The cold moonlight enveloped the earth as Aoki darted through the deep mountains and ancient forests like a cheetah. With a tap of his toes, he effortlessly leaped several meters at a time.
Where should he go to find demons?
A few places came to mind with a high likelihood of encountering them.
Asakusa, for instance.
Tamayo and Yushiro were likely there, and Muzan Kibutsuji might also be lurking in the shadows.
However, Tamayo and Yushiro were off-limits for killing, and Muzan was simply unbeatable.
There was also the lower fifth, Rui, and his family at Mount Natagumo, and the upper sixth, Daki and Gyutaro, at Yoshiwara.
But there was the recurring issue—his insufficient strength.
Having just transformed into a demon, how could he match the Twelve Kizuki?
These elite monsters could only be dealt with once he became more powerful. For now, he needed to practice on novice monsters.
Was there a place where he could easily and quickly find a large number of new demons, or demons that consumed fewer people?
Hmm?
Aoki suddenly halted.
Such a place did exist!
Mount Fuji!
It was the final evaluation ground meticulously set up by the Demon Slayer Corps!
All captured demons were contained there by the hunting team, comprising weak demons that had only consumed two or three people.
"The strongest hand demon there is only at a level Tanjiro could handle right after completing his training," Aoki pondered seriously.
Mount Fuji would be the ideal location for leveling up. It teemed with demons, all relatively weak.
But there was the issue of the Demon Slayer Corps and the wisteria flowers.
The reason the demons on Mount Fuji hadn't escaped was the wisteria flowers that grew from the foot of the mountain to its slopes, blooming year-round.
To demons, wisteria flowers were highly poisonous.
And he wasn't certain if any demon slayers were guarding Mount Fuji.
[Ding Dong!]
[Received the mission, Fuji Mountain Copy.]
[Fuji Mountain Copy]
Mount Fuji is home to numerous demons. The strongest, the hand demon, has been hiding there for decades and has consumed nearly forty humans.
Mission Requirements: Eliminate 30 demons and defeat the hand demon.
Mission Reward: 300 experience points.
The reward was simple and straightforward, yet exceptionally tempting.
"Now I must head to Fuji Mountain," Aoki remarked, gazing up at the sky. "But before I depart, preparations must be made."
Firstly, he needed to pinpoint the location.
He only knew the name Fuji Mountain, nothing more.
Secondly, he needed supplies to navigate the sea of wisteria flowers.
A week later.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, plunging the night into an eerie depth.
"Today's weather looks favorable," Aoki commented, eyeing the mountain ahead.
Wisteria flowers sprawled from the mountain's base to its midsection, lending Fuji Mountain a mystical beauty shrouded in purple haze.
However, Aoki couldn't help but feel an intense aversion.
For demons, wisteria flowers were lethally poisonous.
Even Upper Rank Two demons could succumb to their effects if exposed excessively.
This repulsion and resistance to wisteria flowers were ingrained in a demon's blood.
"Fortunately, I've prepared for this!" Aoki declared, producing a peculiarly-shaped garment.
It was a protective suit specially crafted for him, sealed tight to prevent any exposure. Glass was sewn into the eye sockets.
Despite becoming a demon, Aoki's appearance was almost identical to that of a human. Except for Demon Slayer Corps masters, ordinary people wouldn't notice anything amiss. He could still freely traverse human towns at night.
Aoki donned the protective suit and commenced his ascent.
Demon Slayer Corps members guarded the mountain's base, but security was lax, likely just to deter nearby villagers from wandering in.
Aoki easily evaded their notice and slipped into Fuji Mountain.
"You may inhale a trace of pollen, but it shouldn't affect you much," Aoki reassured himself, wearing a specialized mask over his face. Satisfied his body could tolerate it, he quickened his pace.
Scaling the mountainside, the wisteria flowers abruptly vanished.
"We've arrived!" Aoki sighed in relief.
Though he remained unscathed, traipsing through wisteria flowers was far from enjoyable.
He carefully shed his protective suit and concealed it in a secure, hidden spot.
He'd need it for his return.
"Let's begin," Aoki resolved, wasting no time as he ascended the central path's steps.
Departing the mountainside square, traces of human activity dwindled swiftly.
Fujiki Mountain was unnervingly silent. No wildlife was visible; only the occasional insect's chirp broke the stillness.
"Have the demons devoured all the animals?" Aoki wondered aloud, senses on high alert as he advanced cautiously.
As a seasoned hunter, he understood that patience was paramount in hunting, particularly in tracking prey where every suspicious sign warranted scrutiny.
"I haven't seen you on this mountain. Are you new here?"
A voice suddenly echoed from behind.
Aoki paused, swiftly turning.
A demon with blue veins coursing over its body, a sharp horn protruding from its forehead, and eyes almost bulging from their sockets perched on a treetop, regarding Aoki with malevolent eyes.
"The Demon Slayer Corps is sending demons to Fuji Mountain again? Is the final selection about to commence? Hahahaha! I intend to feast even more this time!" the demon cackled maniacally.
Aoki fell silent for a moment. "Well, it seems demons are unlike beasts—they come looking for trouble."
Boom!
Without warning, the horned demon lunged at Aoki, claws slashing towards his face, eyes wild with malice.
"Hahaha! Rookie, allow me to teach you Teng Xishan's survival rules!"
A foul gust assaulted Aoki, yet he remained undeterred. Stepping forward, he extended his fingers, slowly curling them into a fist. His body tensed like a taut bow.
All the pent-up strength within him coalesced, propelling his fist like a cannonball from its muzzle.
Upon impact, a powerful force surged. With a snap, the horned demon's arm twisted back at an unnatural angle.
Simultaneously recoiling three steps, nearly losing his balance, Aoki met the horned demon's gaze anew.
A surge of elation flooded Aoki's heart. Weeks' worth of pent-up depression, sorrow, anguish, and rage seemed to pour out with that punch.
He unleashed a resounding roar, launching himself towards the horned demon.
"Hahaha! Come on then!"
The horned demon had no choice but to engage.
Their combat was raw and unrefined, devoid of finesse.
You punch, I punch; you strike, I claw—each move was the epitome of direct confrontation.
The horned demon, clearly inferior to Aoki, swiftly found itself at a disadvantage.
Snap.
Another arm twisted grotesquely, the horned demon stumbled back, only halting when it collided with a massive tree. Panting heavily, fatigue etched across its face.
"Wait, I yield! Let me go!"
"If you want to fight, then fight; if not, then don't. It's not that simple," Aoki replied, unwavering, and surged forward, delivering another punch.
The horned demon, unable to counter, crossed its arms defensively.
"We're both demons. There's no point in continuing this fight."
Aoki said nothing, yet his next punch surged with heightened power.
Boom!
The horned demon's defense crumbled.
Aoki's follow-up punch landed squarely.
Boom!
The horned demon's visage collapsed, its head slamming heavily into the tree trunk behind it. Eyes rolling back, it lost consciousness.
"Finally done," Aoki declared, lifting the horned demon's head. "Whether it makes sense or not, you don't get to decide!"