The forest was still and heavy under the weight of the deep night. Shadows stretched across the ground like grasping claws, and a damp wind rustled through the treetops. Each breath Akaza took felt thick and heavy, as though the darkness itself were pressing down on his chest.His mind was a storm—turbulent, churning, and full of fury.Muzan's scathing words rang endlessly in his ears, slicing through his pride like jagged blades."You truly disappoint me."The words stabbed deeper than any wound could, reopening old insecurities and feeding his anger with every passing second.As Akaza stepped into the heart of the forest, his heavy boots crunched down on a bed of fallen leaves. The soft, dull thuds seemed to echo with his mounting rage.His eyes, glowing faintly with demonic light, swept across the dense trees until they landed on one particularly massive trunk.It was ancient—so wide that it would take several men to wrap their arms around it, its gnarled branches stretching high above like the arms of a slumbering giant. But tonight, this ancient tree would serve a different purpose.It would be the outlet for his fury.A deadly gleam flashed in Akaza's eyes. He inhaled deeply, the icy night air flooding his lungs. Then, with a sharp roar, he drove his fist into the trunk.Boom!A sharp gust followed the strike, the air howling as if sliced by a blade. His fist hit the bark with such force that splinters and sap exploded outward.Again, and again, and again.Each punch landed like a thunderclap. Wood splintered. Bark tore. The tree groaned in protest under the sheer impact."You brat… I remember your face," Akaza snarled, veins bulging in his forehead. "Next time… next time we meet—I'll smash your head in!"His voice echoed through the forest like a war cry.He struck harder, his fists a blur of motion. His once calm and composed demeanor had long since vanished. Now, he was a beast of rage.His expression twisted into something monstrous, and with every blow, the tree caved further inward.Sap and wood chips flew through the air, splattering his arms and face. He didn't care. He didn't feel.Finally, with a gut-wrenching crack, the colossal tree gave way. Akaza's final punch shattered the trunk. The top half of the tree creaked and tilted before crashing violently into the underbrush below.The ground shook. Nearby trees shivered. Birds scattered into the sky.Still panting, Akaza stood amid the chaos, fists trembling.But the destruction hadn't eased his rage—it had only fanned the flames. His mind was filled with a single image: Lucas.The thought of turning Lucas into a demon partner had completely disappeared. All that remained now was an overwhelming desire to crush him.Next time, there would be no hesitation.---Butterfly MansionBack at the Butterfly Mansion, soft lantern light bathed the hallway with a warm glow. Inside the medical ward, Shinobu Kochou was carefully tending to Lucas."To be able to briefly suppress an Upper Moon… that's remarkable," Shinobu said softly as she examined his wounds. Her fingers moved gently, professional yet light.Although she hadn't seen Akaza's power firsthand, she understood enough. Kyojuro Rengoku had once described Upper Moons as walking calamities. For even him to struggle meant Lucas had faced something on the level of a natural disaster—and survived.Shinobu was genuinely impressed.Lucas, however, only smiled modestly and waved his hand. "Miss Shinobu, don't give me too much credit. I couldn't have lasted a minute without Rengoku."He sat up straighter. "He absorbed most of Akaza's attacks. I was just barely surviving. If Akaza had focused on me from the start, I'd be dead."His tone was serious, and his eyes held none of the pride one might expect from someone who had gone toe-to-toe with a demon of that level.Shinobu nodded thoughtfully. "Kyojuro's injuries are indeed severe—multiple broken bones, one eye nearly blinded. He'll need at least one to two months of rest."She sighed softly.The Demon Slayer Corps could not afford to have a Pillar incapacitated, but it could have been worse. He had survived. That, in itself, was a victory.And it was thanks to Lucas.After completing her examination, she patted Lucas on the shoulder gently. "Rest well. You've earned it."---Returning to his room, Lucas exhaled deeply as he shut the sliding door behind him. The room was quiet, bathed in moonlight.Compared to Rengoku, his injuries were manageable—a fractured rib and a dislocated shoulder. A few weeks of rest would be enough.But Lucas wasn't planning to rest completely.He had new abilities to integrate.After pouring himself a glass of water, he sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, gently rotating his shoulder to ease the lingering pain. He closed his eyes and began the process.Dream, Blood Demon Art: Destructive Kill - Compass, and the Superior Talent trait—three powerful rewards. Once integrated, his strength would rival that of a Pillar, or perhaps even surpass it when combined with the Transparent World.A slight grin played on his lips."Alright. Let's begin."---A voice echoed in his mind.> "Do you wish to integrate the skill: Dream?""Yes."As soon as he gave the mental confirmation, Lucas felt a gentle tremor ripple through his consciousness.His mental landscape shifted. A deep, immersive stillness descended, and with it came a powerful wave of clarity.A strange but not unpleasant sensation spread through him. It was as though a curtain had been pulled back in his mind, revealing something vast, structured, and intricate.Lucas could feel his thoughts becoming sharper. His mental focus honed itself, his awareness growing more precise.It wasn't just an increase in intelligence—it was a full expansion of perception.He saw things more clearly, sensed the smallest shifts in energy, and could even perceive the subtle spiritual auras surrounding people and objects.As the Dream skill fully integrated, his spiritual energy refined itself. The boundaries of his consciousness expanded. It was like walking into a grand hall after being confined to a small room.A new strength rooted itself deep within him.He could now lightly influence the dreams of others—draw them into illusions or spiritual domains with just a flicker of intent.After a while, he opened his eyes, blinking in the moonlight."Hm. The realm boost isn't dramatic, but the mental clarity is… incredible."Though he hadn't leapt forward in pure combat power, Lucas had become significantly more dangerous in terms of perception and influence.Still seated, he reached for the next power.---> "Do you wish to integrate Blood Demon Art: Destructive Kill - Compass?""Yes!"Immediately, his body tensed. This was not a spiritual enhancement, but a combat one.His veins surged with energy.The compass was forming.In his mind's eye, he saw it: a massive invisible grid that extended outward from him in every direction. It was etched into the earth, rotating slightly, locked to his will.The "Destructive Kill - Compass" wasn't just a visual tool. It allowed him to measure movement in real time, detect the flow of an opponent's blood, anticipate attacks before they were launched, and strike with terrifying precision.With this art fully integrated, Lucas could calculate the exact angle, speed, and force needed to strike a target's vital point in a split second.He could already feel the synergy between this Blood Demon Art and his Transparent World.His breathing deepened as the energy settled into his body.The fusion was complete.---Lucas opened his eyes, the faint glint of excitement in them.He stood up slowly, stretching his limbs. The room seemed sharper now, the world more vivid.He raised a hand and gently waved it. For a brief moment, the compass lines flickered beneath his feet—visible only to him.He grinned."Next time, Akaza… I won't just survive. I'll win."---
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