Chapter 57: Hunter [57]: Four and Five
This equipment can increase strength and agility by up to 4 points each. However, Lin Jiu values it more for its ability to maintain combat power even in a near-death state. Unfortunately, his current attributes do not meet the requirements for this powerful equipment.
Lin Jiu then focused on the demon blood potion. He had already consumed it twice, but one of the potions was of perfect quality and did not count towards the three-time limit, so he still had two opportunities left.
He only needed to kill two more Upper Moon demons, collect their blood, and have Tamayo create more demon blood potions. The effects of two more doses should be enough for Lin Jiu to meet the requirements for equipping the [Fighting Demon].
"Squawk... According to Oyakata-sama's divination, there are two demons currently..."
Lin Jiu's kasugai crow flew from the headquarters and perched on his shoulder, informing him that Kagaya had predicted the whereabouts of two demons. The only demons that could warrant such notification from Kagya were undoubtedly the Upper Moons. This was also what Lin Jiu had instructed the crow to communicate: he wanted to know the whereabouts of the other Upper Moon demons.
"Two?"
Lin Jiu was puzzled. Upper Moon demons usually acted alone, except for the sibling demons of Upper Moon Six. But those two should be in the Entertainment District, right?
After resting for a night, he bid farewell to Tamayo. Traveling during the day, he arrived at his destination around evening, just in time to encounter the demons.
No sooner had he set foot in this remote village than a gaunt man lunged at him, looking at Lin Jiu like a starving ghost and rasping, "Give me something to eat!"
"I'm a kind-hearted person. I can't bear to see others in pain. Let me help you end this suffering."
Lin Jiu muttered as he decapitated the man in front of him. This fellow was a pure human, but his sharp teeth, ground down from fighting, were evident. There was even flesh caught between them!
His gaunt appearance wasn't just from hunger but also from a prolonged lack of certain nutrients. This remote village was experiencing a famine, a scene Lin Jiu had encountered before. Anyone guarding the village entrance like this guy was not a good person and was more likely to have survived by cannibalism!
"Why would they appear in such a place?"
Lin Jiu wondered. Upper Moon demons shouldn't be in areas littered with corpses. They had no interest in feeding on carrion.
The commotion caused the ravens perched on the dead trees to take flight, their circling proving that many had already died here.
"Foul air..."
Lin Jiu glanced at the sky. It wasn't dark yet. The demons appearing this time were strange; it was best not to enter the village rashly. Lin Jiu leaped onto a dead tree at the village entrance and waited quietly for nightfall.
The sunset and the stars emerged. The sky of this era was always dotted with stars, making visibility better.
"You didn't fall for it, huh!"
A demon with no visible number in its eyes, a swollen forehead, horns on its head, and a face like a grotesque mask, emerged from the village. In his hands, he held a jar.
From the jar, a figure emerged. This demon was entirely white, with yellow eyes, green lips, and purple fins on its head. Its mouth was where its eyes should be, and its eyes were on its forehead and mouth area, with several small arms growing from its head.
Lin Jiu recognized the old demon as Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, and the other as Upper Moon Five, Gyokko. Gyokko looked even uglier than depicted in the original work. Lin Jiu used his detection skills on both demons.
[Twelve Kizuki · Upper Moon Five: Gyokko]
Strength: 12
Agility: 10
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 7
Charisma: 3
Skills:
Demon Bloodline (Passive): Possessors of the demon bloodline can regenerate limbs and have formidable recovery abilities. Only energy attacks or weapons imbued with energy can inflict damage (light-based energy attacks are particularly effective).
Complete Form (Active): Achieves final form after molting in the jar.
Note: Complete Form grants the "God's Hand" skill!
Blood Demon Art
???
[Twelve Kizuki · Upper Moon Four: Hantengu]
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 5
Skills:
Demon Bloodline (Passive): Possessors of the demon bloodline can regenerate limbs and have formidable recovery abilities. Only energy attacks or weapons imbued with energy can inflict damage (light-based energy attacks are particularly effective).
Blood Demon Art: Materialization and Division (Passive): When Hantengu is in danger, his intense emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure—can materialize to protect his main body.
Sekido: Thunder Kill
Karaku: Strong Wind
Aizetsu: Piercing Tears
Urogi: Rampant Roar
Hate Demon (Active): The four clones can merge into Zohakuten.
Resentment Demon (Active): Releases a demon representing hatred when the main body is threatened.
==========
Gyokko decisively emerged from the jar, transforming into a form entirely covered in scales harder than diamonds, with a snake-like lower body and webbed fingers.
"How terrifying! He transformed into his complete form right away!" Hantengu said in a cowardly voice as he looked at Gyokko.
Gyokko extended his tongue from where his eyes should be and grinned, saying, "This guy is a monster who killed both Doma and Akaza."
"Can't we let Lord Kokushibo or Lord Muzan handle this?"
Hantengu asked, sounding somewhat intimidated.
Lin Jiu wasn't going to indulge them. As soon as Gyokko completed his transformation and Hantengu finished speaking, Lin Jiu had already decapitated Hantengu.
It was clear that Hantengu had deliberately allowed Lin Jiu to decapitate him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to split into the clones Sekido and Karaku.
Blood Demon Art: Blood Prison Jar!
Taking advantage of the situation, Gyokko attacked Lin Jiu. His jar, patterned with waves, splashed water toward Lin Jiu, forming a water prison in an attempt to trap him. Unfortunately, the water couldn't keep up with Lin Jiu's speed.
Meanwhile, Hantengu, who had been decapitated by Lin Jiu, split into the clones Sekido and Karaku. This undoubtedly increased the difficulty for Lin Jiu, but it also meant he could resolve the situation with Hantengu more quickly. Once Hantengu fully divided, his main body, Fear, would appear. With the sharpness of his [Dawn] +3, Lin Jiu was confident he could slice through Fear's neck and eliminate Hantengu directly.
"Blood Demon Art..."
Gyokko was about to continue his Blood Demon Art when Lin Jiu, who was closer to Sekido and Karaku, suddenly changed direction and appeared in front of him.
Lin Jiu saw the surprise in Gyokko's eyes and kicked his jar, interrupting the Blood Demon Art. Compared to Akaza, these two were much easier to deal with. They were despicable characters as humans and remained so even after becoming demons!
Gyokko's jar shattered, and his rage flared. However, the sword light from Lin Jiu instantly extinguished his anger. Gyokko raised his arm to block, but Lin Jiu's sword struck the scales on Gyokko's arm, losing much of its force.
Blood Demon Art: Thunder Kill!
Sekido raised his staff, and several bolts of lightning struck Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu agilely leaped onto a nearby branch. The lightning, however, hit Gyokko instead. Although Lin Jiu's earlier attack hadn't caused much damage to Gyokko, the lightning left him severely injured.
Blood Demon Art: Strong Wind!
Just as Lin Jiu dodged Sekido's lightning, Karaku created a fan and sent a strong wind toward him. The fierce wind uprooted dead trees, causing sand and stones to fly.
With Sekido and Gyokko around, Lin Jiu couldn't charge through the strong wind. He immediately circled to the side of the wind source, heading towards the nearest target, Sekido.
Sekido quickly summoned more lightning to strike the approaching Lin Jiu. If Lin Jiu dodged now, it would give Gyokko and Karaku a chance to attack. So, Lin Jiu directly drew his sword and sliced through the lightning.
Though the lightning looked formidable and powerful, it wasn't natural lightning. Lin Jiu cut through it but felt his body slightly paralyzed. Despite this, he managed to get in front of Sekido.
He raised his leg for a sidekick, but due to his slight paralysis, it lacked force. It wasn't as effective as when he had kicked Doma.
"Haha! Die!"
Sekido felt the kick against him was weak, making him confident.
"A human is always just a human, never able to match a demon's physique!"
Sekido swung his staff, summoning several bolts of lightning. Lin Jiu turned, his wrist rotating, and using the momentum of his body, he swung his sword and decapitated Sekido.
This caused Sekido to split, and the clone representing sorrow, Aizetsu, appeared.
Blood Demon Art: Octopus Jar Hell!
Gyokko, having recreated his jar, used his Blood Demon Art to summon an octopus the size of a house. Its tentacles stretched out, trying to restrict Lin Jiu's movements.
Seeing this, Lin Jiu almost laughed. Indeed, these demons were solitary creatures with no experience fighting together. Hantengu's clones originally used ranged attacks like lightning, strong winds, and shockwaves, making it difficult for Lin Jiu to get close. Summoning such a large octopus not only provided cover for Lin Jiu's movements but also blocked those ranged attacks. Trying to catch him with these tentacles was undoubtedly challenging.
"Hahaha, is this hide-and-seek? I love this game!"
Karaku laughed as he saw Lin Jiu using the giant octopus to hide himself, making it hard to track his movements.
"Take this seriously!"
Sekido shouted at Karaku in dissatisfaction.
"It's pathetic that so many demons can't deal with him."
Aizetsu sighed with his head lowered.
Gyokko: "..."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone