Ghosts, in Roy's impression, are not scarier than humans. On the contrary... humans can sometimes be more vicious than ghosts.
But the ghosts in the Demon Slayer World are different; they are tangible monsters, embodying the existence of the Ghost King—Kibutsuji Muzan.
With the blessing of ghost blood, their bodies are incredibly strong, far surpassing ordinary humans.
But just like vows and restrictions, power often comes at the cost of "limitations."
Ghosts also have weaknesses.
Firstly, their lives and deaths are completely in the hands of the Ghost King.
Secondly, they fear light and will die when exposed to it, so they mostly appear at night. This led to the initial tragedy in Demon Slayer where Grandpa Saburo deliberately kept Tanjiro overnight, ultimately resulting in the massacre of the entire family except for Nezuko.
Thirdly, ghosts are bloodthirsty and must feed on humans. Prolonged hunger weakens them, but once replenished, they quickly recover.
The ghost before them is unfortunately one that has been starving and has suddenly replenished its strength with blood food, making it a ghost at its peak!
"It's still broad daylight..." Roy couldn't help but sigh about his luck being 'so good'.
The thick layer of clouds happened to block the sun, and this was likely why the ghost dared to attack the woodcutter amidst the snowstorm.
"Nii-san... what is that?" Tanjiro tremblingly grasped Roy's clothing.
"You said it yourself... it's a ghost."
"A ghost! There's really a ghost! Shouldn't we... run fast?"
"Run? Where to run, do you want to lead it back home?" Roy swung his right hand, shouldering the hoe and striding towards the evil ghost.
"I..." Tanjiro halted his turning body stiffly, glancing back.
His Nii-san didn't turn his head, tossing him a sentence: "Stay put."
In an instant, stepping on "Dark Step," with several leaps, transforming into a gust of wind, swept up countless snowflakes and charged directly.
Three hundred meters is a distance neither too long nor too short.
Sufficient for the evil ghost to notice something unusual.
It abandoned the half-devoured corpse, glaring with blood-red eyes and grinning to reveal sharp fangs:
"Grinning hahaha... just in time!"
"This woodcutter's meat is too tough, tasteless."
"Just right to add some nourishment from you two little ones."
The evil ghost was overjoyed, advancing instead of retreating, stomping one foot on the ground, creating a snow pit.
Immediately after, the ghost accelerated like a bullet, launching towards the charging Roy.
In mid-air revealing its claws sharper than knives, aiming a strike at Roy!
So fast that it elicited Tanjiro's shocked scream!
"Nii-san, be careful."
"Whoosh~" A strong wind nearly brushed past Roy's neck...
At the critical moment, Roy's figure flickered, using "Limb Curvature" mid-air to change direction, leaving a trail of afterimages and circled to the evil ghost's rear waist, brandishing the hoe, delivering a powerful strike!
"Bang—" The kidney seemed to be directly scooped out!
The evil ghost, pained, rolled on the ground, swiftly distancing itself from Roy.
Not understanding how a human could perform actions defying natural laws, it stood again, utilizing the ghost blood within to restore its body.
Tanjiro, hidden behind a tree, closely monitored the scene, peering out to witness this, rendered speechless!
It can heal after being injured, how to fight against that?
But Roy seemed oblivious to this detail, single-handedly wielding the hoe, twirling it like a sword, a smile at the corner of his mouth, appearing increasingly thrilled.
[Hint: Host Fighting Experience +1]
[Current Level: Fighting: Level 2 (16/100)]
[Note: Extra Fighting Experience can be randomly allocated to Applied Techniques mastered by the host]
[For example, "Dark Step," "Limb Curvature," "Snake Life"....]
Thus... is this a ghost? It's clearly a moving experience pack!
Roy's eyes lit up, deepening his understanding of Nenryoku...
What is absorbing nutrients, besides learning, combat is also part of absorbing nutrients.
'So the question arises, should he be killed quickly or slowly?' Roy already has an answer, pointing the hoe from afar... ten meters away, the evil ghost felt provoked, inexplicably shuddering, unable to comprehend where the emotion named fear came from, feeling ashamed and enraged!
What a shame that Sato Takeshi in life feared no one, dared to kill samurai from the Great Clans, but now, as a transformed ghost, being pointed at by a kid with a hoe... if the master found out, surely he would be mercilessly killed.
Mocking him as less than a child.
"Grinning hahaha... truly underestimated!" Sato Takeshi sneered, flexing his ankle.
The testing earlier allowed him to realize that the opponent not only was fast but possessed a peculiar set of movements, therefore... to break the stalemate, he must be faster, more elusive, to achieve ultimate victory.
Fittingly—Sato Takeshi excelled at "speed" and "unpredictability"!
"Blood Demon Art—Bullet Kill!" Sato Takeshi changed... his soles bent strangely into an arc, lightly touching the snow, launching as if a spring was installed underfoot, soaring!
Then, Tanjiro witnessed a scene that would remain unforgettable!
In the woods emerged countless shadows of the evil ghost....
These shadows used trees as springboards, with each launch, brought forth a bloody wind!
By the end of it, Tanjiro rubbed his eyes hard, unable to discern which one was the real body!
Only clenching his fists, anxiously worrying for Roy...
"Trouble, Nii-san... he knows the Clone Technique like you!"
No... it's different.....
Eyes covered with a layer of "Nen," Roy directly initiated [Gyo], thus seeing more clearly than Tanjiro....
The opponent utilized the "spring" effect at the soles, exerting counterforce on the snow and trees, producing illusions, so he was genuinely fast!
On the other hand, "Limb Curvature" leveraged human vision's blind spots, focusing on confusing the opponent... speed-wise, far inferior to the opponent.
However, what Sato Takeshi absolutely could not foresee was, he faced not someone with a superficial knowledge of martial arts, reveling in self-gratification, but rather—
A true nen user who had opened "Acupoints"!
And what is a "nen user"?
Just [Gyo] can capture the sense on the opponent... just [Ten] can concentrate the mind and stay calm... just [Hatsu] can release sense, either as nen bullets attacking the opponent or attached to objects, enhancing intensity of hits on the opponent....
Therefore...
'My foolish Mamen Beans, let me, your brother, give you a proper lesson!' Roy held breath, raised the hoe!
Calmly said: "Watch closely, Tanjiro..."
"Only strength won't deceive your eyes."
With that, a hoe swung down....