'Serenity before another mission. These quiet times before arrival are always the joy of the venture, it allows me a way to contemplate and judge my actions that led me down this path - a truly essential time that shouldn't be disturbed no matter what …and yet it is' I sighed whilst rubbing my temples, "Power. Stop that. You are not a child while your intelligence score says otherwise that is not the point."
The constant decision to wind down and up the windows not only caused the venomous wind outside to whip me annoyingly, but it was rather loud and provoking as well
"Silence mortal! Do not tell POWER what to do!" She screamed throwing a punch from the other side of the car which I caught effortlessly
"Denji control your friend, at least let me enjoy the last moments of this ride." I turned my gaze to the shark toothed boy in between Power and I
"Nothing I can do when she gets like this! Sorry Mr babysitter!" He attempted to shrug but found it rather difficult to do with the seatbelt coiled around him as beads of sweat ran down his face under my gaze
"…How bothersome" I muttered to myself watching a precariously placed hotel in front of us forcing our car to come to a halt
"We've arrived, we wish you good luck on your mission, devil hunters," The driver announced as the locks to our door unlocked
I slammed the door behind me, looking over at the group of suited individuals who looked far too eccentric to be civil servants.
Walking up to the one with a topknot on with quite the solemn aura shrouding him, I adjusted my tie before greeting him, "Hello Aki"
"Mr Higuruma? Is there a reason why you're here?" The man with the topknot question, his tone lay respectful but confused at my appearance
'Did Makima fail to tell him?…no matter it doesn't make any difference,' I thought before speaking, "Makima has assigned these two fiends and I to your team where according to her I will act as a supervisor to them and an additional leader with around equal authority to you"
Nodding his head as if propelled to act accordingly at the mention of her name he agreed instantly
I turned my head to the woman with an eyepatch leaning her arm on his shoulder, "Himeno" I nodded in acknowledgement
"Still alive I see, ready to take me up on my offer?," her arms wrapped around my neck and our faces were so close that I could smell and feel her alcohol scented breath caress my skin, "I'm always read-"
Pushing her head away in frustration I sighed a little at her advances, "Drunk on the job?"
"It's only a little bit and plus this mission will help sober me up," She winked after turning her head towards the two behind me, "Oh~ and whos the fiend and cute boy with you?"
"The blonde haired boy is called Denji and… the fiend is-" I attempted to answer her but was cut off by the loud voice of a certain hybrid
"I AM POWER!!" She screamed, "HERE MY NAME MORTALS AND BE-"
"Silence devil." Aki spoke from my side with a side, "Didnt I tell the two of you..to speak more respectfully?"
""Huh?!"" They both screamed out in vehemence
"Who would suck up to you dipshit if it doesn't get 'em anythi-!"
"HUMANS REALLY ARE ARROGANT FOO-!"
Like children their protests were quelled as Aki presented sweets before them to eat and like animals they wildly munched on them as if it were their last meal
'…That method may prove useful, if their mental capacity is not up to the level of adults maybe we can take it down a level…'
"Sir can we really trust those two with our backs?" A voice spoke up from one of the other devil hunters beside, "One's a fiend and the other is well.. a street punk. Personally I don't trust them."
I took time to now fully scan the group of hunters behind Himeno, a trembling girl, an energetic man with sideburns and the other three weren't much to note
"Whether you care for them or despise their existence is not of concern. They've been assigned here by order of Makima the higher ups. They are here to stay unless they step out of line and side with the devils - I will exterminate them." I solemnly said
"Big words coming from some nobody who even are you?!" Another shouted out
"Hiromi Higuruma. Leader of the One Man Team, Company Sunflower and finally your superior for that matter." I declared
"Hiromi Higu-!" A look of shock etched itself onto his face and the other behind him, "You mean the Strongest Hunter of this generation Higuruma?! The man who killed over 50 devils in the span of one night?!"
With a simple nod their faces grew even more stupefied at this revelation as a wave of apologies and ensuing bootlicking from the enlightened hunters
'Hunters no matter how much they venture into the unknown, no matter how much sacrifice, they're still human through. And Humans are conniving, respecting nothing but the power of man made hierarchy'
"Enough. Aki brief me" I ordered simply and top knotted boy reached into his pockets, bringing forth an eldritch bullet that was all too familiar to be forgotten easily
'A Gun Devil bullet...that means'
"Correct," Aki said understanding the look of realisation on my face continued, "A Devil is lurking in this hotel and not just any devil either. The piece of its flesh is being attracted to this building so by extension the devil meaning-
"-That the devil inside has ingested a piece of the gun devil.." I finished his sentence with a sigh watching as the blood fiend went to devour the bullet in Aki's grasp before being swiftly kicked away
"I see," I adjusted my tie before walking past to the entrance of the devil infested hotel, "Shall we start the extermination, hunters?"
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Chatter behind me from my colleagues but the need to complete this mission was far too great a reward then leisurely chatter
'Moreover, an aspect of this space is rather intriguing, it's too hollow...if that were to be the word to describe it'
Feeling the vile pastural coloured wallpaper plastered on the walls along the narrow hotel corridor, I began to feel that I was getting a better picture of the situation
I quickened my pace, leaving the team behind at my back until the sounds of small talk died down.
Turning the corner, I moved to face the other side before I was met with a rather disgruntling scene, the backs of my colleagues as they walked to the edge of hallway where I disappeared into
"Mr Higuruma? But we just saw you go that way.." Himeno spoke equally as confused as the eyes that turned to me
A smirk before a chuckle emerged from my mouth spontaneously..
'I see..
A Devil's Domain..'