The Story Begins

"The Desire Devil's contract is broken? Now, we have to pay again to use Devil powers?!" The news spread like wildfire, causing chaos among the Devil Hunters.

After experiencing the freedom of power without consequence, the return to bargaining with blood and flesh was unacceptable.

The first reaction was to stop using their powers, to see what had happened. Those actively fighting Devils weren't as fortunate. Those who'd taken advantage of the free powers were often devoured by their contracts.

"W-what, what should w-we do?" A Public Safety officer, Minami Komori, her legs trembling, looked as if she was about to run off. "S-should we still go?"

They were on assignment. Aki Hayakawa's team had to help the inexperienced rookies deal with a Leech Devil and a Bat Devil.

Komori, and her partner, Hirokazu Arai, weren't strong enough to contract with the Desire Devil. Aki and Himeno, veterans with those powers, would easily handle this.

But now, the veterans had to pay for their power.

"M-maybe we should ask for reinforcements—"

"Unnecessary." Aki interrupted coldly. "Our team is strong enough to handle a Leech and a Bat Devil."

"If we can't fight without the Desire Devil, we should never have taken her power."

He clenched his fists. "We did fine before. We can do it again."

"Let's go."

Himeno patted the shell-shocked Komori. "Don't worry. Aki-kun is like that. If you're scared, just stay behind us."

"Besides, he might not even use his Devil powers." Himeno watched Aki. "He dislikes those contracts…"

"Let's make this a battle of dreams! A BATTLE OF DREAMS!!!" On the blood-soaked street, Denji roared at the leech-like monster. "If I win, your dream is worse than garbage!!"

Injured, missing his right hand, he charged at the Devil.

"Such a cute bark. Little dogs like to bark!" The Leech Devil sneered. "Let me eat you!"

Its tentacles shot out, leaving bloody trails on Denji's body. He dodged some of them, but where they struck, flesh was torn away.

Denji ignored the pain, focused on moving forward.

He leaped past the tentacles, the chainsaw on his head whirring as he plunged into the Leech Devil.

"..." Denji stopped.

His previous injuries had taken their toll. The chainsaw on his head was tiny, and instead of splitting the Devil open, was stuck.

Even worse, the Leech Devil's tongue pierced his abdomen, stopping him mid-air.

That injury was the last straw.

"My turn." The gaping maw opened to swallow Denji whole.

But it didn't.

"Gaaaah!"

A silver blade sliced the leech's tongue off at the root, as Aki landed next to him.

"Prepare to subdue the Leech Devil."

Aki, ignoring the writhing Devil, tossed Denji to a nearby rookie. "Newcomers, evacuate the survivors. Himeno, watch for strays."

"Okie dokie~" Himeno smiled at Aki. "Stop jumping from rooftops, it's dangerous."

The Leech Devil roared. "You worthless humans, how dare you—?!"

"Too loud." Aki walked slowly, leisurely, not fighting but taking a stroll.

His movements were slow, but he avoided every attack, even as he cut down the tentacles.

How is this possible?!

Fear drove the Leech Devil to flee.

Aki had been waiting for that.

He dashed forward, blade flashing. In seconds, he was behind the Leech Devil.

His blade plunged into the Devil's heart.

Devils regenerated quickly, but a destroyed heart brought death—or rather, Hell.

Aki sliced until the Leech Devil was nothing but pieces.

"It seems that there has been a disturbance with the contract with the Desire Devil. Devil powers will once again come at a cost. Be ready." That message had reached Shoko moments after arriving at the Public Safety Headquarters. She was finally given a room, not a cell.

It seems that the Public Safety organization will now not be depending on her to be the battery to lessen their burden of the usage of devil powers. They still had not learnt their lessons when it comes to handling things with reason instead of coercion.

"But if I have to pay a cost for the usage of my powers as a devil… then it should be my own, not yours." Shoko thought to herself, as she prepared to take a short nap before she got her next mission.

That said, she now had to do something about Denji. This whole event would have probably messed him up in a major way. It was now time to move from the background to the forefront, it was time to be the heroine.

Time for a new plan.