Chapter 8: A Demon

A few days had past since Akio had arrived in this world.

In these days, he had spent time with Mitsuri and also travelled outside in the forest during the night to find demons. However, he couldn't find any roaming around.

Furthermore, Akio had tested whether time flows differently in different worlds, which happened to be true. Akio guessed that for every day in this world, around an hour passes in his world.

"This is utterly boring... all I see is trees and more trees! I've been trying to find demons for the past 3 days in this forest, yet it's as if they are avoiding me. Without those crows you get when you pass final selection, running into demons is quite difficult." Akio muttered.

Akio had been looking around for demons in this forest which was somewhat close to his and Mitsuri's village for a while now. He only snuck out of his house at midnight when everyone was asleep and had to return back in around 6 hours. Sleep didn't matter as he could go back to his original world to rest as both worlds have a different flow of time.

Akio was currently carrying a pouch attached to his waist. It carried some food and water, but most importantly: Wisteria. Akio had realised that killing a demon would be quite challenging as they can regenerate from practically anything. Even the weakest of demons can still move their body when their head is severed.

They can only be killed by either getting completely erased, in a state that is incapable of regeneration, or, the easiest way: sunlight and beheading by nichirin weapons. For weaker demons, their head getting completely crushed should also work.

Akio was carrying wisteria as it was very effective against demons. Wisteria was pretty much poison for them.

As Akio made his way through the forest with the moon as the only source of light, he had managed to exit the forest.

"Huh... I went quite far out this time." Akio mumbled and had a thoughtful expression.

On the other side of the forest, there seemed to be a field where crops are grown by the people here: there were around 5 houses in this area.

Akio simply kept moving forward by following the path through the field. From the moon, Akio estimated he still had around 3 hours before he should return back, so he decided to keep searching for demons.

As Akio made his way through the field, he went past a wooden house before suddenly stopping.

"Hm? What's that sound?" Akio thought, before closing his eyes and concentrating so he could listen better.

With his senses sharpened , Akio could hear the faint sounds of flesh being ripped up. And now, with him having completely stopped, he could also smell blood coming inside the house. If it wasn't for the dead silence of it being night time, Akio probably would have went passed this house without suspecting anything.

"Though faint, that's definitely the smell of blood. It's definitely a demon!" Akio thought. 

Akio raised his vigilance to the maximum as he slowly slid the door of the house open. Inside, Akio's stomach turned a little due to the gruesome scene.

Within the moonlight, Akio could make out a family of three that had been dismembered and completely ripped apart. Arms, legs, fingers and other various body parts could be seen torn and spread out in the room as a puddle of blood formed on their limbless corpses. Moreover, the walls of this place was completely stained with blood whilst Akio could make out a pale humanoid creature crouched down, devouring something.

The demon seemed to have heard Akio's entrance as he turned his head and remarked with his blood stained mouth, "Kekeke. I'm too lucky. Too lucky! Another lamb has generously offered himself to me!"

The demon slowly stood up before turning to face Akio. "Ah, how unfortunate that you're not a woman: I prefer their tender flesh much more! Kekeke, no matter! Tonight has been an amazing feast for me. You'll make a lovely snack!"

The demon seemed to be sizing up Akio with a devilish grin. Then, in a fraction of a second, the demon pounced at Akio.

"Fast!" Akio thought, before swiftly taking a step back and jumping to the side, just barely evading the attack.

*Drip. Drip.*

Akio could hear the sounds of liquid dripping on the floor of the house.

Akio placed his palm on his neck and noticed it was slightly wet. Akio breathed out a breath of cold air. If he had reacted any later, he definitely would have died. It was an extremely shallow wound, so Akio wasn't very injured: with only a few drops of blood leaking from his neck.

"I need to take this more seriously. I might have the abilities of Sukuna. But, that doesn't come with his stats. I'm similar to an average person at the moment. If it wasn't for my keen reaction time, I might have been fatally injured by this demon's attack. The demon is superior to me in terms of physical prowess, so I need to make sure I don't let my guard down." Akio analysed his situation.

"Kekeke, you dodged my attack! Lucky you, but it's useless when you're still going to die. I wonder how long you can keep dodging before I rip you're head off!" The demon spoke whilst laughing sinisterly.

Akio simply just waited patiently, he could probably spam his abilities: Cleave and Dismantle, but Akio was treating this more as training for himself. Furthermore, he was testing his stats to see how it compares with a demon.

The demon once again dashed at Akio before swiping his sharp claws at Akio's head. 

However, what shocked Akio was that his movements seem to be a blur, almost instantly appearing in front of him.

"What!? The demon seemed to be even faster than before! How many humans has this guy eaten?" Akio reacted, surprised by the demon's speed. He knew that demon's possess far superior physical abilities than a human.

However, this demon seemed to possess terrifying strength unbeffiting of an average demon.

Akio's eyes constricted as he quickly thought of what to do.

Akio, realising he couldn't dodge the attack like last time, decided to take a step forward and block with his left forearm. He also supported his block with his right hand.

Due to Akio taking a step forward, Akio only got hit by the demon's wrist which was what he intended, else his arm would get easily sliced off.

*Crunch*

Akio heard a breaking sound coming from his forearm, before he felt his feet get lifted off the air. 

*CRASH*

Akio was sent flying: crashing against the wall and being launched outside the house and into the fields.

Akio was like a flat rock skipping on a lake's surface. Akio's momentum of getting skipped on the ground had finally dissipated as he groaned and slowly stood back up.

"Painful!" Akio thought, clenching his teeth whilst holding his fractured left arm. It was still useable, however it hurts whenever he moves it.

Akio expected the demon to be very strong. However, Akio had still somehow underestimated the demon before he took a full powered attack by him.

The demon slowly emerged out of the hole Akio had blasted out of.

This time however, the demon seems to be showing a somewhat displeased expression towards him.

"Huh, you're a strange human: being able to react to my movements. Though, I'm getting extremely Irritated that you're surviving my attacks." The demon spoke with an annoyed tone.

The demon spoke once again, but this time, he seemed even more angrier. "I'm getting irritated. I'm really Irritated! IRRITATED!" The demon growled.

"AHHH! I can't wait to rip you limb from limb! I want your death to be a slow, painful, excruciating one! A weak lamb like you should just patiently wait till it gets slaughtered!" It screamed.

Akio could suddenly feel the heavy air around him. The demon seemed to be releasing a large amount of bloodlust which was directed at him.

Akio suddenly heard the demon saying something, almost like a chant, "Blood Demon Art..."

Akio reacted, "This!? This demon has a Blood Demon Art? No wonder his physical capabilities were so strong. He must of devoured plenty of humans to have reached this level! Shit! I need to evade!"

However, before Akio could do anything, the demon uttered the last two words, "Shadow Slice!"

An inky black blade materialised out of his hands, before it was sent at terrifying speeds towards Akio.

Akio could see the blade launched clearly at him, yet his body couldn't do anything!

Akio heard a *slice* and then a *plop* as blood gushed out of his body. Looking down, Akio saw his severed arm on the ground. His face contorted as his arm became a red waterfall — forming a puddle of red next to him.

Akio couldn't stifle his scream of anguish. Like many people, this was his first time having his arm ripped off.

"AHHH!" Akio shouted in pain, his face contorting. Holding his shoulder, Akio felt an undescribable sensation enveloping him. Alongside this pain, his eyes gleamed ominously. 

"Holy shit that hurts! It hurts like hell!" He screamed internally in his head.

"Kekekeke! YES! I love it when humans have such an expression! Feel more pain! Feel it more! You should be thankful I aimed for your arm, Kekeke. Now, what body part next? Hmm, I'm feeling generous today. Human, I'll let you choose: You're right leg or your left?" The demon grinned at Akio deviously, a cruel glint in his eyes.

It seems this was how he killed those family of three. This one is an extremely sadistic demon!

Akio couldn't respond as he was still trying to get used to the pain: The most pain he has ever felt in his life.

"Quickly now. I'll cut off both of them if you keep me waiting any longer. I'll give you 20 seconds." The demon spoke.

The demon seemed to have expected this as he had an evil grin on his face as he just patiently watched. The demon had done this many times. It was a hobby and fetish of his: to dismember limbs and give humans two bad choices. Normally, when one is threatened whilst in severe pain, the human would try their best to compose themselves and speak. But, it would be a complete mess and their voice would be inaudible. Then, he would just Cleave both limbs off.

"Kekeke. I wonder what his voice will be like when he tries to speak." The demon thought internally, his expression one of bliss.

However, contrary to his expectations, Akio was still screaming. However, what was strange was that his scream suddenly turned in laughter?

"HAHAHAHA! Fuck, that hurts! This is what... having my arm getting severed feels like?" Akio muttered. "I... feel excited for some reason. I really just want to kill and rip apart this demon right now!" Akio thought, his lips curling into a cold smile.

Instead of feeling fear, Akio feels excited to fight this demon: adrenaline coursing through his veins. 

"Huh? This isn't right... No human should adapt to pain this quickly..." The demon muttered.

The demon observed Akio before showing an extremely startled expression.

[Reverse Cursed Technique]

Akio had used one of his moves.

Then suddenly, his cut-off arm started growing back at a ridiculous speed. First, blood vessels reconnected, then bones, tendons, and muscles formed. Finally, the skin healed, concealing all of his muscles and bones. All of this happened in less than a second as Akio recreated his arm.

"Impossible! How can a hu... No! you must be a demon! This regeneration... is even faster than me!" The demon uttered with a shocked expression.

Akio simply observed his brand new arm as he closed and reopened his left hand, briefly ignoring the demon. Then, he placed his gaze on the creature in front of him: his crimson eyes almost piercing into his soul.

"You're also a demo–" The demon tried to speak.

"Dismantle."