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Kaido positioned his greatsword protectively between the Kocho sisters and Doma, fury simmering beneath his controlled exterior.
Years ago, he'd faced this demon and barely survived. Back then, he'd been too weak—Doma had toyed with him like a cat batting around a wounded mouse, reducing him to a humiliated, bleeding mess.
This time would be different. This time, he'd settle the score.
"Doma. Long time no see..." Kaido emphasized each word with deliberate weight.
"Oh my! We meet again! You've become even prettier since last time~ I bet you taste absolutely divine! Say, why don't we become one and achieve eternal salvation together—"
"Salvation my ass! Doma, if I don't kick you today, I'll never live this down!"
"Wandering Dragon Flash!"
FLASH!!
Kaido's legs exploded with power. He vanished from his position, leaving only a solid afterimage behind.
"So fast!" Even Doma couldn't react in time.
Kaido materialized directly behind him, channeled force into his leg, and delivered a devastating kick straight to Doma's groin with everything he had.
CRACK!
The sound of something important breaking echoed through the chamber. The Kocho sisters—standing at a distance—heard it clearly and covered their mouths in shock, staring at Kaido with a mixture of disbelief and... was that approval?
They exchanged a knowing glance. He was ruthless and held grudges, but neither would say a word against it.
Kaido executed a perfect hit-and-run—the moment his kick connected, he flash-stepped back to the sisters' side. The system's voice chimed pleasantly in his mind.
[Ding~ Congratulations! Host has completed a hidden quest!]
[Hidden Quest: A World Where Only Doma Gets Hurt]
[Reward: Interdimensional Energy 20%]
[Current Interdimensional Energy: 100%]
[Stored Interdimensional Energy: 50%]
'Wait, that actually worked? Should I... go for round two?'
Without hesitation, Kaido used Wandering Dragon Flash again, appearing behind Doma while he was still clutching his damaged goods. One more kick for good measure—then retreat.
This time, the system remained silent.
'Damn. Can't exploit the quest system. Worth a shot, though.'
System: [...]
Doma staggered to his feet, his usual playful expression replaced with genuine irritation as he glared at the trio.
But seeing that look on Doma's face filled Kaido with satisfaction. He raised his left hand and flipped Doma off with a crude gesture.
The Kocho sisters watched curiously, not understanding the meaning behind the gesture—so they mimicked him, each raising one hand with the same finger extended toward Doma.
Shinobu, feeling extra vindictive, raised both hands and double-flipped him off.
System: [The host has been corrupted by Kanae...]
Doma stared at the four raised middle fingers, not comprehending their significance but feeling deeply insulted nonetheless. His false smile vanished completely. He wanted these three dead—now.
"Blood Demon Art: Spreading Lotus Vines!"
"Blood Demon Art: Freezing Icicles!"
Ice-wreathed vines erupted from below while razor-sharp icicles rained from above. The temperature plummeted as frost spread across every surface.
"I might've overdone it."
"Dragon Breathing, Fourth Form: Coiling Dragon!"
Kaido's blade carved through space, deflecting the dual assault—but Doma wasn't finished. He closed the distance during Kaido's defensive stance, iron fans flashing toward exposed vitals.
Kaido had learned from experience—Doma's attacks carried freezing toxins. He used his tongue to retrieve a Longevity Pill stored in his mask's compartment, swallowed it, activated Transparent World, and met Doma's assault head-on.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Greatsword and iron fans collided in rapid succession, throwing sparks with each impact. Kaido's blade moved so fast it left only afterimages—but something puzzled Doma.
His ice-enhanced attacks should be slowing his opponent down, damaging lung tissue, making every movement increasingly labored. Yet this white-haired demon hunter showed no signs of respiratory distress. If anything, his strikes were accelerating.
"Blood Demon Art: Withering Frozen Garden!"
Nine consecutive fan strikes wreathed in frost converged on Kaido. Using that barrage as cover, Doma swung his second fan at Kaido's exposed neck.
Through Transparent World's enhanced perception, Kaido spotted the feint. He bent backward at a ninety-degree angle—limber as a contortionist—and dodged cleanly beneath the blade. As he rose, his greatsword severed Doma's arm at the shoulder.
Doma retreated immediately, his severed limb regenerating in seconds.
What he didn't anticipate was Kaido pursuing during his withdrawal—and that golden tail whipping around to slap him across the face like a heavyweight boxer's haymaker.
'I punched Akaza on the Mugen Train. I kicked Gyutaro in the Entertainment District. And now I've bitch-slapped Doma with my tail. My track record against Upper Ranks is getting ridiculous.'
System: [Such a shame you're not wearing a skirt. Otherwise...]
Kaido: [Shut up, you perverted system. All you think about is horny nonsense.]
System: [Thank you for the compliment!]
Kaido: [...]
Ignoring the system's nonsense, Kaido activated his Demon Slayer Mark. His grip strength intensified dramatically. The greatsword's color shifted from blood-red to brilliant crimson.
The Bright Red Blade manifested once more.
Doma's eyes widened at the sight of that weapon. Genuine fear—a sensation he hadn't experienced in centuries—gripped his chest.
"Blood Demon Art: Crystalline Divine Child!"
Desperate, Doma used his remaining fan to create five ice puppets—perfect miniature replicas of himself.
Kaido had encountered these constructs before. Each could wield Blood Demon Arts at strength comparable to Doma himself. But he'd also developed a counter-strategy.
"Dragon Breathing, Fifth Form: Violent Massacre!"
His greatsword accelerated into a blur of motion. Nearly a thousand blade projections erupted outward—but these weren't ordinary sword winds. Each one had taken draconic form, serpentine energy constructs converging on the puppets with predatory intent.
The five crystalline duplicates shattered instantly. Doma raised his fan defensively, deflecting some of the dragon-shaped projectiles—but not all.
Those that connected carved wounds deep enough to expose bone. Blood streamed from dozens of lacerations.
━━━━━━━━
The Kocho sisters had used the brief respite to catch their breath. They retrieved the Longevity Pills from their pouches and placed them in their mouths—not swallowing yet, just holding them ready.
They'd originally planned to hide these pills from Kaido, saving them for others who might need the protection more. But watching him dominate an Upper Rank changed their minds.
Doma was being pushed back—actually losing ground against a single opponent. If they joined the fight now, they could end this quickly and move to support the others.
"Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach!"
"Insect Breathing: Dance of the Butterfly—Caprice!"
Falling petals and dancing wings accompanied lethal strikes—slashing arcs from Kanae, venomous thrusts from Shinobu.
Doma, still regenerating from Kaido's assault, couldn't evade in time. Both attacks connected.
Shinobu had increased her poison concentration dramatically. Doma felt agony course through his system—genuine pain, not the dull sensations he normally experienced.
Kanae's blade pressed against his throat. Shinobu's sword pierced clean through his neck. Both sisters felt their heartbeats accelerating, body temperatures spiking.
Power flooded their systems—strength and speed magnifying several times over.
Marks began manifesting on their skin.
Three petal-shaped patterns bloomed across Kanae's forehead. A butterfly with spread wings appeared beneath Shinobu's right eye.
Both sisters swallowed their pills simultaneously.
"Dragon Breathing, Second Form: Dragon Claw!"
Kaido descended from above with a dragon's roar, greatsword raised for a killing blow.
The moment his strike began its descent, the Kocho sisters disengaged and leapt clear. This attack would finish it.
Doma raised both fans desperately—
The impact sheared through his guard and split him from shoulder to hip. The Bright Red Blade's searing heat prevented regeneration. Combined with Shinobu's paralyzing toxins, Doma experienced something he'd thought impossible.
Terror. Genuine, primal fear of death.
He dragged his broken body backward and played his final card.
"Blood Demon Art: Rime Water Lily Bodhisattva!"
An enormous ice construct rose from the floor—a colossal statue resembling a meditating Buddha with hands pressed together in prayer. Doma sheltered within its protective embrace.
"Kanae-nee! Shinobu-nee! Get back!"
The Bodhisattva's massive palms swung downward, scattering lethal ice crystals and toxic frost in wide arcs. But something was off—Doma had created this technique while on death's doorstep. The movements were sluggish, imprecise.
"Dragon Breathing, Fifth Form: Violent Massacre!"
Kaido backflipped away from the descending palm strike, unleashing another barrage. Dragon-shaped projections hammered the ice construct relentlessly. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface.
The fissures spread and multiplied until the entire structure collapsed, exposing Doma's broken form.
Kaido charged forward and severed all four of Doma's limbs in rapid succession, reducing him to a limbless torso.
"So this is what death feels like? How fascinating~" Perhaps sensing his end approaching, Doma's false smile returned one final time.
Kaido delivered the finishing blow.
Doma's head separated from his body. Both began dissolving into ash, scattering on unfelt winds.
Watching the demon's remains disappear completely, Kaido activated his danger sense—scanning the surrounding area to prevent another ambush like the one that had just occurred.
Only when he confirmed the area was secure did he approach the Kocho sisters.
At that moment, Inosuke dropped through the hole in the ceiling, and Kanao burst through the doorway.
"HAHAHA! The mighty Inosuke has arrived to save you all! Bow before my greatness! WAHAHA!"
"Sis! Shinobu-sama!" Kanao ran straight into their arms, relief flooding her features.
"Ara, Kanao-chan! Thank goodness you're safe too!"
Seeing Inosuke triggered a memory. Kaido's expression fell.
'Oh god. I completely forgot to help Inosuke discover his mother's identity!'
He clutched his head in frustration. 'How did I forget something that important?? I got so distracted with everything else...'
'Guess I'll have to use the Phantom Eye after this is over. Damn it. I should've handled this ages ago...'
"Kaido-kun? What's wrong?" Battle concluded, the sisters' Marks had faded. Kanae noticed his troubled expression and moved closer with concern.
"It's nothing, Kanae-nee. We need to move—find the others and provide support."
"Sis is right, Shinobu-nee. Let's go!"
"WAHAHA! Then the great Lord Inosuke shall lead the charge! Follow me to glory!"
The four exchanged determined smiles, then set off together—following Inosuke deeper into the Infinity Castle to join the final battle.
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