Cael kicked the Bat Devil hard, launching it hundreds of meters away from the broken second floor of the mall.
He pursued without hesitation, driving his boot into the creature's back, pinning it into the ground.
When he'd fought Katana Man before, Cael's agility had been 1,200.
After allocating points, it was now 5,000 — more than quadrupled.
Even though the Bat Devil could fly, it couldn't touch him.
Facing it was like kicking a stray dog into oblivion.
The Bat Devil writhed, lifting its battered head and snarling, "That speed, that strength, it doesn't fit your size… With chainsaw hands and a head like that, you must be a devil. Even with such power, you choose to stand with humans? That makes me sick!"
"Just die," Cael said casually, uncaring.
He didn't bother arguing with monsters.
With a burst of motion, he activated Dark Vortex Slash — the same technique that had taken down Katana Man.
Before it could react, the Bat Devil formed a grotesque cylindrical muzzle out of its own flesh and fired a brutal sonic blast at him.
The wave that could have shattered buildings raced toward Cael at terrifying speed.
But right in front of him, it vanished.
A dense black sphere, no bigger than a soccer ball, hung between his chainsaw hands, absorbing the full force of the blast.
The Bat Devil watched, horror widening its eyes — the attack meant to obliterate Cael was gone, stripped into nothingness.
"What the hell is this ability? Aren't you Chainsaw Devil?" it bellowed, trembling.
Cael didn't answer.
He hurled the black sphere upward, trying to minimize collateral damage.
An explosion of sound rocked the air, shattering glass within a thousand-meter radius.
Then he struck again — chainsaw shredding, gravitational pressure crushing — and the Bat Devil was gone in an instant.
Ding!
Host has killed the Bat Devil, gaining 25 attribute points.
Cael reached toward the creature's massive torso and tore open its grotesque belly.
The Bat Devil had swallowed too many people; its stomach bulged unnaturally, human limb shapes visible beneath the flesh.
He deactivated his chainsaws before searching.
He wasn't about to tear anyone else apart by accident.
Inside, the smell was brutal.
Most victims were already bones or shredded flesh.
Cael worked methodically, pulling bodies out and laying them out.
Old habits died hard; even when dead, people deserved respect.
Then he heard a faint voice.
"You… you are…"
A middle-aged woman had survived.
Cael crouched and looked down at her.
"Get to a doctor. You're safe now," he said flatly.
She blinked up at him, weak but alive.
"Young man, you're a private Devil Hunter, right? Thank you… how much should I pay you?"
"No charge."
Cael waved her off.
"Now go."
She stumbled away, and Cael turned back into the stomach's cavity.
His hand brushed something strange — hard, not flesh or bone.
"What the hell?" he muttered, pulling and hoisting out a limp body with one hand.
It was Power, the Blood Fiend.
Her eyes opened slowly, dazzled by light.
"I'm… still breathing?" she slurred.
"Was it you, human? Pretty boy, was it you who saved me?"
Cael blinked.
"Uh… what are you?"
Power struggled upright, eyes scanning wildly.
"This great one is the Blood… uh… I don't see Braid Girl or Nyan-ko. You better check for them."
Cael winced.
The way she spoke grated on his nerves, but he shoved his hand back in the gut-pit and found… something.
He pulled out the last person — face covered in blood armor.
"Good job, human! That's Braid Girl. She's still breathing. Don't just stand there, take her for help," Power ordered, weak but determined.
Cael raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know she's alive?"
He laid the woman on the ground.
The armor was thick, but Cael's instincts told him something familiar.
Then the blood armor cracked away.
Hayakawa Aki.
Cold, elegant features.
Sharp eyes now closed.
"No freaking way…" Cael muttered.
"Aki?"
Power flopped beside her.
"See? I told you she wasn't dead! Now you pay for medical bills."
Cael stared at the Bat Devil carcass, then at Aki.
It clicked.
The Bat Devil should've been easy for someone like her.
Hell, even that fox devil she'd sprung on Cael that day had put up a better fight.
Still — a devil incident involving a Public Safety Hunter was no joke.
He needed to call someone official.
Himeno first.
After all, Cael wasn't Public Safety.
Just a temp, a cutter-for-hire.
Plus, Asa had been with them earlier.
Her ankle looked sprained.
Damaged buildings, falling debris… Cael pulled out his phone to dial.
Then, out of nowhere —
Shoo-ptooey!
Something struck him like a bullet, flying fast.
Blood mist exploded from his right hand in an instant.
____
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