Part I: Dawn and Decision
Kaito sat beneath a crooked pine as the first light of dawn filtered through the mist. His cheek still bore the thin scar from the chain demon's strike. The forest was quiet now, but his mind wasn't.
Six Demon Points.
Three branches.
He had earned the right to choose.
He replayed each battle in his head—the nail demon's erratic strikes, the predator's silence, the chain demon's brute force. Each had tested a different part of him. Reflex. Precision. Awareness. But one pattern had emerged: demons didn't just rely on strength. They regenerated. They adapted. They exploited hesitation.
He needed disruption.
Control.
Not just speed.
Arc Pulse pulsed faintly in his chest, like a heartbeat waiting to sync with lightning.
He closed his eyes and focused.
Arc Pulse – Activated.
The point flowed into the branch like electricity into a circuit. A surge of energy rippled through his body—not overwhelming, but sharp. His blade felt different now. Each strike would leave behind a residual pulse—a shockwave that could disrupt movement, delay regeneration, or stagger momentum.
It wasn't raw power.
It was tactical.
He stood slowly, testing his stance. The sword hummed faintly, charged with latent energy. He practiced a slow Thunderclap and Flash, and felt the pulse trail behind the blade—a faint echo of force.
He smiled.
This was his path.
Storm-seed had grown.
Arc Pulse was his first branch.
And the mountain would feel its rhythm.
Rengoku approached from the ridge, carrying dried meat and water. "You look sharper," he said.
Kaito nodded. "I chose to accept the nature of this world."
Rengoku grinned. "Good. You'll need it. There's movement east."
They packed quickly and moved through the thinning mist.
The storm had evolved.
And the next test was waiting.
Part II: Blood in the Veins
By midday, they reached a narrow ravine where the trees thinned and the rocks grew jagged. A slayer stood near the edge—tall, lean, with a pale scar across his neck. His blade was chipped, his robe torn.
"Name's Daigo," he said, voice low. "Been hunting solo."
Rengoku nodded. "Did you see any demons?"
"Two demons. Fast. One's a crawler. The other's armored."
Kaito studied him. Something felt… off. Daigo's eyes were sharp, but his posture was too relaxed. His scent carried a faint metallic tang.
They moved together, tracking the demons through the ravine. The crawler struck first—darting from beneath a rock, claws flashing. Rengoku intercepted, blade blazing.
Kaito faced the armored one—its skin plated like bone, its movements slow but deliberate. He struck—Thunder Swarm—three hits, each followed by an Arc Pulse. The pulses disrupted the demon's footing, staggering it.
Then Daigo moved.
But not toward the demons.
Toward Kaito.
His blade swung low, aimed at Kaito's ribs.
Kaito barely dodged, eyes wide.
"What are you—?"
Daigo's eyes gleamed red.
Rengoku shouted, "He's turned!"
Kaito retreated, heart pounding.
Daigo's blade crackled with unnatural energy. His movements were erratic, twitching—like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.
"He's been exposed," Rengoku growled. "Demon blood."
Daigo laughed, voice distorted. "I see clearer now. You cling to rules. I cling to power."
The armored demon lunged again.
Kaito blocked, countered—Arc Pulse flared, staggering it.
Then—
Kaito finished the armored demon—Distant Roar, slicing through its neck.
The demon collapsed.
Storm-seed pulsed.
One more point earned.
Kaito now has 3 Demon Points.
Daigo retreated into the mist, snarling.
Rengoku knelt beside Kaito. "You alright?"
Kaito nodded. "He was one of us."
"Not anymore", Rengoku said.
They stood in silence.
Storm-seed pulsed again.
The next skill branch required 6 points.
And the mountain had changed.
Not every slayer was still human.
100 ps = 1 new chapter
200 ps =3 new chapter