Rui controlled his silken threads, slicing away the flesh around the wound on his head. The suppressed regeneration returned, the injury healed quickly.
"How can he be so strong?"
Rage filled his eyes.
He'd sworn to Muzan that he would capture the traitor.
Now, he was running away.
He didn't think he was weaker than the traitor.
But this was an unfair fight.
His attacks were useless. The traitor's cut deep.
How could he win?
"Where are you going?"
A soft voice whispered in his ear.
Rui's face changed. He swung his arm without turning.
Whoosh!
Five crimson threads cut through the air.
He knew from the sound they hadn't hit.
Rui stopped, looked at Aoki in front of him, shocked.
"Why is he in front of me?"
It wasn't speed. The voice had been behind him.
Aoki looked at Rui, almost fully healed. He shook his head.
Removing the flesh around the Demon Devour wounds restored regeneration. He'd known that.
Fighting Lower Moons with strong healing and stamina meant destroying their ability to fight quickly. Otherwise, even with Demon Devour, it would be a long fight.
Aoki lifted his hand, aimed it at Rui's head. "I was going to play with you. But you ran. Fine. I've tested your strength. I'll end this now."
"End me? Don't be so arrogant!" Rui said coldly, wary.
Muzan had said the traitor had a Blood Demon Art that boosted his power.
Aoki smiled.
Rui used silk attacks. He was weak up close. Fighting Rui meant closing the distance.
That was what he did best.
"Ready?"
Aoki asked, vanished.
Rui couldn't react. A hand slammed against his face.
"Got you!"
The voice was mocking. Then, a huge force crashed down.
He screamed. His neck snapped. His head twisted. He was almost shoved into his chest.
"Get off!" Rui shot threads of blood.
The figure vanished again.
He understood. "Like Muzan's Infinity Castle?"
Knowing didn't help.
Thwack!
A sharp sound behind him. Rui felt pain in his neck. His vision spun.
"Aoki Style, Tempest."
Aoki didn't hold back. No one would save Rui this time.
His head hit the ground. His body shattered, the cuts bleeding, unable to heal.
He was still conscious. He'd grow new arms on his head.
Then, a foot fell from the sky.
Thwack!
The broken body stopped moving. Only the flesh twitched.
Aoki used Demon Devour.
[Killed Lower Moon Five, Gained 600 Experience.]
[Congratulations! Leveled Up!]
"Lower Moons give a lot of experience!"
Aoki blinked, surprised.
The demon father had given him 180 experience. The other three had given him 209.
Rui's family had given him 989 experience.
That didn't include the "Lower Moons' End" reward.
Elite monsters were the best way to level up.
He put one stat point into Constitution, for balance.
Then, he put one into Strength.
He'd save the skill point.
[Name: Aoki]
[Strength: 14]
[Constitution: 13]
[Intelligence: 13]
[Agility: 13]
[Profession: Hunter, Aberrant Demon]
[...]
[Aberrant Demon]
Quality: ★★
Level: lv7 (394/700)
Skills: Demon Blood Ⅲ, Space Warp, Transparent World (Available), Demon Devour
Tasks: Lower Moons' End (1/3)
Free Skill Points: 2
Aoki looked at the System panel, pleased. "Three hundred more experience to learn Demon Blood Level 4."
...
Kocho Kanae stopped, looked at the mountain ahead.
"Is this Mt. Natagumo?"
A crow on her shoulder flapped its wings, shook off snow. It nodded. "Yes! This is it!"
"Let's go!"
Kanae looked at the "Hidden" members, waved. "Follow me!"
The crow led them to where Aoki had fought the spider-demon.
"The fight wasn't bad. The power difference was big."
Kanae looked around. The snow hadn't covered the marks.
"Found one!"
A "Hidden" member ran over, carrying a spider-headed creature.
Kanae's face grew serious. She checked the creature, ignoring its looks.
She looked up, her face a little sad.
"I can heal him. But he won't fully recover. There will be lasting damage."
The "Hidden" member didn't speak. It was amazing already.
The Flower Pillar was strong, kind, and a great healer. Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps admired her.
Kanae made arrangements, stood.
"Heal the wounded. I'll search for the demons."
The crow had said there were more than one.
It had seen a golden-eyed demon kill another demon.
It was unheard of.
Demons fought each other. But the only way to kill a demon was sunlight.
The Demon Slayer Corps used Nichirin Blades.
Kanae moved fast, like a butterfly in the forest.
She didn't find any demons.
Then, she stopped, looked at the ground.
Trees cut in half. The earth torn. Blood on the snow.
"Another fight. More intense than before."
Kanae looked up.
A figure stood in a treetop. It was a demon.
Aoki looked down.
A familiar figure stood below.
Same uniform, same haori, same hair ornament. The girl was taller than he remembered.
"Is that Kocho Kanae?"
Aoki thought.
Her gentle presence was comforting.
He nodded to the girl, used Space Warp, vanished.
---
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