Night had fallen, and a man walked alone through the streets.
He wandered aimlessly, as if unsure of where he was headed.
Truth be told, he probably had no real destination in mind.
He was simply drifting.
But on this empty road, an abrupt, strange figure emerged, blocking his path.
"Hey, human." A rough, somewhat feminine voice called out. "Did you finish the job I asked you to do?"
It was an ugly creature with four legs.
Its body bore a faintly human feminine curve, six breasts, and even tufts of hair sprouting from its forehead.
There was no mistaking it. This was a devil from Hell.
The middle-aged man adjusted his fedora and replied, "And what exactly was it you wanted me to do again?"
"Huh?" The devil's tone turned impatient. "I literally told you this morning. You didn't forget already, did you?"
"Apologies… my memory isn't what it used to be. You know how we humans are, all kinds of flaws. Could you repeat it for me?"
The devil spat in disgust before replying. "Fine, I'll say it again."
"Since you're a local yakuza, I came to you to track down the one who killed my husband."
"In return, I promised to form a contract with you, granting you the power of the Leech Devil. Got it now?"
"Ah, I see… I think it's coming back to me." The man nodded. "So, who was your husband again?"
"I told you before. My husband was the Bat Devil. We were plotting to devour all of humanity together, but he died in the human world first. I will have my revenge!"
"I understand."
"So tell me, you worthless human did you find the one who killed my husband or not?"
"I did. I found them without a doubt."
The man pointed in a certain direction and gave detailed instructions.
"So if I go there, I'll find my husband's killer?" the Leech Devil confirmed.
"That's right."
"Good. I'm going now."
"Hold on. Since I've found your enemy, what about what you promised me?"
"Huh? Oh, you mean giving you my power?"
The Leech Devil let out a cruel laugh. "That was just a verbal promise, not a contract. There's no binding force to it. I don't have to keep my word."
"Besides, I don't think you did a very good job. Letting you live is already me being generous. Now get lost!"
With that, she turned and stomped away, each step shaking the ground, her heavy form gradually disappearing into the distance.
The man stood frozen for a moment.
Then he turned and walked in the opposite direction, stopping at a large public dumpster.
He lifted his hands to his head.
With a sharp click, he twisted his own head off and tossed it inside.
Then he crouched down, removed both his legs, and threw them in as well.
Finally, using only his remaining arms, he climbed into the dumpster, reached up, and pulled the lid shut over himself.
From the gap in the lid, a barely visible flesh-colored thread extended outward, shrinking quickly.
It stretched across two entire streets before vanishing around a corner, disappearing into the hand of a certain girl.
"So it really was aimed at me…" Hitori Gotoh murmured. "If Pochita hadn't noticed the devil's scent on him, everyone would've been dragged into this mess."
"Woof woof!" came the bark from the backpack behind her.
"Yes, Pochita, you did great!"
"Now it should be fine. Makima and the others can deal with that devil."
What she had just used was the Muscle Devil's power control over human muscle.
Just like with the Bat Devil before, once she killed the Muscle Devil, its ability somehow became hers to use.
The man had been dead long before. She was merely manipulating his body.
And thankfully, when controlling a body, she didn't inherit her own social anxiety and stutter, or she might have given herself away.
The location she had the man point to wasn't random.
It was none other than Public Safety Devil Hunters' Division 4 headquarters.
…
Following the directions she'd been given, the Leech Devil arrived at the spot, only to find a tall building.
Her brow furrowed. Where was her enemy?
"WAHAHAHAHA!"
A loud, boisterous laugh rang from above, making her look up.
From the sky leapt a woman with two crimson horns protruding from her head.
She wore a suit with the buttons undone and her pants legs rolled high.
In her hands was a massive crimson hammer.
"So you're the gift the Chainsaw Devil sent me?"
"Then I, the great Power, will gladly accept!!!"
Before the Leech Devil could dodge, the hammer came down on her skull.
Blood splattered everywhere.
But Power didn't stop. One blow followed another, smashing into her over and over.
Riddled with wounds and utterly unable to fight back, the Leech Devil seized a brief gap between strikes to turn and flee, her bulky body lurching forward in a desperate run.
"Hey! Stop right there, you coward"
Before she could finish, another voice cut in.
"Power, that's enough."
"Huh? Why?" Power turned to protest, but when she saw who had spoken, her tone instantly softened. "Ah… Makima. I understand."
Makima smiled faintly and looked into the distance. "That devil's been injured badly enough. Even if we don't finish it, other Devil Hunters will."
"You sure?" Power asked, unconvinced.
Meanwhile, the Leech Devil staggered down the street, her mind finally piecing it together.
She'd been played.
She had to escape. She had to heal her wounds.
Which meant she needed human blood.
Ahead, she spotted a lone figure.
Perfect prey.
"Human, stop right there!" she roared.
The figure ahead a blue-haired girl flinched at the sound, clearly startled.
She turned to face the devil, her expression shifting to surprise.
The Leech Devil charged forward, laughing.
"I don't usually drink women's blood, but given the circumstances, I'll make an exception!"
The girl didn't run. Instead, her voice was calm. "You want to eat me?"
"Looking like that, all torn up do you really think you can?"
This girl was none other than the bassist of Ending Band, Ryo Yamada.