DMC: Being a demon hunter in Japan is not easy

On the highway, a white-haired boy wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans could be seen riding a uniquely designed motorcycle.

"I really don't get girls… If I'm not nice, they complain. If I am nice, they still complain… Women, who can understand them…" Desmon sighed, exhausted.

No one could blame him. Like a true gentleman, he had taken Itsuki home, receiving her cheerful words of gratitude in return.

"What you did was kidnapping, you hear me?! I thought you were gonna crash at any moment… Where the hell did you learn to drive?!"

As rational as ever, Itsuki labeled Desmon as a delinquent—a delinquent who had helped them and even saved their lives, yet still a menace behind the wheel.

It's not like Desmon intentionally drifted under a moving truck… Well, at least he didn't do it three times.

After scolding him for his reckless disregard for traffic laws, Itsuki stomped off toward her house, grumbling about her near-death experience—twice—while passing under a truck.

And so, Desmon casually waved her off and rode down the highway without much concern.

Broken bones, lacerations, organ damage… It would only take a few seconds for a demon hunter to be as good as new.

Knowing he couldn't die easily, why wouldn't he have fun doing things that would normally be fatal?

Even if Desmon crashed full speed into a truck, his only worry would be how much he'd have to pay for the damages.

If that weren't the case, he would have died years ago—on that day when everything changed.

"What does she want now?"

Desmon was about to take a nap while riding when his phone started vibrating. The name "Shizuka" flashed on the screen.

"Desmon's not here. If you need something, leave a message after that weird sound it usually makes." He said indifferently, reclining on his motorcycle and propping his feet up on the handlebars.

"Do you take me for an idiot?" Shizuka shot back.

"…Yes."

"Remind me to beat the crap out of you when you get back!"

Desmon could practically hear her cracking her knuckles through the phone.

"We both know that's not gonna happen, so quit whining… That's why you don't have a boyfriend." He muttered the last part, but just loud enough for her to hear.

"Listen up, you little punk—I'm single because I want to be! I don't need anyone!" Shizuka shouted, sprawled on her couch.

She was dressed comfortably for a Saturday—wearing only a snug white tank top that accentuated certain features and a pair of short shorts that highlighted her toned legs.

Nothing beats dressing comfortably on the weekend.

"And what about your date last night?" Desmon smirked teasingly, even though she couldn't see it.

"How do you know a-about that?!" She stammered, startled.

-How does he know? I didn't see him at all yesterday… Is he spying on me?

She quickly came to a conclusion.

"I went out to grab some food last night, since you weren't around. That's when I saw you with some guy who looked completely drained. I even felt bad for him."

"He wasn't drained… He told me he'd had a lot of work that day… But he seemed full of energy when we met… Damn it, now you're making me doubt!"

Shizuka's personality and intensity were way too much for the average man—especially when she started ranting about some insufferable guy she lived with.

Who complains about that on a first date?

Or rather, she acted just like she always did when talking to Desmon—he was, after all, the person she'd interacted with the most in recent days.

"From what I saw, that guy looked like he was desperately trying to find a way out."

The poor guy was just an office worker who had tried his luck on a dating app. He had come across the profile of a stunning woman—one whose personality completely clashed with her description.

At first, he thought Shizuka was just a bit talkative, with an intense yet cheerful personality. But the longer they spoke, the more he realized she was nowhere near the kind of woman he was looking for in a relationship.

The most common ideal for single working men these days was a Yamato Nadeshiko—a sweet, gentle, reserved woman, devoted to her family, skilled in household chores, well-mannered, and, of course, breathtakingly beautiful.

And while Shizuka met certain standards, she fell short in other areas, almost making it seem like she would be the man in the relationship. The poor guy could picture himself wearing a skirt and taking care of the kids while Shizuka came home from work, cigarette in hand.

Simply put, Shizuka was more than he could handle.

For that reason, after finishing their ramen dinner—Shizuka's choice, of course—the guy tried to call it a night. But Shizuka insisted on walking and talking a little longer. With no way out, he walked alongside her for a few more minutes, just long enough for Desmon to catch sight of them and notice the guy's expression.

"He enjoyed our conversation.'' She said confidently.

"I'd bet you did all the talking while he just listened."

"Of course not… maybe…"

Shizuka tried to recall a moment when her date had spoken, but all she could remember was herself talking the entire time.

"After living with you for so long, I can say for sure—you're way too intense for Japanese men."

Desmon grew up with different values and beliefs, making his perspective and way of thinking quite unconventional. For that reason, having pointless conversations with Shizuka was entertaining for both of them.

One crucial detail about Desmon—he's brutally honest and exudes confidence. If he thinks someone's an idiot, he has no problem saying it to their face. His lack of social filters tends to exasperate people.

"I'm not intense. It's just that the guys I meet aren't like the ones I have in mind…" She nodded to herself.

It's not that Shizuka is a master at scaring men away—it's just that they don't match the type she's looking for. Or at least, that's what she tells herself.

"You mean that gacha game character you have as your phone wallpaper?"

"How did you know…?!"

For months now, Shizuka had been hooked on a particular gacha game. Her favorite character? A tall, strong, and handsome guy with a stoic personality who occasionally cracked jokes—exactly the type that caught her interest.

"I don't think you'll find a guy like that."

"Don't crush my dreams! I know I'll find him one day!"

It's not like she expects her future partner to be an exact copy, but if he shares some similarities with her favorite character, all the better.

"I seriously doubt that day will come anytime soon, but if it does, I'll personally offer my condolences to the poor guy. I'll pray for his soul."

Desmon silently saluted the unfortunate man for his impending sacrifice.

Is dating Shizuka a blessing or a curse?

"Don't make it sound like being with me is a bad thing!!" She started kicking her legs on the couch in protest.

"But don't worry. If you don't find the right guy, I can always sacrifice myself for humanity." He said it with pride.

Like any guy his age, Desmon was interested in women. Of course, he preferred older ones, and Shizuka checked that box.

"No thanks." With a serious expression, she waved him off.

Shizuka would have to be out of her mind to consider dating Desmon—not only was he younger than her, but he would also be gone once his job was done.

"Had to give it a shot…" He sighed in defeat. "But hey, if you ever change your mind, I'll be available."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." She didn't even bother taking him seriously.

Even if she didn't seem like it, after living with Desmon, Shizuka had learned to understand his true personality. That's exactly why she was sure that his casual flirting was just a joke—he had no real interest in relationships.

"By the way, did you record this morning's anime... Tch." Desmon cut himself off and looked away.

"Something wrong?"

It was rare to hear Desmon click his tongue. Something must have gone seriously wrong.

"Yeah. Something really annoying and troublesome."

"You mean…"

"The cops."

Behind Kurox, a police motorcycle with its siren blaring had started following him.

"I was an idiot for worrying too much…" She sighed.

"Don't worry, you're plenty idiot even without worrying."

"Oi, brat…!!"

"I'm going through a tunnel. I think the signal's cutting out or something..."

"Don't you dare...!"

Desmon hung up.

-Guess I'll make a few stops along the way until Shizuka cools down.

If he heads straight home, Shizuka will most likely scold him, so he has a few free hours before returning.

While Desmon was lost in thought, he didn't notice the police motorcycle matching his speed.

"This time, you won't escape from me.'' Said the policewoman with determination.

Her name was Kusakabe Asako, a woman who could only be described as stunning. Her long blue hair, combined with the classic dark blue police uniform, gave her an air of both sensuality and authority.

Police uniforms were supposed to inspire respect, but Asako had made a few minor adjustments to hers—it was just too uncomfortable otherwise. Was leaving a few buttons undone against the law? Or was it simply a matter of comfort?

"Oh, it's you again—the persistent one who keeps chasing me. Haven't you given up like the rest of your colleagues?" Desmon said with a mocking grin.

Since neither of them was driving at high speed, they could speak freely as they rode down the highway.

"Laugh all you want, but this time, you're coming with me to the station! I'll make sure you get every single ticket you've been avoiding!"

Before, Asako had no way of keeping up with Desmon's motorcycle. No matter how hard she pushed her car, it simply wasn't fast enough. So, with a mix of determination and stubbornness, she made a drastic decision—she swapped her vehicle for a police motorcycle and spared no expense in modifying it. She reinforced it, tuned it up, and turned it into a speed monster.

Let's just say someone's a sore loser… and also terrible with money.

"Oh? Is that a challenge?" Desmon asked, his signature smirk never fading.

"Damn right it is! I've been waiting to test this beauty against you."

It was worth noting that Asako wasn't exactly a model police officer…

"Don't come crying when you lose.'' Desmon warned, flashing a cocky grin before twisting the throttle. The roar of his engine echoed as Kurox shot forward.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Forgetting all about her duty as an officer of the law, Asako let the adrenaline take over and gunned the throttle. Technically, she was now engaging in an illegal race, but ever since she'd been reassigned to highway patrol, her job had become painfully dull. The only excitement in her day came from chasing down speedsters trying to evade fines… but there was one driver who always managed to escape her.

Desmon.

He was the exception to the rule—the only one who could slip through her grasp effortlessly. Any other officer would have given up by now, either out of frustration or because his skills were simply too good to challenge. But Asako wasn't like the others. She never backed down.

"Oh? Not bad. Thought you'd have given up by now.'' Desmon teased, clearly enjoying himself.

"Not a chance."

With fierce determination, Asako accelerated, managing to overtake Desmon for a brief moment.

"Well, someone's getting cocky. What do you say, Kurox? Should we teach her a lesson?"

As if understanding the challenge, Kurox roared in response, surging forward with a sudden burst of speed. But this wasn't just any motorcycle. No—Kurox was a devil arm. Once a man who had forsaken his humanity in pursuit of speed and power, only to be destroyed by Desmon and reborn as his devil arm.

In the blink of an eye, Desmon caught up once more. Their engines thundered at 150 mph, drowning out everything else. But Desmon had an idea.

-Let's see how she handles different terrain.

Without warning, he twisted the handlebars and veered off the road, tearing into a dirt path filled with mud and uneven ground.

Kurox was built for any terrain—pavement, dirt, mud, even the walls of buildings. There was nothing it couldn't handle.

"You really think switching terrain is gonna make a difference?" Asako shouted, undeterred as she followed without hesitation.

-Good thing I paid extra for all-terrain tires…

The chase continued as the ground shifted from dirt to dense forest, massive trees closing in around them. At 180 mph, a single mistake meant certain death.

"If you die, don't blame me!" Desmon shouted over the roar of their engines.

"Worry about yourself! Don't go dying on me!"

But for them, this was no problem.

Desmon—a demon hunter with reflexes beyond human comprehension.

Asako—a former elite soldier and sharpshooter with exceptional skill behind the wheel.

They weaved through the trees with near-superhuman precision, riding as if it was second nature.

Both riders sped up and maneuvered through the dense forest with flawless precision. Desmon gripped Kurox's handlebars and rode on his own—what's the point of a challenge if he lets his bike do all the work?

-For someone so young, he has excellent control over his vehicle…

Asako displayed incredible skill, weaving through trees with only seconds to react. It wasn't the first time she'd pulled reckless stunts while riding. In her youth, she had been a wildly troublesome girl—enough to even exasperate her best friend.

After a short while, both of them rode with amused expressions as they emerged from the thick forest, following the overgrown path.

"That was fun, but I think our race ends here!!"

In the distance, a broken bridge came into view, once meant to connect both sides of the river. Now, beneath it, a raging current roared.

The dilemma was simple: stop or use it as a ramp to leap across. One mistake meant plunging into the violent waters below.

"You'd better stop. Even an idiot like you knows that's way too dangerous."

"Fear and common sense? Never heard of 'em! HAHAHA!"

Desmon ignored the warning and gunned it. Kurox roared with demonic energy, blasting past 250 mph, leaving Asako in the dust within seconds. The race was decided. Or so it seemed.

"You're a complete lunatic… I LIKE THAT!"

Without hesitation, Asako flipped a switch on her handlebars, activating her bike's nitrous boost. She got it at a discount. No way she was saying no to that.

The burst of speed was brutal. Within moments, she was neck and neck with Desmon once again.

If they weren't on opposite sides of the law, they'd probably be great friends. Though, if Asako ever caught him, the first thing she'd do was take Kurox for a ride. Who wouldn't want to test out that demonic engineering marvel?

They locked eyes, grinned with reckless confidence, and floored it. This was the decisive moment

One winner. And that was...

"Oh, a coin."

Kurox came to a screeching halt, defying all laws of physics. From 250 mph to a full stop in an instant. The bike reared up on its front wheel, spun mid-air, and landed smoothly.

"Almost missed it."

Desmon hopped off and picked up a five-yen coin. Money is money.

-…I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Lifting his gaze, he spotted Asako already airborne, having used the bridge as a ramp. Her expression was a mix of disbelief and sheer panic.

"EHHHHHHH?!"

That was the last thing he heard before she vanished into the distance.

"Oh, right… I was racing her. Oh well, I'm sure we'll meet again. She's too stubborn not to."

Without a second thought, Desmon hopped back onto Kurox and made his way back to the highway.

It's not like he wouldn't run into Asako another day, so he didn't think much of it. Classic Desmon.

"Hope Shizuka's cooled off by now."

Thinking about his clumsy yet attractive roommate, Desmon kept riding as usual—which, for him, meant taking a nap at the handlebars. After all, was there anything in this world that could truly be a threat to him?

…

"I really can't stand that guy…"

Asako cursed under her breath as she got back on the road. Her pulse was still racing from the adrenaline.

That jump had been risky, but she'd pulled it off without a hitch. Still, what truly threw her off was seeing Desmon standing there, watching her with that smug look, without even bothering to chase her.

He had mocked her. Again.

"…Though, I have to admit—it was thrilling. Maybe we should do it again."

A spark of excitement flickered in her chest at the thought of another challenge.

It took several minutes to leave the rural area and return to the highway. Her uniform was dusty, her bike was covered in grime, and her shift wasn't over yet. She sighed, weighing her options.

-Maybe I should wash my bike first… it got way too dirty.

As she planned her next move, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Pulling it out, a familiar name lit up the screen.

"JB…"

She answered with a tired voice. If her friend was calling, it meant bad news.

"That's one hell of a way to greet a friend!" JB joked.

"Get to the point. I'm not in the mood."

"You ran into that guy again, didn't you?"

"Bingo. We raced. Pretty sure I won… but somehow, I still feel like I lost."

JB let out a mocking laugh.

"I still can't believe a teenager on a motorcycle keeps escaping from you. Are you getting old?"

"In your dreams. I'm still young—I haven't even hit 25 yet."

"And yet, someone much younger than you keeps slipping away… How many times has it been now?"

Asako clicked her tongue. She had no one to take out her frustrations on after losing to Desmon, so venting to her friend brought her some comfort.

"Four… five… eight… This would be the ninth time."

"Are you sure you're not letting him escape on purpose?"

"The only thing I want is to arrest that brat, slap him with every fine possible, confiscate his bike, and take it for a ride myself.'' She said with amusement.

JB sighed.

"I still don't get why you're a cop…"

Asako narrowed her eyes.

"We both know the answer. Do you have any new intel?" Her voice turned serious.

JB's tone shifted as well.

"If you're talking about those bastards they demoted, it's complicated. Too complicated. Higher-ups are involved in this."

Asako clenched her fist.

"Tch. I'd love to put a bullet through their skulls."

"There'll be time for that. For now, lay low. Sooner or later, they'll let their guard down, and when that happens…"

"I'll take down every last one of those idiots." Asako said with a sinister smile.

"Couldn't have said it better myself."

Before Asako could reply, something made her frown. The sky. It was strange—too strange. It was only two in the afternoon, yet black patches were spreading across the sky like a plague.

A bad feeling crawled down her spine.

"I have to go. Something weird is happening."

"I'll call you later. Don't do anything stupid." JB warned.

"I'll try." She replied with a smirk before hanging up.

As she sped down the road, she noticed the asphalt was ruined. Craters and deep cracks stretched across the pavement, as if something titanic had crashed into the earth. She tightened her grip on her gun and accelerated. This wasn't natural.

The destruction only became more apparent the farther she went. Bloodstains were scattered chaotically among the debris.

A terrorist attack?

She picked up the pace, staying on high alert. But before she could go much further, something in the distance made her blood run cold.

A body.

She rushed toward it, quickly dismounting to check on the person.

But…

They were already dead, lying motionless in the middle of the road, surrounded by a pool of dark liquid.

Their skin was torn by deep wounds, shredded clothing revealing flesh punctured by something sharp. But what truly disturbed her was the blood.

It wasn't normal.

It was black. Thick. And it poured endlessly from every wound—nose, mouth, eyes, and ears—as if something inside had torn it apart from within, devouring it little by little in an unspeakable agony.

Asako swallowed hard.

"What the hell happened here?"

Those kinds of injuries were unnatural, but what stood out the most was that dark, oozing blood. Whatever had happened before she arrived defied all logic.

She knelt beside the corpse and, with a solemn gesture, closed their lifeless eyes.

"I don't know what happened to you… but I hope you can rest."

The face of the young man, now still and void of life, was the same one she'd been chasing just minutes ago.

If something out there could kill the demon hunter… then nothing could stop that thing.