Lin Jiu noticed the two figures crawling over there. To be precise, it was Akaza who first discovered them. Lin Jiu's sensing ability mainly comes from maintaining energy concentration over a long period, making him sensitive to changes in the airflow around him.
Whenever there is an object moving nearby, there will inevitably be slight air current changes. Lin Jiu senses these changes to anticipate the enemy. As for distant places, if the hostility is not focused on him, he cannot detect human figures.
However, Akaza's sensing ability, when deploying the Compass Needle, is extensive. The moment the two contractors approached, Akaza discovered them.
Lin Jiu, who had been paying attention to Akaza, naturally noticed his glance drifting somewhere. Following this glance, Lin Jiu spotted the two contractors.
"Just two little rats!!"
Akaza said in annoyance. In his eyes, these two contractors were insignificant and couldn't affect their battle at all.
But Lin Jiu didn't think so. He clearly remembered that after killing an enemy, his soul-condensing talent would bring him a period of buff enhancement. At the moment of killing Doma, this enhancement was most evident, making the world seem different.
However, the soul power absorbed from killing Doma, though not reaching his absorption limit, was close. The soul power absorbed from killing the few lower-ranked demons afterward didn't enhance much, but the state during the soul power absorption was undoubtedly an enhancement that could be used in battle.
Having a plan in mind, Lin Jiu immediately abandoned Akaza and charged the two contractors.
Seeing this, Akaza was naturally furious: "It seems you don't take our battle seriously!"
"Damn!"
White, who was preparing to retreat, saw the person fighting Akaza suddenly abandon Akaza and rush towards them, feeling a bit panicked.
In contrast, Summer remained calm. Seeing Akaza chasing Lin Jiu, he knew that as long as he hindered Lin Jiu's speed, Akaza could catch up and drag him back into the fight. This way, they could safely escape.
Thinking of this, Summer decisively took out his weapon, a semi-automatic sniper rifle, and aimed at Lin Jiu to fire bullets.
Lin Jiu sensed the airflow change from the incoming bullets, crouched with his sword, and the bullets just grazed past his head. Lin Jiu's bent legs, like springs, burst with powerful force, propelling his body towards the two contractors.
Seeing this, Summer knew that if the opponent got close, they would be dead. He immediately said to his teammate White: "Hinder his advance, I'll cover with fire!"
White nodded and took out his weapon, a pair of large hammers. Gathering energy, he concentrated the power on the hammer and slammed it towards the ground.
Seeing the nearby contractor raising the hammer to charge, Lin Jiu knew he was using a skill. Unfortunately, his Flame Sun wasn't usable now; otherwise, he would have fired two grenades directly.
The ground shook, and spikes of earth extended toward Lin Jiu.
Forced to change direction to avoid the spikes, Lin Jiu allowed Akaza to close the distance!
Annihilation Type!
Akaza suddenly punched, and the powerful punch force rolled up a piece of earth spikes, carrying sharp spikes toward Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu's gaze focused on a half-human-high spike ahead, rushing over, and landing on the slanted side of the spike. He kicked hard, shattering the spike instantly, using the force to leap into the air, avoiding the punch's attack range, and pouncing towards the contractors.
"Die!"
At this moment, Summer switched his sniper rifle to burst mode, seeing Lin Jiu in mid-air, knowing it was an opportunity.
Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat!
Lin Jiu's eyes focused, blocking the bullets aimed at vital spots with his sword Dawn. He ignored non-critical injuries, letting one or two bullets penetrate.
However, due to these bullets' force, Lin Jiu couldn't land in the optimal position he aimed for, targeting the gun-wielding contractor.
Using firearms is common in the early stages for contractors because it's easy to handle and deal high damage. Lin Jiu, having just consumed an [XT-12 Life Vitality Potion] to recover his health, saw it quickly depleted by a few bullets.
The [XT-12 Life Vitality Potion] restores 15% health, but a few bullets hitting non-critical spots still depleted 20% of his health.
This was an open field with no cover. So Lin Jiu's primary target was the firearm-wielding contractor.
Now impeded, he could only attack the hammer-wielding contractor. Without hesitation, Lin Jiu slashed toward this person's neck.
White, unable to curse, hastily used his hammer to block Lin Jiu's slash. Lin Jiu twisted his wrist, and [Dawn] skillfully circumvented the incoming hammer, lightly slicing the opponent's hand holding the hammer. With Dawn's sharpness, a few fingers were instantly cut off. The contractor, in pain, released the hammer, exposing his body to Lin Jiu.
Next was a simple slash, beheading this contractor. Seeing the weapon, Lin Jiu knew this was a strength-focused contractor, so he quickly resolved the fight without engaging in a direct clash.
Killing this contractor, just as Lin Jiu expected, made his mind exceptionally clear, and the surroundings seemed to slow down.
Extreme Concentration!
Entering the state of extreme concentration, Lin Jiu saw the fear on the gun-wielding contractor's face and the slow motion of raising the gun to attack him. He also sensed Akaza's movements behind him!
Air Type!
The punch force from behind, Lin Jiu didn't dodge. He was propelled forward by the punch force.
Summer hadn't had time to fire when a figure appeared before him. Before he could react, a splash of blood red filled his vision!
Lin Jiu had borrowed Akaza's punch force to suddenly approach Summer, getting injured in the process, and spat a mouthful of blood directly into the contractor's eyes. Then, with one swift strike, Lin Jiu decapitated him.
"As expected, you're the most interesting strong opponent I've met! The rats are cleared, and our fight continues!!"
Akaza sharply sensed that Lin Jiu, after killing two people in succession, had become even more dangerous. His senses told him it was like having a bunch of needles aimed at his body.
Lin Jiu didn't stop his extreme concentration state. Although his health was poor, less than 60%, he felt exceptionally good. His vision faintly saw a different world, knowing he was touching extraordinary power. If he could see himself now, he would notice that his irises had changed from deep brown to silver-gray.
Not wasting this state, Lin Jiu didn't use any recovery potions and directly charged at Akaza.
Akaza's exposed skin felt cold, sensing that the approaching Lin Jiu was extremely dangerous. Although he didn't know where the danger lay, he trusted his battle-hardened instincts.
Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow!
Akaza immediately gathered the scattered Compass Needles around him.
"Hey! Why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger?"
Lin Jiu suddenly asked. This was the first time he had spoken to Akaza during their battle.
In his special state, Lin Jiu noticed the normally invisible Compass Needles' movement dynamics. Understanding Akaza's intent, Lin Jiu's question was a lethal strike.
The question struck Akaza's heart directly. Why was he so obsessed with becoming stronger? Despite having no memories, why did a voice inside keep telling him to get stronger?
As he was about to release his ultimate move, a blurry figure suddenly appeared in Akaza's mind!
"Who! Who are you?"
Akaza shouted at the figure in his consciousness.
Although Akaza's body instinctively fired hundreds of sharp shockwaves around him, Lin Jiu had already seized the momentary pause. Despite his body being pierced by several sharp shockwaves, he protected his vital points and decapitated Akaza.
Akaza's headless body didn't turn to ash, nor did it start to regenerate as in the original story. It stood there, like a statue.
Lin Jiu, watching Akaza's body, injected himself with a recovery item. After taking part in Akaza's ultimate move, he had only 20% health left. To be safe, he used a green recovery item obtained from the contractors.
Pulling his health back to 50%, Lin Jiu saw Akaza's body gradually dissipate.
In Akaza's consciousness, holding his wife Koyuki and crying, he felt himself fading. Apologizing deeply, Akaza's consciousness faded in Koyuki's embrace, not going to Hell together.
Because being killed by Lin Jiu had only one outcome: complete obliteration.
[You have killed Upper Moon Three, Akaza.]
[Akaza is Upper Moon Three, a plot character, gaining 5% World Source. Current total World Source: 21.5%.]
[Obtained Green Treasure Chest.]
[Your talent Condensed Soul activated, permanently increasing soul power. Current soul power not displayed.]
[Gained 500 Demon Slayer Corps contribution points. Current contribution points: 1020.]