An ethereal energy rose within his body. It was as fine as gossamer yet as resilient as wire, gradually extending through his perception. In an instant, Luochuan felt his sense of smell magnified countless times.
Microscopic scents in the air became exceptionally prominent, like vivid lines of color weaving a giant web in his consciousness. Zenitsu's scent, the foul stench of demons, and even the fragrance of surrounding plants—all left distinct traces on this network.
Luochuan's awareness followed these lines. He began to understand and distinguish what these scents represented. Each scent was linked to an emotion: fear, anger, surprise...
As the fusion process continued, Luochuan could clearly feel his brain's ability to interpret scents skyrocket. He could almost hear the faint whispers within each clue. It was an experience unlike any other.
When the fusion ended, Luochuan opened his eyes. The environment looked the same, but to him, the world had taken on a new face. His eyes no longer saw just colors; the world was filled with scents of varying emotional weight. Opening Thread gave him more than just a talent; it gave him a brand-new perspective.
Before he could adapt further, a disgusting stench drifted into his nose. Luochuan wrinkled his nose. Previously, he would have needed to be close to a demon to smell its rot. Now, with his magnified senses, the stench rushed into his nostrils so intensely that even he found it hard to bear.
A crawling demon with grayish-black skin leapt from behind a tree to his left. The moment it revealed itself, a golden light flashed through the night.
"Is that... my body?" As the crawling demon's head flipped through the air, it caught sight of its familiar torso—its final conscious thought before fading into nothingness.
The foul scent dissipated, replaced by a delicate fragrance. Luochuan looked over to see Kanao standing behind where the demon had been, watching him quietly, her blade not yet sheathed.
Kanao's eyes held a hint of surprise. This demon's strength was average, but its speed was remarkable. She had been chasing it for a while without success, yet this person had decapitated it with a single, effortless strike.
Luochuan smiled at Kanao. He had only struck because he couldn't stand the demon's stench and hadn't realized she was the one hunting it. Kanao remained expressionless. She turned her head woodenly and leaped away toward another part of the forest.
Luochuan shrugged. Kanao's current personality made her difficult to approach. Now, it was time to check on Tanjiro.
His nose twitched. When he had intercepted Tanjiro earlier, he had specifically memorized his scent. Now, with Opening Thread, his sensitivity was even greater. Moments later, he turned and ran in the opposite direction from Kanao, where Tanjiro's scent was strongest.
"Luochuan, where are we going?" Zenitsu asked, confused by the sudden movement.
"To make friends!"
Tanjiro's greatest opponent in Mount Fujikasane was the Hand Demon. Luochuan wasn't going there to help; he wanted to see if the strongest demon on the mountain was special enough to warrant a "friendship."
Luochuan's figure blurred through the forest. Tanjiro's scent became clearer, accompanied by a thick, concentrated rot. This stench was far more pungent than the Bone Demon or the crawler.
"Has it started?" Luochuan suppressed the urge to gag as he approached.
Bang!
Just as Luochuan arrived, he saw Tanjiro use a headbutt to deflect one of the Hand Demon's long, reaching arms. Luochuan subconsciously rubbed his own forehead. Truly a talent-based skill; you can't learn that stuff.
"Is that... the swordsman who arrived last? He's incredible!" Zenitsu's eyes widened as he watched the battle. The stench coming from the Hand Demon was on a completely different level, and the fact that this boy could trade blows with it meant his strength was formidable.
> [Hand Demon]
> [Race: Demon]
> [Rank: Mizunoto (壬)]
> [Comprehension: Inferior]
> [Aptitude: Low]
> [Talent: None]
> [Skills: Projectile Wrists (Proficient), Hand Cannon (Proficient)...]
>
Standing on a nearby tree, Luochuan felt a wave of disappointment. The Hand Demon's abilities weren't Blood Demon Arts; they were just physical evolutions from being a demon. This wasn't what he wanted.
Blood Demon Arts usually required being a demon to use, but with the Buddy System, if Luochuan became friends with a demon and obtained the art as a reward, he could use it. Unfortunately, the Hand Demon only offered physical manipulation and regeneration. Befriending it wasn't worth the risk of confusing Tanjiro.
"Total Concentration!"
"Water Breathing, First Form!"
"Water Surface Slash!"
With Tanjiro's final shout, his blade, trailed by a blue tide, successfully severed the Hand Demon's head. As the demon began to turn to ash, Tanjiro pressed the demon's hand to his forehead in a gesture of prayer. Luochuan sighed; Tanjiro's brand of "super-salvation" was truly something to behold.
With the Hand Demon dead, Luochuan lost interest. "Let's go!"
Zenitsu was baffled. Didn't he say we were making friends? Why leave? But seeing Luochuan move away, he hurriedly followed.
The moment Luochuan vanished, Tanjiro looked toward his position. "That... was that Mr. Luochuan's scent?" Tanjiro sniffed the air. There was Luochuan's scent and another unfamiliar one. Was he imagining things?
Over the following days, Luochuan practically scoured Mount Fujikasane. He couldn't find a single demon with a Blood Demon Art, but he did find one with a talent.
> [Stealth Demon]
> [Race: Demon]
> [Rank: Mizunoto (癸)]
> [Comprehension: Inferior]
> [Aptitude: Low]
> [Talent: Concealment (Fades one's presence and energy fluctuations)]
> [Skills: Prowl (Proficient), Silent Step (Mastery)...]
>
The Stealth Demon didn't even see them coming before a bolt of lightning struck. When its consciousness returned, its head was being stepped on by Luochuan.
"Want to be friends?" Luochuan asked.
The demon's mouth was pressed into the dirt, making incoherent sounds. It stared in shock. Making friends? Is this how you make friends? By stepping on someone's head?!
As the demon hesitated, Luochuan grabbed its head. "Befriend me, or die!"
Looking at the smiling face above it, the Stealth Demon swallowed and nodded.
Ding!
[Successfully added Stealth Demon as a friend.]
[Intimacy: Acquaintance. Random reward obtained.]
The moment the notification rang, Luochuan's blade fell. The Stealth Demon died in total confusion. Is this guy a psycho? You kill me if I agree, and kill me if I don't?!
Luochuan rubbed his hands together, feeling a rare bit of nerves. This demon was likely the only one on the mountain with a talent—probably a fresh convert. If he had rolled a junk reward like "Inferior Comprehension," the Concealment talent would be wasted.
[Reward obtained: Talent—Concealment.]
[Fuse now?]
"Yes!"