"Beep, beep, beep!!"
"Get out of the way!!"
"The brakes failed!"
The truck driver hammered his palm against the horn, his foot stomping wildly on the brake pedal. But nothing could stop the truck from hurtling toward Arata at high speed. Realizing he couldn't get out of the way in time, Arata dropped flat onto the road. The truck barreled over him, slamming into the already out-of-control car ahead, sending both vehicles skidding down the road.
"Are you trying to kill someone?!" Arai sprinted over and yanked the truck driver out of his cab.
"It's not my fault! The truck suddenly went out of control; the steering wheel wouldn't respond to anything I did!" the driver cried, looking utterly bewildered.
Arata rolled out from under the truck, stood up, and asked, "What about Himeno and the others?"
"They were knocked unconscious by the collision. I didn't know what was going on, so I didn't have Denji transform."
"Arata-senpai, did you catch the guy who was driving the car that hit us on purpose?"
"No. I checked the vehicle—there was nobody behind the wheel."
"Nobody in the car? Does that mean the car started itself just to ram us?"
"What are you all talking about? Shouldn't we call the police?"
"We're Public Safety Devil Hunters. This road is compromised," Arata said.
"Public Safety Devil Hunters! You mean there's a devil here?" The truck driver looked around in a panic. "My whole family depends on me making money with this truck! I can't stay here!"
He tried to flee, but found that no matter how hard he pulled, the truck doors wouldn't budge. Just then, the truck's headlights flared to life. The vehicle began to reverse rapidly.
"What's happening!!"
Before anyone could process it, the truck roared back toward the three of them at top speed. Realizing the danger of every vehicle on the road, Arata grabbed the driver and tossed him off the road; the man tumbled down the slope into a safe spot. Arai transformed into the Minotaur Warrior, bracing himself to take the impact head-on. He was sent flying ten meters away, and in the next second, the truck rolled right over his body.
"AGH!!"
While the truck was mid-turn, Arata scrambled to throw Arai to safety as well. Now, only Arata stood on the road, facing off against the truck.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the Car Devil."
Arata stood his ground and took a massive, deep breath. His abdomen expanded like a balloon. As the truck finished its turn and charged again, he unleashed a powerful sonic blast. The collision was instantaneous—the truck was obliterated into shrapnel, its engine parts flying into the sky along with the truck driver's dreams of making a living.
Beep, beep.
Another car approached from behind. Arata spun around. It was a family of three, and they were driving quite slowly—nothing like a runaway vehicle.
"What's happening up there?" The man stopped his car beside Arata.
"There's a devil up ahead. I suggest you don't go any further."
"A devil!" The family turned pale with fear. "Where is it?"
"Not sure. Might be dead, might have escaped."
"That means it's safe, then," the woman in the passenger seat said. "Hurry up and drive past. I'm in a rush to get to the office."
"Don't move. I'll check ahead first," Arata warned.
"I don't have time! Hurry up and drive. Besides, I don't see half a devil out there. It's more dangerous just sitting here!"
The man hesitated, but under his wife's constant prodding, he decided to risk it. He pressed the gas, and the car zipped past Arata.
"HEY!! DON'T GO OVER THERE!" Arata shouted, but the man had no intention of stopping.
But the moment the car crossed the debris of the previous truck, it screeched to a halt.
"Hurry up and drive! I heard there wasn't a devil near here," the woman complained.
The man was drenched in sweat, repeatedly slamming on the gas. "I'm trying! But the engine won't start!"
He tried to restart the ignition, but the car remained dead. Then, the headlights flashed on. The car, which had been heading downhill, spun around on the spot, turning its front bumper toward Arata, carrying the family with it. It didn't think Arata would dare use his sonic blast again.
Arata knew the consequences: if he used the blast, the family of three would definitely meet their maker. He also noticed the pattern—every car's lights flared before it went rogue. The headlights had to be the Car Devil's eyes.
As the car closed in, Arata leaped to the side, then vanished, cloaking himself in invisibility. When the Car Devil turned to face him, it found no target and stalled, scanning the surroundings. Taking advantage of the pause, Arata's blade-claws pierced directly into the headlight housing. A shrill, agonizing shriek erupted from under the hood.
Having found the host, Arata ripped the hood off. A beating heart was wrapped around the engine. Arata didn't hesitate—he yanked the heart from the engine block and smashed it into the dirt.
The family inside sat frozen in terror, unable to move a muscle. Because the corpse was in their blind spot, they didn't see it sink into the ground.
"The devil is dead. You can drive away now," Arata tapped the car window.
"Th... thank you," the man stammered. The car crawled forward at a snail's pace.
"Hey, wait!"
"What now?"
Arata pulled the back door open and tossed the crumpled hood back into the car. "You forgot this. Hurry up and drive."
As the family sped off, the sound of a chainsaw erupted from below. Denji came charging up the slope.
"Master! What about the car!!"
"The devil is dead. Tell Arai to carry the others up."
Knowing the battle was over, Denji canceled his transformation and carried the still-unconscious Kobeni up the slope. Himeno and Arai helped each other up, bruised and battered, while the truck driver was mostly unhurt, though his spirit was broken after seeing his truck reduced to scrap metal.
"Arata, what happened to your car?" Himeno asked.
"It was possessed by the Car Devil."
"The Car Devil!!"
"Exactly. It can control any vehicle, but I've killed it."
"Master, can you wake Kobeni up?"
"Kobeni needs rest. Don't wake her blindly—just keep carrying her."
"Arata, how are we getting back?"
"Wait for a ride. Someone will probably pass by eventually."
No sooner had he spoken than another car appeared behind them. Himeno reached out to flag it down, but her arm dropped the moment she saw the trailer behind it was filled with pigs.
"As long as we get back to the city, I'll ride a pig-truck if I have to."
"Himeno-senpai, let's just go. Kobeni needs treatment," Arai insisted.
"I'm allergic to pigs, so I have to sit in the front. Sorry, you'll have to squeeze in the back." Without waiting, Arata claimed the only passenger seat.
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