**Chapter 31: The Infinite Castle!**
As Kintaro and the Lower Moon Six fell through the endless abyss of the Infinite Castle, Kintaro tightened his grip on his sword, the blade still dripping with the demon's blood. His eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings while his hair and clothes billowed in the air during their descent.
'What's going on? What is this place? I've got a bad feeling about this...'
The Lower Moon Six's neck, which had been sliced open just moments ago, quickly healed. The demon's thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of the situation.
'I have no idea what just happened, but I'm still alive for now. How did we end up here? In any case, that kid... he's dangerous. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I need to escape!'
With a sudden twist, the demon flipped in mid-air, pushing off the wall with his feet as he fell. In an instant, he rocketed away from Kintaro like a missile.
**WHOOSH!**
The demon sped off, putting as much distance between himself and Kintaro as possible.
'This should be enough. No matter how fast that brat is, he's still just a human. There's no way he can catch me at this speed—'
**ZAP!**
In a flash of purple lightning, Kintaro surged forward, closing the gap in an instant. Instead of aiming for the demon's neck, he plunged his sword straight into the demon's heart. The force of their collision sent them both crashing into the wooden floor of one of the castle's many rooms.
Or rather, it was the Lower Moon Six who crashed into the floor, while Kintaro stood over him, his expression cold and terrifying. He slowly pulled the sword from the demon's chest, ensuring the creature felt every agonizing moment.
"What made you think you could escape from me? I bet the people you devoured tried to run from you in desperation, including my father and mother. Tell me, did you feel any pity for them? Did you spare their lives when they begged you?"
The demon remained silent as blood poured from his mouth and nose. Though Kintaro's words cut deep, the demon's pride burned with anger and humiliation. In all his years, no one had ever insulted him like this. Struggling through the pain, the demon muttered bitterly.
"Blood Demon Art!"
Kintaro's eyes narrowed as he saw the demon's body begin to crack with glowing red lines, like molten lava coursing through his veins. Sensing the danger, Kintaro took a step back, his hand steady on his sword.
"Whatever you're planning, I'll make sure you suffer before I cut off your head."
Kintaro's eyes glowed with a fierce purple light, causing the demon's own red eyes to tremble. The demon smiled weakly and began to speak, tauntingly.
"That's right... now I remember. In all my life, I've only met one other person with eyes like yours. She looked at me the same way after I devoured her husband in front of her. But she was utterly helpless. I recall that she screamed in rage, her voice was so strange it paralyzed my body. But when I regained control of my limbs, she was unconscious from the effort. Do you want to know the rest? I ate her while she slept!"
Kintaro's eyes flared with rage, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his teeth.
"Electro Breathing ~ Free Style ~ Chaos!"
In the same moment, the demon shouted, "Blood Fireworks!"
A bolt of lightning crashed down from nowhere, striking both Kintaro and the demon. However, just as the lightning struck, the demon's body exploded into hundreds of blood droplets, each one glowing with the heat of molten lava. The blood sprayed across Kintaro's clothes as he stood amidst the chaos.
The lightning bolt tore through the wooden floor of the room, causing Kintaro to fall into the chamber below. The blood droplets, which should have been acidic enough to dissolve anything they touched, were instead electrified by the lightning. The blood that had touched Kintaro was no more harmful than ordinary demon blood, losing all its corrosive properties.
Not only that, but the electrification of the blood caused the demon to die completely. The blood evaporated from the floor and Kintaro's clothes in wisps of black steam, a clear sign that the demon had been obliterated.
Even though Kintaro knew he had won and had tortured the demon in its final moments, the knowledge of how his mother died filled him with an overwhelming hatred. It was as if a thorn was stuck in his heart, festering with anger.
The last thing Kintaro remembered was the sound of someone screaming as the Infinite Castle trembled violently. Purple light flashed through the castle, appearing and disappearing in various corridors. The yellow lamps hanging from the ceilings turned purple before their glass shattered, unable to withstand the intense electrical surge.
Lightning struck around Kintaro, shattering the wooden floors and walls. Despite the bolts striking him as well, his body absorbed them in a strange manner, only to release the energy back into the air with even greater intensity.
The First Lower Moon, who had been smiling at first, now looked terrified as he observed Kintaro, who had reached the peak of his anger. The ground beneath the First Lower Moon trembled as he spoke, the reflection of purple lightning visible in his wide eyes.
"What is this?! What exactly is happening?! Does he expect me to kill this... this thing? Even Heika, the Sixth Lower Moon, was powerless against him. This... this isn't a human! I've heard of Hashira before, but I've never heard of anyone like this. It's like... like... the wrath of the night itself!"
Though Ryuji, the First Lower Moon, appeared terrified, in reality, his power thrived on adrenaline, which surged through him in moments of fear and excitement. His black hair quivered as his ocean-blue eyes lit up with anticipation. With a wide grin, he declared,
"This is what I wanted! Let's fight to the death, my friend!"
"Blood Demon Art ~ 300 Clones!!!"
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