Chapter 3: Another Devil
[Word Count: 1260]
----------
"Let's get moving, human. There is much to be done!" The devil's voice roared in Leo's mind, commanding and demanding.
"Leo," he responded.
"Hmm?"
"My name is Leo. If you're going to be residing in my head, at least use my name," Leo asserted.
There was a pause, an unspoken tension hanging in the air.
"Fine, human Leo. Let's proceed," the devil relented, its tone conceding to Leo's request.
Leo let out a sigh, ready to comply, and began walking along the beach, assuming they were headed south.
During their walk, the ⬜⬜⬜ devil delved into Leo's memories, sifting through his life experiences.
"You've led quite a pathetic life, Human Leo," the devil commented.
Leo chose not to dignify the remark with a response, continuing to walk silently. However, after a while, he decided to speak up again.
"Just Leo is fine, for the record," Leo stated, expressing his preference.
The devil remained silent but emitted a low growl in acknowledgment.
Their journey continued in silence, with Leo occasionally pausing to gaze at the ocean, much to the devil's annoyance.
"Hu- L-Leo, we mustn't waste time. We need to head to Hanabuchihama... wherever that is," the devil urged, its voice laced with impatience.
In an attempt to alleviate his hunger, Leo chewed on a stick while posing the million-dollar question. "Why?"
"A devil I know is currently residing there," the devil replied.
"You know devils here?" Leo asked, surprised.
"Yes, before escaping from Hell, I was, as you humans put it, 'friends' with a few devils. This particular devil tore a piece of itself to follow me into the human realm," the devil explained.
"How do you know it's in Hanabuchi... How do you know its whereabouts?" Leo inquired.
"We're friends, of course. How else would I know?" the devil replied matter-of-factly as if stating the obvious.
Leo raised an unimpressed eyebrow and fixed his gaze ahead. "Alright, then."
Their journey progressed painfully slowly, much to the displeasure of both Leo and the devil. The ground was littered with rocks and sharp sticks, and the absence of shoes made the discomfort increasingly apparent.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they encountered signs of civilization—a path.
With limited options, Leo followed the path but opted to walk on the grass beside it. At this point, he preferred itchy feet over the risk of stepping on something unpleasant.
Before long, Leo encountered a dilemma—the path split into two.
The left path seemed to lead to nothingness, although the nearby ocean offered a scenic view. On the other hand, the right path led to a cluster of houses. It was a challenging decision to make.
"Leo," the devil called.
"Hmm?"
"Go right," it instructed.
"Is there a particular reason?" Leo questioned.
"Yes," the devil replied, its response curt.
Leo hesitated for a moment before complying. Heading right seemed like the more sensible choice between the two paths. As they proceeded, they reached civilization more quickly. Arriving at the nearest house, they found themselves facing another crossroads, this time a four-way intersection. Continuing straight would lead them along the path, taking a right would lead to a dead end, and veering left would lead up a small hill.
"Any directions this time?" Leo asked aloud.
"Go left," the devil instructed.
Leo followed the devil's guidance, and soon another option emerged—a path behind a house. The new route led through a small field, eventually arriving at another house at its end.
"Stop," the devil commanded.
"Hmm?"
"See that house to the right."
"Yes, what about it?" Leo inquired.
"Go inside," the devil chuckled.
Dropping the small stick he had been holding, Leo made his way toward the small house.
Upon entering, Leo immediately noticed the presence of ash scattered and piled around the place. The smell of smoke grew stronger as he approached an open door.
"Did your 'friend' cause this?" Leo questioned, his curiosity piqued.
"Hehehe," the devil cackled in response.
Carefully stepping over the ash piles, Leo navigated his way to the kitchen.
"Hmm? What are you doing, Leo?" the ⬜⬜⬜ devil inquired.
"Getting something to eat," Leo replied, matter-of-factly.
The devil emitted a growling noise as Leo consumed whatever produce he could find.
While enjoying an apple, Leo heard a distinct sound—a dragging noise. Peering into a nearby hallway, he witnessed a man dragging himself toward the front door. His lower body was missing, and instead of blood, steam emanated from the cauterized wound. It appeared as if he had been cut in half.
The man grunted and moaned in pain as he slowly made his way down the hall. Leo watched silently, finishing his apple. As the man reached the door, something else began crawling toward him—a severed hand.
The hand didn't resemble that of a human. Its fingers and nails were elongated, and its charred skin shed small pieces of ash. It dragged itself closer using its fingers, inching toward the nameless man.
"Hehehe," the devil chuckled.
Leo remained silent, observing the scene before him. The severed hand stopped halfway down the hallway, using its elongated index finger to point at the man. And then, with a snap, the man spontaneously burst into flames. A brief scream escaped his lips before being swallowed by the inferno, leaving only the sound of the burning body crumbling to ash.
"Hehehehe!" the ⬜⬜⬜ devil's laughter echoed in Leo's head, reveling in the scene.
"What do you think, Leo? Aren't my friends a hoot? HAHAHAH!" the devil asked, filled with amusement.
"They're something, I guess. Do you think they'll be of help?" Leo inquired, his tone calm.
The devil's laughter subsided as it responded, "Oh, they will certainly be of help. Now, approach the hand so we can make a contract."
Approaching the hand, Leo noticed it remained motionless. As he stood over it, the hand began tapping its fingers against the wooden floor.
"Alright, shake its hand and repeat after me," the devil instructed.
Kneeling down, Leo picked up the hand, feeling its scorching heat sear his skin. With little choice, he pressed on.
"Fire devil, hear me. My name is Leo, and I have a contract with the ⬜⬜⬜ devil. In exchange for lending me your strength, I will find a way to reconnect you with the rest of your body," Leo proclaimed.
Without a mouth to speak, the severed hand, or the fire devil, simply moved within Leo's grasp, clutching his palm. A deal had been struck.
"You shall reside in my lungs, as per the ⬜⬜⬜ devil's request," Leo declared.
In response, the devil began to dissolve into smoke and ash, triggering a fit of coughing and wheezing from Leo as the smoke and ash invaded his nostrils.
The process of clearing his lungs from the smoke and ash was agonizingly slow. Eventually, he found himself leaning against a wall, taking deep breaths, tears streaming down his face involuntarily. The taste of ash lingered on his tongue, a reminder of the ordeal.
Wiping away his tears, Leo gathered himself, although his wobbly leg made it challenging to stay upright. Slowly, he made his way back to the kitchen and headed toward the sink.
"Hehehe, you handled that better than I expected, Leo," the devil remarked, still snickering.
Leo paid no mind to the devil's amusement as he proceeded to clean his face, removing the residue of tears and the grime accumulated from sleeping in the woods.
Once he finished, he placed his head under the faucet, allowing the cold water to cascade over the back of his head.
"I need a shower."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone