Chapter 53: Upper Moon Two [Extra Chapter]
---
Aoki walked down the deserted street.
Dawn was approaching.
Yet, this was the time when people slept most soundly, and the streets were empty.
He pondered silently on which direction to take next.
He had already been to the east, south, and north. Maybe it was time to head west.
He had acquired the blood of the Upper Moon. He wondered if Lady Tamayo had discovered anything.
Thud, thud…
Suddenly, a strange noise caught Aoki's attention.
"It sounds like a fight. The noise seems distant, but for it to be heard from here, the combatants must be powerful… Could it involve an Upper Moon demon?"
Aoki's eyes lit up with curiosity, and he decided to investigate.
After mastering the "Transparent World," he no longer feared Muzan Kibutsuji and even dared to confront Kokushibo.
Of course, whether he could actually confront them was another matter.
…
Blood splattered continually, and Kocho Kanae's face was as pale as paper, her haori and uniform soaked in blood.
Opposite her stood a young man wielding a pair of metal fans. His hair was a shade of white oak, with one streak appearing as though it had been drenched in blood. His irises were rainbow-colored, with the words "Upper Moon" and"Two" engraved in his eyes.
"Upper Moon Two!"
Kanae sighed inwardly.
She hadn't expected her luck to be so "good" that she would encounter Upper Moon Two on her way back from a mission.
Doma covered his chin with his fan, his face adorned with an innocent, carefree smile. "You've inhaled my Blood Demon Art, and your lungs are freezing. It's painful, right? Don't worry, once I consume you, you'll never feel pain or fear again."
Kanae didn't respond. Breathing had become extremely difficult, and she lacked the strength to speak.
Even she was frightened by the twisted personality of this demon, ranked second among the Upper Moons.
"Don't struggle; you're dead anyway." Doma lifted his fan, advising gently.
Kanae gripped her long sword tightly.
Given her current injuries, her fate seemed sealed.
But she refused to give in.
Not just for herself.
As a Hashira, her body was strong, and consuming her would significantly benefit a demon.
Upper Moon Two was already terrifying, and she couldn't allow herself to become the nourishment for Doma to grow even stronger.
Dawn was approaching. She just had to hold on a little longer!
However.
"With my injuries, can I really last until dawn?"
Kanae felt a heavy weight in her heart.
Just then.
Both Kocho Kanae and Doma paused in surprise.
Boom!
Half of Doma's body suddenly exploded.
Aoki appeared beside Kocho Kanae, staring at Doma. "Your reactions are quick!"
"Defector!"
"Mr. Aomura!"
Kanae and Doma spoke simultaneously, surprise etched on their faces.
"It seems introductions are unnecessary." Aoki said calmly.
He had already recognized the girl next to him as Kanae, the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, whom he had met once at Mount Natagumo!
Though he had never seen Doma in person before, he was familiar with him.
Doma clapped his hands with a fan, his eyes showing a childlike innocent smile. "Oh, I didn't expect to be the first to meet a defector!"
Aoki frowned slightly. "Your way of talking is quite revolting."
He had activated the "Transparent World" and could clearly sense the deep indifference beneath Doma's innocent smile.
Doma's smile didn't falter.
"Oh, it seems you misunderstand me! I'm genuinely pleased to meet you. That individual has always wanted to capture you!"
Kocho Kanae struggled to maintain her balance and weakly said, "Mr. Aomura, how about we join forces to fight him?"
"You should find a place to rest!"
Aoki declined without hesitation, keeping his eyes fixed on Doma.
Most Upper Moons were twisted individuals, and Doma, as Upper Moon Two, was the most twisted of them all.
Doma lacked human emotions entirely and despised humans from the core of his being. Even as a human, his personality was highly twisted.
After encountering Muzan Kibutsuji, Doma had asked to be transformed into a demon, which only amplified his twisted nature.
He believed that consuming humans was a form of salvation for them, and that integrating such foolish creatures with himself was an honor for humanity.
Moreover, Doma particularly enjoyed devouring women.
This habit had caused a severe rift between him and Akaza, Upper Moon Three, who never ate women.
"By the way, did you know? I introduced Daki and Gyutaro, the demons you killed, to Muzan."
Doma sighed. "They were my good friends. Now, I finally have a chance to avenge them!"
"I told you, your fake smile is disgusting!"
Aoki's figure blurred as he appeared next to Doma, slamming his fist down.
"Blood Demon Art: Lotus Leaf Ice!"
Doma reacted instantly, waving his fan as cold mist coalesced into ice crystal lotuses, causing the temperature to drop rapidly.
Aoki didn't even glance at the ice crystal lotuses.
Crack!
Two lotuses landed on him, instantly forming a layer of frost, necrotizing the flesh on the surface.
But Aoki's fist also connected with Doma's head, shattering half of it.
"Blood Demon Art: Lotus Flower!"
Doma seemed unfazed by his injuries and used the momentum to retreat, waving his fan again.
Vines of ice crystals entwined with ice lotuses formed, encircling Aoki from all directions.
Aoki's figure vanished and reappeared behind Doma.
As he prepared to strike, sharp icicles materialized in the air.
"Blood Demon Art: Winter Ice Pillar."
Aoki halted, swung his fist to shatter the ice pillar, then turned his gaze back to Doma, who had moved away.
"No wonder Akaza lost to you!"
If Kokushibo was a swordsman and Akaza a warrior, then Doma was a mage.
His large-scale ice-based Blood Demon Arts, both offensive and controlling, were highly effective against Akaza.
Doma maintained his feigned innocent smile. "That's because Akaza-sama doesn't consume women! I've told him many times that women are very nutritious."
Aoki ignored his twisted logic and looked up at the sky, murmuring, "Time is running out!"
As soon as he spoke, he vanished again.
"This attack is stronger than I expected. I sense something bad will happen if I take too many hits."
Doma's body and head wounds had not yet regenerated, and he clasped his hands together.
Boom.
A gigantic ice Buddha, over ten meters tall, rose from the ground.
"Blood Demon Art: Mist Ice, Water Lily Bodhisattva."
===
T/N: There is a patreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early access of 15+ chapters.
Patreon link:- patreon.com/ANelite
And also Give me power stones