Perrin was deep in his relentless training, sweat pouring down his body as he practiced his Death Breathing forms. Each swing of his Nichirin Blade cut through the air with deadly precision, the aura of death surrounding him with every movement. His muscles burned, but this pain had become his companion over the years. Just as he was about to move into Form 3: Grim Finale, a sharp, familiar ring echoed in his mind, halting him mid-strike.
Dang!
Mission: Eliminate Rui (Lower Moon 5) within 9 hours before the Demon Slayers arrive and are slaughtered.
Perrin straightened up, his eyes narrowing at the sudden appearance of the mission.
Time Limit: 9 hours
Current Progress: 1/3 demons killed
Rewards: +5% Pezo (Human) Template Progress, New Random Skill from the Deep Ones (Pezo's Future Army)
Failure Consequence: Unknown
He clenched his fists tightly. "Rui… Lower Moon 5. I remember him from the stories... He nearly wiped out an entire squad of Demon Slayers."
Perrin's thoughts raced. He knew Rui's strength. The demon was formidable, with terrifying spider threads that could cut down even the most skilled of fighters. If he didn't act, the lives of the slayers who were supposed to face him would be lost.
"9 hours..." Perrin muttered, glancing at the mission timer in his mind. He had no time to waste.
System:
Reminder: Kill more demons to progress the Pezo template faster. Kill 1 demon before 5%, 2 demons after, then so on.
"Great... so I need to kill more before I even face Rui," Perrin sighed, feeling the pressure mount. His eyes gleamed with determination, however. "But the rewards... a 5% boost, plus a new skill... It's worth the risk."
He sheathed his Nichirin Blade and immediately set off into the forest. Time was ticking, and Perrin knew that every second mattered.
Perrin sprinted through the dense woods, his enhanced body moving with fluid speed. As he neared the mountain where Rui and his spider demons lived, his senses heightened. He knew that Rui wasn't alone; his "family" of spider demons would be there to protect him, and they'd have to be dealt with first.
He slowed down when he reached the foot of the mountain, his sharp senses picking up on the faint scent of blood. "Perfect," he muttered, knowing there was a demon nearby. His muscles tensed as he moved silently through the forest, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
Rustle.
From the shadows, a grotesque spider-like demon appeared. Its multiple legs twitched as its beady red eyes locked onto Perrin.
"Dinner..." the demon hissed, leaping forward.
Perrin didn't flinch. He'd been expecting this.
"Death Breathing: Form 1 – Touch of Decay!"
With a swift strike, Perrin's blade connected with the demon's leg, and in a single moment, the demon's regeneration slowed as his deathly aura seeped into the wound. The demon shrieked in confusion as its body began to weaken.
Before it could retaliate, Perrin had already unleashed his next move.
"Form 2 – Cold Repose!"
A swift, fluid series of slashes sent icy waves through the air, each one slicing through the demon's body. Within seconds, the creature collapsed, its limbs falling to the ground as the demon's core was too weakened to recover.
Dang! You have killed a demon! +1% Pezo template progress. Current Template: 46%
Perrin took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any more threats. "That's one... now I need to move faster."
With 8 hours remaining, Perrin made his way up the mountain. The deeper he ventured, the darker the atmosphere became. He could feel the oppressive energy of Rui and his spider demons intensifying. It wasn't long before he encountered the first of Rui's "family."
A humanoid spider demon with white hair and sharp claws stood in his path, its eyes cold and emotionless. This was one of Rui's siblings—a demon known for its merciless attacks.
"I can't waste time here."
"Death Breathing: Form 4 – Restless Shade!"
Perrin moved in a blur, his blade striking from multiple angles in a chaotic, almost dance-like fashion. The demon barely had time to react before it was overwhelmed, blood splattering the ground as Perrin sliced through its limbs.
The demon's screams echoed through the forest, but Perrin didn't stop. With a final slash, he severed its head, ending the fight.
Dang! You have killed a demon! +1% Pezo template progress. Current Template: 47%
"Two down... Now, for Rui."
With the time limit ticking down, Perrin finally reached Rui's domain at the heart of the mountain. The webs that covered the trees shimmered in the dim light, and there, standing at the center of it all, was Rui—the Lower Moon 5 demon.
Rui's pale, child-like face turned toward Perrin, his voice soft but filled with malice. "You're not one of the slayers sent to kill me... who are you?"
Perrin's hand tightened around his sword. "You're about to find out."
Rui smiled, threads of silk forming in his hands. "No one has ever survived my threads... But you seem different."
Perrin didn't waste time on words. He knew how dangerous Rui's threads could be, and he had less than 6 hours left to complete his mission.
"Death Breathing: Form 3 – Grim Finale!"
Perrin charged forward, his blade glowing with a dark aura as he slashed through the air. Rui's threads shot out to intercept him, but Perrin's blade, enhanced by his deathly aura, cut through the threads with ease. The force of his slash sent Rui skidding back, a look of surprise flashing across his face.
"You've gotten stronger..." Rui hissed, his body glowing as he prepared for a more serious attack.
Perrin, breathing heavily, could feel the strain of the battle. But he wasn't done yet.
"Form 5 – Mourning Dawn!"
Channeling all of his energy into a final strike, Perrin leapt into the air, his blade arcing downward with immense force. Rui unleashed a flurry of threads, but Perrin's blade cut through them, descending toward Rui's neck.
In one fluid motion, Perrin's blade severed Rui's head from his body, the demon's face frozen in shock as his threads dissipated into the air.
As Rui's body disintegrated into ash, a familiar ring echoed in Perrin's mind.
Dang! You have killed Rui, Lower Moon 5! +5% Pezo template progress. Current Template: 52%.
Congratulations! You have unlocked a new random skill from the Deep Ones.
Perrin's body surged with new power as the system granted him his reward.
New Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Step (LV 1 - 0/100)
Description: Allows the user to momentarily phase into the shadows, becoming intangible and moving through space like a specter. Perfect for quick evasion or surprise attacks. Costs significant physical energy.
Perrin collapsed to his knees, the exhaustion finally hitting him. But as the sun began to rise, he smiled to himself. He had done it—saved the demon slayers and gained new power.
As the wind swept the ash away, he stood up and left until...
Perrin: "Rui was too strong in this world, so something probably messing with the plot...and it isn't me because I barley did anything until now..."