181-185

Chapter 181: A Grand Entrance 

“Brother!” 

Daki’s head rolled to Gyutaro’s side. Seeing her brother’s gruesome state, she was overwhelmed with pain. 

Though she despised ugly things, her brother was the exception. Gyutaro’s appearance wasn’t due to becoming a demon—he’d looked like this even as a human, with a face that, frankly, wasn’t much to write home about. But Daki could feel his love for her, etched deep in her mind. She had no memories from before becoming a demon, only an unwavering trust in Gyutaro. 

To Daki, the biggest difference between her and Kamado Nezuko was probably that her brother, Gyutaro, had also become a demon. Of course, his nature was nothing like Kamado Tanjiro’s—their upbringing and worldviews couldn’t be more different. 

Gyutaro, looking at his decapitated sister, had only one thought: Please, Upper Ranks, come help us! We can’t hold on any longer! 

But that thought lasted only a moment. Riku gave him no time to think further, delivering a death sentence. 

Crunch! 

Gyutaro’s head was swallowed whole by a giant wolf. Then, something unexpected happened—countless blood-red scythe blades erupted from his body, slashing in all directions. Even after decapitation, he triggered a self-destruct mechanism! 

Riku commanded his shadow wolves, instantly forming a shadowy spire that pinned Gyutaro’s body inside. Several flying blood blades shot upward, striking the spire’s inner walls. Black scales gleamed as shadow tendrils lashed out, countering the blades’ impact. Gyutaro’s self-destruct was no small feat, especially for the village’s wooden structures. 

The blood blades raged on, centered around Gyutaro’s body. If Riku hadn’t contained them with the shadow spire, the village would’ve been devastated—at least the houses near the square would’ve been obliterated. 

Of course, if that had happened, the Ubuyashiki clan would’ve handled it. Known for their wealth and influence, they’d ensure no demon-related news spread. The fleeing villagers were already under protection, with specialized personnel addressing their needs. 

Soon, the blood blades subsided. Riku dissolved the shadow spire, and the wolves reformed, devouring what was left of Gyutaro’s fading body in a few bites. 

“Brother!” 

Daki’s fleeting hope turned to grief, mixed with overwhelming shock. She could no longer sense Gyutaro’s presence—her brother had truly been killed and consumed! 

“How could this happen?!” 

Daki couldn’t accept it. She was still alive, so why was her brother dead? They were supposed to be one entity—both had to be decapitated simultaneously to die, but that hadn’t happened! 

Unfortunately, reality was cruel. Gyutaro was gone, devoured by the wolves. And then, the giant wolf turned to Daki, swallowing her tear-streaked head in one gulp. 

Crunch! Crunch! 

The wolf swiftly consumed Daki. The Upper Rank Six siblings’ presence vanished, becoming fuel for Riku’s growth. 

[Ding! Experience +2000.] 

[Ding! Experience +1800.] 

[Ding! Experience maxed out. Level up to Lv11. Current experience: 2799/1700.] 

[Ding! Gained 1 attribute point.] 

[Ding! Experience maxed out. Level up to Lv12. Current experience: 1099/1900.] 

[Ding! Gained 1 attribute point.] 

[Ding! Gained 1 skill point.] 

System notifications popped up one after another. Upper Rank Five, Yugutama, had granted 2000 experience points, while Daki and Gyutaro together gave 1800. Riku’s level jumped twice, earning him two attribute points and one skill point. 

This was the payoff from the [Limit System]’s leveling function. Beyond that, devouring Daki and Gyutaro granted new abilities: +3 Constitution, +1 Strength, +1 Agility, Gyutaro’s shadow blood scythes, and Daki’s ribbon-slashing ability. The haul was slightly less impressive than Yugutama’s, though. 

Riku had thought Daki and Gyutaro combined were far weaker than Yugutama, but the real issue was that he couldn’t acquire their most critical abilities. First, Gyutaro’s exceptional information-processing ability allowed him to control Daki in battle without any strain—a natural talent, not a demon ability, so it couldn’t be taken, just like Yugutama’s artistic flair. Second, the siblings’ ability to only die if decapitated simultaneously was useless to Riku, who fought alone. 

Without those, Upper Rank Six naturally paled in comparison to Upper Rank Five. 

Before Riku could savor his gains, several foul auras approached rapidly. 

There was no time to mourn Yugutama, Gyutaro, or Daki. The next to arrive were Upper Rank Two, Douma; Upper Rank Three, Akaza; Upper Rank Four, Hantengu; and Upper Rank One, Kokushibo—the top four of the Twelve Kizuki’s Upper Moons, making a grand entrance! 

The four demons arrived almost simultaneously, standing atop a small house on the edge of the square, looking down at Riku. Naturally, Riku was sizing them up too. 

“Daki and Gyutaro have been defeated? Yugutama too?”  

The first demon to speak had platinum-blond hair and eyes shimmering with rainbow hues, marked with “Upper Rank” and “Two.” This was Douma, wearing a red top with a strange blood-like stain in his hair. 

His tone seemed to carry regret, but his gentle smile and steady voice betrayed no emotion, sounding almost robotic—no trace of genuine sorrow. 

“That’s what happens to the weak. This guy’s strong. I want to fight him,” another demon said, his eyes burning with battle lust as he looked at Riku. 

This demon wore a purple-red vest, prayer beads around his ankles, and had peach-pink hair, golden pupils, pale skin, blood-red nails, and dark blue tattoos marking him as a criminal. His eyes read “Upper Rank” and “Three.” This was Akaza. 

“Such enthusiasm, Akaza-kun,” Douma said, as if praising him, fanning himself lightly with two ornate golden fans. 

“Shut up,” Akaza snapped. He and Douma didn’t get along—their values were polar opposites. Akaza never ate women or the weak, while Douma exclusively targeted women. Their approaches couldn’t be more different. 

Douma’s strength was undeniable. He’d risen to Upper Rank Two through challenges, starting as Upper Rank Six before recommending Daki and Gyutaro to take his old spot. His rapid rise was one reason Akaza disliked him. 

To their left stood an old-looking demon with a tumor on his forehead and two horns. No rank marked his eyes. He seemed timid, shrinking back as if scared—not like an Upper Rank but a harmless old man, if you ignored the tumor and horns. This was Hantengu, Upper Rank Four. 

On the other side was a demon exuding authority, his three pairs of eyes fixed on Riku, brows furrowed as if something was off. This was Kokushibo, Upper Rank One. 

“He seems like a demon? Is he really our target?” Douma voiced Kokushibo’s doubts. A demon couldn’t possibly master Sun Breathing—Kokushibo was certain of that. Sun Breathing was a demon’s bane, untouchable even by the one at the top. No demon could wield the sun’s power. 

“Why don’t you all introduce yourselves? It’ll help me keep track when we fight,” Riku said calmly, already noting their ranks from their eyes, except for the old man, who could only be Upper Rank Four. 

“Upper Rank Three, Akaza,” Akaza said first, respecting strength. He sensed a warrior’s spirit in Riku—unlike Douma. 

“Upper Rank Two, Douma,” Douma followed casually, unbothered by sharing his name since Akaza had. 

Kokushibo didn’t bother responding. He was disappointed—just a demon? Was it worth mobilizing all of them for this? What was there to fear? 

His thoughts lacked respect, but they were honest. He’d expected something tied to Sun Breathing, not just a rogue demon. He felt misled by Kibutsuji Muzan. 

Hantengu, meanwhile, let out a shrill cry, seemingly terrified by Riku, cowering and refusing to answer—like a husky mixed in with a wolf pack. 

“Let me handle this guy,” Akaza said, turning to Kokushibo with a request. 

With Muzan absent, Kokushibo, the strongest, called the shots. The Upper Ranks respected him because they couldn’t beat him. Akaza had challenged him once and survived only because Kokushibo spared him—otherwise, Upper Rank Three would’ve been someone else. 

“Go ahead,” Kokushibo said, nodding. He’d lost interest in Riku. 

Whoosh! 

Akaza leaped forward, landing near Riku. Riku patted a shadow wolf, chuckling. This demon was surprisingly honorable, wanting a one-on-one duel. 

“Let’s have a good fight,” Akaza said, bowing—a habit from his martial arts days. 

“Alright,” Riku replied, nodding. Man-eating demons, don’t give me that honor nonsense. Bowing or begging won’t change your fate—I’m eating you all! 

The gains from devouring two Upper Ranks had Riku eyeing these four like they were a gourmet feast. Stronger than Yugutama meant more experience and abilities. 

Two shadow blood scythes appeared in his hands. With a swing, they unleashed slashing blood blades. Even without the scythes, Riku could now perform shadow slashes—one of Gyutaro’s abilities he’d gained. 

The scythes allowed others to use them with his permission, or he could summon them back. 

Boom! 

Two shadow slashes struck the house where Douma, Hantengu, and Kokushibo stood, splitting the wooden structure apart. Riku’s slashes were stronger than Gyutaro’s, enhanced by Daki’s ribbon abilities, which added toughness and sharpness to his shadows. 

Not only were his ranged shadow slashes stronger, but his shadow tendrils were tougher and could now perform slashing attacks. 

With their perch destroyed, Douma, Hantengu, and Kokushibo moved to another house to continue watching. 

“Destructive Death: Compass Needle! Technique Deployment!” 

Akaza stood his ground as a twelve-pointed snowflake array appeared beneath him—his Blood Demon Art. It acted like a compass, sensing an opponent’s fighting spirit, making his attacks and dodges magnetically precise. The stronger the opponent’s spirit, the more accurate the Compass Needle became. 

Riku clearly had fighting spirit—intense, even. This “spirit” was a mix of will, strength, and presence, not a tangible energy but an aura. Akaza’s Blood Demon Art harnessed this aura to guide his moves. Riku was familiar with it, as the “Transparent World” could hide one’s fighting spirit—though he hadn’t mastered that yet. 

Chapter 182: The Evil Gang-Up 

"Destruction Kill: Chaos Form!" 

Akaza’s face lit up with excitement. The intense fighting spirit radiating from Riku fueled his own battle lust. Fighting a strong opponent like this was what made it all worthwhile—weaklings were only fit to be humiliated and slaughtered! 

The Upper Rank Three demon swung his fists, launching a barrage of high-speed, ferocious strikes straight at Riku. This "Battle Demon" fought with wide, unrestrained movements, his style all about raw, physical impact. He didn’t use weapons—his fists and feet were his greatest tools. 

Boom! 

Riku met the attack head-on with a single punch, clashing directly with the Battle Demon. From the outside, Riku’s hulking, muscular second-form demon state was clearly more intimidating. 

Akaza, just over 1.7 meters tall with a lean, ripped physique, looked like a scrawny chick next to Riku. 

If Riku’s early demon form was all show and no substance, the current Riku absolutely lived up to his fearsome frame. 

His chiseled, muscular arms were brimming with power. Akaza, the aggressor, gained no advantage whatsoever. Riku caught his punch with ease, looking completely unbothered. 

“Not intense enough, huh.” 

Riku shook his head, tossing out a taunt. Pantsu, pantsu! 

“Come on, let’s go again!” 

Akaza wasn’t discouraged at all. If anything, he grew even more excited, his fists flying faster, each swing slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. 

Riku casually countered Akaza’s attacks while closely studying his moves. This guy’s “technique deployment” didn’t seem like a Blood Demon Art at all—it was more like a unique skill, akin to a Breathing Technique, a different kind of disciplined practice. And it looked damn effective. 

Akaza’s “Destruction Kill: Compass Needle” allowed him to read the flow of battle, always keeping him one step ahead. His enemies’ attacks and dodges were all within the detection range of his Compass Needle. Beating weaker opponents was a given, but even against stronger foes, as long as the gap wasn’t too massive, Akaza could still turn the tables with this skill. 

In a way, “Destruction Kill: Compass Needle” was like a variant of the Transparent World. Both could predict an opponent’s next move—one through sensing fighting spirit, the other by enhancing senses to observe muscles and blood flow. 

Boom! 

Akaza was knocked back by Riku, crashing into a house and collapsing it entirely. Several buildings had already been destroyed, left to be repaired later by the Ubuyashiki clan’s supernatural abilities. 

Riku’s eyes gleamed. He’d already activated his “recording mode,” baiting Akaza into showing off his abilities over and over. 

After dumping two more attribute points into Intelligence, Riku’s stat had hit 16, giving him exceptional learning ability. But even that wasn’t enough to master a new skill just by watching and fighting. He needed to record it and study it thoroughly later. 

“Destruction Kill: Shatter Form - Myriad Leaf Flashing Willow!” 

Akaza leapt from the rubble, throwing a fierce punch at Riku. His expression had shifted to irritation. After the initial thrill, he’d started to sense something off—this demon was clearly toying with him! 

Boom! 

Riku dodged the strike, and Akaza’s fist cracked the ground beneath. A pair of furious eyes locked onto Riku. 

“Fight me with everything you’ve got! Why are you just running?!” 

Akaza roared, craving a real fight, not to be played like a monkey. This guy was just dodging, not even fighting back, which pissed him off—he felt utterly disrespected. 

“You’re not worthy yet.” 

Riku stabbed his blade into the ground, the katana sinking into his shadow. Then, a towering figure emerged from it. 

Enter Grasshopper Mech No. 1. Shadows coiled around the massive flesh-and-metal war machine, wrapping it completely, transforming it into a snarling, upright werewolf. 

This shadow-possession ability, turning the mech into a werewolf, was a new trick Riku had developed. He didn’t need to fight himself—he could control the puppet instead. 

With the shadow possessing the puppet, its combat power skyrocketed, gaining access to all the shadow’s abilities. 

Boom! 

The shadow wolf charged at Akaza, claws slashing. This was “True Claw,” enhanced by combining the properties of Daki’s sashes, making its attacks ridiculously powerful. 

Grasshopper Mech No. 1 was already massive, but with the shadow’s possession, the upright werewolf was downright extravagant. Against the “chick-sized” Akaza, it loomed with overwhelming presence, its claw strikes carrying crushing force. 

Despite its size, the shadow wolf wasn’t sluggish at all. It moved with lightning speed and uncanny agility. 

“Destruction Kill: Foot Form - Flashing Swarm Light!” 

Akaza unleashed a flurry of kicks, his legs moving like a blur, striking precisely at the shadow wolf’s joints. His first sensation was like kicking solid metal. The violent kicks shattered the surface, only to sink into a quagmire, unable to push further. 

The scales provided the first layer of defense, blocking the initial burst. The shadow’s inherent stickiness formed the second layer, absorbing the remaining force. Akaza’s full-power assault didn’t even reach the core of Grasshopper Mech No. 1, or he’d have faced the even tougher layers of military-grade alloy armor. 

“That’s the stuff.” 

Riku was recording from the sidelines, capturing everything clearly. After filming head-on, he switched angles for a better perspective, making it easier to study later. A true grind king never missed a chance to get stronger—if it was useful, he’d learn it. 

“Asshole!” 

Akaza was sent flying by a swipe of the shadow wolf’s claw. He scrambled up from the ground, his wounds healing rapidly, but the wound to his pride wouldn’t mend. This bastard was blatantly humiliating him. 

“Looks like Akaza-kun’s in trouble.” 

To make matters worse, another demon was tossing out snide remarks. Upper Rank Two, Douma, fanned himself with a smile, his words grating on Akaza’s ears. 

“Shut your mouth!” 

Akaza snapped back. He wasn’t beaten yet! 

“Hantengu, Douma, go help him.” 

Upper Rank One, Kokushibou, issued the order. He didn’t think Douma was mocking Akaza—Douma was just stating facts. Kokushibou agreed: Akaza was completely outmatched, being played like a fool. 

“No problem.” 

Douma nodded. He wasn’t mocking Akaza because he didn’t find joy in it. Douma couldn’t even understand joy—or any human emotion, for that matter. Born without the ability to feel happiness, anger, or sorrow, he spoke only because it was the truth: Akaza couldn’t handle this alone. 

“R-really? Do we have to?” 

Hantengu spoke timidly, taking a step back, looking utterly reluctant to join the fight. 

“It’s that lord’s order.” 

Kokushibou glanced at Hantengu, frowning. He didn’t like Hantengu—this guy’s personality was annoying. 

Even Muzan Kibutsuji found Hantengu irritating at times, but his abilities were decent enough, so the childish Muzan tolerated him. Hantengu followed Muzan’s orders loyally, playing the role of the Demon King’s faithful lapdog. 

Hantengu and Gyokko were the most loyal of the bunch. 

“F-fine…” 

At the mention of Muzan’s orders, Hantengu stopped retreating. He had no choice but to join Douma in assisting Akaza. 

“…” 

Akaza gritted his teeth, fighting the shadow wolf while burning with shame. This was his fight—he didn’t need help! But he couldn’t defy Kokushibou, the Upper Rank One who could easily crush him and had once spared his life. Akaza would follow his orders. 

“What, finally couldn’t hold back?” 

Riku wasn’t surprised to see Hantengu and Douma stirring. 

A bunch of evil demons wouldn’t care about martial honor. If one couldn’t win, they’d gang up—classic villain move. Upper Rank One, though, still had that boss vibe, watching calmly from the sidelines. 

“I’m not interested in you.” 

Douma leapt down from a rooftop, ice flowers blooming under his feet, each step sprouting icy lotuses. Flashy as hell—this guy was an ice user. 

Douma was being honest. He really wasn’t interested in Riku. He only cared about women, believing that eating them made him stronger. He’d even tried to convince Akaza, who refused to eat women, which was one reason their relationship sucked. 

Riku could argue with Douma on that point. Male or female demons, it made no difference—experience points came down to strength, not gender. Stronger demons gave more EXP. 

“Surrender, and we don’t have to fight.” 

Hantengu timidly stepped forward, offering a way to avoid battle. But Riku wasn’t having it—he’d throw those words right back. 

“Maybe when you’re all dead, Muzan Kibutsuji will finally show his face? Nah, probably not. He’ll likely hide like a coward.” 

Riku bared his fangs, his appetite whetted. He was itching to go toe-to-toe with the Demon King. He didn’t know how strong Muzan was, but even tearing off a chunk of him would be a win. For Riku, this was a no-lose deal. 

His words made Kokushibou’s mouth twitch, though he stayed silent. Douma was unfazed, still smiling. Akaza was too busy with the shadow wolf to react. Only the timid Hantengu responded, and his reaction was intense. 

“You… you dare disrespect that lord?!” 

Hantengu’s eyes widened, showing a rare expression beyond fear. Clearly, he was one of Muzan’s most loyal followers, utterly devoted. 

The enraged Hantengu began to split, his body producing four young, robust figures. Each bore Hantengu’s traits—small horns on their heads, like younger versions of him. This was his Blood Demon Art: the manifestation of emotions. These clones would fight for him. 

The four young demons had different eye colors. The red-eyed one, holding a staff, resembled Hantengu the most, dressed in his usual red kimono and wooden clogs, his face twisted with rage. 

The green-eyed one wielded a maple-leaf-shaped fan, muscular and bare-chested, with black suspenders striped with white and a red belt. He grinned, though it wasn’t clear what he was so happy about. 

The yellow-eyed one had wings, with clawed hands and feet like a bird, wearing a golden beaded belt. His grin was even wilder than the green-eyed one’s. 

The blue-eyed one carried a cross-shaped spear, dressed in dark blue clothes with white stripes and a dark blue shimenawa rope on his back. His brow was furrowed, his face full of sorrow. 

“This ability’s kinda cool.” 

Riku’s eyes lit up. Emotion-manifested clones? Pretty interesting. He just wondered how strong these four were. 

“Kill this guy.” 

The red-eyed Sekido, embodying anger, spoke through gritted teeth, taking charge as the leader of the emotion clones. 

“Hell yeah, let’s kill him!” 

The green-eyed Karaku, embodying pleasure, laughed in agreement, his fan twitching eagerly. The yellow-eyed Aizetsu, embodying joy, was already airborne. 

“Here I go!” 

Aizetsu flapped his wings, his claws aiming for Riku like a hunting eagle, intending to grab him and slam him into the ground. 

“Can we really win? Even Akaza…” 

The blue-eyed Urogi, embodying sorrow, clutched his spear, his face full of doubt. He wasn’t optimistic about their chances, given how Akaza, Upper Rank Three, was being toyed with. 

“Shut up!” 

Urogi’s words earned a sharp rebuke from Sekido. They hadn’t even started fighting, and someone was already undermining morale? Seriously? 

But Sekido’s worries were a bit unnecessary for this group. Karaku and Aizetsu were a pair of brainless bros—Sekido’s anger and Urogi’s pessimism didn’t faze them. Those two just kept laughing like idiots. 

Aizetsu swooped above Riku, cackling as he lunged, claws aiming for Riku’s shoulders. Riku sidestepped, his hands shooting out faster, grabbing Aizetsu’s bird-like legs. With a fierce yank—rip!—the laughter stopped. Aizetsu was torn in half. 

Chapter 183: The Beatdown of Justice 

“Sorayoshi!” 

Sekinu shouted, utterly frustrated with his comrades. Not a single one of them was reliable, and they completely ignored his commands! 

Sorayoshi was torn in half, but he didn’t die. Instead, he split further, becoming two smaller bird-like creatures. 

Buzz! 

The two birdmen were grabbed by their legs by Riku, unable to fly. But they didn’t try to escape. Instead, they opened their mouths and unleashed ultrasonic waves at Riku—a signature attack of Sorayoshi. 

For humans, this ability was downright brutal. At best, it caused headaches, nausea, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. At worst, it led to internal organ damage or deafness—truly an attack that was hard to defend against. 

But for Riku, this was no different from a light scratch. His physical resilience was far beyond ordinary. These ultrasonic waves couldn’t even rattle his organs. The frail human body of flesh and blood was long gone for him. 

“You bird freak, you’re tougher than you look,” Riku remarked. 

With a swing of his arms, Riku slammed the two Sorayoshi birdmen into the ground. The impact shattered the earth, leaving the two disoriented and unable to stand. 

Whoosh! 

A gust of emerald-green wind blasted toward Riku, its sheer force carving a shallow trench in the ground as it roared forward. 

In the blink of an eye, Riku vanished from his spot, reappearing in front of Akaza, the Upper Rank Three. He had teleported through his shadow, flinging the two Sorayoshi birdmen outward, perfectly sandwiching Akaza between them. 

Boom! 

Akaza didn’t care if Sorayoshi was an ally. With a swing of his arms, he smashed both birdmen into pieces. 

The birdmen split further, becoming four smaller versions. The more they divided, the weaker they became. The four tiny birdmen lay sprawled on the ground, dazed, only to be swiftly knocked out by Akaza. 

“Devour.” 

Riku didn’t bother with theatrics anymore. He recalled his shadow. He’d already gathered enough data on Akaza, and it was time for the shadow to do what it did best—consume demons. Otherwise, this fight would drag on until dawn. 

Riku glanced at the sky. After a night of intense combat, dawn wasn’t far off. Time was running out. If he didn’t hurry, these Upper Rank demons would escape. 

Roar! 

The shadow peeled away from the “Grasshopper Mech No. 1,” coalescing into a massive shadow wolf. The wolf lunged at the four Sorayoshi birdmen, its pitch-black maw swallowing one whole. 

This was too much for the remaining three clones of Upper Rank Four Hantengu—Sekinu, Karaku, and Aizetsu. Even the main body, the timid Kyogai, couldn’t sit still. The visceral pain of having their power forcibly severed hit them hard—Sorayoshi was being devoured! 

Boom! 

A bolt of lightning shot from Sekinu’s staff, aimed at the shadow wolf. Karaku furiously fanned his maple-leaf fan, sending gusts of wind toward the wolf. Aizetsu, with a sorrowful expression, gripped his cross-shaped spear and charged forward, desperate to reclaim Sorayoshi. 

The quarter of Sorayoshi that had been devoured snapped awake, jolted by the soul-deep pain of being torn apart. 

The three remaining Sorayoshi flapped their wings, their faces no longer filled with joy but pure terror. They scattered in different directions, fleeing from the horrifying shadow wolf. 

Zzt! Zzt! Zzt! 

Blue-white lightning crackled, striking the giant wolf. Fierce winds slammed into its body. The wolf dissolved into a sea of shadows, effortlessly dodging the ranged attacks. 

From the pool of shadows, several tendrils shot skyward, slicing toward the three Sorayoshi. They dodged frantically in the air, but two were cut in half. The tendrils wrapped around the now even smaller four Sorayoshi, pulling them down. Shadow wolves leaped from the darkness, tearing and devouring the tiny birdmen. 

Thanks to a recent boost in intelligence, Riku’s benefits weren’t limited to learning ability. His control over his shadow had become even more precise, allowing him to perform complex maneuvers with a single thought. 

Compared to Riku, Taro the courtesan’s ability to control Daki in battle was laughably inadequate. Riku could simultaneously manipulate his shadow, flesh puppets, and more without breaking a sweat. 

“Aaagh!!!” 

Sekinu, Karaku, Aizetsu, Sorayoshi, and Kyogai all wailed in agony. This tearing pain was nothing like creating clones. 

Buzz! 

The tendrils lunged for the last remaining Sorayoshi, but they were repelled by flickering lightning and roaring winds. The final Sorayoshi, wobbling, escaped to Sekinu and Karaku’s side. Sekinu, fed up, gritted his teeth and absorbed the troublesome clone into his body. 

Clang! 

A greatsword clashed with a cross-shaped spear. “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” blocked Aizetsu’s charge, its massive frame overpowering the clone. The mech’s greatsword swung relentlessly, forcing Aizetsu to struggle to parry. His blood demon art-forged spear was barely holding up against the strange iron giant’s overwhelming strength. 

Boom! 

Aizetsu swung his spear, unleashing a shockwave, but “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” didn’t budge—it was like scratching an itch. 

With a casual wave of his hand, Riku summoned several bizarre figures from the shadows. Flesh puppets wielding various kagune flashed into action, activating “Sandevistan” and swarming Aizetsu, who was quickly overwhelmed and hacked to the ground. 

Zzt! Zzt! Zzt! 

Sekinu unleashed lightning, striking the puppets to relieve Aizetsu. Karaku fanned his fan furiously, sending gusts that blew several puppets away, crashing them into the ground. 

But puppets didn’t feel pain or die. Their RC cells provided formidable defense and regeneration. While their endurance might not match a demon’s, with Riku present, they were practically unstoppable. 

Even if a flesh puppet was destroyed, Riku could simply inject more RC cells and flesh to revive it instantly, sending it back into battle. 

Upper Rank Four Hantengu was used to bullying others with his clones. But now, facing “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” and a dozen flesh puppets, he was forced into a frantic defense, overwhelmed by the relentless assault. 

“Grasshopper Mech No. 1” fearlessly tanked damage at the front, while the Sandevistan-enhanced flesh puppets darted in for precise strikes. Aizetsu fell, absorbed by Sekinu. Karaku was sliced to pieces, half-devoured by the shadow wolf, with the rest absorbed by Sekinu. 

Buzz! 

Lightning crackled around Sekinu, halting the fearless flesh puppets and briefly breaking the encirclement. His form shrank, his clothes transformed, and after absorbing the other three clones, he merged into a new form. 

Now transformed into Zohakuten, he wore golden armor with five floating drums marked with the kanji for “hatred” on his back. Holding S-shaped drumsticks, he looked like a child but radiated deep-seated resentment, as if he despised the entire world. 

Dong! 

A drumbeat rang out, followed by a rapid dong dong dong. Zohakuten furiously struck the drums behind him. 

“Blood Demon Art: Mugen Gyojo!” 

Rumble! 

The ground trembled as several massive wooden dragons—or rather, wooden lizards—charged toward the puppets. Their gaping maws snapped at the flesh puppets and “Grasshopper Mech No. 1.” 

Boom! 

The puppets dodged, and “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” swung its greatsword, severing one lizard’s head. Sandevistan-activated puppets rushed Zohakuten’s main body, their varied kagune slashing wildly. 

Zzt! Zzt! Zzt! 

Lightning crackled in front of Zohakuten. Even after merging, he could still use his clones’ abilities, and they were even stronger now. However, with three-quarters of Sorayoshi and most of Karaku devoured, the ultrasonic waves and winds were significantly weakened. Only Sekinu’s lightning, Aizetsu’s shockwaves, and Zohakuten’s wood manipulation remained useful. 

The giant wolf lunged at Zohakuten, who struck his drums fiercely. Two wooden lizards emerged—one spewing lightning, the other unleashing a shockwave. The lightning and shockwave struck the wolf, but it dispersed into a sea of shadows, reforming into a towering spire that trapped Zohakuten inside, along with “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” and the flesh puppets. 

While Zohakuten was pummeled inside the shadow spire, Riku’s body surged in size, entering his three-form demon mode. To Akaza, Riku’s battle aura was off the charts, causing his Compass Needle to tremble. Though the Needle was supposed to grow stronger against powerful opponents, Riku’s aura was almost too overwhelming. 

[...] 

Kokushibo’s hand rested on his sword hilt, his expression shifting. Staring at Riku’s form, he realized he couldn’t comprehend it. This being seemed even more extraordinary than the Demon King, with a body containing organs Kokushibo had never seen—not even in Muzan himself! 

Boom! 

In his towering demon form, Riku flickered and pinned Akaza to the ground in an instant. Akaza’s Compass Needle trembled wildly, but he was powerless to react, reminiscent of his futile challenge against Kokushibo long ago. 

Upper Rank One Kokushibo had similarly rendered him helpless, as if he could be killed at a whim. 

Akaza’s vision blurred as a massive hand gripped his head, crushing it. Darkness enveloped him. 

“Blood Demon Art: Hasuha Hyo.” 

Upper Rank Two Douma, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally made his move. He swung his golden fans, scattering ice crystals that formed lotus flowers, which hurtled toward Riku. 

Crack! 

The lotus ice crystals shattered, clinging to Riku’s body. Layers of ice began to freeze, attempting to invade and freeze his lungs from within. 

For the Demon Slayer Corps, Douma was a nightmare. His ice crystals countered their Breathing Techniques perfectly. Frozen lungs meant disrupted breathing, rendering their techniques ineffective. And if their organs were frozen, survival itself was in question. 

Fighting these Upper Rank demons, Riku deeply understood the Demon Slayers’ struggles. No wonder the Pillars kept dying to Upper Ranks—their powers were on completely different levels. 

The mortal flesh of the Pillars couldn’t match the diverse Blood Demon Arts of the Upper Ranks. Breathing Techniques couldn’t summon storms, regenerate limbs, or make one invulnerable. Riku saw it clearly: without awakening powers like the Demon Slayer Mark or Transparent World, the Pillars stood no chance against Upper Ranks. 

Huff! 

Riku exhaled, unfazed by the ice. His organs, constantly in overdrive, maintained a high internal temperature. Plus, his thermal converter could regulate his body heat. The ice couldn’t even stick to his surface, let alone harm him. 

“Hm?” 

Douma was stunned. His attack was completely ignored. This demon-mode monster was like a furnace, melting all his ice crystals. 

“Blood Demon Art: To-un!” 

Unconvinced, Douma swung his fans again, spreading a massive cloud of ice crystals that frosted the ground. His Blood Demon Art was devastating even to other demons, which was how he’d claimed the Upper Rank Two spot through blood battles. 

Riku threw a few punches, four crimson scale-like kagune sprouting from his back, hammering Akaza into a pulp. Akaza struggled to regenerate, temporarily out of the fight. 

This freed Riku to deal with Douma. The battle with Upper Rank Four Hantengu was nearly over—once the shadow wolf finished devouring Hantengu, it would come for Akaza next. 

“Kokushibo! Act now! We can’t beat him alone!” Hantengu’s tiny, rat-sized main body, Kyogai, appeared on a rooftop, panic-stricken and pessimistic about the battle’s outcome. Zohakuten was in dire straits. 

[...] 

Kokushibo’s six eyes locked onto Riku. This demon was too unique. He desperately wanted to know how Riku had achieved such a form. 

Seeing Kokushibo remain silent, Kyogai was frantic. Inside the shadow spire, Zohakuten was barely holding on. 

Within the spire, Zohakuten dodged desperately as shadow tendrils and blades attacked from all directions. “Grasshopper Mech No. 1” and the flesh puppets pursued relentlessly. 

He unleashed lightning, shockwaves, and wooden lizards, trying to destroy the spire, but he was too busy defending to make progress. Being ganged up on was not a pleasant experience. 

Chapter 184: Who’s the Real Demon King? 

Boom! 

The wooden lizard slammed into the walls of the Shadow Spire, lightning crackling and shockwaves pounding relentlessly. Zohakuten, Upper Rank Four, was desperate to break free from this cage. 

The Shadow Spire ability originated from Lower Rank Four, Nakime, but was enhanced by the powers of Upper Rank Six, Daki, Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, and Riku’s own shadow abilities. Its suppression was far stronger than Nakime’s alone, strong enough to withstand Gyutaro’s dying explosion. 

As Upper Rank Four, Zohakuten was naturally stronger than Gyutaro. While Gyutaro and Daki couldn’t even scratch the spire, Zohakuten’s barrage caused it to tremble violently. 

Unfortunately, even with his all-out effort, Zohakuten couldn’t fully breach the Shadow Spire. He wasn’t at his peak—having lost most of Aizetsu and Karaku, his strength was down to less than 70% of its full potential. 

Rip! 

Zohakuten’s relentless assault on the spire left him open and vulnerable. The flesh puppets didn’t hesitate, swarming him with a ferocious onslaught. 

Zohakuten’s body wasn’t particularly durable. Among the Upper Ranks, only Gyokko had heavily invested in physical defense. Hantengu’s main body was fairly tough, but his clones clearly didn’t inherit that trait. 

Facing the flesh puppets’ siege, Zohakuten scrambled to defend himself and got an arm chopped off. His situation turned dire—while the arm could regrow, the lost strength wouldn’t return. 

A shadow wolf leapt from the scale-covered walls of the Shadow Spire and began devouring his severed arm. 

The sensation of his power draining hit Zohakuten like a bolt to the skull. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full arsenal—wooden lizard, lightning, shockwaves—all focused on the spot where the shadow wolf had emerged. 

Boom! 

Zohakuten seized the perfect moment. The shadow wolf’s devouring weakened the spire’s defenses at that point, and his explosive attack blasted a hole in the wall. 

Hope flickered in Zohakuten’s eyes—he could finally escape! Without a second thought, he charged toward the breach. 

Buzz! 

But the flesh puppets weren’t just standing around. Grasshopper Mech No. 1 lunged at Zohakuten, and the other puppets abandoned their hit-and-run tactics to block his path. The Shadow Spire’s walls began rapidly healing, sealing the gap he’d created. 

“No!” 

Zohakuten unleashed his wooden lizard, lightning, and shockwaves, frantically trying to clear the obstacles. The child-like demon let out a despairing roar as he watched the spire’s walls close. 

The flesh puppets were somewhat fragile, but Grasshopper Mech No. 1 was a tank, leading the charge. With one arm already devoured, Zohakuten’s strength took another hit, weakening him across the board. 

His abilities were ineffective against the mech. The lightning was useless against its anti-electric coating, and the shockwaves? Military-grade mechs were built to withstand close-range explosions. While the Grasshopper was lightweight, it wasn’t made of paper. 

With Grasshopper Mech No. 1 as the main tank, supported by the other flesh puppets, plus occasional tentacle slashes and blood blades, Zohakuten was carved up like meat under a dull knife. The shadow wolf trailed behind, devouring his flesh piece by piece. 

Outside the Shadow Spire, the Fearful Demon—Hantengu’s main body—visibly weakened. 

His power was drained, leaving his main body barely clinging to life. It had strong defenses but no combat ability, and with his strength fading, even those defenses were failing. Zohakuten had consumed too much of his energy. Hantengu clutched his head in agony, his eyes vacant. 

Blood Demon Art: Scattered Lotus Petals! 

Douma’s smile was radiant as he pressed his attack on Riku. Though his abilities weren’t working, he didn’t feel disappointment—he didn’t even know what that was. 

The Upper Rank Two demon kept swinging his fans, scattering a flurry of razor-sharp ice petals that surged toward Riku like a torrent of blades. 

Whoosh! 

Without a word, Riku whipped out a Kenritsu Flame Thrower. Flames roared, melting Douma’s ice blades effortlessly in a blaze of fire. 

“…” 

Douma froze for a moment. He hadn’t seen Riku use the flamethrower to obliterate Gyokko, and this move completely threw him off. 

As the flames roared toward him, Douma had to dodge. He swung his fans, summoning a giant ice Buddha sitting on a lotus to block the fire. The Buddha melted instantly under the flames, steam hissing as water vapor clouded the battlefield. 

Douma kept fanning, conjuring several ice-sculpted lotus maidens that blew icy mist to slow the flames’ advance. 

Douma was a master of ice, but against Riku’s no-nonsense tech, he was out of his depth. With his Blood Demon Art nullified, his strength plummeted. 

Though Douma wasn’t helpless in close combat, even Akaza—dedicated to pure fighting—had been reduced to a pulp. Douma didn’t think his melee skills were better than Akaza’s. To beat Akaza, he’d need his Blood Demon Art. 

“Shadow Wolf.” 

Riku recalled the shadow wolf, dissolving the Shadow Spire. The massive wolf materialized beside him and lunged at Upper Rank Three, Akaza. 

Unfortunately, Akaza had already regenerated most of his body. The Upper Rank Three’s willpower was unyielding, his survival instinct ferocious, allowing him to reform quickly. 

Riku had pummeled him into a puddle, yet in the short time he’d been fighting Douma, Akaza had already reshaped himself. The guy had maxed out his recovery, burning through massive energy reserves. 

[Constitution +1], [Constitution +1] notifications kept popping up, but no EXP. Riku confirmed one thing: Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, wasn’t dead yet. 

Handing the flamethrower to a flesh puppet, Riku, now a hulking demonic beast, charged at Douma. His eyes glinted, locking onto Douma’s position even through the misty battlefield. 

Blood Demon Art: Crystal Child! 

Douma summoned several small ice sculptures, each a perfect replica of himself, holding tiny fans. As Riku charged, the mini-Doumas fanned in unison, unleashing a howling ice wind that froze everything in its path. 

Riku’s response was simple. He activated his body’s organs—secondary heart, blood pump, adrenaline suite—going into overdrive. His blood flow sped up like a video on 10x playback, his heart pounding like it was at a rave. Physically, he was literally boiling with hot blood. 

A normal person trying this would explode without an enemy’s help, but for Riku, it felt just right—an exhilarating high. 

Buzz! 

Something unexpected happened. As Riku pushed his body to the limit, the boost he got went beyond what he’d anticipated. 

At the center of his forehead, around his third vertical eye, strange patterns began to emerge, forming an eerie design. 

These patterns synced with his Breathing Technique, injecting a bizarre power into his body, coursing through every limb. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s spirit surged, his aura spiking dramatically. 

[Acquired Special Ability: Demon Slayer Mark.] 

[Demon Slayer Mark: Overdraws life force, burns the self, greatly enhances physical attributes, and provides comprehensive strengthening.] 

The [Limit System] popped up with a notification. Riku had unlocked the elusive Demon Slayer Mark in this moment. 

Now he understood. For a normal person to activate the Demon Slayer Mark, their body temperature had to hit 39°C, with a heart rate exceeding 200 beats per minute, pushing their body to a burning-hot state. Surviving that high-risk condition was the key to unlocking the mark, but it wasn’t guaranteed—only a possibility. 

For a normal person, those conditions were deadly, and repeated attempts were a death sentence. But for a being like Riku, who was far beyond human limits, it was no big deal. His current temperature and heart rate would’ve killed a normal person a hundred times over. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s form flickered, and in a blink, he was in front of Douma. The Upper Rank Two demon was still fanning his ice wind, oblivious to what was happening. By the time he reacted, Riku’s fist had already smashed him into the ground. Douma’s expression froze in shock. 

Splat! 

Riku’s fist struck from above, turning Douma into a puddle. His head was crushed into his chest, his chest flattened into his abdomen, and his entire body was pancaked into a smear on the ground. 

The beast-like Riku stood tall, turning his gaze to Upper Rank One, Kokushibou, the last one standing. 

With a glance from his mechanical eye, Riku spotted Hantengu’s rat-sized main body. He couldn’t let that slip—EXP was EXP, even if it diminished with his growing strength. Upper Rank Four had to be worth at least a thousand points, right? 

Destruction Kill: Annihilation Form! 

The revived Akaza threw a desperate, explosive punch, briefly repelling the shadow wolf. Without hesitation, he retreated toward Kokushibou. 

Fighting the shadow wolf and puppets was a nightmare for Akaza. His Compass Needle was useless against non-living things with no fighting spirit, making the battle maddeningly frustrating. 

He was severely weakened, having burned through his energy reserves to regenerate. The shadow wolf’s bites during his recovery only made things worse. 

Thanks to Douma drawing attention, Akaza avoided a fatal mauling. He didn’t want to die so pathetically. 

“Kokushibou! Do something!” 

From the rooftop, Hantengu’s main body shrieked, voice breaking with sobs. He was in a pitiful state, utterly useless now. 

“I can’t comprehend this.” 

Kokushibou watched Riku’s every move, frowning. Through his Transparent World, he saw right through Riku. Those strange organs weren’t a Blood Demon Art. This demon’s body held unique secrets! 

Two hearts alone were something Kokushibou couldn’t replicate. Only Muzan Kibutsuji could freely reshape his body like that, and even Muzan couldn’t create specialized organs—just multiple ones. 

Kokushibou knew of Muzan’s five brains and seven hearts, so his shock was palpable. To do something even the Demon King couldn’t—who was the real Demon King here?! 

For a moment, Kokushibou entertained a dangerous thought: if he could master this kind of power… 

Clang! 

Kokushibou drew his blade, Kyokokushinge, its hilt and blade covered in eyeballs, forged from his own blood and bone. 

Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Interstice! 

Kokushibou swung his blade, unleashing his Moon Breathing, a derivative of Sun Breathing but weaker. Still, Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s talent outshone the other Pillars, and his Moon Breathing surpassed other derivative styles. 

Several vertical crescent arcs slashed toward Riku, their yellowish glow whistling through the air. The arcs sliced the shadow wolf—devouring Douma’s remains—into pieces, tearing through its scales, shadow resistance, and Daki’s sash-enhanced defenses like they were paper. 

Riku instantly understood: Upper Rank One’s strength was unmatched, truly the head of the Twelve Kizuki. The other five Upper Ranks combined probably couldn’t take him. Douma and Akaza wouldn’t last a few rounds, and Hantengu, Gyokko, Gyutaro, and Daki would fall with a single swing. 

If Riku hadn’t consumed Upper Rank Six, Upper Rank Five, nearly all of Upper Rank Four, and a chunk of Upper Rank Three, plus awakened the Demon Slayer Mark, facing Kokushibou would’ve been a real challenge. 

“So, if I take you down, Muzan Kibutsuji won’t be able to sit still, right?” 

Riku cracked his joints, his body snapping and popping. He exhaled a long, steaming breath, dramatic as hell. His wings spread wide, four scale-covered tendrils extended, writhing menacingly. Bluish-purple spiral armor coiled around his arms, sprouting sharp blades like fist-swords. 

In terms of sheer presence, compared to the six Upper Ranks, Riku looked like the final boss. 

Chapter 185: You Call This Stealing? This Is Straight-Up Robbery! 

A pair of massive purple wings unfurled from Riku’s back, firing a barrage of sharp, feather-like spikes that rained down on Kokushibo. 

Hantengu’s main body, the timid Kyogai, was so terrified that he tumbled off the rooftop in a panic, scurrying to find a hiding spot. He was utterly useless now, barely able to save his own skin. 

Akaza’s expression was grim, but he didn’t move. The Upper Rank Three knew his fight was over. Only Kokushibo had a chance against this monster, and with his strength diminished, Akaza could only watch from the sidelines. 

“Moon Breathing, Second Form: Shuka no Rougetsu!” 

Kokushibo swung his blade in rapid succession, unleashing a flurry of crescent moon slashes that formed an impenetrable wall, deflecting every single feather. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s figure vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of Kokushibo. Four crimson scale-like kagune lashed out from his sides, while the armored fist-blades on his arms aimed straight for Kokushibo’s face. 

Kokushibo’s expression was stern, his six eyes locked onto Riku. With his Transparent World always active, he could see every detail of Riku’s thrusting movements. But those four scale-like kagune? They were completely unreadable, just like the wings. 

These tentacle-like kagune weren’t part of any human system. Composed entirely of RC cells, they lacked muscles, blood flow, or bones—structures that, by all logic, shouldn’t move at all. 

The same went for the purple fallen angel wings on Riku’s back and the demonic kagune shell encasing him, formed by layers of RC cells. To Kokushibo, they were bizarre, unnatural organs made of a single type of cell that shouldn’t be manipulable at all. 

Without bones or muscles growing from the body, how could those wings and tendrils move? Was this even remotely reasonable?! Kokushibo, a centuries-old demon, knew exactly how living beings functioned. 

Clearly, this monster’s body didn’t follow biology. It operated in a way Kokushibo couldn’t comprehend. 

The Transparent World’s “precognition” relied on observing blood flow, muscles, and bones. It wasn’t true foresight but rather detecting the preparatory movements before an action. This gave a very limited window of anticipation. 

For example, in a “raising the arm to strike” motion, the muscles, blood flow, and bones prepare in advance, seamlessly leading into the action. They don’t just sit there prepping for ages. 

The Transparent World capitalized on this tiny detail, this slight lead time. 

Riku’s arm-thrusting motion was somewhat traceable. Though his RC cell kagune shell encased him tightly, it couldn’t block the Transparent World’s sight. But kagune like feathers, scales, or armor—completely external to the body—were beyond its reach. 

RC cells were a product of imagination, not bound by such inconveniences. 

Controlling kagune didn’t require bones or muscles. To a ghoul, kagune were an extension of the body, manipulated as freely as one wished. 

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

Kokushibo swung his blade, Kyokokushin Kiru, to block Riku’s attacks. Though the Transparent World didn’t predict Riku’s moves, he still managed to parry with sheer skill. 

The Transparent World, a power tied to the “chosen one” Tsugikuni Yoriichi, wasn’t just about “seeing through.” Compared to the far more potent Demon Slayer Mark, which granted massive boosts, seeing through enemies was just a small facet of its true essence: precise control over one’s own strength and body. 

Tanjiro’s father had explained the key to the Transparent World: perfect breathing and precise movements, maximizing power with minimal effort. 

It wasn’t just about seeing through the enemy but also seeing through oneself. To fully utilize strength, one had to eliminate unnecessary movements, leaving only what was essential, wasting not a shred of energy. 

This was an excruciating process—controlling every blood vessel and muscle, stripping away instinctive, redundant actions, and forming new habits. Every movement had to be as swift and simple as blinking. 

Mastering the Transparent World meant mastering oneself, which granted the ability to see through the world. Enhanced strength, precise use of every ounce of power, and clean, efficient movements were what allowed one to seize those tiny details and lead times. Otherwise, even seeing an enemy’s actions wouldn’t leave time to react. 

Riku could tell Kokushibo’s movements were as precise as a machine’s—flawless, with no wasted motion. 

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

Riku swung his armored kagune, his four scale-like kagune thrusting furiously, overwhelming Kokushibo with relentless attacks. His form flickered, Sandevistan running at high speed. Kokushibo frantically swung his blade, suppressed and unable to counterattack. 

With only one sword against Riku’s ceaseless, omnidirectional assault, Kokushibo had to focus entirely just to defend. 

Being suppressed was uncomfortable, to say the least. Kokushibo shifted his blade, Kyokokushin Kiru, sending yellow crescent moons spiraling outward. The arcs were devastating, slicing wounds into Riku’s kagune shell. 

“Moon Breathing, Seventh Form: Yakkyo, Tsukiutsushi!” 

Kokushibo leaped back, creating distance, and swung his blade, launching cutting slashes. Several moon blades sped toward Riku, aiming to carve him apart. 

Riku vanished, reappearing elsewhere, dodging the slashes. 

His shadow flickered faintly at his feet—an ability taken from Gyokko, called “Shadow Leap” or “Hieishin no Jutsu,” allowing teleportation through shadows. 

At the battle’s start, Riku had deliberately left several teleportation points. Unless he was blind, such blatant ranged attacks were unlikely to hit him. 

Huff! 

With some distance between them, Kokushibo exhaled, his expression serious. He knew he had to go all out—this opponent was far tougher than expected. 

Kokushibo’s aura surged as he unleashed his full power. His blade, Kyokokushin Kiru, transformed, growing longer with jagged, branching blades. 

[...] 

Riku’s expression turned odd. With a wave of his hand, shadows gathered, and he drew a blood-red longsword from them. Strange patterns adorned the blade, which seemed to burn with flames. 

In his towering demon form, normal weapons looked comically small in Riku’s hands. 

But this blade was different. As soon as Riku grasped it, it grew larger and longer, sprouting jagged thorns. This was a “Thermal Samurai Blade,” a living weapon crafted by Kenritsu Corporation. 

One hand held the longsword, the other wielded armored fist-blades. Four crimson scale-like kagune writhed, his wings bristled with sharp feathers, and his shadow stood ready. Every inch of him was a weapon. 

“You?! What is that?!” 

What truly shocked Kokushibo was Riku’s longsword—it was too similar to his Kyokokushin Kiru! 

Riku, however, saw it differently. His was the original. What was this “Kyokokushin Kiru” nonsense? A cheap knockoff! 

His living Thermal Samurai Blade suited his image perfectly. Its exaggerated design, with flames seemingly from hell itself, was far more imposing than Kokushibo’s blade. 

“What’s that you’ve got? You think it can compare to my Hi no Koki?” 

Riku sneered down at Kokushibo. He’d named his blade “Hi no Koki” (Fire of Joy) partly as a joke, partly to leave room for upgrades: “En no Yorokobi” (Flame of Delight), then “Yen no Kangai” (Blaze of Ecstasy). The final name was decent enough. 

“Shameless thief,” Kokushibo spat through gritted teeth, a sentiment Hantengu, hiding nearby, strongly agreed with. This guy was a shameless thief, stealing all his powers! 

Akaza clenched his jaw. Stealing? No way! 

“Let’s get this straight—it’s not stealing. It’s open, honest robbery,” Riku laughed. Stealing? That’s too mild. Beating the owner and taking everything wasn’t stealing—it was total domination. 

“You’ve taken too many lives. Now it’s time you felt what that’s like.” 

As he spoke, Riku swung his leg, summoning a roaring black dragon that charged at Kokushibo. The shadowy wooden dragon came with lightning, howling winds, ultrasonic waves, and shockwaves. 

It was a chaotic mix of abilities, all gained from devouring Upper Rank Four’s Zohakuten. 

Of course, these abilities had changed. The lightning was pitch-black, the winds were eerie gusts. The ultrasonic waves and shockwaves remained largely the same, but Zohakuten’s wood manipulation had turned sinister, the wood now shadow-infused, transforming the dull wooden lizards into ferocious black dragons. 

The most significant ability gained from Zohakuten was clone creation. Like Hantengu, Riku could distribute his powers among different clones. 

Unlike Hantengu’s emotion-based clones, Riku’s were four faceless black-robed figures, fully controlled by him without independent thought. 

This cloning ability also activated the powers of Upper Rank Six, Taro and Daki. Only then did Riku learn their true strength: they could only die if both were beheaded simultaneously. 

This “simultaneous beheading” was their core ability, the true reason they held the Upper Rank Six position. 

Riku had previously thought their abilities were underwhelming. Turns out, their toughest power never even had a chance to shine against him. 

Combining “cloning” with “simultaneous beheading” yielded exciting results. To kill Riku with a Nichirin Blade now, one had to behead all four shadow clones and his main body at the same time. 

Whether a Nichirin Blade could still kill him was uncertain. His physiology was no longer “killed by sunlight” but merely “weakened by light.” Even the sun only drained his strength—could a Nichirin Blade, infused with solar energy, still kill him? 

Riku wasn’t eager to test that. Regardless, the cloning and simultaneous beheading ability was a solid safeguard. Though the clones were weaker than the main body, they could share some of his abilities. 

Thanks to his boosted intelligence, Riku could handle these complex abilities. Without it, he’d be overwhelmed. After devouring several Lower and Upper Ranks, his powers were too varied for him and his shadow wolf alone. The clones helped manage them. 

Boom! 

Kokushibo unleashed a massive yellow crescent moon, colliding with Riku’s black dragon. Even with the shadow’s enhancement, Upper Rank Four’s abilities couldn’t overcome Kokushibo’s crescent slash. 

“These abilities have a lot of room to grow,” Riku quipped, dodging with another Shadow Leap. He wasn’t in a rush—his shadow wolves were devouring Upper Rank Two Douma, growing stronger by the moment. Fighting demons? He couldn’t get enough of it! 

Normal demons stopped growing once “full,” limited by the blood granted by Muzan. But Riku? He devoured demons, constantly raising his blood limit, never feeling full. He just kept eating! 

(End of Chapter)