Chapter 33: Because They Are the Demon Slayer Corps
Five hundred points!
Ryuji's eyes lit up; this was the first time he had received such a high amount of military merit points!
But then, he fell silent again. According to the System, the more evil a "Pirate" was, the higher the military merit points... Five hundred points, how much evil built upon the flesh and blood of civilians did that represent?
"Phew... I can't rest yet; I still have to go check on the Kochou family..."
Exhaling a breath of turbid air and using a Breathing Technique to suppress the pain in his body, Ryuji picked up Little Purple, shouldered it, and walked quickly toward the train station.
He had to go check on the Kochou family... At the same time, he thought to himself, "System, explain it."
Earlier, during the battle with Kohakugawa Osamu, the System had chimed, but the situation was too urgent for him to check. Now was the perfect time.
[Due to the host's continuous life-and-death battles, your physical fitness has reached a critical point. Having consistently overused Armament Haki, you have gained a great realization between life and death; your understanding of Armament has deepened significantly.]
[Congratulations, you have mastered Armament Haki's Hardening and Infusion, officially entering the Mastery stage! You are no longer an ant that can be crushed at will; you have now become a bug that occasionally cannot be killed.]
[Armament Haki (Mastery): You can now maintain stable Infusion and Hardening for long periods. You now have the qualification to look up at the highest stage.]
Looking at this long string of System prompts, Ryuji remained unfazed. He had already discovered he could use Hardening while fighting Kohakugawa Osamu.
It was expected.
"System, can Armament Haki slow down a Demon's recovery speed?"
[Note: You are a Marine. Those you kill or capture are Pirates. Please do not refer to Pirates by any other name.]
Ryuji: "..."
He took a deep breath and then asked again, "Can it slow down a Pirate's recovery speed?"
[Yes. Some Pirates have special Physiques or have consumed Logia Devil Fruits; Armament Haki can counter these special abilities.]
Seeing the System's explanation, Ryuji nodded. As expected. Previously, his Armament Haki was unrefined, and he ended fights in one punch, so he hadn't noticed this use of Armament Haki.
Fighting Kohakugawa Osamu had allowed him to discover that Armament Haki had this effect... The delusional System probably mistook a Demon's regenerative power for a Logia fruit ability.
It's surprisingly useful; it's as if I'm poison to Demons!
Ryuji rubbed his chin and asked again, "Can I teach Armament Haki to other Marines?"
[Theoretically yes, practically no.]
[Even the physical fitness of Marine Captains Uzui Tengen and Himejima Gyomei does not meet the standard.]
"I see..."
Ryuji shook his head. The image he had imagined of the Nine Pillars all using black blades to mince Muzan into meat paste vanished... Hiss.
Pain, pain, pain.
Although the Breathing Technique could suppress the pain, the injuries all over his body were a bit too severe. Being slammed over ten meters deep into a rock wall must have broken a few bones.
If his physical fitness hadn't been that of a Marine Soldier, any other Pillar might have died... Of course, another Pillar wouldn't have been hit; Kohakugawa Osamu would likely have been decapitated during his transformation... just like Lower Rank Rui later on.
Using Little Purple as a cane to walk helped reduce some of the pain.
"Lord Ryuji! Are you alright?"
A Demon Slayer Corps Member saw the wound-covered Ryuji and rushed toward him, his face filled with worry.
After reaching Ryuji, he began checking his body up and down, making Ryuji a bit uncomfortable; the enthusiasm was excessive.
"Uh, I'm okay. I won't die for now. Do you know me?"
Ryuji took a slow step back and spoke tentatively.
The Demon Slayer Corps Member bowed deeply and said, "My name is Arai Daisuke. I am a member of the Demon Slayer Corps who participated in the trial in the same year as you. I am one of those saved by Senior Sabito!"
Ryuji suddenly understood; so he was someone saved by Sabito.
Arai Daisuke supported Ryuji as they walked toward the train station to regroup with other Demon Slayer Corps Members, after which they would go to support Himejima Gyomei.
"Senior Sabito has returned to Mount Sagiri to serve as a swordsmanship instructor. Senior Tomioka is hunting demons near Mount Sagiri; it's said he's already killed over a dozen, and his promotion speed is very fast."
Arai Daisuke looked at Ryuji with a face full of admiration:
"But none of them compare to Lord Ryuji. We already know about you killing a Lower Rank."
Ryuji raised an eyebrow. Sabito and Giyu seemed to be doing quite well; he should find an opportunity to visit them.
Also, news of killing a Lower Rank spreads this fast?
On second thought, during the final battle at the Infinity Castle, news of Agatsuma Zenitsu killing the Disgrace of the Upper Ranks also spread very quickly.
Reasonable.
"Since this King's mount killed a Lower Rank, this King naturally has to promote it. It's all thanks to this King's meritorious teaching!"
Little Red dove down from the sky, slowing down just before reaching Ryuji and landing gently on his shoulder.
It shook its head with an expression that said, "I'm good, right?"
Ryuji shook his head helplessly.
"This time, Lord Ryuji will be promoted to the fourth Pillar upon returning. I'm so envious; if only I could be like that someday..."
Arai Daisuke said with a face full of envy.
"I actually don't have much talent... it's mainly good luck."
Ryuji spoke words that sounded like humblebragging, but only he knew that without the System, he might have died at the hands of some demon.
"So modest. If Lord Ryuji has no talent, then what are we mediocre people supposed to do..."
Arai Daisuke said with a bitter smile.
Ryuji shook his head. Little Red, perched on his shoulder, suddenly took flight and screeched, "Demon! A demon is approaching!"
Then it quickly flew away.
Ryuji's right hand tightened around Little Purple as he tried to stay alert, but the pain in his chest slowed his movements.
"Oh my, there's actually such a good-looking swordsman here."
A frivolous, playful voice reached their ears.
Ryuji looked toward the sound. The moment he saw the person, the hairs on his body stood on end.
His pupils contracted into pinpricks!
A bone-deep chill surged from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.
Under the Moonlight, a man with white-oak hair and eyes like rainbow glass was looking at him with a smile, toying with a pair of golden fans in his hands.
Most terrifyingly, characters were engraved in those glass-like eyes.
Upper Rank.
Two.
The Ice Demon, the cult leader of the Eternal Paradise Cult.
The extremely evil demon who, in the original work, killed Kocho Kanae, forced Shinobu Kocho to sacrifice herself, and could only be defeated by an incredibly powerful finishing move relying on a Flashback!
upper rank two, Doma!
Ryuji froze in place. How? How could Doma be here?
It's over... I'm not at my peak right now.
No, even at my peak, I probably wouldn't survive against Doma... "Your face is quite handsome."
Doma tilted his head, pointing his fan at Ryuji as if appraising a piece of merchandise.
He waved the golden fans in his hand:
"Your Physique is great too—tall, but not with those disgusting muscle lumps; it's a very beautiful, streamlined shape."
"Very healthy. I like it."
As he spoke, a professional fake smile appeared on his face.
At this moment, he was still smiling, but Ryuji couldn't feel a hint of mirth.
Only coldness—a bone-chilling cold.
He glanced at Arai Daisuke standing in front of him and could hear the sound of teeth chattering: "Lord Ryuji, run! I'll try to buy as much time as possible!"
"Lord Ryuji!"
Just then, several more Demon Slayer Corps Members drew their swords and rushed over, followed by Little Red who was leading the way, and stood in front of Ryuji.
"Run!"
Ryuji roared in a low voice, "It's Upper Rank Two! You're no match for him! Go! I'll hold him back!"
Even though he was also scared to death, he still said those words.
The legs of the members before him were shaking like sieves.
Ryuji knew they were afraid—terrified—but not one of them fled. They all drew their nichirin blades and took their stances, blocking the path between him and Doma.
Because they are the Demon Slayer Corps.
They wanted to buy time for him, who had just undergone a major battle, to recover.
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