Player 10,000 Year Later (Chainsaw Man / The Boys) Multiverse later

Himeno's gaze swept across the icy landscape before locking onto the massive group nearby—the JSDF soldiers, private sector hunters, and freelancers who had entered the portal before them. She clicked her tongue, arms crossed as she turned to Kang Woo. "Looks like the largest group got dumped here too. Guess your trouble-bait ass isn't alone in this, huh?"

Kang Woo merely smirked, glancing around. The environment pulsed with mana, thick and potent—the way a world should be. It was nostalgic in a way, but something irked him as his gaze drifted upward.

His smirk twitched.

Why the hell are there battalions of Thousand Sons ships here?? His crimson pupils glowed faintly as he recognized their design—those unmistakable vessels belonging to Magnus the Red. His thoughts darkened. Shouldn't these bastards be worshipping their Chaos Gods or picking fights with the Imperium instead of showing up here?

Reze noticed his shift in mood. "Kang Woo," she asked, stepping closer, "you familiar with this place?"

Kang Woo kept his smirk, but his tone was casual. "It's similar to a Red Gate situation. None of you would be familiar with it."

Aki furrowed his brow. "You've been trapped in circumstances like this before?"

Kang Woo let out a chuckle, hands in his pockets. "No. The enemy has been trapped with me." His eyes flickered with amusement. "Most of my enemies regret putting me in traps like this."

Then, his expression shifted, his voice turning serious. "Back to the topic. Right now, we're cut off—no backup, no reinforcements. We're isolated until we defeat the dungeon boss. But…" His gaze returned to the sky, locking onto the distant silhouettes of the ships above. "There's a third party in this world."

Makima, whose senses had been sharpened even further by the Commandment of Piety, narrowed her yellow-ringed eyes. "There's something else," she murmured. "A ship just arrived ."

Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, grinning. "Then that confirms it. We're the guests here, and these two forces—the ones on this planet and the ones up there?" He chuckled. "They've got a score to settle with each other."

Then—

A whistling sound cut through the cold air.

Kang Woo didn't react at first, but his senses sharpened.

An ice arrow.

It struck one of the JSDF's tanks with pinpoint precision, and within seconds, the metal groaned as frost spread across its surface, locking its mechanisms in place. Soldiers barely had time to react before more arrows rained down, piercing their ranks. Shouts of alarm filled the snowy battlefield as some of the weaker members of the largest group were struck, their bodies instantly freezing as the ice magic spread from their wounds.

Asa Mitaka felt a chill run down her spine.

Something was wrong.

She barely had time to turn before she realized—an arrow was coming straight for her.

Time slowed.

Her breath caught in her throat, her body frozen in terror as the sharp, glacial tip of the projectile bore down on her. But before it could reach her—

Darkness

A black shield materialized in front of her, absorbing the impact effortlessly.

Kang Woo hadn't even turned to look. His hand was simply raised, fingers barely twitching as the barrier flickered ominously, dispelling the ice magic as if it were nothing.

A panicked JSDF soldier's voice cut through the battlefield. "We're under attack!"

Another soldier, eyes wide with terror, pointed towards the treeline. "From the trees! Look!"

Kang Woo had already noticed them before anyone else.

A group of ice elves, perched high above, their slender forms blending seamlessly with the snow-covered branches. They were snipers—longbows of crystalline ice drawn, their enchanted arrows notched and ready. One of them, a female with piercing, frost-blue eyes, met Kang Woo's gaze.

She lifted her hand, slowly running a finger across her neck in a taunting gesture.

Kang Woo stared back in silence.

Fucking elves.

The JSDF, however, reacted in the only way they knew how.

"Eat lead, sons of bitches!" One of the soldiers bellowed before unleashing a barrage of gunfire.

The sound of automatic rifles roared through the battlefield, but the bullets bounced harmlessly off the elves' bodies. The moment the rounds struck their skin, a shimmering, translucent barrier flared to life, repelling every shot with ease.

Kishibe, watching from the side, exhaled smoke through his nose.

Damn. Kang Woo was right.

His grip on his cigarette tightened slightly as he observed the fight unfold. Conventional weapons were useless against beings with mana-infused bodies. The JSDF soldiers had already emptied multiple rounds into the trees, but the ice elves barely flinched. Every bullet bounced harmlessly off their translucent, crystalline blue skin, the impact dispersing in waves of residual mana.

From her perch on a lower tree branch, Quanxi narrowed her eyes, watching the elves weave through the dense canopy. Their movements were unnaturally fast—almost spectral. Then, a thought struck her.

"…Aren't those elves?" she murmured, her voice carrying just enough for Kishibe to hear. "But why are they so blue?"

Kishibe didn't even look at her, blowing out another long stream of smoke. "Why the hell are you asking me?" he muttered. "Ask Kang Woo."

Both of them turned to where Kang Woo stood, completely still, arms crossed, his crimson pupils flickering as he scanned the battlefield. His smirk remained, but his expression wasn't one of amusement—it was calculation.

Quanxi frowned. He doesn't care? No… he's thinking. That's worse.

She knew that smirk. That calm, deliberate observation. That wasn't boredom. That was Kang Woo dissecting a battlefield in real time.

Kang Woo didn't join the fight immediately. Why?

Then, it hit her.

We're surrounded.

Behind them was a sheer cliff—a dead end. The only viable path forward was where the largest group is the only way a road leading below the icy terrain toward a valley. On their left and right, the dense frost-covered trees boxed them in.

A trap.

Kang Woo's fingers twitched as his Authority of the Beholder activated, scanning the skies. His smirk widened slightly.

The Thousand Sons fleet is still in position. Not moving. Not waiting, either… then what?

His thoughts flickered, aligning possibilities.

…Satella.

That was it. They weren't here for the invading humans or the devil hunters.

They were here for her.

The moment Kang Woo realized it,

a sharp voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

"Attention, everyone!"

The Whip Hybrid's voice rang out, amplified by the speakers of her cybernetic implants, commanding the attention of the soldiers, hunters, and freelancers alike.

"As you can now see with your own eyes, our enemies have a way to disable our weapons with an unknown ability!"

Her words weren't just a call to order—they were a warning.

The largest group turned to look at the tanks that had been hit. The armored vehicles were now completely covered in ice, frozen in place, their heavy machinery locked solid. The drivers, shivering violently, had been forced to abandon their vehicles, their breath coming out in sharp gasps.

"C-Cold…" One of them giggled involuntarily, hugging his own body, his lips turning blue.

Aki, standing beside Makima, lowered his voice.

"Ms. Makima," he whispered, "should I warn the military and the private sector about mana and magic?"

Makima's yellow-ringed eyes flickered slightly as she leaned in, whispering back.

"If you say that, most of them will think you're childish," she murmured. "No one believes in magic until it hits them in the face. Their arrogance will blind them."

She tilted her head slightly, glancing toward the ice-covered tanks.

"…Though something did happen this time," she admitted. "But humans are stubborn."

Before Aki could respond,

the Whip Hybrid continued her announcement.

"If we stay here, we're like deer waiting to get shot!" she declared, her voice sharp and commanding. "We need to move out of here—staying in this bottleneck position is suicide!"

She paused, scanning the gathered forces. The military, the devil hunters, the freelancers—all waiting for her orders.

Then, she exhaled.

"Even I can't lead everyone alone. Therefore—we will split into two groups."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

The Whip Hybrid then stepped forward, her gaze sharp as she surveyed the gathered forces. "Some of you may disagree, but the reason I'm doing this is simple—splitting up increases our chances of survival. If we all move as one, we're an easy target. This way, more of us will make it through."

She let her words settle before continuing, her voice firm. "I'm a hybrid—an immortal. Half-devil, half-human. As long as I breathe and have some blood left in me, I can't die. That is proof enough. I guarantee that anyone who follows me will survive."

The JSDF soldiers and Public Safety Devil Hunters exchanged glances before immediately stepping forward, falling in line under her command. They had already been under Barem Bridge's leadership, and with Barem's orders to follow Whip Hybrid, their choice was already made.

From the private sector, a trio emerged—the First Three Brothers from the USA. Vought agents. Masters of disguise, their ability allowed them to transform into anyone they had killed, making them some of the deadliest infiltrators.

Whip Hybrid's eyes flickered toward them, unimpressed. "You three—are you in?"

The three nodded silently.

She smirked. "Good. I don't care what you are, as long as it increases our strength. In this fight, anything is allowed."

The brothers exchanged a glance before stepping forward, joining her ranks without hesitation.

Then, from the Soviet Union's private sector, Santa and her apprentice, Tolka, moved forward.

Whip Hybrid's gaze landed on them. "You qualify to join," she stated.

Santa tilted her head. "I didn't say anything."

Whip Hybrid smirked. "Do we need to? Santa—the Doll Contractor."

Santa's lips curled slightly. Without another word, she and Tolka stepped into line.

She barely had time to settle before she noticed a group approaching—a bunch of Yakuza moving toward her. At their head was Katana Man, his presence radiating hostility. Beside him, Akane Sawatari walked in step, her gaze unreadable.

Without hesitation, Katana Man transformed, the metallic CLANK echoing as his arms shifted into katana blades. In an instant, he brought one close to Whip Hybrid's throat, testing her reaction.

Whip Hybrid didn't flinch.

"I already know you're a hybrid," she said, eyes narrowing slightly. "What, wanted to show off?"

Katana Man smirked but didn't lower his blade. "What makes you think you're better than me at leading this group?"

A tense silence followed—then, the sound of guns cocking.

From behind, JSDF soldiers raised their rifles, locking onto him. The tanks stationed nearby adjusted their turrets, the long barrels shifting toward Katana Man's position.

Whip Hybrid sighed, shaking her head. "Whether you believe me or not, I can assure you…"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice into a whisper.

"I'm aware some of you want to target Kang Woo. However, none of us truly know what he is. And beside him? There's Makima. My theory—if Makima is killed, Kang Woo will fall as well. And not to mention, I hold the biggest army here."

Katana Man's expression twisted slightly before he shifted back to his human form.

"You'd better not cross me," he muttered. "I'm the one who'll take his body when he's killed."

Whip Hybrid only smirked. "Better discuss it with Santa. She's after Kang Woo aswell."

Katana Man said nothing, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he joined Whip's group.

He was about to speak, ready to establish his standing with Santa. But before he could open his mouth, Santa interrupted.

"I have a suggestion," she said flatly. "You Yakuza bosses need to calm down."

Her gaze shifted toward Tolka. Without hesitation, Tolka raised his wrist, revealing a message burned into his skin—dark, writhing symbols etched by the Darkness Devil itself.

The text twisted unnaturally, shifting as if alive.

Lead Kang Woo to a place with the highest death. Ensure it happens on the 13th night in Tokyo City.

Whether you succeed or not, Santa, you will receive the reward I promised. The rest is up to me once Kang Woo is in place.

Katana Man narrowed his eyes. "So what? A death trap?"

Santa smirked. "Of course. Gaining favor from one of the Primal Devils is a rare opportunity." She folded her arms. "But if you want to survive, you'll follow my plan. Unless you want to get yourself killed."

Katana Man remained silent, waiting for her to elaborate.

"The Darkness Devil gave me a specific warning," Santa continued. "Not to kill Kang Woo—not because he needs to stay alive, but because no normal devil, military force, or assassin is enough to bring him down. That means we don't just attack him. We lure him."

Katana Man leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Fifty-fifty," he whispered. "From whatever the Primal Devil promised you."

Santa narrowed her eyes, then spat onto her palm.

"You better not fuck this up," she said.

Katana Man did the same, spitting into his own hand before they shook hands like old-school gentlemen.

Whip Hybrid, overhearing the exchange, let out a quiet sigh in her thoughts.

At least the two strongest members of each faction—the Yakuza and the Soviet Union—are getting along. But I'm very fucking sure we're not in our world. And those ice arrows that disabled some of our tanks? That's not the work of any local devil I've ever fought.

Her thoughts were cut short as she noticed a group of students approaching, led by a teacher named Mr. Tanaka from Fourth East High School. The students looked nervous but determined, their gazes shifting between the assembled forces.

Without a word, Whip Hybrid gave them a single nod, a silent signal that they were welcome to join.

But then—her eyes landed on one student.

Asa Mitaka.

Without hesitation, Whip Hybrid shoved her aside.

"You're not welcome," she said coldly.

Asa staggered slightly, confusion flashing across her face.

Whip Hybrid raised a hand and pointed toward Kang Woo and Makima.

"You two—also not welcome."

Silence fell over the crowd. Some of the newly joined members tensed at her words, while others exchanged uncertain glances.

"We don't know how long we'll be stuck in this snowy place," Whip Hybrid continued. "And some of the people in my group hate you, Kang Woo. If I let you stay, it'll cause a riot in my ranks. I'm not keeping anyone who's a burden—or a potential troublemaker."

Makima remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Kang Woo, on the other hand, ignored the entire situation.

His four crimson pupils shifted slightly, the glow within them intensifying as he activated the Almighty, scanning the surroundings.

However, Yuko raised her hand hesitantly. "Can I stay with Asa?"

Whip Hybrid barely glanced at her. "Do as you like," she said flatly.

In her mind, she sighed. What a fool. Sympathy for a clumsy friend like Asa is not needed.

Asa turned to Yuko quickly. "Yuko, you don't need to share—"

Before she could finish, Yuko suddenly hugged her. "You helped my back, I help you. We're friends, right?"

Asa hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."

Aki, standing beside Himeno, had been silently observing the situation. That's when he noticed something else—the largest group has whole divisions of Public Safety Devil Hunters, including his Division 2, which he was part of until Makima transferred him to the Special Division.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized familiar faces. Without hesitation, he began moving toward them.

Though Kang Woo was looking elsewhere, he casually made a hand signal toward Makima.

Makima understood immediately. Without changing her stance, she subtly shifted her weight, her fingers forming a casual pistol gesture behind her back—just in case things went sideways.

Aki stopped in front of a familiar figure. "Nomo, you here?"

Nomo turned at the sound of his name. His spiky rosy brown hair was slicked back, a distinct scar running across his right cheek. He wore the standard Public Safety Devil Hunter uniform.

His usual grin widened. "Aki? Didn't think I'd see you here."

Nomo stepped forward and placed a hand on Aki's shoulder. "That Kang Woo guy… is he leashed like you? A dog?" His grin stretched wider. "Whole Division 2 is here. I'm not second-in-command yet, but they still listen to me."

Aki tensed as he noticed Division 2 members Furuno, Kato, Tanabe, Masaki Ando, and Nakamura eyeing Kang Woo.

Their expressions were sharp—aggressive.

They're ready to brawl.

Aki immediately raised his hands. "Wait, wait, you bunch of dumbasses! Listen to me!" His voice was urgent.

The Division 2 members barely moved. Their eyes were still locked on Kang Woo, waiting for an excuse.

Aki exhaled sharply. "Kang Woo treats people according to how they respond to him. Just don't pick a fight with him."

His voice lowered slightly. "That being said… he's still a dickhead."

The tension loosened slightly at that. Some of the Division 2 members exchanged glances.

"And lastly," Aki continued, "I'm the one who chose to follow him. Because I need something more from him."

Nomo leaned back slightly, now more relaxed. He crossed his arms. "Aki, are you going to join Division 2 again?"

His voice was quieter now, more serious.

"Special Division is always in bad condition. You know that."

Before Aki could say anything

Kang Woo suddenly raised his hand, and from his palm, a massive dark needle—fifteen meters long—burst forth.

Without a word, he shot it straight into the sky.

The moment it hit the clouds, a deep THUNGGGG echoed like a sonar wave, vibrating through the air.

Then—something appeared.

Roughly 700 meters away, a blue-golden transparent light flickered into existence, shimmering like a mirage.

Kang Woo's expression darkened. That means the Thousand Sons are already here.

But that wasn't all.

Another faint purple-white light flickered even farther in the distance—barely visible, but unmistakable.

200… no, 300 kilometers away.

His eyes narrowed slightly. Satella.

She had hidden herself well. Either she was still in her evil-sealing stone shrine, or she had managed to slip deeper into concealment.

But that doesn't make sense.

Satella had already appeared in Tokyo before, creating the blue portal that led them here. Was that a trap?

Or—did she want me to find her?

Kang Woo's gaze lowered, scanning the surrounding terrain.

In front of the only road leading down the cliff, around 300 meters ahead, his Almighty vision flickered—revealing faint blue lights scattered across the area.

An ambush.

The ice elves are waiting for us.

But something still felt off.

Kang Woo frowned. Before I came here, the Almighty only showed me that we'd fight ice elves and maybe ice bears.

But now?

Now there was a Warhammer 40K problem.

That meant only one thing.

Kang Woo's eyes widened slightly as realization struck.

"The fucking Chaos God Tzeentch just warped the Thousand Sons here," he muttered.

Reze, who stood beside Kobeni, swallowed hard. The mention of a god—something far beyond the devils and fiends of her homeworld—made her skin prickle. She had never heard of gods actually existing, let alone meddling in the mortal realm.

Kobeni said nothing, but the slight tremble in her hands gave away her nerves.

Kishibe and Quanxi remained silent, their expressions unreadable.

Makima, however, finally spoke. "Tzeentch… is that god more powerful than Gaia in my world, Kang Woo?"

Aki, who had always kept an eye on Kang Woo—especially when he did something strange or bizarre—immediately understood.

Something really bad was about to happen.

Without hesitation, Aki moved toward Kang Woo. "I need to know again. What does your Almighty tell you now?"

Himeno cut in before Kang Woo could answer. "Kang Woo already told us—the enemy will have mana inside their body."

Aki sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh… sorry, Himeno-senpai. I think I need to rephrase that."

He turned back to Kang Woo, his voice more serious.

"Kang Woo, after that detection you just pulled… how many from the largest group will survive?"