Demon? What is that?!
Overwhelmed by Kokushibo's presence, Imura felt his mind shutting down. Cold sweat instantly soaked his bandages as the feeling of death slowly crept over him. Imura knew he had only two choices: become this "demon" and live, or die right now.
Gritting his teeth, the blood vessels in Imura's eyes spread, and a look of desperate hope appeared on his face. "If I become what you call a demon, will I gain power? The power to hold a sword again!"
Kokushibo briefly scanned Imura's physical condition, then nodded slightly. "Become a demon, and you will not only regain the strength to hold a sword, but you will surpass it."
At these words, a ferocious expression twisted Imura's face. "Then do it!"
As he spoke, Imura's eyes widened. He hadn't even seen Kokushibo move across the room to appear before him. Could it be that if I become one of these so-called demons, I can gain this kind of power? Overjoyed, Imura's breathing grew ragged. He was already imagining himself, as a demon, going on a rampage and slaughtering Keizo and the others.
Kokushibo held his demonic blade horizontally across his palm and squeezed lightly. Muscle parted, and a trickle of crimson blood flowed from his palm. "Drink this. Endure the transformation, and you will be reborn." He held his hand over Imura's mouth and slowly tilted it.
The demon blood flowed in a thin stream. Without hesitation, Imura opened his mouth as wide as possible and drank it down.
"Urgh!"
After swallowing the blood, Imura's eyes shot open. He felt flames raging in his stomach, an agonizing pain as if his organs were being burned to ash. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, only to be instantly vaporized by his body's intense heat. His cells were continuously breaking down and reforming into a different kind of life form. Feeling the power growing within him, Imura clenched his jaw and endured.
Three hours later, his demonization was complete.
Kokushibo glanced at the transformed Imura and thought to himself, Three hours. Barely usable.
The Imura before him no longer resembled a human. His muscles bulged grotesquely, and his teeth had grown past his lips, jutting outwards. His eyes were crimson, and his face was covered in strange patterns. The wounds on his hands and feet had not only healed but were now covered in a layer of bone armor for defense.
This... is the power of a demon.
Imura flicked out his thick tongue and licked his lips. He could feel every cell in his body vibrating, as if celebrating his rebirth.
After explaining some of the rules of being a demon to Imura, Kokushibo gestured outside. "Someone has come for you."
With a savage grin, Imura reached out, grabbed a sword from inside the room, and with a single leap, crashed through the wall and outside.
At that moment, Awaga and a group of students were standing in the courtyard. Five minutes earlier, the student on night watch had discovered that the door to Imura's room was destroyed. Fearing the unknown, he hadn't rushed in but had instead informed Awaga. Awaga, also cautious, had gathered all the students to prepare for any unexpected events.
Imura landed in the courtyard with a thud, his appearance shocking everyone.
"Is that... senior Imura?!"
"Imura, what happened to you?!"
Faced with the confusion and disbelief of his father and fellow students, Imura just laughed. He could feel their fear, their awe, their terror. It was a testament to his power, the ultimate proof of his strength. He spread his arms, a manic grin on his face. "I have obtained a greater power! For this, I have cast aside my humanity!"
At first, Awaga refused to believe his son's words. But the thick, bloody aura emanating from him was undeniably real, completely devoid of anything human.
Gritting his teeth, Awaga looked at his son and roared, "Imura, do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
"Hah?" The demonized Imura sneered, showing no fear of his father. "What am I doing? I am, of course, getting stronger!"
With that, Imura stomped his foot and charged at Awaga and the others like a tank. The wind howled, dust flew, and a bloodthirsty smile spread across his face.
"Dodge!" Awaga drew his own sword and ordered his students to get back while he confronted Imura himself. Though he doted on his son, Awaga believed he could still distinguish right from wrong. The thing before him was just a monster wearing his son's skin.
He summoned strength into his old body, raised his blade high, and brought it down on his son's fist. In the next instant, Awaga's face turned deathly pale. His blade had cut through the skin, severed the muscle, and lodged deep in the bone. But that was all. From the creature's expression, the wound was barely a scratch.
Awaga strained, trying to pull his sword free, but it was stuck as if in a quagmire.
Hahhh...
A hot breath washed over him. Awaga's body stiffened. He turned his head slowly, like a rusted machine, and saw Imura's bone-armored fist.
POW!
The punch landed, and Awaga felt his face shatter. Blood poured from his orifices, his eyes bulged, and his old body couldn't withstand such a blow. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.
Seeing their master defeated with a single punch, the students looked at Imura with terror. But some looked at him with a fiery gaze. By giving up something insignificant, one could obtain immense power—power so great that it could easily defeat their own master. The Imura before them had opened up a new path.
Sensing the different reactions from the students, Imura suddenly spoke. "Those who want the same power as me, raise your hands!"
To the shock of the others, more than thirty percent of the students slowly raised their hands.
"My lord, do you think—" Imura began, but Kokushibo's voice came from the room.
"Fine. They were useless as humans, but perhaps they'll be of some use as demons."
After receiving Kokushibo's approval, Imura turned his gaze to the students who hadn't raised their hands. To him, they were no longer his fellow students. They were just food.
With a roar, Imura leaped upon them. Under the moonlight, the swordsmanship dojo, located in a remote part of town, underwent a brutal and bloody purge.
Chapter 81: Disaster in the Town, The Rampage of the Demonized Students
One day, while strolling through the streets, the Librarian overheard a strange conversation.
"Hey, don't you feel like something's been off lately?"
"What are you talking about? Everything seems normal to me."
"It's the students from the swordsmanship dojo! Haven't you noticed they haven't been around recently?"
The Librarian's brow twitched. He realized it had been some time since he'd seen any of them. Was it ten days ago? Or seven? Curious, he approached the two gossiping women and asked for more details.
He learned that the students hadn't been seen for five days. Even those who usually went home to visit their families had been silent for five days. This was highly unusual; those students loved to parade around town every day, showing off the strength of their dojo. Now, not only were they gone, but even the servants who usually handled supplies had vanished. It was as if the entire dojo had mysteriously disappeared.
Nodding his thanks to the women, the Librarian stroked his chin and walked towards the place where Keizo usually worked. He told Keizo what he'd heard, but Keizo told him not to worry. While Imura had a terrible reputation, Master Awaga was a highly respected figure, not just for his strength, but for his character and connections. It was because of him that the huge dojo could be built on the edge of town and attract so many students. If not for Awaga's influence, Imura and his thugs would have been dragged to the magistrate's office for a severe beating long ago.
"Awaga is probably taking this opportunity to properly discipline his students," Keizo concluded.
The Librarian didn't press the matter. If they were truly planning something devious, he wouldn't mind erasing them from the world. He waved his hand, signaling his departure.
"Hey, don't go! Since you're here, give me a hand with some work!" Keizo scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. Ever since he noticed the rapidly developing relationship between Koyuki and Hakuji, he had started taking on more jobs. He would rather work himself to the bone to save up more money. Perhaps this was what it felt like to save for a dowry.
"I am just an ordinary doctor. Have you ever seen a doctor doing this kind of manual labor?"
Hearing the Librarian's words, Keizo felt his face twitch uncontrollably. Right, right, you're just an ordinary doctor. An ordinary doctor who can intimidate me with his presence, shatter a steel sword with two fingers, and possesses swordsmanship far beyond the likes of Awaga.
With a look of resignation, Keizo knew his hope of getting help was gone.
The Librarian laughed at his expression. "I actually came to tell you something. Koyuki said today is her birthday and wants you to come home early." With that, he turned and headed towards the bustling market street. A birthday party couldn't be without presents, after all.
Keizo was stunned for a moment, then it hit him. After a quick mental calculation, he was shocked to realize that tonight was indeed his daughter's birthday. For a moment, this usually cheerful man was plunged into gloom. In previous years, Koyuki's birthday had always been a major headache. As a rough man, he had no idea what to buy for a girl.
As he stood there, arms folded and face full of worry, he remembered the direction the Librarian had headed. His eyes lit up. He quickly excused himself from his job and ran after him.
You're not getting away! I'm dragging you along to buy a present with me! The thought of the bewildered and conflicted look on the Librarian's face as they shopped together dispelled Keizo's gloom.
However, when he found the Librarian, he froze. The Librarian was already holding two bags, having clearly finished his shopping.
"H-how did you—" Keizo stammered, unable to believe it.
"Keizo, what are you doing here?" the Librarian asked, looking puzzled as he walked past and patted him on the shoulder. "If you're buying a gift, you'd better hurry. The market will be closing soon."
Though his tone was one of concern, Keizo couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Seeing the faint smile on the Librarian's face, he knew the man had done this on purpose just to see his flustered reaction.
He quickly grabbed the departing Librarian's arm. "Don't go! Since you're already done, you can give me some pointers on buying gifts."
With a small smile, the Librarian gently removed Keizo's hand. "As a father, what better gift could there be than you being at her birthday party?" With that, he waved and left the market, leaving Keizo alone to ponder his words.
As night fell, the group gathered at the Soryu Dojo for a grand birthday party for Koyuki. After a period of medicinal treatment, her physical condition was much better than when they had first arrived. Wearing a pointed birthday hat, her face was beaming with joy. As she accepted her gifts, she bowed her thanks, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. Since her mother's death, she hadn't felt this happy in a very long time.
Watching his happy daughter, a sense of deep satisfaction filled Keizo. Allowing the Librarian and the others to stay at the Soryu Dojo was truly the best decision he had ever made.
With a laugh, the Librarian slapped Hakuji on the back, seemingly encouraging him to say something. Just then, his expression suddenly changed. His brow furrowed, and the smile vanished from his face.
Tamayo, sitting beside him, noticed his change in demeanor and looked at him questioningly. The Librarian gave her a slight nod and a hand signal, telling her not to alarm the others.
Making an excuse to leave the room, the Librarian leaped onto the roof and looked out over the town. Under the cover of night, a large group of bizarre creatures had appeared in the bustling streets. They had crimson eyes, a foul stench, and made no effort to hide their craving for human flesh. From their tattered clothes, he could just barely recognize them.
They were all students from the swordsmanship dojo. Or rather, they had been students when they were human.
They've all been turned into demons.
Though questions swirled in his mind, now was not the time for contemplation. His right hand went to his waist, and his Nichirin Sword was already drawn.
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