Gyokko's memories from before he became a demon were vague, but he didn't care.
Being chosen by Lord Muzan to become a demon proved that weak creatures like humans weren't suitable for him. He deserved a better fate.
Although he couldn't remember anything from his human days, one thought always lingered in his heart: This is a hungry world.
People are meant to be eaten and traded like livestock. The villagers provided him with meat of "different values," and he gave them money, resulting in a win-win situation for both parties.
He was doing good deeds, helping these "hungry people" survive. He was a god, a god of salvation. He deserved to be worshiped at a shrine.
In this world, people of higher status shouldn't dominate those of lower status; rather, people of higher status should be more worthy of being eaten. Their meat is worth tasting.
The word "identity" was the distorted dregs of ugly human society. It should be discarded.
"Water Breathing"
Seeing Upper Rank Five approach Rengoku, the seriously injured Giyu tried to use his breathing technique. However, as soon as he took a breath, he collapsed as if he had been electrocuted. He couldn't stand.
"I have dissected countless human bodies and know the human anatomy very well," Gyokko said coldly. "Even if you managed to avoid the worst of my attack, you still can't move. The angle and depth of my strike have already destroyed part of your lungs."
Gyokko glanced at the embarrassed Water Pillar, spread his hands, and laughed. "If I didn't have this ability, how could I have become an Upper Rank?"
He walked toward Rengoku, opened the massive mouth on his belly, and prepared to eat the Flame Pillar alive. A fleshy tongue slithered out of the mouth.
At that moment, footsteps suddenly echoed across the battlefield. Gyokko halted as if he had expected this arrival. From beginning to end, he hadn't been alone on this battlefield. Someone else had been watching carefully.
"Finally, you're willing to take action."
Compared to how casually he'd dealt with the two Pillars, Gyokko narrowed his eyes and instantly became alert as he looked at the man walking toward him.
Oboro judged that neither the Water Pillar nor the Flame Pillar could harm an Upper Rank, even working together.
Although the breathing techniques used by the two contained elements that Oboro had taught the Demon Slayer Corps — techniques that greatly improved their combat effectiveness — the training time had been relatively short. This made complete transformation impossible.
The main reason was that their opponent was simply too strong. Perhaps both the Water Pillar and the Flame Pillar could easily kill a Lower Rank in a one-on-one fight.
Their current performance was certainly much better than before they'd practiced the enhanced breathing exercises.
"Actually, you don't need to go through so much trouble," Oboro said with a calm smile. "If you wanted to become a demon, you could have just asked at the beginning."
Meanwhile, Gyokko seemed quite nervous. He took the initiative to speak. "Your presence should make that master happy, too."
After saying this, he extended his hand to Oboro. "We are now in the same camp. I misjudged you as a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps. If you want more bloodshed, I can take you to see the master and recommend you for the Twelve Demon Moons."
"Calm down?" Oboro tilted his head and replied with amusement.
This Upper Rank Five had initially intended to kill him, but had suddenly changed his attitude, obviously trying to smooth things over.
Oboro understood. With his combat power, he could definitely be ranked among the Upper Ranks.
In the Twelve Demon Moons hierarchy, each demon had a different personality, and their relationships were subtle and complex.
The critical point was the bloody battle system within the Twelve Demon Moons. Lower-ranked demons could challenge higher-ranked ones, and the loser would be devoured by the winner.
Therefore, even becoming an Upper Rank didn't guarantee safety.
In Gyokko's opinion, Oboro was an unstable new factor. He had just become a demon yet demonstrated strength equal to Gyokko's. So, what was his true level? Upper Rank Three? Or perhaps Upper Rank Two?
If he challenged Gyokko, the Upper Rank Five, he would surely die.
I'm not even sure I can kill Oboro here.
With this thought in mind, Gyokko decided to get closer to Oboro. There was no need to create grudges. Now that Oboro had become a demon with Gyokko's blood, Gyokko owed him a favor, both emotionally and rationally.
"You just became a demon, so I'll give you these two Pillars. Enjoy them," Gyokko offered.
He had deliberately spared the lives of the Water Pillar and the Flame Pillar to do Oboro a favor. Although the two Pillars were valuable to him, it was more cost-effective in the long run to invest in this powerful new ally.
"Are you talking about Muzan Kibutsuji?" Oboro stood still as he spoke the name.
As soon as these words left his mouth, the Upper Rank Five's expression changed dramatically.
Just because this man casually said the master's name and remained safe and sound?
"You!" Gyokko was stunned. What was happening? Why wasn't this man being punished?
"I didn't need to see him in person," said Oboro, walking forward slowly and shaking his head.
A familiar sound came to his mind as he activated the system.
"The game Treasure Trove of Endless Dreamers has arrived!" Connection successful.
"Compared to Muzan, I am actually more interested in you," Oboro said, smiling gently at the shocked Upper Rank Five. "You don't think I came to a place like this in the middle of the night just to get Muzan's blood, do you?"
"What are you up to?!" Gyokko sensed something ominous about the man and immediately became alert. Setting aside the man's strange behavior, if he was an Upper Rank who had already made significant concessions, why did Oboro still intend to cause trouble? Did he really think Gyokko was easy to intimidate?
Oboro took items out of the system package one by one and tossed them away.
Snap, snap!
Under Giyu's watchful gaze, Oboro raised one hand, and a pile of stones, leaves, and other debris fell from his palm as if from thin air. These objects appeared suddenly and had not been picked up in advance.
They actually came from another world. They were randomly collected on the Dark Continent when Oboro integrated his abilities into the system, and they were loaded as materialized cards.
In other words, he had brought things from another world here to test the system's effects after adding his abilities.
It worked just as he thought.
After traveling to the Demon Slayer world and summoning the system, Oboro was certain of one thing. This was also why he was willing to stay in the relatively low-powered Demon Slayer world.
It was the ability gifted to him by the HunterxHunter world.
His ability!
"I just wanted to see if I could take you away as a usable resource," Oboro stated truthfully.
Whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Upper Rank Five standing before him vanished. Like a frightened bird, Gyokko transformed into a streak of black and fled at astonishing speed.
He even abandoned the Water Pillar and Flame Pillar.
Oboro didn't immediately give chase. First, he glanced at Giyu and Rengoku, then he walked slowly, neither hurrying nor rushing after the fleeing demon.
His prey couldn't escape.