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

On the exposed wall of Futamichi Café, the air was thick with tension and anticipation. Himeno and Aki sat on one side, with Reze standing nearby, her eyes fixed on the jagged cracks in reality where Kang Woo and the others had disappeared. On the opposite side, Quanxi and Kishibe lounged casually, though their sharp gazes betrayed their unease.

Quanxi broke the silence first, her tone as blunt as ever. "Aki, you don't seem surprised or bothered that Makima turned out to be a devil."

Aki shrugged, his expression calm and collected. "Ms. Makima was always a bit cold and calculative before she met Kang Woo. Whether she hid her identity or got exposed, it doesn't really change anything. She's still the same person though she become a better person since she met kang woo ."

Himeno smirked, leaning back slightly. "Should we be more worried about the Control Devil hiding her identity, or her deranged husband Kang Woo? He's capable of doing whatever he wants. Besides, the people of Japan don't care whether Makima is a devil or not. She's still hailed as the hero who saved Tokyo."

Reze, still silent, shifted her stance but didn't say a word, her focus unbroken.

Himeno pulled out a cigarette, holding it between her fingers. "Ah, shit. Forgot my lighter."

Aki snapped his fingers casually, and a small azure flame ignited at his fingertips. He brought it closer, lighting Himeno's cigarette. The faint blue light danced in the dim air before extinguishing itself.

Himeno exhaled a puff of smoke, eyeing him with mild amusement. "You really seem to like the magic Kang Woo bestowed upon you, huh?"

Aki didn't reply immediately. Instead, he held out his hand. "Himeno-senpai, you still have another cigarette, right?"

Himeno raised an eyebrow but handed him one. "You've been smoking a lot more lately. What's up with that?"

Aki lit the cigarette with another snap of his fingers, taking a deep drag before responding. "It eases my nerves… and keeps my sanity intact. I need it before I speak with Kang Woo."

Himeno glanced at him, puzzled. "Your sanity? What's going on with you?"

Before Aki could answer, Himeno turned her attention to Kishibe and Quanxi, who were staring at the exchange with matching looks of confusion. Himeno smirked. "Aki's my husband and my walking lighter now."

Both Kishibe and Quanxi blinked, clearly thrown off by her sudden declaration.

Quanxi tilted her head. "What just happened?"

Kishibe, scratching his chin, added dryly, "Guess I missed something."

Quanxi, still processing, looked back at Aki. "Is Kang Woo's power… like magic from fantasy games or RPGs?"

Aki took another drag of his cigarette, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "You'd better ask Kang Woo. He'll explain it better than I can."

As the jagged cracks in reality mended themselves, Makima and Kobeni stepped through, their expressions tired but resolute.

Reze was the first to notice their arrival, her voice light yet curious. "Welcome back. But… where's Kang Woo?"

Before they could answer, the ground trembled slightly. A dark substance began to spread across the floor, its texture shimmering like molten shadows. From within the spreading darkness, Kang Woo emerged, his presence commanding and otherworldly.

He was adorned in a new set of clothes, their design exuding a regal, ominous air. A long, high-collared black coat draped over his shoulders, with intricate patterns embroidered in silver threading along its edges. Chains of polished obsidian dangled from his chest, connecting to an ornate golden pin near his collar. The coat's coattails split dramatically behind him, giving him an almost spectral appearance as they moved with an unnatural fluidity. Beneath the coat, he wore a fitted black vest and high-collared undershirt, accentuating his lean, powerful frame. His gloves, pitch-black and fingerless, hinted at both formality and the raw power they concealed. The outfit was completed by dark boots, their polished surface reflecting the eerie light of his surroundings. ( img here )

Makima's sharp eyes scanned him, a faint smirk curling her lips. "New attire?"

Kang Woo gave her a sideways glance, his crimson eyes glinting faintly. "Feeling a bit more like my old self," he replied, his tone carrying a weight that silenced the air.

Kobeni's face lit up with awe. "It's… awesome, Kang Woo! You look like you're the ruler of everything."

Kang Woo turned his gaze to her and lifted a single gloved finger to his lips—a silent gesture commanding her not to speak further. His expression was unreadable, but the weight of his message was clear. Kobeni, catching the meaning, nodded quickly, her enthusiasm tempered by respect.

 The tension in the air was palpable, and even the usually composed Quanxi found herself shifting uncomfortably. She leaned toward Kishibe, her voice low and cautious.

"How do I even talk to him?" Quanxi whispered. "From what I've seen, whether he's in that crazy state or fully composed like this, there's no difference—he's still terrifying. My devil fiends weren't exaggerating when they said he's like a world threat."

Kishibe smirked faintly, his tone as dry as ever. "Just talk normally, like you would to anyone else. Though, if you're thinking about picking a fight, I wouldn't recommend it."

Quanxi raised an eyebrow at him. "Do I need to bow or something? Show some kind of formal respect?"

Kishibe couldn't resist the sarcasm as he replied, "Bowing's a good start. Maybe licking the floor would really drive the point home."

Quanxi glared at Kishibe, still annoyed by his earlier sarcasm. "Ha ha, very funny, Kishibe," she muttered before turning her attention back to the task at hand.

Kishibe, leaning casually against a nearby wall, shrugged as if her irritation rolled right off him. "Look, if you're serious about talking to him, I'd better come with you. You know who you're dealing with, right?"

Quanxi sighed, her tone mixed with both irritation and unease. "I'm not suicidal, Kishibe. I just want to ask for something: one ton of Compound V."

Kishibe raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "With him, it's a take-and-give relationship. No guarantees he'll give it to you for free. You better be ready to offer something in return."

Quanxi nodded, her resolve solidifying. "All right."

Meanwhile, Kang Woo crouched down, picking up the lunch box and the Tesseract cube inside. He inspected it briefly before turning his attention to Reze. "Really, Reze? A lunch box for the Space Stone?"

Reze crossed her arms defensively, her tone a mix of defiance and practicality. "I'm not like you, Kang Woo. My instincts screamed at me not to touch that thing. If I had, I'd probably end up in a place worse than death."

Kang Woo smirked, tilting his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Fair enough."

As Quanxi and Kishibe approached him, Kang Woo's crimson eyes flicked toward them. His expression immediately shifted to one of mild irritation.

 "Here comes trouble," he muttered.

Kishibe grinned slightly, his tone as dry as ever. "Do you always think of everyone as trouble? Or is it just everyone except Makima and Kobeni?"

Kang Woo shrugged, his voice calm but sharp. "Maybe. Or maybe it's because Quanxi here looks like she's about to hit a target bigger than she can handle."

Quanxi, unfazed, crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly. "Wait… why does this feel like we've had this conversation before? And why do I get the sense you're already aware of my plans to capture you?"

Before Kang Woo could reply ,

Makima chimed in with a teasing smile. "Quanxi, maybe you should've brought an entire country with you. That would make things far more entertaining—and chaotic."

Aki, standing nearby, sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Ms. Makima, that's a bad joke. Please don't even joke about World War III. Our country has already suffered heavy losses in the last war."

Makima smirked, her teasing tone unrelenting. "Relax, Aki. No one's going to war—at least, that depends entirely on Kang Woo's mood."

Quanxi, standing with her arms crossed, narrowed her eyes slightly. "Kang Woo, you seem to know a lot about me. Can you humor me?"

Kang Woo's lips curved into a sly grin. "From being utterly terrified a moment ago to suddenly brimming with confidence just because Kishibe's beside you. Damn, Kishibe, you've really got a chance. You'd make a fine husband for Quanxi."

Kishibe chuckled dryly, his usual nonchalant demeanor intact. "I'd hope so, but it seems she's interested in others."

Quanxi rolled her eyes, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I'm a lesbian, Kishibe. Try again."

Kang Woo raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving his face. "You're a Bow Hybrid, Quanxi. By pulling an arrow out of your right eye socket, you can transform. You've got four girlfriends—all of them devil fiends: Pingtsi, Long, Tsugihagi, and Cosmo. And let's not forget, the contract with your government to capture me is their freedom. In exchange for my capture, your harem of devil fiends gets human rights and basic education."

Quanxi froze, her expression unreadable. Inside, her thoughts swirled in disbelief. This man… he reads me like an open book.

Kang Woo waved his hand dismissively. "And no, I won't bother listing out all your devil fiends' powers. Too long, too boring."

Makima, ever the opportunist, leaned in closer to Kang Woo with a teasing smile. " Anytime you're going to sleep? I'd really love to see what I look like with three pupils in each eye when your Almighty switches to me."

Kang Woo's smirk deepened. "I didn't need the Almighty to know that. I used my Big Brain ."

Makima laughed softly, her yellow-ringed eyes glinting mischievously. "Then maybe I'll keep asking questions until you're ready to rest. You're far too intriguing when you're this mysterious."

Kang Woo's smirk lingered as he reached into his own body, his movements fluid and deliberate. With a sharp tug, he pulled something out—a writhing, shadowy mass that he casually tossed onto the ground. The mass quickly shifted and transformed, taking shape into the familiar form of the Future Devil.

The Future Devil stood before him, its once-confident demeanor now subdued, its eyes hollow and weary. "Am I not needed anymore, Sir Kang Woo?" it asked, its voice carrying an uncharacteristic note of hesitation.

Kang Woo waved dismissively, his tone calm but firm. "Go back to where you came from. Or be free. Just go—I don't care."

Before the Future Devil could respond, Kishibe stepped forward

 His voice cutting through the air with measured authority. "Wait. At least return it to the facility where it belongs. The Future Devil was once part of Public Safety before you made a contract with it. If you don't need it anymore, send it back."

Kang Woo paused for a moment, then sighed lightly, as if indulging a trivial request. With a flick of his wrist, he activated his Authority of Gates. Reality itself began to crack and splinter around him, sharp fissures forming in midair like broken glass. He gestured toward the rift, and the Future Devil turned to face him one last time.

"The future… is dead," the Future Devil muttered cryptically, its voice tinged with despair. Then, without further hesitation, it stepped into the fractured reality. The rift closed behind it, leaving only silence in its wake.

Himeno, seated beside Aki, broke the silence with a curious remark. "Shouldn't the Future Devil have said something like, 'The future rules'? That's what it always used to say. But after living inside Kang Woo, it's become… pessimistic."

Aki frowned, his expression contemplative. "I don't know exactly what happened, but I have a theory." He glanced at Kang Woo, his voice lowering. "It must've seen something—something Kang Woo did, or something he's going to do. Whatever it was, it was enough to break the Future Devil's confidence in the future itself."

Kang Woo smirked faintly, overhearing the conversation, but before he could comment

Quanxi stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Kang Woo, can you give me one ton of Compound V? Think of it as an investment—"

Kang Woo cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "How about no."

Quanxi frowned, her tone insistent. "At least give me an explanation why you refuse."

Kang Woo's crimson eyes locked onto hers, his expression sharp. "Do you even know how Compound V works on adults? The success rate is a measly 20%. And since you're asking on behalf of China—a country driven by economic obsession and cutthroat competition—what do you think will happen? Your higher-ups would likely turn that 20% into a reckless gamble, using 100 infants at a time. What happens when they all go berserk because your leaders demand results but completely ignore the process?"

Quanxi raised a hand to interject, "That's their problem, not—"

Kang Woo interrupted, his tone colder and sharper. "I'm not finished yet. Here's my personal reason: Do you really think the Red Army, or whoever's in charge over there, is just going to cheerfully celebrate, saying, 'Hey, we got Compound V, let's throw a parade and make Quanxi a hero'? No. They'll see you as a tool, a means to an end.

"And you'll be their target, Quanxi—not because you're incompetent, but because of their greed. And I'm not even talking about the chaos they'll create. You're right, that's their problem. But what happens when they come back, asking for more? When they start demanding things you can't give? When your devil fiends become hostages or leverage to keep you under control? By default, that would annoy me—because I like to win on every front. You being a slave to their system is not part of that equation."

Quanxi's face tightened as she absorbed his words, her usual confidence faltering for a moment. Her girlfriends—her fiends—flashed through her mind, and she clenched her fists, silent for now.

Makima, who had been observing the exchange, watched with a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She clearly enjoyed watching Kang Woo's calculated dismantling of Quanxi's plan. Kishibe, on the other hand, sipping his drink, the corners of his mouth twitching in a subtle grin that say , I told you so.

Suddenly, Kang Woo's eyes glinted, as if he saw something no one else could. His lips curved into a smirk.

Himeno, noticing the change, raised an eyebrow. "Kang Woo, every time you smile like that, it feels like fallout's about to happen. Should I brace for impact?"

Kang Woo chuckled, his tone light but laced with his usual edge. "Relax, Himeno. Let's try something different for once."

He turned to Quanxi, who looked more confused than ever. "Let's make a new variant of Compound V and give it to her."

Quanxi blinked, stunned. "Ehhhh? What? After all that, you're just… giving it to me?"

Kang Woo's smirk widened, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? Let's add a twist."

Kishibe laughed dryly, shaking his head as he took another sip of his drink. "You'll get used to it, Quanxi. Trust me, this is just Kang Woo being Kang Woo."

Makima chuckled softly beside him, her yellow-ringed eyes glinting with amusement. "That's how he operates. Unpredictable as ever."

Quanxi sighed, rubbing her temple, still trying to process what had just happened. "I don't even know if this is a win or a setup," she muttered under her breath.