Shing!
The Nichirin blade hissed free of its sheath, gleaming in the moonlight. The sudden flash nearly blinded the old man standing beside Lock.
Startled, the old man stumbled back. "Hey! Young man, what are you doing pulling that out all of a sudden?!"
Lock didn't answer. His eyes stayed locked on the darkness ahead—where something moved.
He pushed the old man aside gently but firmly. "Get back. This might get messy."
The old man paled, clutching his chest. "M-Messy?!"
Lock sighed softly. "Trust me, you don't want to see this part."
That was all the convincing the man needed. He bolted down the path with surprising speed for his age, muttering curses and prayers under his breath.
Once the sound of retreating footsteps faded, Lock's attention shifted back to the shadows.
From the darkness, something crawled into view.
A tall, twisted figure emerged—muscles bulging, veins blackened and pulsing. Its skin was stretched tight, its eyes glowed red, and saliva dripped from its jagged teeth.
A demon.
Lock lowered his stance, feeling his heartbeat steady. "So this is a demon…"
It was uglier than he'd imagined—but slower too. Its movements were sloppy, uncoordinated.
The creature grinned, showing rows of uneven teeth. "Hehehe… another one's come to feed me."
Lock exhaled slowly, steadying his breathing. "You're hungry? Then let me feed you my blade."
The demon lunged forward with a shriek.
Lock met it head-on.
Clash!
For a moment, the forest echoed with the sound of steel slicing through flesh.
Then silence.
When the dust settled, the demon lay on the ground—limbless.
It stared at its severed arms and legs, eyes wide with disbelief. "W-What… what did you do to me?! I can't move!"
Purple-black veins spread across its body, bubbling like acid burns.
Lock's tone was calm. "Wisteria poison. You can thank Shinobu for that."
The demon writhed, screaming. "You bastard! What did you—"
"Quiet," Lock muttered. He knelt, pressing the blade against the creature's neck. "Where is Shinobu Kocho?"
The demon snarled. "I'll eat you! I'll tear you apart!"
Lock sighed and drove his fist straight into its face. Crack!
"Wrong answer."
The demon howled in pain, ichor spilling from its mouth. Still, its hunger outweighed its fear. "You… you'll regret that, Slayer! I'll bite through your throat—"
Lock shoved its severed leg into its mouth. "You look hungry. Eat this instead."
The creature gagged, trembling in rage and pain.
"Where is she?" Lock repeated, voice cold.
"I-I don't know!" the demon screamed. "But… but there was a woman! A woman with butterfly clothes! She went up the mountain!"
Lock's eyes narrowed. "How many demons up there?"
The creature hesitated, trembling. Lock shifted his sword slightly—its edge nicking the skin.
The demon broke instantly. "Dozens! Maybe more! There's talk of… of one of the Twelve Kizuki!"
Lock's breath slowed. A Twelve Kizuki… then it could be him.
His jaw clenched. "That's all I needed to know."
Shhhh!
The blade cut through the demon's neck in one clean arc. Its body disintegrated into ash, scattering into the cold night wind.
Lock sheathed his sword. "Rest in pieces."
The mountain loomed ahead, its slopes veiled in fog. The air smelled faintly of blood.
Lock moved quickly up the trail, every step light and controlled. The higher he went, the thicker the scent became.
Halfway up, he froze. Voices.
"Heh… didn't expect that girl's blade to be poisoned. Damn arm's useless now."
"If I catch that girl again, I'll peel her skin and drink her blood straight from her veins!"
Lock's eyes darkened.
Shinobu's toxin…
He burst through the brush without hesitation.
The wounded demon barely had time to turn its head before a streak of light flashed behind it.
Lock stood in silence, blade already drawn.
A single drop of blood fell from his sword's edge.
The demon's head rolled across the forest floor.
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