The crimson brute of a devil followed the distinct scent trail until he came to a stone overpass. He peeked over the towering rock face down to a less than threatening looking group of demon troops. They didn't even seem to notice him there, as they slacked off and chatted amongst themselves in what they thought was a private and secured area. Amon couldn't help but lift his winged ears to the gossip. They seemed to be complaining about their shared general, one Amon knew he recalled from so long ago.

"Yeah, that guy's been running me ragged. He makes us patrol all the time, and for what? Like anyone ever wants our pitiful excuse for turf, I don't care if it is supposed to be temporary!"

"Well, I think the general is just paranoid, you know? Over that Devilman guy, but even then, that's not our fault," the group murmured together in agreement. Amon couldn't help himself any longer, after all their conversation seemed to involve at least an extension of him now.

"Good news boys, you're off the hook! Devilman ain't gonna be nobody's concern tonight!" Amon boasted from his stoop. In a frenzy each of the foot soldiers looked up to see the impish smile of the legendary demon.

"It's…"

"It can't be…"

"Is that A-Am-" the devils were cut off as the hero demon jumped down from his perch. He was huge in comparison to the rest of them, the ground shuddered at his impact.

"Amon, yes! Just Amon." he confirmed confidently. He stood taller than them, crossing his arms stoutly against his chest.

The lower ranking demons were all muted and gapping in awe. When one finally found its voice again it was shaken.

"B-but you, you're supposed to be gone, l-lost forever?" the demon asked but immediately regretted it when Amon's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"I've been lost before…" the greater demon stated bluntly. "Now tell me, where is your general, Saylos?"

Each of the weaker demons eyed each other warily. All it took was a grunt from the mighty demon to remind them who it was they were dealing with. They all caved at once, delighting the ancient beast with the answer he desired.

"Report soldier!" A commanding voice barked.

"Yes sir, perimeter is clear. There has been no sign of any other demonic nor human activity on our borders as of tonight!" the demon replied surely.

"Good, and what of Devilman?" the general continued.

"There have been no sightings of Devilman all night sir!" the private affirmed. His general sighed a breath of relief, feeling at ease for the first time that whole evening.

"And there won't be, I assure you!" A voice boomed in, sending the general to lurch in shock. Amon stood with a cocky quirk of his brow high up in a tree, leaning against the huge trunk. Saylos's expression curdled. Without even granting his subordinate eye contact he slashed his head clean off with the sharp blade on his lower arm.

"No activity my ass…" he grumbled, twitching his tail peeved.

"Don't make soldiers like they used too, huh?" Amon scoffed. He scampered down the tree and met his old rival on ground level. "Man, makes you almost miss the days you had me around doesn't it?" Amon teased.

"I wouldn't go that far," Saylos grimaced.

"Nonsense, you remember that battle with that one Aquarians tribe we fought against so long ago?"

"Are you speaking of that battle where I told all of you to fall back and regroup, and instead you went off on your own and ended up flooding our whole base. That one!? Saylos grit his teeth.

Amon paused a moment before speaking again, "Hmph, well we won, didn't we?" His laughs were boisterous.

The thinner devil went unamused, remaining stiff where he stood, "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"I wasn't dead," Amon responded a tad miffed. "Just experimenting, but I'm taking a break from it now."

"Oh, kid had enough of you too?" Saylos tossed his head as he turned his attention to another task of his. He seemed to be overlooking a few of his men on a lower level, his face was underwhelmed. Amon's head wings laid back appearing perturbed as he flicked his tail.

"No, I left myself actually."

"Why got tired of life in a cage, again?" Saylos replied with only half his attention. Amon had a bit too much of this attitude now, he placed himself loudly in front of the blue demon general demanding his full awareness again.

"Because I wanted to, that's why. That's the only reason I need. It's the only reason I do anything!" Amon insisted proudly, bumping the general back slightly. Saylos seemed to be irked but still. For a moment there was no movement to him, aside from the gentle breeze rustling the tentacles dangling from his head. When he awakened from his frozen state he exhaled irritably.

"Wow it's incredible Amon, it truly is. In all these millions of years you've still somehow never changed. You're still the same cocky, bullheaded, rebellious, disobedient shit you were since you first emerged!"

Amon was oddly unphased, until a simmer rolled up his lip.

"Aww, thank you, I really tried you know," he smiled condescendingly with a chuckle, placing his arms over his chest. Saylos snarled and tried to shove his way around the vexing demon. "Oh, come now, you can at least admit I wasn't nearly as bad as those fools you have working for you now. Even with as short a time as I was assigned here," Amon went on.

"The day you got yourself kicked out of my army and sent up to fight with Zennon was the happiest day of my life actually! I'd take any of these slackers over you, just on the bases they got enough sense and fear in them to take orders!"

Amon was mildly taken back but kept up his lofty dementor. He slumped his head to the side, "That's ridiculous Saylos, I was the best thing that ever happened to you and you know it. You didn't even need an army when you had me, I was the army!"

"Yeah, and?" Saylos creased his features. "Strength is meaningless without order and you have none, you're a liability, and you wonder why you keep getting locked away!"

The playfulness that was once present in Amon's body language was now noticeably depleting. He didn't speak back yet; he kept his stare on his former general. Saylos backed away with a troubled breath, shaking his head. He didn't appear to grasp Amon's sudden change.

"Why are you even back here, really?" The sleeker devil finally asked.

Amon's gaze narrowed, as if questioning how he should answer. He cleared his throat and retook a portion of his smug airs.

"I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hello to an old comrade of mine," he nudged him cheekily. "Maybe start a fight or two, I've been itching for a good battle, and then catch up on all the demon news. After all I've been gone so long," Amon answered blasé with a shrug. He began walking around the clearing aimlessly, listening to Saylos's groan of disapproval.

"Not long enough," Saylos hissed. "If we're such good pals according to you, how about you do me a favor and get lost! No one here needs you, as a matter of fact I can't think of a demon that needs you anywhere!"

"Ha! Saylos you always did crack me up! I honestly wish I could say the same, seems like everybody always wanted a piece of me, well all except you. I mean I am the great hero champion demon himself!" Amon boasted through a toothy grin. He laid up against a fallen log stretching himself as contently as a cat.

Saylos's already disdainful expression somehow managed to sour further, as his stance straightened.

"I think it's safe to say after your colossal failure to save demonkind the first time, and you now being partially responsible for the deaths of countless devil's lives! I'd say you've outgrown that title of demonkind's greatest hero, don't you think!?"

Amon's body rose back up from its lazy slump to one on edge and tensed. The wings on his head were standing straight up until they eventually folded back angrily.

"Uh, no, I don't know where you got that misconstrued story, but I wasn't the one who failed. I would have battled God for demon's sake but you're oh so precious lord Lucifer got his glory-hog of a pasty ass in the way!" Amon spat.

"Don't speak of lord Satan in such a manner!" the general devil retaliated.

"I'll speak of that Lucifer as I please. He may have given himself a demon's name but he sure ain't one! Guy's just as bad as his daddy, I don't care if he did rebel against him!" Amon stood his ground.

"Well for someone so opposed to the great master, you sure do spend an awful lot of time around him!"

"Not of my own volition, I assure you!" Amon was quick to correct. "I don't want anything to do with that controlling egotistical maniac! Every time my host's around him I have to just tune out to stay sane! Hell knows he won't listen to me," Amon puffed tetchily.

"Even the great master is a worm to you. I hope lord Zennon's next on your list of casual visits because you need some sense beat into you, that's for sure!" he cursed. The tentacles on Saylos's head stood up slightly giving him a much more intimidating appearance.

"Like I'd willingly go see that self-proclaimed joke of a demon king, he knows he doesn't stand a chance against me anyway. That's why he never left me alone, thought he could tell me what to do!"

Saylos began to pace around the champion demon with a firm glare. Amon was far too familiar with the strategic walk the general was giving off. It seemed as if he was readying himself for a much more lethal confrontation, slowly circling and coming closer.

"So, everyone is beneath you then, huh, Amon? I mean I guess so, makes sense, after all you're supposed to be practically a god, right? The shadow of God himself as a matter of fact, The Devil!" Saylos spoke in a brash mocking tone.

Amon waited with his gaze alertly fixed to the general, but he could tell there were more of Saylos's demons pouring in. They listened to the argument in anticipation.

"Tell me then, why is it you've never lived up to your godly powers, hmm? Never in your existence have you ever proven yourself to be anything other than a dumb muscle headed demon. You're not comparable to the might of that merciless God. You would have lost to him if you hadn't chickened out, admit it!"

Amon's fur began to ruffle, and his fangs started to peek out from his frowning face.

"Don't talk about things you couldn't even begin to comprehend Saylos. My abilities can still baffle even me sometimes, and I don't think you're gonna like being on the receiving end of this one," he warned puckishly.

It was then the rest of Saylos's army began to become visible. Their eyes gleamed in the night as they steadily descended around the single devil like a pack of wolves.

"Oh, I think we can handle anything you're willing to dish out. I mean if a tiny little human twerp can, then how great really are you?" Saylos dug.

Amon's face flinched, feeling a sting in his chest.

"Ah, sorry was that one a little too obvious," Saylos snickered with his men along with him.

"You don't know him, or his strengths, just like you don't know mine," Amon smiled menacingly.

"What, you actually have respect for that human? Makes sense, you betrayed your own once, why not again? Is that boy the only one you let boss you around? Oh wait, there was someone else actually, wasn't there Amon?" Saylos's voice was vile.

Any mischievousness Amon had evaporated. Their little game was no longer for fun and he could tell it was about time for that battle he had been desiring. The general disregarded Amon's silence, knowing all too well of the old wounds he was tearing open.

"That's right, only one else you ever seemed to listen to was that damned crazy witch if I remember. How is she?" Saylos spoke as if he were twisting a knife.

Amon's taloned foot stomped down before the general. Saylos's heart clutched in an initial jolt of fear but knew this is what he had been building for. Amon radiated with a hateful energy as his body reared.

"You do not speak of her…" his voice rumbled severely. The ruthless general was setting himself up to respond but wasn't given the chance. In one swipe Amon had clawed the demon's lower jaw clean off. It was the army's signal to fight, but not without hesitation from every member.

Amon's fury ripped through the soldiers easily, even all together they made little impact against him. He fought with tooth and claw but the longer he went the more his otherworldly powers began to show through. He let his body think for him. He could breathe a ray of heat that turned the opposing forces to ash the moment it made contact, and spew sharp star-like fragments of energy at the retaliating horde. If the fight was unfair before it certainly was now. Amon felt fulfilled watching more and more of the blood of his enemies be spilled at his doing. He regained his wicked grin when he finally saw his last opponent standing.

Saylos's eyes shone with despise. The tentacles at his head came to life now tangling around him, he sent them flying at Amon. He grasped the robust demon and tried stabbing him with the rest of his tentacles. Amon swerved away from his attacks only receiving a few scratches. He then grabbed the general instead by his tentacles, Saylos felt a pinch of apprehension before being lifted off his feet. He was being spun around at a concerning velocity until Amon let go sending him propelling into the sky. The fabled demon took off after him, cutting Saylos repeatedly through the air.

Saylos at his wits end got control of himself in the sky and hovered there waiting to see if he could find Amon again. He figured he must have been hiding himself in the clouds, Saylos listening intently for any sign of the beastia coming near. When he lastly heard something bursting through the open air it didn't sound like Amon, he looked back to see what it was, but it was already too late. A massive, uprooted tree suddenly skewered him. He should have known better; Amon always did love his novelty tricks. Saylos struggled to free his impaled body but the ground was arriving faster than he could move. The echo of a thundering crash clapped across the forest bringing joy to Amon's blacked heart. He made hast after it.

Saylos fought to escape the ensnaring trap of branches feeling his injuries gush with blood. When he heard his rival approaching, he worked harder, standing his dagger-like tentacles on end. Amon viewed the demon general like the feeble prey he was. Even in his last moments of grappling he only managed to get a few good licks in before Amon got the better of him. His fist left a fatal blow through the demon general's torso. Saylos sputtered in agony, he couldn't speak but his eyes bore scornfully into the once heroic demon, until life left them.

Amon rose back up and wiped the deceased demon's innards off his arm, solemnly. He may have won but he didn't feel victorious. The fight itself was too easy to be satisfying, and there was now an unavoidable emptiness that he carried with him. He sighed and moved on. He felt the weight of time engrossing him, he had so much left to do and he feared he wouldn't achieve what he needed to. He knew he had one thing, one very important thing above all else he had to do, but he didn't even know where to start. She could be anywhere.

Amon drug his claws through his dark mane and stressfully breathed, but it was then he sensed a strong overbearing force. His antennas were picking up on something large, no, it wasn't one large thing it was a huge pack of smaller things. His head-wings jumped up, he began to hear it now off in the distance. He flew up to get a better look and what he saw baffled him. A sizable swarm of devils were all flying to one central location. Amon was now picking up on the summoning himself, he didn't know what all these demons were being gathered for, but he had a bad feeling about who was doing it. Still with so many demons, maybe that would make a good start for his search. Surely one of them had to know where she was. He had a bad feeling about the whole thing, but against his better judgement, he followed after them.

The lights of the highway darted by as Akira stared out the window anxiously. The traffic was hectic with the opposite side of the freeway being piled up with cars trying to move far from the direction they were heading. Akira had been directing Ryo to go this way though, he could sense something was very wrong, what exactly? He couldn't tell, but he knew a lot of demons were involved, and Amon among them. His stomach turned over.

"Hmm, it seems whatever's going on most people are distancing themselves from it," Ryo commented.

"It's not good Ryo, I'm worried something really bad is going to happen…" Akira confessed.

Ryo thought on that for a moment before starting again.

"Well do you think we're getting close yet?"

"Yeah…" Akira seemed distressed looking on through a troubled gaze. "Hey, do you think I could borrow your phone now? I really need to call Miki," he said as if he had been wanting to ask for some time now.

Ryo's brow quirked as he glanced over to his friend disapprovingly, but a sigh soon subdued that inceptive reaction. He pulled out his phone sluggishly before handing it over.

"Make it quick we have important business to worry about," Ryo instructed.

"Thank you, Ryo, and don't worry, I just need to let her know everything will be okay," Akira said, beginning to dial. Akira could hear the phone ring on the other end and his heart panged with it each time. A thousand things ran through his mind, but most of all he didn't want to scare Miki any more than he felt he already had been.

With a gulp he quickly whispered to Ryo, "Hey, you don't think she'll notice if my voice sounds different do y-"

"Makimura speaking," the sweet girl's voice cut in, instantly shutting up the panicking teen on the other end. He could hardly draw words. It was like the first time he had ever asked her out all over again, only much worse. He didn't have the devilish confidence he once did.

"M-Miki," he sounded too timid and he knew it, he cleared his throat and purposefully lowered his voice. "Miki, it's me Akira!" he said trying to strike his balance between the grizzled yet caring tone he usually had with her.

"Akira? Akira, where have you been, you haven't been answering any of my calls or texts, are you alright?"

He didn't like how worked up she sounded, and it was all his fault.

"I'm so sorry dear. I lost my phone; I'm using Ryo's right now."

There was a pause as he heard her exhale a long relieving breath.

"Oh Akira, w-what's going on with you babe, earlier you really didn't sound like yourself. You were really scaring Ryo, and me."

Akira's face crumpled slightly; it was exactly what he was afraid to hear. He clutched the loose wrinkles of his pants as he waited for the burning in his chest to subside enough for him to respond.

"I-I'm sorry Miki, the last thing I want to do is make you feel afraid, I'm supposed to protect you," he beat himself over in his head.

"Akira, it's alright, let me protect you this time. Just come home and we'll work it out, okay?" she offered.

Akira's body nearly shot out of his seat at the suggestion, but he stifled the concern in his voice.

"N-no, sweetheart, I can't. Ryo and I, well it's hard to explain, it's just really important Devilman business we have to take care of."

"Hmm, I understand…" her words were genuine but still tainted with disappointment.

"Miki…" Akira started feeling his own guilt nip at him. "I know I've been acting strange lately, I know you've been putting up with a lot from me, but I promise you I'll fix everything. I'll make it up to you tonight. I might be getting home late but when I do I swear I'll sweep you off your feet baby!" he attempted to sound more upbeat.

He heard her little giggle, and it warmed his expression.

"Akira you don't have to do anything extra, I just want you to be okay. If you're okay I'm okay," he could hear the hopefulness in her voice now.

"No, I will, I want to, it's my delight to treat my Miki dear," he gushed, and Ryo could have rolled his eyes. Miki was blushing on the other end feeling a flutter roll up from her stomach to form the smile on her lips.

"Aww, babe I love you," she said dotingly.

"I love you too."

Ryo finally began nudging his friend who seemed to be getting a bit too off subject now. The contact restarted Akira's urgency bringing him back to the reality of the mission.

"Oh, hey Miki I need to be going now, but I'll see you soon okay?"

"Sounds like a date," she affirmed.

"Alright, goodbye dear,"

"Bye babe," the click of the phone punctuated her departure. Akira sat and looked at the phone's blank screen with a pleased look on his face. Talking to her helped him feel just a tiny bit better, but any contentment he had just received all drained from him at once. Ryo's phone buzzed with an alert, taking both the boy's interests.

"This just in, a mysterious attack has been targeted at the small village of Ueno, just outside of Tokyo. Who is doing this or why is unknown, but the national guard has already been moving in to counteract these terrorists. We advise citizens to steer clear of the vicinity and to stay indoors at all costs…"

Akira and Ryo shared a look of disturbed understanding, and without need of words Ryo floored it. Akira put the phone away he didn't need to know anymore, his intuition had been enough.

"Looks like you were right Akira, we're not far from Ueno, it's just a ways further. We need to get their fast; they probably already have it blocked off; you know they'll try to cover up all the demonic activity. They've already wrote it off to terrorism."

"Yeah, I know," Akira gripped his hair with a distraught look on his face.

"What do you think they're trying to do, did Amon allude any of this to you at all?" Ryo questioned.

"No Ryo, I have no idea why any of this is happening, I just wish that…" Akira was stunned silent. Both him and Ryo were utterly breathless as they took in the sight of a once sleepy village going up in a blaze.