Chapter 3: Almost Failed the Review!
Just as Amamiya Rei's questions began to take shape in his mind, that cold, mechanical female voice reverberated once more, precise and unwavering.
[Ding!]
[According to the quality of the flesh consumed, a random ability from the world of Demon Slayer will be granted to the host as a reward.]
[The regenerative ability is part of the Starter Gift Pack. Since the host was already in a half-dead state at the time of system activation, the system has automatically redeemed the gift. The Starter Gift Pack also includes the Muzan ability — Perfect Mimicry.]
[Perfect Mimicry: The ability to freely alter one's outward appearance, gender, scent, and any visible traits. Anything perceptible to the naked eye can be transformed completely.]
[Limit-Breaking Regeneration: Ordinary demons perish when decapitated by a Nichirin Blade. This is their natural limit. Muzan, however, transcended this boundary, capable of regenerating even his head and body. Only sunlight can kill him.]
[Nine Tube Whips: Muzan's primary offensive weapon. Nine tubes extend from his back, each approximately four meters long, their length unchangeable. They strike with extreme speed, infused with Muzan's blood; even a single hit can destroy an opponent's cells, ensuring instant death.]
As the explanation echoed in his mind, three luminous cards materialized before Amamiya Rei, each inscribed with a detailed description of its corresponding ability.
This was... extraordinary.
In that instant, Amamiya Rei accepted the grim reality: he would have to eat flesh from now on.
As long as he continued devouring flesh, he could strengthen himself effortlessly. The sheer potential of this system was terrifying.
Yet, to Rei, raw strength was only secondary.
What truly mattered was the sunlight value.
He wanted to live under the sun again.
He had been human his entire life. Now, suddenly transformed into a damp, light-fearing demon...
It was unbearable.
Unable to walk beneath sunlight — what difference was there between that and being dead?
[Ding!]
[Note: Abilities obtained from the world of Demon Slayer are granted at maximum proficiency upon acquisition. Abilities acquired from the world of Naruto are provided only in their basic form; their refinement and development must be explored by the host independently.]
In other words, the sensory ability he had just obtained from consuming Black Zetsu's flesh existed only at its most basic level; mastering it — refining its precision, extending its range — would depend entirely on Amamiya Rei's own efforts.
By contrast, any ability from the world of Demon Slayer would be mastered in full the moment it was obtained.
The system was not as flawless as Rei had first imagined, but he was still more than satisfied.
Contentment breeds happiness. Having something was always better than having nothing.
All of this happened in the span of mere heartbeats.
Amamiya Rei glanced sidelong at Black Zetsu. The creature's bead-like yellow eyes gleamed with equal parts curiosity, disdain, and calculation.
From its expression, Rei could tell — the system notifications and the glowing bars above his head were visible only to him.
The moment their eyes met, Rei couldn't help but recall the taste of the flesh he had bitten into earlier.
Black Zetsu's flesh had been strange.
Unlike human flesh.
Almost gelatinous.
Springy. Elastic.
The thought alone caused his mouth to water again.
He wanted more.
Black Zetsu: "..."
Why was this monster looking at him like that?
Why did that gaze feel... heated?
Black Zetsu narrowed its eyes. Heat was not necessarily bad. Not, at least, if it could be used.
Amamiya Rei understood the disparity in strength between Demon Slayer and Naruto.
The two worlds were not even on the same scale.
If he relied solely on Muzan's powers here, he would meet a swift and miserable end.
Sunlight remained his greatest weakness — exposure meant instant death. At just twenty-seven years old, Amamiya Rei had no intention of dying early.
So he resolved to consume more flesh, to accumulate sunlight value — to survive.
Until that value was high enough, he would endure.
Survival was his greatest skill.
Five years of corporate drudgery as a faceless workhorse for his boss had hardened him; if he had endured that, then this — monstrous though it was — hardly counted as suffering.
Eat flesh. Survive. Endure.
Amamiya Rei's gaze drifted back to Black Zetsu.
He wasn't sure about other people's flesh, but Black Zetsu's? That, he could eat without hesitation.
There was no blood.
Pitch black, flavorless, yet strangely pleasant — like a jelly substitute.
"Truly a monster, aren't you?"
Black Zetsu squatted down, studying Rei with curious fascination.
It tilted its head, circling him slowly, unable to categorize what kind of creature it faced.
A yokai? Perhaps.
But what kind? Were there more of his kind?
"You need to eat human flesh, don't you?"
Black Zetsu's analytical ability was razor sharp.
In an instant, it had deduced this monster's needs.
Need creates opportunity.
Zetsu didn't care what species he was — so long as he could be useful.
Amamiya Rei remained silent.
Everyone knew what Black Zetsu was: sly, insidious, endlessly manipulative.
Hiding his need for flesh was pointless; it had already seen him do it. He had even bitten Zetsu's leg.
Rei fixed his gaze on it, searching for the best place to bite next.
Black Zetsu, having already been bitten once, now watched him with guarded calculation.
The truth was out, and Rei didn't care.
All he wanted... was more flesh.
Yet he understood: getting another bite would not be so simple.
There was no such thing as free meat.
"...Still hungry?"
Black Zetsu extended its arm invitingly.
It could see how weakened the monster was — and suspected that flesh consumption was his means of survival.
Amamiya Rei: "..."
Perhaps it was the filter through which he viewed Black Zetsu — that cunning, sly expression.
But right now, Zetsu's gesture felt eerily similar to:
"Hey, kid... want some candy? Follow Uncle and you'll get more~"
Amamiya Rei didn't answer. In this game, words meant mistakes. Silence was safer. He waited for Zetsu to state his terms.
"I can provide you with flesh. In return, you will provide me with... services."
Black Zetsu's beady eyes gleamed with ill intent as it spoke.
Amamiya Rei: "...What kind of services?"
Could he please phrase that better?
That sounded... questionable.
"When you grow stronger, I will tell you," Black Zetsu replied cryptically.
Its voice dripped with the darkness of a scheming villain.
Before exploiting this creature, it needed to evaluate his value.
If worthless, there would be no hesitation — kill him, or seal him away forever.
Wait—kill? No, this one couldn't be killed.
Seal him, then. Eternally.
Zetsu's yellow eyes glowed like twin lanterns as it appraised Rei.
"Feed me flesh, and I'll grow stronger."
Amamiya Rei's ravenous eyes locked on Zetsu's arm.
His hunger-driven behavior matched perfectly with Zetsu's assessment:
A simple-minded beast driven solely by appetite.
Strange.
So strange.
Amamiya Rei now saw Zetsu as nothing more than a snack — a bite-sized appetizer.
Drool threatened to spill.
Black Zetsu stared silently for a long moment.
Then, without hesitation, it sliced off a portion of its own arm and handed it to him.
No sign of pain.
Amamiya Rei accepted the wriggling black jelly without pause — and swallowed it whole.
[Ding!]
[Scanning...]
[Scan Failed.]
Failed?
How could it fail?
Amamiya Rei froze, dumbfounded.
Was this bastard toying with him?
He glared at Black Zetsu — only for another thought to flash across his mind.
Could it be... he had to bite it off himself for it to work?
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