Chapter 40: Trap

In a dark alley, two drunken men cornered a young woman with a delicate appearance, pale face, and cold eyes.

"Hey, beautiful, why don't you come and play with us?" one of the men slurred, raising a hand to touch her face.

**Poof!**

The man's arm was severed cleanly, and blood splattered onto his companion's face.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" he screamed, but his cries were cut short.

A swift, cold light flashed through the air. Both men clutched their throats, terror etched on their faces as they collapsed to the ground.

Muzan walked past their lifeless bodies, expressionless.

Kyogai was dead, devoured by a defector. The fourth Lower Moon had not been replaced yet, and with the deaths of the fifth and sixth Lower Moons, half of the Lower Moons were now gone. Since the Twelve Kizuki's inception, there had never been such a catastrophic loss. Demon Slayers occasionally killed Lower Moons, but never at this scale.

"How did this defector manage it?" Muzan mused. "He found two Lower Moons one after another. Is he hunting them deliberately? Could he be getting stronger by devouring them, just as demons grow by consuming humans?"

A sinister glint flickered in his eyes. "Let's give him a chance."

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After killing Kyogai, Aoki found himself without a specific target. Yet, he did not slacken his efforts. If anything, he was more driven than ever. Four powerful skills lay within his reach, waiting to be mastered. They dangled before him like carrots before a donkey, fueling his determination.

Aoki became relentless, moving from town to town by day to gather information and hunting demons by night. His dedication surpassed even that of the Demon Slayer Corps.

As winter turned to spring, Aoki found himself in a bustling city, not as grand as Asakusa but still thriving. He preferred rural areas or mountain towns, where the chances of encountering demons were higher and detection easier. But rumors of hauntings in this city had drawn him in.

"Boss, can you fill this up?" Aoki handed his wine gourd to the shopkeeper.

While waiting, he casually asked, "I've heard this place is haunted?"

The shopkeeper's face tightened, and he nodded grimly. "Yes, over a dozen people have been killed this month alone."

" seriously?" Aoki feigned surprise, though inside, his interest was piqued.

The shopkeeper filled the gourd and handed it back. "They say the man-eating demon has words engraved in its eyes. If you see someone like that, you should run as fast as you can."

Aoki paused. "Words in its eyes? What words?"

The shopkeeper scratched his head. "I think it's 'Lower Three'? But it's just rumors. I'm not sure of the details."

"Lower Three?" Aoki's mind raced. "Could it be the third Lower Moon? Have I finally gotten lucky?"

Something felt off. With the strength of a Lower Moon, how could it be seen while killing? How could any witnesses survive? Despite his doubts, Aoki decided to investigate. It was his first promising lead since becoming a "White Walker"—both Rui and Kyogai had been tracked down using knowledge from his previous life.

Night fell. Aoki sat on the roof of a two-story building, sipping his wine and waiting. In Asakusa, he had learned the difficulty of finding a demon in a big city. This time, he chose a different tactic—waiting for the demon to come to him.

From his daytime inquiries, he knew the demon suspected to be the third Lower Moon was brazen, causing a commotion every time it appeared, as if wanting to be noticed. With his limited perception, Aoki couldn't cover the whole city, but he was patient. He could wait for the right moment.

The first night was quiet. On the second night, the demon appeared but not in Aoki's vicinity, and he missed it again. Still, he remained patient. As an experienced hunter, he knew that patience was crucial.

While Aoki waited, others grew anxious.

In a forest outside the city, Bingye, hidden in the shadows, muttered, "It's been over a month. Will the defector really show up? We don't even know where he is. Isn't this a waste of time? What if we attract the Demon Slayers instead?"

Receiving no response, he glanced nervously towards another figure. "Lord Akaza?"

Akaza's cold gaze met his. "Your job is to follow Lord Muzan's orders. Don't ask questions. And if the Demon Slayer Corps shows up, deal with them."

Chilled by Akaza's murderous glare, Bingye quickly lowered his head. "Yes, understood. I'm only concerned about wasting your time."

Initially, Bingye had resented Akaza, but after a single encounter, his defiance vanished. Akaza returned to contemplating a martial arts dilemma, confident that continued practice would eventually lead him to the Supreme Realm.

As night fell again, Bingye moved toward the city, following his usual routine. Despite his irritation at being confined, he enjoyed his nightly hunts. His only restriction was avoiding female victims, a taboo imposed by Akaza. Otherwise, he wasn't picky.

"Who should I eat tonight? I've had adults recently. Maybe I'll change it up."

His eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he quickened his pace. Akaza shadowed him from a distance, tasked with eliminating the defector if he appeared.

Unbeknownst to them, two other Lower Moons were also drawing out the defector, each shadowed by the two most powerful Upper Moons. The plan was simple: bait the defector and strike with overwhelming force.

"Lord Muzan believes the defector's strength surpasses the Lower Moons. He better not disappoint," Akaza thought, his eyes burning with anticipation. He thrived on combat with the strong, and the prospect of a worthy opponent excited him.

As Aoki and the demons moved closer to their inevitable confrontation, the stage was set for a clash that would determine the fate of many. Each side was prepared, driven by their own motivations and desires, unaware of the unfolding chaos that would soon engulf them all.

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400 Power stones = 1 Extra Chapter