"Oy~ Oy~!" Doma's voice echoed through the cavernous hall, his tone light and playful, a stark contrast to the grim faces of the Upper Moons gathered around him. "I think we can rule out the first possibility entirely! If Muzan-sama truly wanted to abandon us, given his style, he would have killed us all directly!" His words, though spoken with an innocent lilt, were a chilling reminder of their lord's ruthless nature.
A palpable tension filled the room as his words reverberated off the stone walls. The Upper Moons, each a formidable demon in their own right, knew the truth of Doma's words. Their lord, Muzan, was not one for subtlety or mercy. Yet, only Doma, with his audacious nature, dared to voice such thoughts so casually.
Boom!
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a deafening boom. Akaza, the third Upper Moon, had thrown a punch with such force that Doma's head exploded into a shower of gore. "You...!" Akaza panted, his face twisted in a mask of rage. "How dare you disrespect Muzan-sama with such words!"
"Calm down, Akaza-san! I was just speaking off the possibilities!" Doma's voice came from the half-regenerated head, his newly grown mouth still forming the words. His nonchalant demeanor was a stark contrast to the violent scene that had just unfolded.
Kokushibo, the first Upper Moon, chose this moment to interject. His voice, deep and resonant, filled the room. "Doma... this time, you were wrong..." His words were a quiet rebuke, a reminder of the hierarchy within their ranks.
"Alright, alright, I get it~" Doma waved his hand dismissively, his head now fully regenerated. His casual demeanor was a stark contrast to the tension that filled the room.
Kokushibo continued, his voice taking on a grave tone. "Besides... within just two days... we've lost two Lower Moons... Normally, Muzan-sama would gather the Lower Moons in such a situation... but he hasn't appeared yet..." His words hung in the air, a grim reminder of their lord's absence.
"In any case... we can now confirm that there's a high chance that something has happened to the lord... We cannot lose our lord... Muzan-sama granted us eternal life... Now it's our turn to repay him..." Kokushibo's words were a rallying cry, a call to arms for the Upper Moons.
"But how could there be anything in this world that could threaten him? And... if even Muzan-sama is no match, how could we possibly stand a chance against the enemy?!" Akaza's voice was filled with doubt, his words a reflection of the fear that gripped them all.
"Is there nothing that can threaten the lord..." Kokushibo's tone became sharp, and the air instantly chilled. "Have you forgotten... that one from four hundred years ago... Tsugikuni Yoriichi!" As he uttered this name, Kokushibo felt a twinge of pain in his demonic heart, but at the same time, a thrill of excitement.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi was Kokushibo's younger brother and the only person who posed a threat to Muzan during his four hundred years of following him. His lifelong goal was to surpass his brother, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, and he even became a demon to achieve this.
Unfortunately, with his brother's death, this goal could never be achieved. But today, this threat to Muzan might be as powerful as Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Therefore, defeating him might prove that his swordsmanship has surpassed Tsugikuni Yoriichi. The thought filled Kokushibo with a sense of purpose, a burning desire to prove his worth.
***
"Jon-san, these syringes are for extracting blood. Just stick them into a demon's skin, and they'll draw blood automatically." Tamayo's voice echoed through the quiet confines of her mansion, her tone steady and calm. She opened a small, delicate wooden box, revealing ten syringes nestled within, each one gleaming under the soft light.
Jon, a tall figure with a stern expression, reached out and accepted the box. His fingers brushed against the cool wood. "You don't need to worry about how to contact us. As soon as you draw the blood, we'll arrange for a messenger to take it from you." Tamayo explained, her eyes meeting Jon's in a silent understanding.
"Additionally…" Tamayo turned around, her hands reaching into a cabinet and pulling out another, even smaller box. She opened it, revealing a small vial of purple potion, its color vibrant against the dark wood of the box.
"I'm not sure if you'll need this, but I hope you'll accept it." Tamayo handed the box to Jon, her eyes filled with a quiet determination.
"What is this..." Jon took the box, his eyes studying the vial. His mind began to sift through the original plot of this world, but there seemed to be no mention of anything similar.
"Thanks to your help, I was finally able to collect the rare Blood Flower, which allowed me to create this medicine! However, due to limited resources, I only used half of the Blood Flower. The other half is needed to create a medicine that can turn demons back into humans. So, I only made three bottles, and I want to give one to you." Tamayo's voice was soft, her words filled with gratitude.
"This medicine, combined with a small amount of my blood, harmonized with the Blood Flower plant, and other ingredients like wisteria flowers, can stimulate the potential within a human body without turning them into a demon. It can grant speed, strength, and stamina far beyond that of an ordinary person, as well as a small amount of regenerative ability and slow down aging. Moreover, if given to a dying person, it can save their life."
Jon was taken aback by Tamayo's explanation. If what she said was true, then an ordinary person who drank it would become a superhuman, like Captain America! Although he didn't need it, who knows when it might come in handy to save someone? Although the Blue Flame Ghost Rider has regenerating properties, he hadn't yet mastered the Blue Flame.
"Well, I'll gladly accept it then!" Jon didn't hesitate and took the potion. He knew that being polite to Tamayo was less practical than killing more demons, even though he could easily kill Muzan now...
Seeing Jon accept it, Tamayo nodded and smiled, "Then, Jon-san, I wish you good luck in your battles!"
"Thanks." Jon's voice was firm, and his eyes filled with a newfound determination.
***
After departing from the sanctuary of Tamayo's residence, the first light of dawn was beginning to paint the sky with hues of pink and orange. Jon found himself on a narrow, winding country road, the chirping of early morning birds his only company.
His original intention had been to locate Natagumo Mountain, a known gathering place for a Lower Moon and a host of other demons. However, as he asked around, his inquiries led him astray, and he found himself in this remote location.
"Is finding a road this difficult!" Jon grumbled, his frustration evident. Natagumo Mountain was a notorious demon's lair, and most who ventured near it ended up as fodder for the demons. Consequently, information about its location was scarce and difficult to obtain.
Suddenly, the harsh cawing of a crow pierced the morning tranquility. Jon looked up, spotting the black bird circling overhead. To his astonishment, the crow began to speak.
"Southeast, Southeast...Croak!" The crow's voice echoed through the still morning air as it continued its flight.
"A crow, isn't that a messenger of the Demon Slayer Corps?" Jon mused aloud, his eyes following the bird's path. "Could there be members of the Demon Slayer Corps nearby?"
He scanned his surroundings, but there was no one in sight. Then it dawned on him - the crow was circling above him. Could it be delivering a message to him?
"Southeast, southeast, there are demons in the southeast...Croak!" The crow's voice rang out again, its message clear.
Jon stepped forward, raising his voice to address the crow in the sky, "Are you talking to me?"
The crow paused in mid-air, then nodded at Jon, "lord… lord! ….croak!"
The realization hit Jon like a bolt of lightning. It must be the lord of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who had sent the crow. Kagaya knew that Jon was also a demon hunter, but was aware of his reluctance to cooperate with the Demon Slayer Corps. This was his way of extending a hand of assistance.
This gesture of goodwill was a form of aid. By sharing the Demon Slayer Corps' information about demons with Jon, it would satisfy Jon's thirst for demon hunting and also alleviate the burden on the Demon Slayer Corps. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
"No wonder he's the lord of the Demon Slayer Corps, always handling things so well." Jon couldn't help but admire Kagaya's tact and foresight. With renewed determination, he set off in the direction the crow had indicated, ready to face the moon.
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A/N: 👋 Hey, fans of the Multiverse's Ghost Rider! I'm delighted to announce the launch of our Discord page, dedicated to all things related to our thrilling story. This platform will serve as a central hub for exciting announcements, engaging discussions, and a place for fans to connect with one another. Feel free to share your thoughts, theories, and fan art here. Let's come together and delve deeper into the captivating world of our Multiverse's Ghost Rider. Enjoy your time on the Discord page!
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