"What's that? A vase? In the middle of the road?"
I followed her line of sight and immediately recognized it. The object sat innocuously on the dirt path, looking like an ordinary white vase. But I knew better. I didn't even need to take a closer look to confirm what it was—or more precisely, who it was.
Suppressing a smirk, I feigned nonchalance. "A vase, huh? Maybe the demons have taken up pottery. A productive hobby for beings of the night, don't you think?"
Shinobu ignored my joke, her brow furrowing. "It's too out of place. Be on guard."
I could barely contain my amusement. Of course, she wouldn't recognize him at first glance. That "vase" was none other than Gyokko, one of the Twelve Kizuki—Upper Rank Five, to be exact. And, as always, his grotesque, bizarre appearance couldn't help but draw attention. Even in his current dormant state, he looked as unsettling as ever.
Gyokko was a spectacle to behold: a pale, grotesque humanoid figure that emerged from the porcelain vase like some twisted work of abstract art.
His upper torso was muscular yet armless, resembling a bizarre statue fused with the vase. The midsection of his body was a disturbing red-violet color, while his lower half—a long, sinuous tail—was jet black.
Infant-like hands with crimson fingernails sprouted haphazardly along his body and tail, while others were permanently affixed to his head, replacing his ears.
The fins on his head, reminiscent of cornrows and a ponytail, shimmered with shades of purple and blue-violet, adding an unsettling elegance to his already bizarre form. And then there was his face—if you could even call it that. His mouth and eye placements were all wrong.
Where normal eyes would be, large green-lipped mouths stretched grotesquely, their teeth perpetually bared. His actual eyes were located elsewhere—one embedded in the gaping lower mouth and the other sitting dead-center on his forehead, marked by the kanji for Upper Rank Five.
I tilted my head, pretending to consider the vase. "Looks harmless enough, don't you think?"
Shinobu's expression remained cautious. "Things that appear harmless often aren't. Let's investigate, but stay alert."
This was going to be fun.
As we approached the vase, I deliberately hung back, letting Shinobu take the lead. She moved gracefully, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.
The closer she got, the more her instincts seemed to kick in. Her eyes narrowed, and her muscles tensed, ready for action.
"Be careful, Shinobu," I said, my voice deliberately dramatic. "It could be a trap. Or worse—a really ugly demon."
She glanced at me, her lips twitching as if she were holding back a sigh. "Do you ever take anything seriously, Alex-san?"
"Of course I do," I replied, my tone light. "But you're here, so I figure I can relax a little. You've got this covered, right?"
Before she could respond, I made my move. Using a flicker of my power, I nudged the vase ever so slightly, causing it to wobble precariously. Shinobu froze, her hand tightening on her sword.
"It moved!" she said sharply, her eyes locked on the vase.
I suppressed a grin. "Maybe it's haunted. Or maybe it's shy. You should talk to it—demons love polite conversation."
Shinobu ignored my teasing, taking a cautious step closer. "It's not just a vase. I can sense a presence inside."
"A presence," I said,"Whatever shall we do?"
She shot me a glare but didn't waste time replying. Her focus was entirely on the vase now, her instincts clearly telling her that it wasn't what it seemed.
Gyokko must have decided he'd had enough of the suspense because, in the next moment, the vase shifted violently, and his grotesque form began to emerge.
His tail slithered out first, followed by the rest of his body as he rose to his full, disturbing height. His multiple mouths twisted into grotesque smirks, and his real eyes—one in his forehead and the other in his lower mouth—gleamed with malicious intent.
"Well, well," Gyokko said, his voice a strange mix of high-pitched mockery and deep malice. "What do we have here? A Demon Slayer and her… pet?"
I couldn't help myself. "Pet? That's a little rude, don't you think? I'd prefer 'companion of unrivaled charm,' if you must label me."
Gyokko tilted his head, clearly unimpressed. "Charming or not, you're both going to die here. But first, let me show you some of my art."
He extended one of his infant-like hands, summoning a grotesque clay sculpture that resembled a writhing mass of human faces. It was unsettling, to say the least. Shinobu's expression didn't change, but I could tell she was preparing to strike.
I, on the other hand, decided to keep playing along. "Wow, that's… hideous. Really. But I guess art is subjective."
Gyokko's face twisted in anger, his mouths baring their jagged teeth. "How dare you insult my creations! I'll make you into one of my masterpieces!"
The Stage has been set, Now it's my time to truly see Shinobu's ability as a Demon Slayer.
And I am not going to kill him, he is going to Demiurge's farm.
~~~
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