Makima's lips curled into a bright smile—eerily cheerful, almost innocent.
"Sorry," she said, eyes twinkling. "It's just… your teasing speech and over-the-top theatrics are starting to infect me. I think I'm going mad like you."
Kang Woo opened his mouth to reply—only to glance over and see Himeno on the far side of the table, cheeks flushed bright pink, grinning like a cat in her drunken haze.
Makima's eyes slid sideways toward Himeno as well, her expression going sharp and assessing, as if deciding whether to let the drunkenness continue… or shut it down.
But before Kang Woo could comment, a crisp voice sliced through his thoughts—echoing silently inside his skull.
Master. It was Mikhail. The mission is successful. The Sevastopol and the Podkova are now ours. The Entity is progressing toward maturation. However, it's only reached 25% so far—even with my personal intervention in the depths of 3,000 meters in the North Pacific. The extreme depth and lack of signal are slowing everything down.
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed slightly. He answered telepathically, his mental voice cool and measured.
How long for full maturation, exactly? Even with your help and Nightmare's progress?
Mikhail hesitated—a tiny pause only Kang Woo could sense. I couldn't say precisely yet, Master. Right now, the Entity is effectively… nineteen years old in human terms. Meaning… still like a college boy. It needs more time to stabilize its 'mind.'
But Kang Woo's eyes were already shifting away from the group.
Because at the table, Himeno was slumping deeper into her drunkenness. Her face was flushed bright red, hair falling over one eye as she grinned lazily.
"Okay… okay, listen…!" she slurred, swaying as she tried to stand. She grabbed the bottle and began pouring wildly into every glass within reach.
Denji's. Power's. Aki's. Makima's. Even Arai's and Kobeni's.
Himeno held her own glass up, eyes shining with drunken conviction. "Today… we're just normal employees. Living off crap paychecks that Makima-san always gives us…"
She wobbled dangerously. "…but TOMORROW—!"
She never finished. Thud.
Himeno collapsed forward onto the table, drooling into her own spilled beer.
For a second, the entire table froze. Then laughter erupted.
Even Makima cracked a small, genuine smile, covering her mouth with one hand.
Makima turned her gaze calmly toward Aki. "Aki-kun… did you bring a towel for your senpai?"
Aki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I always bring one."
He started rummaging through his jacket as Power cackled and Denji poked Himeno's cheek.
But then Aki blinked, glancing around. "…Wait. Where's Kang Woo?"
Kobeni's head popped up, eyes wide and alarmed. "Yeah—where IS Kang Woo?!"
But outside, several streets away, Kang Woo was already slipping into the neon glow of the Tokyo night. Hands in his coat pockets. A faint grin on his lips.
But then— "Kang Woo!" A voice rang out behind him, crisp and determined. Makima came running, her footsteps almost silent despite the speed. She was barely out of breath, hair shifting in the glow of Tokyo's lights.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Makima called, eyes flashing. "I'm inviting you to my apartment. You should feel a bit grateful. I've never done that for anyone."
But Kang Woo just flashed her a grin over his shoulder. And then— SHHHRAAAKKK! Three pairs of colossal, blackened wings tore from his back, each feather glistening like polished obsidian, cutting through the air.
In an instant, Kang Woo exploded upward, rocketing into the sky like a black comet. Neon reflections spun off his wings, leaving a streak of dark light behind him.
…but Makima was ready. With a swift flick of her fingers, a chain burst from her palm—thick and iron-like, writhing with red glints of power—and latched tight around Kang Woo's ankle.
"Got you." Makima skidded to a halt, boots scraping across the pavement as Kang Woo's wings tried to yank her skyward.
But she held on. More chains spewed from her palms like living serpents, anchoring themselves into the cracked asphalt, wrapping around streetlamps, guard rails, even burying into the concrete of nearby buildings.
Makima's hair whipped across her face as she fought to stay grounded, her boots scraping sparks on the pavement. The chains rattled and groaned under Kang Woo's relentless pull. This is bad… she thought, gritting her teeth. I'm running out of chain. Where the hell do I anchor myself before he pulls me into orbit?!
Suddenly— "Makima-san!"
Denji came sprinting around a corner, eyes wide as saucers, practically skidding to a stop beside her. "Makima-san, did those chains come out of your p—"
Makima snapped, cutting him off mid-question. "No time to explain. Bring me a truck. A large truck. Something big enough to slow a black comet in the sky!"
Denji blinked once. Then nodded, eyes blazing with stupid determination. "Roger that!"
He disappeared and returned a second later, crashing a truck right beside Makima. The metal screeched as it slammed into a streetlight, folding like an accordion. "Sorry, Makima-san. I can't drive… so I crashed it."
Makima exhaled sharply, sweat beading at her temple. "…That will do."
She shot her left hand out. A new torrent of chains exploded from her palm, wrapping around the battered truck's twisted frame and anchoring her further to the ground.
Just then, Aki skidded into the scene, eyes wide as he took in the chaos. "…So, what's the problem here?"
Denji pointed straight up. "Makima-san says we need more trucks to slow a black comet in the sky."
Aki followed Denji's finger upward… and saw Kang Woo, flaring black wings blazing like a meteor as he struggled to break free into the clouds.
Aki sighed, resigned. "…Ooh. I understand."
He rolled his shoulders, exhaling slowly. ". Denji, start hotwiring more cars. We're stacking vehicles."
Denji whooped. "Yosaaa! Car theft!"
And together, Denji and Aki began hauling over more battered trucks and cars, forming a chaotic barricade of steel and rubber around Makima as she gripped the chain tighter—still battling the Demon King clawing for the stars.
Above them, the black comet's furious glow began to dim, streaks of dark energy wavering.
Makima felt the weight shift in her arms and thought, It's working. I'm managing to drag him back from the sky.
Nearby, Himeno, who had finally sobered up enough to stand, and wiped her mouth.
"…Ohhh, that's a good drink," she muttered, blinking blearily. Then she stared at the chaos before her. "Uh… what's going on here?"
Aki turned his head to look at her, sweat beading at his temples. "Makima-san wants to drag Kang Woo down from the sky," he said matter-of-factly. "You and I both know—once Kang Woo's flying, he always becomes a black comet across the sky. I guess Makima-san doesn't want to let Kang Woo go this time."
Himeno blinked, looked at the barricade of trucks, then at Makima's chain, then up at the dwindling comet. "…Shit, I should've stayed drunk."
The black comet overhead wavered—then, with a final shudder, completely stopped in midair.
Makima stood there, hunched slightly, chest heaving as sweat trickled down her forehead. She turned her eyes to Aki and Denji, voice soft but edged with exhaustion.
"Good work, Aki-kun. Denji-kun."
Denji flashed a goofy grin, raising a triumphant fist. "Hell yeah!"
But before the moment could settle, Himeno squinted up at the sky. She lifted a trembling finger.
"Uh… Makima-san…?"
Makima's eyes snapped upward. A shimmer spread around the frozen black comet. Strange runes began to spiral and weave around it, tracing alien symbols into the sky. Makima felt a chill ripple down her spine. She shifted her stance, ready to engage again, her chains coiling tighter around her arms. But the comet pulsed once—then launched forward in a violent burst.
WHOOM. A shockwave cracked the air as it blasted off at a blinding speed. This time, the comet surged at Mach 100.
Makima's eyes widened. "Wait—!" And then she was yanked skyward.
"WAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Makima screamed as her body shot into the air like a ragdoll, her chains rattling behind her in a whip-like spiral.
Denji watched her getting pulled , blinking hard. "Uhh… Aki… what're we gonna do if stuff like this keeps happening?"
Aki just stared blankly into the sky where Makima had disappeared. "…I have no idea."
Meanwhile, high above the sky was a roaring river of wind and force. Makima's body was whipped back like a pennant in a hurricane, her hair streaming behind her in a blazing red trail. The rush of air screamed in her ears so violently it was deafening wall of pressure.
At Mach 100, the clouds blurred past in streaks of white and silver. Her skin prickled and burned from the sheer friction of slicing through the atmosphere. Tiny shockwaves rippled around her limbs, crackling like invisible lightning. Every muscle in her body felt stretched, pulled taut against the monstrous speed.
Yet Makima's eyes stayed sharp, locked forward. Her chains glinted, stretching back into the distance like shining threads caught in a cosmic loom. Slowly, methodically, she began to pull herself forward along the chain.
One hand over the other. Inch by inch, Makima crawled her way toward the black comet—toward Kang Woo's dark silhouette at its core. Her teeth clenched against the howling wind. Blood oozed from tiny cuts along her cheeks where the air itself had sliced her skin.
But still… she advanced. One step closer. And then another. Closer… and closer… to Kang Woo.
Suddenly, the black comet's blazing aura winked out like a dying star. The roaring wind fell away, replaced by an eerie silence high above the gasped as she stumbled forward, momentum carrying her through the sky only to be caught firmly in a pair of arms.
Kang Woo had wrapped her in a sudden, almost casual hug. His cloak rippled around them, fluttering like dark wings against the thin, freezing air at nine thousand one hundred meters up.
He leaned close, his voice in a teasing drawl. "What is it, princess? Are you feeling lonely?"
Makima stared up at him, eyes deadpanned, not blinking despite the blood drying on her skin. She didn't speak—but the look she gave him said everything: I'm not letting you go.
Kang Woo only grinned, unfazed by the stinging winds or the thin air. With a snap of his fingers, a ripple of dark power spread through the sky. From swirling shadows emerged an enormous demonic horse—Elder Geryon. Its hide was as black as a starless void, glowing blue horns spiraling back over its skull, and a mane of ethereal blue flames streaming like ribbons in the wind. Its hooves sparked small arcs of lightning with every step on the unseen currents of the night sky.
Without missing a beat, Kang Woo swung himself into the saddle.
Makima didn't hesitate. She climbed up behind him, sliding her arms firmly around his waist. Her cheek rested lightly against his back as she closed her eyes.
In the hush of the sky, her wounds began to seal themselves—tiny cuts knitting shut, blood vanishing. Her breathing steadied, calmer with every second that passed.
Kang Woo glanced over his shoulder. He felt the soft press of her arms, the warmth of her closeness.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. He said nothing.
Instead, he simply faced forward again and nudged Elder Geryon onward. The demonic horse carried them both, galloping silently through the sky , streaking like a shooting star across the endless tapestry of Tokyo's night sky.