Kapitel 69: Hunter [69]: The Arrival of the Scumbag Boss
With 13 points in Agility and 15 points in Strength, Lin Jie finally met the requirements to equip the [Fighting Demon]. Before heading to the Swordsmith Village, he put on the red bracer with a tattoo-like pattern on his left arm, ready to use it to block attacks when necessary.
[Fighting Demon]
Origin: Demon Slayer
Quality: Blue
Category: Bracer
Durability: 50/50
Equipment Requirement: 15 Strength, 13 Agility
Equipment Effect: Unwavering Will (Passive) - For every 20% health lost, Strength +1, Agility +1.
Hint: This effect allows the wearer to ignore the near-death state.
Rating: 70
Introduction: I will become stronger than anyone, even in death!
Trade Price: 7,000 Park Coins.
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Equipped with the [Fighting Demon], Lin Jie's Strength could reach 19 points and Agility 17 points when he was low on health. The key ability to ignore the near-death state allowed him to fight to the death. This gave Lin Jie a few more points of confidence for the upcoming battle.
"Everyone's here!"
When Lin Jie arrived at the Swordsmith Village again, all the other Hashira who had been on missions were gathered there.
"This moment has finally arrived! This monk can die without regrets!" Gyomei Himejima said with tears in his eyes, his hands clasped together.
"Red-dono, Oyakata-sama has instructed us to leave the arrangements to you," Obanai Iguro said.
The nine Hashira present had no objections. Although there was no prompt from the Reincarnation Paradise, Lin Jie had already earned their respect by killing the Upper Moon demons. They were willing to follow his lead.
The Kakushi members had made all the arrangements and had already evacuated. Lin Jie listened to them describe the layout of the area. A large amount of gunpowder was buried under the patch of fake Blue Spider Lilies.
"Muzan Kibutsuji hasn't attacked immediately, which means he's preparing something. We don't know what it is yet, so to be safe, we'll ambush near this flower patch," Lin Jie said. Thanks to whatever items those Contractors had used, Muzan Kibutsuji seemed to believe that the Blue Spider Lilies that appeared here were real, allowing them to set a targeted trap.
"We'll lure him into the trap and injure him with the explosion. Everyone, just try to make it difficult for him to dodge my blade. Remember, safety first, survival is paramount!"
Lin Jie possessed the Soul Power ability and had no intention of challenging Muzan Kibutsuji alone.
It was safer to gang up on a thousand-year-old demon! Lin Jie had been guessing what Muzan Kibutsuji was planning. He couldn't possibly be planning to move the entire Infinity Castle, could he?
According to Kagaya Ubuyashiki's prediction, Muzan Kibutsuji would attack tomorrow at nightfall. Lin Jie sat under a tree, pondering how to inject the potion into Muzan Kibutsuji.
"Hmm?"
In the silence, Lin Jie keenly sensed an object nearby carrying a trace of soul power. He had felt this kind of object on Kokushibou's severed arm, so it was likely a part of a demon.
He remained calm on the surface, his eyes sweeping across the surroundings as if admiring the scenery. After roughly confirming the location he had sensed, he leaped onto a tree branch and saw several eyeballs with legs burrowing into the grass.
But how could they outrun Lin Jie? With a few swipes of his hand, infused with soul power, he crushed them all.
...
In a certain room within Infinity Castle, Nakime leaned against the wall, her black hair clinging to it like tentacles. A single eye occupied half of her face.
"Argh!"
As Lin Jie found and crushed the eyes hidden in the Swordsmith Village, Nakime let out a scream, blood and tears streaming from her single eye.
She then relayed the last bit of information she had gathered to Muzan Kibutsuji.
"All the Hashira have assembled. It seems they intend to stop me from achieving my perfect form. But no one can stop me."
Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes darkened.
...
The next day, Lin Jie received the brand new [Dawn] from Haganezuka.
[Dawn's Shadow]
Origin: Demon Slayer - Swordsmith Village
Quality: Blue
Durability: 55/55
Attack Power: 19~35 (Calculated based on Slashing Strength)
Equipment Requirement: 12 Strength, 10 Agility
Equipment Effect: Demon Slayer. Sharpness +6
Additional Attribute: Light Shadow. Sword Swing Speed +10%
Rating: 60
Introduction: When happiness is destroyed, the scent of blood always lingers. Even if I perish, I will slay the evil demon! I will become the dawn, illuminating the earth!
Trade Price: 7,000 Park Coins.
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The original [Dawn] effect was gone, replaced by the characteristics of the Willow Shallow Sword. Therefore, it was no longer appropriate to call the weapon [Dawn]. Its name had aptly changed. At this point, this Dawn's Shadow could hardly be considered a Nichirin Blade anymore.
Dawn's Shadow still resembled a horizontal blade, but it had become more slender, somewhat resembling a sword.
As night fell, the nine Hashira, along with Lin Jie, were in position, awaiting Muzan Kibutsuji's arrival. Just as they anticipated, figures emerged from the outskirts of the village, surrounding them. As far as the eye could see, there were demons.
Even though most of them were ordinary demons, the visual impact was still astonishing.
On Lin Jie's side, there were only ten people, but each one of them was a seasoned warrior, completely unfazed, and even slightly amused. Among this large group of demons, there wasn't a single one that could reach the level of a Lower Moon, and less than half possessed Blood Demon Arts.
Lin Jie also saw Muzan Kibutsuji, who was being fearfully guarded by the demon horde. Usually, Muzan Kibutsuji appeared as a handsome young man with black hair, a tall and slender figure, pale skin, and crimson eyes.
However, at this moment, Muzan Kibutsuji had completely reverted to his true demonic form. He had long white hair, his limbs and lower body were covered in blood and fur, and his entire body sprouted giant mouths filled with sharp teeth. It was evident that he had been in human form for too long and had devoured many people before arriving at the Swordsmith Village, regaining his demonic instincts.
"Don't tell me this is all you have?"
Lin Jie glanced around. There were indeed many demons, but not as many as he had imagined. Muzan Kibutsuji could easily create ordinary demons. With three full days of preparation, if he wanted to use a sea of demons tactic, there should have been more.
"Why don't you guess?"
Muzan Kibutsuji smiled.
Lin Jie decisively drew his weapon and said coldly, "If I can solve a problem with my fists, I won't waste my brainpower."
"Such a boring human. Let me tell you the truth, I've arranged for half of my demons to lie in wait in Asakusa. I can have them start slaughtering the people there at any time. If you don't want me to do that, hand over what I want."
Muzan Kibutsuji revealed a cruel smile, and even the mouths on his body stretched wide.
"Damn it!"
"Curse you..."
"What do we do now?"
Shinobu Kocho asked. The nine Hashira turned their gazes to Lin Jie. They had received instructions from Kagaya Ubuyashiki to follow Red's lead.
Lin Jie, standing beside the patch of fake flowers, smiled faintly upon hearing Muzan Kibutsuji's words. Then, with a flick of his sword, he cut off a flower stem, which fell at his feet.
"Humans are everywhere, but how long did it take you to find this flower?" Lin Jie said, stepping on the bud that had fallen to the ground.
"..."
The nine Hashira were facing Lin Jie's back, while Muzan Kibutsuji, who was facing him, couldn't help but fall silent. He couldn't sense a single ripple of emotion in the man's eyes, as if he were merely using the lives of a bunch of ants to threaten him.
What Muzan Kibutsuji didn't know was that this man in front of him didn't belong to this world at all. Regardless of which world a Contractor came from, expecting them to have a compassionate heart was like expecting the miners from Apocalypse Paradise to stop mining!
Lin Jie didn't consider himself a heartless lunatic, a product of the Reincarnation Paradise. He was usually fine, but at this moment, he had no time for sympathy.
"Red..."
Some of the Hashira looked at Lin Jie's back with unbearable expressions.
The matter of the Blue Spider Lily had not yet been revealed to everyone. Only Lin Jie, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and Muzan Kibutsuji himself knew its purpose. Even Shinobu Kocho, who had personally crafted the fake, was unaware. But she knew that this fake was very important to Muzan Kibutsuji!
Shinobu Kocho decisively interrupted Gyomei Himejima, who was about to say something: "Everyone, Red-san is in charge here now~"
Despite his conflicted expression, Gyomei Himejima swallowed his words. Shinobu Kocho smiled at Muzan Kibutsuji, whose face had turned grim.
"Don't tell me you don't care about the lives of so many people!"
Muzan Kibutsuji scoffed at Lin Jie.
Lin Jie curled his finger at him, not saying a word, only smiling contemptuously.
"What do you want?"
Muzan Kibutsuji's expression turned serious. He realized that this man was completely different from the other Demon Slayers. He even saw a shadow of himself in this man. How could such a person be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?
However, unaware of Muzan Kibutsuji's thoughts, Lin Jie laughed and retorted, "What do I want? It should be, what do you want?"
"Don't think you have me cornered! Even if I can't get the flower, I can make sure you all perish along with it!"
Muzan Kibutsuji knew he couldn't back down at this point.
"Really? I don't believe it!"
Lin Jie laughed outright. In a one-on-one fight, he couldn't defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, he had already confirmed that with Detection. But did he think the nine Hashira were just for show?!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein