The Devilman was nestled atop his gravelly stoop, rustling up as much tranquility as he could in such unforgiving conditions. Even he knew it was too good to last, so when his perch began to tremble, he instinctively reared himself for a fight. He knew he couldn't indulge in his escapism any longer and so he didn't even bother.

Whatever was going on now, it was quaking the whole ridge. He clung to the rock face and slinked around the corner to get a better view. Down at the base it seemed like there was a scuffle going on between two colossal sized monsters of Hell. In a single pound from one of them, the Devilman felt the mighty stones he stood on turn to pebbles. He caught himself with his wings and flew above the altercation. He tried to steer himself away, but that wasn't as easy as he'd hoped.

He squinted his eyes feeling the grainy dirt kicked up from the beast's fight irritate his vision. One was hurled into the other flinging its tail into the air leaving its mark on the fleeing Devilman. He was thumped to the ground by the contact, the worst place to be. Their feet randomly stomped leaving the Devilman to weave in and out of their steps. He could barely see with all the dust in the air, but he could hear nearby creatures, presumably mixed into the chaos just by proximity much like himself.

"Are you out there, where did you guys go!"

"I'm over here, follow my voice!"

"Are there anymore devilmen out there?" The disembodied voices called through the dust storm grabbing the Devilman's interest.

"Other devilmen?" The possibility urged him. If these truly were other devilmen he was surrounded by then he vowed to save them as well. He needed to clear the area and find them. Sticking his talons deep into the ground he flapped his wings feverishly blowing away all the nearby filth from the air. He could begin to see the other beings, upon seeing them his eyes became awe struck, feeling a strong sense of comradery. He knew these other beings; he couldn't recall their names, but he distinctly recognized their features and how they had aided him in the previous war.

"Hey! Over here! Follow me!" he ordered. He unclenched his claws from the ground and took off flying overhead of them. A round of audible gasp could be heard from the group as they eagerly followed after him.

"It's you, our leader!"

"We've finally found you!"

"We'll follow you anywhere sir!"

The Devilman flew before the group, slashing through rocks and debris ensuring them a safe path forward, but the path behind was much less certain. The Devilman general noticed a shadow fall over him, and with it fell a dense apprehension.

Whipping his head back he witnessed the giant foot of one of the sparing monsters coming down to smash right on top of them. He grit his teeth and instructed the others to keep going. The flare of battle ignited within him as did his fear. The gigantic mass that was this hellish monster was something even he was intimidated by. But the frightened cries of his comrades was enough to silence that precaution. He rushed between his men and the oncoming danger thoughtlessly, he put his arms up and winced anticipating the impact.

When the collision crashed down a swift gust of wind blew out in all directions and a crater formed to split and rattle the ground. Hurdled forward by the blast, the rest of the devilman struggled to make sense of what became of their leader. They stumbled to their feet and to each other hectically.

The others soon realized something was noticeably off, it was as if the quarrel had been suddenly frozen, or maybe the creature was. In that next moment, a powerful will threw the monster off its stance. The beast roared in confused ire as it stubbled about helplessly.

Through the haze, bloodied and hurting, he stood; the Devilman leader was clutching his torso in pain, but his stare was fierce and utterly fixed to his oversized foe. He huffed and growled that accumulated to a full-blown roar of war.

The much larger opponent still dazed sought out the owner of such strength and followed the sound of his battle cry. Once it found him it halted and cocked its head to the side dumbfounded, but the Devilman didn't allow it the time to think twice.

He launched from the ground, circling laps higher and higher around the beast's body, all while letting his eternal flame erupt within him. The heat in his body intensified until fire began to trail behind him like a red-hot cloak. The creature tried to keep an eye on him but that proved difficult with its own rival still lunging relentlessly. The distraction was welcome for the Devilman, and once he was level with the monster's neck, he corralled all his built-up fire to his claws and talons. He grew a profane grin as he finally dove all his weight into the humongous flesh of the Hell monster, his blazing claws raking it right down the middle.

As the smoky air bellowed around him, he couldn't help but feel a flush of gratitude bringing such damage to a heartless creature ten times his size. He dug his claws in deeper the more he heard it scream. He enjoyed deflecting his own torment onto another, just for a moment, especially one that so carelessly trampled those much weaker than itself. He basked in the moment of bloodthirst, regardless of how much he might regret this means of satisfaction later.

The grotesque monster thrashed and contorted its damaged body, until one of its many clawed digits finally reached the Devilman and swiped him away. It was like everything snapped and the next thing the Devilman knew, he was being hurtled through the skies at an alarming rate. The only thing there to impede his acceleration was a hard and unforgiving cliff side.

A thundering clash clapped across the land, and a plume of powdery grime shrouded him as he rammed into the harsh precipice. He could feel each and every one of its jagged spade-like ridges cut into him. He grimaced, clutching himself as he eventually rolled to a stop. He nearly went off the edge of the opposite side, but his momentum had died out just in time.

He breathed and let his body lay drooped against the ground, he didn't want to move, all he could focus on was how hurt and tired he was. How so tired he was.

When he had to finally blink his eyes open feeling the world around him rumble, he observed a gapping trench that laid just before him. He realized then just how close he had come to falling over into it himself just mere moments ago.

The loud grumbling just over the mountain range continued and only got more apparent the longer it went on. He propped up on his elbow and tried to get a better glimpse at what was happening now.

On the horizon the Devilman could see that the immense beasts were still locked in combat but the monster he had left untouched was now dominating the battle. They were forcing each other back further and further. The Devilman would be lying if he hadn't hoped they would both force each other down the blacked channel and relieve him of this burden.

Suddenly the heathier of the two creatures had managed to pin the other, the constrained beast cried out, still spilling from its belly. The injured being lay wrestling desperately with the other as the one on top placed his claws to its neck and pushed its head down into the gorge, applying greater and greater force. It was then something clicked within the Devilman's mind.

His eyes raced to pinpoint the weakest spot on the unwounded Hell beast and once he found his mark, he tensed his muscles and kept his thoughts strictly to his distressed devilmen. As much as it killed him, he could bring himself to his feet and fight just a tiny bit more if it were for his brave and loyal comrades. He couldn't let them down again, not this time. He bared his fangs and readied himself.

A powerful thrust from his wings lifted him off. His flight was sloppy, feeling the soreness in his muscles gnawed at him, but he knew he had to put his feelings aside just long enough to carry out his task.

His gaze locked to his target and once he was high enough, he took a deep breath and pushed himself downward again, pulling his wings in tight. He rocketed down like a bullet, his speed spiking. When he was nearly on top of the monster's back, he flipped mid-air and struck his feet directly into its spine.

The sound of an acute crack wiped across the battlefield, sending shivers through all that heard it. Following right after was an ear-splitting wail as the monster scuffled piteously, its back broken in half.

The immense blow from the Devilman leader demolished even the ledge they had been struggling on creating a sudden landslide. Both of the beasts were being pulled down into the mouth of the seemingly bottomless canyon, and the Devilman along with them.

"Shit!" he panicked internally. His body was still pounding from inflicting the attack. He could hardly budge his arms and legs let alone his wings. When he did move it was insufferably slow like trying to wade through water. He crawled across the creature's body trying to run while he still could jump off and make it to land. It was a fleeting attempt as more and more of the giant's body spilled over the side faster than he could progress. He flinched with every step, he needed time to heal but time was not on his side, he had to force his body beyond its limits.

His heart raced when the last of the Hell monster came into his view, his last chance to jump ship and make it back to some form of safety was escaping him. He had no choice; he had to fly, he had to muster any energy he had left into his wings and just make it to the edge.

He could have hollered with the aching he felt. He clasped his fangs and squeezed his eyes shut as he fumbled into the air. More and more of the land came plummeting in after. All the Devilman could hope to do was stay high enough out of the way so as to not be hit, seeing as his aerial mobility was now greatly hindered.

He kept reminding himself over and over in his mind, "Just have to make it to the ledge, just make it to the ledge!"

He was surprised at just how successful this tactic proved to be so far; he was nearly there his goal was just out of his reach. His heart beat a tad stronger just from this single ray of hope alone. For a split second he was certain he could do it, but that certainty was challenged. A huge boulder hinged off the cliffside ahead of him, and just as everything was going so right it all came tumbling down. It was too large an obstacle for him to avoid in his current state. What was left of his heart was now sunk at the bottom of his stomach.

In the seconds before his oncoming demise, he couldn't help but think that this end could have been different. If he hadn't have stopped to save the devilmen, he would have likely come out of this situation unscathed. The awareness of this fact did not fill him with bitterness however, it was one of the first times in a long time he had truly felt that there was still at least a shred of humanity left within him. In a way he felt reassured. Despite the glaring possibility that he now too would be bound to an existence of endless punishment amongst the rest of the weakened souls, an ease came over him. He breathed in his last bit of peace and with it embraced his well awaited rest, closing his eyes and yielding to his fate.

"Guys, there he is, let's go!"

A loud crash awoke the Devilman from his musings. Around him scattered a multitude of small rocks and stones where the one large boulder should have been. Everything was suddenly moving so fast he couldn't hardly catch up. He felt two pairs of gentle claws grasp him midair and hoist him out of the death trap below. As he was being carried his gaze glanced into the abyss witnessing what had become of the monsters. With their bodies swallowed up by the darkness, the last remnant of their presence was their hysteric screams and a horrified gleam in their eyes that slowly faded into nothing.

The Devilman was utterly worn out. When he next tried to look to his saviors a tired fog muddled his sight, and soon everything else in the world tuned out as well.