Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Consecutive level ups
Akaza emerged from the settling dust, his earlier excitement giving way to confusion. His eyes narrowed at Aoki, trying to understand what had just occurred.
"What happened? Why didn't I sense your fighting spirit?" Akaza's voice was edged with curiosity.
Aoki sighed, a hint of regret in his eyes. "Honestly, I'd love to keep fighting you. The intensity of this battle has pushed my skills to their limits and beyond."
He paused, glancing around as if expecting something. "But," he continued, "I'm worried that other Upper Moons, or even Muzan Kibutsuji himself, might already be on their way here."
Akaza clenched his fists, pointing one at Aoki. "Unfortunately for you, this isn't a fight you can just walk away from."
Aoki's response was swift. "No, I decide when this ends." In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.
Akaza's eyes widened. Again, he couldn't sense Aoki's movement—it was as if he had simply ceased to exist.
At the end of the street, Bingye, the Lower Rank Three, watched in stunned disbelief as Aoki suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Aoki Style: Storm!"
Aoki's attack was swift and devastating. Bingye barely had time to react before his body was riddled with fist-sized holes. His limbs were rendered useless, and his head bore a gaping wound.
Since his fight with Rui, Aoki's strength had grown significantly. The surprise attack nearly incapacitated Lower Rank Three in an instant.
Akaza, sensing Aoki's reappearance, summoned his needles and launched a counterattack. "Destructive Death: Final Form - Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow!"
A barrage of missile-like projectiles filled the air, hurtling towards Aoki. He had no choice but to abandon his finishing move on Bingye and dodge the onslaught.
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
Explosions rocked the street as the missiles struck, turning the area into a warzone. The ground fractured, and nearby houses crumbled into ruins.
From the rubble, a mass of flesh began to reassemble into Bingye's form. Akaza's attack had inadvertently helped him regenerate, but he was visibly weakened.
"Damn that traitor's strength!" Bingye thought bitterly, his face pale from the effort of regeneration. "This wasn't part of the plan!"
Realizing the danger he was in, Bingye turned and fled, not wanting to face Aoki's wrath again. The memory of his near-death experience was too fresh, too terrifying.
As he ran, Akaza watched him with disdain. "Foolish," he muttered. "Running won't save you. He can reappear anywhere."
Just then, Akaza felt a sharp presence behind him. Without turning, he kicked upward. "Destructive Death: Foot Style - Crowned First Cut."
Aoki barely had time to switch from attack to defense. The force of Akaza's kick hit him like a sledgehammer, forcing him to disappear once more.
"Where did he go now?" Akaza's frustration grew. Losing track of his opponent within the range of his compass was infuriating.
Suddenly, he sensed movement again. "Destructive Death: Foot Style - Flashing Light Group!" He lashed out with a rapid side kick, but his foot met only empty air.
"This again?" Akaza's voice was thick with irritation. "What kind of technique is this? Is it some blood demon art?"
Rarely had Akaza encountered an opponent who left him feeling so unsettled. He prided himself on his combat skills, yet this battle was testing his patience and strategy.
Then, a realization hit him. Aoki hadn't attacked again. Why? Had he given up?
"No," Akaza thought, eyes widening in alarm. "Lower Rank Three!"
He dashed in the direction where Bingye had fled. Halfway there, the sound of fierce blows echoed through the night. A feeling of dread settled in his gut.
Rounding the corner, Akaza's gaze turned icy cold. Aoki stood over the remains of Bingye, smiling faintly. "You're too late," he said.
Lower Rank Three's body lay in a crumpled heap, lifeless and consumed. The system's notifications filled Aoki's vision.
[Kill Lower Moon Three and gain 500 experience points.]
[Constitution +1.]
["The End of the Lower Moons" completed. Rewards distributed.]
["Hunter and Prey" completed. Rewards distributed.]
[Congratulations, you've leveled up!]
[Congratulations, you've leveled up!]
[Congratulations, you've leveled up!]
Aoki blinked, taken aback by the rapid succession of level-ups. He quickly did the math in his head. With the experience from Lower Moon Three, plus the 1,200 points from "The End of the Lower Moons" and 400 points from "Hunter and Prey," he had gained three levels at once.
Akaza's face contorted with anger, his golden eyes burning with rage. He didn't care about Bingye's fate, but to kill him in Akaza's presence was a grave insult.
"The ritual begins!" Akaza roared, as a massive twelve-pointed snowflake symbol appeared beneath him. He charged at Aoki, his intent to kill clear.
Aoki's mind raced. The situation had changed dramatically. With three new levels and four skill points, he could now learn one new skill. Should he choose "Transparent World" and try to defeat Akaza here and now?
Akaza's tragic backstory flashed through Aoki's mind. Unlike Rui, who was pitiable, Akaza's story was filled with both pathos and a relentless drive. Yet, Aoki knew he couldn't afford to show mercy. Akaza's numerous sins over the centuries meant his death would be a release from his torment.
"But if I use my skill points on 'Transparent World,' I'll have to delay upgrading 'Demon Devourer' to level 2," Aoki thought. The cost of accumulating skill points was steep, and future experience gains would only get harder to come by.
His hesitation lasted less than a second. "Learn it," he decided. This was a rare opportunity. Missing it might mean never encountering Akaza under these conditions again. Killing Akaza would yield significant experience and fulfill the "End of the Upper Moons" quest, making it worth the investment.
Aoki dodged Akaza's furious attack and was about to call out the system to learn "Transparent World" when a sudden, oppressive presence filled the air. The world seemed to freeze, and a wave of malevolence washed over him.
Emerging from the shadows was a young man in a white shirt and black jacket, his skin as pale as death and his eyes a deep, plum-red. The sheer force of his malice was almost palpable, turning the night into a living nightmare.
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