Denji staggered through the forest, clutching his blood-soaked shirt. The wounds from his last battle still oozed, draining his remaining strength. If he didn't find blood soon, he wouldn't have the energy to transform into his chainsaw demon form.
The shadows of the trees crowded closer as Denji tried to get his bearings. How long had he been wandering? How far from the city was he now? He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that threatened to overwhelm him. First things first—he needed blood.
A twig snapped to his left. Adrenaline flooding his veins, Denji whirled, muscles coiled tight, ready to attack. From the brush emerged a tall man wearing the uniform of the Public Safety Bureau. The devil hunter uniform and bowl-cut hairstyle identified him as someone Denji could trust.
"Whoa buddy, you look rough," the agent said. He sheathed a long knife at his belt and approached slowly, hands raised. "Let me help you out."
Too exhausted to argue, Denji allowed the man to guide him to sit propped against a tree. As the agent inspected the gaping wounds in Denji's torso, the boy detected an acrid undertone beneath his cologne—the smell of smoke and something more ominous.
Before Denji could react, the brush behind them erupted with a violent rustling. Every one of Denji's hunter instincts screamed danger. Just as he tried to scramble away, a massive fireball exploded from the undergrowth. It struck the tree in a blast of flames, reducing it to cinders in seconds.
Heart pounding, Denji scanned the trees for the attacker. From the shadows emerged a young woman with long, dark hair, wisps of smoke still curling from her hands. Those eyes...could it be Reze? No—this woman was taller, more slender. But that fire power...she was definitely a devil of some kind.
Beside Denji, the Public Safety agent threw back his head and cackled—a cruel, mocking sound. Denji turned to see the man's facial features morphing, the uniform melting away to reveal a wiry yakuza assassin underneath.
"You fell for it, dumb kid," the yakuza sneered, whipping out a pistol. "Now be good and let us finish the job."
A surge of adrenaline flooded Denji's system, momentarily overriding his exhaustion. In one smooth motion, he grabbed the yakuza's gun hand and chomped down on his wrist. Hot blood filled Denji's mouth, giving him the strength he so desperately needed.
The assassin shrieked in pain as Denji's bite nearly severed his hand entirely. Face contorted in rage, the yakuza raised his other arm to strike. Four serrated blades sprang from his knuckles with a schink and slashed toward Denji's exposed neck.
Trusting his instincts, Denji grabbed the ripcord in his chest and pulled. Whirring chainsaw blades erupted from his arms and torso in a spray of blood, instantly shredding the assassin to chunks of flesh. Behind Denji came a cry of shock from the mystery woman. No time to lose—Denji turned and sprinted into the trees before she could hurl another fireball.
That blood revived Denji, clearing away some of the mental fog. But this fight was just beginning. That female devil could incinerate him easily if he wasn't smart. He needed to gain the upper hand quickly.
Spying a towering oak tree, Denji revved his chainsaw arm and went to work chopping. Timmmmmber! The oak crashed to the forest floor, nearly striking the fire-wielding woman as she dashed into view. A fireball sizzled through the air toward Denji. She was trying to get a lock on his location.
"Missed me!" Denji yelled, taunting. He ripped through two more trees, fanning the flames from the earlier explosion. An inferno raged, separating him from the assassin. Through the blaze he heard her chanting—whipping up more deadly flames no doubt.
Denji scanned the area, mind racing. If direct attacks didn't work, he'd have to outsmart her. There—a web of thick vines connecting a cluster of trees. That could work. Denji sliced halfway through two tree trunks and waited, listening intently.
A jet of flames burst through the fiery barrier between them. Denji flung himself sideways, feeling the blistering heat sear his jacket. The hellfire dissipated. Now! With a savage roar, Denji pulled the vines with all his strength. The cut trees groaned and finally toppled directly toward the spot the flames originated from.
A very human scream rang out, followed by a string of curses. Direct hit! Denji cheered internally. But this deadly game wasn't over yet. Brandishing his chainsaw fists, he stalked toward the fallen trees, ready for Round 2.