It was a heteromorphic demon shaped like an octopus, covered from head to toe in tentacles—at least twenty of them.
The tentacles could not only extend and retract at will but also looked thick and powerful, capable of delivering a suffocating, python-like constriction.
'This guy is so ugly! Judging by its appearance, it must be a heteromorphic demon, right?'
Looking at the tentacled demon's appearance, Ren secretly estimated its strength.
The strength of evil demons could generally be divided into three ranks, from weakest to strongest: Ordinary Demons, Heteromorphic Demons, and Ability Demons.
Ordinary Demons possessed physical strength and regeneration far beyond humans but retained a human image and characteristics. Once an Ordinary Demon consumed enough flesh and blood, they would transform into a Heteromorphic Demon.
Heteromorphic Demons possessed even stronger physiques, and their bodies no longer showed human characteristics; they were essentially talking beasts. The Hand Demon on Mount Fujikasane was a prime example of a Heteromorphic Demon.
Above the Heteromorphic Demons were the Ability Demons. Demons of this level could use sorcery known as "Blood Demon Arts," making them much more difficult to deal with than Heteromorphic Demons.
Kibutsuji Muzan's Twelve Kizuki were the twelve strongest demons, and as for Muzan himself—the progenitor of demons—he was the undisputed Demon King!
Upon seeing Ren jump into the lake, the tentacle demon was initially stunned, but then burst into maniacal laughter.
"Hahaha, idiot! To think you'd dare jump into the lake yourself. You refuse the road to Heaven and barge into the gateless depths of Hell!"
"I hate wasting food the most. I always clean every grain of rice from my bowl!"
"Since you jumped in so willingly, I shall thoroughly enjoy your flesh and blood!"
As it spoke, the twenty tentacles suddenly elongated, their tips transforming into sharp blades.
Slicing through the water, they attacked Ren from all four directions—front, back, left, and right—aiming directly for his throat and internal organs.
Those tentacles attacked with extreme speed and were as agile as swimming snakes.
Seeing the ferocious attack, Ren immediately drew his sword and swept it out. The heavy Nichirin Sword continuously slashed horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, stabbing and countering within the water. The sword energy surged like a howling hurricane!
"Wind Combat Technique: Whirlwind Flurry!"
Ren roared in his heart. Only the sounds of violent water displacement and flesh being cleaved could be heard.
In an instant, the incoming tentacles were all severed by his sword strokes, eventually turning into ash. However, there was no smile on Ren's face as he thought to himself.
'I see. In the water, this guy is indeed very difficult to deal with!'
In the lake water, not only could Ren not breathe, but the resistance of the water also significantly reduced his mobility.
Furthermore, it was winter. Although the Black Water Lake wasn't frozen, it was cold enough to give him goosebumps all over his body.
'Fortunately, my lung capacity is far beyond that of an ordinary person. Otherwise, I'm afraid I would have drowned from lack of oxygen by now...'
'Wait a minute. This demon doesn't know that my lung capacity is much stronger than a normal human's. Maybe I can use that!'
A flash of inspiration struck Ren. He immediately swam urgently toward the surface, feigning distress as if he couldn't breathe.
"Haha, running out of oxygen now? I knew it! You lot who rely on Breathing Styles can't fight me in the water for long!"
The tentacle demon laughed loudly. Seeing Ren frantically trying to climb onto the wooden boat, a ferocious grin appeared on its face.
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
"Be a good boy and become my food!"
As soon as the words fell, the tentacle demon suddenly accelerated, swimming rapidly toward Ren like a giant deep-sea octopus.
It had to be said that in the water, this guy was truly in his element. In just a few breaths, the tentacle demon arrived in front of Ren, shooting out all of its fully regenerated tentacles!
For a moment, it was as if a tsunami had occurred in the lake. The tentacles swept in with giant waves; even Kocho Shinobu on the surface could see a vortex of black water in the center of the lake.
In that split second, seeing the tentacle demon attacking with full force, a smile of "successful scheme" appeared on Ren's face. He immediately thrust his sword toward the demon's throat.
This strike was fast as lightning and carried the momentum of a thunderbolt; the tentacle demon had no time to dodge.
Only then did he realize he had been tricked. While cursing Ren's cunning in his heart, he quickly whipped his tentacles around to shield his body.
"What a cunning brat. But it doesn't matter. In the water, the speed and power of your sword swing will be affected. In the end, you will still die by my hand."
Ren remained unmoved by these words. He simply thrust his sword at the tentacle demon, channeling all his strength into the heavy Nichirin Sword. In an instant, a brilliant red light burst forth!
The heavy Nichirin Sword transformed into a Crimson Blade, thrusting straight toward the tentacle demon's throat in Ren's hand.
Although the freezing lake water would lower the temperature of the Crimson Blade, it was enough to slay the demon before him.
"The night is deep; disappear in silence!"
"Wind Combat Technique: Crimson Blade — Fire Dance Whirlwind!"
"What is that?"
Seeing Ren's blazing heavy sword, the tentacle demon's eyes flickered with uncertainty. A memory that did not belong to him suddenly surfaced in his mind, and the Crimson Blade before him made him feel the terror of death.
Pu!
amidst his shock, Ren had already swung his sword and severed his throat, separating his head from his body, sending him gradually toward destruction.
"Did I... lose?"
"How can that be? To think I would lose to a brat in the water..."
Wearing an expression of unwillingness, the tentacle demon died completely.
However, Ren was in no hurry to surface. With his lung capacity, he could hold his breath underwater for at least twenty minutes. Even performing combat techniques wouldn't consume too much oxygen.
He dove to the bottom of the lake and looked at the fish swimming about. Perhaps because no one had fished in the lake for too long, there were many plump, juicy carp.
Ren spotted a large fish, one meter long and weighing eight or nine jin. He immediately grabbed it in his hand. Although the carp's scales were slippery, it couldn't escape his palm in the face of absolute strength.
After catching the carp, Ren finally surfaced and climbed onto the wooden boat.
"You finally came out! You scared me to death. I thought you were killed by that demon! You can't act on your own like that next time, or see how I deal with you! Do you hear me?"
Seeing Ren swim to the surface, Kocho Shinobu shouted angrily, though she sighed with relief in her heart.
"Um, Ms. Shinobu, dare I ask, how exactly would you deal with me?"
"..."
Looking at Ren's cheeky expression, Kocho Shinobu was momentarily stunned.
'Yeah, I really don't seem to have any way to handle this guy. I can't beat him, I can't control him. If I call him a smelly small fry or a lolicon, I'm afraid he'll enjoy it. What else can I do?'
"Ahem, let's not talk about that. Where is that tentacle bastard? And what's with this big carp?" Kocho Shinobu forcibly changed the subject, nagging incessantly like Ren's mother.
"I'm not trying to lecture you, but do you know what we are here for? We are here to slay demons, not to catch fish!"
"I've already killed the tentacle demon!"
"Huh?"
Kocho Shinobu was startled again, thinking, 'Isn't that too fast? From the time Ren jumped into the lake to the time he came out, has it even been more than three minutes?'
"Is that so? That's good then! So what's with this big carp?"
"This is something I prepared for Keiko. Keiko's brother wanted to earn money for her medicine by fishing, didn't he? Now her brother has passed away, but at the very least, we who are living should help him fulfill his dying wish."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]