"One, two, three..."
Tong Gu slowly drew the Nichirin Blade from his back, counting softly under his breath.
The man-eating demon that had just tossed a severed human head at him smirked wickedly. Having devoured four or five people recently, its mutated claws were now razor-sharp. Seeing the hulking figure before them—faced with a horde of demons yet showing no signs of retreat, instead calmly counting—the demon's smile grew more sinister.
"Counting the diners, are we? Let me see how much meat you've got!"
Its legs, grotesquely transformed into something resembling a rabbit's hind legs, flexed sharply. In an instant, it launched itself like a shadow, streaking toward Tong Gu.
Years of physical training weren't all Tong Gu had undertaken. He'd spent countless hours honing his reflexes and dynamic vision, precisely for such high-speed assaults, common in worlds like this.
He didn't blink as the demon leaped at him, its form as clear as day. Right hand gripping the Nichirin Blade, he raised it high, gripping it with both hands as a fearsome aura radiated outward.
Wham!
Slash!
A piercing roar tore through the air, followed by a muffled, wet sound. The towering demon froze mid-attack, confusion flickering in its eyes. It felt strangely light. Twisting its head in midair, it saw its lower half flying past the hulking figure, crashing into the underbrush.
It... cut me in half?
powerful hand grabbed its hair, hoisting its upper body into the air.
For the first time, the demon clearly saw the man's expression. It wasn't fear or shock. No, his eyes glinted with something far more terrifying—greed.
"I'm counting," Tong Gu said, his voice low, "just how much percentage completion this kill will give me."
The roar of his blade rang out again. The demon raised its mutated claws in desperation to shield its neck, but it was futile.
Slice!
The claws and neck were severed in one clean stroke, and the demon's consciousness faded.
[Side Quest 1: Complete the Final Trial of the Demon Slayer Corps]
[Task Progress: Survive for Seven Days on Fujikasane Mountain (1/7)]
[Trial Mission 2: Kill at Least One Demon (Completion Rate: 120%)]
Tong Gu frowned. This demon was clearly stronger than the ones he'd fought before, yet it only added 20% to his completion rate. It seemed the initial 100% was a fixed reward for the first kill, while subsequent completion rates depended on the strength and quantity of the demons slain.
Calculating in his head, Tong Gu shifted the massive Nichirin Blade to his side, dragging it toward the remaining demons scattered among the trees. A cold, menacing grin crept across his face.
His towering frame thundered as he advanced, each step heavy as a beast on the prowl.
The demons—accustomed to preying on young, inexperienced slayers—were not prepared for this. Seeing one of their own felled so effortlessly, some turned tail and ran. But others, blinded by their hunger for human flesh, shrieked as they charged at him.
Whoosh!
The massive blade cut through the air.
Slash! Slash!
The sound of flesh being cleaved reverberated.
Completion Rate: 130%
Completion Rate: 140%
Completion Rate: 155%
Perched on a tree branch, a small monkey-like demon watched in horror as Tong Gu unleashed a devastating whirlwind of steel, cutting down seven or eight of its kin before swiftly decapitating them. Its throat bobbed nervously, and it instinctively shrank further behind the tree.
The monkey demon's eyes accidentally locked with Tong Gu's. The man's gaze—burning with bloodlust and greed—made it tremble in fear.
Fear.
It couldn't recall the last time it felt such a thing.
Without hesitation, it leaped away from the branch, bounding from tree to tree. This... this human isn't prey. He's a monster.
Whoosh!
Another roar filled the air.
The monkey demon felt a sharp pain in its chest as an enormous force pinned it to a tree trunk. It looked down to see a blade embedded deep in its body—Tong Gu had thrown the Nichirin Blade like a javelin.
Another demon, hidden in the shadows, seized the moment to lunge.
Unarmed, Tong Gu moved fluidly, catching the ambush in the corner of his eye. His right arm shot out in a sweeping arc, a single punch landing squarely on the demon's chest. It froze mid-strike, stunned by the blow, only to find itself in the iron grip of Tong Gu's hand.
Dragging the captured demon along, Tong Gu retrieved his blade with his free hand. No matter how much the demon struggled, it couldn't escape his monstrous strength.
Slash! Slash!
[Trial Task 2: Kill at Least One Demon (Completion Rate: 220%)]
Tong Gu sheathed his Nichirin Blade. These lower-tier demons were far weaker than expected. It seemed farming "small fry" wouldn't suffice to achieve a high trial rating.
---
Deep within the mountain's mist-shrouded forest, the Hand Demon stirred. How many years had it been—20? 30? 40? It no longer remembered.
Its only joy was slaughtering the young slayers who entered its domain during these trials. The rest of the time, it ignored the weaker demons and had no interest in hunting humans.
But today, something was different. From afar, it sensed the tremors of chaos—something was happening near the mountain's edge.
Another trial?
Yet... the scent of humans was faint.
Suddenly, a wretched scream pierced the air.
The Hand Demon's massive body shifted in annoyance, lumbering toward the sound. Branches snapped and trees fell under its sheer weight.
As it neared, it caught a faint whiff of human scent, mixed with the lingering stench of blood.
Tch. Just one human? What a disappointment. No little foxes this time.
The Hand Demon smashed through a thick grove, emerging into a clearing. It froze at the sight.
This was no clearing—it was a battlefield. The trees were felled, their trunks cleanly severed.
"Hand Demon-sama, help—!"
Slash!
Before the words finished, another demon was decapitated.
The Hand Demon's eyes widened. This wasn't a feast—it was a massacre. Tong Gu stood amidst the carnage, his massive blade dripping with black blood, the corpses of countless demons at his feet.
Raising his blade, Tong Gu smirked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hand Demon," he called out, his voice calm and deliberate, "Let me guess—how much is your completion rate worth?"
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