NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44: fight
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**Nightfall**
The sun had disappeared below the horizon when Kamado Kie set down a modest meal for Ryuji—slices of pomelo paired with sausage.
"The pomelos are especially sweet this season," Kie said with a gentle smile, her soft voice carrying a motherly warmth.
Ryuji took a bite, savoring the burst of citrus against the saltiness of the sausage. "You've outdone yourself, as always," he replied, his tone tender yet thoughtful.
Once the meal was finished, Ryuji reached out and gently patted Kie's head, his calloused fingers brushing against her soft, dark hair. "You should rest now. It's been a long day."
Kie nodded, rising to her feet. She brushed her long, waterfall-like hair back over her shoulders and gave him a brief, lingering look before retreating indoors.
As soon as Kie disappeared into the house, Ryuji moved to the window, sliding it open to let in the cool night air. The moon hung high above, bathing the world in its pale glow. A steely determination flickered in his eyes as he slipped into the shadows outside.
The memory of last night—the demon, its blood-red eyes, and the trail of destruction it left behind—haunted him still. He had to grow stronger. He had to prepare for the battles ahead.
Navigating the dimly lit alleys of the city, Ryuji soon reached his destination. Before him stretched **Yukaku District**, known to most as the city's infamous Flower Street. Unlike the slums he had scoured the night before, this area was alive even under the cover of darkness. Laughter, music, and the faint hum of conversation filled the air as elaborately dressed patrons and performers strolled along the streets.
Yet, beneath its vibrant facade, Flower Street harbored a sinister truth. The opulence masked a darker reality—a world where women were trafficked, stripped of their freedom, and forced into lives of servitude. Some became singers or dancers, maintaining a semblance of dignity. Others, less fortunate, were trapped as courtesans, their humanity stripped away piece by piece.
Ryuji clenched his fists. He wasn't here to save them—not tonight. His mission was clear: root out and destroy the human accomplices who enabled such evil.
Spotting a guard stepping into a shadowed alley to relieve himself, Ryuji moved swiftly. Silent as a wisp of smoke, he slipped behind the man, clamping a hand over his mouth and drawing his blade across the guard's throat in one fluid motion.
The man's body convulsed briefly before going limp.
*"Ding. Congratulations, you have killed a guard. Gained 0.1 attribute points."*
The familiar mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind, but he brushed it aside, dragging the body deeper into the shadows. He stripped the uniform from the guard and donned it, though it fit poorly.
Emerging from the alley, Ryuji strode towards the heavily guarded residence.
"What took you so long?" one of the guards grumbled, his tone impatient.
Ryuji didn't answer. He moved closer, his hand already reaching for the blade hidden beneath the ill-fitting uniform.
By the time the guard realized something was wrong, Ryuji's blade was at his throat. The muffled gurgle of a dying man was the only sound before his lifeless body slumped to the ground.
*"Ding. Congratulations, you have killed a guard. Gained 0.1 attribute points."*
Ryuji worked his way through the residence, dispatching guards with precision. Each step brought him closer to the heart of the operation.
Finally, he found a hidden entrance leading to a basement. The air grew colder as he descended, and the faint metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils.
The basement was a grim dungeon lined with iron cages. Within each were women, their faces pale and their eyes void of hope.
Ryuji's grip on his blade tightened. His initial plan was to free them, but before he could act, a low, mocking voice echoed from the shadows.
"Such a bold human..."
Ryuji spun, his senses on high alert. From the darkness emerged a figure clad in a bamboo hat. Beneath its wide brim, glowing red eyes pierced the gloom.
Without hesitation, Ryuji pulled out his pistol and fired. The bullets struck true, but the figure merely staggered, reaching up to pluck the projectiles from its body with an almost casual disdain.
"That tickled," the demon sneered, baring a sharp-toothed grin. "You'll have to try harder than that."
Ryuji discarded the empty gun, drawing a dagger instead. The steel glinted ominously under the dim torchlight.
"I've never killed a demon before," he said, his voice low and steady. "But there's a first time for everything."
The demon chuckled, its claws extending. "Let's see if you live long enough to try."
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Ryuji held his dagger steady between his eyebrows, his body slightly arched, maintaining an unwavering gaze at his opponent.
The figure wearing the wide-brimmed bamboo kasa shifted slightly. With that subtle movement came a grotesque sound, like bones cracking into place.
In an instant, the demon moved—a blur of black lightning closing the gap between him and Ryuji. A sharp glint of cold light arced through the air, aimed directly at Ryuji's forehead.
Ryuji's eyelids twitched at the speed of the attack, but his composure never faltered. With precision, he raised his dagger to intercept the strike.
Clang!
The tip of his dagger collided with the demon's palm, producing a metallic clang, like steel against steel. Sparks erupted from the impact, and Ryuji's eyes narrowed. The creature's hand was unnaturally hard, like forged iron.
A powerful force surged through the dagger, rattling his grip. The impact sent Ryuji flying backward, his feet skidding against the dirt as he struggled to maintain balance.
The instant he landed, Ryuji rolled to the side. A vicious kick struck the ground where he'd been moments earlier, leaving a deep crater.
The demon pressed the attack, launching a relentless onslaught. Ryuji barely parried the flurry of blows, each one faster and stronger than the last.
But it was only a matter of time.
After barely holding his ground for thirty seconds, Ryuji's defenses faltered. A direct hit to the abdomen sent him sprawling across the forest floor. He gritted his teeth against the sharp pain and forced himself to stand, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
For days, Ryuji had relied on his exceptional physical prowess to overpower human foes. But now, against a demon, he was painfully outmatched. His strength, twice that of an average person, felt meaningless in the face of such raw, supernatural power.
From beneath the demon's kasa, a cold, mocking laugh echoed. Its scarlet eyes gleamed with disdain.
"Is that all you've got?" it sneered, its voice dripping with contempt. "Pathetic. Humans are such fragile creatures."
The demon flicked its wrist, its clawed fingers glinting in the dim moonlight. It stepped forward, exuding murderous intent.
Ryuji inhaled sharply, centering himself. His breathing slowed, growing steady. Warmth began to build in his core, spreading through his limbs. Beads of sweat evaporated from his skin, rising like steam.
He entered the state of Total Concentration Breathing.
Power surged through him as his physical abilities amplified. For now, he could match the demon's strength—but he knew the boost wouldn't last long.
The demon tilted its head, sensing the shift in Ryuji's aura. "A Demon Slayer? Without a Nichirin Blade? How unfortunate. You're just another fool rushing toward a tragic end."
Ryuji didn't respond. Instead, he stepped forward, his speed now surpassing the demon's.
As their clash resumed, Ryuji's movements became sharper, faster. His dagger slashed toward the demon's neck. The creature dodged, but its kasa was knocked off, revealing a face twisted with cyan skin, scarlet eyes burning with hatred, and gleaming fangs.
The demon snarled, retreating slightly. But Ryuji pressed the attack, forcing it on the defensive.
Within moments, he landed a clean strike, his dagger slicing into the demon's shoulder. Blood sprayed as the creature let out an agonized screech.
"You... insignificant pest!" it roared, stumbling back. Yet, even as blood gushed from its wound, the demon's lips curled into a cruel grin. "You're running out of time. Once your breathing falters, you'll beg for mercy."
Ryuji ignored the taunt, focusing on each controlled breath. He surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. With precise movements, he grabbed the demon's arm and twisted, severing it at the shoulder. The limb fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
The demon howled, but Ryuji didn't stop. Another slash took its remaining arm. Two swift strikes followed, severing both legs.
The demon collapsed, writhing in agony. Its severed limbs twitched, trying to reattach themselves.
"You... can't kill me," it hissed through gritted teeth. "Without a Nichirin Blade, you're powerless!"
Ryuji remained silent, his focus unshaken. He raised his dagger, its edge beginning to glow faintly red. The warmth of his Sun Breathing technique flowed into the blade, transforming it.
The demon's eyes widened in panic. "What... What is that? That dagger... Why does it feel so vile?!"
Without hesitation, Ryuji plunged the glowing blade into the demon's chest. The creature's scream was deafening. Its regeneration faltered, the wounds refusing to heal.
"This... this can't be!" the demon shrieked, thrashing in fear. "Impossible! Without a Nichirin Blade—"
"You demons," Ryuji said coldly, driving the blade deeper, "have forgotten the power of a swordsman who wields the Breath of the Sun."
The demon's screams grew weaker, its body slowly disintegrating under the blade's radiant energy.
Ryuji stepped back, watching as the demon dissolved into ash. He exhaled slowly, allowing his breathing to return to normal. The forest fell silent once more.
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