Chapter 35: Bang!
Doma stood where he was, making no move to give chase.
He simply watched the direction in which Ryuji and the Demon Slayer Corps Members had departed, a thin layer of frost, carrying a faint, mocking smile, appearing in his eyes.
In his eyes, those Demon Slayer Corps Members were no different from the dust by the side of the road.
They weren't even worthy of being killed by his own hands.
If he hadn't encountered such a beautiful and fun toy like Ryuji, he wouldn't have spared a single glance at those ugly fellows.
"Sigh, Lord Muzan is going to scold me again..."
He sighed softly, yet his tone held no trace of fear; instead, it carried a hint of confusion. His fingertips brushed against his already-healed cheek, the skin feeling as smooth as it had been before.
"It's truly hard to understand. Why is he always so worked up? Hmm... this burning and violent emotion must be what they call 'anger,' right?"
Thinking about it, he seemed to have discovered something: "Wait, does Akaza feel angry every day? After all, he is always so hot-headed and violent..."
He tilted his head, no longer bothering to think about such taxing matters.
His rainbow-colored pupils shifted slightly, reflecting a child-like purity: "What was that thing wrapped around that black fist? How interesting..."
His gaze dropped, settling on a few frozen, dark-red bloodstains on the ice pillars. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile blossomed like a flower.
"However, since he's been poisoned and my blood remains in his body... it seems I'll soon have one more colleague. I'll just ask him then."
His tone was lighthearted, as if he were looking forward to an upcoming fair.
"This way, Lord Muzan should also recognize my efforts, right? After all..."
His smile grew even more radiant, though those rainbow-colored eyes remained empty, devoid of a single trace of sincerity.
"Someone who is good-looking and can entertain me to my heart's content isn't someone you encounter just anywhere."
"Ah, I'm really looking forward to it!"
He suddenly closed his fan and lightly pressed it against his chin. "I wonder what kind of expression Akaza will make when I give him such an interesting toy?"
"Will he smile at me?"
He talked to himself, his voice carrying a slight tremor of anticipation. "He probably will... after all, Akaza likes strong Martial Artists the most."
"Honestly, I can hardly wait."
Doma closed his fan with satisfaction.
He hoped this human who called herself a Saintess would be a bit better looking... otherwise, he might get Life Qi.
"Yes, Life Qi."
He turned around and, with light steps that seemed like a dance, he walked south toward the Eternal Paradise Cult.
The sound of him humming a little tune drifted through the wind.
On the other side, Ryuji and the Demon Slayer Corps Members were running with all their might, as if trying to squeeze every last bit of air out of their lungs.
He didn't dare stop.
The oppressive pressure of the upper rank two, like a maggot in his bones, still loomed over his heart.
The wound on his left shoulder had long since been frozen, so he felt no pain, but that chill was surging frantically through his blood vessels toward every part of his body.
So cold.
His body was becoming heavier and heavier.
Every breath felt like inhaling ice shards, and his lungs burned with pain.
"Ugh..."
Arai Daisuke, who was on his shoulder, was jolted awake by the violent bumping. He opened his eyes to see Ryuji's bloodless profile.
Just as he was about to speak, a dull thud suddenly came from ahead.
A Demon Slayer Corps Member fell flat on the ground, gasping for air as his chest heaved violently. "You guys... go on... I really... can't move anymore..."
Running at full speed while pushing the Breathing Technique to its limit was a devastating drain on physical strength.
Moreover, their lungs had long been ravaged by the invading cold, and every breath brought the stinging pain of ice crystals rubbing against tissue.
To have held out until now was already a testament to their firm willpower.
Seeing this, Ryuji shouted hoarsely, "Don't stop! The opponent is Upper Rank Two and is extremely fast. We haven't managed to run out of—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt the world spinning.
The ground seemed to stand upright, and the figures around him began to tilt and flip.
He collapsed forward without warning, and Arai Daisuke was thrown from his shoulder, hitting the ground hard.
"Lord Ryuji!"
The surrounding Demon Slayer Corps Members were pale with fright and quickly gathered around him.
They saw Ryuji curled up on the ground, shivering violently, his teeth chattering with a clicking sound.
A thin layer of ice crystals was spreading outward from the wound on his left shoulder at a visible rate. Beneath the skin, dark purple veins crawled like venomous snakes.
That was a sign of poisoning.
"It's a Blood Demon Art... How can this be, Lord Ryuji..."
One member reached out to support him but was pushed back by the bone-chilling cold, his eyes instantly turning red.
Everyone froze in place, their faces filled with sorrow and despair.
That was the Blood Demon Art of Upper Rank Two.
It was a power that even the Hashira find difficult to contend with... The only reason they had been able to escape this far was because Ryuji had fought with his life.
"If we hadn't come, maybe Lord Ryuji could have escaped..."
"It's like this again. I really am a useless person."
"Damn it! Why can't I be a little stronger! Why can't I help!"
Some sat paralyzed on the ground, sinking into deep self-reproach, while others knelt, frantically pounding the earth, hating themselves for being so weak.
"Everyone, stand up!"
Arai Daisuke, with only one arm remaining, gritted his teeth and stood up from the ground. Looking at his distraught teammates, he shouted with red-rimmed eyes:
"We haven't lost yet, and we aren't dead! Lord Ryuji would never want us to be like this!"
He looked at the still-shivering Ryuji, wanting to pick him up and take him for treatment.
At this moment, Ryuji had fallen into an endless darkness where there was no sound, no light, and no direction.
He couldn't feel his body, and he couldn't even perceive the passage of time.
Just then, a light shone in the darkness.
They were a pair of vertical, cat-like blood-red pupils.
Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Become a demon."
A cold, arrogant, and unquestionable voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Become a part of me, and you shall obtain eternal life as well as endless power."
As soon as the voice fell, the darkness before him began to twist and change.
He saw a familiar office building, a boss in a suit bowing and scraping to him, the girls who used to ignore him now crying and begging for a glance, and everyone's envious eyes... The illusion changed again.
It was a warm little room lit with an orange light, and the aroma of food wafted toward him.
"You're back! Quickly wash your hands and eat. I made your favorite braised pork today."
A gentle female voice spoke.
It was Mother.
Papa was sitting on the sofa reading a book. Seeing him, he pushed up his glasses and gave a gentle smile.
"You're back? Was work tiring?"
Tears instantly blurred Ryuji's consciousness.
He wanted to rush over and hug them, but his body wouldn't move.
"Oh my, what a touching scene."
Doma's figure appeared gracefully beside him, still wearing that same cynical, smiling face.
"See, as long as you nod and become a demon, all of this will be yours. Eternal life will allow you to stay with them forever."
"Besides, there are many benefits to becoming a demon."
Doma counted on his fingers, starting to introduce them like a salesman:
"Look, you're so badly injured right now because human bodies are very fragile. If you become a demon, you won't get hurt. Even if your arms or legs are cut off, they'll grow back immediately."
"You won't have to practice hard anymore either. You'll only need to eat a few humans to gain immense power."
"Most importantly, you'll never grow old or become ugly..."
He leaned into Ryuji's ear and lightly tapped his cheek with his fan, his tone innocent yet cruel: "Of course, if you don't agree... you'll die. You'll be frozen into ice bit by bit and then shatter. It's very painful."
Ryuji was silent for a moment, then he sighed softly and slowly walked toward Doma step by step.
"Oh? Have you figured it out? What a smart child."
Doma clapped his hands happily. Although he didn't know what happiness felt like, he felt that he should appear happy at a time like this.
However.
Just as Ryuji reached him.
He raised his hand.
A heavy punch slammed ruthlessly into Doma's face.
Bang!
Doma's phantom shattered at the impact.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 40+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FictionsTL