Hunter [73]: The Last Soul Fragment

"As expected of the man who traumatized that scumbag boss!"

Lin Jiu couldn't help but exclaim. He had reason to suspect that Yoriichi Tsugikuni had two or more basic attributes reaching the limit of 30 points, and his swordsmanship was likely at the expert level.

The wounds inflicted hundreds of years ago were still destroying Muzan Kibutsuji's body, requiring him to expend energy to heal. Such naturally gifted individuals could be called the darlings of the world, but they were also limited by this world.

"If I'm not mistaken, next should be..."

Lin Jiu took out a green recovery item from other contractors, a capsule about the size of a thumb.

[NB Life Capsule]

Origin: Reincarnation Paradise · NB Pharmaceuticals

Quality: Green

Type: Recovery Item

Effect: Upon consumption, instantly recovers 20% of max HP, followed by a slow recovery of 10% HP.

Rating: 20 (Note: Green items are rated 11-30, rating represents item value.)

Description: Manufactured by workers, approved by Reincarnation Paradise: Safe.

==========

Lin Jiu held the life capsule in his mouth, adjusted his breathing, and charged toward Muzan Kibutsuji.

"Die!"

Muzan Kibutsuji stood still, his face contorted. Cracks appeared on his body as energy was accumulating.

Lin Jiu sensed a chilling danger that made his hair stand on end. With his soul wounded by Lin Jiu and affected by Tamayo's drug, Muzan Kibutsuji couldn't use his splitting technique. That left only that move.

A powerful shockwave emanated from Muzan Kibutsuji in all directions. This indiscriminate attack instantly incapacitated the distant demon horde, but also left Shinobu and others unable to capitalize, throwing them into chaos.

Closer by, Kyojuro Rengoku and others had their nervous systems instantly disrupted by the shockwave, struggling to support themselves with their Nichirin blades to avoid falling.

Even closer, Lin Jiu's HP plummeted instantly, blood flowing from his seven orifices. But he still forced his body forward, appearing before Muzan Kibutsuji.

At this point, Muzan Kibutsuji barely resembled a human except for his head. A huge mouth full of sharp teeth stretched across his chest, seemingly about to bite off Lin Jiu's head. However, this giant maw was split in the middle, caused by Lin Jiu's earlier sword strike to the chest.

Lin Jiu's HP was at 40%, meaning his strength was now 23 points and agility 21 points, not far behind Muzan Kibutsuji.

"Do you want to die?!"

Seeing Lin Jiu approach despite the attack, Muzan Kibutsuji immediately controlled four whip-like spikes from his legs to stab at Lin Jiu.

Lin Jiu only slightly dodged to avoid vital areas. As the spikes pierced his body, he grabbed one with one hand while raising his sword to strike with the other.

"Sixth Strike!"

"Seventh Strike!"

At this moment, the spikes were not only weapons hurting Lin Jiu but also ropes restraining Muzan Kibutsuji.

"You... pests! Why are you so annoying!"

Muzan Kibutsuji felt his mind becoming hazy. If this continued, he would die here. He had to do something.

Just as Lin Jiu was about to finish off Muzan Kibutsuji, he sensed something wrong and immediately cut the spikes, rolling backward.

Boom!

A crater appeared where he had been standing. Muzan Kibutsuji's entire right arm had transformed into a long worm-like monster with sharp teeth, causing the attack.

"You seem... to have weakened!"

Lin Jiu easily dodged the attack, revealing a slight smile, though his speech was a bit slurred due to the blood in his mouth. In Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes, this looked extremely mocking.

As Muzan Kibutsuji grew weaker with each exchange, Lin Jiu's strength and speed attributes increased as his HP decreased.

"The outcome will be decided now..."

Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, was the first to recover from the shockwave. Seeing the two facing off, he saw the collapsing spirit in Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes!

Lin Jiu hadn't swallowed the capsule; he still needed the attribute boost from [Fighting Demon] bracer. If it weren't for his stamina attribute not increasing, making him vulnerable at low HP, he would have considered injuring himself further.

Muzan Kibutsuji was determined not to be hit by Lin Jiu's sword again. This time, he controlled several spikes to ensnare Lin Jiu's [Dawn Shadow] from various directions.

Lin Jiu quickly judged how many he could cut, but realized he would be trapped by the remaining spikes afterward. He immediately chose to withdraw his sword, raising his leg to avoid Muzan Kibutsuji's fanged mouth on his chest, and kicked him in the side.

With 23 points in strength, the kick from his leg sent Muzan Kibutsuji flying to the side and back.

This move quickly took Muzan Kibutsuji out of Lin Jiu's attack range, but...

"Muzan Kibutsuji! Die!"

As Muzan Kibutsuji was mockingly looking at Lin Jiu who had kicked him away, a gust of wind came from behind. A red meteor hammer smashed into his head, followed by an axe chopping at one of the hearts on his body.

"Stone Breathing, Fifth Form: Arima Rotary Wheel!"

Gyomei Himejima frantically swung the weapons in his hands, raining attacks on Muzan Kibutsuji like a downpour.

Seeing the other Hashira recover and join the attack, Lin Jiu spat a mouthful of bloody water on the ground and chuckled lightly: "Hehe... don't underestimate the Demon Slayer Hashira! They are..."

They are the ones who drove you to the brink in the original story!

Lin Jiu glanced at his remaining soul energy, only 15 points left, enough for one last soul-cutting strike. That's why he needed Gyomei Himejima and the others to suppress Muzan Kibutsuji's condition.

"Mr. Demon King, you look quite pathetic~ Insect Breathing: Bee Sting Dance: Dance of the Centipede!"

With a silvery laugh, a slender Nichirin blade pierced Muzan Kibutsuji's eye.

It was Shinobu. Then Mitsuri Kanroji, Tengen Uzui, and the others arrived in succession. Thanks to Muzan Kibutsuji's earlier powerful shockwave.

Shinobu and the others regained consciousness earlier than the demon horde, allowing them to clear out the defenseless demons much faster.

Lin Jiu infused all his remaining soul energy into his blade, throwing it with all his might.

"Muzan Kibutsuji! This is my last soul fragment!"

With one eye wounded and unable to regenerate, Muzan Kibutsuji watched the approaching [Dawn Shadow] reflected in his other eye. The spikes from his back and legs extended out, piercing the surrounding ground in an attempt to change his position.

But at this moment, Gyomei Himejima looped a chain around Muzan Kibutsuji's neck, while Sanemi Shinazugawa, Kyojuro Rengoku, and Tengen Uzui rushed forward to firmly grab his limbs.

Even as blood blades erupted from Muzan Kibutsuji's limbs, piercing their bodies, they didn't let go. They held Muzan Kibutsuji in place.

[Dawn Shadow] pierced straight through Muzan Kibutsuji's heart in his chest, this strike like the final straw that broke the camel's back. Muzan Kibutsuji's soul began to collapse!

"I won't lose! I won't lose..."

Muzan Kibutsuji fell silent. After the Hashira let go, his body fell straight to the ground, motionless.

"Amitabha!"

Gyomei Himejima put his palms together in a Buddhist gesture, tears streaming down his face.

Nearby, Mitsuri Kanroji wiped tears from the corners of her eyes, whimpering softly.

"Wait... it's not over yet!"

Giyu Tomioka immediately alerted everyone, raising his Nichirin blade towards the front.

Everyone looked in that direction, where Lin Jiu was standing. The aura surrounding Lin Jiu now was completely different, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.

Lin Jiu closed his eyes. He hadn't expected Muzan Kibutsuji to transfer his mental will into his body through the cells injected earlier. In his consciousness, he could see Muzan Kibutsuji's figure.

"Humans have limits! In my long life, I've learned that the longer you live, the more you realize human abilities are limited. Unless you can surpass humanity... now this opportunity is right in front of you! Come and become the strongest Demon King!"

Lin Jiu heard this familiar, stirring speech from Muzan Kibutsuji in his mind and paused briefly. Before he could respond, the Reincarnation Paradise system had already reacted.

[You are under mental invasion, conducting will and soul judgment. If judgment fails, the hunter will be demonized and the mission will fail!]

[Judging... Judgment passed! Hunter's will +1, Charm +1.]

"No! What is this power? No, I don't want to die!" +

Before Lin Jiu could act, Muzan Kibutsuji's mental form was annihilated by the Reincarnation Paradise.

Lin Jiu opened his eyes and looked at the vigilant crowd. He wasn't like that old guy Dio, with a habit of teasing, so he spoke directly: "We won!"

The previously tense atmosphere instantly dissipated. In Shinobu and the others' perception, Red's aura and demeanor were uniquely distinctive, not something an ordinary person could imitate.

However, the notification of Muzan Kibutsuji's defeat hadn't come yet, and his body lying on the ground still had life force, plus soul energy present.

"We'll wait until dawn when the sunlight destroys this body, and it will be completely over!"

Lin Jiu looked at the body on the ground, his arm φ turning red, already beginning to absorb Muzan Kibutsuji's soul energy. Thinking of that guy's conscious form's speech, Lin Jiu's mouth twitched. Are you Dio's Demon Slayer split personality?