The moon hung high, casting a soft glow over the dark, quiet streets. Stars were sparse in the clear sky. Aoki sat on the edge of a rooftop, his elbows resting on his knees. One hand supported his chin, while the other held a gourd of Demon wine. He took a hearty gulp, savoring the warmth as it slid down his throat.
"It's almost time," he mused aloud, eyes scanning the streets below. "The demons should make their move tonight. I wonder if they'll come my way."
As he lifted the gourd for another sip, he noticed a swift-moving figure below, far too fast to be human.
"They're here," Aoki muttered, a hint of excitement in his voice. He stashed the gourd and stood up, his senses sharpening. "This presence… it feels strong, almost like a Lower Moon."
Yet he knew that titles weren't always a true measure of strength. There were many powerful demons who didn't hold the Lower Moon title. Just a few weeks ago, he had dispatched a demon nearly as strong as Rui, earning him a substantial reward of 400 experience points. Regardless of whether this demon was Lower Moon Three, Aoki wasn't going to let it escape.
Just as he was about to leap into action, he felt another, more menacing presence. Turning sharply, he spotted a figure with short pink hair and pale skin, covered in dark blue tattoos. His eyes were golden, inscribed with the words "Upper Rank" and "Three."
"Akaza?" Aoki's heart skipped a beat. "What's the Upper Rank Three doing here with the Lower Rank Three? Is this a trap?"
The realization hit him hard. This wasn't a case of a Lower Rank turning into an Upper Rank; both ranks were here, targeting him together.
[Ding! New Mission Acquired: The End of the Upper Moons.]
[The End of the Upper Moons]
The Twelve Kizuki are the elite warriors directly under Muzan Kibutsuji's command. The Upper Moons are his strongest lieutenants.
Mission Objective: Kill three Upper Moons.
Mission Reward: 2500 experience points, 3 skill points, bat wings.
[Ding! New Mission Acquired: Hunter and Prey.]
[Hunter and Prey]
As you hunt, you realize you're also being hunted. Prove who the real predator is.
Mission Objective: Complete the hunt while being interfered with by Akaza.
Mission Reward: 400 experience points, 1 skill point.
The system's prompts bombarded him, but Aoki had no time to process them fully. Akaza vanished from sight, and instinctively, Aoki struck out at the air in front of him.
Their fists collided with a resounding **boom**, sending shockwaves through the air. Akaza barely flinched, while Aoki was forced back, nearly losing his footing.
Below, Bingye, the Lower Rank Three, halted his movement and stared up in shock.
"Your fighting spirit is impressive," Akaza said, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Why are you working with Lower Rank Three? Is this a setup?" Aoki demanded.
"Yes, Lord Muzan anticipated you would target the Lower Ranks and planned this trap specifically for you," Akaza replied, his confidence palpable. To him, Aoki was already a dead man.
"So, the scenes of devouring humans were staged to lure me," Aoki concluded. He shook his head, then asked, "Are there other teams like you out there?"
"Indeed, Lower Rank One and Lower Rank Two are also being shadowed by Upper Ranks," Akaza confirmed.
"Douma and Kokushibo," Aoki murmured, recognizing the names. He hadn't expected Muzan to consider him such a significant threat. "All the Upper Moons have been mobilized... Even the Pillars wouldn't receive such attention."
"No more talking. Let's begin!" Akaza assumed a martial stance, a twelve-cornered snowflake pattern glowing beneath his feet. His eyes burned with anticipation. "Fight me!"
Aoki felt a pang of regret. If only he had mastered the "Transparent World," he might have had a chance against Akaza today. The "Transparent World" was a powerful asset against most opponents, but against Akaza, it was crucial.
"Can we make a deal? Let me take down Lower Rank Three first," Aoki proposed, knowing the request was futile.
"If you can beat me, you can kill him at will," Akaza said, launching himself at Aoki with blinding speed. "Destructive Death: Compass Needle!"
Aoki met him head-on, their fists colliding again and again, sending shockwaves through the air.
"Destruction Kill: Chaos Style!" Akaza's attacks were relentless, his moves a blur of speed and power. Each strike was a calculated blow designed to overwhelm.
Aoki countered with his own technique. "Aoki Style: Death Calamity!"
The force of their blows tore through the rooftop, sending debris flying. Aoki struggled to hold his ground under the onslaught, each impact pushing him further back.
Akaza's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're strong! Destructive Death: Foot Style - Explosive Flurry!" His kicks blurred into a whirlwind of force, each one faster and more precise than the last.
Aoki blocked and parried with "Death Calamity," his defenses strained to their limits.
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, pushing Aoki to the brink. He was barely managing to fend off Akaza's relentless assault.
"You're quite formidable," Akaza said, his voice tinged with respect. He unleashed a rapid series of blows. "Destructive Death: Eight Layered Demon Core!"
**Bang!**
Aoki's body was battered, wounds opening across his form as he was sent flying. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood, his bones aching from the force.
"As expected of Upper Rank Three," Aoki muttered, wiping blood from his lips. Akaza's attacks were brutal and precise, his speed and technique nearly overwhelming. In sheer combat skills, Akaza was superior.
Aoki had always prided himself on his fighting prowess, often outmatching other demons. But today, he faced an opponent who not only matched but surpassed him in skill. Akaza's technique was enhanced by "Compass Needle," a degraded version of the "Transparent World" that allowed him to sense movements through the flow of fighting spirit.
As Akaza bore down on him again, Aoki barely had time to roll out of the way. The ground where he had been standing exploded into a shower of debris.
**Boom!**
Akaza's blow shattered the floor, sending rubble flying. "Destructive Death: Crushing Mountain - Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow!"
The ground trembled as cracks spread outwards, collapsing two nearby houses. Fortunately, the area was deserted, sparing any innocent lives.
**Bang!**
The impact sent Aoki tumbling through the air, a deep gash tearing across his side, nearly cleaving him in half. But in an instant, he vanished, reappearing on a neighboring rooftop.
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