"Weak?!"
Shuya blinked, genuinely caught off guard. It was the first time anyone had called him that since he crossed over.
Then it clicked—he'd been unconsciously using Zetsu to hide his aura the whole time.
Without another word, he released the technique.
A massive wave of life energy exploded outward.
Shuya smirked. "How about now?"
Yoriichi's calm eyes widened slightly as he felt the sheer pressure. "A technique to conceal your life energy…? Incredible. This aura is terrifying."
"It far surpasses even Muzan's. If I didn't know you weren't a demon, I might've mistaken you for the real Demon King."
"So you believe I can fulfill your regrets now?" Shuya asked, lips curving.
Zetsu hid your presence completely. In was just hiding your aura so even Nen users couldn't tell you apart from a normal person unless they used Gyo. The classic "play the pig to eat the tiger" move.
Yoriichi's expression turned serious. "With power like this, I have no doubt you can kill both Muzan and my brother Michikatsu."
"So take everything. The Mark, Transparent World—whatever it is. I'm just a lingering soul now. It's all useless to me anyway."
"I only ask that you finish what I couldn't four hundred years ago… kill the Demon King Muzan."
He paused, voice growing heavy. "And end my brother's miserable existence."
Deep down, Yoriichi cared more about his older brother than he did about Muzan. That was why he'd carried the flute Michikatsu gave him his entire life, and why he'd gone to see him one last time before dying—only to spare him at the very end.
Shuya didn't waste time. He manifested the Equivalent Exchange scroll and tossed it over.
Yoriichi scanned it quickly. Two conditions: kill Muzan and Upper Rank One Kokushibo in exchange for Yoriichi's Nen ability.
Not the Mark. The actual Nen ability.
Because Shuya wasn't 100% sure the Mark was Yoriichi's Hatsu. But if he made the deal for the Nen ability itself, then as long as Yoriichi was a Nen user, the ability would drop.
Yoriichi didn't hesitate.
"I accept."
The scroll dissolved into light and sank into his chest.
Yoriichi felt something new appear inside him—an aura he couldn't sense even with Transparent World. It wrapped around something deep within him, something important he couldn't put into words.
"Is this… my Nen ability?"
The contract wasn't finished yet. The aura would stay inside Yoriichi until Shuya actually killed Muzan and Kokushibo. Only then would it forcefully extract Yoriichi's true Nen ability and transfer it to Shuya.
Shuya's Equivalent Exchange had two modes.
The first was what they were doing now—task-based. Complete the other party's request and the ability would pull their Nen back to him.
The second was an immediate, cash-on-delivery trade. Shuya provided something both sides considered equal value right away. Like when he'd given Makomo Conjuration aura in exchange for her ownership.
Fast, but risky. If he tried to take the payment back later, the whole deal collapsed and he could never trade with that person again.
Yoriichi looked at him one last time.
"Junior, I'm leaving. With your strength, you don't need any guidance from me. I'll be waiting for the day you send my brother to join me."
"Yoriichi-san!"
Shuya called out before the man could fade away. "Wait—one more request."
Yoriichi turned, surprised.
"I have a friend. A pure swordsman who lives for fighting strong opponents. I was hoping… you could fight her. Just once."