Seeing Aoki's reaction, Kyōkai's anger intensified.
"Why? Why did you interfere with my eating people? Damn it! You deserve to die! I'll kill you!"
Aoki looked at Kyōkai and blurted out, "Why are you so weak?"
Kyōkai's eyes instantly turned red.
He had been looked down upon his entire life, and becoming a demon became his Achilles' heel.
"I'm not saying your strength is really weak, but your strength hasn't reached the standard of a Lower Moon."
The more Aoki explained, the uglier Kyōkai's expression became.
"I know you, you're a traitor! If I kill you, I won't have to worry about being removed from that person's list, right? Maybe I can even be given more blood, become stronger, and get a higher ranking!"
Kyōkai raised his arm, his gaze towards Aoki filled with killing intent.
"Shousu, strike the drum!"
He went all out from the start.
Thump!
Kyōkai first struck the drum on his chest heavily.
Five claw-shaped attacks, like long swords, slashed towards Aoki.
Thump thump!
Almost simultaneously, he struck the drums on his right shoulder and left leg, causing the room to flip.
Uei Masamiko, who had been huddled in a corner silently observing the situation, suddenly found herself suspended in mid-air.
Aoki also lost his balance and plummeted, five claw-shaped attacks following him relentlessly, but he showed no panic.
"A spatial-type Blood Demon Art."
This was the first spatial-type Blood Demon Art he had encountered besides his own "spatial teleportation."
It combined attack, control, and evasion—quite interesting.
Perhaps this was why Kibutsuji Muzan promoted Kyōkai to Lower Moon Six.
With a thought, Aoki's figure vanished abruptly.
"Huh? Where did he go?"
Before Kyōkai could react, everything went dark.
"Aoki Style, Death's Bane!"
Aoki delivered a punch, severing Kyōkai's right hand, sending it flying along with the drum attached.
Kyōkai's face paled as he tried to strike the drum on his chest.
But the moment he moved, he collided with Aoki's elbow, as if the two had planned it.
Crack!
His left hand snapped.
Normally, such a minor injury would heal in less than a second.
But now, it took him less than half a second.
Thump thump thump!
Aoki's attacks came one after another, fluid and precise, while Kyōkai seemed to be cooperating, constantly offering his head and arms to take the blows.
Boom!
Kyōkai's head exploded, his defenses completely shattered.
Aoki's movements changed.
"Aoki Style, Storm!"
The fluid, interconnected attacks suddenly transformed into a raging, towering wave.
Thump!
His shattered body flew out, crashing heavily into the wall, then slamming to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
All his vital joints and muscles were broken and torn, their regenerative abilities suppressed.
Kyōkai lay on the ground, his muscles twitching, completely unable to move.
"Blood Demon Art is indeed interesting, but it's terrible in other aspects, especially in close combat; he's practically clueless."
Aoki shook his head, walked over, and extended his palm.
Kyōkai's battered body twisted and softened, slowly being swallowed by an invisible vortex.
[Killed Lower Moon Six, gained 150 experience points.]
[Congratulations on leveling up!]
"Only 150 experience points? That's too... um?"
Aoki suddenly froze.
After pondering for a moment, he slowly closed his eyes and activated "Spatial Shuttle."
Instead of moving elsewhere, he instantly flipped himself upside down, feet up, head down, before crashing heavily to the ground.
The loud noise startled Uei Mamiko, who hesitated for a moment before running over.
"S-Sir, are you alright?"
"I'm fine!"
Aoki waved his hand, his eyes slightly brightening: "So that's how it works."
He had discovered another secret of "Demon Devouring. "
Using "Demon Devouring" to devour evil spirits not only provided energy but also strengthened himself.
He had previously thought it only increased his attributes slightly, but now he realized it was more than that.
Devouring a spirit with a spatial-type Blood Demon Art could also strengthen his Blood Demon Art—"Spatial Shuttle"!
After devouring Kyogai, "Spatial Shuttle" gained the ability to adjust his body's orientation, including forward, backward, up, down, left, and right, and it didn't depend on his field of vision.
The change itself didn't have a significant impact; more importantly, it pointed him in a direction.
A direction that, besides increasing intelligence and skill levels, could strengthen his Blood Demon Art.
"It's a pity there are so few demons with space-type Blood Demon Arts."
Aoki could only think of Nakime, who controlled the Infinity Castle.
Unfortunately, the Infinity Castle was an alternate dimension,
not in this world.
Without Muzan Kibutsuji's permission, it was impossible to enter.
Of course, even if Muzan invited him now, he would refuse without hesitation.
That was Muzan's lair; going there now would be like offering himself up as cannon fodder.
Aoki put aside his distracting thoughts and looked at the woman beside him: "Are you injured?"
Kamii Masamiko shook her head thankfully: "I was lucky; I wasn't seriously injured."
Aoki looked out the window: "It's almost dawn. It's safe here for now. You can leave after dawn."
The Drum House was Kyogai's territory; normally, no other demons would come here.
In the original story, the reason other demons were there was because Kyogai captured a rare-blooded human, which lured them to the Drum House.
Aoki pointed to the corpse on the ground: "That person had some money on him, you can take it. There should be other corpses in this house, you can look for them too."
Kamii Mamiko was filled with gratitude: "I understand."
She thought she was doomed, but unexpectedly, she had survived. She was filled with gratitude and relief.
However, she also had to face the reality.
The house was damaged and needed repairs. Although she wasn't seriously injured, her clothes were badly torn and probably unwearable, which would also cost money.
She probably wouldn't be able to go to work today.
These problems didn't sound serious, but for their already struggling family, they were a major blow.
Aoki stood up: "When you get back, try to plant wisteria flowers in the house, or light a wisteria incense burner at night to ward off ghost attacks."
Kamii Mamiko quickly said: "Please tell me your name, I will pray for you every day when we get back."
"No need for that."
Aoki shook his head, and his figure disappeared silently.
Uei Mamiko paused, then bowed and said, "May your martial arts prowess be excellent."
She gritted her teeth, first finding the money pouch on the corpse, then searching the house.
After a search, she found two more money pouches.
Although they weren't much together, it was enough for them to get through this difficult time.
By then, it was just getting light.
Uei Mamiko hurriedly left, returning home close to noon.
Clang!
Uei Etsuo dropped the firewood in his hands, staring blankly at Uei Mamiko.
Uei Mamiko hugged him tightly.
Uei Etsuo's eyes instantly reddened.
"Mom..."
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(End of Chapter)