The world was blood-red, as if painted with fresh blood.
A strange heat flowed through his body, chasing away the pain.
A brutal urge to kill filled his mind. A bloodthirsty hunger, a gnawing emptiness, grew in his thoughts.
Aoki's brain was a mess, but he could feel it: a new consciousness, growing stronger.
At the same time, his human feelings faded. His mind filled with a craving for human flesh.
Aoki fought the change, his brow furrowed, his face twisted in pain.
Losing his will, becoming a man-eating demon... That was worse than death.
But he couldn't even kill himself. He had only a flicker of his old self, fighting against the change in his body and soul.
It was like an ant trying to stop a cartwheel. Hopeless.
Ding!
[Special Bloodline Power Detected!]
[Absorbing!]
[Demon Bloodline Absorption Complete! Congratulations! You have gained the profession "Man-Eating Demon"! ]
[...]
[Strong Resistance Detected. Modifying Profession Template!]
[Profession Template Modification Complete!]
[Congratulations! You have gained the profession "Aberrant Demon"! ]
Aoki's eyes snapped open. He gasped for air, fear flooding him.
Close!
He'd almost lost himself!
Thank God for the System!
"Muzan Kibutsuji!"
Aoki's fist clenched, then slowly opened.
He'd get revenge. But not now.
His mind calmed. Aoki touched his forehead. The hole Muzan had made was gone. The wound in his chest was healed.
He looked around.
The tree trunk was bare. The hunting knife lay on the ground, the blade covered in mud.
Kazuhiko was gone. Vanished. He'd left no trace.
Aoki felt a pang of sadness.
I remember this world has souls, reincarnation... I wonder if Master made it through?
He walked over, picked up the knife. He turned and walked away.
He went home, packed a bag. Aoki came out again, the bag in his hand.
He looked around, taking it all in. The house, the fence, the woodpile, the table and chairs in the yard...
He was silent for a moment.
Aoki slung the bag over his shoulder, stepped forward. His figure disappeared into the rain-soaked night.
...
The rain slowed, the clouds broke. Sunlight pierced the darkness.
Two figures ran into the yard, fast as the wind.
Shinobu scanned the area, her young face serious.
"No sign of a fight. No demon!"
Takina's hands were white-knuckled. "What about Aoki? What happened to Aoki?"
Shinobu looked down, silent. Anger burned in her eyes.
The body was gone. After fighting a demon, if the body was gone... It was clear what had happened.
On the way, she'd learned more.
Her father turning into a demon, eating her future husband... It was too cruel.
Takina sank to the ground, letting the mud soak her clothes.
Aomura Rie looked around the familiar yard, her face blank.
Shinobu frowned, searching for any trace of the demon.
On the way here, she hadn't expected to save anyone.
Too much time had passed!
A normal person might fight a demon for a while. But a whole night? Since the demon appeared?
Even a newborn demon was almost unbeatable for a human who didn't know Breathing Styles.
But she wanted to kill the demon. To avenge the brave man named Aoki. To stop it from hurting anyone else.
But the rain had washed away everything. They might never track it.
Kanae looked thoughtful. She nodded to her sister.
Shinobu, a little confused, walked to the house.
She came back, her steps quick.
"There's a letter. Signed 'Aoki'."
Aomura Rie's head snapped up. Takina ran forward, grabbed the letter from Shinobu. She read it, desperate.
"Master's wife, Takina, the demon is gone.
The mountains aren't safe. Please move away, soon!
After you move, plant wisteria flowers. Or sprinkle wisteria powder. It keeps demons away.
I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I have some things I need to do. I have to leave. I'll visit you later!"
Takina froze for two seconds. Then, she crumpled, covered her face. She sobbed, a sound full of grief, pain, fear, worry, and a deep sense of loss.
Aomura Rie held her, whispered, "He's alive! He's alive! He's alive!"
Takina cried until she fell asleep.
She'd been scared, sleepless all night. Her emotions had been a storm. Her body and mind were exhausted.
Aomura Rie looked weak, too. The Butterfly sisters helped her to bed.
Kanae closed the door softly. She joined Shinobu on a bench in the yard.
She looked around, sighed. "The house is beautiful. The yard is so warm and welcoming. They must have been happy here."
Shinobu didn't care about the house. She was curious about something else.
"Sister, how did Aoki beat the demon? He didn't know a Breathing Style."
Kanae smiled gently. "I don't know. But it's not impossible to beat a demon without a Breathing Style. Gyomei Himejima did it, didn't he?"
Shinobu started to say, "But Gyomei Himejima is special." Then, she thought about it. Aoki had killed a demon without Breathing Styles. It was a newborn demon, but still... He was special, too.
"It's a shame he left. We could have asked him to join the Demon Slayer Corps. Maybe he could have become a Pillar!"
Kanae tapped her forehead, teasing. "Shinobu, the Demon Slayer Corps is dangerous. We can't just drag people in, unless they ask."
Shinobu said, "But he must want revenge!"
Kanae didn't argue.
Aomura Rie and Takina slept almost a day.
The next day...
Grief still weighed on them, but they found the strength to act. They made a grave for Kazuhiko, then, with the Butterfly sisters' help, they started to move.
"We're leaving, Takina!" Aomura Rie waved.
"Okay. I'm coming."
Takina looked one last time at the place she'd grown up. She turned and walked away.
They didn't take much.
It was hard to carry. And they hoped to come back someday.
For Aomura Rie and Takina, this was home.
When Aoki was done with his business, they'd come back.
...
---
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