Chapter 52: The Transparent World
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Aoki emerged from the shadows of the alley and exclaimed, "Your perception is sharp, truly befitting the future Insect Hashira."
The girl he had just seen bore a striking resemblance to the one he had encountered at Mount Natagumo. Given her petite stature, she must be Kocho Shinobu.
Unexpectedly, she was the guest that Takina and lady rie had been waiting for.
"I recall Takina mentioning in her letter that they met two members of the Demon Slayer Corps, and one of them was Kocho Shinobu. But who was the other? Kocho Kanae?"
Aoki touched his chin thoughtfully.
Beyond that, he couldn't fathom how Takina and lady rie could be connected to Kocho Shinobu.
"Well, that's good. With Kocho Shinobu frequently around, no demons will dare approach."
He glanced across the wall at the house where Takina and Rie lived before turning away and leaving without looking back.
He had no plans to meet them.
Muzan Kibutsuji was neither forgiving nor consistent. The concept of "not harming family members" would never occur to him.
Currently, Aoki's importance in Muzan's eyes was likely second only to the Ubuyashiki clan and more significant than all the Hashira.
For the safety of Takina and lady Rie, the best course of action was to keep his distance.
After parting ways with Takina and Rie, Aoki's luck improved dramatically. Within a month, he encountered three powerful demons in quick succession.
"Wait, don't kill me! Please don't kill me!" A demon with curved horns on either side of its head cowered in fear, its face full of terror.
Aoki paused. "Do you know the location of the Upper Moon demons?"
"No, I don't know," the horned demon stammered.
Before it could utter another word, its head exploded.
"Then I'm very sorry."
Aoki retracted his foot politely and extended his palm.
"Devour!"
[You have killed a demon and gained 80 experience points.]
"Only 80 experience points? It's getting harder to level up!" he sighed inwardly.
This horned demon was stronger than the Father Spider Demon from Mount Natagumo.
Does this mean that only the Twelve Kizuki-level demons will provide substantial experience in the future?
But how many of the Twelve Kizuki are there?
I wonder if I can persuade Muzan to invest more blood into creating demons with the strength of the Lower Moon.
As he pondered, the system notification chimed again.
[Skill point +1.]
[Congratulations on your level-up.]
Aoki brightened up immediately, setting aside his earlier thoughts.
He had already accumulated 2 skill points, and with the 2 points from this level-up, he could learn another skill.
Aoki opened the system interface.
He quickly allocated 2 free attribute points to Intelligence and Agility, then turned his attention to the skill column.
Which skill should I choose this time?
First, he ruled out "Space Shuttle."
Although the ability for long-distance teleportation was tempting, he needed more combat power at the moment.
Next, he ruled out the level 5 "Demon Blood."
"Demon Blood" mainly helped break the blood limit and granted the ability to survive beheading. In terms of combat power, it only added a bonus of "all attributes +1."
Though beneficial, it wasn't as valuable as the "Transparent World."
Aoki no longer hesitated.
The 4 skill points he had painstakingly saved up vanished in an instant.
Suddenly, the world around him became clear, and everything began to appear transparent, giving rise to a profound sense of control.
"So, this is the 'Transparent World'?"
He murmured to himself.
The "Transparent World" had two main functions.
First, it provided a special perception, akin to X-rays, allowing one to see through surface obstacles and directly perceive the human body. This perception was more powerful than ordinary sight and hearing, enabling one to detect subtle muscle movements and blood vessel contractions, thus predicting enemy actions and finding their weaknesses.
This heightened perception could even make it seem like the enemy's movements were slowing down.
Second, it assisted in self-control. The enhanced perception wasn't limited to the outside world but also extended to one's own body, allowing better control over one's emotions and fighting spirit.
This offered an additional advantage.
"For most people, achieving the 'Transparent World' requires mastering breathing and sword skills, but for me, it's the opposite," Aoki reflected.
With the system's power, he had accessed the "Transparent World" without the need for traditional training, which would help him create, improve, and refine his techniques.
Barring any surprises, his combat skills would rapidly advance in the coming period.
It's somewhat similar to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Aoki exhaled, and the "Transparent World" gradually returned to normal.
Through the system, he had bypassed the stages of training in breathing and sword skills to directly access the "Transparent World." However, he hadn't reached Tsugikuni Yoriichi's level.
For him, entering and maintaining the "Transparent World" was still challenging and consumed a significant amount of mental and physical energy.
Much like "Space Shuttle," the "Transparent World" couldn't be sustained for long periods for now.
Aoki glanced at the system panel. "Indeed, the 'Transparent World' can be upgraded further. Reaching level 2 should bring me closer to Tsugikuni Yoriichi's level."
However, he wouldn't have enough skill points for that anytime soon.
Given its current duration, the "Transparent World" was sufficient for a single battle.
There was no need for continuous fighting now.
Only a few enemies stronger than him would necessitate using the "Transparent World."
Excluding Muzan Kibutsuji, there were even fewer.
[Name: Aoki]
[Strength: 18]
[Constitution: 17]
[Intelligence: 18]
[Agility: 18]
[Occupation: Hunter, White Walker]
…
[White Walker]
Quality: ★★
Level: lv13 (12/1300)
Skills: Demon Blood IV, Space Shuttle, Transparent World, Demon Devourer II
Mission: The Last Days of Upper Moon (1/3)
Aoki smiled in satisfaction.
Finally, he had unlocked all the skills.
Even though he wasn't obsessive, seeing "Not Learned Yet" next to "Transparent World" in the system had always been a little bothersome.
His attributes were nearly all at 18 points.
"I wonder how I compare to Kokushibo now?" Aoki mused.
Kokushibo's swordsmanship was more advanced, and he had the additional advantage of his Blood Demon Art. But Aoki's Blood Demon Art was also formidable. Although his combat skills and awareness weren't as honed, his "Demon Devourer" ability compensated for many shortcomings.
Both had access to the "Transparent World," and in terms of attributes, they were likely on par.
Aoki shook his head.
Only a real fight would reveal the specifics.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find a target even if he wanted to fight.
"It doesn't have to be Kokushibo. Akaza, Gyokko, Hantengu—any Upper Moon demon would do. I'm not picky."
Aoki chuckled, shut off the system, and his figure melted into the night.
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