Up in the atmosphere, with the Prideful Crusaders…

"How's the new arm, Brother Philip?" James Junior asked his fellow disciple as all six of the present disciples were in the medical bay, Philip flexing his new, mechanical arm.

"It is…servicable." Philip said. "Though I doubt I will be able to take to the front lines when the time comes."

"A tragedy, that is. You're my main line of defense." James Junior remarked.

"Speaking of the front lines, have we made any progress on discovering the source of this world's loop?" Thaddeus asked.

"As a matter of fact, we have." John said. "According to worlds where this world's history is entertainment, today is the day that the downfall begins. It originates at a track meet, where the existence of demons is made public."

"Who's the heretic that caused all of it?" Judas asked.

"This man." John said, bringing up a screen that showed Ryo's face. "Ryo Asuka. A professor."

"Hmm…think he's the cause of the time loop?" Nathanael asked.

"It is possible he has something to do with it." Karl Franz answered as he entered the room. "We must not allow this one to succeed. Humanity will learn of demons, yes…but they will also learn how to fight them."

"Well said, Sir Franz." Philip nodded. "Your forces will prove essential in the coming conflict."

"The men of the Empire will do their part to save this world." Karl Franz promised.

"Then let us make preparations." John said. "May God have mercy on this Ryo Auska…for we will not."

Meanwhile, with the Alliance…

"Alright, today's the day. You all know what to do?" Akira asked the group as they made their way to the stadium.

"Yeah. We find that runner guy and kill him." Denji said.

"...Does anyone else know the actual plan?" the Devilman said, exasperated.

"We stop him from hurting people and prevent Ryo from leaking the existence of demons to the world." Izuku said.

"Exactly. Glad to see someone was paying attention." Akira said.

"Not my fault your plan sucks." Denji said.

"You are lucky I am being nice today." Akira growled.

"Wow…those two…really do not like each other." Carmine said.

Seeing Denji's attitude caused David to look out in thought…and a little bit of irritation.

"Something wrong? You've been out of it a bit since we started this whole thing." Takeshi said.

"It's just something I've been thinking about. I want to ask you guys in all honesty. If not for the time we spent with Nezuko and Ainz and his subordinates, would… Would Denji have been me?" David asked.

"I mean, yeah. Probably would." Mayumi said. "If you had a chainsaw devil for a heart, arrogant by a few more percentages and…guess that would be all you'd need."

"I see. It's…honestly kind of scary to think about." David said. "I know some people would say I have gone soft, but… If keeping that up meant ending up like him, then… I don't know, I should be happy I am who I am now."

"David, there's no need to be ashamed at the type of person you've become." Hope said. "Your dream is to create a world where all races would live in harmony. And that includes demons, but it's up to them whether or not that they accept the vision."

"Besides, we all know not all demons are good ones." Jexi said. "You can save those sorts of doubts for after the election is over."

"Yeah, I suppose. Right now, I just need to do everything I can at this very moment." David said.

"That's pretty much all anyone asks for." Magnamon said.

"So, to set the stage to break the loop, we prevent Ryo from giving his speech, and make sure Koda hurts no one." Hope said.

"Yeah. Akira, myself, Mark, David and Kieran will go to the boys locker room to keep an eye on him. We're the boy's squad." Izuku said.

"While me, Mayumi, Carmine, Adora, Nemona and Sapphire act as protectors of Miki in the Girl's Locker room. Girl Squad." Nora said.

"We'll have everyone else either in the stands or hiding in the security detail." Jexi said. "Any questions?"

"When do we start?" Nemona asked.

"Pretty much when everyone's ready to flip the script and start changing the story." DW answered.

"Which is right now." Mark said, as the group stood on the steps leading into the stadium the relay was taking place in. "Let's roll."

The plan had now begun as the boys squad infiltrated the locker room as planned.

"Okay…this is it." Izuku said.

"And there is the target." Kieran said, seeing Koda walking towards his locker in the back. "We need to keep him off the field. So uh…anybody have an idea how we're gonna do that?"

"We're…gonna have to kidnap him. Lure him out of the locker room and secure him somewhere until the track meet is over." Izuku said.

"That…may be a bad idea." Akira said. "The reason he went crazy before is because he lost control of his abilities, thanks to losing his cool. Granted, he was drugged and manipulated by Ryo, but if we cause him to lose his cool…"

"Then we'll just have to be delicate." Mark said. "Here, I'll give it a shot."

The half-angel walked over to Koda, several other runners tensing up when they noticed, as if preparing for conflict to erupt at any moment.

"Hi there." Mark started the conversation. "Moyuru Koda, right?"

"Uh…yeah? And who are you supposed to be?" Koda asked.

"Extra security." Mark said. "Sorry for the trouble, but we gotta do a quick screening. We've got a tip that somebody might've tried to drug you. We need to make sure they haven't succeeded yet."

"Seriously?" Koda asked, slightly aggravated. "...Fine. This better be quick. They wanna have me for an interview out there."

"Oh don't worry. This will be over very quickly." Kieran said.

"Yeah, three minutes tops. If you'll just follow us…" Mark gestured for Koda to follow them as they lead him out of the changing room, the others following behind them. The group then led him into an isolated part of the building.

"This doesn't look like a drug screening place. Okay, what's really going…" Koda said before he was knocked out by a chop to the neck, courtesy of Izuku.

"There…that should keep him down for a while." Izuku said.

"Sorry, Koda. Hopefully someday, we'll be able to look back on this and have a good laugh about it." Mark apologized.

"But won't people ask questions if he's not there?" Kieran asked.

"Already got that one covered." Mark said, taking Koda's phone. "Suddenly got a cluster headache…have to go home…won't be able to get up for the day…and send. There. Now let's get him somewhere they won't find him."

"I'll secure him with my Black Whips, they can't be broken like with ordinary rope." Izuku said doing just that. "This way if he comes to, he can't easily escape."

"Great. Let's see…ah ha!" Akira said, spotting a storage closet. "Let's stick him in there."

"Right." Izuku said as he went and did just that before shutting the door. "Two of us should stay to make sure he doesn't get out."

"I'll stay." David said.

"So will I." Izuku said.

"Good. All that remains is getting to the field." Akira said.

Meanwhile, with the Girls Squad…

"Okay, got it." Adora said on her comm. "The guys just reported in, Koda's been neutralized."

"Good. So what's our plan?" FS!Sapphire asked.

"We still need to keep our eyes on Miki, just in case things go south. She's really important to Akira, and if we mess up today, she's not going to survive until the end of this." Adora said.

"Got it. So we need to be sharp as eagles with watching her." FS!Sapphire remarked.

"Yeah…but still…all these girls look so fit and strong. I gotta battle one of them." Nemona said before Carmine grabbed her.

"Don't even. Remember, we're here to stop disaster, not cause a new one." Carmine said.

"Carmine is right. If Miki dies, everything we have done up until now will be for nothing." Mayumi said.

"Curb your battle enthusiasm, Nemona. We're on the job." FS!Sapphire added firmly.

"Oh…that girl looks tough." Nemona said as they watched a tall girl in a ponytail walking in.

"She feels…oh god, she's a demon." Mayumi realized.

"You sure?" Carmine asked.

"I've been around them enough to know." Mayumi said.

"Everyone, be on guard. Koda's out of the picture, but I think we might have another problem." Adora said.

"We weren't warned about another demon…" FS!Sapphire remarked, as she sent a discreet magical message to Mark telling him about the demon in the girl's locker room.

"That girl… I think that's Miko." Simon said on the comms.

FS!Sapphire sent a second discreet message asking what to do about her, since the last thing she wanted was to be found out by Miko and cause issues.

The guys caught the message, and Akira soon found out who Sapphire was talking about.

"Oh, it's Miko." Akira said. "We don't have to worry about her."

"You sure?" Mark asked.

"Yeah. Back in…that moment…" Akira shivered at the memory. "Miko was one of the ones who tried to protect Miki. She's acting confrontational now, but she'll end up being a great ally. There's only one thing to worry about involving her."

"What's that?" Kieran asked.

"You guys remember the punks on the pier?" Akira asked. "Well, they end up being allies too…but one of them died at the same Sabbath Kuroda became a Devilman. One of the other gang members, Hie, finds the glasses that belong to that guy, gets the wrong idea, and turns traitor out of an…ger…" he said before he realized something, slapping a hand against his forehead. "S***, I forgot about Kukun! Dammit, now we have to deal with that!"

"Where is he now?" Mayumi asked on the comm.

"Probably with the rest of Wamu's gang." Akira said, groaning. "Can't believe I forgot about the other Sabbath…dammit!"

"We'll send someone from the stands to their place as security. Same with Miki's family." Izuku said on the comm.

"Right, thanks." Akira said. "For now, let's just stick to the plan."

"Works for me." FS!Sapphire spoke over comms in confirmation.

After some time, the track meet soon began right on schedule as planned.

"Huh…so far so good." Jexi said.

"And the other two issues?" Hope asked.

"Done. I sent Tanjiro, Lie Ren and Ed to protect the rappers. Inosuke, Gemini and Leia to protect the Makimuras." Jexi said.

"Then all we have to do is keep Ryo from playing his hand, and we've completely avoided disaster." Mark said.

"I've already scrambled the controls and deleted his footage. He'll have no ammo to play for the audience." Miu said on the comm.

"Then that's it. We've won!" Carmine said. "Ha! We showed that rich boy!"

"Yeah…we really did…so…why does it feel like that this isn't over?" Penny asked as the monitor was flickering on the stadium.

"Uh…Miu? Mind turning the monitor off?" Hope asked.

"I'm not the one doing this." Miu said.

"Then who is? Ryo shouldn't even…" Peni said before they saw a figure appearing on screen.

"It's one of those Crusade guys from the airport." Denji said.

"Oh no..." Hope said.

"People of the world. I am Saint John, of the Prideful Crusade." John began. "As some of you recall, several days ago, we attacked a nearby airport, being labeled as terrorists. But that was merely the truth you believed. We did not attacked the airport; we saved it…from this."

The screen charged, to show footage of Jinmen, in all his unholy terror, as he did battle with the Crusaders before Akira arrived.

"This being was a demon, known as Jinmen. They were a heartless monster, who saw the butchering of humans as entertainment. Needless to say, this hellspawn is dead and gone, returned to the pits of Hell. But he was not the first…nor the last."

The screen then charged to show multiple scenes. From the first Sabbath, to the junkyard fight. Ghelmer, Sirene, Kaim…the screen showed the battles against all these demons.

"Those assholes. Do they have any idea what they just did?" Simon asked.

"I think they do." Jexi said. "They aren't idiots. They wouldn't do this…without a plan in mind."

"These beings were also demons. They all saw humanity as a mere foodsource. And they are all dead now." John continued. "But they were mere scouts. Even as we speak, the forces of Hell plan to rise up and destroy this world. As they have done before, and will continue to do. And yet…this time, there is hope. These demons can fall at the hands of humans. We can survive against this threat. We, the Prideful Crusade, will lead the forces of this world to war against the forces of Hell. In order to survive…humanity must unite! Hell would see us turn against each other, turn brother against brother, children against parents…but we will not fall for their lies! Together, humans, and those who have overcome the power of demons, will unite as one and turn back the destruction of this world! We will break the chain the Beast has ensnared the world with! Join us, and we will save this world!"

"Oh crap. It's a recruitment drive." Jexi said. "Wait…the Beast…Ryo!"

"But there is one amongst you who is the true enemy. The one that would see humanity destroyed. One who keeps this world in the grips of a cycle of despair and destruction. This enemy…"

The screen then changed to show a profile picture of Ryo.

"...is Ryo Auska! To save this world…Ryo Auska must die! For he is the Beast! HE….IS… SATAN!" John declared.

"...Oh, f***." Akira stated as he bolted away from the track and towards where Ryo was.

"We need to go….right now." Jexi said.

"Everyone, find Ryo, NOW! The Prideful Crusade just dropped his true identity, and he's in danger!" Hope said on the comm. "We can't let anybody who heard John's message get to him! He dies, we die!"

The group made a dash to find Ryo as the crowd at the stadium was turned into a frenzy. They could hear them all chanting after John's speech….

"Break the chain! Save the planet! Slay Satan!"

"That crusader has such a way with words, huh?" Mark asked with dry sarcasm.

Akira made it to the announcer's booth, kicking down the door and witnessing Ryo looking confused and scared.

"Akira, what's going on?!" Ryo asked. "Did that knight say that I'm-?!"

"I'll explain later! We have to go now!" Akira said, grabbing Ryo's hand and racing out of the booth, jumping straight back onto the track.

"There he is!" one of the audience members called, spotting Ryo.

"Kill him! Then we'll be saved!" another yelled, as the audience swarmed out of their seats and onto the track.

"Dammit, either we get a set of wheels in the next five seconds, or I'll have to transform and carry Ryo away…" Akira growled.

They heard revving as they saw David riding in on Miraidon.

"You? You're supposed to…" Akira said.

"I know, but I panicked when I saw the video. Izuku already got Koda out of the place. Now both of you, get on." David said.

Akira did as instructed, flinging Ryo onto Miraidon as he jumped on as well. "Get us to my apartment! We'll be safe there! Everyone else, run!"

"You got it!" David said, as Miraidon took off running, leaping out of the stadium and onto the road, the rest of the group escaping as well as the mob chased them.

"They're catching up. We need to go faster." Ryo said, even in the midst of his bewildered state.

"No worries…we're taking to the skies." David said as Miraidon leapt into the air as it started to fly.

"This thing…can fly?" Akira asked.

"Supplements from a friend we made a few months back." David said.

Later with the heroes at the Galaxy King…

"Well that went pear shaped fast!" Mark said. "So much for ignoring the Crusade!"

"Well…we changed the course of history…just not the way we planned." Ruby said.

"Now everyone in the city's looking for Ryo. But the Crusade doesn't know that if he dies, the loop still resets, and we're all taken with it. All their work will end up dooming themselves." Adora said.

"Well…what should we do?" Eddy asked.

"Well, the Crusade might be busy with putting an army together to fight the demons of this world. That should give us some breathing room for now." Mark pointed out.

"Yeah but it's only a matter of time before they figure out we're the ones protecting Ryo." Zenitsu said. "I say we ditch him and leave this world with all the good people left."

"Then we'd be nothing but cowards. We promised J-Hack we'd save this world, not let it crumble to ruin." Erza said.

"We'll just have to play it by ear for now." Mark said, as the group looked out the window to see night falling on the city, as storm clouds were on the horizon. "We're in for a storm…"

(Cue: Twilight Zone - Golden Earring)

"The calm before the storm." Ace added.

The story of Devilman, has now been completely turned on its head. Instead of Ryo revealing the existence of demons and sending the city into chaos, the Prideful Crusade have done the job for him, and exposed him as Satan. Now Ryo has become Public Enemy #1 with a number of citizens joining the Crusade to hunt him down.

Now in order to break the loop and save Akira's world, the heroes must find some way to not only protect Ryo, but somehow get the Crusade to leave this world be. A task much easier said than done.

~Soon you will come to know,

When the bullet hits the bone.~

~Soon you will come to know,

When the bullet hits the bone.~

~When the bullet hits the bone!~