like you've been beaten within an inch of your life."
Fumiko gritted her teeth, humiliated and fuming from the brutal encounter, but she said nothing more, the visible marks on her face and body speaking for themselves.
As Makima made her way to the meeting room, she wasn't intending to kill the higher-ups but rather to retrieve the stash of inventory she had hidden in the least suspecting room. Suddenly, she was approached by two of her subordinates, Futaro and Michiko Tendo.
Michiko stepped forward and nervously spoke, "Ms. Makima, I'm here to offer you my letter…" She held out an envelope marked "Resignation."
Makima raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Have you both been living under a rock, showing me something like that?" She was clearly referring to her recent live broadcast where she publicly resigned as the commander of the Public Safety Devil Hunters.
Futaro elbowed Michiko, who winced, muttering, "Ow…" before Futaro clarified, "Not that, you dunce. Ms. Makima, we heard from Aki about who you really are, and we watched your broadcast. We came to offer this." He handed her another letter, and Makima glanced at the words written on it: Accept us under your wing or organization.
Makima's lips curled into a faint, approving smile. "That's a wise choice," she replied , "but it's not up to me to decide." Her eyes glinted with a hint of something darker. "The King will make that decision."
Michiko looked at her, intrigued. "The King?"
Makima smirked, gesturing for them to follow. "Just follow my lead. I'll introduce you to the one who will guide your path." She continued down the corridor, Futaro and Michiko trailing behind.
In the meeting room, Miki Takanashi's voice broke the tense silence. "I propose we bow our heads in dogeza to Makima and renew the contract with the Prime Minister. We're running out of options."
Tadashi scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. "Our fool of a Prime Minister already cast this mess into motion. All we can do now is maneuver as best we—" He stopped short as the door slid open, revealing Makima standing in the doorway.
Without so much as a glance in their direction, she entered the room, entirely ignoring the anxious faces of the ministers. She raised her hand, snapping her fingers. Instantly, a swarm of oversized mice scurried up from hidden spaces in the floor, each carrying stacks of dollar bills. They approached her obediently, depositing the cash into Manbarondenna as she opened the bag.
The ministers, along with the Prime Minister himself, sat in stunned silence, frozen by her total indifference. Her gaze finally settled on them, but it was cold, detached.
"Go ahead, bow, scrape, or whatever it is you're planning," she said, her voice laced with mocking disinterest. "I couldn't care less. I have my own agenda."
With that, she resumed gathering her belongings from the bag, still not sparing the ministers another glance. As she continued, Michiko, visibly shaken, dared to speak up, her tone serious and trembling. "Ms. Makima… are we going to overthrow the government?"
Makima paused, glancing briefly at Michiko with a faint smirk. "It's not their time to die yet," she replied , returning her focus to the classified papers being delivered by the mice. Among them, a letter marked with Fami's familiar seal—the Famine Devil—caught her attention. It read simply, I miss you, my dear…
Makima's eyes narrowed, her thoughts simmering. How irritating my sister can be, she thought, a flicker of Hellblaze sparking in her gaze as she reduced the letter to ashes, seething at the unwanted distraction.
Turning to Futaro and Michiko, she spoke calmly, but with a trace of finality. "Futaro, Michiko… return to your homes for now. Something… tense is about to unfold." They nodded and departed, leaving her alone with the ministers.
Prime Minister Kentaro, seething with fury, broke the silence, his voice echoing across the room. "Makima! You've thrown this country into chaos with your baseless accusations that I sold it out to Vought!"
Makima's lips curved slightly, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. I only intended a small panic to erase my status as a hero, she thought. But who would've guessed my little lie would push the entire country to the brink? The only real truth was that Vought saw Kentaro as a pawn—she hadn't expected her words to cause such a profound impact.
Kentaro's rage escalated as he pointed a trembling finger at her. "You blew off my leg and left me crippled. Why don't you just disappear? You're just a devil under contract that just been severed by me !"
Makima rested her chin on her hand, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she watched his rant with detached satisfaction. "Anything else?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock interest
Suddenly, Fumiko stepped forward, a cold smile spreading across her face as the plan she and Yoshida had set in motion neared fruition. "Yes, actually, there is, Makima," she said. "After you're dead, I'll make sure to send your corpse to Aki and Himeno as a gift." She pressed a bloodied hand to the wound inflicted by Himeno and Aki, a twisted look of satisfaction in her eyes.
In an instant, a powerful energy beam shot through the building, aimed directly at Makima. But her darkness manipulation activated on instinct, forming a shield to deflect the blast. Emerging from the smoldering hole in the wall was none other than the Falling Devil, a twisted grin on her face and clad in her chef's outfit, under the control of Fami, the Famine Devil.
The Falling Devil turned to Kentaro, her voice cold and calculating. "Prime Minister, do you agree to the terms?" she asked.
Kentaro looked bewildered. "What…?"
Fumiko stepped in, her expression triumphant. "The Famine Devil has agreed to help you bring Makima back under Japan's control. But she demands the contract Makima used to have—any fatal attacks inflicted upon the Famine Devil will instead transfer to a random citizen of Japan as an appropriate illness or ailment."
Kentaro's face twisted with newfound hope and desperation. "I accept… if it means bringing Makima back under Japanese rule."
Makima only smiled, her amusement turning sharp and cold as she summoned her Sword of Darkness in her hand, the blade gleaming with her malevolent power. Her voice was laced with a bitter satisfaction. "I used to be bound by strings," she murmured, eyes flashing. "But now… there are no strings on me."
Her words carried a deeper weight—a declaration of her freedom from the chains of hollow goals and worthless alliances, of her servitude to those who once controlled her. Now, she belonged to Kang Woo, her loyalty and love for him absolute. Her purpose had crystallized: she would see the Demon King's sealed power returned to its prime, bringing his rightful strength back into the world.
Raising her sword, her aura unfettered and ominous, she prepared to face the oncoming threats. Suddenly, Makima felt the presence of reinforcements—multiple devils rallying to her side. Emerging from the shadows was Princi, the Spider Devil, her many legs skittering across the ground.
From a distant rooftop, Across from them, Angel Devil took aim with his red spear from a distant rooftop, firing a shot that severed one of the Falling Devil's multi-jointed hands with lethal precision.
Beside Makima appeared the Hell Devil in a menacing centaur form, its presence looming protectively at her side. Then, the Fox Devil opened its colossal mouth, and out stepped Aki and Himeno, determination in their eyes.
Aki approached, looking her over with concern. "Ms. Makima, are you alright?"
Makima's lips curled into a sarcastic smirk. "Very alright, Aki-kun. So much so that not a single scratch has touched me."
Himeno gave a wry smile, admiration gleaming in her eyes. "I like this side of you, Ms. Makima. Maybe we can finally have that drink?"
Makima glanced at her, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Later. Though I'll admit, I didn't expect you all to come to my aid. What brings you here?"
Princi stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. "A human named Kang Woo instructed us, Ms. Makima. Aki told me his name… and I trust him, because he called me by a name only you know, the one you gave me."
Makima's eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at Princi. "I never told him your name Princi."
Princi's expression turned to fury. "Then he's a threat. I shall sever my contract—"
In a swift movement, Makima pointed her Sword of Darkness directly at Princi, her gaze icy and commanding. "If Kang Woo says you need to keep that contract, you will fulfill it," she said . "He is the only one in this world I intend to spend my eternity with."
Princi bowed her head, her anger dissolving into submission. "Apologies, Ms. Makima."
Suddenly, the Falling Devil yanked the red spear from her severed hand and crushed it in frustration. "Hell Devil, why did you sever my connection to Hell? Without it, I can't finish my dishes!" Her voice rose, frustration evident, as she referred to her tendency to serve her enemies as culinary "offerings" to the denizens of Hell.
The Hell Devil looked down at her with disdain. "You are a threat to the noble one I was instructed to protect. Therefore… BEGONE, THOT!"
The Falling Devil, despite being outnumbered, smirked to herself. She had her own tricks. With Thought Manipulation, she could force victims to relive their darkest traumas—a perfect complement to her gravity manipulation, which was tied to the weight of past pain. She began to invade Makima's mind aiming to unleash memories that would shake her to her core.
Thump.
A powerful heartbeat echoed, reverberating through the air. The Falling Devil froze, not realizing she'd triggered a Commandment within Makima's very being—an extension of Kang Woo's unyielding will that shielded her against any mind intrusion. Her powers were rebuffed, as if she'd tried to pierce an impenetrable wall.
Elsewhere, in a quiet café just a few blocks from Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ, Yoshida and Fami, the Famine Devil, sat at a table. Yoshida's gaze was cautious as he asked, "Are you certain the Falling Devil can get the job done?"
Fami, savoring her pastries, glanced up with a grin. "Add another tart cake, and maybe I'll tell—" Suddenly, her fork clattered to the table, her gaze vacant, as if something had forcibly ripped her consciousness away.
Both Fami and the Falling Devil found themselves pulled into a surreal realm, a void dominated by a colossal red eye in the sky and a dark, imposing throne. Seated upon it was Kang Woo, his presence overwhelming, and beside him stood Makima, her expression cold and unamused.
Kang Woo's gaze bore into them, his voice calm yet laced with dangerous authority. "You dared to invade the mind of my first wife." His words carried a deadly weight, every syllable resonating with menace. "I'll forgive you this time, Fami, as you are one of Makima's sisters . But let me make this clear—there won't be a next time."
He leaned forward, the intensity of his presence pressing down upon them. "Know your place, mere crumbs from the uppermost layers of Hell."
In that moment, Kang Woo's main body sensed an approaching event in the real world, an interesting shift in the air. His lips curled into a dark grin.
Makima turned to him, her gaze questioning. "Kang Woo, what's wrong?"
Kang Woo's eyes returned to Fami and the Falling Devil, his expression hardened. "I've changed my mind. Right here, right now… I'll deal with your arrogance."
Abruptly, Fami's consciousness snapped back to reality. She gasped, clutching the edge of the table, her breaths heavy and unsteady.
Yoshida leaned in, his voice low with concern. "Fami, you look pale ?"
Fami looked up, panic flashing in her eyes. "We need to get out of—" But before she could finish, a dark portal opened beneath them, swallowing both her and Yoshida.
They were instantly transported to the Tokyo HQ of Public Safety Devil Hunter, landing squarely in the middle of the meeting room. Fami, still trembling, looked around and froze when her gaze fell upon her slave, the Falling Devil, who appeared as shaken as she was. Under her breath, she muttered, "Could the legends be true? The Chainsaw Devil always spoke of that horrifying being… the one who could turn the world bloody red."
She clenched her fists, steeling herself as she shouted, "Oy! Get a hold of yourself!"
Suddenly, beside Makima and her allies, a Doom Eye appeared, an extension of Kang Woo's presence in a starfish-like form with a single piercing eye. Its voice echoed ominously, "Presence of the Demon King."
Instantly, an overwhelming gravitational force descended upon everyone. Fami found herself pinned to the floor, helpless against the crushing weight. She turned her gaze to Makima, panic evident in her eyes. "I… I made a mistake… a big mistake. Please, can you forgive this foolish sister?"
The Falling Devil struggled, but despite her own gravity manipulation, she was powerless against the sheer force of Kang Woo's will.
Yoshida, similarly pinned, thought in frustration, For some reason, the Octopus Devil isn't responding to my call. I don't know why…
Fumiko, also trapped by the oppressive force, realized with dread, Did I just pick a fight with the King of Devils himself? Miri Sugo wasn't exaggerating at all.
Makima looked at the Doom Eye, a smirk of sarcastic amusement on her face. "You send devils and my own subordinates to guard me, yet you still handle it yourself? What an overprotective husband you are, Kang Woo."
Before Doom eye could respond, Himeno appeared and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the Doom Eye's tentacled form, laughing with delight. "Wahaha! Finally, I get to see this form again! I wish I could make you my plushie!"
The Doom Eye, sounding slightly perturbed, grumbled, "hey , stop that."
Feeling a surge of jealousy, Makima grabbed one of the Doom Eye's tentacles and pulled it possessively. "Kang Woo is my husband, so his extensions are mine!"
Himeno pouted, tightening her grip. "No, it's mine! The plushie is mine!"
Watching this scene unfold, Aki and Princi stood side by side, both baffled and somewhat amused. Princi gave a weary sigh. "My master has become… childish. Is this Kang Woo's influence?"
Aki nodded knowingly. "He's a bad influence on everyone, apparently."
Suddenly, the ground rumbled, and the distant sound of destruction reverberated through the air. Not far from their location, a building stood sliced in half by a powerful laser beam, its upper section collapsing in a cascade of concrete and steel. Instinctively, the Minister of Economy, Miki Takanashi, grabbed the remote and turned on the nearest television, switching to a news channel.
"Breaking News," flashed across the screen, and the tense voice of the anchor narrated in a hurried tone, "The Seven from Vought have just arrived in Japan. Moments ago, Homelander attacked an abandoned building in downtown Tokyo."
The live feed cut to Homelander himself, standing with a smug smile, holding a microphone and a camera he had snatched from a trembling reporter. The microphone, specially designed, automatically translated his words into Japanese, and his voice rang out across every screen in the country, smooth and filled with mock sincerity.
"Citizens of Japan," he began, his tone dripping with condescension and a hint of menace, "for far too long, you've kept the secrets of these devil contracts all to yourselves. Hoarding them, hiding them never sharing them with the rest of the world. And look where that's gotten you now. A 'White Devil' ripping through Sage Grove Center in Pennsylvania, leaving untold numbers of personnel dead."
Homelander's smirk grew, he continued. "Oh, we did our homework, alright. One of you—you know who you are chanted something like, 'Furube yura yura,' didn't you?" He let the words hang in the air, savoring the attention. "And with this knowledge , I've been generous, haven't I? See, I only targeted an abandoned building so far."
He leaned closer into the camera, " But let me make one thing perfectly clear—the next target won't be so lucky. So come on out, Control Devil. Face me. Let's settle this once and for all, The justice for your crimes."
Himeno, who had finally released the Doom Eye's tentacle, scoffed, a smirk forming on her lips. "That guy in the cape? He must be easy to handle…" But before she could finish,
Aki grabbed her arm, his face serious. "Himeno, you need to pay attention. That's a Supe it's no different than a hybrid devil. Kishibe warned us."
Himeno blinked, her smirk faltering.
Makima glanced back, her voice cold and commanding. "Just stay here, Himeno. Don't cause any trouble."
As Makima took a step forward, ready to face Homelander herself, the sky above suddenly darkened, the sun eclipsed by an unnatural shadow. The air thickened, and a chorus of tormented voices began to echo from above.
"Please… help me… spare me…"
"Let me die, I'm sorry we lied! We don't want to interview Makima anymore!"
"The Americans—they lied! It's not Makima who's dangerous… it's the one standing beside her!"
And then, in a final, agonized shout, a single voice wailed from the heavens, filled with rage and despair: "Homelander! Because of you, I was kicked out of The Seven! I curse you… curse you to suffer, to endure this cruel fate!"
The voices faded, leaving a chilling silence, and then… a massive red eye opened in the darkened sky, casting its gaze across the land . A single word echoed, reverberating throughout Japan, it carried an undeniable command:
"Enchain."
In that instant, a sudden surge of energy flashed through Fox Devil, Hell Devil, Princi, and Angel Devil. Though they had agreed to lend their powers to Kang Woo, they had expected to feel some draining effect—a subtle loss of their own life force or negative energy . But instead, they were flooded with something far darker, far more potent. A wave of pure malice coursed through them, an energy of unrestrained darkness known as demonic energy. None of them fully understood it, only that it was overwhelming, raw, and carried an intent of pure evil .
Angel Devil's mind spun as he felt the intensity of the energy. He couldn't help but think, That human… he doesn't even draw on life force. His malice—pure, unfiltered evil—is more than enough to fuel everything.
The overwhelming presence settled across Tokyo, and then, the city's lights blinked out, plunging everything into absolute darkness. For a breathless moment, all was silent. Then, the lights flared back to life, only to blackout again. This rhythm continued, each pulse a heartbeat of flickering light and darkness .
Suddenly—BOOOOOM!—a massive explosion tore through the silence, echoing across the city like a rolling thunderclap. The shockwave rippled outward, rattling windows and sending debris into the air.
Amid the chaos, a chilling, insane laughter filled the air, its sound twisted and echoing.
"UHUHUHUHU… HEHEHEHE… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The laughter twisted through the darkened streets, filling them with an atmosphere thick with dread.
Then, in the next instant, Makima and her allies looked up and saw Homelander launched into the sky, his form bloodied and battered from the impact of a thousand crimson spears that had erupted from the ground and coiled around a building like some monstrous sculpture, all aimed and fashioned with deadly precision.
From across the street, Angel Devil watched the display in shock, standing on the rooftop of a building opposite the Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ. His voice held a hint of disbelief as he muttered, "My contractor… the human named Kang Woo… he asked me to lend him my ability. And he's able to fashion it better than I ever did?"
Suddenly, Makima flew to his location, her single dark wing propelling her through the air. Landing beside him, she looked at him with keen interest. "What did you say, Angel?"
Angel Devil looked at her, hesitation and wonder in his eyes. "Kang Woo… he requested to borrow our powers for twenty minutes. After that, he said the contracts must be severed."
Makima's gaze shifted to Fox Devil, Princi, and Hell Devil . "You three… you also agreed to lend him your powers?"
Fox Devil nodded solemnly, answering on behalf of the others. "Yes. The noble one asked, and we honored his request."
Makima's expression darkened, thoughtful. That's strange, she mused internally. I know Kang Woo he possesses an immense array of abilities, even with a massive portion of his power sealed by the world. His skills are potent, many ranking at the highest tiers. The powers he could gain from them would be insignificant, practically invalid compared to his own…
Her mind raced as she tried to piece together his motive. And yet, he asked for their power… but why?