World Reaction

Meanwhile, in America, atop Vought Tower, Stormfront, also known as Klara Risinger, stood beside Madelyn Stillwell. The two women watched the news unfolding from Japan, their expressions dark and filled with intrigue.

The broadcast echoed throughout the room: "Our personnel at the Public Safety Devil Hunter division, led by Commander Makima, have just saved us from what seemed to be an apocalyptic event. The incident involved an entity that, from my observation of its four upward-pointing horns, I've dubbed the 'King of Devils.' This name was inspired by theories from our own Miri Sugo, one of Japan's devil hunter personnel."

The reporter continued, their voice brimming with tension. "Eyewitnesses described seeing Commander Makima unleash some kind of radiant bullet from her hand, which shattered a massive boulder-sized sword created by the King of Devils. The sword, traveling at mach speed, nearly obliterated a large radius of the city before it was intercepted. It was like a meteor crashing down from the heavens."

Stormfront scowled, turning to Madelyn with disdain. "Didn't I tell you to make sure the Prime Minister of Japan severed his contract with Makima?" she spat, frustration evident in her tone.

Madelyn Stillwell, always calm and composed, sighed. "I did," she replied, her voice measured. "I even ensured that he made the call. He was confident that Makima had been left powerless… But clearly, something's changed." Her eyes narrowed as she recalled their last encounter. "The last time I saw her, she blew off my leg. But there was something different about her then—she had a single dark wing and a red halo above her head."

Stormfront's eyes flickered with intrigue, but her expression remained guarded. "A wing and a halo? Are we talking about some kind of… evolution or new power?"

Madelyn then said, her tone calm but with an edge, "I don't know about any of that. My expertise is with Supes, nothing more. Besides, since you were the one who suggested using this plan in the first place, let's not forget: it was you who pointed out that the Prime Minister of Japan had a contract with Makima, the Control Devil herself." She paused, giving Stormfront a pointed look. "And, by the way, I did some digging into your past, using my own network."

Stormfront's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What are you getting at?"

Madelyn leaned in slightly, her gaze never wavering. "Do you truly understand the extent of Makima's abilities? Because that's precisely why you couldn't kill Kishibe back then, isn't it? The very man who killed your brother, Klaus Risinger, in the past."

Stormfront's eyes flared with rage, lightning crackling in her fingertips. In an instant, she hurled a bolt of electricity that sizzled through the air, narrowly missing Madelyn and scorching the floor beside her.

"Watch your mouth, you American human," Stormfront hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Without me, you'd never have earned Stan Edgar's good graces—"

Madelyn didn't flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms and smirked. "Go ahead. Make your move. But perhaps you need a reminder: I'm the one who keeps Homelander in line. I'm the one who can give him orders. So, know your place, supremacist."

Stormfront's eyes narrowed further, her voice cold and calculated. "I know very well that in the past, Makima didn't have abilities like that. Not from what I remember."

Madelyn's patience snapped, and she raised her voice. "From what you remember ? 'From what you remember ,'" she repeated sharply, emphasizing the words. "If she's evolved, if what you say is true, then she might already be on to us. She can borrow the sight and hearing of every creature under her control. Do you have any idea what that means?" Her voice wavered, frustration mixing with genuine fear. "I'm just a human. You Supes have no idea what it's like to be this weak, to be this… vulnerable."

Stormfront seemed poised to argue, but suddenly her attention shifted to the television screen. The news broadcast continued, and the reporter's voice filled the room:

"Eyewitnesses claim that Makima was saved by an unknown figure—a man shrouded in black mist, with an ominous, dark hand. They described him conjuring what looked like a miniature sun, which he hurled at the King of Devils, launching it into space. Following this, both the black mist man and Makima ascended into the sky, transforming into a dark comet streaked with red, resembling a fiery shooting star. The people of Japan especially in Tokyo are now celebrating Makima as a hero, cheering her name and declaring her the new savior of Tokyo."

Stormfront's lips twisted into a sinister grin as she thought, No matter how powerful you are, Makima, once people stop fearing you, your control will wane. Your power hinges on their perception of you.

Madelyn, noticing Stormfront's expression, demanded, "Why are you smiling, huh?"

Stormfront turned her gaze back to Madelyn, her grin not faltering. "Because," she said slowly, "we're in the same boat now. Let's discuss a new plan."

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At the Public Safety Devil Hunter HQ in Tokyo, Kishibe, Aki, and Himeno sat quietly in the cafeteria. The tension was thick in the air, and nobody had spoken for a while, each lost in their own thoughts about the recent chaos.

Himeno, unable to take the silence any longer, was the first to break it. "Mr. Kishibe," she began cautiously, "why are we not in prison? We technically attacked personnel who were guarding the Prime Minister and… let Makima take his leg."

Kishibe, unfazed, casually opened his metal flask and took a swig of alcohol. He wiped his mouth and looked at Himeno with a tired grin. "You should ask yourselves why your shadows, both yours and Aki's, suddenly grow larger whenever someone with hostile intent comes near you," he said, his voice rough but laced with a hint of amusement.

Aki's eyes widened slightly, and he leaned forward. "It's Kang Woo, isn't it?" he said, almost to himself. "He's so proficient with his shadow abilities that even when he's not here, he's protecting us."

Aki's eyes filled with a hopeful determination, and he leaned forward, almost pleading. "Mr. Kishibe, can you ask Kang Woo to make me stronger?" he asked earnestly. "I mean, he wields all those incredible powers. Surely, he could teach us something, right? Like... give us a chance to really fight on his level." His voice was sincere, the kind of desperate request a student makes to a teacher they deeply respect.

Kishibe sighed, taking another long drink from his flask before responding. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Aki. Kang Woo is beyond the scope of any power system I understand." He scratched his head and leaned back in his chair. "From what the Hell Devil told me, Kang Woo is a legend in Hell. More like an urban tale, really. And only three devils truly know about him: the Hell Devil himself, the Chainsaw Devil, and… your Fox Devil, Aki."

Aki's eyes widened even further at this revelation, and Himeno listened with rapt attention.

Kishibe continued, "For the kind of power you're talking about, I do have an idea—something that could at least give you superhuman strength."

Aki frowned. "I don't want power that comes from a blue gallon," he said, referring to the risky Compound V. "You told me it only works on kids, not adults like us. And it has too many side effects."

The tension in the cafeteria spiked as Fumiko appeared, her overly friendly demeanor clashing with the somber atmosphere. "Hello," she greeted, trying to sound casual, though Aki and Himeno couldn't hide their irritation. "Like I said, we can't dwell on the past forever. We should move toward a better future. Oh, and ahem—the higher-ups of Japan want to see you."

Aki and Himeno exchanged a brief, annoyed glance, choosing to ignore her, just as Kishibe did. Kishibe continued as if she hadn't interrupted, "Well, Kang Woo mentioned he's working on his own version of the substance. A safer one for adults, so you can transition into having the strength you need."

Before Aki could respond, they suddenly found themselves surrounded. Armed personnel flooded the cafeteria, weapons drawn and trained on them, their fingers twitching on the triggers. Fumiko's friendly smile twisted into a sinister one. "Looks like you're going to die," she said mockingly. "Didn't hear my first conversation, did you?"

Aki's gaze flicked downward, and his eyes narrowed as he noticed his shadow shifting, an ominous energy swirling from its depths. From the dark abyss emerged a monstrous hound, Baskerville, with eyes glowing like embers and jaws lined with jagged teeth.

The armed personnel, who had confidently surrounded Aki, Himeno, and Kishibe, immediately faltered as the Baskerville hound emerged from Aki's shadow.

"What the hell is that?!" one of the soldiers shouted, his voice cracking with terror.

Another soldier's grip on his gun wavered, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Is that... a monster dog?! It's looking right at us!" he stammered, stumbling backward.

A third soldier, his face ghostly pale, muttered, "I-I didn't sign up to face something like this! We're supposed to be dealing with devil hunters, not... whatever that thing is!"

The Baskerville hound's eyes glowed ominously, and its presence seemed to suck the air out of the room. One of the soldiers dropped his gun in panic, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "Holy shit... it's like staring into the abyss," he whispered, his knees buckling.

Even Fumiko, who had tried to exude confidence moments before, fell to the floor, clutching her chest as she gasped for breath. Her face twisted with fear, her bravado gone. "What... what is that?" she choked out, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide with dread.

Suddenly, another presence manifested beside Aki. A black and dark purple starfish-like creature appeared, its six black-tipped, scaly probes jutting out menacingly. In the center of its grotesque form was a massive red-orange eye, with six blood-red lines extending from the eye and pulsing along its limbs. This entity, Doom Eye, radiated an otherworldly malice. (Image here)

It spoke, its voice echoing like a thousand whispers overlapping. "Looks like you're in trouble, Aki."

Himeno, completely unfazed by the monstrous sight, lit up with childlike excitement. "Waaah, how cute you are, Kang Woo!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying none of the fear the soldiers were feeling.

Doom Eye's massive eye rolled slightly, as if exasperated. "Only a fragment of my consciousness resides in this starfish form," it explained with a strange air of dignity. Then, shifting to a more commanding tone, it declared, "Hound, kill them instantly—but spare that woman, Fumiko."

The Baskerville hound's ears perked up at the command, and with a nightmarish speed, it lunged at the armed personnel. Its mouth, a void of black emptiness filled with jagged, otherworldly teeth, opened wide and swallowed the soldiers whole. There was no blood, no screams—just silence as they vanished, erased from existence as if they had never been.

Fumiko remained on the ground, her breath coming in panicked gasps. She clutched at her chest, her face pale and eyes wide with terror, realizing just how close she had come to sharing the same fate.

Aki now stood less than half a meter away from Fumiko, who was trembling with fear and rage.

 "If you harm me," Fumiko shrieked, her voice cracking with desperation, "you'll be imprisoned for life and banished from Japan! I have orders directly from the Prime Minister—"

Before she could finish, Aki delivered a swift kick to her face, knocking out one of her teeth. Fumiko's words were cut off with a yelp, and she fell back, clutching her mouth in shock and pain.

Aki turned to Himeno with a playful grin. "Himeno-senpai, if I win in this kicking game, what will you wager?"

Himeno's eyes glinted mischievously as she leaned forward, her lips curling into an evil smile. "If I win, you have to buy me a mountain of smokes: cigarettes, pipes, cigars… and an obscene amount of alcohol."

Aki chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. Both of them seemed ready to turn their shared annoyance into a twisted form of entertainment, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of their little game.

Fumiko, still sprawled on the floor, pleaded desperately, "Wait! Wait! Please forgive me—"

Doom Eye and Kishibe watched the scene unfold from their seats. Doom Eye's massive eye twinkled with what could only be described as pride. "I'm so proud of them," it said. "They're becoming more and more like me."

Kishibe sighed, taking another swig from his flask. "Makima being corrupted by your bad influence is bad enough," he muttered. "I really don't need my students turning into little versions of you too."

Doom Eye floated quietly, its massive red eye shifting slightly as it regarded Kishibe's words.

Kishibe took another slow sip from his flask, then nodded at Aki and Himeno, who were still relishing their little game of "interrogation." He turned back to Doom Eye. "Aki's been talking about wanting you to teach him. He's hungry for more strength—to protect the ones he cares about and to settle his score with the Gun Devil."

Doom Eye hovered silently for a moment, its eye narrowing. "It's impossible," it replied in a calm, yet cryptic tone. "For the people of this world, wielding my power is… beyond reach." It paused, as if lost in thought. "Or at least, that's what the old me would have said."

Kishibe raised an eyebrow, a faint grin creeping onto his face. "And yet, the news didn't hold back on mentioning the 'black mist man' who saved Makima. When you both flew straight up into the sky, it created a dark comet with a red shooting star." He leaned forward, his grin turning into a knowing smirk. "Hiding yourself again, huh? Even though we saw you with our own eyes, rescuing her and us from Lucifero. What's with all the secrecy?"

Doom Eye held Kishibe's gaze without a word, the silence between them charged. After a moment, it floated upward, slightly further from the ground, maintaining its air of mystery.

Kishibe let the silence linger, giving a small, knowing nod. "Ah, I get it," he muttered, almost to himself, as if accepting Doom Eye's response. "Saving the reveal for the right moment, huh?"

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Meanwhile, on the bustling streets of Tokyo, Makima and Kang Woo strolled side by side, having just transported via Kang Woo's Authority of Gates. Makima held Lucius's grimoire in one hand, flipping through its pages with a curious gaze.

"Blood, bone, body magic…" she murmured, a hint of intrigue in her tone. "All of them… magic, huh?" She paused, noticing a blank section in the grimoire. "But the page on soul magic is empty."

Kang Woo remained silent, his expression unreadable as he walked beside her.

Makima continued to flip through the grimoire, her fingers lingering over the empty section on soul magic. She remembered her second awakening trait, Soul Dominion Enchantment, ranked SSS—a power that had revealed itself during her battle against Lucifero. With a surge of determination, she focused inward, channeling her negative energy and blending it with her mana to awaken it once more.

A faint glow began to form at her fingertips, coalescing into a concentrated pulse of energy—a soul bullet. Just as she released it, the grimoire's center began to shine, the same brilliant light that marked Kang Woo's ownership now shifting subtly to Makima. Kang Woo felt a faint tug on his power, a slight sense of absence. Zogratis Legacy Magic had slipped away, as if the grimoire had responded to Makima's newfound mastery.

Kang Woo raised an eyebrow, thoughts racing. So, the book shifts ownership when certain conditions are met? Or, in this case, when Makima channels her soul Traits ?

Makima's breathing grew heavy, her strength momentarily drained. As the light within the book dimmed, the magic shifted back to Kang Woo, returning Zogratis Legacy Magic to him. Kang Woo offered her an approving nod.

"Not bad for a first try," Kang Woo said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Makima handed the grimoire back to Kang Woo, a faint sigh escaping her lips. "I can't maintain my soul traits for long… not like you, Kang Woo," she admitted, watching as the book's glow intensified once it was in his hands, transforming to an even brighter white.

Kang Woo gave her a reassuring nod. "Hey, at least in this world, your mana output is solid. Just remember to use your negative energy as a channel—it'll smooth out the mana flow. That's beginner-level advice, of course."

Makima raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, wonderful. Praise at a beginner level. I'm not 10,000 years old like you, Kang Woo."

Kang Woo smirked, his tone playful. "I have high standards, you know. But your mana capacity is on par with the highest-ranked devil of Qlipoth. You still have a lot to learn, but you're closer than most."

Kang Woo's smirk softened slightly, and he looked at Makima with a hint of amusement. "Tell me, you've got one soul in your body, right?"

Makima raised an eyebrow, her expression sarcastic. "Of course. Are you seriously asking that? Every sentient being has just one soul."

"Exactly," Kang Woo continued, unfazed by her teasing. "But with just that one soul, using your Soul Dominion Enchantment trait, you managed to steal my Zogratis Legacy Magic. The grimoire moved its allegiance to you, even though you're only at half my level."

Makima blinked, genuinely surprised. "Really? It actually moved to me?" She let out a skeptical laugh. "I mean, I'm level 45, and you're well, you're twice that."

Kang Woo chuckled. "The reason the book shined brighter when I held it is because my soul is always battle-ready. Plus, there's a little difference between us. Right now, I carry around 10 million souls in my body."

Makima recalled the fleeting, ghostly movements she'd seen in his pinky finger once, and her eyes widened. Kang Woo leaned in with a smirk. "Congrats. Your one soul? Turns out it's worth more than 10 million of mine."

Makima's smirk widened as she saw an opportunity and, with a glint of determination, snatched the grimoire right out of Kang Woo's hand. She held it up triumphantly, her voice taking on a playful tone. "Then, the grimoire is mine!" she declared, a touch of Nayuta's mischievous personality peeking through.

Kang Woo merely shrugged, his lips curling into a slight smile. "Okay, sure," he said nonchalantly. Then, without warning, he sliced the grimoire in half with a quick swipe of his hand.

Makima's eyes went wide, watching in shock as the book she had just claimed split into two. "Kang Woo, what are you doing?! You can't just—" she started, but stopped mid-sentence as the grimoire suddenly pieced itself back together in an instant, hovering in the air as if untouched.

Kang Woo gave her a smug look, then casually tossed the book high into the sky. To Makima's surprise, it floated right back down beside him, intact and untouched. He raised an eyebrow and, with a smirk, ripped the grimoire into shreds. Again, it reformed, as good as new, returning faithfully to his side.

"It sticks with me, Makima," he said, letting the book hover by his hand. "It'll always serve me… until maybe you can prove yourself worthy to truly claim it."

Makima crossed her arms and shot him an annoyed look, her lips forming a slight pout as she muttered, "That's just… cheating." She huffed, feigning disinterest as she glanced away, though the glint of challenge in her eyes was hard to miss.

Kang Woo chuckled, leaning a bit closer. "Jealous, are we?" he teased, enjoying her reaction.

Makima rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile breaking through. "Don't get too comfortable, Kang Woo. One day, that book will come to me," she replied with renewed determination. Then, without warning, she smiled brightly and pulled on his arm. "Come on, let's go get some pizza!" she said cheerfully.

Kang Woo's eyes softened as he was pulled along, noting with a hint of amusement in his thoughts, I showed her future self (nayuta) , and now she's starting to act like her… I like it.

Suddenly, a crowd of reporters appeared, surrounding them with cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward. They eagerly attempted to push Kang Woo aside to reach Makima, though none could even budge him as he stood his ground with an almost immovable presence. Despite the chaos, Makima held onto his hand, her grip unyielding.

One of the reporters leaned in, her voice filled with excitement. "Makima, the hero of Tokyo! How does it feel to be so famous?"

Makima remained silent, her expression unreadable. But as the cheers and praise grew louder, a small trickle of blood slipped from her nose. Kang Woo's eyes narrowed, his mood darkening. He understood the underlying issue: high-grade or low-grade, devils in this world shared a common vulnerability. If people forgot their fear of her — or, in this case, if they started seeing her as a hero her strength would wane.

He held her hand a little tighter, an unspoken reassurance passing between them as the crowd continued its praise.

As Makima and Kang Woo tried to make their way through the crowd, an American supe in dark tactical gear, Swatto, landed in front of them, blocking their path. He crossed his arms, his face hidden behind a dark visor. "Where do you think you're going? We're here to interview Makima, not some nobody," he sneered, glancing dismissively at Kang Woo.

Reporters surged around them, cameras flashing as they jostled for a closer shot. Voices mixed together, calling out variations of the same message:

"Makima! Please, just a quick statement for Tokyo!"

"Sir, could you please let her through? We're here for her, not you!"

"Move aside! Let us get a clear shot of Tokyo's new hero!"

Kang Woo kept his calm but tightened his grip on Makima's hand, his patience growing thin. Makima's eyes flickered with irritation, sensing the shift in his mood.

Swatto sneered even wider, stepping closer. "Listen, nameless guy. Why don't you make this easy and just go? Don't stand in the way of the real star." Then, with a sudden movement, he raised his hand toward Kang Woo's neck, aiming to grab him by the throat.

But before his hand could even make contact, a sickening snap echoed through the crowd. Swatto's hand was severed mid-motion, falling to the ground with a dull thud. The reporters gasped and stumbled back, some of them finally realizing that this was no ordinary man standing with Makima.

Kang Woo's eyes narrowed dangerously as he fixed Swatto with a deadly gaze. In a voice cold enough to chill the air around them, he spoke. "I'll give you one second. Move."

As Kang Woo took a single, deliberate step forward, a haunting CRACK echoed through the air, like glass shattering in slow motion. Each movement seemed to splinter reality itself, the pressure building with each step as his demonic aura flared around him, thick and suffocating. The reporters felt it immediately a cold weight pressing down on their chests, making it difficult to breathe.

Swatto's eyes widened in horror, his mind racing as he clutched his severed hand. What… what is he? he thought, trembling. This… this guy's no ordinary man! I shouldn't have messed with him!

The reporters, feeling the crushing weight of his aura, looked at each other in panic. Is he going to kill us too? a few thought, frozen in place. Why is it so hard to breathe…?

Kang Woo tightened his grip on Makima's hand, his voice dripping with cold disdain. "Your heads are too high."

Instantly, as if commanded by some unseen force, half of the reporters dropped to their knees, bowing in absolute submission, the Japanese among them bowing so low it bordered on dogeza. Swatto, still in shock, found himself joining them, the fear overwhelming his pride.

But the American reporters, resisting, kept their heads raised in one knee —until, in a single chilling moment, their heads were severed from their bodies, toppling to the ground one by one. Blood pooled at their feet, staining the street as those kneeling trembled, barely able to process what had happened.

Kang Woo smiled, a dark glint in his eyes. "Did you think one knee would be enough? The bows that bear the most weight hang the lowest, don't they?" His voice lowered to a menacing whisper. "But I guess you all are pretty lightweight."

Makima glanced at Kang Woo, a pleased grin spreading across her face. With the crowd's terror fueling her, she felt her strength returning in their fear.

Makima's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light as she turned her attention to Swatto, who was trembling visibly. "First, you, Supe," Makima's voice dripped with disdain. "Tell me, why has Vought grown so bold as to send one of their own into Japanese territory?"

A Japanese reporter nearby, clearly frightened by the rising tension, stammered, "W-We just wanted to interview the hero… and, uh, escort her to meet the Prime Minister. That's… that's all!" His voice wavered, his eyes darting between Kang Woo and Makima in terror.

Makima barely spared him a glance. In an instant, a dark flame ignited in her palm, and with a swift motion, she released it. The reporter barely had time to scream before he was engulfed, his form dissolving to ash as the fire consumed him entirely. The remaining reporters shrank back, faces pale with dread.

Swatto, watching the scene, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. He swallowed hard, his earlier arrogance replaced with a cowardly tremor. "W-Wait… fine! I'll tell you!" he stammered, his voice cracking. "Vought… they sent me—and soon The Seven will come too. Our orders are clear: capture you, Makima, and make you Vought's property!" His voice quivered as he struggled to maintain any semblance of composure, but fear had already taken hold.

Makima's eyes narrowed, a flash of disdain crossing her features. "Hmm, you were ordered to make me… property?"

Makima's gaze sharpened, a cold understanding settling in her eyes as she pieced everything together. The sudden contract severance from the Prime Minister, the betrayal that had left her nearly defenseless in Aokigahara Forest against Baba Yaga Devil, and now this audacious Supe sent by Vought… it was all connected. Vought was the puppet master, and Prime Minister Kentaro was merely a disposable pawn in their game.

At that moment, she felt Kang Woo's presence reach out to her, his telepathic voice resonating through the commandment embedded within her. "They know your weakness. As soon as people stop fearing you, they start seeing you as a hero, and that will weaken you. Just a shift in perception within Tokyo was enough to draw a nosebleed."

Makima's eyes flickered to Kang Woo, giving him a slight nod, her mind projecting her response. "The commandment you granted me is more than enough to counteract that vulnerability. I was careless this time."

Then, without hesitation, she tightened her grip on his hand , her voice steady and resolute, she said, "I'm fine, Kang Woo. But…" Her gaze turned forward, her expression unreadable. "I think this will spark a war between nations."

Makima then released his hand and gave a silent gesture to one of the reporters who had been kneeling, frozen in terror. Her unspoken command was clear: start the broadcast.

The reporter, visibly trembling, picked up his microphone, his voice quivering as he attempted to speak into the camera. "W-We're here in Tokyo… live… to interview our b-beloved commander of the Public Safety Devil Hunters—the hero of Tokyo, Makim—"

Before he could finish, Makima reached out and snatched the camera from his hands, her eyes cold and unwavering as she spoke directly into the lens.

"I quit from the Public Safety Devil Hunters," she declared, her voice echoing through the speakers with unshakable authority. "Our Prime Minister, Kentaro, is a coward who has sold this country to Vought, leaving me to die in the Aokigahara forest."

With a final, scornful glare, she crushed the camera in her hands, ending the broadcast. The broken fragments fell to the ground, the stunned crowd around her reeling in shock.

Kang Woo, watching the display with a satisfied smirk, nodded approvingly. "Building up your own fear immediately, huh? Not bad."