171-175

Chapter 171: Young People Don’t Play by the Rules 

“Gah! Emergency orders! Hunt down the Lower Rank demon! Hunt down the Lower Rank demon!” 

Riku and Rengoku Senjurou were walking along the road when a Kasugai Crow swooped in. Rengoku Senjurou glanced at Riku beside him. 

“Looking for you?” 

Rengoku Senjurou asked casually. It couldn’t possibly be for him—he hadn’t received a message from a Kasugai Crow in ages. 

“Maybe?” 

Riku was a bit confused himself. He wasn’t entirely sure what this crow was here for. 

“Gah! Gah!” 

The Kasugai Crow cawed from above, quickly descending and perching on a branch sticking out from a roadside tree. 

“A Lower Rank demon is hiding somewhere in this area. All nearby swordsmen have been summoned to search. Riku-san, you’re requested to assist.” 

The crow spoke, mimicking Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s tone with a parrot-like flair. Its speech was surprisingly smooth and clear. 

Riku’s jaw dropped. So it was for him. Were these Kasugai Crows really that impressive? Did they come with built-in GPS or something? How did it even find him? He was pretty sure he didn’t have a tracking device planted on him. 

Kasugai Crows were special creatures—highly intelligent with a knack for language. But their most ridiculous ability was their uncanny knack for navigation, able to locate their target no matter where they were. 

“Got it. Thanks.” 

Riku replied politely. The crow gave a human-like nod before flapping its wings and vanishing into the sky. As night fell, its jet-black feathers blended perfectly into the darkness, making it nearly impossible to spot. 

“How do these Kasugai Crows even track us down like that?” Riku asked, turning to Rengoku Senjurou. The guy had been a Hashira for a decade or two and had worked with these crows for years—he had to know something. 

“Good question. Probably scent? I’m not sure. It’s a secret of the Ubuyashiki clan. Kasugai Crows are like omnipresent messengers, always finding Demon Slayer Corps members to deliver orders from the Ubuyashiki family.” 

Rengoku Senjurou took a sip of his sake, answering thoughtfully. He’d once asked his own crow the same question, and it had simply said it was “instinct.” 

As for why they served the Ubuyashiki clan, the crows spoke of a debt of gratitude—their kind had been saved by the Ubuyashiki family long ago, forging a deep bond. 

Kasugai Crows—named after the “kasugai,” a metal fastener used to connect things—were the critical link binding the Ubuyashiki clan to the Demon Slayer Corps. They even had their own “Kasugai Crow Corps,” operating alongside the Demon Slayers and the Hidden Corps. The Demon Slayers fought, the Hidden Corps handled logistics and cleanup, and the Kasugai Crows delivered intelligence and messages. The division of labor was crystal clear. 

“The Ubuyashiki clan really does carry the weight of destiny,” Rengoku Senjurou said with a sigh. In his “protagonist vs. side character” worldview, the Ubuyashiki family was undoubtedly among the “protagonists.” 

The Ubuyashiki clan possessed extraordinary talents, but their curse made it impossible to envy them. Their gifts came at the cost of their lives—born cursed, their bodies frail as paper by their twenties, doomed to die before thirty. No matter how great their talents, they couldn’t enjoy them. 

“You coming along to check it out?” Riku asked, a playful glint in his eye. After all, Rengoku Senjurou had been slacking off at home for a while, and now a mission had practically landed in his lap. 

“Nah, I’m heading back to headquarters to report.” 

Rengoku Senjurou’s decision was firm. He didn’t think his presence was needed here. Besides, the crow hadn’t mentioned him, and Ubuyashiki Kagaya—ever courteous—hadn’t insisted he stay. The man’s manners were impeccable. 

“Fair enough,” Riku nodded, unsurprised. 

But before they parted ways, Riku felt the need to say something. Spending these past few days with Rengoku Senjurou had been suffocating. As a former overachiever, Riku didn’t judge those who chose to give up or lie flat—everyone had the right to feel disillusioned with life. But Rengoku Senjurou’s attitude, and that of his ancestors, toward users of Sun Breathing rubbed him the wrong way. 

Sure, Rengoku Senjurou could choose to slack off, and others might just shake their heads in disappointment. But why did he feel entitled to criticize those who stepped up? What gave him the right? 

“Rengoku-san, sometimes you just have to accept that you’re a side character in this world,” Riku said, staring at the man clutching his sake jug. 

Why should Tsugikuni Yoriichi be blamed for not killing Kibutsuji Muzan? He gave it his all, even if he fell short. Just because Yoriichi was the strongest, with the greatest talent, did that mean he had to kill Muzan? That logic was absurd, borderline tyrannical. 

And now, with Kamado Tanjirou—because he could wield Sun Breathing, the responsibility to defeat Muzan automatically fell on him? “With great power comes great responsibility,” so Rengoku Senjurou, with his lesser abilities, could just lie back and do nothing? That wasn’t just moral grandstanding; it was straight-up hypocrisy. 

“Ever consider this: maybe Yoriichi did fulfill his duty, but his allies didn’t show up in time?” Riku’s gaze was sharp as he laid out the truth. Why was the blame pinned on Yoriichi and not the other Hashira who arrived too late? What right did those who didn’t fight have to judge those who gave their all? 

“Side characters have their own missions too. Someone who abandons their duty has no right to point fingers. To me, your habit of shoving everything onto the so-called ‘chosen one’ is just a coward’s excuse for running away.” 

Riku delivered his final verdict: Rengoku Senjurou, you’re a hypocritical coward who shirks responsibility. 

Others had the right to place hopes on Kamado Tanjirou, to wish for him to grow into a powerful ally against Muzan. But Rengoku Senjurou, the slacker? He had no such right. 

“…” 

Rengoku Senjurou stood there, stunned, as Riku stared him down with an “I’m calling you out, so what?” expression. His face flushed with a mix of shame and frustration. 

No one had ever spoken to him like this. No one had dared point a finger and scold him so openly—not even the Ubuyashiki clan’s leader, who always treated him with respect. As a Hashira, and a member of the storied Rengoku family—generations of Flame Hashira, a unique legacy in the Demon Slayer Corps—he was untouchable. Even when he chose to give up his duties, no one called him out. At worst, they were politely distant. 

But Riku was the first to rip off his mask without hesitation. This young guy had no respect for the rules! 

“The Demon King is too strong! We might not even be able to stand before him, no matter how hard we try! What’s the point of a side character like that?!” Rengoku Senjurou snapped, trying to defend himself as the younger man’s words stung his pride. 

“One Rengoku Senjurou might not make a difference. But nine side characters like you, plus a Tsugikuni Yoriichi? What then?” Riku smirked. He’d been itching to call Rengoku out on this. The guy was too obsessed with individual talent. 

If even Yoriichi, with all his gifts, couldn’t defeat Muzan alone, wasn’t it time to try a different approach? If one-on-one didn’t work, why not gang up? Demons die in sunlight—survive until dawn, and you win. Why obsess over challenging Muzan’s regeneration limits? Dragging the fight out until morning was way simpler than finding someone stronger than Yoriichi to take Muzan down solo. 

“…” 

Rengoku Senjurou opened his mouth but found no words. Even he couldn’t deny that if Yoriichi had had help back then, things might have ended differently. 

“Whew, that felt good.” 

Having unloaded on Rengoku Senjurou, Riku let out a satisfied breath, feeling refreshed. Without another word, he turned and left, leaving the stunned Rengoku behind without a chance to respond. 

Whether his words would wake Rengoku up, Riku didn’t care. He wasn’t Rengoku’s dad, and they weren’t exactly buddies. He just couldn’t stand the guy’s attitude. 

“Lower Rank demon, where you at? Your VIP has arrived!” 

Compared to Rengoku, Riku was far more interested in the Lower Rank demon hiding nearby. That was a big XP haul waiting for him! 

[Ultimate Lifeform Lv8: A special constitution born from the fusion of Demon King blood and Rc cells. Strength, Agility, Constitution +12, Charisma -6. Grants Blood Demon Art and Altered Constitution state.] 

While searching for the Lower Rank demon, Riku allocated a skill point from his last level-up to [Ultimate Lifeform]. The skill reached Lv8, boosting Strength, Agility, and Constitution by one each, and restoring one point of Charisma. 

After fusing with Rc cells, [Ultimate Lifeform] seemed to have changed—Charisma recovery was faster than expected. Normally, this upgrade wouldn’t have restored any, but it did. Riku didn’t know why, but he wasn’t complaining. Watching his Charisma slowly climb back up felt great. 

With the [Mimic] ability’s correction, his Charisma in [Mimic] state hit 14—just one point shy of his peak! 

“Now, even in my demonized state, I won’t look like a villain at first glance,” Riku thought, pleased. Nine Charisma wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrifying either. In [Mimic] state, 14 Charisma was solid, carrying a bit of that metaphysical charm. It wasn’t succubus-level charisma, but it was enough to make people think, “This guy seems alright.” 

First impressions matter. Some people scream “bad news” at a glance, while others exude righteousness—it’s all about Charisma. 

Sniff, sniff. 

Riku wandered through the forest by the road, nose twitching as he searched for the demon’s scent. He didn’t pick up any demon traces, but he did catch a human’s scent nearby. Figuring it was likely a Demon Slayer, he headed toward it. 

“Who’s there?!” 

A young voice called out, followed by the sound of a blade being drawn. The boy turned, eyes sharp with caution. 

He was short—barely over 1.6 meters—with long black hair tipped with mint green. Long bangs framed his face, covering his forehead. His Demon Slayer uniform looked a size too big, hanging loosely on him. 

In [Mimic] state, Riku’s third eye was closed, but his prosthetic eye’s night vision worked perfectly. Studying the boy, he almost mistook him for a girl at first glance. 

Seeing Riku step out from the shadows, the boy froze. To get this close without being noticed—this guy was strong. 

“Muichirou, be careful!” 

A Kasugai Crow perched on the boy’s shoulder spoke up, its voice distinctly feminine as it eyed Riku. 

“No Demon Slayer uniform,” Tokitou Muichirou noted, sizing up the man before him. He didn’t look like a bad guy, but in this setting, Muichirou stayed on guard. Who wanders a forest in the middle of the night? And without a lantern or torch? Even Muichirou carried a small lamp—the forest was pitch-black, practically impossible to navigate without light. 

The Charisma boost helped, but it wasn’t enough to make someone ignore the suspicious context and assume Riku was harmless. Fourteen Charisma didn’t have that kind of power. 

“Mist Hashira, Tokitou Muichirou?” Riku asked, picking up the name from the crow’s warning and noting the boy’s youthful appearance. This had to be the 12-year-old genius Hashira. 

“You know me?” Muichirou blinked, his wariness easing slightly at being recognized. 

“You’re handling that Lower Rank demon?” Riku nodded, clarifying his purpose. He was here for the same demon. 

“Yeah. She got away. She’s a coward—only knows how to run,” Muichirou replied, his face expressionless, eyes oddly vacant, giving off an eerie vibe. 

Riku realized why Muichirou had missed the Hashira meeting. He’d been chasing this Lower Rank demon, which refused to fight and kept fleeing. 

Chapter 172: A Name That Sounds Edible 

“That Lower Moon Four demon is really good at escaping.” 

Muichiro Tokito reiterated with a blank expression, prompting Riku to glance at him. Was this kid making excuses for not killing that demon? 

“Exactly, exactly! A total coward! If she hadn’t run, Muichiro would’ve taken her out clean and swift!” 

Muichiro’s kasugai crow chimed in loudly from his shoulder, its face visibly fuming with irritation. 

“Are you a Demon Slayer sent to help?” 

The crow sized up Riku, its eyes brimming with suspicion. All Demon Slayers, except the Hashira, were required to wear the Corps uniform—a highly durable outfit made of special fibers. It was breathable, resistant to moisture and fire, and tough enough to withstand the claws and teeth of weaker demons. This made it practical for year-round wear: cool in summer despite long sleeves and pants, warm in winter with just one layer. A real time-saver. 

Hashira were allowed to dress as they pleased, though most still wore the uniform.  

“Yep, Oyakata-sama sent me to assist.” 

Riku nodded, patting the sword at his side. During the day, he couldn’t use his Blood Demon Art, and his weapons were stored in his shadow space, inaccessible. So, he always carried a spare blade now. 

“Never seen this weird guy before,” the crow muttered. She’d met all the current Hashira, and this man wasn’t one of them. An ordinary Slayer ignoring protocol? How rude! 

“Ginko, let’s go.” 

Feeling this ordinary Slayer wasn’t showing Muichiro enough respect, the crow, named Ginko, was about to snap. But Muichiro turned to leave, uninterested in further conversation. 

“Gah? Muichiro, we’re just leaving him?” 

Ginko squawked, surprised. She’d only been paired with Muichiro for a short time—this genius boy became a Hashira in just two months, and they’d been partners for less than half a year. 

“I heard you’re a Tsugikuni descendant?” 

Riku’s words stopped Muichiro in his tracks. The boy paused, lifting his gaze to meet Riku’s. 

“You! Muichiro is the heir of the original Breathing Style user, a one-in-a-million genius, and the Mist Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! You’re not a Hashira, are you? Show some respect!” 

Before Muichiro could respond, Ginko exploded. Her long-lashed, feminine crow face bristled as her sharp beak snapped open and shut, scolding Riku in a surprisingly pleasant voice. 

“Is this your fangirl or something?” 

Riku blinked, amused. For some reason, he saw shades of an obsessive idol-chasing fan in this crow. It was absurd—she was just a bird! Humans and crows had no future together! Of course, Ginko’s attachment to Muichiro was more like a “mom fan.” She was fiercely protective, refusing to let anyone badmouth her twelve-year-old charge. Ginko felt it was her duty to shield him as he grew. 

“Don’t talk about Ginko like that.” 

Muichiro spoke up, defending his crow. They had a great bond, and he appreciated her protectiveness. 

“Gah! Gah! Gah!” 

Ginko squawked furiously at Riku but was touched by Muichiro’s defense. He was the most important part of her crow life—none of the other kasugai crows understood her like he did. 

“Tell me about that demon.” 

Riku ignored the bizarre crow, eager to track down the Lower Moon Four. She might not be as tough as Lower Moon Two, but she’d still be worth a good thousand experience points, right? 

“No need. I’ll handle her.” 

Muichiro said flatly, then walked off. 

“This kid…” 

Watching Muichiro stride away, Riku clicked his tongue. He’d just shown off some youthful vigor in front of that old slacker Rengoku Senjuro, only to get brushed off by an even younger kid. Karma hit fast. “Muichiro Tokito’s got a bit of a personality issue, huh?” 

Comparing him to Tanjiro Kamado, who was a year older, Riku noted Tanjiro’s maturity far surpassed Muichiro’s. Then again, Tanjiro was the quintessential shonen “yasashii” protagonist—kind, earnest, and hot-blooded. 

Riku didn’t follow Muichiro. He continued through the forest, searching for the demon. Finding one in the dark was tough, but his sharper-than-human sense of smell picked up a trail of blood. 

As he neared the source, he heard the sickening sound of flesh being torn. A demon was devouring a corpse, now mangled beyond recognition. Scattered scraps of fabric—Demon Slayer Corps uniforms—littered the ground. While the uniforms could fend off lesser demons, they were useless against a Twelve Kizuki. 

“Who’s there?!” 

The demon whipped around, her face filled with fear. Riku was taken aback—this was the first demon he’d met whose initial reaction to a human was terror. Usually, even weak demons had a cocky “time to feast” vibe. 

The female demon’s eyes welled with tears, her expression one of genuine fright, even while eating. She wore a red kimono, her white hair adorned with small horns. Her sclera were red, her irises purple, with two symmetrical rectangular blood-red marks on her cheeks. Her left eye bore the kanji for “Lower Four.” This was definitely his target. 

“Lower Moon Four, huh?” 

Riku grinned, shifting into his second-stage demon form. The tense demon relaxed instantly. 

“Oh, another demon! You scared me! Is this your turf? Sorry, I was being chased by a Hashira and ended up here.” 

She lacked any Lower Moon Four gravitas, even apologizing to Riku. Demons weren’t allowed to team up, so they typically had their own hunting grounds and didn’t encroach on others’ “dining halls.” But as a Twelve Kizuki facing a “regular” demon, her demeanor was oddly submissive. Riku’s eyes didn’t have any kanji—he clearly wasn’t Kizuki. 

“You really are a coward, aren’t you?” 

Riku found it hilarious. How did this demon become a Twelve Kizuki? Was she only bold when eating? 

“Coward?! Don’t push it! That was a Hashira! A guy like you? He’d slice through dozens of you with one swing!” 

Stung by Riku’s words, Lower Moon Four snapped back, defending herself. She didn’t want to die, so running was her only option. 

“You’d better run too. This place is crawling with Demon Slayers. You’re lucky you haven’t been caught and killed.” 

She spoke curtly, having finished her meal to replenish energy. Her brief encounter with that boyish Hashira nearly ended her—she only survived by fleeing decisively. Fighting wasn’t her forte. 

“Thanks for the heads-up, but unfortunately, I’m here for you.” 

Riku tilted his head. Shadows shot out, four black, claw-like tendrils wrapping around her wrists and ankles, hoisting her into the air. 

“What are you doing?!” 

Lower Moon Four’s face twisted in panic. Why was this demon attacking her?! And how was a non-Kizuki demon this strong?! She struggled but couldn’t break free. 

“Let’s have a chat.” 

Riku leaned against a tree, eyeing the restrained demon. Her lack of resistance surprised him. Was she that bad at fighting? Did she dump all her points into escaping? 

He was glad he’d approached her as a demon first, considering she’d escaped a Hashira. 

“Talk about what?! Let me down!” 

Her eyes widened, suspended by the shadowy tendrils. The loss of control was humiliating, and she feared something bad was coming. 

“Answer my question first. What’s your name?” 

Riku asked, not planning anything weird with her. Though she wasn’t unattractive, he wasn’t the type to let looks sway him. In Tokyo Ghoul, he’d killed the Clown Organization’s Nico without hesitation, despite her beauty. Sure, he’d integrated Nico’s kagune, but unlike Kaneki Ken, who saw “visions,” Riku didn’t get any ghostly chatter from Rize Kamishiro’s kagune, which he’d also transplanted. 

“My name’s Zeroyuko,” she answered reluctantly, seeing he wouldn’t release her. She’d just eaten to restore energy for escaping a Hashira, not to fight this demon. 

“Zeroyuko?” 

Riku’s expression turned odd. Yamakake—like the medicinal yamatoimo, a go-to for men’s vitality. A female demon with that name? He could barely keep a straight face. 

“Can you contact Muzan Kibutsuji?” 

His next question froze Zeroyuko. Her jaw dropped, staring at him like he was insane. 

“Y-y-y-you!” she stammered, terrified. A demon daring to say that name?! Was he suicidal?! “Stay away! Don’t get your blood on me!” She thrashed, praying Muzan wouldn’t punish her by association. 

“Answer me.” 

Riku smirked, standing there calmly as Zeroyuko’s expression shifted from shock to panic to confusion. 

“Why are you fine?” 

She was baffled. How could a demon say that name and be unscathed?! 

“Why wouldn’t I be? You think I’m like you?” 

He poked her face with a shadow tendril, signaling, “I’m not one of you.” He was a free demon. 

“I can’t contact that person. They summon us,” Zeroyuko said, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. How did he do it? 

“So, Muzan can summon demons to his side anytime?” 

Riku rubbed his chin. He hadn’t considered that. The Demon King could just call an army of demons? Why didn’t he use it against Enichi Tsugikuni? There had to be some condition—such an ability was too broken otherwise. 

“Where does he summon you to?” 

Riku pressed. As expected, a Twelve Kizuki knew more than regular demons. 

“I can’t say!” 

Zeroyuko clammed up, discomfort creeping in even from skirting the topic. 

“If you help me… I’ll tell you!” 

She looked at Riku, desperate to escape Muzan’s control like this mysterious demon had. 

“Tch, what a hassle.” 

Riku clicked his tongue. Even a Twelve Kizuki was bound by Muzan’s curse, unable to spill secrets. It made sense—Lower Moons were often killed, even used as stepping stones for Hashira promotions. If they could talk, the Corps would’ve mapped out Muzan’s operations long ago. 

“Guess I need to try an Upper Moon. They haven’t been killed in centuries, slaughter Hashira regularly—they’re the real core of Muzan’s crew.” 

Riku realized Lower Moons were weak and low-status, barely valued by Muzan. 

“Do you know where any Upper Moons are? If you want my help, show some value. How do I know you’re not lying?” 

He prodded, figuring she could at least talk about Upper Moons, since it wasn’t directly about Muzan. 

“I… don’t know,” Zeroyuko admitted awkwardly. Upper Moons didn’t even glance at her kind. 

“Useless. Not even as good as a yamatoimo.” 

Riku sighed, shaking his head. Before Zeroyuko could respond, a massive maw clamped onto her neck, tearing her head off. Three giant wolves began devouring her body. 

“Aaahhh!!!” 

Zeroyuko screamed in agony. Riku’s wolves needed time to consume her—she wouldn’t die instantly. 

“Blood Demon Art: Bud Greed!” 

Her arms spread, firing countless yamatoimo-like projectiles from her palms, barraging the wolves like a machine gun. 

“Blood Demon Art: Gluttonous Breed!” 

In a life-or-death frenzy, Zeroyuko unleashed her full power. Seeds shot from her hands, sticking to the wolves and sprouting into plant-like roots that entangled them. 

Riku was also targeted, but he deftly deflected the attacks with his sword. 

“A mage type, huh? How’d you escape a Hashira? Got any other tricks up your sleeve?” 

Riku was surprised. He’d thought her timid act hid a speed-based fighter, but she was a full-on Blood Demon Art mage? 

Chapter 173: Great Job, Limitless System! 

“That’s interesting.” 

Riku swung his blade, but the vine-like seeds exploded into rapid growth, wrapping toward his weapon and body. Multiple seeds worked together, weaving a net of roots that threatened to ensnare him completely. 

Riku drew his thermal katana “Buro” from the shadow sword case, pairing it with his Quinque blade “Bloodsong.” The two blades slashed relentlessly, cutting the encroaching vines into pieces. The scorching heat of the thermal katana set the Blood Demon Art vines ablaze, as if they’d met their natural predator. 

Though Riku handled it cleanly, his three shadow wolves weren’t so lucky. The “yam beans” didn’t do much damage, but the vine net firmly restricted their movements. 

“Return.” 

With a single thought, the three shadow wolves dissolved into a pool of darkness, slipping free of the vines and returning to Riku’s shadow. The darkness surged, and the wolves were summoned again. This was the terrifying strength of shadow summons—as long as Riku’s “mana” held out, he could keep resummoning them. 

For a demon like him, “mana” was practically limitless. Riku wasn’t sure about other demons, but for him, the “mana” for Blood Demon Arts was tied to his “regeneration duration.” 

Unlike traditional game mechanics where magic relied on intelligence for mana or damage, Riku was a no-mana-bar hero. His energy consumption was tied directly to his Constitution—basically, his stamina. Overusing Blood Demon Arts drained stamina, which reduced the energy available for regeneration, shortening his “regeneration duration.” 

With his current Constitution—23 base plus 12 in demon form—he had a whopping 70 hours of regeneration time. A prolonged fight was no issue. Even weak demons, unless starved to the brink, wouldn’t run out of stamina before sunrise. The Demon Slayer Corps had likely never encountered a demon that exhausted its stamina to the point of losing regeneration. Blood Demon Art consumption wasn’t that intense—even average Constitution was enough to support reckless use in battle. 

For Riku, the stamina cost of his Blood Demon Arts was so low it barely registered, sometimes recovering faster than he could use it. His abilities weren’t flashy or large-scale, so the drain was negligible, almost unnoticeable. 

“Aaahhh!” 

Rei Yurei wailed, tears and snot streaming down her face. With her head bitten off, the scene was equal parts eerie and absurdly funny. 

Seeing that Riku wasn’t restrained, and his shadow wolves had broken free and were lunging at her again, Rei Yurei was dumbfounded. This was not how she’d imagined things going! 

“Blood Demon Art: Demon Sprout!” 

Facing the charging wolves, Rei Yurei unleashed her trump card. With her full effort, blood-red leaves layered over each other, enveloping Riku and the wolves. The leaves kept growing, forming a bud-like structure—a towering spire of blood-red leaves. 

“Damn it! Damn it! I can’t break free!” 

Though she’d temporarily trapped Riku and the wolves, she couldn’t escape the shadow bindings gripping her limbs. With no leverage and no physical prowess to rely on, she was helpless. 

If she didn’t flee now, more Demon Slayers would surely close in. She’d avoided this move earlier to keep a low profile. A giant blood-leaf spire in the dead of night was hard to miss, even in the dark. Some sharp-eyed Demon Slayer might spot it. 

“This jerk! Why’s he fighting me?! Because he’s a traitor? I didn’t even say I’d report him to that lord!” 

Rei Yurei was on the verge of a breakdown. If she couldn’t escape, she was as good as dead! 

BOOM! 

As she struggled, a deafening explosion rang out. The massive blood-leaf bud was blasted open, a gaping hole torn through it. 

Black smoke billowed as Riku stepped out, holding a cylindrical weapon. He always kept a few tricks up his sleeve. 

Looking at Rei Yurei, Riku couldn’t help but sigh. No wonder this demon escaped a Hashira. Her moves were all about control—pure, unadulterated control with no follow-up. Take this leaf bud: it just trapped its target in a dark, oppressive space. Shouldn’t it, like, release some corrosive liquid to melt the target? Or at least turn the leaves into a flurry of razor-sharp blades, skewering the trapped victim from all sides? That’d make killing a breeze. 

Riku didn’t believe she couldn’t do it. She’d already used those “yam beans” as projectiles. Combining the two Blood Demon Arts would’ve been simple. If she didn’t know how to make flying leaf blades, she could’ve just spammed the yam beans instead. 

This demon’s personality was the issue—she was obsessed with escaping, a true master of the “survive at all costs” mindset. 

Approaching the stunned demon, who’d even stopped struggling, Riku picked up her severed head. 

“Feel your life slipping away bit by bit?” he asked. 

A Twelve Kizuki demon like her had likely devoured countless humans. No matter how cute she looked, Riku found her repulsive. Still, for the sake of XP, he could grudgingly call her cute. 

Cute or not, nothing beat the sweet smell of experience points. Seeing the system’s [Constitution +1] notification, Riku felt a wave of satisfaction. His three shadow wolves were already devouring her remains. 

But a measly +1 Constitution from a Lower Four? Riku was unimpressed. Was she just a squishy mage who skipped physical training? Lower Four, and she gave the same as a regular demon? Or maybe regular demons didn’t even give Constitution anymore. 

“Spare me! Please let me go!” the demon sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face. Her voice was fading, which was honestly bizarre since her vocal cords had been bitten through by the wolves. 

“Sorry, no can do,” Riku replied casually, uninterested in her pleas. He had no intention of toying with her further. The feedback from the wolves’ feast was starting to kick in. 

Beyond the measly Constitution point, Rei Yurei’s real contribution was to his Blood Demon Arts. 

First, his “tentacle” control ability grew stronger, likely incorporating her vine-wrapping power. Absorbing similar abilities boosted his existing ones, making his shadow tentacles tougher and more reliable. 

He also gained a new ability: firing “yam beans”—or rather, shadow bullets. Testing it out, the power and speed were mediocre, not even matching a firearm. In polite terms, it had “room for growth.” 

Most importantly, he acquired her “lock in a dark room” ability. His shadows could now layer over a target, forming a shadowy spire to trap them. 

“So it does have offensive potential. Did she hold back because she knew I was a demon?” Riku mused, surprised. The ability wasn’t just about trapping—it could attack. Shadows could envelop a target, then unleash tentacles to restrain them while shadow bullets rained down from all directions, turning the victim into a pincushion. 

It was a solid ability. For a human trapped inside, it’d be deadly—no light, just attacks from every angle. Even a Hashira would be stalled. By the time they broke free, Rei Yurei would be long gone. For a Lower Rank, it was versatile: not enough to challenge the Upper Ranks, but perfect for bullying weaker foes and escaping. A jack-of-all-trades move. 

Soon, the wolves finished devouring her. Without the Demon King’s power sustaining her, Rei Yurei’s remains turned to ash in the night. Another of the Twelve Kizuki was gone, leaving ten. 

“I wonder if Kibutsuji Muzan will replace her. I’m worried there won’t be enough to kill,” Riku said with a grin, though his expression froze. 

[Ding! Experience +800.] 

[Ding! Experience bar full. Level up to Lv10. Current Experience: 499/1500.] 

[Gained 1 Attribute Point.] 

[Gained 1 Skill Point.] 

[Gained 1 Skill Optimization Point.] 

The system notifications popped up, but Riku frowned at the XP. Lower Four gave 800, while Lower Two gave 1200? A 400-point gap? What a rip-off! 

“Is it because she was weak? Or because I got stronger? Does that mean Lower Five and Six will give even less?”  

Muttering, Riku added a point to Intelligence and leveled up [Ultimate Lifeform] again. His hope of leveling up with every kill was dashed—two kills per level seemed more likely. Lower One might still be worth something, but he’d need to aim for the Upper Ranks. 

[Ultimate Lifeform Lv9: A special constitution born from the fusion of Demon King blood and Rc cells. Strength, Agility, Constitution +13, Charisma -5. Grants Blood Demon Art and Altered Constitution state.] 

With [Ultimate Lifeform] hitting Lv9, his Charisma recovered another point—the biggest perk of fusing with Rc cells! Originally, he’d needed to reach Lv21 to offset the Charisma penalty, but now Lv14 would do it. Jackpot! 

With only a -5 Charisma penalty against his base 15, even in demon form, he wouldn’t face negative effects. People might still instinctively fear his demonic appearance, but they wouldn’t immediately assume he’d eat them. 

In [Mimic] state, the +5 Charisma correction brought him back to his peak. He was much more approachable now. Some people, without the wealth for a “charisma invincibility buff,” still charmed others effortlessly—Charisma at work. 

“Did you find that demon?” 

As Riku allocated points and upgraded his skill, someone arrived—Tokitou Muichirou, the Mist Hashira, fresh from their earlier parting. He’d spotted the leaf spire. 

Riku had reverted to [Mimic] state, avoiding any misunderstandings. He was cautious about this—better to take the “debuff” than scare off Lower Four. Rei Yurei had been skittish enough. 

“Yep, you’re a step too late. I already took care of her,” Riku said, glancing at Muichirou. The boy’s eyes showed surprise, losing their cold, robotic edge and gaining a spark of humanity. For a moment, he looked like the 12-year-old he was. 

“Didn’t expect that. You’re pretty strong,” Muichirou said, then fell silent. His Kasugai Crow, Ginko, piped up instead. 

“Confirm it! What was that demon’s ability?” 

Ginko eyed Riku suspiciously. Even her genius Muichirou couldn’t catch Lower Four. How did this guy, clueless about the demon’s powers, kill her on their first encounter? 

“Your crow’s kind of annoying. Can I roast it?” Riku snapped, ignoring Ginko. He’d killed the demon—did he owe her an explanation? With that attitude, who did she think she was? Back when he was weaker, he’d put up with suspicion. But now, stronger, was he supposed to let a crow boss him around? What was the point of getting stronger, then? 

“No,” Muichirou replied firmly. He didn’t dislike Riku and was even impressed by his strength. Was this guy a new Hashira from the last meeting? After answering, Muichirou zoned out, lost in thought. 

“Gah! Gah! What’s wrong with you?!” Ginko squawked, hiding behind Muichirou, genuinely worried Riku might cook her. 

“See ya,” Riku said, rolling his eyes. He had no issue with the quirky Mist Hashira. The kid was only 12, likely with a rough past, yet he was out here slaying demons and saving lives—a true young hero. But that fan-girl crow was insufferable. 

“Oh,” Muichirou replied, snapping back to reality as Riku vanished into the dark. 

“What a jerk!” Ginko griped, full of fairy-princess attitude, but Muichirou didn’t respond. He was thinking: Why does that guy seem better-looking than last time? 

“Guess Charisma doesn’t work on animals,” Riku muttered after parting ways. He hadn’t noticed before, never having dealt with a talking beast like that. 

While complaining, he used the skill optimization point on [Ultimate Lifeform]. 

[Optimization Complete. 

“Death by Sunlight” changed to “Weakened by Light.” 

Weakened by Light: The sun no longer kills you but weakens your strength.] 

“Holy—?!” 

Riku’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected that. 

Chapter 174: Muzan Kibutsuji's Total Meltdown 

“What kind of day is this? Did I just hit the jackpot?!” 

Riku blinked, knowing full well his prosthetic eye wasn’t hacked—heck, even if it was, no hacker could mess with the [Limit System]. Still, he was having a hard time wrapping his head around it. 

The Demon King had been chasing this for a thousand years, with countless demons scouring the entire island nation and coming up empty-handed. Yet, Riku had pulled it off so easily? All in all, it took just a little over two months. If the Demon King found out, he’d probably lose it completely! 

“Exposure to sunlight makes you lose your powers, so you’d just be a regular human under the sun?” 

Riku carefully read the description of [Weak Light]. That’s what it seemed to mean on the surface, but he’d need to test it to be sure. 

This “lose your powers” thing—did it mean losing the strength of the [Ultimate Being] ability, or did it mean all his strength, stamina, and agility stats would drop to normal human levels? If it was just the [Ultimate Being] power, then with [Water Breathing] and [Absolute Territory Field] plus his base stats, Riku would still have some fighting capability. He wouldn’t be a sitting duck, at least. 

“Gotta test it out sometime.” 

Riku calmed his excitement. No matter what, he’d essentially eliminated a deadly weakness that could’ve cost him his life at any moment. 

If every step before felt like crossing a river on thin ice, now he’d finally managed to stumble onto the other side. 

“Hell yeah!” 

Riku let out a long breath. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to dance in front of the Demon King, preferably while basking in the sunlight, just to make him lose it! Make him seethe with envy! But what Riku didn’t know was that Muzan Kibutsuji was already losing it. In just a few days, two of the Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki had been wiped out! 

Sure, the Lower Moons were pretty weak, with no real accomplishments to their name. But losing two in such a short time? That was a direct slap to Muzan Kibutsuji’s face! 

Infinity Castle, the otherworldly fortress where Muzan resided. This bizarre dimension was filled with Japanese-style buildings, their structures twisted as if the rules of physics didn’t apply—up and down, left and right, all jumbled. Houses and floors tilted at impossible angles. 

At the center of this space sat a female demon on a tatami mat, cradling a biwa. Her skin was ashen, her long black hair framed by bangs that just covered her eyes. She held a pick in one hand, her biwa resting in her lap. 

Not far from her stood a man with a grim expression—Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King himself, whom Riku had encountered before. It was clear Muzan was in a terrible mood. 

“Lower Moons.” 

To Muzan, the Lower Moons were utterly useless, and his patience was wearing thin. 

“Nakime, summon them.” 

Muzan gave the order, and the biwa-playing demon, Nakime, obeyed without hesitation. With a pluck of her biwa, figures began to appear in the Infinity Castle. Nakime was Muzan’s housekeeper, residing permanently in the castle and managing the comings and goings of demons. 

Lower Moon One, Enmu; Lower Moon Three, Byouyou; Lower Moon Five, Rui; and Lower Moon Six, Fumanue—four demons materialized in the castle. The two who’d already been taken out were noticeably absent. 

With another strum of Nakime’s biwa, the four demons were brought to the platform below Muzan. They immediately dropped to their knees, not daring to even glance up at him. 

“Lower Moon Two and Lower Moon Four are dead. In just a few days.” 

Muzan’s voice was cold as he addressed the four kneeling Lower Moons. 

The news shocked them. This was unheard of—nothing like this had ever happened before. 

“The Lower Moons… are too weak.” 

Muzan continued. He’d created the Twelve Kizuki to counter the Demon Slayer Corps’ Hashira. After Yorichii Tsugikuni introduced breathing techniques, kizuna markings, and the Transparent World to the Corps, the demons Muzan had created were slaughtered en masse. That’s when he came up with the idea of forming a powerful force to rival the Hashira—thus, the Twelve Kizuki were born. 

But compared to the Upper Moons, who hadn’t lost a single member in centuries and boasted impressive records, the Lower Moons were a disgrace. Not only did they lack achievements, but they’d become nothing more than stepping stones for the Hashira to hone their skills. 

The more Muzan thought about it, the angrier he got. What were these Lower Moons even doing? Were they just XP fodder for the Demon Slayer Corps?! 

“This is what you’re telling us—” 

Lower Moon Six, Fumanue, the newest member of the Twelve Kizuki, couldn’t help but think to himself. His black hair was tied into four short braids at the back, with blue patterns on his head resembling tribal tattoos. 

“Go on, say it.” 

But before Fumanue could even finish his internal complaint, Muzan’s expressionless voice called him out, reading his thoughts. Fumanue froze, overwhelmed by sheer terror. 

It was bad enough to grumble about the boss who held your life in his hands, but to get caught grumbling? Terrifying—especially since this boss was the type to kill without mercy. 

“Lord Muzan! That’s not what I meant! Please, spare me!” 

Fumanue panicked, his entire demonic being in disarray as he frantically kowtowed, begging for forgiveness. 

Crunch! 

As expected, Muzan wasn’t about to let him off. If someone so much as commented on his pale skin, he’d hold a grudge—let alone someone daring to criticize him mid-speech. Muzan extended his hand, and a mass of flesh formed into a giant arm with a gaping maw at the end. It swallowed Fumanue whole, and he vanished from the Infinity Castle, his screams cut short as if he’d never existed. 

“…” 

The remaining three Lower Moons reacted differently. Lower Moon One, Enmu, wore a smile, completely unfazed—almost delighted. His medium-length black hair was neatly combed, and he wore a white shirt with a black coat, giving off a gentlemanly vibe. 

Lower Moon Five, Rui, was short, barely 1.3 or 1.4 meters tall, looking like a child with white hair and a white kimono. He gazed at Muzan with unfiltered admiration. 

Lower Moon Three, Byouyou, was the only one with a normal reaction: pure, unadulterated fear. He could tell Muzan was beyond fed up with the Lower Moons and might even be considering wiping them out entirely. 

“Speak. What can you do for me? This is your last chance.” 

After disposing of the insolent Lower Moon Six, Muzan turned to the remaining three. 

“I’ll do my best, Lord Muzan! I’ll work hard to kill the Demon Slayer Corps’ swordsmen!” 

Byouyou was quick to pledge his loyalty, knowing this was not the time to test Muzan’s patience. He had to show absolute sincerity, no complaints. 

“When?” 

Muzan was unmoved. Empty promises meant nothing—he wanted action. Byouyou’s vague words only irritated him further. 

“Uh…” 

Byouyou faltered. He hadn’t thought it through. He hadn’t even considered it. Go after a Hashira? That was suicide—he couldn’t do it! 

“Useless.” 

Muzan didn’t give Byouyou time to think. With a single curse, Byouyou realized his fate. Without hesitation, he bolted, refusing to sit and wait for death. He had to try, even if it was just a desperate attempt to escape. Muzan was right—he was useless, only daring to bet on whether he could flee, not on whether he could take down the Demon King. 

Naturally, he had no chance. Muzan effortlessly tore off his head. A demon controlled by the Demon King, whose powers were granted by him, had no hope of resisting. 

“Lord Muzan, I’ll take my family to kill the Demon Slayer Corps. I’ll take down those annoying Hashira for you.” 

As Muzan’s gaze fell on him, Lower Moon Five, Rui, spoke up. His worshipful expression was genuine, his words sincere. 

“Good.” 

Surprisingly, Rui received a rare word of praise. His promise wasn’t much different from Byouyou’s, yet Byouyou—now just a head—stared in disbelief. Why the double standards?! 

Crunch! 

Byouyou’s head was devoured, Muzan granting him no further chance to linger. He was sent straight to hell. 

Pierce! 

Muzan extended a sharp tendril, stabbing it into Rui’s neck and injecting him with his blood. 

“Do it, Rui.” 

Muzan’s favoritism was blatant. He clearly had a soft spot for the pint-sized Lower Moon Five. 

“Yes, Lord Muzan!” 

Rui’s admiration grew even stronger. The surge of Muzan’s blood made his power swell, practically overflowing. 

Ding! 

With a strum of Nakime’s biwa, Rui was sent out, vanishing from the Infinity Castle. Only Lower Moon One, Enmu, remained, still smiling as if incapable of fear. 

“Anything to say?” 

Muzan turned to the strongest of the Lower Moons. The Twelve Kizuki were ranked by strength, and anyone dissatisfied could challenge a higher rank. Of course, a Lower Moon challenging an Upper Moon was unheard of—and suicidal. 

“Thank you for saving me for last, Lord Muzan. I take great pleasure in others’ misfortune and pain. I’m truly satisfied right now, and I’d be happy to die by your hand.” 

Enmu’s words dripped with sincerity, but no amount of sincerity could fool Muzan. 

Pierce! 

Still, Enmu’s personality earned Muzan’s approval. Like Rui, he was injected with more of Muzan’s blood. 

“Send him there.” 

Muzan gave Nakime a curt order without further words to Enmu. Nakime plucked her biwa. 

With a ding, Enmu vanished, sent toward the area where Lower Moon Four, Reyuko, had been killed. 

Muzan could only sense the general direction of distant demons, not their precise location. Only those nearby could he pinpoint or even communicate with directly through “transmission.” Enmu’s task was to take out the Hashira who killed Lower Moon Four. Whether he could pull it off depended on his abilities. As for Rui, he was sent back to Natagumo Mountain. Muzan was indeed more lenient with that kid. 

At Natagumo Mountain, Rui, freshly returned, immediately gathered his “family.” Muzan’s orders were clear, and with the extra dose of Demon King blood, he had to show his resolve. 

“Father, Mother, brothers, sisters—we need to make some noise.” 

Rui addressed his gathered “family,” a group of demons dressed similarly to him. 

“What do you mean, Rui?” asked the mature female demon known as “Mother,” confusion evident among the group. 

“I mean you need to make a big scene. Draw the Hashira here.” 

Rui glanced at her, his tone calm. His “family” was clearly dysfunctional. Despite being the youngest-looking, he called the others “Father,” “Mother,” “brothers,” and “sisters,” yet they stood in a line before him like subordinates, awaiting his orders. 

“What?! Why would we do that?!” 

Rui’s words sparked an uproar. The demons were baffled—this was insane! 

“Got a problem with that?” 

Rui’s gaze landed on the one who spoke—a female demon, one of his “big sisters,” who’d only recently joined. 

“N-no, Rui, I just don’t understand!” 

Terrified under his scrutiny, she quickly backpedaled. Why would they deliberately provoke a Hashira?! 

“You don’t need to understand. This is all for that lord.” 

Even as a Lower Moon, Rui only dared mention Muzan in his presence. Speaking his name otherwise was taboo for all demons. 

“That lord…” 

The demons were still confused. Why would that lord want this? 

They didn’t understand, but they didn’t dare disobey. They couldn’t even defy Rui, let alone that lord. 

Chapter 175: At My Age, I Really Can’t Sleep! 

“Sometimes, when luck comes knocking, you just can’t stop it.” 

Riku let out a sigh, still buzzing from taking down the Lower Moon Four demon. He hadn’t even walked far when he picked up the trail of another evil demon. 

The intel came from a group of fleeing villagers. They told Riku that a nearby village had been attacked by a demon. Oddly, instead of slaughtering everyone, the demon only took a few people, letting most of the villagers escape. 

“What’s wrong with this demon’s head?” 

Riku found it baffling. Was this demon deliberately luring people in? Normal demons wouldn’t do something so reckless—letting people go was basically asking for trouble. 

“Another Rokuro?” 

The last one to pull a stunt like this was Lower Moon Two, Rokuro, who ended up as Riku’s power-up snack. Could this be another Lower Moon stirring things up? Whose territory was this anyway? Rengoku Makijuro, that slacker of a Hashira, was probably the only one who’d let things slide like this, right? 

Of course, it could also be an Upper Moon fishing for prey. After all, their mission was to hunt Hashira. Making a big scene to draw them out and then taking them down cleanly wasn’t out of the question. But that approach didn’t quite match the sneaky, survivalist style of Muzan’s demon lineage. 

Whatever the reason, Riku was going to check it out. He was secretly hoping it was an Upper Moon—would save him the trouble of hunting one down. 

Following the villagers’ directions, Riku headed straight for the village. He was genuinely worried the demon might slip away if he got there too late. 

He wasn’t disappointed. The village was pitch-black, with most houses dark since everyone had fled. But the demon’s scent was unmistakable, laced with the heavy stench of blood, impossible for Riku’s nose to miss. 

As he approached the village center, he spotted the demon in the small plaza, surrounded by bodies strewn across the ground. The area was lit up by flickering lights, illuminating the grim scene. 

Blood pooled everywhere, severed limbs scattered about, and the demon stood in the middle of it all. Not everyone on the ground was dead—some were still alive, but unnaturally asleep. Sleeping in a situation like this was anything but normal, and Riku immediately went on high alert. 

When the demon noticed Riku’s arrival, it pulled out a handkerchief, elegantly wiping its mouth before tossing the blood-stained cloth to the ground. 

“You’re finally here. Don’t worry, I saved some room in my stomach for you.” 

Lower Moon One, Enmu, flicked his hair with a flourish. The move made Riku’s lips twitch—it screamed early-2000s K-drama pretty boy, all flamboyant and affected, which, to be fair, suited this demon’s vibe perfectly. 

But why was this guy so cocky? Talking about “saving room” in his stomach? Let’s see who ends up in whose stomach by the end of this. 

“Which number are you? Upper Moon or Lower Moon? Spill your name.” 

Riku rolled his eyes, signaling the demon to cut the crap and announce himself so he could gauge the experience points. 

“I’m Lower Moon One. You can call me Enmu. Allow me to confirm—are you the one who killed Lower Moon Four, Reyuko?” 

Enmu’s question made Riku frown. This guy wasn’t like Rokuro, pulling some random stunt. He was here specifically because of Reyuko’s death? 

“That’s right. But how do you know that?” 

Riku narrowed his eyes. This Lower Moon One seemed special, which was just what he wanted. Who doesn’t love taking down a unique elite monster? Maybe this one would drop even more experience points! 

“Those eyes of that lord see everything.” 

Enmu didn’t answer directly, instead raising his hands dramatically, as if proclaiming that Muzan Kibutsuji was watching them from the heavens. It was all a bit too cult-like for Riku’s taste. 

“What a load of nonsense. If he’s that great, he’d have come for me himself by now.” 

Riku scoffed. After learning about Tsugikuni Yoriichi’s story, his view of Muzan had completely shifted. The guy was a coward who got pummeled, hid for decades, and only came out to hunt Yoriichi’s descendants and anyone in the know after the man died of old age. Some “final boss” that was—more like a joke. 

“Ignorance is forgivable. You don’t understand that lord’s power!” 

Enmu’s face lit up with fanaticism. Freshly empowered by more of Muzan’s blood, he felt invincible. That lord’s power was like an ocean, and just a few drops of his blood could turn them into raging rivers. 

“Heh, as if you’re the only demon around here.” 

Riku transformed, shifting into his second-form demon state. The sight made Enmu freeze, his brain practically short-circuiting. 

He’d been hyping himself up this whole time, only to find out the guy in front of him was also a demon? And one strong enough to kill a Lower Moon? Who was this guy? An Upper Moon? He’d never seen him before! 

Enmu’s mind spiraled into a frenzy, unable to make sense of the situation. Wasn’t he supposed to be hunting the Hashira who killed Lower Moon Four? How was a demon a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps? 

Buzz! 

Riku activated his Sandevistan, charging at Lower Moon One with his blade flashing toward Enmu’s neck. It was a dirty move, sure, but this guy was just standing there, dazed. Talk about being overconfident. 

Enmu snapped out of it, but his body couldn’t keep up. He was too slow to dodge. 

In a panic, a mouth opened on the back of his hand, spitting out the word “Sleep!” This was his Blood Demon Art, his trump card for survival. 

Blood Demon Art: Whisper of Forced Slumber. 

With that single word, anyone who heard it would fall into a deep sleep, their consciousness separated from their body and pulled into Enmu’s dream world. No external force could wake them—only suicide within the dream could break the spell. 

Slash! 

Enmu’s head went flying, his neck cleanly severed. His airborne head was etched with shock and confusion. 

“Why?! Why didn’t my Blood Demon Art work on you?!” 

Even with his head detached, Enmu wasn’t dead—Riku wasn’t wielding a Nichirin Blade. His shock was overwhelming, questions spilling out like a barrage. 

His ability worked on demons, no question. It’s how he secured his spot as Lower Moon One. Sure, some Lower Moons didn’t bother challenging for his rank, but plenty of hotheaded ones had tried, and he’d tested his power on them. Every single demon succumbed to his hypnosis, no exceptions. It was his unbeatable move. 

Yet today, his foolproof technique had completely failed against Riku! 

“What’s your deal? You think you can just yank my consciousness out of my body?” 

When Enmu’s Blood Demon Art hit, Riku’s [Limit System] kicked in instantly, neutralizing the mental control. Any ability that could knock Riku unconscious or disrupt his ability to traverse worlds was automatically countered by the system’s defenses. 

Hard control abilities—like binding, restraining, or paralyzing—didn’t trigger the system, since they wouldn’t interfere with his [Traversal] function. Even if he were tied up like a dumpling, he could still warp out. 

“This Lower Moon One’s pretty average, huh? Don’t tell me you only practiced that one move and called it a day.” 

Riku eyed the demon, who was finally dropping the act. One swing had taken his head off—if Riku had been using a Nichirin Blade, this fight would’ve been over in a single move. 

Enmu wasn’t in any mood to keep up the facade. Right now, he desperately wanted to reattach his head. 

“Another mage-type. You guys rely way too much on your Blood Demon Arts, to the point of obsession. The last guy who thought his ability was so great he didn’t bother training his body ended up brain-damaged, needing a collar just to use his powers.” 

Riku threw out a jab. It seemed like a common flaw—once demons got a fancy ability, they leaned into it hard, completely neglecting physical training. 

No surprise there. Honing your body and mastering martial arts took serious grit and countless hours of sweat. Why bother when you could just spam Blood Demon Arts, superpowers, or Devil Fruits? It’s the easy, fun choice—no contest. 

Look at Accelerator from A Certain Magical Index. Even nerfed with a collar, turning him into a three-second wonder, he could still dominate. “Sure, I got weaker, but that doesn’t mean you got stronger.” With power like that, who’d bother grinding physical skills? 

“Sleep! Just sleep already!” 

Enmu couldn’t take Riku’s taunts. He raised his hands, shouting and spamming his Blood Demon Art, glaring at Riku like he could will him to pass out. 

“Sorry, man. At my age, I really can’t sleep!” 

Riku summoned his Shadow Wolves. Three massive wolves lunged at Enmu. This Lower Moon One’s ability was honestly pretty wild—making people sleep on command? A miracle cure for insomnia. 

But against Riku, it was useless. The [Limit System] was built to shut down mental control like that. 

“Sleep, damn it!” 

Enmu screamed. Freshly boosted by Muzan’s blood, his Blood Demon Art was stronger than ever. He felt like he could make even an Upper Moon nap if he wanted. 

His confidence came from his newfound power. He was hungry for more—killing the one who took out Lower Moon Four would earn him even more of Muzan’s blood! 

“What are you…” 

As Muzan’s power drained from him, Enmu’s dreams crumbled. Staring at Riku, his body turned to ash and scattered. More blood, challenging an Upper Moon—it was all just a pipe dream. 

[Constitution +1] 

[Constitution +1] 

[Constitution +1] 

[Ding! Experience +1000.] 

“Hiss…” 

Riku winced at the [Experience: 1499/1500] display. Talk about torturing his OCD! And this Lower Moon One only gave 1000 experience points? How was it less than what Lower Moon Two dropped? 

He thought it over. Was it because the kill was too easy? Or because the [Limit System]’s auto-defense kicked in? 

The latter seemed more likely. Or rather, they were two sides of the same coin. The demon triggered the [Limit System]’s defenses, making it an easy kill, which in turn reduced the experience points. 

Still, while the experience was lower than expected, the other rewards were huge! 

Three points to Constitution! Even leveling up only gave one attribute point. Rounding up, this was like gaining three levels—jackpot! 

“Same mage-type, but Enmu’s way better than Reyuko. That cowardly chicken only gave one Constitution point.” 

Riku threw shade at the now-hellbound Lower Moon Four, Reyuko. No wonder Enmu was Lower Moon One. Even Rokuro, a former swordsman, only gave two Constitution points, while this guy dropped three. 

What Riku didn’t know was that Enmu’s boost came from fresh Muzan blood, which he hadn’t fully absorbed yet. All that power ended up benefiting Riku instead. 

The fresh Muzan blood didn’t just mean three Constitution points. Riku’s Blood Demon Art got a massive upgrade across the board. 

First, his Shadow Wolves gained a new ability: their eyes could now hypnotize. Anyone who locked eyes with them had to pass a willpower check or fall asleep. 

It wasn’t as OP as Enmu’s version, since the wolves didn’t naturally have this power. But the ability itself wasn’t the big deal—it was proof that Riku’s Blood Demon Art could grow and evolve. 

Killing Lower Moon Two, Rokuro, had given his Blood Demon Art a new application, which could be chalked up to “same-type Stand synergy.” 

Killing Lower Moon Four, Reyuko, gave him the “Little Black Room” ability, which was still shadow-based, trapping enemies with shadows. 

But this hypnosis ability was completely different. Riku had never had anything like it, and it had nothing to do with shadows. He’d gained it—or rather, stolen it—by devouring Enmu. 

One thing was clear: his Shadow Wolves could likely absorb and repurpose the Blood Demon Arts of the enemies they consumed. 

(Chapter End)