"Have you been able to track down any more devilmen?"
"Not so far,"
"Well, we thought we sensed a new one around here somewhere. You keep on searching, while the rest of us stay here and keep the area secure for our general."
The conversation was wobbly in his ears, but he could make it out for the most part and when his eyes creased open, it was the same way. There was a waxing gloss over his sight but the figures around him were beginning to solidify. He could start to feel his body, it was numb and locked in place, when he dared to stir it was like bending a rusty hinge. He was so inflexible it was as if he had been curled up in the same position for hours, but thankfully he didn't feel much pain anymore.
One of the devilmen looked back and noticed his consciousness.
She beamed and brought herself close to him, "Hey there, you're awake, it's an honor having you back sir!" She was a spunky girl and she looked mostly human aside from a large patch of swollen deformed skin that took up her torso. Her breasts and crotch seemed to have mouth-like openings that oozed an acidic substance. The Devilman leader tried not to regard it too much and kept the majority of his attention to where his own wounds were. It was remarkable, it was as if the injuries were never present to begin with, he couldn't recall the last time he was granted enough rest to let his body truly heal.
"How long have I been out?" he asked, raising up from the ball position he had been in.
"Only a day or so sir. For how banged up you were you sure did shine up nicely, and fast too. I wish I had regenerative properties that good."
"Ha, not fast enough for down here still," he weakly jested.
"Yeah, that's Hell for ya, but we've been keeping an eye on you. A brave general like you deserves the rest," she gave a small smile. He couldn't help but squirm away from their eye contact, he admired her enthusiasm, but it irked his conscious.
"That's absolutely right. You couldn't imagine how long we've been searching for you sir. A most joyous day this truly is," the cluster of Buddhist monks approached. The rest of the devilman group followed close behind him eagerly.
"We haven't been able to find everyone yet, spiritual energy is rampant in Hell making it harder to decipher our men. But we knew we were onto something special when we started to sense your energy nearby sir. You have a strong heart."
"Yeah, now that we got you back sir there's hope again for all devilmen!" a boisterous soldier piped up from the crowd. The others roared and cheered in unanimous agreement.
"Yes, our mighty general will deliver us out of Hell and to salvation!" another buoyant uproar swept through the troops. The Devilman leader frowned and looked away. He felt his insides turn wishing he could bring himself to celebrate with them, but he just couldn't.
The monks seemed to notice his uneasy demeanor, "Our general, does something trouble you?"
"I-I don't deserve this, I failed, I failed all of you…" he drooped his head.
A hush fell over the army, their enthusiasm slowly seeping away.
"Sir don't beat yourself up, it was not your fault. You bring us hope where we think there is none left to be found," the monks said gently.
The general huffed, "But why? There's nothing I can do, I can't change what's happened anymore, as much as I wish I could."
The monk's eyes widened releasing a tiny laugh of disbelief. The same surprised energy radiated off the rest of the Devilmen as well.
"Nothing? You think harnessing the power to defeat not only one, but two giants of Hell, just out of pure will and comradery for your fellow devilmen alone, is nothing sir?"
The leader's form deflated, but he didn't turn away.
The cluster of a devilman leaned down closer, "It seems you underestimate yourself. Having the ability and strength to fight off beings much greater than yourself in Hell is nothing to scoff at. Some might even call it impossible, yet here you are."
The Devilman general exhaled deeply as he rose to his feet completely. He overlooked his commending army, the pride he felt towards them was immeasurable, but so was his guilt. As respectful as they were, he could not bear it, for he knew despite their praise as their leader he had also led them to Hell.
He lingered there for some time searching for his words. The rest of the Devilmen seemed to grow ever more attentive the longer he waited there.
He gulped knowing he couldn't stall anymore, "Well, I guess I just want to say, thank you all so much, I couldn't have asked for better devilmen to fight alongside. I couldn't even begin to tell you all how grateful I am to all of you for looking after me. But there really is nothing left I can do for you, it's not like I can come back from the dead. I mean I would if I could, if by some miracle I could bring you all back to life with me I would in a heartbeat. I just don't have the faith in me like I once did…"
He could see the dismay rippling through them, he grimaced feeling their saddened eyes gazing up at him.
"You really don't think there's another way sir?" The devilman girl cried out. "Hell is full of secrets and legends sir, maybe we could find a way out? Don't you think? Could you still lead us then? We need you sir," she pleaded.
He felt a sharp cavity pierce his chest hearing the hope wither in her voice. He didn't want to respond but he felt the pressure of their stares implore him.
"I'm so sorry to disappoint you all, but I just…can't," the Devilman slumped closing his eyes. He could sense the despair rising off the devilmen like an icy steam. He just couldn't bring himself to face them full on any longer, he couldn't stand to see the spirits he had broken, but he couldn't leave yet, not like this.
He forced his eyes to meet them one last time, "I do want you all to keep looking for more devilmen. I want you to stay together and stay strong. At the very least I hope the suffering you all must endure is minimum. It has been my honor serving with you, and I am deeply sorry I couldn't bring you the justice you deserved," he finished flying away solemnly.
They were stunned silent, but the general didn't need to hear them to know their hurt. He flew faster, plowing through his shame until he was well out of sight.
Along his mindless roaming there were plenty of small fry foes, but none that took more than a second of his time. As much of a nuisance as they were, he was glad for anything that took his mind away even for a moment. As he reached the small summit of the hill he had been traveling, he kept his thoughts blank for he knew they would only lead to more pain anyway. Therefore, his attention remained wholly to his surroundings, and from them he noticed something odd.
He felt the presence of something he could have sworn was familiar. At first, he worried, for the energy was akin to that of a devilman. He recoiled thinking of having to turn away another of his soldiers, especially if they had followed him presumably this far. But this familiarity was not like that of his army, no it was closer than that somehow and far more frail.
He flipped his head back, keeping his guard up. Whatever was there fled leaving nothing but a small pile of pebbles to tumble away from it. Not even much of a scent remained.
The Devilman scowled and his tail flicked, a part of him was intrigued, but the other half of him had had its fill of letting others down for one day. A rough snort released him of his contemplation as he turned to carry on disregarding the encounter, hoping he wouldn't regret it later.
Continuing on he eventually came upon a small runoff; its water was brown and revolting in both scent and appearance. He crinkled his face into a foul expression and spread his wings. He figured he would just simply fly over the disgusting obstacle and be done with it. For the time it was an easy solution, and as he flew above, he noticed there were many rocks and skeletons floating in the polluted waters creating a dam of sorts. He figured they were the last remnants of the spillway's victims, an unfortunately regular sight these days.
He was nearly to the opposite side of the stream when something rapidly snatched his leg mid-air. It was like being suddenly chomped down on by a crocodile, yet far worse. The repugnant waters flowed upward all over him, encasing his body in a vice grip.
He snarled, attempting desperately to destroy the fluid's hold, but each time he tried to overpower it more of the liquid just came back to trap him again. The Devilman had a sinking suspension on who the cause of this attack was and when the sludge water took form that hunch was confirmed.
"Ghelmer!" the Devilman barked. The water demon was just as he recalled in shape, but his external body was made up of the darkened and dirty stream.
"Ah, it seems we meet again Devilman, what displeasing odds for you," his voice was just as slimy as his figure. The Devilman didn't waste a minute as the fire in his body flared setting the demon to boil. The tactic was effective in creating steam but seemed to do nothing in regard to weakening Ghelmer.
The demon cackled, "You want to try that again? Be my guest, you'll burn yourself out before you'll burn up all this water!"
As much as it soured him, Ghelmer was right, any of the liquid he evaporated would only be replaced by more water from the spillway. He hissed through his fangs searching for anything in his surroundings he could use to make a getaway. What he noticed nearly took the breath from him.
In the distant fog was a face, a tortured face, a face he swore he had once known. It creeped its way out of a pile of bones and drifted closer through the marshy water. The closer it came the more he could begin to see more troubled faces, more agonized souls. There was something excruciating stirring up inside of him, it felt like living a nightmare, he wanted to leave, he didn't want to see this. He kicked and clawed the imprisoning grasp of Ghelmer's body, but the form was just too malleable he couldn't break it.
His breathing became short and raspy, he felt like weak game in a hunter's trap watching the scene before him.
"Oh, what do we have here? Is that Devilman I see caught?" the second demon prodded. He recognized that voice, it was throaty and cold.
"Jinmen," he growled.
"Oh, so you remember me, how nice I must have been so important to you," he said with a detestable grin.
"Hey now Jinmen back off, this is my hunt!" Ghelmer finally gripped.
"I see that, I just thought I might join you for a moment. I've been meaning to return a favor to this one!" Jinmen's soulless eyes glowered down at the grappling devilman.
"Try anything I dare you! I'll rip that shell right off your back!" He yelled.
"Oh, hey now, you shouldn't talk like that, I think someone important is listening," he was coy with a taping look. The Devilman's insides festered, he wanted to rip his claws down the demon's smug patronizing face.
"I saw you notice her when I approached, it was this one wasn't it?" he said pointing out the pale and frightened face of an older woman. The Devilman did all he could to detract his gaze away from the sight, the look on her face made him feel just as miserable.
"Well don't be rude, why don't you greet her huh? I stopped on my way to the Cocytus just for this," the turtle cocked his head smiling and coming slightly closer. The Devilman tried to pull back but Ghelmer clasped him firmly in place.
"Oh wait, don't tell me, do you not remember her?" the demon relished in every word. The revelation struck the Devilman's nerves, he couldn't keep the distain from contorting features.
"That's just a shame, I remember her quite well, she was delicious!" the demonic reptile chortled.
"Shut up Jinmen!" the Devilman commanded.
"No, you must know her, and if not her what about this one? Perhaps you recall him?" Jinmen's claw hovered over another trembling face. This one belonging to the face of an older brown-haired man. The Devilman felt an unusual bond to this person as well, but like the women, he simply could not place him. No matter how much his heart begged, or his mind racked itself, there was a barricade between them and his memories.
"Hey I know! If you don't remember them let's see if they know you, why don't you show them your other face. I think they might be more familiar with it; wouldn't you say so Ghelmer?"
"Oh, most certainly, go ahead Devilman, you were once human, weren't you? Show them your human face." Ghelmer taunted. Jinmen began to beat his chest like an ape causing a hysteric rush of screams to come from his sea of faces.
"Come now, wake up, I need you two to take a close look at this one here for me!" he directed their panicked gazes to the Devilman, but their reactions were only in horror.
"Please don't hurt me anymore, keep it away from me!" the women cried.
"No more, I'm sick of demons, I don't want to see another of these monsters! Let us go, please!" the man shouted.
"No, I'm not a…" the Devilman was crushed. He began to seeth at the demon turtle with a low brow and exposed teeth. He loathed being reminded of everything that plagued him, his hate for the demons surged as he listened to them snicker.
"Aw, maybe you don't remember your human face either, what a pity, it was an honest attempt. These two don't seem to recognize you like this," Jinmen said.
"That really is too bad, you know, I bet that one girl wouldn't remember you like this either…" Ghelmer's tone was vile.
The Devilman's body stiffened immediately. Jinmen seemed somewhat lost but the reaction they got out of their hostage was enough for him to catch on.
"I figured you must recollect her right, she seemed so close to you, why don't you tell me her name, I don't think I ever caught it?"
The Devilman was shaking in anger, he breathed heavy in protest and spat through his clenched jaws.
"You should know her name, you loved her, didn't you?"
The Devilman felt every fiber of his being churn in wrath, he couldn't stand it any longer. He wanted to roar and tear them apart and reduce them back to the nothing they were. At the same time however, he knew that's exactly what they wanted. They wanted to see his agony, and they knew he was trapped just for their viewing pleasure. It sickened him to think of granting these horrible demons that which they craved so badly. He did all he could to pent-up his feelings in hopes of finding a promising means of escape.
"Guess she really wasn't so important to you…" Jinmen trailed off, knowing full well the particular sting of those words.
They both leaned closer to him, gapping wickedly, waiting for his inevitable reaction. The Devilman taken from his fury noticed this and a glint sparked in his eye. A newfound excitement lit up the Devilman's face as the now unaware turtle stood at arm's length. With all the power he possessed he shot his arms out of Ghelmer's whirlpool of a body and latched his claws into Jinmen's flesh.
An alarm was set off between the two demons as they hectically put up their defenses. Jinmen's tail came to swat and stab at the Devilman as he forced himself backward, but the Devilman wasn't letting loose. Ghelmer tried to pull him back into his grasp but the combination of Jinmen's struggling and Devilman's fire made it difficult, even with so much water on his side.
"Unhand me at once, you insignificant human!" Jinmen hollered.
With one last straining tug to free himself Jinmen went rolling backward and with him the enraged Devilman. Ghelmer was disoriented, being blasted open as the pair tumbled over one another until they came to the shoreline. Devilman held the terrified reptilian to the ground as his fingers scrapped under his shell. Jinmen felt the strong force heave at his back, he could feel his tendons rupturing and his bones being snapped apart. He practically gagged on his own shrieks as he slashed feverishly at his opponent to no benefit.
The Devilman couldn't keep the smile off his face as he finally pried the shell from Jinmen's worthless body, his blood soaking everywhere. Devilman could see the spirits flood out from the detached shell as they wafted upward calling out to him in thanks and joy. Where they would go the Devilman was unsure, but seeing their freedom allowed him some of his own. The turtle continued to softly object but there wasn't anything left he could do as he quietly slipped from consciousness. Devilman knew he would wake again once he regained his strength but at the very least, he was immobilized for now.
A shutter from Ghelmer once again retook the Devilman's attention. Ghelmer reared himself but in much less confidence than before, Devilman curled his lip in revulsion. He wasn't even worth his effort, instead of confronting the water devil he simply hurled the shell he took from Jinmen at the spillway's dam build-up. The impact crashed through the barrier allowing the murky water to flow once again. A concerned gasp left the demon as he was forced down the violent current.
"No! you'll regret this Devilman, when I'm born again, you'll be sorry!" he said, fighting the water that had once been his ally.
The Devilman didn't bother to see where he'd end up, he frankly didn't care he just wanted to get away. Cursed with the knowledge that these figures he'd seen only in dreams truly were real to him once, and how they had ended up because of him, was too much. He was compelled to run, whether it was to deliverance or away from damnation he had to move, he wanted it out of his head. His legs instinctively obeyed, it was like being in a daze he didn't know when, but he had ended up on all fours and was hastily beating his claws into the ground with each stride.
The presence of his ghosts hung over him, no matter how fast he went they were there. In that moment, the greatest predator had become his own fleeing prey.