Anxious thoughts led to sloppy mistakes. With Asa Mitaka on his mind, Cael failed to dodge in time. To be precise, he almost did. Almost did not count.
Humans had limits, and right now he was painfully aware of them. In human form, Cael's agility was only 50, nothing compared to his Chainsaw Man state.
Pain tore through his arm as it was severed cleanly. Blood sprayed uncontrollably from the stump.
"Shit," Cael muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Poison?"
Clang.
A thick brown limb slammed upward, sending a manhole cover flying. A massive devil forced itself out of the sewer, squeezing through the narrow opening with disgusting ease.
It looked like a gigantic leech. Over six meters tall, its body segmented and slick, tentacles as thick as buckets writhing around it. Its head was bloated and ugly, with a repulsive middle part that made it look even worse.
Onlookers who had been watching the chaos scattered instantly.
The Leech Devil laughed, its voice wet and shrill.
"Jie jie jie! Not poison. My saliva stops blood from clotting. Just lie there and bleed to death!"
Cael snorted. "Bleed to death? You're hilarious."
A miniature Dark Hole formed at his wrist, swallowing the spraying blood. With controlled effort, Cael activated Liberation, forcing the blood back into his veins.
The Leech Devil's mouthparts twitched, rows of sharp teeth grinding together.
"You filthy human butcher! You killed my precious bat! We were supposed to eat all humans together!"
Ding! Host has allocated 25 attribute points to Agility.
Agility: 75
Cael yanked the starter cord and transformed into Chainsaw Man, his arm regenerating instantly. Then he reverted back to human form just as quickly.
If he stayed transformed, this thing would be dead in a second. It'd be too easy.
He needed to get used to fighting as a human.
Otherwise, the next ambush might actually kill him.
Stepping over chunks of the Bat Devil's corpse, Cael lifted his chin, eyes sharp and taunting.
"Go on, keep talking. You don't have many chances left."
The Leech Devil glared at him, hatred boiling over.
Then its expression twisted into a grotesque smile.
"You're actually pretty cute. I don't miss that bat so much anymore."
Cael grimaced. "I don't take compliments from sewer trash."
He circled the devil slowly, staying ten meters out, thinking.
In human form, Dark Hole Liberation was his strongest move. Unfortunately, it took time. He needed to absorb something first, and the stronger the absorption, the stronger the release.
Absorbing buildings took too long and risked collateral damage. That trick only worked when no civilians were around.
Which meant the ideal scenario was simple. Let the enemy use its strongest move, absorb it, then send it right back.
The problem was obvious.
What if the enemy did not give him that chance?
What if it just crushed him outright?
The Leech Devil's thick tongue slid across its mouth.
"Listen, human. Mate with me, and I'll let you live."
Cael's face twitched.
What the actual fuck.
"I'll mate your ass straight into hell," Cael snapped. "Who would want to screw something that smells like a clogged toilet?"
The Leech Devil screeched in fury.
"Ungrateful bastard! Die!"
It charged, massive tentacles whipping forward with crushing force.
Cael clenched his fists. "Good. I was bored."
No time for fancy planning.
Melee it was.
"Dark Water!"
A powerful suction force erupted around Cael, pulling the Leech Devil toward him even faster.
"Jie jie! You're rushing me? You're insane!"
The tentacle came down like a hammer.
Cael did not dodge.
Dark energy wrapped around his fist as he punched straight forward.
"You think a human punch can hurt me?"
"Oh, I know it can."
Boom.
The tentacle twisted violently, torn apart and swallowed whole by the Dark Hole.
The Leech Devil screamed in agony.
"How is this possible?!"
Cael smirked. "Did you miss how your ex got folded?"
Close combat was where Cael thrived. Human or Chainsaw Man, it did not matter.
If he landed a hit, he tore something off.
At that moment, Asa Mitaka limped out of the mall.
She had followed Yoru's urging, hoping to find Chainsaw Man.
Instead, she saw Cael locked in battle with the Leech Devil.
"Yoru, help him!" Asa shouted. "Please!"
Yoru stared, unimpressed.
"Tch. Are you blind? He's not losing."
Her gaze sharpened as she focused on the black aura surrounding Cael.
That power was wrong. Dangerous.
How could an Undertaker be this strong?
Did he contract with a Primal Fear?
Devils born from fundamental terror. Darkness, aging, falling, fire. Devils that had never died, not even once.
Asa clenched her fists. "Devils cheat! What if it sneak attacks him?"
Yoru scoffed, still irritated.
She had nearly died earlier because Asa refused to turn the cat into a weapon. Guilt made weapons stronger, and Asa's hesitation had cost her.
Damn it.
This was all Asa's fault.
"I already taught you how," Yoru snapped. "Turn something you own into a weapon. I'm not helping."
"My own things…" Asa whispered.
Her thoughts raced.
Something that belonged to her.
Right now.
Her face flushed.
Her hand tightened around the brown jacket she was wearing.
Yoru frowned. "What are you doing?"
Asa swallowed, face burning red, and shouted,
"Jacket Compound Bow!"
---