Visions of specters assaulted his peace of mind. They flashed across his thoughts like lightning splitting the clouds. He helplessly sprinted faster, he believed he could outrun them, but they somehow stuck right to his side. He shook his head and flinched his body to avoid them. The permanent etch of fear on their features, he thought he could forget, he thought he could ignore, but it was relentless, and it was all his own mistakes.

Behind him manifested the figure of something familiar, perhaps even while in his stupor, something that felt comforting. He could sense it, but he was afraid to see it. The urge to glace back for just a moment consumed him and when it spoke to him, he couldn't put it off anymore.

"The baton…I have to pass you the baton…" his gaze drew back, and his stomach sank. He saw her. Her head, but it was illuminated by a fiery glow and detached from her proper body. Her face was absolutely lifeless.

"No…No!" he could barely draw his breath before releasing blood chilling screams. Instinctively he bolted faster than he had been. His steps were thoughtless and brash, he couldn't focus on anything that wasn't the dreadful sight that afflicted him.

In his haste he hadn't noticed a thin stand of web setting in his path. His arm got snagged under it and the next thing he knew he was rolling head over tail dismantling the spider's web as he barreled through it. The sticky substance laced his body, but he was too frenzied to remove it properly. He couldn't stop now he needed to keep charging on. He felt the world closing in on him and the web only increased this feeling of confinement.

"Hey! Hey you! What's your problem huh!?" the sound of an irritated woman clashed in his ears, but he didn't seek it out. All he wanted was to hurry and keep going.

The female being proved to be a stubborn one, she followed after him charged by her indignation. Devilman was the quicker of the two, but she put up a solid showdown anyway, as she managed to keep right on his heels. He heard the clicking of her pace and how it was building its way closer to him.

"You stronger devils think you can do whatever you want with no regard to the rest of us! I'm sick of it! I'll knock some sense into you if it's the last thing I do, you hear!"

He huffed and glanced back at her, the annoyance apparent on his expression. When their tense stares lastly came together something immediately awaked in both of them. It was like a dusty memory traced in fuzz but they both could feel it. Their hearts racketing in their chests, the flush of the wind blew around them, and the pounding of adrenaline, the smell of hot rubber and sweat, it was in both of them. But from where? Neither of them could tell, but this had happened before, in some time, in some place, they had raced together once before.

The harshness that had decorated them both now melted away. They slowed to a stop, squinting at one another up and down for whatever recognition they could find.

Taking in her appearance, she had many arachnid qualities, aside from the few glimpses of humanity left to her body. She had breasts on her back and dark red hair that was spread out and tangled. Overall, she looked rough, but then again so did he, he didn't know the last time he could take the time to groom his unkempt fur. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't place a human face to her. Regardless he felt solace now that she was here. The horrific images that had burdened him before had all but receded for the time.

"Hey, d-do I know you?" the spider Devilman questioned.

"I don't know, I was wondering that myself, you seem familiar?" he replied.

"Yeah, from somewhere…" she trailed in thought.

They both became a tad gentler in their demeanors as they each eyed the other down. Eventually the spider demoness let her figure deflate slightly.

"Hey, why were you tearing through here like a bull seeing red anyway? You made a mess of my web."

"Oh, yeah well I-I uh," he stuttered feeling sheepish. "I'm sorry about that, I honestly don't know how to explain it, I had a particularly bad encounter recently. I just really wanted to get away, I guess."

"Hmm, well I've had a few of those," she laughed softly attempting to ease his agitation. The look he gave her was appreciative but remorseful.

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" he asked, coming to his feet and dusting himself off.

"Nah, I was needing to relocate anyway, bad neighborhood ya know," she said, returning to her more spirited tone.

"I think you'll have a hard time finding anything better around here."

"Maybe, but where else do you go?" she shrugged before a brightness spread her eyes. "Hey, you know maybe there is something you can do for me. There's a lot of demons that get in my way and slow down my work, maybe you can stick with me and watch my back till I get all settled again. You're a strong one, aren't you?"

He couldn't help but smirk with a roll of his eyes, "I think that can be arranged. Where are you wanting to go?"

"Don't know yet, guess we're stuck together till I find something," she jested. "Here I know a quieter spot where we might be able to get some rest for the time being, follow me."

He followed her lead and despite a handful of smaller demons popping up, the journey was fairly pleasant. They were going further down the pit of Hell then Devilman himself had been before. For the first time in a long time, he could have sworn there was something akin to civilization in the distance. The sight was like a fortress that had an intimidating perimeter of high parapets.

"What's that? Is that where we're going?" he asked.

"Hmm, that? No, that's just the City of Dis, it draws a lot of demons so we're staying on its outskirts and going around."

"The City of Dis?"

"Yeah, we're really making some progress big guy, we made it to the sixth level. It gets a bit rougher the further down you go but it keeps the weaker devils off you at least."

The Devilman was going to question her further but the ground beneath him began to shudder, displacing his train of thought. He didn't like the feeling of it, whatever it was it was pretty sizable and sounded as forceful as thunder. The Devilwomen froze upon noticing it herself, she inched closer to her companion as her gaze narrowed.

Thumping over the horizon, came the red shape of a hulking bull. Instantly the Devilman raised baring his defenses. The woman was startled by his reaction, but even more surprised by the approaching devil, somehow, they both recognized him.

The bull devilman clomped to a halt, he seemed to be experiencing the same sense of recognition that they were. His baffled expression soon crumpled into one of disdain. It was clear he wanted to pass them by and ignore the memories their sight inflicted upon him, but something impelled him to linger.

"Hey, I know you two…" he snorted and stamped his hoof into the ground.

"I know you too. I remember, you betrayed us…" Devilman said with contempt. There was a bitterness that tugged the red bull back, but also a retaliation that distorted his features.

"Yeah, and why wouldn't I. Only the strong get what they want in this world. You really think either of you are strong enough for a second chance, don't make me laugh!"

The woman's face lit up with cautious interest.

"Second chance?" she whispered quiet enough that neither of the other two heard. The male devilman seemed unphased and stared his past foe down with daggers.

"I think so. I don't remember a lot from when I was alive, but I do remember you, and I remember I killed you, easily. You were like nothing!"

"You think you can win my place from me? Huh!?" the bull began to aim his horns. The blue muscular devilman spread his wings and readied himself to lunge, but the legs of the Devilwomen came down to block his way.

"Wait, what do you mean a second chance?" she asked sternly. For a split second their rival seemed genuinely lost.

"Oh, don't worry about it, they've all gone crazy," her traveling partner cut in with a huff. "That's what the other demons have been spouting too, he's as good as one of them anyway!"

"Wait a minute, you mean you two weren't going to the Cocytus?" he practically squeaked out.

"See they've all been mentioning that too, that Cocytus! I'm sick of hearing about it!"

The opposing devilman abandoned his braced footing and lifted his form in slow understanding. His eyes brightened before slitting again with an odious smirk.

"You idiots, and here I thought you were threats," he choked back on his own laughter. "Neither of you even know!"

"Know what!?" she barked.

"Like I'd tell either of you and ruin my chances. I'm wasting too much time on you two anyway. I need to be going, you both stay down here and rot where you belong!" he tromped his hooves and started a gallop. Devilman irritated, didn't let him get far, he grasped him by the back leg and flipped him over his shoulder landing the bull onto his back.

"I think you will tell me, or else I'll just make you! Your choice!" the Devilman demanded. His rival seemed staggered by the sudden outburst and perhaps even afraid, but he channeled those feelings into adrenaline landing a hard kick to the Devilman's stomach.

"Hey!" the Devilwoman bolstered her standing as she witnessed her friend go flying back and the bull of a devil return to his feet.

The red devilman enraged set his horns towards the Devilwomen she took a breath and just as he was about to gore her, she bounded over and onto his back. She pierced him on both sides with her sharp legs and clung to him as he thrashed and spun uncontrollably.

Soon, the opposing devilman thought up an idea, he began to dash forward and once he built up enough speed, he tossed himself to the ground landing perfectly to crush the screaming devilwomen. He rolled to a stand and saw her lying there in pain. A grin of satisfaction came to his face. He then shook his head and dug his hoof into the ground one last time. He began to rush her, preparing to give the final blow, she knew he was coming but no longer had the strength to avoid the attack.

She shut her eyes and readied herself for what was to come, but what she expected never arrived. Instead, she heard a booming thud and felt the dirt kick up around her. She swiftly looked back at what had taken place and before her was the bull devilman laying wiped out on his side. He seemed just as bewildered as her.

She noticed there was an odd black liquid on the ground he had slipped on, and it was now coating the devilman's side. Next to her just behind a pile of stones the Devilwomen could have sworn she had heard something flee away, but that acknowledgement didn't last as her assailant was working to get back up. He was panting heavily but the grimace on his face glowered at her still. He roared as he lifted his horn to strike down and gouge her. Once again, his assault was interrupted, only this time it was no mystery.

Blood spewed from the slashes across his face and he howled in pain. The champion devilman had returned and was now holding back the bovine by his horns. He didn't falter and began to force the foe's horns to bend in an unnatural way sending him into an excruciating spiral.

"No! Stop, stop please!" he sobbed but he was too late. In a petrifying split his horns were broken off and threw aside as Devilman pushed his maw shut to the ground.

"You done being a pain in the ass yet? I swear I can make this much worse for you!" Devilman snarled.

With an unsettled groan of defeat the red devil let his body go limp. He sucked up as much of his tears as he could then parted his lips to speak.

"Okay, okay look I'll talk but you have to let me go after, it's really important!"

"We'll hear what you have to say and go from there," Devilman spoke severely as he clutched his talons further into his opponent's snout. The human face of the rival clenched his teeth in torment.

"Alright listen, I had to beat it out of so many demons before I got the whole story. But I found out, if you make it to the Cocytus and are deemed strong enough, there's a chance you can be reborn."

"Oh, please I've heard that. Why would anyone want to go back, it's Hell on Earth now anyway!" he scoffed. The female devilman while recuperating from her battle was listening earnestly in hope, but it slipped slightly hearing that.

"No, that's what you don't get! I thought like you too, but then I found out the best part, the part they don't want you to know. The Earth has been reset!"

Both the Devilman and women's gazes grew, his face especially radiated with a glow of faith he hadn't known in what felt like centuries.

"What do you mean the Earth has been reset?" The blue devil's voice, for that split second, became as frail as a child's.

"The world is back, time reset and is playing all over again, it's like a time loop, and I need to get back as soon as possible! If I don't make it back soon, I'll be too late to fix all my mistakes. I told you everything I know now let me go please! Please…" he sounded on the verge of tears again.

Something inside the heroic devilman caved hearing his foe's quivering voice, and his eyes softened. He turned away and exhaled releasing the bull from his talon. The female devilman gasped quietly.

"…Get out of here."

The red devil's face was full of disbelief, he couldn't even move his limbs for a moment, but then all at once he gained the means of movement and didn't waste a minute of it. Before the other two devilmen knew it, the opposing devilman was off in a sprint. Without even taking a glance back, he was gone. The dark blue figure didn't care, he came to his friend and examined her wounds.

"Man, he really got you. I'm sorry I wasn't a better protector, it's not something I seem to be very good at," he sounded down. The woman just shook her head and tried to summon her peppier tone.

"It's okay, I'll be okay, it's not your fault. I'm actually glad."

He looked at her and tilted his head, listening to hear more.

"I'm glad because the world's back, there's a chance we can go home!" she smiled. The Devilman had a perplexed gaze as it was all starting to hit him. The pure feeling of elation and weightlessness that came with this revelation felt unreal to him, he couldn't even grasp the possibility, yet there it was.

"A chance to go home? It sounds great, as a matter of fact it sounds too good to be true, do you really think it's real?"

"Well what else do we have to lose?" she said bluntly. That was all the explanation he needed allowing a tiny glow to perk his features.

"Yeah…yeah!" he said happily scooping her up. "We shouldn't waste our time here, I'll carry you until you heal. We'll go back together!" he began to walk on, but he felt something slink beneath his feet.

He looked down over his companion to see a puddle of back oil-like liquid. His face turned in disgust as he tiptoed around it.

"Eww, what is this?"

His friend seemed to notice as well and took a glace down to what it was that grossed him out so much. Her expression jumped up with remembrance as she inhaled an acute breath.

"Hey, that reminds me, there was something that saved me before you came. I don't know what it was, but I think it left that ink stuff."

The larger demon cocked his head to one side inspecting the trail of black residue.

"Hmm, I'll have you wait right here, okay? I'll be right back," he said, placing her down.

His eyes wandered over the line again as he began to follow it. Along with the splatters of inky liquid there a smell with it and its source wasn't far. Something about the smell sent the Devilman's heart into his throat, he became more determined to find out what or who this being was. As he approached the peak of the scent he was stopped by a boulder and the sound of whimpers echoed from just beyond it. His blood began to race as he slowly and calmly sneaked a peek behind the rock.

He gasped when he saw it. There before him, cowering in the stone's corner, was a young squid looking devilman. It had tentacles and a strange black tail with a red orb on the end that was all coiling around its tan blob of a body. What caught the hero devilman's attention most was its large brown eyes on either side of it's head quaking in fear.

"P-please don't h-hurt me…" it sniveled out. The larger devilman could feel his heart sway like it had once in a dream. His posture lowered and his face eased as he steadily extended his hand.

"You're okay, I won't hurt you. You saved her, didn't you?" his voice was benign. It was enough to have the boy relax some and consider the larger Devilman's gesture. He gulped and slowly reached one of his tentacles out to contact his hand.

"Y-yes," he answered.

"That's good, that's great, we're very thankful. Why did you want to save her?" he kept up the conversation as he began to coax him out. There was a strong and instantaneous affinity the Devilman felt towards the Devilboy, he couldn't put it in rational thought, but he felt like family.

"I guess cause she was your friend, so I wanted to help her," he answered unsure. Devilman had led the boy out from his hiding spot and was now walking him back down to join with the Devilwomen, the boy seeming subdued enough to follow.

"Well, that was very nice of you. What got you so interested in me?" he asked with a surmise that this boy had been following him for some time now. If he had too, he'd go as far as to suspect the Devilboy may have been accompanying him since the rocky areas after he had left his army behind.

"You're really strong, and I thought. Well, I thought maybe you wouldn't hurt me, I don't know why…" his view dropped to the ground. Devilman allowed a small smile to form as he put his arm around where the boy's shoulder would normally be.

"It doesn't matter why, you were right. I won't hurt you. As a matter of fact, I'll do everything I can to protect you, alright?"

"Really!" a shining ray of hope glistened in his eyes. The mightier of the two replied with a hearty nod, to which the boy instantly shown with a face of relief and gratefulness. As they began to reach the Devilwomen again she lifted herself as much as she could to get a better view at who was now with her fellow traveler.

"Hey, take a look at your knight in shining armor! He's going to be coming with us."

The lady seemed a little stunned at first, but she hastily came around smiling at the younger devil.

"Aren't you brave, I have a lot to thank you for, you know that?"

He wriggled behind the Devilman's leg slightly with a bashful expression, "Aww, it was nothing."

The blue devil held a look of pride plucking the spider back up and into his arms. He gestured his head for the boy to follow as they took off once again.

"So where are we going?"

Both the Devilman and women exchanged affirming looks, before the male beamed back down to the boy.

"We're going to stop and let her heal up, but after that we're going to the Cocytus."