Note: Some parts are missing because I just realized now that Webnovel had some errors when I was writing that day.
At the crater formed by the obliteration of two buildings, Kishibe stood amidst the dust and rubble, breathing heavily. His left arm was nothing more than a bloodied stump, blown off by Stormfront's attack At the beginning . Despite the pain, his expression remained calm, almost indifferent. Inwardly, however, his thoughts churned with grim determination.
From the moment this started, she's been faster than me, stronger than me, he reflected, his gaze narrowing on the raging Stormfront before him. And now she can blow up entire buildings. What a goddamn pain in the ass. But I'm a veteran devil hunter. I've faced worse.
Stormfront, her eyes blazing with fury, descended with a thunderous impact, shaking the ground as she landed. Her bloodlust was palpable, crackling in the air around her. "Any last words," she sneered, "before I tear you apart and send your screams to my brother in Valhalla?"
Kishibe, lying on the ground and seemingly defeated, offered nothing but a smug expression, the slight curve of his lips and the glint in his eyes wordlessly conveying: Nah. I'd win.
Stormfront raised her arms, charging her electrolute power. With a triumphant shout " hrrrraaahh" , she unleashed a torrent of blue lightning directly at Kishibe, determined to incinerate him where he lay.
But her attack was suddenly and shockingly blocked—by a small dagger. The blade, crafted from iron and optimized to absorb electricity temporarily, absorbed the brunt of the lightning, scattering the remaining energy harmlessly.
Kishibe, meanwhile, had vanished.
Stormfront's eyes darted around in confusion. "What the Fuck ?" she hissed, scanning the area for her prey. But Kishibe had already used his stealth and agility to close the gap between them, his movements as silent as a shadow.
In his hands, Kishibe held a blade forged from his contracts with the Knife Devil and Nail Devil, the edge enhanced to an almost supernatural sharpness. With ruthless precision, he stabbed Stormfront six times in rapid succession—each strike aimed at her spine and vital points on her back. The speed and ferocity of the attack left Stormfront staggering forward, her body struggling to respond.
Stormfront wavered, her body refusing to collapse despite the severe injuries. Blood dripped steadily from her wounds, her damaged spine preventing her from accessing her electro-speed. She staggered, gritting her teeth as her regeneration struggled to catch up, leaving her vulnerable.
Kishibe, silent and focused, circled her like a predator stalking its prey. His calculating eyes locked onto her every faltering move, looking for an opening. He made his decision swiftly, slicing his own remaining left arm to release a torrent of blood. With a precise throw, the blood splattered across Stormfront's face, temporarily blinding her and forcing her into a moment of disorientation.
Using the distraction to his advantage, Kishibe tightened his grip on his dagger and taunted her, his voice low and sharp, "Just like your brother… you're terrible at hand-to-hand combat."
Stormfront snarled, attempting to raise her hands to block the incoming attack. But blinded and slowed by her injuries, she was too late. Kishibe's blade struck true, stabbing her under the chin and slicing cleanly across her neck. Blood sprayed from the wound as she staggered back, choking on her own fury.
As Stormfront struggled to maintain her footing, Kishibe let out a weary sigh and collapsed backward, resting on the debris-strewn ground. His breathing was heavy, his movements slow, but his determination remained unwavering. Pulling out a lighter with his remaining hand, he flicked it open with practiced precision. Holding the flame to the bleeding stump of his severed arm, he cauterized the wound. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning flesh. Despite the agony, Kishibe made no sound, his resolve as solid as steel.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, deep and tinged with irritation—the Hell Devil.
Kishibe, if you die here, The Noble One will be very pissed at me, the devil rumbled, its tone a mix of annoyance and begrudging concern.
Before Kishibe could respond, a glowing hologram materialized in front of him. Its ethereal light bathed his face as the message scrolled across the projection:
"Hell Devil Directive: For this event, you are strictly prohibited from intervening. This is Kishibe's fight, his problem, and his alone."
The message bore the unmistakable signature of Kang Woo . Kishibe chuckled, the sound dry and low as he shook his head. "This is my problem," he muttered, a faint smile curving his lips. "Outsiders are out of the way. Thanks, Kang Woo."
Beside him, a grotesque mouth materialized in the shadows—the embodiment of the Hell Devil itself. Its jagged teeth gleamed menacingly as it spoke, its tone laced with grudging admiration. Crazy fool, it growled.
Kishibe smirked, his sharp gaze fixed on Stormfront as she struggled to regain her footing. Despite the Hell Devil's earlier words, he couldn't help but take it as a compliment. Crazy fool or not, he had no intention of losing.
Stormfront wiped the blood from her face, her piercing gaze locking onto Kishibe. Her left hand pressed against her chin and neck as she activated her electrokinesis, sending controlled electric currents to cauterize her wounds and stop the bleeding. In her thoughts: I can't speak right now—my neck's sliced, and my chin's a mess from that dagger. My regenerative powers are working overtime to fix my spine and back. I can move my left arm and run, but my flight and super speed are offline. And those two damn fingers… lost them in Tokyo. What a mess.
Kishibe, watching her every move, calculated the situation in his mind. I'm down an arm, and my odds are grim compared to hers. But… the crazy bitch is slow now. She can't use her super speed yet. That's enough of an opening for me.
Stormfront, frustrated but determined, raised her hand, summoning a surge of electrokinesis. This time, it wasn't lethal, but it was more than enough to paralyze Kishibe if it landed. She unleashed the blast, electricity crackling as it arced toward him.
But Kishibe had predicted the trajectory. With a swift sidestep, he dodged the attack and retaliated immediately, hurling a knife infused with the powers of the Knife Devil and Needle Devil. The blade flew with deadly precision, aimed straight for Stormfront's chest.
Stormfront gritted her teeth, choosing to block the blade with her forearm. It stabbed deep into her right arm, the pain igniting a fresh surge of anger. She growled but didn't falter, gripping the hilt and snapping it off with sheer force.
Kishibe, relentless, surged forward. With a thought, he activated his contract with the Claw Devil, transforming his right hand into a massive, razor-sharp claw. The weapon gleamed with a menacing aura as he swung it toward her.
Stormfront reacted quickly, catching the claw with both hands before it could strike her. Sparks flew as their powers clashed, each straining against the other in a deadly tug of war. Kishibe's enhanced claw pressed closer, its edge grazing Stormfront's flesh as her muscles tensed to push it away.
The two locked in a fierce struggle, their faces inches apart, each refusing to back down. The tension crackled like electricity in the air, the battle escalating into a test of sheer willpower.
Kishibe's claw grazed Stormfront's chest, drawing a thin line of blood. His face remained unreadable, his silence unnerving as he pushed harder. Stormfront, however, smirked despite the growing pressure, her confidence returning as she finally had enough time to generate the lightning she needed. Her left hand began crackling with the same destructive energy that had previously obliterated two buildings, the blue arcs dancing wildly as her power reached its peak.
But then, she noticed it—the faint curve of Kishibe's lips, the glimmer of a knowing smile that sent a chill down her spine. "That knife that block your attack earlier ," he said, his voice calm but cutting, "it wasn't just designed to absorb and redirect neutrons to the ground. It has another ability."
Stormfront's smirk faltered.
"It attracts clouds," Kishibe continued, his tone eerily nonchalant. "And creates the perfect storm for the biggest lightning strike imaginable. You just made yourself the perfect beacon."
Stormfront's eyes widened in horror as realization dawned on her. She had underestimated him. Just like her brother Klaus, who had fallen to this same man, she was about to lose to a mere human. She looked up, her heart sinking as the sky above them turned black and roared with fury. The storm Kishibe had set in motion was here.
Kishibe, seeing her panic, deactivated his claw, letting his arm return to its normal state. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, flicking it open with a practiced motion. He lit the cigarette, taking a slow drag as he leaned against the rubble, seemingly at peace. The smoke curled around him as he exhaled, the storm raging above them.
With a smirk, he joked like an old World War II veteran, his voice tinged with dark humor. "Well, if this is the end, guess I'll go out like a proper kamikaze. Banzai!"
The clouds roared in response to Kishibe's words, and with a deafening KRAKOOOOOM, a massive bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking down with unimaginable force.
ZAAAAAAAAAAPPPPP! The sound of electricity crackling and exploding filled the air as the energy engulfed both Kishibe and Stormfront. The raw power of the lightning sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering windows and knocking debris into the air.
The ground quaked violently, and when the light finally faded, a crater stretched 50 meters in radius, smoke and dust rising in thick plumes. The once-intact battlefield was now a smoldering ruin, a testament to the sheer destructive force unleashed in that moment.