Kazuhiko Aomura, in his forties, typically sported a two-millimeter beard on his handsome face. Despite his usual rugged appearance, he had a hint of a playboy temperament, marking him as a striking middle-aged man.
However, at this moment, his handsome visage was marred by ferocious blue veins. His eyes had transformed into snake-like vertical pupils, radiating intense indifference, malice, and deep greed. His mouth bore saw-like sharp teeth, with bits of flesh and blood clinging between them. Scarlet blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, and in his hand, he held a human thigh, covered in gruesome bite marks.
Aoki recoiled in horror. "What is this?"
The figure at the door was unmistakably not Kazuhiko Aomura!
No!
This wasn't even human!
Cannibalism?
Zombies? Monsters?
"I've found you! Rie, Takina, Aoki, aren't you happy to see me?" The impostor's voice dripped with strange excitement as he advanced towards Rie Aomura.
Whoosh!
An arrow flew like a meteor, piercing his head and pinning him to the wall. Aoki stood firm, holding the longbow with a steely gaze.
"Lady Rie, be careful! This is definitely not Master!" Aoki warned, his voice sharp with urgency.
Rie Aomura stepped back in shock, her voice trembling with indescribable pain and despair. "It's a demon! He's a man-eating demon!"
"A demon?"
Aoki furrowed his brow.
When he thought of demons, the first thing that came to mind was a creature formed from a departed soul. However, the "demon" before him was clearly not the type he was familiar with.
Click!
"Kazuhiko" lifted his arm, seized the arrow, and yanked it out of his head.
"A man-eating demon. It won't die even if shot through the head. It looks ferocious, like those from Japan in the Meiji period…"
A lightning bolt struck in Aoki's mind.
Is this the world of Demon Slayer?
Before he could ponder further, a black shadow lunged at him suddenly, and Aoki barely had time to raise his bow across his chest.
Boom!
The impact slammed him against the wall with tremendous force.
Aoki felt his internal organs churn, his back ached as if it were shattered, and a metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth. He was filled with horror.
"What speed! What strength!"
By his estimation, humans typically maxed out at 5 points across their physical attributes. His own abilities weren't exceptional; each of his attributes only reached 4 points.
Intelligence had reached 5 points because when he leveled up to Hunter level 2, he received a free attribute point. He had speculated whether intelligence equated to IQ, so he allocated it there—proof that it didn't.
"Kazuhiko" has at least 6 points of strength!
He completely overpowered Aoki's 4 points of strength.
"I'll kill you first."
Kazuhiko grimaced, exerting relentless pressure with his hands.
Creaking.
The longbow pressed against Aoki's chest, sinking in gradually.
Aoki could hear the groaning of his ribs under the crushing weight.
No!
Can't hold on!
His strength is overwhelming!
His body is about to break!
At that moment.
Bang!
A stick struck hard. Kazuhiko tilted his head, his body swayed involuntarily, his movements slowing down.
He turned angrily.
Takina gasped, fear in her pretty face, but she stood firm. Her eyes widened, teeth clenched, she swung the stick again.
"Let go of Aoki!"
Bang!
Kazuhiko effortlessly caught the stick with his right hand, fury on his face, murderous intent evident.
"If you want to die, then I will…"
Boom!
Before he could finish, he was sent flying, crashing into tables and chairs, landing hard on the ground.
Aoki planted his feet, took a breath, and spoke quickly: "Takina, lady Rie, get out of here! Leave this to me!"
"Aoki…"
Aomura Rie looked pale and unsure.
Without hesitation, Takina dropped the stick, seized Aomura Rie's hand, and fled towards the back door without looking back.
"Don't you dare escape!"
Kazuhiko growled, struggling to get up.
Aoki nocked an arrow, not needing to aim at such close range.
Thunk!
The arrow, tipped slightly blue, pierced Kazuhiko's head, knocking him down again.
Kazuhiko tried to rise but shook his head, his expression changing.
"Poison?"
Aoki didn't answer, but relief washed over him.
Thankfully, it worked.
In preparation for emergencies, he had made a few poison arrows, not expecting to use them under such dire circumstances.
Firing another poison arrow, Aoki turned and sprinted towards the main gate without looking back.
"Damn it!"
Kazuhiko pounded the ground in fury.
Three targets, yet he failed to capture any.
"You won't get away!" he snarled, pulling out the arrows and charging towards the main gate.
Compared to the two women, he desired Aoki's death more.
As he stepped outside, a sharp sound of air being sliced filled his ears, causing Kazuhiko to instinctively halt.
Swish!
An arrow flew past him, narrowly missing, and embedded itself into the chicken coop nearby.
The three hens huddled together in a corner, trembling in fear.
Puff.
Another arrow descended from the sky, skewering them in a line.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck!"
The hens squawked and thrashed desperately, worsening their wounds with each struggle.
"It was quite accurate just now, how come it suddenly became a chicken-killing arrow method?" Kazuhiko laughed and rushed towards Aoki. Aoki ignored him and turned to run. The two chased each other, closing the distance quickly.
\[Killed 1 chicken and gained 1 experience point.\]
\[killed 1 chicken and gained 1 experience point.\]
\[killed 1 chicken and gained 1 experience point.\]
\[Congratulations, you have leveled up!\]
Upon hearing the system prompt, Aoki's eyes suddenly ignited with determination.
"Success!"
Three hens gathered 3 experience points!
The azure blue screen appeared in his vision.
\[Name: Aoki\]
\[Strength: 4\]
\[Constitution: 4\]
\[Intelligence: 5\]
\[Agility: 4\]
\[Profession: Hunter\]
\[Free attribute point: 1\]
…
\[Hunter\]
Quality: ☆
Level: lv5
Skills: Hunting Instinct, Dexterity, Eagle Eyes, Blood Boiling (to be learned)
Free skill point: 1
Every "Hunter" level up grants 1 skill point and every two levels grant 1 attribute point.
Aoki wasted no time and allocated the attribute point to strength.
Instantly, warmth flowed through his body, muscles swelling slightly.
But it wasn't enough!
"Hunter's" four skills.
"Hunting Instinct" enhances tracking and identifying prey traces, "Dexterity" boosts trap-making dexterity, and "Eagle Eyes" sharpens vision, enhancing archery.
"Blood Boiling" is a burst skill, temporarily enhancing physical prowess but inducing weakness afterward.
Ordinarily, Aoki hunts with arrows or traps, requiring little combat prowess. Facing a spectral fiend, "Blood Boiling" was optimal.
Learn "Blood Boiling"!
Activate skill!
Aoki inhaled deeply; blood surged, igniting.
Boom!
Unprecedented power surged through him.