Chapter Eighteen: Doma, Ugly?
『ＲＹＯＮ 』
Yes, I changed some things in the story. I hope I didn't ruin it.
Enjoy~~~
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Mount Komotori was drowned in an eerie silence, a silence broken only by the rustling of trees caressed by unnaturally cold winds.
At the top of a gigantic pine tree, two shadows blended perfectly with the pitch-black darkness.
Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira, was crouching on a wide branch, his eyes fixed on the dark tower with a sniper's focus. Beside him, on a slightly higher branch, stood Yukihara Ren, his eyes closed, as if he were a statue carved from ice.
"Oi, brat," Tengen whispered in a voice only a shinobi could hear. "We've been staring at that old building for hours. Tell me honestly… how did you know?"
Tengen shot sharp looks at Ren, trying to catch any sign of expression or deceit on his face.
Ren lazily opened one eye and looked at Tengen. "Know what?"
"That it's an Upper Moon," Tengen narrowed his eyes. "I have exceptional hearing. I can hear muscle movement and blood flow. But from this distance, I haven't heard anything that sets that monster apart from the others. And you—just by guessing… or rather, by your 'senses'—you knew?"
Ren sighed and closed his eye again.
"Damn it, how do I explain to him that I have an advanced radar (GPS) that shows demons as red dots?"
"It's not just about sound, Uzui-san," Ren said calmly, trying to fabricate a convincing lie. "It's the 'pressure.' Every demon and living being has an aura, a scent, a weight in the air. Normal demons are like mud. Lower Moons are like rocks. But that thing inside? It's like an iceberg pressing down on your lungs. I compared the feeling to all the Hashira gathered in one place… and it surpasses them in terms of pressure."
Tengen's eyebrow twitched. "That's not flashy at all."
"I suspect it's one of the top three," Ren added coolly, though his heart was pounding. "Most likely… Upper Moon Two."
"Second?!" Tengen almost shouted, then forced his voice down. "Are you saying we're sitting next to the second strongest demon in existence?"
"Well… excluding Kibutsuji Muzan, yes. That's why we're waiting."
Silence wrapped around them again. Ren was using enhanced hearing through Yoriichi's template. He wasn't hearing conversation—he was hearing… a massacre.
Muffled screams.
Flesh tearing.
Hysterical, deranged laughter.
"What the hell is happening inside?" Ren thought as he analyzed the sounds. "They're not planning anything. They're killing each other."
As the darkness deepened, a flash appeared on the horizon.
It wasn't lightning. It was something approaching so fast that the air whistled.
"Someone arrived," Tengen said with a grin.
In the next instant, the neighboring tree shook violently, and a mass of flames and enthusiasm landed on one of the branches.
"I've arrived!!" Rengoku Kyojuro shouted in a suppressed voice (which was a great achievement). His yellow-red hair was swept back by his insane speed. "Am I late?! Where's the demon?! Is it here?!"
Ren looked at Rengoku with hidden admiration.
"Fast… he covered two days' distance in just a few hours. This man is a human jet engine."
"Welcome, Rengoku," Tengen said. "You're fast as always, though not as fast as me, of course."
"UMAI! Speed isn't everything! What matters is arriving at the right time!" Rengoku replied with his bright smile that practically lit up the darkness.
After a short while, they heard the sound of heavy, rapid footsteps approaching.
Shinazugawa Sanemi arrived first, panting audibly, his veins bulging from exhaustion and anger.
"Where… where are those… bastards?"
"Why does he look like someone who was chased by his father?" Ren thought, smiling as he looked at Sanemi.
Right behind him landed Himejima Gyomei, the strongest and largest Hashira, holding his prayer beads, tears streaming down his face.
"Namu Amida Butsu… such speed… I never thought I'd have to run like this…"
"..."
How can you even run this fast? Do you see the size of your body? Can you please respect the laws of nature and logic?
The four giants and the small Ren gathered atop the trees. The scene was imposing. Five Hashira in one place, ready for war.
Tengen looked at them and noticed the exhaustion on Sanemi and Gyomei. "Looks like you put in a lot of effort. Can you fight?"
"Don't mock me!" Sanemi snarled, wiping sweat away. "I can kill a thousand demons in my sleep. Just tell me where the target is."
"In that tower," Ren said, pointing.
All eyes gathered on the ominous building.
"I hear sounds of fighting," Gyomei said in his deep voice. "Miserable souls screaming… demons killing each other?"
"His senses are insanely strong… well, that's normal. How else could he fight while blind?" Ren thought as he glanced at Gyomei.
"Exactly," Ren jumped down from his branch and stood among them. "I have a theory."
…
Some time later.
They were all sitting in a tight circle on thick branches.
Ren began explaining, his eyes shining with sharp intelligence. "While waiting for you, I tried to analyze what's happening, and I think I know what's going on now."
Everyone looked at him, making Ren smile, ready to boast—but he focused instead on serious explanation.
"Most likely, after news reached the Demon King about the death of another Lower Moon, he got angry… or perhaps realized that the Lower Moons' level can't compare to the Upper Moons at all, and that annoyed him."
"Well, considering how insane that guy's actions are, your guess is probably right," Tengen said while staring directly into Ren's eyes. "He probably executed them back then!"
"Yes. There's a possibility that the Upper Moon inside right now is conducting this massacre to select new Lower Moons. It seems he's already noticed our presence, by the way, but he hasn't fled or made any move… which means he's extremely confident in his ability to defeat us. He might not even know we're Hashira—I'm not sure. But the important thing is, he has already finished purging the demons inside."
"Purging?" Rengoku asked.
"Yes. A 'battle royale,'" Ren used a strange term, then corrected himself. "A fight to the death. The demons inside are fighting each other, and the survivors… the six strongest… will become the new Lower Moons."
Silence fell.
"That means…" Sanemi said seriously, "the ones left inside aren't just insects. They're the elite of the elite."
"Correct," Ren nodded. "Inside right now, we have six demons at peak Lower Moon level, plus dozens of corpses… and of course, the host of the party: Upper Moon Two."
Ren looked at their faces one by one, then dropped his bomb.
"My plan is as follows: the four of you will enter and wipe out the six Lower Moons at lightning speed. This must be done within minutes."
"And what about you?" Tengen asked suspiciously. "What will you do while we're cleaning up?"
Ren took a deep breath.
"I'll go to Upper Moon Two. I'll engage him and fight alone until you finish and come to support me."
The place exploded with noise.
"Have you lost your mind, brat?!" Sanemi shouted, almost grabbing Ren by the collar if not for Rengoku intervening. "You want to fight an Upper Moon alone? Do you think you're invincible?!"
"This is suicide, child," Gyomei cried fervently. "We can't allow a child to sacrifice himself like this."
"It's not flashy to die alone," Tengen added seriously.
Ren raised his hand to stop them. "Listen to me! I don't want to die. But think about it! If we all enter as one group, the Upper Moon will sense danger. Upper Moons definitely have some escape technique. If he senses five Hashira, he might flee—or worse… split us up."
Ren stood up, seeming taller than he actually was. "I'm the only one who can keep up with him."
"Why?" Rengoku asked seriously.
"Because I've mastered multiple Breathing styles, and I have something you don't."
He didn't tell them the full truth.
In his mind, he opened the system inventory.
[Inventory:]
Concentrated Wisteria Poison (Rank S): Weakens an Upper Moon's regeneration by 40% for 10 minutes. (Cost: Expensive, but purchased anyway).
Human Reversion Antidote (Experimental): A dose that turns a demon back into a human when injected into the heart. (Effect is not immediate; takes time).
In addition, he checked his status.
[Yoriichi Tsugikuni Template: Progress 15%.]
[Unlocked Skills: Transparent World (Partial), Anaerobic State (A few seconds).]
(Anaerobic State: A technique that allows him to continue using Breathing techniques even after exhausting all stored air and reaching his absolute limit… in short, it gives him extra time even while collapsing.)
"I have special poisons, and speed beyond his expectations," Ren lied skillfully. "I don't plan to kill him alone… I plan to 'stall' him. You'll kill the Lower Moons, then come and cut off his head with me. If we all focus on the Lower Moons, he'll wipe us out with long-range attacks."
The Hashira looked at each other. The real problem was their ignorance.
No Hashira had ever faced an Upper Moon and lived to tell the tale. They thought the difference between Lower and Upper Moons was just raw power—not a difference in 'dimension and existence.' They believed Ren, who had easily killed a Lower Moon, could hold out for a few minutes.
If they knew that Doma could freeze their lungs with a single wave of his fan, they would never have agreed.
"I trust you, Ren!" Rengoku suddenly said, pounding his chest. "If you say you can hold out, I believe you! We'll wipe out the rest and come to you as fast as flames!"
"Tch," Sanemi spat. "If you die, I'll kill you again."
"Namu…" Gyomei clasped his hands. "Let us protect this child by finishing our task quickly."
Ren smiled slyly. "Good. Then it's settled."
.
.
After some time, the group moved out.
They split up at the entrance of the tower. The four giants stormed the ground floor, where the new Lower Moons were celebrating their victory.
The moment they entered, Ren heard explosions and the start of battle.
"Good, they've begun," Ren whispered to himself.
He lightly climbed the outer wall of the tower, heading toward the upper balcony—the top floor. Where the 'host' was.
When he reached the balcony, he stopped.
The air was cold… so cold that Ren's breath turned into thick vapor.
In the center of the wide hall, illuminated by moonlight, sat a young man with platinum-colored hair and rainbow-colored eyes, holding a golden fan and smiling an innocent, sick smile.
The floor was covered in blood, and demon heads (the losers of the tournament) decorated the corners.
Doma lifted his head and looked directly at Ren.
"Oh?" Doma said cheerfully, like a child who found a new toy. "I thought tonight's guests were just filthy demons… but it seems I have a human visitor?"
Ren jumped over the railing and landed quietly in the hall, his hand on his sword hilt.
[System Alert: Massive killing intent detected. Opponent: Upper Moon Two.]
[Template ratio automatically increasing in response to danger: 15.5%… 16%…]
"Hello," Ren said, forcing an arrogant smile while trying to hide the tremor in his hand. "I heard there was a party here, and no one sent me an invitation. Is the food good?"
Doma laughed and snapped his fan shut with a sharp click. "You're cute! And delicious too… your blood has a rare fragrance. Are you a 'Hashira'? You're very young!"
"I'm the nightmare that'll send you to hell," Ren replied as his fingers slowly moved to prepare the poison vial hidden in his sleeve.
"A nightmare?" Doma stood up, frost spreading across the floor in an instant. "I love dreams! Let's play a little before your noisy friends downstairs arrive. I hope they're strong too—I'm very hungry tonight."
Ren drew his crimson blade, flames igniting around him.
"Yoriichi… lend me your power," Ren screamed inwardly.
"Breath of the Storm, Second Form: Dance of the Thunder Sovereign!"
Ren vanished from his spot.
It wasn't just speed. It was instantaneous movement.
Doma's eyes widened slightly. "Fast!"
Bang!
Ren's sword clashed with Doma's golden fan, sending a shockwave that shook the entire tower.
"Heh," Doma smiled, his eyes gleaming with the words (Upper Moon Two). "Not bad… not bad at all!"
The deadly dance began. A dance between ice and storm.
Ren knew, deep down, that this would be the hardest fight of his life. But he wasn't fighting to win alone… he was fighting to buy time, and to kill this demon as a gift for Shinobu—for killing her older sister.
"Come on, ugly!" Ren shouted, adrenaline burning through him. "Show me what you've got!"
"..."
Wait—since when did I become ugly? Is this kid blind, or is he so narcissistic that I'm ugly to him?
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End of Chapter Eighteen.
This will be a long and tragic battle.
In any case, we've finished the first arc titled (Hashira), and now we begin a new arc.
I hope you interact so we can continue the novel together and create a great, enjoyable story!