His hair settled neatly after being wild and spiky with black strands tipped in crimson; he felt stronger now, more complete, as hunger sharpened instead of fading.
One of the remaining thugs lunged at him with a knife, but Taotie caught it bare-handed, the metal crumbling like it had been chewed apart while Gluttonous Rend continued its work at low power.
He yanked the man closer and bit down on his shoulder, not killing him instantly but drawing out cursed energy and life force while the thug screamed and thrashed around helplessly. The taste was nothingspecial; too salty from fear and cheap alcohol but it was enough.
As Taotie swallowed the last remnants of his meal, he felt the thug's clothes shift and reform around him in a ripple of cursed energy. Suddenly, he was clad in a sleek black leather jacket with subtle red lining and faint fang engravings along the cuffs and collar.
Dark, fitted jeans and sturdy boots completed the look, more suited to a dangerous street king than a thousand-year-old curse. The outfit fit him perfectly, modern and intimidating; the leather creaked softly as he moved, while the red accents glinted in the light like fresh blood.
Stepping back from the now-empty space where the thug had been, Taotie turned toward a large glass window of anearby closed shop.
Using its reflection for the first time since awakening, he took in his new appearance. The man staring back was tall, easily over six foot five, with a lean yet powerfully built frame that exuded raw predatory strength rather than bulk.
His skin was pale with a faint crimson undertone that made him almost luminous under the streetlights. Old bite scars had transformed into elegant, glowing red tattoo patterns tracing across his chest, down his arms, and along one side of his face, living art reminiscent of the Heian Era itself, symbols of consumption and endless hunger woven into something both beautiful and terrifying.
His eyes were piercingly red, one slightly more intense than the other and his wild black hair fell in spiky strands tippedwith crimson, framing sharp features and a wide fanged grin that never quite left his face. He looked like a king stepping out of legend into the modern world: dangerous, charismatic, and utterly merciless.
Kurogane had remained at a distance during the brief fight but now dropped to his knees amid blood and fading screams from the last thug still trying to crawl away.
"My lord," he said steadily, though respect filled his voice, a respect born from centuries of waiting.
"I am Kurogane, your last loyal subordinate who has guarded the secrets of the Fangs through every generation since the Heian Era. I have hidden in shadows, preserved rituals, and waited for this day when I could bring you back using the blood of your vessel. The world may have changed, but my loyalty remains unshaken. I will serve as your guide, scout, your hands in thisnew age if you allow it. Whatever you need, preparations or information,I will provide without question or hesitation."
Taotie turned away from his reflection as his new jacket settled comfortably on his shoulders.
He approached Kurogane and looked down at him thoughtfully before placing a hand lightly on Kurogane's shoulder, a touch heavy with promise should that loyalty ever waver.
"Chef," Taotie said, his voice a mix of warmth and mockery, the word rolling off his tongue as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment to use it.
"That's what I'll call you from now on. Chef. Because that's what you are, aren't you? My personal chef in this vast new kitchenof a world. You set the table with that attendant in the morgue, pointed me toward these little snacks in the alley, and you speak like someone who knows how to keep the feast going. I appreciate that. It shows initiative, and initiative makes everything run smoother.
But listen closely, Chef; I'm only going to say this once. Cook well. Bring me the right ingredients, keep the kitchen clean, and ensure every plate that reaches my table is worth my time. Do that, and you might even get to enjoy the banquet from a seat at the edge of the hall instead of becoming one of the courses yourself. Fail me, hesitate or let hunger linger too long and you'll find yourself as the next ingredient on my menu. Simple as that. No hard feelings; everything ends up on the table eventually.
Now tell me, what else is on tonight's menu? I'm just getting started, and this newbody is finally remembering what it feels like to really move."
Kurogane slowly rose to his feet, nodding in understanding as he felt the weight of both title and warning settle over him.
Before he could respond, a low growl echoed from deeper within the shadows at the end of the alley, a Grade 2 curse slithered into view, a grotesque mass of limbs and eyes drawn by fresh blood and cursed energy from their earlier encounter.
This one was larger than its low-grade counterparts, sporting jagged teeth and tendrils that whipped through the air as it lunged forward, sensing an easy meal in Kurogane and Taotie.
Taotie's grin widened as he steppedforward without hesitation. "Perfect timing," he remarked casually. "A proper second course to round out our appetizers."
The curse swung a massive tendril at him, but Taotie raised one hand and activated Gluttonous Rend again, this time allowing more power to flow through him as invisible teeth tore into its side, pulling chunks straight toward mouths opening across his arms and shoulders.
The curse screamed in protest but realized too late it was trapped. Taotie walked right into its attack; he let those tendrils wrap around him while his armor-like mouths chewed through them instantly, devouring both cursed energy and flesh alike.
He seized hold of its main body withboth hands before opening a larger mouth across his chest; with one decisive bite downwards, he swallowed the entire Grade 2 curse whole in a single deliberate motion, leaving nothing behind but a faint trail of dissipating energy and a satisfied burp from Taotie as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
The power rushed through him, a clean boost that made the red tattoos glow brighter for a moment and left him feeling even more alive, more complete in this new era.