Chapter 45: A Human!?
Rain poured like a waterfall; between heaven and earth there was only the roar of Chaos, lead-gray clouds pressed flat against the rooftops, and the downpour formed an endless gray-white curtain.
Deep inside that rain that threatened to drown everything, a silhouette cut through the wall of water at a steady, high speed.
The brim of his conical hat shed rain like a curtain, yet it could not hide the red glint in Ryuji's eyes.
Observation Haki unfurled at full strength amid the dense drumming of rain, an invisible net filtering every anomaly.
The trajectories of falling drops, odors carried on the wind, a stifled sob beneath a distant eave—countless streams of information flooded his senses.
Something was wrong.
It was too quiet.
Even on a stormy day like this, he shouldn't be unable to catch the slightest breath of a living person.
The red light in Ryuji's eyes faded; keeping Observation Haki active was rather taxing.
Fortunately, a Breathing Technique could make up for part of the drain—the two complemented each other.
"Pillar of the Fist, you've finally arrived!"
An urgent voice cut through the rain.
From a corner eave, a Kakushi Member in a rain-cape waved frantically: "Please come in, the rain's too heavy!"
Once inside, the Kakushi Member said at once: "Pillar of the Fist, have some hot tea to warm up."
Ryuji did not answer immediately; he merely lifted a hand and pressed the conical hat firmly onto his head.
"No hurry—before I got here, how many went missing?"
The Shinobi's eyes lowered. "Two. An hour ago. One swordsman, one shinobi. Location: an abandoned mountain hamlet three li east."
Ryuji frowned slightly. "Both women?"
"No, both men…"
Men?
An abandoned hamlet?
Ryuji's brows knit; the scene was nothing like he'd expected.
He had taken the mission because the map noted "mostly women missing," instantly bringing Doma to mind.
He had come for revenge.
Now it seemed this wasn't Doma—wrong place, wrong victims. So be it; there would be other chances.
Solve this problem first.
"Understood."
Ryuji nodded to the shinobi: "Stay here. Don't act rashly."
Before the words finished, his figure plunged back into the rain, speeding east.
Raindrops pelted the hat with dull thuds; vision was poor.
Without Observation Haki, Ryuji couldn't move fast at all.
Soon the deserted hamlet appeared within his Haki's perception.
"This rain is really annoying…"
He muttered, flickered twice, and landed silently atop the courtyard wall.
In the yard's center an ugly demon was tearing at the remains of a Demon Slayer Corps Member.
Sensing Ryuji, it jerked its head up, bared fangs, and let out a crazed cackle.
Its voice was shrill and manic: "Another Demon Slayer Corps Member!"
Ryuji said nothing. He straightened, shrugged, and let his rain-cape fall onto the wall.
Both arms turned gradated purple.
Yes, his nichirin blade was retractable—just like the future Love Pillar Mitsuri Kanroji's.
Ignored, the demon swallowed the corpse and roared: "Who're you looking down on! Blood Demon Art: Misty Rain!"
A white fog thicker than the surrounding rain erupted, swallowing the hamlet in an instant.
In this weather the mist was strengthened, blotting sight and carrying an icy chill.
"Blocking vision? Interesting Blood Demon Art; in the ninja world next door you'd earn the title 'demon-man'…"
Ryuji murmured; red light flashed as Observation Haki locked onto the demon.
"Heh-heh! Can't see now, can you! Next I'll rip out your heart!"
Voices came from every direction; the moment the words ended Ryuji felt the demon bolt—turning tail at top speed.
"What, you're running?"
Ryuji gaped; he'd been ready to end it with one punch the instant it charged—quick and easy.
Instead it fled right after its boast?!
All that bravado and the thing was a deserter.
Where was its demon pride? Not an ounce of it!
"And you should know I hate deserters most."
His eyes reddened; with a light tap he vanished from the spot.
The next second he stood lounging with folded arms squarely in the demon's escape path.
"Y-you… how!?"
The demon screeched to a terrified halt, nearly tumbling, eyes wide with dread.
"Damn it, why is a Pillar here!"
Knowing flight was impossible, the demon charged in mad despair.
"Oh? You recognize Pillars… must be an old-timer."
Ryuji narrowed his eyes; any demon aware of Pillars yet still alive was dangerous—no wonder swordsmen had died.
This time, however, its luck had run out.
He sank low, right arm drawn back; Armament Haki coated his purple gauntlet.
Fury blazed in his eyes: "Fist Breathing Style, First Form: Fist Bone!"
Boom!
A muffled impact.
The demon's torso exploded into a mist of blood as though struck head-on by a speeding train, then crumbled to ash and vanished in the rain.
[Ding! Pirate slain—military merit points +100.]
"Only a hundred? There must be more demons."
Listening to the System prompt, Ryuji muttered.
Whatever—head back first.
He hated thinking in the rain.
He bounded to the swordsman's remains, bowed slightly, and wrapped the body in his rain-cape.
"Sorry I was late. Rest in peace."
With those quiet words he sped through the downpour toward the rendezvous.
"If it wasn't this demon…"
His eyes flashed crimson.
Danger!
Several sharp whines tore through the air from every shadow, aimed at his vitals.
"An accomplice?"
He tensed, assuming another demon.
Observation Haki locked the foe at once—only one, but its presence was stronger than the last.
In a flash his body reacted.
Paper Arts.
He flowed like a willow in wind, dancing through the rain.
Every projectile skimmed his clothes and thudded into the wall beside him.
Hmm?
Why the sound of metal biting brick?
Not a Blood Demon Art?
A sidelong glance showed black shuriken embedded in the wall.
The attacker wasn't a demon.
It was… human!?
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