"Miki, quick! Help the humans escape. I have to go and fight!" the commander ordered as he headed for her balcony. His body morphed as he did so, nearly being fully turned before he felt her hand grab ahold of his wrist.
"Akira!" she gasped his name. "Please be careful."
The devilman felt the seconds fly past him, but even still hearing her worry and care froze him for those mere moments.
"I will, and I'll see you soon," he confirmed. The next thing the witch knew he was gone and out the window. Her soul felt as empty as that room seeing him disappear. Her better judgment overrode her sentiment as her body as if on autopilot, turned about and obeyed his wishes. Her mind felt as if it was simply being dragged along, but not actually in action as the familiar house flew past her. Before she knew it, she took in the sight of the ground floor. There was a massive hole in the wall where the family's front door used to be. Debris was strewn everywhere, and chaos enclosed the small area. Miki could sense the presence of full-fledged demons and see their ugly forms through the opening. She could also make out devilmen, her friend, her brother, and her lover. Seeing them out there against that wave of opposition made her numb.
It was hard for the girl to peel her stare away from the commotion, but the sound of her screaming friends and family did the trick. She flipped around to see everyone was still thankfully alive and well, and standing before them all was Kukun. He was asking her parents where their back door was, telling them he would help them all try to avoid the demons.
Miki was happy to see this, she prepared to step in and help out, knowing they would need someone there to protect them. Just as she started to pick up her feet the devilcat suddenly leaped in front of her.
"Miki, I will help Kukun and the rest of the humans. Akira and the others need you," Tako said briskly.
The girl was taken back, processing her thoughts, "B-but Tako what can I do? I want to help them more than anything, but I'm not a devilman I-I can't-"
"No you're not a devilman, you're a witch. And a great enough witch can make even the most ferocious devil bend to their every whim or aid a devil to become even stronger. You got the making for one of the greats, don't waste it."
He didn't even await her reply. Miki watched in silence as the cat flew off to the group of scrambling people, helping them all evacuate.
"The back door is this way," Noel announced as Tako and Kukun heeded his words. The two stayed ahead, helping keep the other's spirits high.
"Come, I will keep you all safe. You must stay quiet and together!" Tako spoke. Not all were completely convinced by his declaration, however, as Wamu and his gang watched anxiously.
"Wait, why should we trust that thing? I don't know it, for all we know it could be taking us right to danger!"
"Yeah, why should we be following these guys! All they've done is lock us in a room and lead the monsters right to us!" Gabi added.
Right in the middle of their discourse Miki sensed something vile incoming. She knew Tako sensed it too and just as she whirled her head around, she could see it. One shot of eye contact was all it took for her familiar to understand completely. She directed her energy to him and in one blinding ray of light, the charging demon was dead before the humans even saw it coming. Its corpse fell to the ground in a heap as the people gawked down at it. Miki and Tako were relaxing their breath as they both faced the crowd once more. Wamu particularly made deep eye contact with the witch.
"If it helps at all, maybe you can trust me. I'm human after all," she said directing her statement to the gang leader.
He gulped; his shock silenced his words.
"You can trust me too, I've never steered you wrong before, right?" Kukun added.
Wamu acknowledged his friend, allowing his rigidness to dissipate. He glanced back to Miki giving her a nod. There was something so awe-striking about her, her bravery, her calm in a situation like this, her beauty. Whichever it was or all three, he just couldn't explain it, nor could he linger on it. He skimmed over his gang and the rest of the people before responding.
"Alright, let's get going then before any more of these bastards show up!" he said with a grin as he waved to the rest of his friends. The whole group of humans began to move out with Noel, Kukun, and Tako taking most of the lead.
The people relied on each other's knowledge, persistence, and courage. Watching them all come together despite their hesitancy, Miki felt a spark ignite within her. Her brow furrowed as she tightened her features. She turned on her heel as she stepped out through the large opening in her home's walls. Scanning the sky she searched for the one she needed.
"Miko, Taro watch your backs their going to try and swarm us from all around!" their commander yelled. His two faithful followers took his heed, but even with all their strength and vigilance, it was becoming more than they could handle. The last thing Akira wanted was to put his own at risk. He hated to put Miko and Taro in this position, any opportunity he got he threw himself in front of the danger. The devilman particularly made himself into a meat shield, just to keep them all protected.
The chatter and wicked laughs of the devil whipped around them like a frenzy, attempting to fill the small defensive group with doubt.
"Look at the poor devilmen. Just give in already!"
"Your efforts are futile!"
"You are no match for the demon council!"
Akira bared his teeth and cut through the rolls of small fry as they came. Killing them was easy, but their numbers were what proved overwhelming. Regardless the devilmen did not cave, they stood tall and continued to fight back against their opponents.
"Come on now girl, I can see you trembling!" a demon hissed.
Miko locked eyes with it and tapered her gaze. She didn't speak back to it, as her claws spoke plenty. Her sharp hooked legs came down to stab at the beastly creature. It avoided her first strike, but she had plenty of legs to spare and her enemy did not anticipate a barrage of attempts. Each one of her limbs all came after the first, making contact until the devil was riddled with wounds. It didn't live much longer from that and as much as she would have liked to, there was no time to relish in her accomplishment. The second a demon was dead another came for her instead. The devillady, took them on, again and again. She was doing fine for now, but deep down she feared for her endurance. Miko held onto the hope that Akira and the rest of them would come up with a solution and soon.
"You're quite small to be fighting a war?" A grotesque beast growled at the devilboy. "You should just quit, don't waste my time!"
Taro huffed, he didn't much care for the chatter as he grasped his tentacles around the devil. He held as tight as he could and pulled, attempting to rip the demon in half. The more he yanked however the more he came to realize his foe was stronger than it appeared. He heard it howl with laughter and he felt his stomach drop. Its head came down to bash his own, disorientating the small child. He managed to keep ahold of the devil, but his tugging had diminished considerably.
Another round of hideous guffaws, "This is just sad. You should be punished for such foolishness." A menacing smile came to the devil's face. "I know, how about those people you love so much. I'll eat them all and make you watch!"
Suddenly the startled kid's eyes opened wide, and his body stiffed. His breaths became heavy as he could no longer resist the memory that had plagued him. His poor parents and his unforgivable sin. The mere thought alone of such an event ever happening again petrified him.
He heard the devil's enjoyment grow ever more potent as it slowly gained an upper hand over him. It was then something snapped deep inside the young child. All those horrid thoughts and recollections he had locked away came spilling out. It infected his entire being, feeling the hurt, anguish, and anger seep deep inside his heart. Taro's mind stayed fixed on the thought of his parents, his family.
In that instance, the tide had turned, and the advancing demonic warrior noticed a change in the devilboy's power. Its happiness diminished as its features became tense.
"You won't hurt them! I won't let you, never again!" the hybrid shouted. Following his statement, Taro's mouth opened wide like a snake engulfing the entire head of his combatant. He heard it shriek as his small dagger-like teeth tore it apart. He held its spasming body in place until it no longer moved at all.
He spit its mangled corpse out in disgust as he took deep lingering breaths. The devilboy could hardly fathom what he had done, and it seemed he never would anyway. Another devil sprung up ready to take the last one's place. This time, however, Taro no longer carried the same hesitancy he had. He took those horrid memories and used them to his advantage, biting through the onslaught mercilessly.
Akira's eyes were practically stained with the yellowish blood of the devils he eliminated. He remained at the front, cutting through the expansive wall of enemies as if he were a knife. The devilman did a considerable job holding back the opposite forces but even with his incredible strength and endurance, there were demons passing him by. He grunted angrily cursing himself over, he knew Miko, and Taro could pick up the scraps, but for how long? They could do what they could for now, but that certainly was not forever.
All of the sudden as Akira was contemplating a new plan of action, he heard something, something he never wanted to hear on the battlefield.
"Akira! Akira, let me help you!"
For a split second, the warrior stalled in complete shock, and in that same moment, he was brought back to the moment with a bash to the face. He was knocked out of the sky hurdling to the ground close to Miki. She clasped her hands over her mouth, the guilt of distracting him in a fight tore her up.
"Akira!" she shouted in terror. Without another thought she cast an enchantment creating a small shield around them. It wouldn't last long but it would hold out for now.
She rushed up beside him as he slowly shuddered his body and started to rise from the ground.
He turned and looked her dead in the eye, "Miki, what are you doing? You needed to go with the others, you needed to stay with the humans where you'd be safe!"
"I came back to help you. There's no way you guys can take all of them!" she explained. The devilman's face immediately creased upon hearing that as he shook his head.
"No, Miki there's nothing you can do, all you've done now is put yourself in danger! After everything I've done to come back and save you, you're going to throw it away!" the anger in his voice seeped through his fangs. The girl pulled back from him ever so, she couldn't blame him for his mood, she knew it only came from a place of fear. She took a moment to reply as she softly gazed into his eyes.
"Akira, you forget I'm not just a human, I can defend myself too and I can help you, all of you. I don't want to see you get yourself killed either Akira…"
The hybrid's irritation did not completely disappear but listening to her, he did ease some.
"The safest place for either of us is with each other," she said as she extended her hand to him. He seemed reluctant but hearing the enemies scrapping away at the shield protecting them, he understood there was little time. He couldn't get her away from all of this, not anymore. The only option he had was to fight with her at his side.
A heavy dissatisfied sigh escaped him as he lifted himself up slightly on all fours. He lowered one of his wings to better aid her in climbing onto his back.
"Come on, they need me. We're going to have to retreat, I'm sure our parents and the others have gotten far enough now."
Miki scrambled up to his back and took a seat at the blades of his brawny shoulders. Her body moved faster than her mind. Before she knew it, she was clutching the fur on his hide, and she could hear the brisk unfurling of his wings. In one powerful motion, they were off the ground and heading straight back into the thick of it.
Feeling the wind rush by as she sat exposed on the devilman's back was exhilarating. She had flown in a plane before, but it was nothing like this. If not for the circumstances she may have found herself in awe of the experience. She looked down seeing the ground become smaller beneath her. Akira noticed her interest and deep down a pinch of guilt got the better of him.
"I'm sorry Miki, I hoped the first time I took you flying it wouldn't be into battle!" he hollered back at her.
"It's okay! Once we get through this there will be a second chance!" she replied. Her ceaseless optimism managed to infect the commander as a smirk came to his face. However, that mood could not last as they soon came upon the war.
The view of the demon's army was overwhelming to say the least, but the witch knew this is what she had come for. Her brow knitted as she allowed her energy to flow freely, expelling it outward.
Akira could sense a difference; he felt his abilities heighten just by her presence alone. For a split second, he actually felt his confidence resurface. He didn't want to eat away what little time he had, these precious moments, he had to make the best of them. He glided into the thick of it, shredding demon bodies to ribbons, faster and harder than ever. It felt as though he had only just begun battle, he no longer was even the least bit tired. Traveling through the raging rampage Akira's eyes scanned the ground to the best of his ability, but it was difficult through so many enemies. Miki, however, could remain much more vigilant, as she glanced below her. She found the figure of a squid-like devil, sensing who it was immediately she perked.
"Akira, Taro's just under you and a little to the right!" she informed.
The devilman took her advice without a hitch, as he dove down in the direction she had suggested. The whole way down was a blood bath. Miki could feel the warm blood soaking her all over as well as her lover. When the view cleared, they were already practically on top of Taro. Akira scooped him up in one swoop of his arm. The devilboy being so started at first lashed out at his commander, but very soon he realized who this was, and what was going on.
"Taro, Taro calm down it's just us! I got you!" Akira said firmly.
The young devilman stalled, as he took in the situation. Carefully his eyes traced upwards to see Akira and his sister. That was all it took for him to breathe a sigh of relief as his body relaxed.
"Oh, it's just you. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay Taro, we just need to find Miko now!"
"She wasn't too far from me!" the child replied.
"He's right, she's just a little way ahead, I can sense her!" Miki added.
Akira went ahead, trusting their words and his own senses, he too could feel her close now. His wings surged him forward, feeling the vengeful demons at his heels. Through the dust and chaos at last the devillady could be seen. The commandeered felt his heart skip a beat in elation as he went straight for her.
At the last second her head lifted, noticing them coming. The next thing she could tell was that she was picked off the ground and was hurtling through the air. Her legs coiled around his body tensely as they flew higher, and her anxiousness rose.
"What's going on? Are we retreating?" Miko hollered over the gusts.
"Yes, we've distracted them long enough. By now Tako has taken the rest of the humans out of harm's way, and now we need to do the same. We're no good to anyone dead!" Akira replied.
"But Akira what if we can't make it?" the youngest asked.
The devilman felt a twinge of doubt nip at him. He quickly silenced it though, as he glanced back to the ravaging demons behind him and back to those he cared for. It was a daunting situation, hearing the questions posed out loud only made it all the worse.
He strained his wings, utilizing every morsel of energy he possessed and then the extra that Miki had granted him. Even with all of that, with such immense power, he felt as though he were attempting to outrun fate itself. The cascade of demons at his tail was vast and endless to the eye. He felt all his hope, all his determination come into question. The doubt and distraught seized at his core. What had once fueled him to go further now left him empty with only woe to take its place. He continued to hurdle himself forward, now driven in fear.
From the devilman's back, Miki retaliated, casting destructive enchantments, as Miko and Taro took measures into their own hands. The young boy and women stabbed at and attacked whatever devils they could reach from Akira's arms. Even with all their efforts it barely made a dent in the overall army.
Slowly the rest of them too began to recognize the inevitable. Akira could particularly feel Miki's optimism dwindle. Their energies intermixed, the devilman could sense the harrowing throbs of her heart and the gasps of her stifled breath. This proved to be the worst part of it all. He hated to feel her in such panic, for her to be so scared. His teeth snapped together as the whites of his eyes slit.
He called upon that ancient fire at his center, allowing it to heat up and consume him from the inside out.
"Amon, I need you. Get us out of here. Don't fail me!"
When Akira began to feel his mind grow dreamy, he knew his request was being answered. He didn't know how any of this would end, or if there was anything Amon could even do, but his luxury of choice had long been stripped from him. Steadily the devilman subcommand to the ancient beast within him.
A haze of hellish red-cloaked the figure of the demonic presence as the yellow gleam of eyes peered out. It all happened so fast that the others barely had a chance to notice the change. In a flash, a newfound flush of strength came to the hero as his wings beat down sending the group rocketing forward.
Miki clung vigorously to the black coarse mane of the new being as her flesh was yanked against her very bones. As rough as it was, the witch felt a sense of relief from the outcome. There was now a much healthier distance between themselves and the enemy. Even then, however, Miki couldn't help but ponder to herself how long this fix would last. She imagined they would never stop, that she and the rest of her loved ones would be forever chased. It was in her gloom she heard something faint. It was like a murmur but from within her own mind.
"Do not fret, we were never in actual danger, for we were never truly alone…"
She recalled the sound, it was the demon, Amon, he spoke to her without uttering a word. The revelation was strange, and even a bit frightful if Miki was being honest. However, Miki knew how all this could be. She had bonded to Akira and by extension Amon, it only made sense he could connect with her just the same.
The young girl wanted to ask for an elaboration. How could they have never been in jeopardy, just moments ago her life had never felt more threatened. She wasn't given the chance to question though, as an eerie energy radiated from just behind her. The force itself was nonsensical, panicky, and demented.
Miki whirled her head around and the sight was more than she could have ever expected. A colorful hue overtook the entirety of the demon army. They screamed and convulsed right where they were as if being trapped inside a nightmare. However, it seemed not even that would be the end of it as the next thing Miki knew a new energy appeared, and with it a shroud of white.
From behind, the Earth vanished, being eaten away by a bright orb of mysterious light. The demon army was taken in, and strangely enough, it seemed that's all the alien light was after.
It was so bright the witch felt it best to turn away, but even then, she couldn't bring herself to do so. As destructive as it was, it did not harm her eyes, as a matter of fact, it captured them. Its radiance was magnetic, captivating, divine.