Cael stared at the familiar movie marquee that read Heartbreak, Flowers and Chainsaws and for a moment couldn't help but laugh despite himself. How ironic. What was this supposed to be? Were they making a film about his own life?
"Sir, why do you look unhappy even though you won the grand prize?" a girl in a peaked cap asked, tilting her head curiously.
"It's nothing," Cael replied. "I just ran into some trouble and I'm feeling a bit down."
The girl looked momentarily disappointed, then smiled brightly."No matter what difficulties you face, life must go on. Face it with a smile. Boys who smile often have good luck!"
"Yeah, thank you," Cael forced a small smile and nodded. It would've been rude to keep a long face after such a kind wish.
He left the donation station and began walking without a destination, gazing up at the clear sky.
"Luck, huh…" he murmured, then sighed.
"If luck was really that useful, could it make Asa forgive me…?"
Ding! host has allocated 100 luck attribute points
Luck: 299 (max)
Luck attribute has exceeded 200. 'Dark Water' Stage I → 'Dark Water' Stage II (When the host defeats a Devil/Fiend/Weapon Human, they can randomly extract one of its special abilities)
Dark Water Stage II lets you extract abilities? Cael thought. Funny, Blackbeard technically stole Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit in one go, so I guess it makes sense…
But despite gaining a near‑absurd ability, his mood stayed low. His heartbreak lingered. His relationship with Asa had fallen from heaven straight into hell. The contrast stung too much.
Slap!
A heavy hand thumped Cael's shoulder from behind.
"Hey! Prime minister's hand!"
"Hmm?" The familiar tone made Cael turn around. There stood Hayakawa Aki and Power, fresh from patrol.
"Oh, it's Power and Aki," Cael said, forcing a smile. "What a coincidence."
Aki nodded once — that was her greeting. She wasn't big on words.
Power leaned in close, sniffing dramatically. Devils and fiends had quirky senses. "Prime minister's hand," she said, "why do you smell like a wet dog? And why the sour face? Did your girlfriend dump you?"
Cael blinked. "Huh? Are you actually a genius, Power?"
"Ha! I was right!" Power stood proudly, hands on her hips.
Aki lit a cigarette, urging, "Power, we still have work. Let's go."
But reasoning with Power was like arguing with a tornado. "Hey! I have an idea!" she said, looping an arm around Aki. "Prime minister's hand, how about Braid Girl and I become your girlfriends? Braid Girl's strong and cute. And me? I'm the perfect combo of both."
Aki yanked Power's arm off. "Power, be serious!"
"Or I'll hand you over to Makima and have you locked up for life." Power smirked.
Cael let out a tired sigh. Even this nonsensical duo couldn't make him laugh — that was how genuinely heartbroken he was.
"So, you gonna hunt a devil or what?" Cael asked, regaining some composure and looking at Aki.
"That's right." Aki nodded. "Public Safety got a civilian hunter report of a powerful devil nearby. Power and I are heading there."
Aki had been grinding hard for merits so she could be part of the Gun Devil suppression. Her old partner, Himeno, was busy training recruits, so Makima had suggested she team with Angel — which had been… unpleasant. Angel was strong, but lazy. So Aki went with Power instead, at least she was full of energy.
Power wiped her nose. "Just watch. I'll solo that devil."
Cael thought it over. "I'll join you. One more body makes it easier." He wasn't sure what he was aiming for anymore, so killing devils felt like venting.
"Heartbreak makes a person diligent?" Aki sounded like the sun had risen in the west. Cael didn't press that.
A short while later, they reached the reported location.
Boom!!!
Blinding flames speared from a nearby skyscraper. Human screams echoed through the square.
An enormous devil hovered outside the building — at least fifty meters long. Three pairs of thick crimson legs bulged with grotesque muscle. Its head and chest were sheathed in a pale white skeleton. Several wings buzzed on its back, louder than helicopter blades.
The thing hung out like a monster guarding its feast. A massive crimson arm reached inside the building, sparks and crackling energy flying everywhere.
The devil yanked up helpless people and tossed them into its gaping maw.
Aki's eyes narrowed. "On this scale?"
Had this thing eaten part of the Gun Devil? It sure looked that gross.
Aki closed her left eye and made a hand sign. "Kon."
A faint shadow of the Fox Devil appeared… then immediately vanished.
"It smells like that guy. Disgusting. Aki, if you make me swallow that thing, forget ever using my power again," the Fox Devil warned.
"Fox, you're bailing again?!" Aki snapped. "Why even have a contract with me?!"
The Fox Devil didn't argue. She just had problems — lots of them. There were tons of Fox Devil contractors in Public Safety, so why was Aki using her so much? And always making her swallow nasty stuff? She wasn't dealing with this cockroach‑Gun Devil monstrosity.
Aki was annoyed, but didn't slow her pace. She drew her lifespan katana and ran toward the devil.
Power charged up with her Blood Hammer three times her height, licking her lips like a kid with a sugar rush. "Showdown! Showdown! Showdown!"
Cael looked from the devil to the two of them. Was all that noise really necessary just to fight trash?
Crack. Crack.
Cael stretched his limbs, pulled the starter cord.
"Tsk, what a waste of time. Let's just bury it already."
Click. Vroom!!!
A black flash shot behind him and instantly passed Power and Aki.
Cael couldn't fly — but to smack this trash around, he didn't need to.
Shing!
Black chainsaw chains shot out, embedding deep into the Cockroach Devil's ribs. The chain retracted, yanking Cael forward at high speed.
Slash, slash!
Two of the devil's legs were cut clean off. A rain of blood splattered down.
"Aaaagh—!!!"
The Cockroach Devil shrieked.
"You—! Are you Chainsaw Man?!"
Cael stepped onto the devil's skull, eyes cool and indifferent.
"And your undertaker."
---