Kang Woo dispersed his wings. The towering black feathers folded into the void behind his back — vanishing like they were never there.
The world after the fall faded next. The crimson sky, the Tree of Imagery, the all-seeing bloodshot eye — gone in a breath. His time magic followed, collapsing inwards with a pulse of green distortion. Air bent, rain stilled… then resumed falling again — though it no longer dared touch Kang Woo.
The sky returned to normal. Almost. Because above them, the wound on reality still lingered. A ragged gash of glass and warping stars that shimmered where Kang Woo had flown.
The clouds parted timidly around it.
Kang Woo remained where he stood, inside his chest, it stirred. The power of Escanor — Sin of Pride — still burning in his core , not yet noon… but enough for now.
Two minutes of silent indulgence as he felt it swirl with his demonic might.. The boy behind him finally spoke.
"Sir… what's your name?" Denji asked, cautious,. "Pochita seems to think you're a good guy."
The little chainsaw devil gave a happy bark and raised one tiny paw — pointing directly at Kang Woo.
Kang Woo didn't flinch. He simply stared at the boy. Then thought to himself: No, dumbass.. He's just making sure you don't piss me off.
A moment passed in silence — then Kang Woo shifted the atmosphere with a casual question.
"You both hungry?"
Denji snapped upright, eyes wide. "YESSS."
Pochita gave two sharp barks. Barf! Barf!
Kang Woo rolled his eyes. Without another word, he lifted his hand, shadows coiling beneath their feet like serpents..
In the blink of an eye, they were gone. And reappeared in Tokyo — outside a fried chicken restaurant that blazed with neon lights, open 24 hours.
Steam rose from the windows. Grease shimmered in the air.
Kang Woo strode inside. The waitress behind the counter barely had time to process the strange aura before he spoke.
"I'll take karaage. And more karaage. Some cola. And… vegetables. For those two."
He pointed behind him with a thumb.
Denji and Pochita were already on a bench, looking around like they'd just been dropped into paradise. Denji leaned over to Pochita, whispering.
"Wait… we didn't order anything. Are we only getting vegetables?"
Before Pochita could bark, a tray slammed down in front of them. Golden-fried karaage stacked high. Cola fizzing beside it. A side dish of greens glistening.
Kang Woo didn't sit with them. He just stood there, arms crossed, voice calm and final.
"You eat my food," he said. "You both love karaage, right?"
Then he turned away, moving toward a window seat without another glance. "I want to sit in silence."
He sat alone — the corner table by the window dimly lit by the neon glow outside., the city beyond was quiet at this hour.
Kang Woo leaned back in his seat, resting his arms on the bench as he stared at his reflection in the window — but not seeing it.
His thoughts turned inward.
That time magic… Chrono Stasis… It's not sustainable. It takes a split second to cast, and even then — it's unstable. Ten minutes. Maybe an hour max at full concentration. I've weakened more than I thought…
He narrowed his eyes. Back then… I could accelerate a planet. Push an entire civilization forward in time. Now? I barely froze a kilometer…
With a small sigh, he flicked two fingers upward.
A translucent blue screen blinked to life — his system interface.
The forge icon glowed at the top. He opened it. The Forge of the Huldra Brothers awaited his next command from within the dimensional inventory. Weapons. Armor. Concepts. All ready to be forged again… but something held him back. He stared at the list. Nothing stood out. What should I forge next…?
He sat in silence, one hand tapping on the interface… when the cursor suddenly paused.
Two glowing contacts pulsed in his list of interdimensional calls.
[Rick Sanchez (C-137)]
[Kang Variant - He Who Remains]
Kang Woo didn't smile. His expression actually soured slightly."…Both lunatics."
He leaned forward slightly, staring between the two names. "Both of them'll make me regret calling. One's drunk half the time and talks like physics is a joke. The other one watches timelines like a reality TV show."
But then — a twitch in the air. Mana detection flared.
His senses sharpened — rats and crows, thirty meters away . Staged too precisely to be coincidence.
Makima. was spying on him again Now wasn't the time to contact any of his dimensional lunatics. Rick would bring a portal gun and a flamethrower. He Who Remains would drop her into another TVA just for fun.
Kang Woo sighed. With a quick swipe, he dismissed the floating interface and he leaned back in the chair, arms folded.
I'll sleep for now.
His eyes shut. Rest came quickly.
—
3:00 AM — Makima's Apartment
A soft click echoed as she opened the black containment box by her side.. The Commandment of Love floated behind her Makima, silent, reached down and fed her dogs. Seven bowls. Seven obedient motions. Each tail wagged in perfect harmony.
Then, as she sipped her tea, her fingers flipped open the newspaper. Front page headline:
CRIMSON SKY IN TOKYO
A single red eye seen above — witnesses claim "reality cracked." Government offers no comment.
Comet-like object recorded breaking the stormline. Public Safety Investigation Underway.
Makima's eyes narrowed slightly. She closed the paper with one hand and placed it aside. "Kang Woo…". "You're making my job harder."
She reached across her desk and pulled out an old, heavy tome — a record of every devil, every event, every strange incident cataloged since Public Safety first began tracking the supernatural.
Makima flipped through it slowly, page by page. Her eyes scanned contracts. Appearances. Casualties. Names. But everything… was useless. There was no entry on him. She closed the book with a sharp thud.
Then — a beep. Her communicator buzzed quietly.
Makima pressed the receiver. "Makima here."
Kishibe's voice came through, dry and low. "It's Kishibe. You saw the newspaper, right?"
"I did," Makima replied, eyes narrowing. "We both know who the culprit is anyway. That Oh Kang Woo. And he's somehow tethered a commandment to me. I can't hate him. If I do, it forces a penalty on me… You already know how powerless I was yesterday."
Kishibe gave a faint chuckle. "You sound pretty damn pleased when he's around. Honestly? You almost seem excited that he's making your life harder."
Makima didn't dignify that with a response.
Instead, her tone dropped — calm, cold, direct. "What do you want, Kishibe? It's three in the morning."
Then Kishibe said, "Ever think his Zaiphon might be… teachable?"
Makima blinked. That caught her attention.
He continued, "I mean, it might be easier than manufacturing That Project of our own. His Power . Doesn't blow up a building just from wrong experiment . Might be worth understanding."
Makima's mind raced. Wait. Why didn't I think of that , though zaiphon belong to Mikhail …?
She sat up straighter. "Is this line secure?" she asked sharply,
Kishibe didn't miss a beat. "Triple-scrambled. Nobody's listening in."
Makima's eyes flicked to the corner of her room, scanning instinctively. Then she said flatly, "We need to choose our words carefully. Vought and their personnel stepped foot on Japanese soil last night."
Kishibe grunted. " And they ran back to their tower with tails tucked in after Kang Woo punched Homelander so fast nobody even saw it. You were there, right? You asked Stan Edgar to pull Vought out of Japan that same hour."
Makima's voice lowered slightly. "We move one step at a time. First, we stabilize our Supe project. Then… we start asking Kang Woo about his Zaiphon. Though both steps are amusingly difficult… because they both involve asking the same person."
Kishibe gave a dry laugh. "Kang Woo."
Makima didn't respond. But Kishibe kept going, his tone shifting slightly — like teasing someone just a little too serious. "By the way… Himeno said something odd last night."
Makima's gaze narrowed. "…What did she say?"
Kishibe answered with a dry grunt. "She's a drunk, and half her words are gibberish — but she swears you're wearing a ring now. One that came from Kang Woo."
Makima didn't reply right away. Her fingers gently brushed the ring on her left hand , a crimson glint catching in the dim apartment light. The Ring of Narya. The one Kang Woo had slipped onto her finger
She stared at it for a second longer, then cut the topic entirely. "Switch subject. Is Aki still at the Public Safety HQ?"
"Yeah," Kishibe said. "Still there. Training. Why?"
"Tell him to rest," Makima said, eyes scanning her apartment. "In the morning… we're meeting Kang Woo again."
Kishibe let out a low breath. "You sure you can track him? Last time, I gave you that weather forecast tech you were outplayed . Aki says the bastard can disappear whenever he wants now."
Makima said nothing at first. Then, with a faint click of her fingers, her vision shifted — overlaying with one of her rats..
There.. A familiar figure sitting near a window. Kang Woo. And across from him, Denji and Pochita.
Makima's voice came through the line again, certain this time.
"I'm sure. Kang Woo … they're in Tokyo."
She lowered her hand slowly, vision still locked through the rat's eyes, watching the table inside the 24-hour fried chicken restaurant. Kang Woo sat , near the window. Across from him — a scrawny teenage boy and a small orange devil with a chainsaw jutting out of its head.
Makima's gaze narrowed slightly.
Who's the one he brought with him…?
She hadn't sensed any major contracts recently. But that dog… with a chainsaw at the center of its face — she'd seen that image before. Is it… the Chainsaw Devil?
Before her thoughts could spiral further, Kishibe's voice snapped through the receiver again.
"You're usually the one who wants to handle things yourself. So what's the reason this time?"
Makima leaned back in her chair, voice smooth but firm.
"First reason — you. You've always been more focused on reducing casualties among our personnel. That alone qualifies you to lead the approach."
she continued, "you were the first to support Kang Woo's idea of creating our own Supes. Since you're the one who started this project — not me — shouldn't you be there too?"
There was a pause. Makima folded her fingers over the ring again. "As for Aki… if there's anyone who should learn Zaiphon, it's him."
Kishibe raised a brow, though she couldn't see it. "Why?"
Makima's tone didn't change. "Because Zaiphon Might Rely On emotion . You and I — we're not built for that. We work off facts . Aki still rely on emotions . That makes him the one of the people qualified to learn it ."
Then Kishibe, ever the one to prod when things got serious, spoke with that half-lazy tone of his.
"They say love partners understand each other.", "Himeno's gibberish mentioned you're married now. Married to him."
Makima cut him off. "It's just a theory, His Zaiphon launched into me like bombardment during our duel. It almost overwhelmed me."
Makima glanced toward the sword resting in the corner of her apartment "The blade I received from kang woo the gunblade with Zaiphon runes carved across the steel…The Red Leash,". It's made in the shape of my personality."
She ended the call without waiting for a reply. her eyes slowly drifted upward. The Commandment of Love… was gone.
Makima stared for a moment longer, then leaned back in her chair — and for once, smiled. "Haaahhhhhhhhhh…"
She slumped a little, stretching her arms upward like someone finally released from house arrest.
she said, dragging the word out with real joy. "I've been restrained by that floating fucking orb for hours. Couldn't hate,— had to pick every emotion like it was glass."
She laughed — freely. Lightly. " Three full hours to box that damn thing up! I should get a reward just for that!"
Makima rolled her shoulders, loose for the first time in days. "…it's nice to be free."
But then — the silence lingered.
Her smile faded just slightly, replaced by something harder to name. A creeping absence. A flicker of… unease? Why do I feel like I've been abandoned?
Her gaze drifted downward.
The Ring of Narya . It still sat on her finger — subtle, glowing faintly under the dim light.
Is this a goodbye… from Kang Woo himself?
She stared at it for a moment longer, unmoving. Then she shook her head. Hard. "No. No. Noooo. You and I still have lots of time," she said aloud, defiant. "So much to share "
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
At Oh Kang Woo's POV
The dream wasn't just vivid. It was A flashback.
He stood on the stage of gods — not as Oh Kang Woo, but as Akuto Sai — the name etched into the roots of causality itself.
Before him, the six Hadou Gods were supposed to gather.
Only three had arrived. The stage was suspended beneath a sky that screamed without sound — constellations folding inward, stars twisting into black text. Reality itself pulsed with golden law-script, and time refused to move unless commanded by a will.
Two thrones sat empty.
Reinhard Heydrich stood tall, the scent of iron and opera clinging to his regal form. He turned slightly, casting a glance to the side. "Where are Ren and his brother… Magsarion?"
Akuto exhaled slowly. Hands in pockets. Gaze steady. "Are you stupid?". "Those two can't be on the same stage. If they touch the same axis, Marie's Law Barrier breaks. And then? We kill each other again."
Kumagawa Misogi sat upside-down, lazily rocking back and forth with that crooked, unfixable smile of his. "「At least four of us are in one spot , That's something, right? Just gotta wait… till we're all free again 」."
Akuto let out a cold chuckle. Not cruel. Just honest. "That's a good joke, Kumagawa. But we both know the truth."
He tilted his head upward — toward the throne that remained silent.
"The Fourth Heaven… Mercurius. He still watches." No one escapes Mercurius. The Eternal Recurrence loops us all."
Akuto looked away. "We've looped quadrillions of times. And we'll do it again."
A ripple passed through the golden atmosphere — and the silent throne pulsed.
Then came the voice. Smooth. Playful. Infuriatingly casual.
"Hey, I'm not just watching, Akuto."
Mercurius's tone flowed like honey across the folds of law. "I'm here. Present as ever. Anyway—can anyone guess their destination?"
He waved a wine glass that hadn't existed a second ago, lounging in his seat as if it were a lover's lap. " Magsarion's already gone. Reincarnated. He chose to become Sung Jin-Woo — destined for that beautiful chaos called the Star Wars universe."
Akuto's eyes narrowed faintly.
Mercurius grinned wider. "And Ren Fuji? He decided to become Chaldea's last master — the one they call Ritsuka Fujimaru. Brave, no?"
Kumagawa rose lazily from his invisible perch. looked at Akuto for a long moment — expression unreadable. There was something in his eyes. A flicker. A pull.
"…「 i still think we're the same」," Kumagawa muttered .
Then, with a lopsided smile, he whispered:
"「 All Fiction」." And disappeared.
Reinhard stood tall — his cape flowing in a wind made from sheer concept. Golden spears bloomed behind him like judgment itself.
His voice echoed with weight.
"My Atziluth is absolute. Dies Irae." He turned without another word — and stepped into nothing.
Only two remained.
Mercurius swirled his wine once more and said softly:
"And that leaves you, Akuto. what will you decide?"
Akuto Sai didn't blink. He just stared at him — calm, flat, unreadable.
"…Won't tell you," Akuto said. "I'm the one who managed to best you. At plot. ."
Mercurius let out a musical laugh. "Ahaha… don't be like that. Acta Est Fabula. You know my Law only loops until one of us reaches our goal."
Akuto's voice darkened, just slightly. "Your goal. Not ours."
Then—light twisted. Space folded like a sleeve.
And he stepped in.
Ren Fuji, reborn. he wore the calm gaze of a tactician, the steady steps of a ruler.
Ritsuka Fujimaru — founder of the SCP Foundation in this era.
"...It's good to be back," Ren said quietly, surveying the golden space like returning to a garden he once planted.
Mercurius sat up straighter. The wineglass in his hand cracked slightly. . "Did you just do what most of us couldn't? Don't tell me… you managed to bring all your Law into your reincarnation?"
Ren Silence was louder than confirmation. He's the first of us to reincarnate cleanly.
And he's already laid the foundation for his dominion — right in the heart of the FGO world
Akuto turned his head toward Ren — gaze unreadable, but his thoughts burned cold with disdain. Yes, he thought. He can.
Ren Fuji stepped toward his throne without ceremony. He seated himself as though it was always meant to be his.
Then he spoke, his voice low, final. "Although I wanted to declare this in front of all six… most of you already left." His gaze didn't waver. "So I'll say it now."
"My verse will win. And destroy the rest."
Akuto's eyes flared — not with shock, but with rage.
He stepped forward, fists clenched. "That's what everyone says," he said. "Always. As if they already won."
Ren didn't flinch. He simply stared at Akuto and replied, tone colder now.
"You being here… wasn't part of the plan. I expected everyone to leave. But it doesn't matter. I'll finish this myself."
And then it happened. The cosmos cracked.
Res Novae – Also sprach Zarathustra. Ren's Law, his Atziluth, unfolded across the realm.
And impossibly time itself stopped. But on the Thrones of the Hadou Gods.
Akuto's teeth ground behind a still expression. Mercurius… You're behind this. You colluded with him.
He felt the pull. Complete expulsion from this metaphysical plane.
Ren raised a hand —in farewell. His voice remained light, almost wistful.
"I'll wait. One day, we'll all be back again.."
And with that, Akuto Sai vanished — erased from the stage,.
Mercurius, still seated on his silent perch, swirled his wine glass with faint amusement. The liquid shimmered with causal threads — but even those began to fray around the edges.
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Where did you send that man?"
Ren Fuji didn't look at him. He only exhaled through his nose.
"Away from you," he said plainly. "That's for sure."
"My law — Zarathustra. Reinhard's Dies Irae. Akuto's All Stories.. None of those Reign should ever come into existence again. They're the worst tragedies born from throne candidates."
Mercurius gave a soft chuckle — not mocking, not smug. Just tired.
"A shame," he mused. "Then I'll be alone here. Watching. Nothing more… while you tear down the final act of my opera." it's fitting. If you can crack my law, then maybe we'll all be free."
Ren finally turned. His gaze, met Mercurius's without flinching. "We will be free,". "No more loops. This one is the last. Even if our existence is erased in the process… I'd rather face oblivion than another rotation in your endless game."
Mercurius smirked — just faintly. Just enough to show the edge hadn't dulled from his personality.
"Ahh… I see. Kumagawa, Magsarion, Akuto… they've only looped a few quadrillion times."
"Forget that. I've watched this dance for a novedecillion cycles. …And you as well, Ren Fuji. Are you all right, my son?"
Ren's eyes narrowed, the atmosphere tightening with a sudden crackle. "Shut up, you mercurial snake,". "We wouldn't even be like this if your Atziluth wasn't a maze built to trap Us in eternity."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
8 A.M. — Tokyo, inside a 24-hour fried chicken restaurant.
Kang Woo was still asleep, leaned back slightly on the chair in the corner..
Across the table, Denji was still eating. The karaage Kang Woo brought earlier? It was enough to feed five people — maybe more. But Denji didn't stop. Grease on his fingers, rice in his mouth, a satisfied grunt escaping him every few bites.
Meanwhile, Pochita had claimed the vegetable tray.
He sat on the bench beside Denji, chewing awkwardly but with effort — as if trying to respect the meal Kang Woo had given them, even if it wasn't meat.
After a moment, Denji slowed his chewing and glanced at the sleeping Kang Woo.
"Hey, Pochita," he muttered through a half-filled mouth. "Should we… wake him up? It's already morning."
Pochita froze mid-bite.
Then, violently, he shook his head — eyes wide with alarm.
"Barff! Barff!" he barked in protest.
Denji blinked. "Jeez… okay, okay…"
Pochita kept shaking his head, clearly terrified of what would happen if Kang Woo woke up the wrong way.
Denji just went back to chewing. "…Guess we let him sleep."
The door creaked open. chime rang as three figures stepped in from the morning haze: Makima, Kishibe, and Aki. All three scanned the small shop — empty except for the trio already seated.
Makima's gaze settled on Denji immediately. Her voice was polite, but her tone unreadable.
"Hello. I suppose this is the first time we've met."
Denji, mid-bite again, paused and looked at her.
"Yeah… first time, I guess."
They stared at each other for a moment — something quiet, off, tugging at the edge of their thoughts. A strange familiarity neither could place.
Makima tilted her head slightly. "This is the first time, right?"
Denji scratched his head. "Uhh… yeah, I mean… only guy who helped me is that unknown man over there."
Aki stepped forward, arms folded. "The unknown man who saved you… that's Kang Woo."
Kishibe gave a tired grunt and pointed toward the far corner. "There he is. Passed out on a restaurant chair like some beast in hibernation.
Makima's gaze drifted toward the table — and then locked onto Pochita.
Pochita stiffened . That woman… the one who almost killed me. her sisters and herself … ambushed me in Hell with those devils...
His little paws clenched around his vegetable bowl.
Makima smiled . "Chainsaw Devil. Long time no see. I didn't expect your form to be like this. Not a black, snarling monster like before… but I still remember your scent."
Pochita let out a quiet, nervous barff.
Makima turned back to Denji without missing a beat.
"But that's not why I'm here. Boy — what's your name?"
Denji sat up straighter, still chewing a bit of karaage.
"…You can call me Denji."
Makima nodded once. "Makima."
She was about to say more when
Aki stepped forward, crossing his arms with a pointed look.
"You can call my boss Makima-san, remember that, Denji."
Denji blinked. "Okie dokie."
But Makima was already moving — her steps quiet, deliberate — as she approached Kang Woo's table.
The moment she got close, a flash of orange darted across the floor.
Pochita. He skidded to a halt right at her boots, barking frantically.
"Barff! Barff!" Then, violently, he shook his head — a clear warning: Do. Not. Wake. Him.
Kishibe raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What's wrong?" he said dryly. "Scared if Kang Woo wakes up, the whole world'll fall apart?"
But Pochita was already on the move.
He shoved aside his half-eaten vegetables with his paws, then grabbed a piece of Denji's karaage.
"Hey! That's my food!" Denji protested, half-rising from his seat.
Pochita ignored him, dragging the food scraps and veggies across the floor, carefully arranging them.Letter by letter.
Makima, Aki, and Kishibe stared as the message slowly formed. "This man is not supposed to be here. He is a danger to every devil.."
Aki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Heh. You saying Kang Woo's stronger than the Gun Devil, huh, Denji's dog?"
Pochita didn't flinch. Instead, he used his nose to smear the leftover grease and scraps again — faster this time, more urgent.
A second message appeared: "He was planned to die. And we were grateful when he did. But now that he's alive… everyone's fucked."
Makima's eyes didn't leave the message scrawled on the floor. Then, calmly, she turned her gaze toward Kang Woo's hand — specifically, the left back palm resting near his lap.
"I know you're watching through it," she said quietly. "Mikhail. Aren't you going to say anything?"
A faint shimmer of crimson light pulsed across Kang Woo's skin.
Then it opened. A slit — like an eye — blinked into existence on the back of his left hand. It flared with a deep, eerie red glow as a voice emerged: regal, aloof, laced with faint amusement.
"It seems the Chainsaw Devil — the invalid — still knows his place."
Makima raised an eyebrow, unmoved. "You know very well Kang Woo is sleep right now, right?. Your host's in no shape to even—"
The voice cut her off coldly.
"I think you are the one who needs to remember your place, low creature," Mikhail said, "You are a tiny shard of fear. A product of your world's ignorance. You stand in a room you don't even understand — and speak like you matter in the cosmos ."
Makima's lips twitched slightly. Then, mock-sincerely, she replied, "I think you and your eyeball are deep in your chuuni phase. Seriously. Do you two sit around reading all seven volumes of edgy comics together? Maybe cosplay next?"
The eye in Kang Woo's palm narrowed — unamused.
Makima smiled, tilting her head slightly. "And you're still just a floating pupil with delusions of hierarchy."
Her curiosity didn't waver as she stepped closer to Kang Woo's left back palm, where the Eye of Mikhail gleamed. As she moved, branch-like protrusions sprouted from the flesh around the eye, twisting in unnatural patterns—all of them aimed straight for her neck.
Aki, still stubborn , immediately began forming the hand sign. Kon
But Makima raised a hand. "Aki. Stand down. This time, you'd better listen. We don't need another scene where I end up dueling with some eyeball."
Aki hesitated, still tense.
Kishibe exhaled through his cigarette and muttered, "It means stand down, Aki. We're outnumbered… ."
Aki lowered his hand slightly, though the confusion in his eyes didn't fade.
Then Mikhail spoke again, the eye flaring with intensity. "Did you not hear the warning? My master and you invalids are not equals. You are bottom feeders — mistakes born from fear."
Makima didn't flinch. Her smile only widened. " Let me confess something, Eyeball. I'm going to chain your master. if I have to. Because he's the most exciting person I've ever met."
Then the Eye of Mikhail pulsed — and laughter followed.
"Hehe… AHAHAHAHAHA!"
The voice rang through the room, distorted but regal.
"My master just thought something rather amusing," Mikhail said. "He said… this is the first time he doesn't want to discard someone."
A beat passed, heavy with weight. "Fine, then. If you succeed — if you truly manage something no one else ever could — you will become the second person I trust." "But if you fail… then half of the Earth turns to ash."
Kishibe gave a dry, tired chuckle.
"You mean by you and those Zaiphon of yours? Figures… Zaiphon's a game-breaker ."
But Mikhail's voice cut in, sharper than before.
"No, low creature. By Kang Woo himself. My master is in his hardest state right now. Even so—do not misunderstand. Zaiphon is not his ability. It's mine. He can wield it only because of me. Funny… I'm one hundred percent sure you've already figured out Kang Woo's ability isn't Zaiphon, yet you still cling to the idea that Zaiphon is everything."
"His true attribute is something you'll have to figure out for yourself."
Kishibe's brow furrowed. Aki looked confused.
And then, Mikhail turned the question like a blade. "So tell me, Invalids … what do you think it is? What lies beneath even the fear based energy you've only tasted? What do you think he truly is?"
The vine tendrils slithered back into Kang Woo's palm, The Eye of Mikhail sealed shut with a final twitch of crimson light.
Makima stepped closer. Her hand reached out — calm, measured — as she moved to touch Kang Woo's hand.
But before her fingers could graze his skin—
Kang Woo's hand snapped up on instinct, catching her wrist in a steel grip. His eyes flew open. Black sclera. Crimson iris .
The aura around him detonated outward in a silent wave of pressure — thick, suffocating, and absolute. The air turned viscous. Oxygen choked in the lungs of everyone within two kilometers. Glass cracked. Lights flickered. The city dimmed for a heartbeat.
Aki staggered slightly, sweat on his brow. "What… is this pressure?"
Kishibe narrowed his gaze. " It's worse. And we don't even have a name for this catastrophe ."
Pochita, paralyzed mid-chew, slowly turned toward Denji. It's over,. The thirty-thousand-kilometer hole incident… it's going to happen again.
He bolted toward Denji's feet, nuzzling against his leg like a dog sensing a storm about to hit.
Kang Woo's gaze locked on Makima — but there was no recognition in it. He spoke, his voice laced with layered distortion: "Invalids. Peasants. who do not know their place… Why do you stand before me?"
Makima's eyes narrowed. "Heh. 'Peasants'? You're really going full chūnibyō now, huh?"
But then it hit her — a slow, creeping rot up her wrist. Black tendrils of corruption slithered up her arm where Kang Woo had touched her. Flesh darkened, veins twisted. She gritted her teeth but refused to cry out. Still, she didn't pull away.
"I came to wake you up," she said through the pain. "We have things to discuss. That's all."
Kang Woo blinked. Once. Twice. "…Wake me up?"
The demonic pressure around him flickered — faltered His eyes began to shift back — black fading into crimson glow, his sclera slowly returning to white. The air around them thinned, the oppressive weight lifting like a held breath being released.
Then the realization hit him. This isn't the 9th Hell.
He glanced around. The fried chicken restaurant. The city skyline through the fogged window. The remains of karaage and spilled cola.
he muttered. "Wrong move."
And yet even as his hand slowly released Makima's wrist — he found himself staring at her. Longer than necessary.
Kang-woo gaze drifted from her to the others now watching him closely: Kishibe. Aki. Denji. Even the dog.
He blinked, rubbing at his temple with the back of his hand like trying to shake off a dream.
"…Makima. Denji. Aki. Kishibe. Tell me—am I wrong, right, or am I still dreaming?"
Kishibe snorted. "This is reality all right. You look like someone just whacked you in the skull with an Amnesia Devil. If that thing even exists.". You look Havent sleep ."
Aki stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Kishibe-san… look around. The glass in every corner's cracked. People outside can't even breathe right.."
Kang Woo exhaled slowly, his voice low and tired. "Did anybody die?"
Makima folded her arms, watching him closely. "No. I can assure you—no one's dead."
She tilted her head slightly. "Not from your theatrics. . Or even … whatever else it is you have.."
Kang Woo's eyes flicked downward. He'd noticed it.
Makima's hand — the one he'd grabbed in his half-demonic state — was blackened. Veins dark. Skin tainted like it had been dipped in ink and left to rot under pressure.
Makima followed his gaze, her expression unreadable.
My arm isn't healing, she thought.
Still, she met his eyes and said coolly, "This? I'm fine. I can get rid of it."
But Kang Woo didn't even blink. His voice was firm. "No, you're not. No one can undo that but me."
Then, calmly — with a casual raise of his hand — he spoke: "Authority of Regeneration."
A faint red glyph shimmered in the air. The corruption recoiled — like it had been burned — and vanished.
Makima glanced down. Her arm was clean. Whole. Restored. She flexed her fingers once… then smirked. . "Kang Woo can heal, too. And he's naming his attacks. Very chunni of you."
Kishibe let out a dry, amused grunt behind her. "You could gather a thousand devils, Makima, "and none of them could do what this guy just did."
Kang Woo didn't respond. His gaze had shifted — sharp and quiet — landing on Denji.
Something was off. Pochita… wasn't there. But something else was. A chainsaw cord protruded slightly from Denji's chest.
Denji noticed Kang Woo's stare and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Oh… that. If you're looking for Pochita — he, uh… decided to stay inside me. Said something about needing a nap, or a break from eyeballs and chaos. Merged back into my heart."
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed. a Chainsaw Man like in canon, he thought. But this Denji's different. He still has his original heart. Pochita just coexists inside. That means they can separate again, if needed.
He folded his arms. "…Where is everybody? The staff. The people. Even the waitress."
Denji gave a half-shrug, half-smile. " They worked, like, 22 hours straight. Said they hadn't slept in two days. One of the ladies looked me dead in the eye and said, 'Boy, switch with me.' And well… I'm not about to say no to a woman's request, am I?"
Kang Woo let out a slow breath, stretching , with perfect calm, he turned his gaze to the invisible camera of the universe . "Even if there's a Season 1, a Season 2, even a movie . "In this world or that one… Denji is still Denji. A slave to a woman."
Makima blinked once. Kishibe raised an eyebrow. Aki tilted his head.
Denji, however, flared red. "OY! What's that supposed to mean, huh?! Don't go thinking you're unbeatable or something!"
He slapped a hand to his chest, gripping the chainsaw cord.
"Pochita said… if I pull this thing—" he yanked it slightly for emphasis, "—I'll have the strength of a devil itself!"
Makima's eyes tracked the motion. She didn't react, but she thought calmly. Weaker version. he's a hybrid now. A Chainsaw hybrid who contains the chainsaw devil within…
Kang Woo turned to her, voice quiet but purposeful. "Makima."
Makima looked at him. He met her eyes without blinking.
"Can you take Denji under your wing?" kang woo said
Makima froze. That… was unexpected. I thought he'd want Denji kept separate from me .
But instead, Kang Woo had offered the boy to Makima. He was giving Denji—the current Chainsaw hybrid—to the Control Devil… willingly?
Makima narrowed her eyes slightly. "What's your game, Kang Woo? I know you're not a fool. Everything you do, even when it seems random, usually has meaning."
Kang Woo shrugged, looking entirely unbothered. "My game? I don't want to take care of kids. I settled one-fourth of his debts to the Yakuza. It'll hold until next year."
Aki raised an eyebrow. "And when the deadline comes?"
Kang Woo cracked a grin — too sharp to be kind."Then I'm going on a manhunt again. Like hunting helpless rabbits. It's nice. And surprisingly… good for killing time."
Makima stood up, brushing off her coat, and turned to Denji with an air of formality.
"This is Aki Hayakawa," she said. "He's your senior. Been with us for a few years now. He'll be your partner."
Denji blinked. "Hehhh? Why can't my partner be Kang Woo? Or Makima-san herself?"
Before he could complain further, Aki grabbed Denji by the collar like a misbehaving cat.
"Come with me. We're going on patrol."
"Nooo!" Denji whined, feet dragging against the floor. "I wanna go with Kang Woo or Makima-san!"
Aki didn't even break stride. "Makima-san isn't someone you casually talk to. As for Kang Woo — he's a walking bomb. You don't stick next to a bomb. You keep clear."
And with that, Aki continued dragging Denji down the street, the boy flailing comically like a kid being hauled off to school.
Kang Woo raised his hand casually, drawing a glowing pattern midair with his finger. Crimson Zaiphon runes formed into a neat, rotating timer — 3:00 — ticking down above his palm.
"And in exactly three minutes… Denji's gonna run back yelling 'Aki-senpai's being attacked by a Balls Devil!'—which is a lie. Aki hates being partnered with Denji.."
Kishibe gave him a sidelong glance, lighting a cigarette with a practiced flick. "You seeing the future now? . Or just bluffing like some back-alley oracle?"
Kang Woo didn't respond right away. Then, he said, "Every circus has its conductor… and every conductor keeps his secrets. I just keep mine better. But I'm sure neither of you are here for my theatrics or my 'crazy personality.' So…"
Kang woo leaned slightly forward, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "How can I help you?"
Makima raised an eyebrow, almost smirking. "Pfftt. 'How can I help you?' Are you on drugs? Since when did you start being polite?"
Kang Woo shrugged. "You want to know what's surprising to me?" He pointed between the two. "You and Kishibe working together. Everyone knows you two don't like each other."
Kishibe gave a tired grunt, cigarette between his lips. "They say temporary truces are needed when there's a common enemy."
Makima crossed her arms, her tone more serious now. "I didn't come just for pleasantries. I want to ask you something. Is there a way… Compound V can make someone a supe — without using the infant process? In other words… can an adult become a supe?"
Kang Woo leaned back slightly, arms folded. "You inject it into an adult — it'll still create a supe. That's for sure."
Kishibe chimed in, cigarette still in his fingers.
"I know that much too. I've read the documents. Injection works — but it's unstable. Random powers, mental deterioration,. What I want to know is… is there a way to smooth that out? Make the process cleaner?"
Kang Woo tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Although you're the one pressing now, Kishibe… Makima was the first to ask me."
Kishibe grunted, pulling out a weathered black notebook and flipping it open.
"Figures. There's one person I've always been wary of — Makima. And now there's another name I'd rather avoid entirely."
He glanced at Kang Woo, eyes narrowed.
"And it's you. Though your methods are different. You don't trail us like a stalker… you already know what's inside my mind — using some method I can't even begin to understand."
Makima's voice was cool but sharp. "Didn't I already give my word? No birds or rats are spying on you, Kishibe."
Kishibe didn't flinch. "That's because Kang Woo is here. Your focus is 100 percent locked on him. Everyone else's background noise. If Kang Woo vanished — let's say, kidnapped by aliens or something — you'd go right back to what you were, wouldn't you?"
Kang Woo leaned back, arms behind his head with a lazy grin. "So, how's my rank on your danger list, Kishibe? I assume I made the cut."
Kishibe took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly.
"Normally, number one's always been Makima. No contest."
He side-eyed Kang Woo. "But after seeing how you operate — especially that little incident sky turning crimson, black comet tearing through it like it was glass? . I might need to reevaluate that ranking."
Kang Woo chuckled. "Put me at number one, then. Add a bounty while you're at it. Could use some company — you know, for the fun."
Makima's brow twitched. She crossed her arms and stepped between the two like a teacher tired of two students talking over deadpanned. "You're both having this 'Top Ten Most Dangerous' discussion while the person in question — me — is right here. I'm not a ghost ."
Kang Woo gave a casual shrug.
"If you're the ghost, Makima, then Kishibe's the human.. And I'm the alien."
Makima's eye twitched again. She didn't say anything at first, but the faintest smile curved her lips — irritated, yes, but faintly amused too.. "…Alright, alright. Let's stay on topic — for Japan's sake."
Kang Woo immediately straightened like a Boy Scout. "Yes, ma'am. Attend—HUT!"
Makima stared at him in dead silence, face blank.
Kishibe took a long drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke drift lazily.
"Kang Woo… stay here forever. So you and Makima can keep bickering until I die ."
Kang Woo leaned back slightly,.
"Okay, as the princess here suggested…" he said with a playful edge, "I'll stay on topic. The solution… is V24."
Makima narrowed her eyes.
"There's no V24. Some of our agents have searched for it extensively."
Kang Woo gave a knowing smirk.
"If by agents, you mean your little rats and birds? Then yeah… I think you looked from the wrong angle."
Makima's gaze sharpened. "Angle?"
"V24 will be produced," Kang Woo said, tapping the side of his head. "But it still exists only in someone's mind. Never spoken aloud. But—" he tilted his chin slightly "—if you'd paid close attention… I think you already saw the first stage."
Makima paused. Then, like a click behind her eyes, her mind connected the dots. "…Oh. The Sage Groove Center. They've been testing Compound V on adult subjects — tracking abilities, side effects… I assumed they were just trying to manufacture a new supe to rival The Seven."
"There you go." Kang Woo nodded. "They're preparing ahead of schedule. If Vought plays their cards right, they'll produce a hundred soldiers — all injected with the early strain of V24."
Kishibe scratched his chin, brow furrowed. "Wait… I thought The Seven and Vought had a mutual thing. Like, Vought's the head, The Seven are the attack dogs."
Kang Woo chuckled. "How much shit do you think Vought's covered for The Seven already? Their image is golden in the public eye . Stan Edgar? He's like her." He nodded toward Makima. "Keeps everything close to the chest."
"Vought's primary goal isn't heroism. They're a pharmaceutical corporation. Which means—" he tapped the table twice, "—when their precious Compound V goes missing… they lose their goddamn minds."
Makima's eyes flickered, thoughtful. ". During the devil attack on Sage Groove Center…" Her voice dropped. "You were there too. You didn't cause the chaos… but you used it. You slipped in and stole tons of Compound V right under their noses."
Makima's eyes glinted as her tone shifted — playful, almost smug.
"And by default," she said, "Stan Edgar nearly sniffed you out when he and the Vought suits showed up in Tokyo yesterday. You really caught his eye, Kang Woo."
"… I think it's time you joined the Public Safety Devil Hunters. Consider it a peace offering — since I just sent those Vought higher-ups packing back to America."
Kang Woo tilted his head, smirking. "Hey, don't forget — I'm the one who decked Homelander and left him kissing concrete. I'd say we're even. Give and take. , right?"
Makima chuckled, a light fufufufu under her breath.
Kang Woo followed suit, his own laughter a sharp hahaha that bounced off the walls.
Kishibe lit a new cigarette with a grunt, watching the two like they were characters from a play he never auditioned for. "A monster meets an alien," he muttered. "What a beautiful relationship."
Kang Woo leaned back slightly, tone casual but eyes razor-sharp. "Their true goal under Edgar… it's to replace The Seven with a superpowered military. V24. At first glance, not a bad idea. My first guess? They just want to get rid of The Seven. That's it . Replace unstable assets with controllable soldiers.
Kishibe scoffed, smoke curling from his lips. "That's not nice, Kang Woo. The Seven are a handful, but a hundred soldiers juiced up on V24 with no moral compass? That's not 'nice.' That's like unleashing a thousand devils in uniform."
Kang Woo held up a finger. "Ah-ah. I'm not finished yet, Kishibe."
He turned toward Makima. "And this is where you come in. I want to hear it straight from you. Makima… how feared are you? By other countries, I mean. If a war broke out, how many nations would think twice — or outright wave the white flag — just because you're on Japan's side?"
Makima's pause in her breath. "You're overestimating me," she said calmly. "I'm just the director of Public Safety Devil Hunters. Elected by the Prime Minister, nothing more."
Kang Woo's smile didn't fade. If anything, it got sharper. "Then let me rephrase. If one hundred thousand Homelanders showed up in Japan tomorrow — would you win?".
Makima didn't speak. She thought.
The Prime Minister's contract… it transfers all damage incurred on me to the Japanese citizens. One life traded for another. It keeps me alive. It's my insurance policy.
But… there are a hundred million citizens. I can probably handle a thousand supes like Homelander.
One hundred thousand…?
Eventually, she exhaled, her voice quiet and certain. "…I can't answer that, Kang Woo."
Kang Woo smirked. He tilted his head playfully. "I thought you'd say something bold. 'Nah, I'd win,'."
Then he broke into a grin, eyes glinting as he mock-quoted: "But You're smarter than that. Smarter than a certain other guy , the one with the Rikugan split in half, who keeps showing up in every meme thread."
Makima narrowed her eyes, but didn't deny it. "I still calculate every outcome before I speak, Kang Woo," she said coolly. "I only say I'll win… if I win."
Then, almost absently, Makima added: "And that other guy? If I ever meet him… I'm fairly certain he's an idiot."
Kishibe grunted, cigarette between his fingers as he stared across the rooftop.
"So… what are you proposing, Kang Woo? Since Makima's already got a damn bullseye on her forehead—and like it or not, we still need a monster like her. As long as she sides with humanity."
Kang Woo stretched his arms behind his head, voice nonchalant. "We've got three options. So pick your poison."
He raised a finger.
"First option—you don't expect anything. Just inject every adult under your command and hope someone ends up Homelander-tier. Good news is, no thinking required."
Makima immediately shot it down. "That one's not happening," she said flatly. "I was the first to check. Sage Groove Center cycled over two thousand test subjects—some were terminated, some left. Not one of them became anything close to Homelander or Queen Maeve."
Makima folded her arms. "Besides… we only have one drum and two gallons of Compound V left."
Kang Woo didn't miss a beat. "Second option, then: wait until they finish synthesizing V24—and we heist it."
Makima raised an eyebrow, half amused. "You're right, Kishibe,". "Kang Woo's more dangerous than I am. I propose we put a bounty on his head. Say… one million dollars."
Kishibe coughed out a laugh. "You trying to bankrupt the country? I was thinking more like a couple hundred thousand. Right now, my entire division's packing small arms and duct tape. You start putting seven-figure bounties on lunatics like him, Japan's gonna be broke in a week."
Kang Woo scoffed, waving a hand. "Bullshit. Japan's GDP is over five trillion USD. Hell, even a hundred million dollars wouldn't crash the market."
Kishibe raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? You okay with anyone and everyone wanting to kill you for a payout? Also — does the country even stay intact when every nutjob decides to go after you at once?"
Kang Woo just smirked… in silence.
Makima stepped in, voice light but laced with sarcasm. "Haha. Look at you, getting cornered by me and Kishibe. You should just join Public Safety Devil Hunters already. Under me." She smiled. "I promise you'll be treated very well."
Kang Woo shook his head, still smiling. "No can do. I'm a free man. Untied by obligation. Also… wasn't this the third time today you tried to pitch that job?"
Makima, utterly shameless, nodded once. "Of course I did. I work for the Japanese government."
Then, Kang Woo leaned back and said, "Now, the third option."
At that, Makima wordlessly pulled her chair closer — the legs scraping quietly against the floor. Kishibe didn't say anything at first. He just looked up at the ceiling and took another long drag from his cigarette.
Kang Woo squinted at them both. "…Why do I get the feeling you two are looking at me like I'm carrying twenty red flags?"
Makima smiled faintly. "I just want to get to know you better."
Kishibe muttered around the cigarette, "I'm counting how many minutes I've got left before I catch your madness like a virus, Kang Woo."
"Oh, I'm wounded," Kang Woo said dryly. "Anyway — the third option: we make it ourselves."
Makima tilted her head. "Hmm?"
Kishibe blinked, then let out a wheeze of a laugh. "Huh. I take it back. He's a bit sane today. Honestly thought he was gonna say 'Let's become astronauts and hijack the moon.'"
Kang Woo grinned. "Like that old show Breaking Bad — we cook our own stuff."
Makima blinked, clearly confused. "Is there a TV show called Breaking Bad?"
Kang Woo waved a hand, brushing it off. "Ooh,. Too bad, right? Anyway — we make our own version of Compound V. With chemistry, alchemy, and a bit of science fiction flair."
Kishibe scratched his jaw, smoke curling from the edge of his mouth. "Huh. That's… actually reasonable."
Makima tilted her head slowly, voice soaked in sarcasm. "Let me get this straight — Kang Woo, you're s conductor of orchestra — best I've seen, honestly. You're harboring an alien named Mikhail on the backside of your left palm. For some reason, the Fox Devil completely lost its mind when it saw you. You're a master forger — you showed me that on orbit. You can summon a sword out of thin air and wield it like a Legend . And now… you're telling me you're also a brilliant chemist?"
She narrowed her eyes, dryly unimpressed. "Is there anything else I should know about Mr. Jack of All Trades here?"
Kishibe raised a hand lazily, pointing toward the ceiling. "Don't forget he can fly to orbit . Took off like a comet."
Kang Woo grinned. "I'm an insane person. That's what you're dealing with."
Makima and Kishibe both answered in perfect unison. "Yes. We know."
Just then, the door slammed open.
Denji stumbled in, half-dragging Aki over his shoulder. Aki's face was pale, jaw clenched, clearly in pain.
Kang Woo glanced at his Zaiphon timer floating beside him. The numbers hit zero.
"Right on time," he said, smirking.
Denji looked straight at Makima. "Senpai got attacked. Right in the balls. It was a Balls Devil."
Aki, now slightly more conscious, immediately groaned. "Lies. He's lying."
Makima's gaze flicked to the still-glowing timer, then back to Kang Woo. That's what he meant. Right on time. And just as he said…
She turned her eyes toward Denji and Aki — the chaos twins.
"So," she asked coolly, "can you both get along?"
Denji didn't hesitate. "Nope. Not at all."
Makima smiled — a little too optimistic. "I'm glad you both can get along. Denji will be joining the Hayakawa Unit."
Aki's face twisted with immediate protest. "You mean this rough nut? Makima-san, my unit already has too many troublemakers ,."
Makima remained composed. "I already told you, Aki. Your unit is an experiment. It will operate differently than the others."
Aki exhaled through his nose, annoyed but still respectful. "Sorry, Makima-san, but I need to ask—what exactly is Denji?"
Makima glanced at Denji for a moment, then calmly explained, "When we first saw him — when Kang Woo was still asleep — Denji was a normal human. However, when Kang Woo woke up… something changed. Denji's dog, which happens to be the Chainsaw Devil, merged into him."
She looked back to Aki. "You can call Denji a devil hybrid now."
Aki frowned, hesitant. "Makima-san… can Denji really join normal human society like this?"
Makima shook her head. "No. He can't. Kang Woo already confirmed it."
She glanced toward Kang Woo — not subtly. Her gaze sharpened like a silent demand.
Kang Woo raised his hands lightly, meeting her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. He's yours. Stop glaring like that."
Makima's eyes narrowed with something between irritation and amusement. "I'd rather fight a hundred thousand Homelanders than deal with you, Kang Woo. At least I understand how they work. You… I've only scratched the surface ."
Then makima turned to Aki, her voice crisp. "Denji is special. Therefore, he requires… special treatment. If he disobeys orders — or tries to escape Public Safety — he will be treated like any other devil that threatens human society."
Denji's eyes widened. He swallowed hard. "Does that mean…"
Makima gave a small, almost gentle smile — but her tone was anything but."Denji, you'll work for the rest of your life."
Then she turned, eyes shifting to Aki and Denji both.
"Now quiet down. I want to finish this discussion with Kang Woo and Kishibe."
Kishibe exhaled a long stream of smoke, his expression unreadable. "So… that means we're choosing option three then?"
Makima gave a short nod. "That's right." And as I've confirmed — you robbed Vought during the chaos. Which means… I need you to share the documents you stole. With me."
Kang Woo let out a light sigh, reaching into the space behind his back — shadow-like distortion flickering for a moment — and pulled out several sealed files stacked neatly in black binders.
He dropped them in front of her.
"I assume you brought bags?" he asked dryly.
Makima didn't miss a beat. "Aki-kun. Denji-kun. Isn't that right, boys?"
Aki nodded silently, then gave Denji a nudge with his elbow.
Denji blinked, flinched, then straightened. "Yes, Makima-san!"
Makima took the documents and slid them into a storage case. Then, as if moving to the next bullet point in a meeting agenda, she said flatly,
"Now, about our human test subjects… Japan's death rate is high. Suicides especially. I propose that anyone who wants to die — or is already planning suicide — be rerouted into the program. After all, if they're volunteers, no one will report them as kidnapped. Right?"
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his tone casual — but firm. "I don't mind the plan. But using criminals is a bad turns this into a three-front war. Superpowered criminals on one side, you guys in Public Safety on another, and devils coming in from wherever they spawn."
Kishibe took a slow drag from his cigarette and exhaled with a grunt. "Don't worry. I'll make sure the people we bring in are desperate, but clean. Just the kind of folks who've already given up on life."
Kang Woo nodded once, then narrowed his eyes just a little. "Oh… and I almost forgot."
He glanced between Makima and Kishibe. "I want you both to remember this. Burn it into your memory."
Makima's expression turned sharper. "I'm listening."
Kang Woo's voice dropped an octave, dead serious now. "Don't you ever — ever — inject someone with cancer using Compound V."
Denji, being Denji, blinked and tilted his head with curiosity.
"Oooh, so that means Kang Woo is like, makin' a comic hero ru—"
Aki elbowed him in the ribs again. "Shut up. Let him finish."
Kang Woo barely acknowledged the interruption. He kept his eyes on Makima and Kishibe.
"You ever seen Alien: Isolation?" he asked.
Kishibe's brow twitched. Makima gave a silent nod.
Kang Woo's eyes glinted darkly. "Then you'll understand. The tumor… will gain awareness. And when that happens, . A thinking, evolving parasite — fueled by V.. We'll have a bio-weapon outbreak. In Japan."
Makima folded her arms and spoke flatly. "Alien: Isolation was about an alien outbreak caused by a facehugger, wasn't it?"
Kang Woo nodded. "It's similar. Think of the tumor like a chestburster — except it is the person's tumor. If it starts in the chest, it'll tear out from there. Crawl out. . It'll spread like a bio-outbreak."
Kishibe blew out a long, exhausted breath. "Thanks for the heads-up, freakshow."
Makima's tone remained composed, but there was a trace of amusement behind her words. "that's interesting. A monster versus a devil."
Aki's voice cracked through the tension, exasperated. "Makima-san, please tell me that's a joke. We don't need another monster around here — Kang Woo's already more than enough."
Kang Woo stretched, nonchalant. "That's all I can tell you for now. Are you satisfied, Makima? Kishibe?"
Kishibe gave a curt nod. "Very. Thanks for the info, Kang Woo."
Makima, however, tilted her head just slightly, eyes still on him. "I'm still curious, though. Why did you give Denji to me? Say it again. I'm more of an office lady than a babysitter."
Kang Woo smirked, voice almost teasing. "I already got what I wanted when I killed Denji… and revived him at the same time. Something restored itself in me."
Makima didn't blink. "I see. Should I offer you an mind regulator while we're at it? Just in case you're allergic to hospitals."