The Typhoon Devil writhed in pain and hurled a bus straight at Asa.
She had no time to dodge. Gritting her teeth, she raised the greatsword to guard her side.
Bang!
A muffled groan escaped her lips as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The impact launched her backward, her body tumbling through the air.
"Hahaha!"
A bold smile spread across Asa's face midair. Rings formed within her pupils, and an A shaped scar appeared on her cheek.
Yoru's laughter rang out. "Hahaha! To think you could create such a powerful weapon with that ridiculous logic. Asa, you're a damn genius!"
Her hesitation before came from one simple problem, she lacked a reliable weapon. Now, thanks to Asa's twisted reasoning, she had forged something as absurd as the Taxi Sword.
With that, the tide had turned.
When it came to battle, it was only right for Yoru, the War Devil, to take control.
Screech!
Gripping the greatsword with one hand, Yoru swung. The tumbling bus split cleanly in two.
Boom!
The fuel tank ruptured and exploded, flames engulfing the wreckage.
Yoru strode out from the blaze, dragging her sword behind her. She brushed the fire from the hem of her clothes, rested the greatsword on her shoulder, and stared up at the Typhoon Devil.
"Have you decided how you want to die?"
The Typhoon Devil sneered. "Human, I met someone arrogant tonight. He died miserably."
Its dull senses and the strange nature of Asa and Yoru's shared body kept it from realizing it faced a devil.
Yoru clicked her tongue. "Spare me."
She charged again.
"You're asking for death!"
Whoosh!
The Typhoon Devil whipped debris into a violent storm and flung it at her.
But Yoru's agility dwarfed Asa's. She darted forward at blinding speed, using the scattered wreckage as footholds.
Puchi!
The Taxi Sword plunged deep into the Typhoon Devil's flesh. Blood erupted like a fountain.
Yoru smirked and drove a vicious kick into its body, using the recoil to launch herself upward.
"Soaring Dragon Slash!"
A single flash.
A gash dozens of meters long tore across the Typhoon Devil's massive form. Blood cascaded like a crimson waterfall. Entrails spilled out in heaps.
"Aaaaaah!"
"Damn human! What are you?!" the Typhoon Devil shrieked.
"Bingo." Suspended high in the air, gripping her sword, Yoru's smile turned playful. "Asa hates you. So your life belongs to me, the War Devil."
At Tokyo Fourth Higher Academy, Reze stood on the rooftop after finishing her fireworks setup. She watched the distant battle in silence. With a commotion that large, ignoring it was impossible.
"Lior's girlfriend," she murmured softly. "The War Devil, Asa Mitaka."
What timing. The Typhoon Devil she had recently taken under her command had run into Asa.
And it was losing.
Reze's expression grew complicated. By all logic, she should step in to save her subordinate. But the opponent was Asa Mitaka.
Anyone else would have been fine.
Not her.
It was not sentiment that stopped her.
It was her heart.
Her heart would not allow her to attack the War Devil.
Reze exhaled and gave the distant Typhoon a small wave. "Sorry. Go cool off in hell for a while. Don't pick a fight with her next time."
Vroom!
A chainsaw roared from another rooftop.
Reze turned.
Boom!
A black meteor shot across the night sky, plunging straight toward the battlefield.
She crouched at the edge of the roof, hugging her knees. "Fast. Almost as fast as me."
The Typhoon Devil was barely standing now, its massive body riddled with wounds.
Yoru bore her own injuries. Her clothes were torn and scorched, her skin scraped and bleeding.
Yet her grin only widened.
Using a taxi to cut down a Typhoon was exhilarating.
Terrified, the Typhoon Devil began to beg.
"I was wrong, War Devil. Spare me and I'll serve you. I'm useful, I swear."
Yoru smiled lazily. "Sure. I'll spare you."
"Really?" it asked, hope flooding its voice.
"Of course."
Relief flooded the Typhoon Devil. "Thank you! From now on, I'll serve you. You are my master!"
Yoru licked the blood from her lip. "I agreed. But I did not."
"What?"
Her laughter broke loose, wild and unhinged. "I've got dissociative identity disorder. Hahaha!"
In the next instant, control shifted back to Asa.
The Typhoon Devil was already on the brink of death. Even Asa could finish it now.
Her eyes were cold as she raised the greatsword.
"Sparing you is easy. Give me back my family."
"Huh?!"
Before the blade could fall, a terrifying black blur burst forward with deafening noise.
"Picking on Asa? Die!"
Swish. Swish. Swish.
The Typhoon Devil's scream eclipsed even its earlier wails. "It hurts! I'm going to die!"
Within moments, its enormous body collapsed inward, devoured completely until nothing remained.
Asa blinked. "Cael?"
"Chainsaw Man," Yoru muttered through clenched teeth.
A notification echoed in Cael's mind.
Ding. The host has killed the Typhoon Devil and gained 120 attribute points.
Ability extracted, Howl. Create a super Typhoon with a one kilometer radius and maximum wind force of level 17 centered on the user.
Cael inhaled sharply.
That was one hell of an ability.
Still, that was not what mattered right now.
He returned to human form and looked at Asa, who avoided his gaze, her eyes shifting nervously.
"You're hurt," he said softly.
Asa discarded the Taxi Sword and pressed her lips together. "It's nothing. Just a scratch."
Cael exhaled slowly.
At least she was speaking to him.
Good.
"It's late. Why are you still out?" he asked.
"I forgot something at school," she replied quietly. She refused to admit she had come for their photo. That would be humiliating.
"Let's grab it together."
He removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "It's cold. Wear this."
"Asa, that's Chainsaw Man's coat. Don't take it," Yoru snapped inside her head.
Asa ignored her and slipped her arms into the sleeves. "Thank you. It's fine. I don't need to get it tonight."
She had already accomplished what she wanted.
She saw him.
Silence settled between them, heavy but gentle.
At the same time, they looked up and spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."