Chapter 225: Evolution, the Cruel Palpitation

Gyutaro gritted his teeth, gripping his scythes with both hands, and shot toward Rengoku like an arrow loosed from a bow.

"Die! Blood Demon Art: Ring Slash!"

The two blood scythes crossed in midair, a blood-red streak sweeping over like a storm. The sound of air being cut rang incessantly.

But at this moment, Rengoku's gaze suddenly turned sharp.

"Flame Breathing: Ninth Form: Rengoku!"

Rengoku let out a low shout, his whole body turning into a line of fire, charging straight at the blood blades. Six great swords crossed before him, flames surging, forming a huge fire dragon.

"Boom!"

The fire dragon crashed into the blood blades, and the blood-red light was instantly devoured by the flames.

"This-this speed!"

Gyutaro's pupils contracted sharply, but it was already too late to retreat.

"Bang!"

Gyutaro barely raised his blood scythe to block, but under the combined strike of six swords, the blood scythe shattered instantly. Rengoku's assault did not stop, and the great sword accurately struck Gyutaro's vital point.

"Pfft!"

Gyutaro's body split into several pieces in midair, blood spraying. His head still wore an expression of disbelief, slowly falling toward the ground.

"Cough cough cough" Gyutaro's head rolled on the ground, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

The next moment, a strange scene occurred.

The scattered flesh and blood began to writhe, muscles and bones emitting teeth-grating sounds of reassembly. Those fragments, as if pulled by some invisible force, began to gather toward the center.

Rengoku stomped hard on the ground, his whole body spinning and leaping into the air, five great swords flying from his hands.

"Clang clang clang clang clang!"

The sounds of metal entering flesh merged into one. Five great swords precisely pinned Gyutaro's torso to the ground, blades deeply embedded in the ground, firmly fixing every piece of flesh.

"You bastard!" Gyutaro's voice was distorted by pain, his body struggling violently, but the great swords held him firmly to the ground.

The battle in the distance also entered white-hot intensity.

Daki was surrounded in the center by over a dozen Corpse Puppet Swordsmen, her sashes dancing wildly in the air. Just as one swordsman approached, he was sliced in two at the waist by the sashes.

But at this moment, she heard her brother's scream. Daki subconsciously turned her head, seeing her brother's miserable state. "Brother!" Daki's voice suddenly rose, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Impossible, how could you lose to such an ugly monster!"

In the moment she was distracted, three Corpse Puppet Swordsmen struck simultaneously.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Almost at the same time, three great swords pierced Daki's four limbs and waist respectively. The intense pain made her let out a shrill scream.

"Ah!"

Blood gushed from the wounds, dyeing her exquisite kimono red. The great swords were deeply embedded in the ground, rendering her unable to move.

"Sister!"

Seeing this scene, Gyutaro's pupils contracted sharply, all the blood in his body boiling. "Anyone who dares to hurt my sister, die!"

"Boom!"

His body instantly exploded, countless blood blades sweeping outward like a sudden storm.

"Fall back!" The Corpse Puppet Swordsmen in the distance raised their swords to block, but the blood blades were too fast and too numerous.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Several swordsmen who reacted slightly slower were instantly cut into pieces, severed limbs and arms flying.

"Fourth Form: Flourishing Flame's Winding"

Rengoku held swords in both hands, crossing the great swords before him. Flames wrapped around the blades as the blood blades struck the sword edges, emitting dense metallic clashing sounds, sparks flying.

Taking this opportunity, Daki gritted her teeth and pulled out the great swords embedded in her body one by one. Blood gushed from the wounds, but she did not care, forcing herself to stand up.

"Don't think you can kill us like this!" Daki shook as she steadied herself, a hint of arrogance in her voice. "We are immortal!"

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the storm of blood blades: "Is that so?"

Dio walked slowly through the storm woven of blood blades. Sharp blood blades sliced past, cutting off pieces of flesh, but Dio seemed to feel no pain at all.

"Then." A hint of playfulness in Dio's voice, he crouched down before Gyutaro's head. "Let me try it myself."

Gyutaro stared fixedly at Dio, his eyes full of hatred: "You this"

Dio did not let him finish, his right hand suddenly stabbing into his neck. "Pfft," blood splattered. Gyutaro's eyes widened, watching Dio in disbelief.

"Brother!" Daki stumbled forward, but was blocked by several Corpse Puppet Swordsmen. She struggled desperately, trying to break through the blockade.

"Get out of my way!" Daki shouted hoarsely, her sashes dancing wildly, but each was blocked by the Corpse Puppets' sword edges.

At this time, the blood blades spraying around also became increasingly sparse, finally disappearing completely.

Dio suddenly let out a muffled groan, releasing the hand that had stabbed into Gyutaro's neck. His body began to tremble violently, veins bulging under his skin like writhing worms.

"This feeling." Dio narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise in his voice. His veins suddenly burst through his skin, extending outward like tentacles.

On the corpses lying on the ground around them, those veins instantly pierced in, beginning to madly absorb blood. The corpses withered at a visible speed, soon becoming mummies.

"No!"

Daki's voice was already choked with sobs. She could feel that as Dio absorbed more and more blood, her brother's aura was rapidly fading.

"Crack."

Cracks appeared on Gyutaro's skin, like a dried-up riverbed. His eyes slowly turned toward his sister, as if wanting to say something, but he could no longer make a sound.

"No, don't!" Daki struggled madly. The brother who had protected her since childhood was disappearing bit by bit before her eyes.

With a light "pop," Gyutaro's body suddenly shattered, turning to ash and scattering in the wind.

Dio stood where he was, feeling the power surging within him. The power of Demon Blood flowed through his body, every cell seemingly undergoing some kind of transformation.

He raised his hand. Under the moonlight, the pulsing of veins under his skin could be seen. An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body.

"Interesting." Dio whispered softly. "The blood of an Upper Rank Demon actually has this effect."

He turned his head to look at Daki, who was surrounded by Corpse Demon Swordsmen, and waved his hand: "Let her go."

The Corpse Puppets immediately retreated, and Daki stumbled and lunged toward the place where her brother had dissipated. Her trembling fingers touched the ashes on the ground.

"You..." Daki slowly raised her head, the tears in her eyes having already turned blood-red, "I'll kill you!"

She abruptly stood up, the sashes all over her body instantly exploding outward, her entire aura erupting to its peak in this moment. "Eightfold Sash Slash!"

Dozens of sashes flew like shells leaving a barrel, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek as they went straight for Dio's vitals.

"Puff puff puff!"

The sashes pierced into Dio's body, impaling his entire person. Blood splattered,

Daki paid it no heed; even more sashes surged from her body, sweeping in like a storm. "Die! Die! Die!" Just then, a sudden change occurred. The sashes inserted into Dio's body suddenly began to melt, as if encountering some strong acid.

"What?!" Daki's pupils shrank violently, watching this scene in disbelief. She tried to pull back her sashes, but found it was already too late.

The sashes completely dissolved inside Dio's body, turning into some substance that he absorbed, and the wound on his chest healed instantly, as if he had never been injured.

"How is this possible... my sashes..." Daki's voice carried disbelief.

Dio looked at her, the corner of his mouth hooking into a cruel smile: "My turn."

His voice not yet fallen, he violently swung his right hand. The blood vessels all over his body suddenly bulged, bursting through his skin like countless tiny snakes.

"Boom!"

The blood vessels shot out like arrows, instantly entangling Daki; the high-temperature blood carried a corrosive power, and Daki let out a miserable shriek.

Dio's figure flashed, instantly appearing before Daki.

"Bang!" His right fist blasted out, carrying unstoppable momentum straight for Daki's face.

Daki gritted her teeth, raising both arms crossed to block. The moment the fist landed on her arm, Dio's fist actually sank into Daki's arm.

"What is this... No!"

Daki tried to break free, but discovered her arm had already fused with Dio's fist. Her flesh and blood were being devoured at a speed visible to the naked eye; the wriggling of blood vessels could be seen under her skin.

"Crack!"

A tooth-aching sound suddenly came from Dio's chest cavity. His ribs suddenly stabbed outward, piercing through Daki's body like steel spears.

"Ah!"

Daki let out a miserable shriek; the moment the ribs penetrated her body, her flesh and blood were being assimilated by Dio's body.

"Let... let go of me!" Daki struggled desperately, but her strength was rapidly draining away.

Her body melted like snow under the moonlight, her flesh and blood bit by bit absorbed by Dio.

Dio stood in place, eyes closed, sensing the surging power within his body; he could feel his strength had increased again, though not by much, it was indeed stronger than before.

"Congratulations, Master." Rengoku Kyojuro knelt on one knee, his voice respectful; the other Corpse Puppets echoed in unison, their voices reverberating on the silent street.

"Not enough." Dio said in a low voice, "A mere Upper Rank Six is far from satisfying my needs. I need more power."

"As you command!" Everyone answered in unison.

Dio raised his head to gaze at the night sky reddened by firelight, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold sneer: "Let me see just how long you rats can keep hiding."

…………

At this moment, deep within the Infinity Castle

A massive laboratory; the surrounding walls were inlaid with pale blue Night Pearls, illuminating the entire space brightly. Experimental tables were covered with various vessels and potions, as well as some unsettling human tissue specimens.

Muzan stood before an experimental table, wearing a white suit, his black hair combed meticulously.

Suddenly, Muzan's finger trembled; a test tube fell to the ground with a "clatter," smashing to pieces.

"Bang!"

Muzan suddenly smashed a fist onto the table, the tabletop instantly shattering. His expression became incomparably ferocious: "What is this thing? How can this kind of power exist!"

In his memory, the abilities displayed by that blond man could actually absorb the blood and power of Demons!

"Damn it!" Muzan violently stood up, a trace of unease appearing in his eyes once more.

The scene from when he encountered that white-haired old man on the street last time surfaced in his mind again.

That day, the old man severely wounded him in an instant. That unknown power made him feel the threat of death once again.

Muzan stopped his steps, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes. Since then, he had dispatched large numbers of Lower Ranks and subordinates to search for the old man's traces, but found nothing.

He had originally thought that old man might have died of old age, but just in case, he still had not left the Infinity Castle; but now — "Has another existence appeared that can threaten me?" Muzan's voice turned cold, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

He walked to a mirror, looking at himself in the mirror. Even after so many years, his appearance was still exactly the same as back then.

An immortal undying body, eternally unchanging — this was his proudest achievement.

"That person..." Muzan narrowed his eyes, "Although he can devour Upper Rank Six, he is still far from being my match."

He walked to the center of the laboratory, lightly tapping the experimental table. "Nakime."

As soon as his voice fell, a strange shamisen melody reverberated in the air. In the darkness, a woman wearing a kimono slowly manifested, her head lowered, holding a shamisen in her arms.

"Summon all Upper Ranks." Muzan's voice was deep and cold, "Have them come here immediately."

"As you command, Adult." Nakime's voice was soft, her fingers lightly plucking the strings.

The melodious shamisen sound reverberated through the Infinity Castle, penetrating layer upon layer of space. Those notes seemed alive, extending toward different directions.

Soon, figures walked out from the darkness one after another. Their auras were powerful and eerie; every one of them emitted a suffocating oppressive feeling.

Douma, wearing a full outfit, walked at the very front, a habitual gentle smile on his face, the iron fan in his hand swaying gently.

Behind him was the burly Akaza, muscles knotted, every step giving a sense of pressure.

"Upper Rank Six is dead." Muzan looked at the five people below and spoke, his voice calm.

Douma's smile stiffened for a moment; he stepped forward and bowed: "It is this subordinate's fault. It was I who recommended Gyutaro and Daki back then; I didn't expect their strength would still be insufficient."

"Muzan Adult," Akaza suddenly spoke, interrupting Douma's words, "Was it done by the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"No." Muzan shook his head, "The one who killed them was a blond man."

"Oh?" The smile on Douma's face deepened, "A human who can kill an Upper Rank Demon? How rare."

"He is not human." Muzan's voice suddenly turned icy. "He can control the dead, even resurrect the deceased Flame Hashira and make him his subordinate."

The moment these words fell, the entire Hall instantly fell into dead silence. Even Douma, who always wore a smile, had his expression freeze.

"Rengoku Kyojuro." Akaza abruptly lifted his head, blazing battle intent igniting in his eyes. "He is still alive?"

"To be precise, he was remade into a certain kind of existence by that man." Muzan said. "Not only that, his strength seems even greater than when he was alive."

"Let me go." Akaza suddenly spoke, his voice carrying irrepressible excitement. "I want to see just how strong the resurrected Rengoku Kyojuro is."

"Wait." Douma suddenly interjected, still wearing that uncomfortable smile. "Such an interesting matter — how about letting me participate as well?"

"No need." Akaza gave him a cold sidelong glance. "You couldn't even judge your own recommended subordinate properly, so just stay here and keep up your act."

Muzan finally nodded. "This task is assigned to you. However." His voice suddenly turned icy. "If you fail as well, then never bother coming back."

"As you command!" Akaza lowered his head, his voice determined. "I will definitely not disappoint you."

Muzan suddenly spoke: "Gyokko, Hantengu."

Two figures emerged from the darkness, dropping to one knee: "Present."

"You two go as well." Muzan's gaze swept over them. "That man is cooperating with the Army; he should currently be active near the Imperial Palace."

(Chapter End)