Boom rumble A massive explosion erupted deep in the crater, driving its walls further downward and sending a hurricane of dust and debris swirling through the air. The shockwave threw Wang Xu off his feet, hurling him far away. He strained to use the last of his strength to ride the momentum and escape.
But even as he sought to flee, a voice seeped through the chaos, full of cold hatred.
"Thunder Breathing, Instant Kill."
Golden lightning ripped through the thick smoke, flashing so bright for a moment that it cut all other light. Wang Xu had no strength left to dodge or defend. His vision dimmed and in an instant his head was flung upward, blood spraying through the air.
Before his body could fall, a crimson kukri plunged down, pinning him to the ground. His world went dark.
Visions — memories from childhood to adulthood — flashed before his eyes. Pain, sorrow, regret, life itself passed through him. Another kukri fell, its blade blazing hot, scorching flesh and bone.
"I am not finished," came Lucien's voice, calm and steady.
With that final whisper, Wang Xu burst into ashes and vanished into the wind.
Lucien hovered a moment, body tense and unmoving. Then he lowered the shimmering light-screen and confirmed Wang Xu was truly gone. At last, he collapsed onto the scorched ground. The sky overhead was clear, but Lucien's skin was pale, sweat dripping, chest heaving. His energy was nearly spent.
Using Kamehameha and the Spectral Dragon's roar demanded enormous reserves of Ki, and Instant Kill, all about speed, required focus and precision. If not for the fact that the Gatling and rocket launcher had already drained so much energy, and the later effect of Tamayo's medicine granted him an edge, Lucien would likely have collapsed even if victorious.
He was not wounded badly, only utterly exhausted. But in the end, he prevailed.
Despite the ruthlessness and lack of honor, sometimes defeating cheaters required such methods. Whether the cat was black or white did not matter. What mattered was catching the mouse.
Lucien lay on the ground, recovering his breath. Then he lifted the light screen.
"Successfully hunted Transmigrator Wang Xu. Reward: 4 Dice rolls, VIP Luck +1."
A smile broke across his face at the sight of VIP Luck. The dice spun and hopped. A small model airplane whizzed by. Lucien used his VIP Luck. When the blinding white light faded, the reward appeared.
Damage Transfer (One-time use).
Description: designate another, transfer any damage you receive to them, and recover half of your own strength.
Lucien's breath caught. His eyes gleamed slightly in amazement. VIP privileges indeed. This one ability could act like an extra life — more powerful than a Senzu Bean. If he ever faced an unbeatable opponent, he could shift the damage to them when critically wounded, preserving himself and potentially turning the tide.
If he were bold enough, he could even injure himself at the start of a struggle and immediately transfer the wound, cutting an enemy's HP in half before the battle began. That would be unstoppable.
Even now, Lucien thought of the Senzu Bean wasted on minor demons, mere foot soldiers. His mood brightened.
He rolled the dice again.
"One C-string thong."
His excitement vanished.
He rolled the dice once more.
"Ten watermelons."
Again.
"One flashbang."
After the four rolls, Lucien stared at the screen as the final slot emptied. No Random Transmigration.
His features darkened. How was that possible? Nearly every major player — Fated Villains, Transmigrators, important supporting actors, villains — all gone. Statistically, Random Transmigration should have appeared. He must have missed someone. Or maybe someone still clung to life.
He sat up, forcing himself to think, trying to recall every name, every face.
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
With the fall of Muzan and Wang Xu, demons everywhere vanished. Only Yushiro — changed into a demon by Tamayo but now rehabilitated — remained. After Tamayo disappeared alongside Muzan, Yushiro inherited her will. He opened a small clinic in the city, treating humans by drawing tiny amounts of blood while controlling his demon instincts.
He was perhaps the only demon besides Lucien still living freely.
One bright day Yushiro welcomed patients as usual. A man wearing a T-shirt, beach shorts and flip-flops walked in. The moment Yushiro laid eyes on him, his hair stood on end — a soul-level alarm bell rang in his senses. He recognized Lucien instantly, though Lucien said nothing.
Half a minute later, Lucien left the clinic. Everyone inside collapsed, terror written on their faces. Teeth chattered, urine lost control, panic overwhelming them. It was as if they'd witnessed something no human should ever see.
Later, Lucien stepped into the sunlight, pulling up the light screen again. Nothing. The screen offered no clue. Apparently, Yushiro was not considered even a "minor supporting character" by whatever system governed this world's character database.
"Only the Demon Slayer Corps remains," Lucien murmured.
Over the past weeks he had screened every known character from the original story. As far as he could tell, the only survivors were the child heir of the Demon Slayer Corps, and a few others.
From the original narrative, after the head of the corps died, the eight-year-old heir, Ubuyashiki Kiriya, succeeded him and commanded the final resistance against Muzan. There were also Kanao Tsuyuri and Genya Shinazugawa — both had appeared frequently. Others included Hanazawa and Sakura from Mitsuri's family. Their fates and roles were unclear in this altered timeline.
Another month later, at the new Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Lucien appeared in the courtyard as if materializing from thin air. He wore a calm smile. Around him stood a handful of Demon Slayers — some of the leading figures — along with Ubuyashiki Kiriya, and a few familiar faces: members of Mitsuri's extended family.
Finally he had found them.
Without warning he flicked his finger. A pistol-like energy blast — a Finger Pistol — flew toward Ubuyashiki Kiriya with a high-pitched whoosh.
Immediately, Kanao Tsuyuri drew her Nichirin sword and leapt forward to shield the child heir. She unleashed Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach.
The Finger Pistol shattered mid-air and dissolved. But before Kanao could strike, Lucien vanished from five meters away. Before she could react, he had grabbed her throat, lifting her off her feet.
Crack. A sound like breaking bone echoed. Kanao's neck twisted violently, her pupils lost all color. Without hesitation Lucien flung her aside; she fell lifeless to the ground.
It was over in a heartbeat.
As the others recovered from the shock, Lucien struck again. Genya Shinazugawa barely moved before a sharp spike erupted from Lucien's tailbone, impaling him clean through. The spike writhed like a living thing. Within moments, Genya's body turned to ash and drifted away.
More spikes shot out, piercing enemy after enemy — including Ubuyashiki Kiriya. The attack spread throughout the courtyard, merciless and swift. By the time it ended, the slayers lay scattered like broken dolls.
Then Lucien activated the light screen once more.
"Successfully hunted Demon Slayer world's minor supporting character, Kanao Tsuyuri. Reward Dice rolls granted based on circumstances. Congratulations. You have received one chance."
Lucien's gaze remained cold and detached. In his mind, he wondered how a character with such abundant screen time could be classified as "minor supporting." A character suspected to be destined as a female lead should not have such a label.
Ubuyashiki Kiriya and Genya Shinazugawa did not even appear on the list at all. Something about the criteria made no sense. But by now Lucien had grown accustomed to the system's chaotic logic, so he did not react.
He rolled the dice again.
"One box of expensive perfume."
His heart sunk. Random Transmigration still had not been drawn.
What was going on?
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