Player 10,000 Year Later (Chainsaw Man / The Boys) Multiverse later

Kang Woo clapped his hands together, drawing Aki's and Makima's attention. "Are you ready, Aki Hayakawa?"

Aki nodded, gripping his Angel Devil sword tightly, the blade glowing with the fiery essence of Blazing Courage.

"And you, Makima the Piety?" Kang Woo's tone carried a teasing reverence.

Makima smirked inwardly, her thoughts betraying her amusement. Makima the Piety. What a nice, high-ranked demon name. I like it. She nodded as well, stepping into position and her Sword of Darkness with a tight Grip.

Kang Woo raised his hand, signaling the start. "Fortis fortuna adiuvat. fortune favors the bold ."

Aki charged forward, his Angel Devil sword igniting with a fierce blue flame as he swung it with precision and force. Makima met him head-on, her Sword of Darkness leaving a trail of shadow as their blades collided with a deafening CLANG. Sparks flew, illuminating the magic circle as the clash of power sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

Makima moved with graceful lethality, each swing of her blade calculated and swift. Her fighting style bore an eerie resemblance to Zeldris's demon swordsmanship, her strikes relentless and unyielding. Aki parried her attacks with difficulty, the weight of each blow forcing him back, his grip tightening on his sword.

Makima pressed her advantage, her movements like a storm. She spun and brought her blade down in a devastating arc. Aki barely managed to sidestep, the tip of her sword grazing his arm and leaving a thin line of blood.

"You're faltering, Aki," Makima said, her tone calm yet taunting. She lunged forward, her blade cutting through the air with deadly precision.

Aki gritted his teeth, channeling the fiery energy of Blazing Courage into his movements. He swung his sword upward, creating a wall of blue flames to block her advance. Makima sliced through the fire with ease, her sword dispersing the flames as though they were mere illusions.

Makima's blade came dangerously close to his throat, forcing Aki to twist and roll away. He landed on his feet, breathing heavily but refusing to back down. I can't lose. Taiyo's counting on me.

Makima closed the distance in an instant, her strikes growing faster and more precise. Aki's parries became increasingly desperate, his movements less about offense and more about survival. Her blade danced around his defenses, forcing him to retreat further into the circle.

Finally, Aki spotted an opening. As Makima brought her sword down in a powerful vertical strike, he sidestepped and countered with a fiery slash of his own. The blue flames surged toward Makima, forcing her to leap back, giving Aki a moment to breathe.

"You're learning," Makima remarked, a faint smile on her lips. "But it's not enough."

She lunged again, her blade a blur as it clashed against Aki's in a flurry of sparks. Aki stumbled under the pressure, but just as Makima's sword seemed poised to strike him down, he channeled all his strength into a final, desperate swing. The clash of their blades sent a shockwave that pushed them both back, leaving Aki barely standing and Makima completely composed.

Aki stood, breathing heavily, his grip on the Angel Devil sword trembling. Makima, on the other hand, remained completely composed, her expression unreadable.

In her thoughts, Makima analyzed his technique. That's Aki's curse technique, Blazing Courage… but the energy surrounding it is blue. Blazing Courage shouldn't be blue—that's the color of Azure Resolve. I can differentiate mana and negative energy by scent, and there's something peculiar here… Should I use the Blacklight Biomass Kang Woo granted me?

Aki readied his stance again, this time keeping his distance from Makima. He wasn't advancing recklessly, his gaze sharp and calculated.

 Makima's faint smile returned, this time more teasing. "Aki-kun, you won't get another chance like that. When I—"

"Ms. Makima," Aki interrupted, his voice steady despite his fatigue. "Even when you were my superior, I wasn't reckless around you. And now… you've said it yourself. There's a Commandment of Piety inside you. That means there are surprises, traps, and contingencies—just like Kang Woo. The moment I lose focus, I know I'll be caught in one."

Makima paused, her thoughts shifting. He's correct. I'm not as intricate as Kang Woo, who always has a thousand plans in motion, but I was indeed planning to test the limits of mana reinforcement. Kang Woo's Blut Vene Anhaben is a fascinating combination of offense and defense… and perhaps I was subconsciously replicating his approach.

Makima chuckled softly, tilting her head. "I suppose Kang Woo has indirectly taught you, hasn't he? In his own… unique way."

Aki's grip on his sword tightened, his determination unwavering. "Indirect or not, it doesn't matter. I'll keep pushing forward, no matter how unpredictable you or Kang Woo are."

Makima smiled faintly, dismissing her sword with a casual flick of her wrist. She stepped forward toward Aki, her hands slipping into her pockets, her movements unhurried and confident.

Aki, steadying his breath, focused intently, his thoughts racing. Time to use what I've learned from Kang Woo—always have a plan, no matter the situation.

As Makima's boot touched the ground, a sudden flare of heat erupted beneath her. She paused, her smile deepening slightly as she realized she had stepped on a landmine of flame. In her thoughts, she mused, Ah, so this is the work of Azure Resolve—Aki's magic. Clever.

Before she could take another step, the landmine detonated in a massive burst of blue flames. The shockwave sent a rush of air through the battlefield, and Aki kept his gaze locked on the spot where Makima stood, unmoving, his sword ready for the next strike.

But then, a sound cut through the clearing smoke.

BANG.

Aki gasped, his body jerking as he felt his heart shatter from within. He stumbled backward, his vision darkening momentarily before collapsing to the ground. The smoke cleared, revealing Makima standing unharmed, her fingers in the shape of a pistol . A faint shimmer surrounded her—a barrier formed by her mana reinforcement.

Makima tilted her head slightly, her thoughts calm and analytical. Hmm. The Blut Vene Anhaben that Kang Woo uses is more elegant and noble in its structure. How can I replicate those intricate veins of energy?

Aki's body dissolved into light and reformed within the magic circle, whole again. He coughed slightly, regaining his composure as he stood. "I forgot…" he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "She's the Control Devil. Her means of attack aren't always straightforward, but they're lethal."

Makima smiled faintly, her tone calm but teasing. "I'm glad you remembered. Two more times, Aki, before you lose. Make them count."

Without warning, she raised her finger again and whispered, "Bang."

A telekinetic force surged toward Aki, aiming for his head. This time, however, Aki was ready. He had watched the trajectory of her previous attack and managed to calculate its path. Just before the invisible bullet could reach him, he raised his left hand to block it. The force tore through his hand, leaving a large, bloody wound, but it spared him a fatal blow.

She won't keep that barrier forever, Aki thought, gritting his teeth against the pain as he sprinted toward Makima, his eyes locked on her. I'll bet everything on her shield running out before she can strike again.

Makima's smile widened slightly as she prepared to fire another shot. Just as her finger rose, the faint shimmer of mana reinforcement surrounding her flickered and disappeared. Her thoughts raced. My mana is depleted for now. I see why Lucifero kept his reinforcement so close to his body—it's far too costly otherwise.

Aki seized the opportunity, lunging forward with his angel devil sword imbued with Azure Resolve. The blade glowed with intense blue flames as it cut through the air toward Makima. Yet, as Aki closed in, Makima's smile never faltered.

In an instant, a shield of writhing flesh formed in front of her—a manifestation of the Blacklight Biomass Kang Woo had granted her. Aki's blade tore through the shield, shredding it apart, but before he could land his strike, Makima's hand shot forward and caught the blade mid-swing.

Aki's eyes widened in disbelief as Makima held his blade effortlessly, her hand unscathed. Blue veins began to spread across her skin, pulsating with a faint light. Makima's voice was calm, almost triumphant. "Yes, mana reinforcement is costly. But through Kang Woo's Blut Vene Anhaben, I found inspiration."

Her grip on the sword tightened as she stared at Aki, her smile growing. "I call it Mana Veins."

Makima's calm exterior didn't waver, even as Aki's surprising plan unfolded. She held the Angel Devil sword in one hand, its Blue flames flickering against her Mana Veins, while her other hand formed a familiar pistol gesture. Her mocking tone carried across the battlefield as she addressed Aki. "Any last words for the loser? Or perhaps a grateful speech—you've been fond of those."

Aki, bloodied and exhausted, met her gaze unwaveringly. "None. I've said enough. Finish this round, Ms. Makima."

Makima's smile remained as she whispered, "Bang." The invisible force struck Aki, killing him for the second time. His body dissolved into light, and Makima released the Angel Devil sword, watching it fall to the ground.

Before she could fully relax, the sword suddenly moved on its own, surging toward her. Makima raised her hand and caught it once more, her Mana Veins flaring to life to block the sudden attack. Her sharp eyes darted toward Angel Devil in the spectator seat, one of his eyes closed in exhaustion as he extended his hand.

"Usage: 100 years," Angel Devil murmured, his voice strained.

Makima's brow twitched in irritation as she deflected the sword's energy. "Kang Woo, next time, no spectators allowed to interfere in a fight."

Kang Woo, standing calmly on the sidelines, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Focus on your opponent, Makima."

Makima was surrounded by red flames , yet she stayed composed. Her thoughts shifted as she analyzed the situation. Blazing Courage… But where is Aki? Shouldn't he have respawned by now?

Her answer came in the form of a massive crater suddenly forming on the battlefield, as though it had existed all along. Her sharp gaze darted upward, and she saw Aki high in the sky, his legs gone but his resolve burning brighter than ever.

Makima's lips curled into a faint smile, amusement tinged with respect. It seems Aki has learned Kang Woo's method well—plans within plans. He used every distraction to his advantage.

She quickly pieced together his strategy. Aki had already respawned and used Himeno's water magic, imbued with its alcohol properties, as a propellant. The scattered liquid, untouched by his flames, had created the perfect launch pad to propel him into the sky. Now, Aki was descending rapidly, his body enveloped in Azure Resolve, and he held his original katana, reclaimed in the chaos.

Makima instinctively raised her palm, prepared to unleash a Hellblaze Bomb. Dark flames began to gather, crackling with raw destructive power. But just as quickly, she dismissed them with a flick of her wrist. No need, she thought, closing her eyes briefly. The moment I let myself get distracted, I already lost. No need for cheating. A faint smile tugged at her lips. Kang Woo, even if you won't admit it, I know you want Aki to have his own happy ending. And as I grow stronger, Nayuta's my future self becomes more intertwined with me, I realize just how terrible a devil I've been without you. But maybe… you'll see this as me trying to make things right.

Makima stood still, lowering her guard as the blue flames surrounding Aki erupted into a massive explosion. The shockwave tore through the battlefield, the force rippling like a storm. When the smoke cleared, Aki's katana was embedded in Makima's shoulder. The sight stunned him.

Makima's yellow-ringed eyes met Aki's, her voice calm but edged with something almost maternal. "You've won, Aki-kun. It looks like your path is now your own."