Chapter 94: Ryou vs [???]

I made my way to another part of the cave connected to the Kodoku pit, descending a set of carved stone stairs leading to the place where I would bathe. I released a sigh I'd been holding since entering the cave, taking in the sight of the bathing pit. Twenty feet long and wide and forty feet deep, it was connected to the Kodoku pit through bamboo pipes, currently closed off by a barrier. The pit was carved to funnel blood towards the center, an intentional design to focus its potency.

I sat on the edge, staring down at my reflection in the half-filled pit. I'd completed this process twice already, each time altering the contents of the Kodoku pit. First, I'd used Stray Devils with a few Youkai that had an particular foulness about them. The second time, I'd mixed the contents evenly, half Stray Devils and half Youkai. 'This time, it's one Youkai with the rest as Strays.' I mused, rubbing my temples.

The principle behind a Kodoku is to confine venomous insects in a jar and let them kill each other until only one survives. That lone survivor is said to carry a potent curse or good luck. 'Reading does expand one's knowledge in the oddest ways.' I thought, rising at the sound of the fighting waning. Climbing the steps, I steeled myself, mulling over what I was about to do. 'Bathing in the blood of Devils and Youkai might top all of my reckless plans.'

As I neared the edge of the Kodoku pit, I looked down to see two remaining figures still locked in combat, an injured aging kappa and a towering Stray Devil. I watched as Kip Kap suddenly blitzed forward, aiming for the Stray's unguarded chest. In a flash, he released a blast of energy that erupted through the devil's heart, ending the battle.

I began a slow clap, drawing the exhausted Kappa's attention. "Congrats. Can't believe you managed that while holding back~"

The Kappa blitzed to the other side of the barrier where I stood, glaring with a low growl that didn't suit its usual demeanor. "Once I break through this barrier, I'll tear you in half! The wielder of Honjo Masamune shouldn't be doing something so vile!"

I snorted, pulling a small piece of human skull from my pocket. "Oh, really? Because from where I stand, even if you drop the Kappa disguise, you're too injured to take me on."

It froze, realization dawning as it understood I knew the truth. "H-how?"

I smirked, holding up the piece of skull to my nose, watching its eyes follow it as I spoke. "While my senses may not be as sharp as my ancestor's, they're good enough. I'll cut you some slack though, considering how ancient you are, I suppose you're not as good at burying things anymore, right... Baka~ neko?"

At my words, the one-armed, hunched figure of the old Kappa began to morph. Gone was the wrinkled, moss-covered skin, replaced by the towering, bipedal form of a humanoid cat, a Bakeneko fitting for this world. Standing over seven feet tall, its muscular frame was barely concealed beneath its aged, knotted fur, and it still lacked its left arm. Its orange eyes locked onto me, red markings blazing across its forehead as it snarled.

It lifted its remaining hand, a paw tipped with claws as long as my head, and slashed fiercely at the barrier between us.

Nothing happened aside from a ripple across the barrier. I tilted my head. "Since you seem busy trying to break through, let me tell you what I found while digging around your place."

The creature let out a roar, its frustration mounting as it slashed repeatedly at the barrier. I noticed it wasn't using any Youjutsu. 'interesting.' "It started off small." I continued. "but as we trained together, I began to notice a smell, a faint lingering scent of a cat. It was so subtle I thought something might be wrong with me. So, I went to my doctor to check it out, and she had something that helped me deduce that you weren't a Kappa after all."

Realizing its slashes were ineffective, the Bakeneko began bashing against the barrier with its entire body, desperation evident in each impact.

"She told me there was a faint aura of energy around Eri." I frowned, unsheathing Honjo Masamune. I used Shundō through the barrier and delivered a sharp kick to the Bakeneko's stomach, sending it tumbling back into the pit. I leapt down, landing in the shallow pool of blood that now swirled around my ankles, and rested Honjo Masamune on my shoulder as I approached the creature, now scrambling to its feet.

"You're the one who killed the previous wielders of both Muramasa and Honjo Masamune, aren't you?"

It crouched low while running, using its arm for balance, before lunging toward me with explosive speed. "So what?! It's not like you can even use that sword!" it bellowed. As it reached me, it swiped with its claws. I leaned back on one leg, swinging Honjo Masamune in a swift arc, slicing clean through its right arm with no resistance. The Bakeneko staggered back, retreating to the far side of the pit, staring at the clean cut stump in disbelief.

"H-how? You're not supposed to be able to wield it!"

I snorted, glancing at the unblemished blade. 'Not a drop of blood on it.' I mused, then leveled my gaze at the creature. "I can't wield it in the conventional sense, no. The only reason you're able to be cut at all is because of your past with its wielders."

It growled, anger flaring in its eyes as it lunged again, this time gathering energy, the aura of Senjutsu swirling around it. I noticed a glowing orange sphere forming in its mouth as it prepared a powerful attack.

"I'll kill you and feast on your flesh until only bones remain!"

'Can't have that going off here.' I activated Shundō, closing the distance before it could react, and drove Honjo Masamune straight into its chest, right where the heart was. The energy orb shattered into particles of light as it looked down at the blade impaling it, eyes wide with shock.

"H-how…?" it coughed, blood trickling from its mouth. I ripped the blade free, then severed its legs in one fluid motion, watching as it collapsed into the pooling blood below. Kneeling beside its head, I met its fading gaze.

"I've always been fast, my body just needed time to adjust to its power." I said, only half-truthfully. The Blood River had originally altered my body with cursed magic, but now with cursed magic gone, my body was altering to properly handle Reiatsu instead.

The Bakeneko turned its gaze toward the cavern ceiling, a bitter smile crossing its face. "I… I see… So this… is my karma, isn't it? Sun Wukong…?"

My eyes widened briefly before I shook it off. "Why did you kill the previous wielders?"

It wheezed, blood flowing faster from its wounds as its life ebbed away. "Th-they tasted… so pure…"

I hummed, placing my hand on its chest as it continued to weaken. "Do you want to live?"

Its eyes flickered with hope, but before it could answer, I plunged my hand into its failing heart and tore it out in one swift movement.

"Oops, that's out of my paygrade." I said with a smirk, watching the last glimmer of life leave its eyes.