Reze didn't attack immediately. She watched quietly, giving everyone time to discuss.
"What kind of devil scares the Fox Devil like this…" Hayakawa Aki muttered. She had once commanded the Fox Devil to swallow Cael. That time, the Fiend had resisted but nowhere near as strongly as now. This time, it would rather break the contract than obey her.
"You guys go. Her target is only me," Cael urged. With the attribute points he had just allocated, he felt confident enough to face Reze head-on.
"Don't be ridiculous. If we leave, we leave together," Hayakawa Aki replied, gripping her Curse Devil. The enemy was deadly strong. "Cover me. I'll stab her three times—just let me land the hits!"
Reze sighed softly, watching their preparations. "Is this your choice? I've said it before—I really don't want to kill anyone."
Power acted first, swinging her Blood Hammer as she charged forward. "What are you acting so tough for? Let me test your strength!"
Calmly, Reze raised her right hand. Snap. A tiny spark, the size of a mung bean, drifted toward Power. The moment it touched her body—Boom! Fire erupted violently, shaking the ground. Power's hammer disintegrated into blood-colored powder, and she was sent flying backward.
"Ghost, catch her!" Himeno shouted. Invisible hands acted as a buffer, letting Power land safely.
"Cough, cough…" Power wheezed, her pride wounded. "I… I don't want to fight her anymore."
Reze rubbed her missile-shaped head and held up three fingers. "Thirty more seconds. Keep interrupting my date with Cael, and I'll kill you all."
Beads of sweat formed on Aki's forehead. "This person…"
Screech—an old black SUV skidded to a stop in front of them.
A young man in a stylish hoodie stepped out of the passenger seat. His messy black hair gave him a rebellious vibe. "Good grief, little shark, are we late?"
The Shark Devil's tail thrashed excitedly. "Great! You're just in time!"
Cael glanced at the newcomer, unfamiliar with him. But the driver's next step made him freeze.
A man in his thirties, neatly suited, with sharp sideburns and a beard—it was Katana Man, the very devil Cael had once annihilated.
"What are you doing here?" Cael asked, stunned.
Katana Man gave a dry laugh. "Following Miss Makima's orders to protect you. Damn it—if it weren't for her saving my life, there's no way I'd help this Chainsaw Man."
Cael's mind buzzed. Makima had saved him? Had Katana Man been recruited by her? The dissonance was confusing. Pochita had called Makima the Control Devil—so now Katana Man was her dog.
The young man from the passenger seat patted Katana Man's shoulder. "Relax, Brother Katana. We're both working for Makima. First operation together—let past grudges be water under the bridge."
Katana Man's eyebrows knit. "Kid, who are you calling 'Brother Katana'?"
"Ahaha. Isn't it obvious? Swords come before katanas. Just because you're older doesn't mean I have to call you Big Brother Katana."
Himeno, bewildered, finally spoke. "Who are you, and what's going on?"
The young man grinned, showing his ID. "Susugi Misato. I've contracted a super-powerful sword. Together with Brother Katana, we belong to Public Safety Special Division 5, Makima's trusted unit."
"Special Division 5?" Aki hadn't heard of them.
"Yes. Only the strongest can join. With us here, the battlefield is secured. You can withdraw safely."
Reze observed quietly, her curiosity piqued. "Japan has been researching devil fusion technology for a long time, huh…"
Susugi Misato aimed his blade at Reze. "Honestly, I don't like fighting women. Surrender, or face my blade. Miss Makima might spare you."
Reze laughed, shaking her head. "Submit to Makima? No thanks. I don't do dogs."
Anger flared instantly in both Susugi Misato and Katana Man. "Don't insult Miss Makima!" they shouted in unison. Negotiations collapsed.
"Katana, behind me! Watch this strike!" Susugi Misato's blade hummed as he lunged. Phantoms of the blade whirled around him.
Katana Man assumed an Iai stance. "Kid, I don't need instructions. Only my grandfather and Makima tell me what to do."
Boom!
Beam, watching from the car window, asked Cael in the driver's seat, "Chainsaw Boss, do you think they'll win?"
"No—"
Screech! Cael slammed on the brakes.
Ahead, illuminated by faint streetlights, Reze appeared, holding two heads in her hands—Susugi Misato and Katana Man.
===
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