Chapitre 30: Chapter 30: We Finally Meet
**Chapter 30: We Finally Meet**
Kintaro walked quietly along Raya Road, a long, treacherous path that connected two villages, a route shrouded in mystery and fear, with tales of a curse that had severed the connection between these once-friendly communities. The air was thick with the dry, dusty scent of the desert mountains that loomed over the narrow trail. It was a rugged, rocky terrain, a jagged path carved into the side of steep cliffs that offered little room for error. Despite the daunting landscape, the road had patches of flat ground wide enough for carts to pass without the risk of plummeting into the abyss below.
The rocky path, worn smooth by years of use, echoed with the sound of Kintaro's footsteps, each step resonating in the eerie silence of the mountains. The midday sun was a harsh, unrelenting force, beating down on him with a sweltering intensity that made the air shimmer in the distance. Desert birds circled high above, their shadows fleeting across the cracked earth, while the occasional dry gust of wind rustled through the sparse bushes clinging to the sides of the cliffs.
As the day wore on, the heat of the sun began to wane, and Kintaro noticed a chill creeping into the air. The warmth of the day was replaced by the cool embrace of twilight as the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long, orange-hued shadows across the landscape. The once-blazing sky turned into a gradient of warm colors—fiery oranges, deep reds, and soft purples—painting the scattered clouds with the glow of the setting sun.
Kintaro's gaze was drawn to the sunset, the dying light reflecting off his eyes, casting a fiery glow on the world around him. His voice broke the silence as he spoke to himself, a quiet determination in his tone.
"Sunset... And now the real challenge begins. It's time to uncover the mystery of this cursed road and erase its curse from existence."
With that, he continued to walk, his footsteps steady, his resolve unwavering. As the sun dipped further below the horizon, the stars began to emerge, twinkling faintly in the deepening blue of the night sky. Kintaro's senses sharpened as darkness descended, the quiet of the night amplifying every sound—the rustle of the wind, the distant call of an owl, the soft crunch of his boots on the rocky path.
The further he walked, the more evidence of the road's sinister history revealed itself. Pieces of torn clothing littered the ground, tattered remnants of travelers who had met a grisly end. Some of the fabric was stained with dark, dried blood, almost black with age, a stark reminder of the horrors that had befallen those who dared to traverse this path.
Kintaro's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, his mind racing as he processed the evidence before him.
"All these clothes... They're torn in a way that suggests something far more sinister than a wild animal attack. This isn't the work of a fox, or a lion, or any other beast. This is... a demon."
A surge of anger welled up within him as he spoke the word, his body reacting instinctively to the memory of his parents' death. His hair bristled with electricity, the faint crackle of lightning dancing around his brow as his eyes glowed with a fierce, purple light. The emotions coursing through him were almost overwhelming, but he held onto them, channeling his rage into a focused, lethal intent.
Then, out of nowhere, Kintaro stopped in his tracks. He stared ahead into the empty road, the path illuminated only by the pale light of the moon overhead. Everything was silent, the air still and expectant. For a moment, there was nothing, just the quiet of the night and the oppressive darkness that surrounded him.
Suddenly, there was a sharp noise—a rush of air, a blur of motion—and then a loud crash as something struck the ground with immense force. The earth trembled slightly under the impact, sending dust and debris flying into the air. Kintaro had narrowly avoided the strike, moving with lightning speed to evade the blow.
As the dust began to settle, the figure of a demon emerged from the haze, grinning wickedly. He had short, white hair and piercing red eyes, with a symbol in one of them that marked him as "Lower Rank Six." Despite being the weakest of the Twelve Kizuki, his speed and strength were formidable. The demon's smile widened, revealing a row of sharp, white teeth. His hand dripped with blood, a result of the forceful punch that had shattered the ground.
"Impressive dodge," the demon remarked, his voice dripping with a mix of mockery and amusement. "That punch should have killed you, but look at me now—ended up breaking my own bones, damn it. But no worries, a wound like this heals in no time!"
The demon's arm began to heal almost instantly, the torn flesh mending itself as he looked around, searching for his target. But all he could see was a flash of purple light streaking towards him like a bolt of lightning.
In an instant, Kintaro's sword was embedded in the demon's throat, the blade piercing through his neck and pinning him to the ground. Kintaro's strike was precise, brutal, and deliberate, designed not to kill but to incapacitate and inflict maximum pain. Blood spurted from the demon's mouth as he choked, unable to speak, move, or even breathe properly. Every attempt to struggle only sent waves of unbearable agony through his body, the blade lodged in his throat making every motion excruciating.
Tears welled up in the demon's eyes, his mind racing with fear and confusion.
'What just happened? What is this? This pain… I can't breathe… I'm choking! Is this bastard trying to torture me?! I've never met a Demon Slayer this fast before!'
As the demon writhed in agony, Kintaro stood over him, his expression calm, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He spoke, his voice low and menacing.
"Thank you for saving me the trouble of searching for you. So, you're the curse of this road? I have a message for you. How did my parents' flesh taste? How did the flesh of the villagers feel against your fangs? Good, because I'm going to make you experience a pain far worse before I burn you under the sun's rays."
The demon's tears turned to blood, a sign of the extreme pain he was enduring. In that moment, Kintaro heard a strange sound, a haunting melody played on a traditional Japanese instrument.
THUD!
Before Kintaro could react, the ground beneath him and the demon opened up, as if a trapdoor had been triggered. The light from above dimmed as they fell into darkness, illuminated only by the eerie glow of yellow lanterns that lined the walls of the descending pit. Kintaro's hair whipped upwards as he plummeted into the unknown, his senses on high alert.
He quickly withdrew his sword from the demon's throat, unwilling to kill him just yet. There was a need to stay cautious, not knowing what awaited him at the bottom of this mysterious chasm. As he fell, Kintaro felt an ominous presence watching him. His instincts screamed at him to be on guard, and when he glanced to his right, his eyes widened in shock.
There, perched casually on the edge of the pit, was a figure with striking blue eyes and dark hair. On his eye was the symbol "Lower Rank One," marking him as a demon far more dangerous than the one Kintaro had just fought.
Ryuutaro, the Lower Moon One, had finally met Kintaro. But was this truly the right moment for such an encounter? Kintaro's focus remained on the demon falling below him, his mind racing with thoughts of vengeance and justice. The battle had only just begun, and the road ahead was fraught with danger.
Would Kintaro survive this descent into the unknown?
----
[A/N]
Guys, I can hear the infinity castle theme in my head now...
~ More Chapters;
patr eon. com/Ayaka0
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone