The force of that kick was immense. Kaigaku slammed into the wall, his wooden sword flying from his hand.
"You—who are you?!"
He scrambled to his feet, glaring at Ryuya with irritation.
"Just a demon. What, are you going to kill me?" Ryuya scoffed.
"A demon?"
Kaigaku stiffened for a moment, glancing uneasily at the wooden sword on the ground.
Then he noticed Ryuya's eyes—no engraved numbers.
Realization dawned, and he burst into laughter.
"You evil demon, don't tell me you think I can't kill you just because I don't have a Nichirin Blade?"
The naïve Kaigaku assumed Ryuya's arrogance stemmed from that.
Even if he cut off a demon's head without a Nichirin Blade, it wouldn't die—that must be why this demon was acting so confident.
"Judging by your appearance, you're just an ordinary demon, right?"
Kaigaku sneered.
He genuinely found it hilarious.
An ordinary demon—not even one of the Twelve Kizuki—dared to ruin his business?
True, he didn't have a Nichirin Blade. But he could use Thunder Breathing.
"An ordinary demon?" Ryuya's lips curved faintly.
"You're right."
He had deliberately concealed his aura. With Kaigaku's level of perception, that was all he could sense.
"What are you so arrogant about? Don't tell me you naïvely think I can't kill you without a Nichirin Blade.
Let me tell you a secret—I've already killed three demons like you.
Without a Nichirin Blade, I just need to smash you into pieces and drag you into the sunlight. That's enough to kill you!"
As the most talented disciple under former Thunder Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro and facing a demon who wasn't part of the Twelve Kizuki, Kaigaku was brimming with confidence.
"Is that so? Then try."
Ryuya's tone was calm—almost bored.
Enraged, Kaigaku snatched up his wooden sword and lunged forward.
"Thunder Breathing: Second Form — Rice Spirit!"
Golden lightning coiled around the wooden blade, crackling violently as he unleashed five rapid consecutive strikes.
Yet Ryuya didn't move.
Seeing this, Kaigaku's ridicule grew louder.
"What, are you so scared you can't even move? Evil demon, hahaha!"
In his mind, Ryuya was already torn apart by lightning.
"Is this your Thunder Breathing?" Ryuya snorted.
"It's pathetically weak."
He clenched his fist and stepped straight through the arcs of lightning, ignoring the slashes entirely. His punch drove into Kaigaku's sternum.
"How is that possible?!"
Kaigaku's face twisted in horror as he coughed up blood.
His lightning… didn't even slow this demon down?
There had to be something wrong with his Breathing Technique. How could he be this weak?!
But Ryuya saw through his absurd thoughts.
With a burst of force, he sent Kaigaku crashing back into the wall again.
"You're too weak. You can't even grasp the essence of Thunder Breathing, you useless thing."
"You demon!!"
That sentence struck the nerve Kaigaku least wanted exposed.
Raging, he forced himself out of the cracked wall.
"Damn it… it hurts. My ribs… every step feels like they're about to snap."
He sucked in sharp breaths. That punch had nearly shattered his ribcage.
Ryuya, however, crouched beside the dying scholar.
"Do you want to tear him apart? Make him pay?"
The scholar's pupils trembled—fear and excitement intertwined.
He knew Ryuya was a demon.
But what did that matter?
The Demon Slayer Corps had people like Kaigaku in its ranks. Were they truly righteous?
This world was never black and white.
It was gray.
Different factions, different stances. Good people among demons. Rotten souls among humans.
"If you become a demon, you can rip him to pieces yourself."
Ryuya's smile deepened.
"So? Do you want to become a demon?"
The scholar swallowed hard. Longing burned fiercely in his eyes.
He stretched out a trembling hand.
"Hey! Don't ignore me just because you landed one hit!" Kaigaku roared.
"I am the prized disciple of the former Thunder Hashira—Kaigaku!"
Enduring the pain, he forced his Breathing to circulate again.
He had to redeem himself. He had to kill this demon.
"Thunder Breathing: Third Form — Thunder Swarm!"
Golden arcs exploded around his body—
But before the technique could fully take shape, Ryuya moved.
The battle intent he had deliberately suppressed erupted without restraint.
Kaigaku's own fighting spirit collapsed instantly.
That aura—
That overwhelming demonic pressure—
His sword hand trembled. His legs shook uncontrollably.
His entire body refused to fight.
Some instinct deep within screamed at him:
You will die.
You will really die.
"I don't like it when someone interrupts my conversation."
Ryuya shot him a cold glance.
"So. What's your answer?"
The scholar didn't hesitate anymore.
"I'm willing!"
Ryuya nodded.
He sliced his fingertip and let blood drip into the scholar's palm.
"Drink. And you'll become a demon."
The scholar stared at the crimson blood—then drank it without hesitation.
"Ugh—ahhh!"
The moment it slid down his throat, he clutched his neck and screamed in agony.
Kaigaku watched the grotesque transformation unfold, swallowing hard.
He didn't even dare breathe loudly.
Now he truly understood.
The demons he had killed before…
Were nothing like this one.
Ryuya was on a completely different level.
Thanks to Ryuya's unique blood, the transformation proceeded rapidly.
When it ended—
"My Lord!"
The newly reborn demon knelt instinctively. Reverence toward Ryuya was etched into his very bones.
"Not bad. What's your name?" Ryuya examined him.
The frail body was gone. His injuries had vanished completely. He looked reborn.
"My Lord, my name is Qingshu."
"Qingshu. Good." Ryuya sat casually on a nearby stool.
"Go do what you want to do first. We'll talk after."
A cruel grin spread across Qingshu's face.
"Thank you, My Lord!"
He stepped toward Kaigaku.
Kaigaku could clearly feel it—
The violent killing intent.
The hatred.
This former scholar wanted his life.
"What a joke!"
Kaigaku roared, snatching up his wooden sword and holding it defensively before his chest.
"Even if you've become a demon, do you think trash like you can kill me?!"
...
Author's Note
This month's free fanfic uploaded on Patreon is:
Dragon Ball: Reborn as the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly!
If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, please consider joining my Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continued support!
— Shadow_demon_007