Narrator POV.
[Ding]
[Mission activated]
[Mission: The Defeat of the Centipede]
[Reward: You will obtain a special trait from one of the Hashira of Kimetsu no Yaiba]
A slow smile spread across Isagi's face as he heard the system notification.
—A Hashira trait? —he murmured, incredulous yet excited.
The Pillars.
The strongest demon slayers of Kimetsu no Yaiba.
That could mean many things: Shinobu's venomous agility, Tengen Uzui's rhythmic perception, Rengoku's unbreakable spirit, or even Mitsuri Kanroji's superhuman strength born from her peculiar "unique constitution."
(No choice… if there's pay, there's work.) —Isagi thought, a daring gleam shining in his eyes as he unsheathed his katana and released the silver chain—. (And if the job has a reward, I'd better do it right… who knows, maybe I'll even get a bonus.)
The air vibrated around him as he spun the chain skillfully, the metal whistling with each rotation.
Suddenly, the demonic centipede lunged at him, sliding forward at a horrifying speed, tearing chunks of asphalt from the ground as it moved.
Its mandibles opened wide, aiming to catch him and split him in half.
Isagi leapt backward, dodging the attack by mere centimeters, and snapped the chain forward with a sharp, precise motion.
The silver gleam reflected the sunlight as it shot out like a metallic serpent, aiming to coil around the demon's body.
However, thanks to its unnatural agility, the centipede twisted aside with an unpleasant hiss, evading the attack.
The chain missed its target and wrapped itself around a nearby lamppost instead.
—Not what I wanted, but it'll do. —Isagi muttered with a confident smile.
Gripping the chain with both hands, he pulled with all his strength. The concrete anchoring the post groaned loudly, and a second later, the metal tore free from the ground, kicking up dust and sparks.
—Insolent human! —the centipede roared, its plated body bristling as its countless legs trembled.
Before it could move again, the lamppost crashed down on top of it with a deafening boom, crushing part of its body and forcing a shrill, guttural screech from the monster that echoed throughout the street.
Isagi watched the massive demonic centipede closely, analyzing every movement and the structure of its body. He knew creatures like this possessed extremely tough natural armor, capable of resisting even powerful blows or slashing attacks.
And if this monster embodied humanity's fear of centipedes, then its strength and durability had to be absurdly high.
There was also a clear difference—an almost insurmountable gap—between the curses of Jujutsu Kaisen and the devils of Chainsaw Man.
In the world of jujutsu, curses were born solely from negative emotions within Japan—a single country filled with stress, envy, and suppressed hatred.
But the devils of the Chainsaw Man universe… they were born from the collective fears of all humanity, from the entire planet.
There was no comparison.
Chainsaw Man devils were, without a doubt, infinitely more powerful than any ordinary jujutsu curse.
Isagi knew this. Even with Itadori's physique and raw strength, his current level wouldn't be enough to face top-tier monsters like Makima, the Gun Devil at 20%, or even a heavily nerfed Pochita.
(Good thing during the first part of "Chainsaw Boy" there aren't demons that make you go, "holy shit, this guy's completely broken—call God"). —he thought, a chill running down his spine.
He knew he was still far from the top. He had barely climbed a single step on this brutal world's food chain, and he could already feel the weight of the predators above him.
(Damn it… I need to get stronger.) —he thought, teeth clenched.
His fist began to wrap itself in cursed energy, faint black sparks crackling in the air as if space itself trembled at the possibility of what was coming.
Could he do it?
Could he really pull off a Black Flash?
The thought made his heart race—not just from excitement, but from anticipation of the power he was about to unleash.
Isagi focused all his strength, all his cursed energy, into that single strike. The air around him vibrated, warping under the pressure building in his fist.
When the punch slammed directly into the centipede demon's face, an explosion of black lightning lit up the area, accompanied by an electrifying roar that shook the ground.
—Black Flash! —Isagi roared, feeling cursed energy violently surge from his fist into the monster's body.
The impact was devastating. The centipede was blasted several meters backward, its countless legs clawing desperately at the ground, carving deep grooves through dirt and asphalt alike. Its tough natural armor cracked, shards of chitin flying through the air.
Isagi stared at his hands, panting, a mix of shock and euphoria washing over him.
—No way… —he muttered through disbelieving laughter—. This feels… incredible.
It was as if a warm current flowed through his body, as though everything had suddenly become lighter, clearer. He could feel it—the difference in the vibration of his cursed energy, more compressed, purer, sharper.
—I think I'm hallucinating… —he said, though deep down he knew he wasn't.
This was the "flavor" Toudou talked about—the sensation of tasting a dish you've been cooking for a long time, only truly understanding its perfection the moment you finally try it.
The centipede's roar snapped him back to reality. The demon was still alive, its body writhing in fury, armor cracked and torn in multiple places.
—Tch… tough son of a bitch. —Isagi gritted his teeth and raised his katana, gripping it with both hands.
Fortunately, he could fight with both fists and weapons, giving him a tactical advantage.
The centipede slithered around him, its elongated body moving at terrifying speed. It reared up, its countless legs coming down toward Isagi with the intent to shred him to pieces like living blades.
But Isagi only smiled confidently. He inhaled deeply, his cursed energy flowing in perfect sync with his breathing.
—Wind Breathing: Third Form — Tree Swaying in a Storm.
He spun with grace and precision, his katana tracing deadly arcs. In an instant, a cutting gale erupted around him, forming a vortex of slashes that repelled the centipede's assault.
The approaching legs were severed midair, the atmosphere filling with a sharp whine as fragments of chitin scattered everywhere.
The storm of steel and curse tore through a large portion of the demon's body, while Isagi remained at the center of the vortex—steady, unwavering, a confident smile lighting up his face.
With one final motion, using the momentum of the whirlwind he had created, Isagi spun once more with flawless precision. His katana gleamed as it reflected the sunlight, and with a powerful shout, he unleashed a slash of compressed air in all directions.
The blade, reinforced with cursed energy, traveled alongside multiple cutting shockwaves that tore through the centipede demon's body as if its armor were paper. In seconds, pieces of the monster flew everywhere, green blood splattering the ground and nearby walls.
The demon's roar faded, swallowed by the howling wind and the echo of countless cuts.
Amid the destruction, Isagi stood tall, his katana resting on his shoulder, a satisfied smile on his face. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes sparkled with the thrill of battle.
He had almost completely forgotten his earlier reflections about the differences between jujutsu curses and Chainsaw Man devils. Now, all he could think about was how good it felt to win.
[Ding]
[Congratulations!]
[Mission completed]
[You have obtained a special trait from the Wind Hashira]
Isagi's eyes widened in shock.
—Sanemi? —he asked, a mix of excitement and anxiety in his voice—. What am I getting? His indomitable will? His pain resistance? Or his combat aggressiveness?
He looked like a child who had just been promised their favorite toy. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the system screen, waiting for the answer.
[Ding]
[Trait obtained from the Wind Hashira]
[Marechi Blood: One of the rarest blood types. Incredibly intoxicating and delicious to demons, with an effect similar to catnip on cats. Its scent is so potent that even a small amount can cause demons to drool and lose concentration.]
Isagi fell completely silent. The smile slowly vanished from his face. His expression said everything.
—…You've got to be kidding me. —he finally muttered, staring up at the sky with a priceless look—. Out of everything I could've gotten… you give me "tasty" blood?
The wind blew softly, as if the universe itself were mocking him. Marechi blood—irresistible to demons—and Isagi was living in a world full of them.
The system had to be screwing with him.
---
End of the chapter.