186-190

Chapter 186: He's Panicked, Truly Panicked! 

"Stop letting him eat!" 

Kokushibo spoke up, his words directed at Akaza, the Upper Moon Three. While they were caught up in their heated battle, on the other side, the Shadow Wolf was still devouring the battered remains of Douma. 

Kokushibo wasn’t sure how this ghost managed it, but he could see it clearly—this guy was getting stronger by the second! 

"Why?" 

Kokushibo gritted his teeth. Growing stronger was his sole obsession. As a human, he’d chased strength relentlessly, but he could never surpass his younger brother, Yorichii Tsugikuni. Unwilling to die from the side effects of the Demon Slayer Mark, he chose to join Muzan Kibutsuji. 

He and Muzan hit it off instantly. Kokushibo didn’t want to die, and Muzan needed a powerful subordinate to bolster his Twelve Kizuki. Kokushibo killed the head of the Ubuyashiki family, betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps, and became the first Upper Moon. For centuries, he’d lived as a demon. 

He had no particular hobbies—just an unending desire to grow stronger. Becoming a demon granted him eternal life, which was a blessing. Time could no longer hinder his pursuit of strength; he could train day and night without end. 

But a new obstacle arose, one far more insurmountable. The Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, clearly didn’t want him to keep growing stronger. Muzan’s paranoia and suspicion ran deep. Even as the top Upper Moon, Kokushibo received no special treatment. Muzan’s blood, the key to greater power, wasn’t given freely. 

To Muzan, Kokushibo was strong enough as he was—any stronger, and he might become uncontrollable. 

But this bastard in front of him? He was completely unaffected by Muzan’s control, growing stronger by endlessly devouring other demons. This was absolutely forbidden under Muzan’s order. The Demon King didn’t even allow his demons to gather privately! 

Everything happening with Riku filled Kokushibo with frustration, envy, and jealousy. He, too, wanted to break free from Muzan’s control. 

Unlike other demons who lost memories or had their personalities warped, Kokushibo hadn’t changed much after becoming a demon. He’d always been like this—a selfish man who valued himself above all else. Expecting loyalty from someone like him was a joke. 

In other words, Muzan had good reason to be wary of him. Given Kokushibo’s actions, only a fool wouldn’t see his true nature. Wasn’t the death of that generation’s Ubuyashiki leader tragic enough? 

"Yes, sir!" 

Akaza felt Kokushibo’s rage loud and clear. Without hesitation, he charged forward. He’d once challenged Kokushibo and witnessed the terrifying power of the Upper Moon One. The memory of being effortlessly defeated was still fresh. 

Akaza had been bitten a few times, his strength weakened. Forcing his regeneration only left him hungrier and frailer, but he had no choice now. 

Fortunately, the demonic creature ignored him and charged straight at Kokushibo. Akaza felt a pang of bitterness—relieved, yet ashamed. Was this the mindset of a true warrior? 

Riku flickered forward, closing in on Kokushibo. His long blade slashed down, flames dancing along the edge with Hi no Kokyū (Breath of Fire), making Kokushibo see visions of a blazing Nichirin Blade—like his brother’s fiery blade. 

Clang! 

Kokushibo barely parried. Even with his skill, facing this demonic creature was tough without full focus. The monster was massive yet moved like a phantom. Kokushibo could only react defensively. 

His Tōmei Sekai (Transparent World) let him see through his opponent’s movements, but Riku’s Kageyaku (Shadow Leap) was beyond its scope. Shadow teleportation wasn’t something the naked eye could track. 

Boom! 

Tsuki no Kokyū: Hachi no Kata - Getsuryū Rinbi! 

(Breath of the Moon: Eighth Form - Moon Dragon Tail) 

Under constant harassment and taking hits, Kokushibo knew he couldn’t keep this up. He swung his elongated Kyokokushin, unleashing a massive burst of power. A crescent arc swept around him like a dragon, as if to obliterate everything in its path. 

Despite his average defense, Kokushibo’s attack power was monstrous—a glass cannon, typical of demons with strong regeneration who didn’t bother with defense. 

Riku dodged the terrifying slash, mostly to protect his gear. If his subdermal armor broke, he’d be stuck as a normal human during the day. 

Tsuki no Kokyū: Jūshi no Kata - Kyōhen Tenman Shingetsu! 

(Breath of the Moon: Fourteenth Form - Catastrophe, Full Moon) 

Seizing the moment, Kokushibo went on a frenzied offensive. His blade swung relentlessly, unleashing overlapping vortex-like slashes with countless yellow crescent arcs. His attacks covered a massive range, blanketing the area in moonlit arcs. Riku refused to call this a breathing technique. 

Clearly, Kokushibo’s attacks were enhanced by his Kekkijutsu (Blood Demon Art). Besides Tsuki no Kokyū, he hadn’t shown other abilities, but a demon of his caliber wouldn’t lack a Blood Demon Art. The exaggerated effects of his Tsuki no Kokyū were likely tied to it—normal breathing techniques didn’t have such flair. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Crescent arcs filled the sky, tearing the plaza apart. The ground was cratered and scarred, nearby buildings reduced to rubble by his overwhelming power. 

As expected of the top Upper Moon—the strongest of them all! 

Over centuries, limited by Muzan’s blood, Kokushibo couldn’t enhance his physical abilities or Blood Demon Art further. But he never stopped honing his combat skills, blending his Blood Demon Art with his swordsmanship. His current Tsuki no Kokyū was the result of centuries of effort, far different from what he’d mastered as a human. 

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant." 

Riku kept using Kageyaku to dodge Kokushibo’s relentless slashes, all while recording everything. From his observations, Kokushibo’s ability, like Akaza’s, wasn’t just a Blood Demon Art—it couldn’t be fully mastered by devouring alone. 

Getting these demons to teach him their techniques was unrealistic, so Riku relied on himself. He’d record their moves, analyze them frame by frame later, and learn them that way. 

With advanced tech and his ever-growing [Intelligence] stat, Riku was confident he could master these abilities from video. His [Intelligence] had already proven its worth—previously incomprehensible data now made sense and could be applied practically. 

This [Intelligence] stat didn’t just boost learning speed; it seemed to enhance something like [Comprehension]—a deeper understanding. Learning varied greatly—memorizing literature was one thing, but grasping math or combat skills was another. This stat improved it all, including his ability to master fighting techniques. 

"Douma! Stop dawdling!" 

Kokushibo chased the shadow-leaping Riku, crescent arcs flying everywhere. Meanwhile, Akaza faced the Shadow Wolf. His abilities were useless against it, leaving him struggling, but at least he bought Douma some time. 

Upper Moon Two, Douma, pushed his regeneration, finally standing after the Shadow Wolf stopped attacking. His strength was far more depleted than Akaza’s. 

"What… is this feeling?" 

Douma’s face still held his eerie smile. The sensation of being devoured, of death looming, stirred an unfamiliar emotion in him, one he couldn’t name. 

"Get over here and help!" 

Seeing Douma stand there dazed, Akaza was furious. He already despised Douma, and if not for Kokushibo’s orders, he wouldn’t have bothered saving him. 

In truth, Kokushibo hadn’t told him to save Douma—just to stop the Shadow Wolf from eating him further. 

They’d all seen it: this guy grew stronger by consuming demon flesh. It was illogical. Even demons with Muzan’s blood needed to eat humans to grow stronger, not just absorb the blood instantly. 

What was happening with Riku baffled the Upper Moons. Kokushibo felt envy, jealousy, and hatred. Akaza, too, couldn’t help but feel the same, given his own obsession with strength. 

Douma, however, felt nothing. His lack of emotional depth left him unfazed. Defeat, being devoured, or facing death didn’t scare him. He stood there without a hint of urgency. 

You could say Douma had zero mental stress, no pressure at all. But his carefree attitude drove Akaza up the wall, nearly making him sick with frustration. 

Boom! 

Akaza barely managed a Hakai Satsu: Metsushiki (Destructive Death: Annihilation Type), knocking the Shadow Wolf back. He rushed to Douma’s side and, in a fit of rage, kicked his head clean off. Honestly, with someone as infuriating as Douma, it was hard to blame Akaza for attacking his own teammate. 

"Some guy who only eats weak women is useless after all!" 

Akaza spat venomously. Though he didn’t eat women and preferred fighting the strong, that didn’t make him a "good demon." 

In reality, Akaza was merciless when killing. He despised the weak, often slaughtering them cruelly. Only the strong earned his respect. 

"You two remind me of tofu brains and zongzi—one’s Team Salty, the other’s Team Sweet, huh? Pretty interesting." 

Riku chimed in, referencing the core conflict between the two Upper Moons: one ate women, the other didn’t. 

"Who’s that?!" 

Akaza jumped, unable to sense any fighting spirit. But when he saw who spoke, he understood why. 

Standing before him were two shadowy figures, their faces obscured, emitting no trace of human or demon aura. 

"What the hell are these things?!" 

Seeing the shadowy figures, Akaza gritted his teeth. The aura-less puppets, armored tin men, and Shadow Wolf already left him powerless. Now, another strange entity appeared, making him suspect this was a planned ambush. 

"This guy’s a riot—so many tricks up his sleeve." 

Douma’s head regenerated quickly, and he spoke with a smile. Clearly, he shared Akaza’s suspicions. 

His Blood Demon Art had always been unstoppable, especially against the Demon Slayer Corps and their breathing techniques. Yet this guy neutralized it effortlessly with a fire-spewing weapon Douma had never seen. 

To be fair, flamethrowers existed by now, but Douma was a bit behind the times. Plus, the "flamethrowers" of this era were nothing like Riku’s Kenritsu Flame Thrower. 

"No need to overthink it to deal with you lot." 

One of the shadowy figures spoke—it was one of Riku’s four clones. His main body and two other clones were still entangled with Kokushibo, though "entangled" was generous—it was more like filming a documentary. 

As soon as the words landed, the two shadowy figures charged, each taking on Douma and Akaza. The powers they wielded were, shockingly, the very abilities Riku had just absorbed from these Upper Moons. 

One shadowy figure swung a fan, scattering countless dark ice flowers. Douma’s eyes widened as he hurriedly countered with his own ice flowers. Weakened from being devoured, he was at a disadvantage—especially since his two golden fans were now in the shadowy figure’s hands, transformed into dark, blood-red versions. 

Crackle! 

The black ice shattered Douma’s ice flowers, exploding on contact and landing on him. Douma was immune to his own ice-based Blood Demon Art, but these dark ice flowers were different, corroding his skin with a sizzling sound. 

On the other side, Akaza had a slight edge. The shadowy figure’s use of his Hakai Satsu: Rashin (Destructive Death: Compass Needle) was clumsy. But Akaza wasn’t pleased—he felt like the figure was using him as a sparring partner. 

"I’m getting out of here! I’ll report everything to Muzan-sama!" 

Nearby, the tiny, rat-like Hantengu’s Fear Demon was trembling, desperate to flee. 

Unfortunately, Riku hadn’t forgotten him. With Akaza and Douma occupied, the Shadow Wolf turned its attention to Hantengu. Calling it a fight would be generous—the weakened Fear Demon was powerless, swallowed whole by the Shadow Wolf without even needing to be digested. The last of Upper Moon Four’s power was absorbed, and Hantengu vanished from the world. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

In the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji swung his flesh whips wildly, destroying everything around him. Even Nakime, clutching her biwa, wasn’t spared—his whips had sliced her into pieces. 

Luckily, Muzan didn’t intend to kill her, merely venting his rage, so Nakime could still regenerate. 

"Gyuutarou, Gyokko, Hantengu—three Upper Moons dead! For over a century, the Upper Moons never changed, yet in one mission, three are gone!" 

Muzan roared, his voice tinged with a trace of panic—fear of losing control. 

After all, six Upper Moons had been sent on this mission! Not only did they fail to kill the target, but three were wiped out! 

Chapter 187: It’s Actually You!!! 

Muzan Kibutsuji forced himself to calm down. At this moment, memories he’d rather forget came flooding back. 

But things probably weren’t as bad as he imagined. The consecutive deaths of three Upper Moons had shocked him, no doubt, but those were just the bottom three of the Upper Ranks. Akaza, Douma, and Kokushibo—the top three—were still alive. 

“Maybe I should go take a look,” Muzan thought. If even Akaza, Douma, and Kokushibo hadn’t been killed, there was no way anyone could take him down. 

However, before Muzan could make a move, devastating news hit him like a thunderbolt—Douma, Upper Moon Two, was dead. 

“…” 

Among the six Upper Moons, Douma was arguably Muzan’s favorite. His personality was perfectly to Muzan’s taste—simply put, Douma was the least human of them all. As a cult leader who couldn’t comprehend human emotions, Douma genuinely believed that devouring others would free them from suffering. 

He was utterly convinced that his mission was to save humanity. In his mind, consuming every last bit of a person—flesh, blood, and all—allowed them to live eternally with him, guiding them to salvation. 

Such a “madman” was naturally Muzan’s ideal subordinate. Hantengu and Gyokko were also chosen for their warped personalities, making them favorites as well. In contrast, Kokushibo, Akaza, Gyutaro, and Daki were less to Muzan’s liking—not quite his type. 

Yet now, his three favorites were gone, leaving only Kokushibo and Akaza. This made Muzan hesitate, unsure if he should even go. After all, even the higher-ranking Upper Moons were being taken out. 

“You can fool others, but how’d you end up fooling yourself?” 

On the battlefield, Riku mocked Douma, though honestly, it was pointless. Douma’s expression didn’t change one bit. He saw nothing wrong with his actions and wasn’t fazed by Riku’s taunts. 

“No, I don’t deceive. Honesty is my only virtue,” Douma replied earnestly, clearly not joking. 

“Tch.” 

Riku clicked his tongue in frustration. There was no point talking to a nutcase like this. He went all out, letting his shadow clone and shadow wolf overwhelm Douma. Under the wolf’s relentless bites, Douma’s strength drained rapidly. 

Throughout it all, Douma’s emotions remained flat. He had no fear of death and accepted his defeat with eerie calm. 

“By your own logic, you’ve just been redeemed,” Riku said with a smirk, landing one final blow. He could even inherit Douma’s abilities. 

According to Douma’s twisted belief that eating others was salvation—granting weak, pitiful humans eternal life with him—being devoured by Riku’s shadow wolf could also count as redemption. 

“…” 

For the first time, Douma froze, his face showing a rare expression beyond his usual smile. Unlike his fake gestures, this one was genuine. 

In that moment, Douma was seriously pondering. Riku’s words almost made sense. If devouring others was salvation, then being devoured by someone stronger—could that be his own redemption? 

“…” 

Looking at Douma’s “don’t disturb me, I’m thinking” expression, Riku was speechless. Against an opponent like this, who felt no fear even in the face of death, there was nothing you could do to shake them. 

As Douma mulled it over, his body gradually turned to ash. Riku had no idea if he’d figured it out in the end. 

Honestly, Riku couldn’t fathom what the point of living was for someone like Douma, who felt no joy, anger, sorrow, or pain. Wasn’t he just a cold, mechanical AI in its most primitive form? 

Still, while Riku couldn’t understand Douma’s psyche, he was grateful for the contributions Douma made to his growth. 

[Ding! +1600 EXP] 

[Ding! +1400 EXP] 

[Ding! EXP maxed out. Level up to Lv13. Current EXP: 2199/2100.] 

[Gained 1 Attribute Point] 

[Gained 1 Skill Point] 

[Gained 1 Skill Optimization Point] 

[Ding! EXP maxed out. Level up to Lv14. Current EXP: 99/2300.] 

[Gained 1 Attribute Point] 

The 1400 EXP came from Hantengu, Upper Moon Four, and the 1600 from Douma, Upper Moon Two. Despite their strength, they gave less EXP than Upper Moons Six and Five, likely because Riku’s own strength had grown. Upper Moon Three would probably yield even less. 

Riku dumped both attribute points into Intelligence, bringing it to 18. Only two more points to hit the 20 mark, and he was curious what special effect it might unlock. He didn’t have any unique talents in this area, so he wasn’t worried about running into the same issues as with his Constitution. 

Speaking of breakthroughs, his Constitution had already crossed multiple new thresholds. 

Rei, Yumem, Gyokko, Gyutaro, Daki, Hantengu, Douma, and a nibble of Akaza had collectively added 26 points to his Constitution. Combined with his original 23, Riku’s Constitution had more than doubled, hitting a staggering 49. 

Talk about getting stronger with every fight! Riku couldn’t help but grin smugly. No wonder these demons were panicking, envious, and hateful. Who wouldn’t be jealous of this? 

Just by chowing down, his Constitution had doubled! Sadly, even after breaking through two thresholds, the Limit System didn’t offer any new talent choices. 

Besides the Constitution jackpot, he’d also gained 4 Strength and 4 Agility, bringing his base stats to 15 each. 

His raw Strength and Agility weren’t that high, but with boosts from demonification, Breathing Techniques, Transparent World, and Demon Slayer Marks, they were jacked up significantly. It was all about stacking buffs—grabbing a little here, a little there. His stat panel might not look crazy, but in a fight, he was a dual-A powerhouse in strength and speed. 

[Ultimate Lifeform Lv11: A special physique born from fusing Demon King’s Blood and Rc Cells. Strength, Agility, Constitution +15, Charisma -3. Grants Blood Demon Art and Constitution Alteration State.] 

He added the skill point to Ultimate Lifeform, bringing it to Lv11. The stat boosts from this ability alone were massive. 

With one skill optimization point left, Riku held off using it. His focus shifted back to Akaza. Taking him down would likely push his Constitution past 50, maybe even unlock a new surprise. Plus, Upper Moon One was still waiting to be “eaten.” 

Boom!!! 

The sound of collapsing buildings echoed as Kokushibo was tangled up by Riku’s main body and two clones, toyed with like a dog on a leash. 

Riku kept spamming Shadow Leap, occasionally letting a clone tank some damage to give Kokushibo a glimmer of hope, keeping him from giving up entirely. 

Watching Kokushibo pull out new moves, Riku had to admit the guy had skills. After centuries of mastering Moon Breathing, Kokushibo was no slouch. His sword forms numbered nearly twenty, most of them wide-range attacks that screamed massive destruction. 

“Alright, he’s probably out of new tricks,” Riku muttered after observing for a while. It was time to wrap this up. 

The first to fall wasn’t Kokushibo, but Akaza, who’d been pinned down. After Douma’s defeat, the pressure on Akaza skyrocketed, and he was now in a death spiral. 

“Your Destructive Death is a total joke!” Riku’s shadow clone taunted, mimicking Akaza’s Destructive Death: Compass Needle in a clumsy, mocking way. 

Akaza felt insulted. “It’s my first time trying it. Thanks for the lesson,” the shadow clone replied, unfazed. Riku was shamelessly absorbing Akaza’s techniques, learning on the fly. 

Through Akaza’s effortless counters, Riku was getting the hang of Destructive Death: Compass Needle, growing more proficient with every exchange. Akaza was the perfect sparring partner—a master whose real combat experience was worth more than any practice with a lesser opponent. 

Akaza roared, landing a punch that sent the shadow clone reeling. He had the upper hand but couldn’t kill the damn thing. More shadow clones and the shadow wolf were closing in. 

Swoosh! 

Black ice lotuses shot toward Akaza, catching him off guard. The icy mist enveloped him, nullifying his Destructive Death: Compass Needle, which he hadn’t even used much today. 

“Douma!” Akaza bellowed, not out of nostalgia but pure rage. That useless idiot got taken out so fast, leaving him no chance to escape! 

Roar! 

The shadow wolf lunged, only to be knocked back by Akaza’s desperate punch. Unlike Douma’s calm surrender, Upper Moon Three fought like a cornered beast, clinging to life with raw ferocity. 

But his struggles were futile. Another shadow clone joined the fray, wielding black ice that eroded Akaza’s body, crippling his performance. Under the relentless assault of the shadow wolf and the mocking clone, Akaza felt his strength and life force drain away. 

In his final moments, visions flashed before his eyes—a sickly man, a dojo master, a beautiful woman. But before he could ask who they were or recall his lost memories, the shadow wolf devoured his last shred of power, sending him straight to hell. 

Akaza’s remains turned to ash, his eyes no longer burning with the will to survive, only confusion about who he even was. 

Riku didn’t hold back, cutting off any chance for a dramatic flashback. The shadow wolf’s motto was simple: eat, eat, eat! What good were memories? They wouldn’t redeem anyone. 

[Ding! +1300 EXP] 

[Current EXP: 1399/2300.] 

As expected, the Limit System chimed in, with Akaza’s EXP yield reduced due to Riku’s growing strength. 

Still, the haul was decent—4 more Constitution points, 1 Strength, and 1 Agility. 

[Constitution reached 50. Gained Special Trait.] 

The system notification popped up, confirming Riku’s guess. The next milestone after 20 was 50, and with such a big gap, the new talent would likely be a game-changer, stronger than the last. 

But before he could check the details, a chilling sense of danger hit him, forcing his attention to its source. 

In his line of sight stood a young man with jet-black hair, tall and pale as paper, with striking plum-red eyes. Those eyes were locked on Riku, his expression a chaotic mix of emotions—like a classic pie chart of rage, shock, and everything in between. But one thing was clear: this guy was pissed. 

“Muzan Kibutsuji, long time no see,” Riku said with a grin. 

There was no mistaking it—this was the root of all tragedies, the Demon King himself, Muzan Kibutsuji. 

“…” 

Muzan had already received Kokushibo’s shared intel, seeing everything through his eyes. Demons could share information, though distance weakened the link, which was why Muzan had been stewing in the Infinity Castle, lost in his thoughts. 

He wasn’t here because he was reckless. He’d sent Nakime to scout first. Beyond controlling the Infinity Castle, Nakime was a top-tier spy, deploying floating eyes that were nearly impossible to detect. She’d already gathered intel on many Demon Slayers. 

At Muzan’s command, Nakime had scattered her eyes around the area, finally locating the battlefield and piecing together what was happening. When Muzan learned Riku wasn’t using Sun Breathing, he didn’t hesitate to show up. 

But after seeing Kokushibo’s intel, Muzan was livid, practically grinding his teeth to dust. This bastard had devoured all his Upper Moons! 

“It’s you… it’s actually you!!!” Muzan roared. 

Riku’s face was one Muzan recognized, and that was the real shock. He never imagined the one behind all this was a demon—a demon who’d only been turned a few months ago and whom Muzan had dismissed as “useless” and “talentless.” 

“Jie jie jie! Muzan Kibutsuji, thirty years east, thirty years west—don’t underestimate a young man’s potential!” Riku crowed, channeling his inner dragon king. He’d held a grudge over Muzan’s “no talent” jab for a while, and now, face-to-face, he was ready to rub it in. 

Chapter 188: You Brainless Thing! 

"Bastard!" 

Muzan Kibutsuji lost it instantly. He didn’t even need Riku to push his buttons—being openly defied by a demon was something he couldn’t stomach. 

In his eyes, every demon should obey him unconditionally. He was the origin of all demons, their sole ruler! Of course, this wasn’t the first time a demon had slipped his control. Muzan still vividly remembered that woman, Tamayo, and he’d been sending demons to hunt her down ever since. 

But last time, if he was being honest, it was somewhat understandable. He’d been at his weakest point as a demon, which allowed Tamayo to break free. But this guy? How was he doing it? 

Muzan was anything but weak now. Even someone as powerful as Kokushibo had to obey him. So what gave this guy the ability to defy his control? Worse, Muzan hadn’t noticed until he was standing face-to-face with him. Clearly, this was different from Tamayo’s case. This guy had found a new way to break free, even when Muzan was at full strength. The realization sent a surge of dread through him. 

This was one of the main reasons Muzan showed up here. Riku’s existence was shaking the very foundation of his rule! 

Muzan’s gaze shifted to Kokushibo, the only surviving Upper Moon. Kokushibo had returned to his side after Riku recalled his clones, allowing Kokushibo to escape the fight. 

"That guy’s strong. His abilities are bizarre." 

Noticing Muzan’s pointed look, Kokushibo spoke up quickly. For some reason, he felt Muzan’s expression was odd. 

Muzan didn’t respond. He was wondering if Kokushibo had been holding back, maybe even trying to figure out how this guy broke free from his control. It wasn’t an unreasonable suspicion—Kokushibo’s strength was undeniable. 

As the first Upper Moon, Kokushibo had activated the Demon Slayer Mark and mastered Tōmei Sekai (Transparent World) as a human, along with Tsuki no Kokyū (Breath of the Moon). The other five Upper Moons combined couldn’t match him. 

The battle’s outcome only highlighted Kokushibo’s power. The other Upper Moons were dead, yet Kokushibo looked unscathed. It was hard for Muzan not to suspect him. 

But Kokushibo felt wronged. He hadn’t even considered that Muzan would doubt one of his own in a situation like this! Sure, he’d had those thoughts at the start of the fight, but after Riku toyed with him and used his clones to kill Douma and Akaza, those ideas vanished. 

He might look fine, but that was only because Riku hadn’t gone all out on him yet. Kokushibo saw that clearly. 

Of course, limited by his understanding, Kokushibo couldn’t grasp what Riku was doing. He assumed Riku was saving the toughest opponent for last, like savoring the main course after appetizers. After all, Riku grew stronger by eating demons, so starting with the weaker ones made sense to him. 

There was no way Kokushibo would believe Riku was studying Tsuki no Kokyū by recording it for later analysis. As if Tsuki no Kokyū was something you could just learn like that! 

"You couldn’t beat him?" 

Muzan’s voice was icy, dripping with skepticism, directed at the bewildered Kokushibo. 

"I’m ashamed." 

Kokushibo lowered his head, struggling to keep his emotions in check. 

He now realized Muzan was questioning whether he’d fought seriously. It felt absurd to him—how much more could he have done in a fight like this?! And deep down, he was frustrated. Why couldn’t he beat Riku? Wasn’t it because you, Muzan, were holding me back? 

Despite his emotions, Kokushibo fought to suppress them, knowing Muzan could read his thoughts. 

"Kokushibo, get ready. I’m going to help you break free from his control." 

Riku’s words made Kokushibo’s eyes widen—not in surprise, but in sheer terror. 

He immediately went all out, putting distance between himself and Muzan. His quick thinking proved wise; centuries of dealing with Muzan had honed his instincts. 

Whoosh! 

Two bone-spiked flesh whips lashed toward Kokushibo, their screeching whistle piercing the air. Even though he’d fled instantly, the whips grazed him, leaving bloody gashes. 

"Kokushibo! Yorichii Tsugikuni!" 

Muzan’s voice was thick with rage. He knew Kokushibo was up to no good! 

A man who betrayed his faith, brother, friends, family, and lord—how could someone like that be loyal to him? When faced with a chance to break free from his control, how could Kokushibo not jump at it? 

"Lord Muzan! Don’t fall for his tricks!" 

After narrowly dodging Muzan’s attack, Kokushibo shouted in defense. But to Muzan, his words rang hollow. 

With Muzan’s paranoid nature and his existing bias against Kokushibo, believing him was the last thing he’d do. 

"Die, you traitor!" 

Muzan glared at Kokushibo, his voice seething with anger, his eyes practically shooting flames—angrier than when he faced Riku. 

Buzz! 

In his fury, Muzan activated his curse, manipulating the demon blood he’d given Kokushibo. 

Splurt! 

Kokushibo spat out a mouthful of blood, his body reacting to the changes within. His gaze toward Muzan shifted. 

"You brainless thing! How can someone be this stupid?! If I were the Demon King, things would be completely different!" 

Kokushibo roared, his face twisted in rage, unleashing centuries of pent-up anger. 

He fought desperately to suppress the rebellion in his demon blood, wrestling for control. Truth be told, he’d long wanted to do this but never had the confidence. Now, pushed to the brink by Muzan, what was there to hesitate for? 

"Exactly! I knew it! Yorichii Tsugikuni, you’ve always had treacherous intentions! A shameless wretch like you doing this doesn’t surprise me one bit! You think you’re fit to be Demon King? You?!" 

Being called out by a subordinate who’d served him for centuries, Muzan’s face practically turned green with rage. Lies didn’t hurt, but the truth cut deep. An outsider’s words meant nothing, but hearing this from someone so close was devastating. 

Kokushibo’s fierce resistance to his curse only convinced Muzan further that he’d been planning betrayal all along. Good thing he’d always been wary of him! 

Whoosh! 

Muzan’s arms transformed completely into two bone-spiked flesh whips, aimed straight at Kokushibo’s head. They moved blindingly fast, almost reaching him in an instant. 

The whips were lined with mouths, greedily absorbing everything around them as they swung, creating distorted vortexes with their suction. 

Kokushibo, his six eyes wide, was frozen in place, his expression grim. All his energy was focused on fighting the blood curse. 

Clang! 

But Riku stepped in just in time, fully transformed into his demon form. His long blade cleanly severed Muzan’s incoming whips. 

His towering demonic body was cloaked in shadows, exuding wisps of dark energy, like a lord of shadows. 

"I said I’d help you." 

Riku smirked, but his words didn’t comfort Kokushibo. He felt no help from Riku—the Demon King’s blood curse was still ravaging his body, intent on destroying him. 

"You bastard! I’ll devour you all!" 

Riku’s words didn’t warm Kokushibo’s heart, but they sent Muzan into a frenzy. Not only was Kokushibo betraying him, but he was also joking around with this guy right in front of him—a direct slap to his face! 

"I’m the Demon King! All demons must obey me! If I say you die, you die! No one can betray me!" 

Muzan roared, his two bone-spiked whips whistling toward Riku. Compared to Kokushibo’s Getsuga Tenshō (Moonlit Sky Rush), these were far more powerful in both speed and destruction, clearly a tier above. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s cybernetic implants overloaded, icy mist flowing within to physically cool them down. 

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

His long blade danced, defending impenetrably from where he stood. Muzan’s whips created a blur of afterimages but couldn’t breach Riku’s guard. 

"This trash got this strong?" 

The scene humiliated Muzan. He’d once declared Riku a useless failure, yet now this "failure" was holding his own against him! Even Muzan’s full-force attacks couldn’t break through! 

In his rage, Muzan transformed, revealing his true demonic form. His limbs and lower body were wrapped in blood and fur, his body sprouting massive toothed mouths. His arms extended into bone-spiked whips, and nine tubular whips emerged from his back. 

Muzan stepped forward, the nine tubular whips moving even faster, though shorter than the arm whips. The eleven whips attacked in a storm, blotting out the sky. 

Riku struggled to keep up. His four Rinheki (Scale Whips) extended, coated in shadows, but even with them, he couldn’t cover everything. He could protect himself, but not Kokushibo. 

Kageyaku! 

Riku flickered, reappearing from a shadow beside Muzan. Whip weapons had long reach but struggled against enemies who teleported close. Muzan looked at him in shock. 

Slash! 

Riku’s blade struck Muzan’s neck, meeting no resistance. The Demon King had clearly invested everything in regeneration, with zero points in defense. 

Stab! Stab! 

His four Rinheki pierced Muzan’s body, but before Riku could wreak havoc, several of Muzan’s whips struck him. Muzan’s reaction was swift. 

With defense as flimsy as air, Muzan’s attack power was terrifying. Riku’s shadow armor and Hersha Armor were sliced through like butter. 

Buzz! 

Riku vanished again with Kageyaku, avoiding further damage from the grotesque, blood-soaked whips. They looked disgusting, and Riku—while fine with the Shadow Wolf eating—had no intention of touching them. What if they carried some brain-dead disease? 

In truth, Muzan’s whips didn’t just deal physical damage. They carried his blood, which could destroy an opponent’s cells with a single hit, killing them instantly. It was like a mop dipped in poison—touch it, and you’re done! 

Riku reappeared and glanced at Muzan, who had already fully regenerated, looking untouched. 

"Damn! Really went all-in on regeneration, huh?" 

Riku grimaced. Muzan’s recovery was seamless—slice him, and he’d heal instantly, maybe even before the blade left his body. It was utterly unreasonable. 

"This guy’s stats are probably off the charts. His endurance must be insane too. No wonder he’s the Demon King—built to be unkillable!" 

As someone who also prioritized stats like vitality, Riku had to admire Muzan’s regeneration. Just how afraid of death was this guy?! 

But what Riku didn’t realize was that Muzan’s fear of death was on another level. His regeneration wasn’t just about lasting long—it didn’t even cost him stamina! 

Chapter 189: Can’t I Be the Demon King? 

Muzan Kibutsuji glared at Riku, his eyes burning with intensity. This guy’s strength far exceeded his expectations. It wasn’t enough to make Muzan feel truly threatened, but the fact that Riku had grown this much in just a few months was unthinkable! 

This wasn’t just a matter of talent—it defied all logic! In Muzan’s view, this growth rate was beyond comprehension. Even if Riku had devoured every demon Muzan had created, he shouldn’t have reached this level. The Demon King’s blood had a clear upper limit, and this was way beyond it. 

Swoosh! 

Eight more tentacle-like whips shot out, this time from Muzan’s legs. These were faster than ever—his true trump card, the quickest of his arsenal, each about seven meters long. 

Muzan had made up his mind. He had to kill this guy. Letting Riku continue to grow like this was out of the question! His growth rate was so terrifying that Muzan genuinely feared Riku might one day surpass him. 

If it came to that, it’d be the ultimate irony. Muzan was the one who turned Riku into a demon, and it was his blood that fueled this growth. Yet, to be surpassed by his own creation, the source of all demon power? Unacceptable! 

Boom! 

The eight leg whips lashed out with deadly force, far faster than the nine back whips or the arm whips. The sonic booms they produced were almost unbearable. 

Against such a terrifying attack, even Kokushibo—amped up with Demon Slayer Marks, Transparent World, and demonification—couldn’t react. Muzan casually flicked one whip at him, and Kokushibo, who’d barely been able to move, gave up entirely. He knew he couldn’t block it. 

Boom! 

Kokushibo’s body was sliced into eight pieces. He struggled against the blood curse disintegrating him from within, desperately trying to regenerate and cling to life. 

He was lucky Riku and Muzan were locked in combat. Otherwise, Muzan would’ve already devoured him. The Demon King never showed mercy. 

Meanwhile, as the main target, Riku faced the onslaught of whips, dodging with Shadow Leap. 

Muzan’s attacks were insanely fast, and with the deadly buff of his demon blood, he was a near-unmatched force in this world. To fragile humans, he was a walking slaughter machine. 

But Riku had noticed something. Muzan’s attack power was immense, but his methods were one-dimensional, and his combat intelligence was laughably low. 

It was probably because his defense was just as weak. With such overwhelming attack power, Muzan never needed to develop combat smarts or varied techniques. His insane regeneration meant he didn’t need defense, and his ability to one-shot anything meant he didn’t bother with fancy moves. He wasn’t a skilled fighter—he was just used to obliterating everyone. 

Well, everyone except Tsugikuni Yoriichi. That was Muzan’s only defeat, and why he made sure Riku wasn’t using Sun Breathing before showing up. If Riku had been wielding it, Muzan would’ve stayed far away, hiding in a corner. 

Riku kept using Shadow Leap to toy with Muzan, occasionally landing a few slashes. It turned into a war of attrition—whichever one ran out of steam first would lose. 

Boom!!! 

Muzan’s two arm whips, nine back whips, and eight leg whips flailed wildly. Wherever Riku appeared, Muzan attacked, using raw, brute force with no strategy or foresight. 

For Riku, as long as he stayed sharp, getting hit was impossible. He darted between shadow nodes, effortlessly dodging Muzan’s attacks. 

Riku was unscathed, but the battlefield was a wreck. Muzan’s whips had torn the ground to pieces, like a monster had plowed through it. 

Muzan grew more frantic with every swing. Riku was too slippery—he couldn’t pin him down or even touch him. This was a first for Muzan. 

But time was running out. Dawn was approaching, the long night fading, and daylight was coming fast! 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Several rocket explosions hit Muzan dead-on. Amid the firelight, Riku emerged unscathed, pulling out a flamethrower to roast his opponent. Seizing the moment, he launched a counterattack. 

Realizing his blade wasn’t doing much damage, Riku went full tech. He teleported a few flesh puppets away from the battlefield with Shadow Leap, then bombarded Muzan with everything he had. 

He’d pulled out all his heavy weapons, hitting Muzan with the big guns. But he hadn’t brought much of this portable arsenal. In Night City, these were heavily regulated, expensive items, and he wasn’t rich enough to stockpile them endlessly. 

Most of his earnings from small deals in Night City went to cybernetic upgrades, leaving little for weapons. He’d already used some earlier, and now he was unloading the last of his stock on Muzan, testing the Demon King’s regeneration limits. Even if Muzan was made of steel, these explosions would shred him—especially since his defense was so weak. 

Vrrr! 

The flamethrower roared, torching everything in its path. Riku had to keep cooling himself down to avoid getting burned. 

At this heat, his thermal converter was struggling to keep up. Thank goodness for Douma’s ice-based abilities from Upper Moon Two, or Riku might’ve set himself on fire. 

While roasting Muzan, Riku sent a shadow wolf to sneak over to Kokushibo. 

Kokushibo, freshly mangled by Muzan and fighting the blood curse within, was sprawled out in pieces—perfectly prepped for the shadow wolf’s feast. Thanks, Chef Muzan, for slicing him up. 

“You said you’d help me!” Kokushibo roared as the wolf began devouring him, feeling like the ultimate victim. 

He hadn’t planned to betray Muzan, but the Demon King, brainlessly falling for Riku’s ploy, was convinced he had. With no other choice, Kokushibo turned against Muzan, only to realize Riku wasn’t exactly a saint either. 

Riku never intended to help him—he just wanted to see Kokushibo and Muzan tear each other apart for his amusement. 

Kokushibo realized he was in a true checkmate. Both Riku and Muzan wanted to eat him. How tragic. When had he become the fish on the cutting board? After centuries of effort, was he still doomed to live in someone else’s shadow? 

He had talent and worked tirelessly. So why couldn’t he be the strongest? Why couldn’t he control his own fate? 

As his strength faded, Kokushibo’s thoughts turned to his brother. To escape death and grow stronger, he became a demon. Yet even then, he was powerless against his frail, elderly brother, who was over eighty. If Yoriichi hadn’t died back then, Kokushibo wouldn’t be here now. 

But even surviving this long, his fate hadn’t changed. He was always the sidekick—first to Yoriichi, the strongest besides him, then to Muzan, the strongest besides the Demon King. Now, he’d lost even that status. 

“Truly… all for nothing…” Kokushibo sighed as his body turned to ash. Until the very end, he didn’t regret his choices. At least he’d always chased strength. 

[Ding! +2500 EXP] 

[Ding! EXP maxed out. Level up to Lv15. Current EXP: 1599/2500.] 

[Gained 1 Attribute Point] 

[Gained 1 Skill Point] 

Kokushibo’s death brought a whopping 2500 EXP, leaving Riku stunned. No wonder he was Upper Moon One—talk about a heavy hitter! If Riku had eaten him first, the EXP might’ve outstripped the other five combined. Too bad that was just a what-if. 

Beyond the massive EXP, Kokushibo also gave 8 Constitution, 2 Strength, and 2 Agility. He truly stood out as the top demon under Muzan. 

And that Moon Breathing ability? It was deeply tied to Kokushibo’s Blood Demon Art. Those flashy effects came from combining the two, and the synergy was off the charts. 

“Jackpot,” Riku muttered, feeling the gains. Even without knowing Moon Breathing’s sword forms, he could now unleash Crescent Moon Slash-like attacks, though they were less effective without the proper forms. The compatibility was perfect. 

His flesh manipulation ability also got a boost, likely from Kokushibo’s Kyoukotsu Kamisari blade, which let him turn his flesh into weapons. Now, Riku’s flesh constructs were stronger, not just animated meat. 

Click! 

Before he could savor the rewards, his flamethrower sputtered and died—out of fuel. He hadn’t modded it for infinite ammo, and he couldn’t whip up more fuel on the spot. He’d used too much already. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

The rocket launcher ran dry too. The smoke cleared, but Riku’s expression didn’t lighten. 

In the haze, a massive fleshy mass stood unscathed. The flamethrower couldn’t burn through it—new flesh regrew as fast as it was scorched. Even the rockets couldn’t fully penetrate the layers of meat. 

“You’ve got quite the imported arsenal,” Muzan said, emerging untouched. His clothes were gone, but his skin was flawless, like it was brand new. 

“Tch.” 

Riku wasn’t surprised Muzan was unharmed. No matter how powerful the explosions or flames, they didn’t suppress regeneration. But what was shocking was that Muzan showed no signs of fatigue or hunger despite such intense healing. Just how high was his Constitution?! 

Honestly, Riku couldn’t imagine how the Demon Slayer Corps took this guy down. With the abilities Muzan was showing, even if all the Hashira activated their Marks and Transparent World, they’d likely get wiped out. 

Was there some untriggered condition? Riku quickly realized it had to be Sun Breathing. Like Yoriichi back then, only Sun Breathing could counter Muzan’s regeneration. Without it, Yoriichi wouldn’t have sent Muzan running for his life. 

“Dawn’s coming, my dear Demon King. Wanna dance in the sunlight with me? I don’t mind, but can you handle it? Can you stand in the sun?” Riku taunted, unfazed. 

No matter how strong your regeneration was, sunlight would still kill you. Once the sun rose, Riku would just say, “Auntie, press him down!” and watch Muzan squirm. 

“What do you mean? You can?” Muzan asked, hesitant. Riku’s words were clear, but they challenged everything Muzan knew. 

“That’s right. What you can’t do, I’ve already done. The sun can’t kill me anymore. I’m a higher being than you now. So, Muzan Kibutsuji, why don’t you step aside and let me take the Demon King throne? You’re no longer qualified.” 

Riku’s words hit like a bombshell, leaving Muzan stunned, his face a mask of disbelief. 

First, Muzan refused to believe it. Conquering sunlight was his millennium-long obsession. He’d searched for the Blue Spider Lily for over a thousand years and still hadn’t overcome that weakness. How could this punk have done it?! 

But Riku’s smug confidence made Muzan doubt. Could he… actually have done it? 

Muzan desperately wanted to test it, but he wasn’t about to stand in the sun himself or dance with this jerk under its rays. 

“Infinity Castle.” 

With dawn approaching, Muzan didn’t hesitate. He instantly transported himself and Riku into the Infinity Castle. He had to find out if this guy was bluffing! 

Chapter 190: Blood Demon Art Gacha Machine 

Riku’s vision flickered with light and shadow, and the shattered battlefield vanished completely. In its place, he found himself in a peculiar space, brightly lit yet devoid of any sunlight. 

He stood on a wooden platform, surrounded by strangely arranged buildings that gave off a disorienting sense of spatial distortion. 

“What the—” 

Riku froze, dumbfounded. Seriously, are you kidding me?! Infinite regeneration, overwhelming attack power, and now a personal pocket dimension? This guy was practically screaming “unkillable,” wasn’t he? 

This Kibutsuji Muzan—after nearly getting obliterated by Tsugikuni Yoriichi—just how paranoid about death had he become?! 

This ability had to have been developed after that incident. Otherwise, Yoriichi wouldn’t have had a chance to push him to the brink. With a pocket dimension he could escape to at any time, who could possibly force Muzan into the sunlight? The moment dawn approached, he could just pop back into this space. 

Riku’s mind raced as he surveyed the area. He immediately pegged it as a pocket dimension because, well, it was obviously not normal. The warped, surreal houses, the pitch-black sky, and the distant scenery that seemed to swallow all light confirmed it. His prosthetic eye, paired with the night vision of his third eye cranked to the max, should’ve let him see clearly no matter how dark it was. But here? The far-off darkness was absolute, like a void. 

If this was indeed a pocket dimension, it made sense. That inky blackness was likely the barrier of this space, impossible to peer through. 

“I’ll give you one last chance. Have you really overcome the sun?” 

Muzan stood on a high platform, looking down at Riku with a grave expression. His voice was direct, almost desperate. This was the only reason he’d brought Riku into Infinite Castle. Otherwise, he could’ve left him out there to burn under the sun’s rays. 

“Don’t make me keep repeating myself,” Riku said, raising an eyebrow. He was already done answering Muzan’s question and was now focused on finding a way to take down the Demon King. 

From his initial observations, the boundaries of this place were fairly clear. It wasn’t as vast as he’d feared—not some boundless, infinite world. 

“So, destroying this pocket dimension might not be entirely impossible?” Riku mused. “If I can’t pull that off, it’s hard to imagine what it’ll take to beat this guy.” 

He considered a possibility, as wild as it sounded. It was more feasible than hoping the Hashira could brute-force their way through Muzan. But killing him with sunlight wasn’t ideal. Riku’s goal wasn’t just to kill Muzan—he wanted to devour him, to absorb his power for himself. In that sense, his objectives were completely at odds with the Demon Slayer Corps, irreconcilable even. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s flippant attitude clearly pissed Muzan off. Without another word, Muzan signaled Narume to teleport Riku out. 

Riku’s vision shifted again, and he found himself on an open field. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing him in a soft glow. 

Stretching lazily, Riku faced the sunlight head-on. For him, there was no such thing as “the sun’s too bright today.” Warmth? He didn’t feel that either, not with the layers of protection wrapped tightly around him. Since Muzan was so eager to see it, Riku didn’t mind putting on a show. Standing fearlessly under the sun—something Muzan had dreamed of for over a thousand years—was sure to make him seethe with envy. 

“It’s real?!” 

Though Muzan couldn’t see it himself, Narume relayed the sight to him. One of her eyes, hidden in the shadows, watched Riku basking in the sunlight from afar. Even Narume was floored. Her eye, tucked safely in the shade, still felt the discomfort of being so close to sunlight. Yet this guy was standing in it, completely unharmed! 

“Bring him back,” Muzan said slowly, his voice trembling despite his efforts to suppress his emotions. Riku’s existence was everything he’d ever wanted. 

“Yes!” Narume replied, her usual emotionless demeanor cracking. Her tone carried a rare hint of shock. How could it not? This was a demon who’d truly conquered the sun—something even the Demon King himself couldn’t do! A pang of fear hit her as she realized the implications, but Muzan was too fixated on Riku to notice her thoughts. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s surroundings shifted again, and he was back in Infinite Castle. 

This teleportation ability wasn’t something that could just pull anyone in at will—it required pre-set coordinates. That’s why Narume’s Blood Demon Art included those manipulative eyes, scattered everywhere. Without them, Infinite Castle’s utility would be severely limited. Her eyes didn’t just monitor the demons under Muzan’s command; they also searched for the Blue Spider Lily and tracked the Demon Slayer Corps. 

“So, Muzan, do you believe me now? I’m a more evolved ultimate lifeform than you. Clearly, I’m more qualified to sit on the Demon King’s throne,” Riku taunted, smirking like Yagami Light declaring, “Can anyone else do this?” Muzan’s fists clenched, but he had no retort. 

“How… did you do it?” Muzan asked, barely containing his fury. Jealousy and frustration were practically bursting out of him. He’d searched for the Blue Spider Lily for a thousand years without success. Had this guy, a demon for mere months, actually found it?! Were all the demons under his command just useless?! 

“Was it the Blue Spider Lily?” Muzan’s face darkened, the possibility gnawing at him. It could explain why Riku had become so powerful. The Blue Spider Lily was the final ingredient to cure his illness, the key to everything. If Riku had consumed it, it might’ve granted him unimaginable power. 

Muzan’s eyes practically glowed green with envy. A thousand years of failure had numbed his heart, and he’d even begun to doubt the flower’s existence, experimenting with creating sun-resistant demons himself. Yet here was hope, standing right in front of him. 

“Nope, not the Blue Spider Lily,” Riku said with a grin, his tone infuriatingly sincere. “Wanna learn how I did it? I can teach you, but you’ve gotta beg me first. Show me your dedication as a student, or I’m not spilling.” 

Muzan’s teeth ground together as he glared at Riku, wishing his eyes could kill. Unfortunately, they couldn’t—and neither could he. Riku was too slippery, too resilient. 

“You’re good at running,” Muzan sneered, “but how long can you keep it up?” 

Muzan wasn’t about to beg, but the temptation of overcoming the sun kept his anger in check, even as Riku provoked him. Unlike Riku, Muzan couldn’t gain abilities by eating others. He wasn’t even sure if consuming Riku would grant him the Blue Spider Lily’s effects, but he was convinced Riku had eaten it. 

“I could play with you all day,” Riku laughed. A day was an understatement—with his current stamina, he could tangle with Muzan for eternity without breaking a sweat. 

“You’re digging your own grave!” Muzan roared, lashing out. His whip-like tendrils filled the air, a terrifying storm of attacks. 

But as expected, they barely fazed Riku. After devouring Kokushibo, his strength had grown noticeably—even Muzan could see it. 

[Ultimate Lifeform Lv12: A unique physique formed from the fusion of Demon King’s blood and Rc cells. Strength, Agility, Constitution +16, Charisma -2. Grants Blood Demon Art and altered physical state.] 

Riku had dumped his latest skill point into Ultimate Lifeform, boosting his stats further. Combined with the eight Constitution, two Strength, and two Agility points from Kokushibo, his physical prowess had spiked. His base Constitution was now 61, with Strength and Agility both at 18. Deciding where to put his next free attribute point was a headache—Strength, Agility, and Intelligence were all at 18. In the end, he chose Intelligence. It was the only stat he couldn’t easily boost elsewhere, making it the most cost-effective choice. 

If he’d known he could gain Constitution so easily by eating demons, he wouldn’t have wasted points on it earlier. Seven points in Constitution could’ve pushed Strength, Agility, and Intelligence to 20 with two to spare. Maybe there’s a way to respec later? 

Boom! 

Muzan’s attack landed, slicing a house to pieces, though it missed Riku. Undeterred, Muzan kept up the assault, clearly set on outlasting him. 

Buzz! 

Riku activated Shadow Leap—and to his shock, he didn’t move. No, he did move, and Shadow Leap had worked, but the floor beneath him had shifted, dragging him back to his original spot! 

Muzan, as if anticipating this, unleashed nearly twenty tendrils straight at him. 

Clang! 

With nowhere to dodge, Riku met the attack head-on. His Nichirin Blade, enhanced by Kokushibo’s abilities, held up well, parrying several tendrils. He also wielded four Kagune tendrils and used his wings to block, but there were just too many whips.  

Slash! Slash! 

The tendrils struck, cutting through Riku’s layered defenses—first his Shadow Armor, then his Kagune bio-armor, and finally his reinforced subdermal armor. Muzan’s attack reached the third layer but stopped there. Riku’s growth was too fast. Though the subdermal armor was nicked, it held. 

“Phew, that’s it?” Riku taunted, pulling back to create distance. His focus shifted to the biwa-playing female demon. It was her doing—he’d clearly heard the strum of her biwa. 

“So that’s it! This pocket dimension is your Blood Demon Art!” Riku’s eyes lit up with realization. He’d wondered what the biwa girl was for—she was the key to this whole place. 

“No wonder it felt off. You don’t control this dimension directly—it’s all through her.” 

A grin spread across Riku’s face. Things just got simpler. If he took out Narume, Muzan would lose his hideout. That was way easier than destroying the entire dimension. 

So, this wasn’t even Muzan’s Blood Demon Art—it was Narume’s. 

“You’re tougher than I thought,” Muzan growled, his expression sour. He’d set Riku up for that attack, lulling him into a false sense of security, only to land a hit that did no real damage. 

“I’m well-rounded,” Riku shot back. “I’m aiming to be the ideal Demon King—balanced in mind, body, and spirit. Not a one-trick pony like you.” 

As he spoke, he activated his subdermal armor, letting it regenerate. It was going to break eventually, so he might as well repair it now. Plus, since his Sunlight Vulnerability had downgraded to Weak Light, he had new ideas to test. Maybe during the day, his armor retained its defensive properties even if it lost its regenerative ability. If Weak Light only suppressed demonic powers, his gear might still function normally, opening up new possibilities. 

“This woman’s got some serious skills,” Riku said, his gaze locking onto Narume with growing excitement. If he devoured her, could he expand his Shadow Space into something like this? Maybe even build a Shadow Kingdom? Or bring living things inside? 

Heck, if he dreamed big, maybe he could even transport others across worlds by hiding them in his Shadow Space. Of course, that depended on whether the Limit System would allow it—there was no hiding from its detection. 

Still, Narume’s ability was insanely tempting. Suddenly, Muzan’s meat whips seemed boring in comparison. Who cared about Muzan’s repetitive attacks when Narume’s Infinite Castle was so much cooler? She felt more like a Demon King than Muzan did. 

Muzan’s infinite regeneration and whip attacks were impressive, sure, but Riku wasn’t lacking in recovery or offense. What did excite him was the potential haul of experience points and stat boosts from eating Muzan. As the source of all demons, Muzan was bound to yield a ton. Fighting him was intense, so the rewards would be massive. 

But a new idea sparked in Riku’s mind. If he could gain Narume’s Blood Demon Art and use his Shadow Space to transport living things, he might keep Muzan alive. Why kill him when he could treat him like a Blood Demon Art Gacha Machine? Muzan’s demons had such a wild variety of abilities—some were practical, others could fill gaps in Riku’s arsenal. Who’d ever complain about having too many abilities? 

(End of Chapter)