Chapter 15:- The punishment

Aoki was breathing rapidly, each exhale forming a white mist that emitted intense heat.

He didn't know if the demons had caught up, so he could only run as far as possible.

Suddenly, the violent power within him dissipated, leaving him with a crushing weakness, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant.

Aoki's legs gave out, and he collapsed heavily. Momentum carried him forward, rolling until he slammed into a rock.

After a few seconds, his numb mind began to clear.

"Huff, huff... Why do the aftereffects of 'Blood Boiling' feel worse now than when I was still human?"

He gasped for air. "No, I can't stay here. If they come back, they'll find me easily."

With great effort, Aoki lifted his head and saw a river in front of him.

Though the stream was narrow, its water level was high, and the current was swift and turbulent.

"Thank the gods," he whispered weakly, a faint smile forming. He didn't have the strength to jump, so he struggled to roll into the water.

Splash!

The river's current caught him, and he was swiftly carried downstream, his speed increasing with the flow.

[Ding Dong.]

"Escape from Death" completed. The reward has been issued.

*Congratulations on your upgrade.*

The system's notification was faint in his ears, but Aoki lacked the energy to check it. He closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

…

Back at the battlefield, the bull-headed demon witnessed a strange sight.

Mukago was self-mutilating!

"What are you doing? The target has escaped!" he bellowed.

Mukago was more enraged. "Do you think I want to? His attack has a strange power that prevents my body from regenerating. I almost died!"

She sliced another piece of flesh from her shoulder, and though the wound began to heal, she grew paler.

"Prevents regeneration?"

The bull-headed demon was taken aback, observing Mukago's still mangled body. He believed her and softened his tone.

"How do we report this to that adult?"

"We did our best. He shouldn't blame us, right?" Mukago's voice wavered with worry.

The bull-headed demon growled, "Next time we meet, I'll kill him!"

Mukago remained silent, tending to her wounds.

She hoped never to see Aoki again. The ability to halt regeneration was terrifying. When he had pinned her down earlier, she had truly felt death's approach.

To her, survival was paramount.

"You let the target escape?"

A low voice suddenly resonated.

Mukago and the bull-headed demon froze.

The voice was right beside them, though they hadn't sensed its presence.

Slowly, they turned to see a figure standing behind them. He wore a kimono adorned with purple snake patterns and black spots. His long crimson hair was tied in a high ponytail, and red markings adorned his forehead and neck. A long sword hung at his waist. He resembled a human swordsman, save for one striking feature.

His face bore six eyes. The irises of the central pair were inscribed with "Upper Rank" and "One." He exuded an overwhelming aura of authority.

Mukago and the bull-headed demon trembled, gripped by fear.

"An Upper Rank One!"

…

At the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji stood on a high platform, gazing down at Mukago and the bull-headed demon with emotionless eyes.

The two demons knelt, sweating and trembling.

"Did you capture the target?" Muzan asked, his voice calm, revealing nothing of his mood.

The bull-headed demon looked up, pleading, "Master, don't blame me! It's Mukago's fault. She failed to intercept the target, letting him escape!"

Mukago's expression shifted from astonishment to deep resentment.

"Master, that demon has a power that stops our regeneration!"

She pointed at the bull-headed demon. "It's his fault! He didn't intercept the target when I was injured, allowing him to escape!"

The bull-headed demon growled, "Intercepting the target was your responsibility!"

"Silence! Did I permit you to speak?"

Muzan's cold command was followed by a terrifying pressure.

A shockwave of force made both demons vomit blood as their skin split and their bodies were covered in wounds.

Muzan's arm transformed into a thick, fleshy appendage, ending in a gaping maw that bit down on the bull-headed demon.

"I must blame Mukago! It's not easy being one of the Twelve Kizuki; I mustn't die here!"

"How did he know?" the bull-headed demon thought in shock, his heart sinking. This was exactly what he had been thinking.

Muzan's voice cut through his thoughts, "How did he know?"

"Damn it! He can read my mind!" The bull-headed demon's thoughts raced as a chill spread through him.

"Damn it? You truly deserve to die," Muzan declared coldly.

Crunch!

The maw on Muzan's arm chewed through the bull-headed demon. He screamed as his once-proud regeneration failed him.

"No! Please, spare me, Master!"

Muzan remained unmoved, watching indifferently.

The bull-headed demon's screams faded until the maw had devoured him completely.

Mukago knelt, paralyzed by fear.

Muzan turned to her. "You said the target's ability prevents regeneration?"

"Yes!" Mukago replied urgently. "Any injury from him can't regenerate unless the surrounding flesh is cut away first. And even then, the energy required to heal is far greater than usual!"

"Is it a Blood Demon Art?"

Mukago trembled, "I don't know, but he also used a technique that briefly boosted his strength dramatically. It caught me off guard and allowed him to injure me."

"Indeed?"

A dark look crossed Muzan's eyes. He realized that underestimating this human might have been a grave mistake.

Mukago risked a glance upward, cautiously hopeful that her explanation might save her.

But her vision abruptly darkened.

A massive maw descended, swallowing her in one bite.

Mukago didn't even have time to scream. Only a few drops of blood marked her end.

Muzan Kibutsuji turned away, his face expressionless.

He had no use for those who fled from battle and disregarded his orders.