On the rooftop of the Public Safety building, the wind howled around the concrete parapets. Kishibe stood smoking beside six personnel, each one pale-faced, tense, and silent.
These six had been handpicked for a single purpose. They knew why they were here. They were ready—even willing—to die to summon the Hell Devil. The ultimate contingency, the sword hanging over Makima's head should she become too dangerous.
Kishibe took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly, his eyes sharp as razors as he studied the six volunteers.
This might be used to kill Makima someday… just in case she turns into a threat.
His gaze shifted to Kang Woo. Kishibe flicked away the ash and spoke, voice low and gruff. "They know how this ends."
Kang Woo didn't flinch. He simply crossed his arms and replied coolly. "They won't die. Or… let's say none of them will die at all."
Himeno's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? I mean… from what I read in the documents, it needs a sacrifice."
Aki stepped forward then, holding out a cigarette, a gesture of habit more than sincerity. "Do you smoke?" he asked.
Before Kang Woo could answer, Himeno snatched the cigarette from Aki's fingers, grinning.
"Aki, you don't even smoke," she scoffed, lighting it with a quick flick of her lighter and taking a drag. "If you're gonna offer one, at least give it to me first."
Aki let out a resigned sigh, rolling his eyes. "There goes the smoke. Anyway… Kang Woo—have you ever tried being a good guy? Like, helping us fight devils and stuff?"
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting as he stared at Aki. "To the point, Aki . I know your angle. You want me to teach you my abilities… . "
Himeno leaned against Aki's shoulder, laughing, smoke curling around her face. "Bohooo, Aki can't say things straight. Looks like he didn't train enough with me!"
Aki sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… I mean… can even someone like me learn any of this stuff?"
Kang Woo glanced at him flatly. "It would be impossible… for the current you."
Himeno's eyes narrowed, a spark of irritation flickering in them. "That's selfish. When you talk like that, it's like you're the only one who gets all the good stuff."
"I said the current you," Kang Woo replied calmly. "Pay attention."
He shifted his gaze toward the six individuals standing ready near the ritual circle. "Do you want to live after the Hell Devil is summoned… or not?"
The six exchanged uneasy glances before one of them finally stepped forward, voice steady but anxious. "We know the consequences… but yes. We want to live."
Kang Woo nodded once."Good. Then listen to me carefully. And the rest of you who aren't part of this ritual—cover your ears."
Kishibe narrowed his eyes, suspicion deepening. "What exactly are you planning, Kang Woo? If this goes wrong, we're all getting a one-way trip to hell."
Kang Woo said, waving a hand dismissively, "just pay attention to my words. Don't think too hard. And besides… I'm not aiming for a one-time contract only."
Aki and Himeno exchanged a quick look—and both promptly clamped their hands over their ears.
Power puffed out her chest defiantly. "I'm more powerful than the Hell Devil itself! Why should I be afraid?"
Denji groaned, grabbing Power by the head and pressing his palms over her ears. "Don't mind her, Kang Woo—I'll take care of her."
Kishibe let out a muttered swear and covered his own ears as well.
The six personnel, following Kang Woo's command, began the ritual, each slicing shallow cuts across their throats, letting thin streams of blood drip onto the concrete. Their voices rose together in a trembling chant: "Hell Devil, you are summoned!"
But before the final words could leave their lips, Kang Woo's eyes narrowed.
In one fluid motion, he lifted his hand. A pulse of dark energy rippled outward as he activated his Authority of Sonority—a power capable of amplifying his voice to shatter stone, burst eardrums, and render listeners temporarily deaf.
He drew in a breath, his aura crackling, then unleashed his voice like a rolling storm: "GET THE FUCK OVER HERE!"
The words exploded across the rooftop like cannon fire. The six personnel staggered backward, their ritual abruptly halted. Eardrums rang violently as the shockwave of Kang Woo's voice rolled out over the building.
Disoriented but alive, the six exchanged wide-eyed glances—then, without hesitation, bolted for the stairwell, stumbling over each other in their rush to escape.
Aki clutched his head, swaying on his feet, eyes unfocused. "Is… is it done, Kang Woo…?" he slurred.
Beside him, blood dripped from Denji's ears. He blinked in confusion, eyes watering. "Whaaat? I can't hear you!" he yelled, voice cracking.
Power doubled over laughing, jabbing a finger at Denji. " Denji's got shit coming out of his ears!"
Denji scowled, wiping the blood off with his sleeve. "I said, I CAN'T HEAR YOU, DUMBASS!"
Kishibe stood slightly apart, glaring down over the edge of the rooftop at the street below. People on the sidewalks were wobbling, holding their heads, some collapsing into dizzy heaps.
Kishibe gave Kang Woo a flat stare,. "Look at that,… you've got half the city going deaf these days."
Kang Woo didn't even glance his way. His voice was calm, but edged with steel. "We're not done yet. That was just the opening act."
No sooner had the words left his lips than the air around them thickened like boiling tar. A blast of heat and a burst of crimson light split the rooftop. The Hell Devil materialized with a hideous roar. It towered above them—a monstrous centaur-like figure, its entire body burning with searing flames that licked its flesh-like hide. Its featureless head twisted open into a massive mouth, a grotesque grimace stretching from one side of its skull to the other.
Rage boiled from its presence. With a guttural bellow, it raised one massive arm—a giant hand with six fingers poised to crash down like a meteor.
Denji, his ears still trickling faint lines of blood but already healing thanks to his regeneration, stared upward and shrieked: "FUCK, Kang Woo! That's a GIANT HAND! IT'S GONNA SLAM US!"
Himeno let out a breathy laugh, though her face was pale."Hehe… don't worry, Denji. At least if we all go to hell, I won't have to pay off my debts."
But as the titanic hand came hurtling down, the Hell Devil suddenly faltered.
Its flaming body quivered, its burning eyes flicking down and locking onto Kang Woo—who stood utterly still, his gaze blazing with a crimson light. The godlike patterns of Kang Woo's Magic Eyes of Destruction glowed across his irises.
The colossal hand froze in midair,. The Hell Devil seemed to shrink back, Its voice rumbled from deep within its vast, twisted maw. "Ohhh no…" it hissed, trembling. "He is here… The Peak of All Evil… The Devourer himself…"
It bent slightly lower, fear creeping into its molten voice. "Dear devil… someone like you appearing… does this mean the end of time draws near for all of us…?"
The words were spoken too low for the group to catch, but the shift in the Hell Devil's demeanor was impossible to miss. Its towering flame-wreathed form seemed to shrink, trembling before Kang Woo like prey before a predator.
Denji elbowed Power in the ribs, grinning. "Heh. Maybe the Hell Devil's scared of you, Power. I mean—your blood ability and all that, right?"
Power shot him a scowl, but before she could speak,
Himeno grabbed Denji by the collar and yanked him closer, her voice low and sharp. "Quiet down right now. Everything we thought we knew about devils… just shattered before our eyes."
Power stood there frozen, her eyes flicking from the Hell Devil to Kang Woo. Her thoughts spun in a rare moment of silent awe.
Every devil… born from hell. Every time they die… they return to hell and crawl their way back. But the Hell Devil… is scared of one human. .
The Hell Devil slowly lowered its massive arm, the flames around its limbs dimming and receding. It let out a shaky exhale of scorching heat, then dropped to one knee before Kang Woo, bowing horned head.
Dispersing its burning power, the creature gazed up at him with hollow, flickering eyes.
"I… humbly respect you, Sir Devourer," it rasped, its voice cracking like an old furnace. "Please… if the end of time truly draws near, I beg you… grant us devils the chance to enjoy what little time we have left…"
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his expression cool and dispassionate. "The end of time is far away. And I'm in no mood for respect or bowing."
The Hell Devil nodded quickly, flames licking around its twisted form. "Then… what can this humble being do for you?"
Kang Woo narrowed his eyes. "I have some questions. Why is it that only a handful of beings know me? For example… Aki's Fox Devil recognized me. The Chainsaw Dog—Pochita—inside Denji… I suspect he's terrified of me, so much he became Denji's heart to hide. Why is that?"
The Hell Devil shifted uneasily, its massive shoulders creaking. "As for Pochita… I cannot say," it admitted. "However… your coming was warned by him. He would shout it constantly in Hell: 'The Peak of All Evil will come… and turn everything to dust.'"
A low chuckle rumbled from the Hell Devil's burning chest. "As for myself… I have sense you came to my hell . The first time… you fought like a mad man , tearing through everything in your path. The second time… you were trying desperately to get away from someone."
At that, Kang Woo's lips twitched upward into a faint, reminiscent smile. The first time… yeah… Kang Woo thought. That was my fight against Dantalion. A crazy brawl—like something out of Dragon Ball Super. I fought from the deepest pit of Hell—the Ninth Hell itself—all the way to the uppermost layer. I thought the flowers blooming in Hell were just my hallucinations… but it turns out… it really was Chainsaw Man's Hell.
His eyes flickered as he recalled the second incident.
And the second time… He shivered slightly. Getting chased by Lilith… ugh. That woman's terrifying. I really don't like her octopus tentacles. IHHHH… not my thing.
kang woo smiled, sharp and sinister, as his gaze locked onto the Hell Devil. "And you… you hid the truth about me,. Even though your instincts were right."
The Hell Devil's flaming form seemed to flicker and shrink slightly, as if recoiling from invisible heat. It shifted its weight, its great, molten jaw working silently for a moment before it dared to speak.
"Yes… I did hide it," the Hell Devil finally rasped, voice careful and subdued. "But… only for a very good reason."
Its burning eyes lowered, avoiding Kang Woo's intense stare. "We… simply don't have the ability. Not enough strength. Even strategy. Against your… kind ( demons ) … . It would be total devastation."
The Hell Devil's flames hissed and sputtered nervously, its body trembling. "Even if only one like you managed to break through to our realm… the losses would be catastrophic. We… we'd be overwhelmed. And that's why… I stayed silent. It was the only way… to protect what little remains of us."
It swallowed hard, ember-like sparks drifting from its molten lips. "… . I kept quiet. Because if your Race were known… it would plunge us all into panic. And doom."
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his expression calm but his eyes glinting with a sharp, hidden edge. "I see. That's very nice, "I thought maybe you'd made alliances with things you shouldn't have… like another kind… or other beings that came from space. But… I'm satisfied with that answer."
A sudden flare of crimson light erupted from Kang Woo's back left palm as the Eye of Mikhail snapped open, swirling with intricate runes and divine patterns. The air seemed to tighten around them, vibrating with power.
Kang Woo's voice rang out, cool and commanding. "I want you to channel your strength into the Eye of Mikhail. Same as the two contracts before this. And when either I or Mikhail says the word 'enchain,' you'll allow us to borrow your strength at maximum output. Exactly twenty minutes after that… you'll sever your contract with me."
The Hell Devil paused, the flames around its body flickering lower for a moment. Then, slowly, it inclined its horned head in a deep nod. "Understood, Sir Devourer,"
Raising one molten hand, the Hell Devil extended it toward Kang Woo's back left palm.
As its burning fingers drew close, the Eye of Mikhail glowed brighter, the circles of Zaiphon runes spinning faster around the crimson iris.
Mikhail's voice echoed forth, rich with authority: "Hell Devil confirmed. Twenty minutes of power upon request of the enchain command—by me or by Master himself."
Kang Woo lowered his hand, a faint, amused smirk curling his lips. "You see, crazy boys and girls… and one man who seems tired—Kishibe."
The Hell Devil only nodded solemnly, embers falling like tiny stars around its burning form.
Kang Woo tilted his chin slightly toward the others. "If they want your strength… lend it to them."
From behind Kang Woo, Himeno suddenly shouted so loudly her voice cracked: "WHATTTTT?! Did you hear that, Aki?! We just got a contract with the Hell Devil!"
Aki winced, rubbing his ear. "Himeno-senpai… please don't shout. I heard it. But… Kang Woo's kind is what makes me even more curious."
Kang Woo gave Aki a brief, silent look, then lifted his hand. He drew his fingertip across his own skin, and a bead of blood welled up—crimson black, dark as midnight yet glinting with a faint, eerie shimmer.
He held the drop suspended above his palm.
"As for your reward…" Kang Woo said, voice low and calm. "You know what my blood can do. I don't need to explain."
The Hell Devil's burning eyes widened slightly as it stared at the bead of blood. It seemed to pulse with a life of its own, radiating waves of potent, forbidden power. The Hell Devil dipped its massive, clawed fingers into the flames surrounding its body and conjured a jar formed entirely of flickering fire. It held the vessel out reverently toward Kang Woo.
Carefully, Kang Woo let the drop of his blood fall into the flame jar. The instant it touched the container, the fire glowed a brilliant, otherworldly light, sending ripples of heat shimmering through the air.
The Hell Devil clutched the jar protectively to its chest and bowed its head deeply.
"Thank you, Sir Devourer, Your blood… is the most precious thing in the world itself."
Kishibe, arms folded across his chest, fixed Kang Woo with a flat stare. "Kang Woo… you owe me some answers now."
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, a faintly teasing glimmer in his eyes. "Careful, Your favor count with me might go down by one. What you're about to ask weighs as heavy as the world itself."
Kishibe exhaled smoke and shrugged. "All right. I'll cash in one favor." He tapped ash from his cigarette and pointed it toward Kang Woo like an accusing finger. "So that means I've got four favors left."
Then his eyes sharpened. "My question: Are you with humanity… or against it?"
A brief silence hung in the air, tense as drawn Woo's expression grew serious, his eyes steady and calm. "Neither, "I'm on my own side. My focus right now… is rescuing Makima. And finding something I lost."
Aki frowned, frustration tightening his voice. "Kang Woo… why are you hiding what you are? I mean—even now—we don't know what you really are. Why keep it a secret?"
Before Kang Woo could answer, the Hell Devil stirred beside him, its burning eyes narrowing. "Human,""watch your words. I do not know why Sir Devourer shows kindness to you… . His kind… is far greater than ours."
Then, with a soft rustle, blackened wings unfurled from his back—three pairs of immense, demonic wings flaring outward, their edges shimmering like ink under starlight.
Kang Woo glanced back at the group one final time, his eyes gleaming faintly. "See you later. Peace."
And with a powerful flap of those wings, Kang Woo launched skyward. His figure blurred into a streak of dark energy, streaking across the sky like a black comet, heading straight toward Aokigahara Forest.
Kishibe stood quietly on the rooftop, wind tugging at his coat, his eyes following the last streak of Kang Woo's black comet fading into the distant sky.
Himeno nudged Aki with her elbow. "Hey, Aki… you think Kang Woo'll ever teach us those secret abilities of his?"
Aki didn't answer right away. He simply glanced sideways at Kishibe, searching for any hint of hope in his mentor's face.
Kishibe finally exhaled a long breath. "That madman… funny thing is, he's a man of his word. At least, for some things. He genuinely let himself get played into my games back there."
Denji piped up, eyes wide. "Sensei, didn't you trick Kang Woo into some kinda gentleman's pact? Y'know, that whole handshake deal?"
Kishibe snorted faintly, shaking his head. "Kid… if Kang Woo really wanted, he could've just taken whatever he wanted by force. He's playing along because, for now, he feels like it."
He turned toward the Hell Devil, who lingered nearby, flames dimmed, clutching the jar of Kang Woo's blood. Kishibe squinted. "Hey, Hell Devil. You're still here. Tell me something. This so-called Sir Devourer of yours… Kang Woo. Is he a threat?"
The Hell Devil shifted its molten shoulders, speaking carefully. ". No one knows what Sir Devourer truly thinks. But one thing is certain… we cannot predict his course. However… At least… when he said the end of time is far away… that means I'll still have a little life left to live. Even a small life."
Denji threw up his hands, frustrated. "Hahhh… I'm starting to hate that Kang Woo guy! He just does whatever he wants—and he always gets away with it. Why can't I be like that?!"
Power slapped Denji on the back of the head. "Because you're an idiot, that's why!"
Aki just sighed, staring out at the horizon, silently wondering if any of them would ever understand the full truth of Kang Woo.