While Chaos was suffering from a migraine caused by the girl in his memories, Evernight had already used the cover of darkness to appear on the streets of a certain town.
"I'm supposed to be gathering intelligence, but I'm starving... I'll find something to eat first!"
"Hmm... what should I have?"
Evernight rested his chin in his hand, talking to himself. Just then, several drunken middle-aged men suddenly bumped into him from behind. Upon seeing Evernight's face clearly, they immediately began to hurl insults.
"Hey! You pretty boy, what are you doing blocking the street? Don't you see your Grandpa Yamamura is trying to get through? Get the hell out of my way!"
"Oh?"
A wicked smile played on Evernight's lips as he looked at the lead man with a cold sneer. "Were you talking to me just now?"
"No kidding! You're the only one on the street. If I'm not talking to you, am I talking to a ghost? Scram, or... or I'll gut you!"
With that, the drunken man raised his arm, intending to deliver a heavy slap to Evernight, but Evernight dodged it effortlessly.
As a clone of the strongest Berserk Demon, how could Evernight be hit by a mere drunkard?
After dodging the man's fist, Evernight looked at the group and sneered. "Talk about perfect timing. Five men and two women—it looks like I'll have a feast tonight!"
"You were right about one thing. I am a demon—specifically, a Berserk Demon, and one powerful enough to stand as an equal to the Demon King himself!"
As he spoke, Evernight drew the Bone Blade from his waist, whipping up a gust of wind that blew toward the drunken men.
"Dark Combat Technique: Nocturnal Galaxy!"
"The night is deep. Sleep in peace..."
Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!
Accompanied by the sound of flesh being skewered by a sharp blade, dozens—hundreds—of bloody holes appeared in their bodies. They turned into a pile of mangled meat before they could even scream. For a moment, blood sprayed everywhere, forming a river.
Seeing the mangled flesh on the ground and smelling the metallic scent of blood thick in the air, a surge of inexplicable pleasure welled up in Evernight's heart!
"Hahaha, incredible! This is amazing! The feeling of a sharp blade tearing through flesh is simply divine!"
Looking at the Bone Blade in his hand, a twisted, maniacal smile appeared on Evernight's face.
"This Dark Combat Technique is so useful. I can hear the sound of flesh being shredded hundreds of times at once. Hahahahaha!"
Evernight was Chaos's dark clone and a duplicate of Ren, so he naturally could use Ren's Dark Combat Techniques.
Sheathing the Bone Blade, Evernight opened his mouth wide and began stuffing the meat from the ground into it, gorging himself ravenously.
The moment the flesh entered his stomach, it was broken down into rich nutrients and pumped into the cells throughout his body, strengthening him.
"My foundation is constantly improving. This feeling is intoxicating, hahaha..."
As a clone of Ren, Evernight didn't have the 'Hard Work Pays Off' system, but his cells were capable of infinite evolution.
The nutrients required for this evolution were, of course, human flesh. As long as he consumed enough, his strength would skyrocket!
Within minutes, he had devoured the flesh of all seven people, and his power had significantly increased.
"This level... isn't enough! I need more flesh. If it were Marechi, it would be even better!"
"Since I have to scout out the Demon Slayer Corps anyway, rather than wasting time and effort looking for them, I might as well draw them to me!"
And the simplest way to attract the Demon Slayers was to create more massacres!
With that thought, Evernight leaped fifty meters into the air, looking down upon the entire town from the sky...
A mere week passed, and more than three hundred people met a violent end in this nameless town. Regardless of age or gender, it was a horrific slaughter.
At every crime scene, only piles of shredded meat and blood-stained ground remained.
Panic spread through the town, and rumors of demons began to circulate.
Hearing reports of demons, police from the town and surrounding areas rushed to investigate, but they all became food for Evernight without exception.
As the police also fell victim, the residents became even more terrified, and an atmosphere of dread continued to spread.
Upon hearing of demons in this border town, the Demon Slayer Corps dispatched more than thirty swordsmen at once to investigate, including many Kinoe and Kinoto rank slayers.
That night, Evernight appeared in the town again, searching for today's meal.
Having consumed over three hundred people, his combat power was nearly double what it had been a week ago. He was deeply obsessed with this sensation of rapid growth!
'As long as I keep eating people, I will become even more powerful!'
With excitement and fervor flashing in his eyes, he scanned the deserted streets.
Due to his constant feeding, the townspeople no longer dared to go out at night. Those with the means had fled to other places for refuge, leaving fewer and fewer people in the town.
"The food nearby is getting scarce. It seems it's time for me to leave this backwater dump and find a meal in another city..."
As Evernight muttered to himself, he suddenly stopped and sniffed the air, catching the scent of human blood.
"Heh, looks like tonight won't be a waste after all. To think I'd run into a Marechi. Eating one of them is like eating fifty normal people!"
Following the scent, Evernight spotted a young girl walking alone on the street.
The girl's legs seemed to be injured. Although they were wrapped in bandages, blood was still seeping through the wounds, and that was where the scent was coming from.
"What a cute little girl. Meeting me is just your bad luck. I won't go easy on you just because you're a girl—women only slow down my draw! Die!"
With that, Evernight immediately stepped toward the girl and drew the Bone Blade at his waist.
"Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool!"
Before Evernight could swing his blade, the girl suddenly drew her own sword. Her core muscles surged with power as she swung toward Evernight's body.
"Go to hell, you damned demon!"
Clang!
The girl's swing was fast, but to Evernight, it was like a snail's crawl. He simply held the Bone Blade in front of him, easily blocking her strike.
"Breathing techniques and a Nichirin Sword? So, little girl, you're from the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"That's right. I am a Kanoe-rank swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps: Anquandai Miki. Demon, today is your end!"
Suddenly, Miki looked up at Evernight. Upon seeing that familiar face, her eyes widened in shock.
She would never forget that face. It was the man who had saved her during Final Selection when she was at her most desperate and helpless.
"Savior... how can it be you? Why have you become a demon...?"
"What are you blathering about?"
Evernight suddenly exerted force. Under Miki's shocked gaze, he slashed through her neck with a single stroke, ending the young girl's life.
After dealing with Miki, Evernight's eyes widened as he scanned the surroundings. His lips curled into a smirk, and his wicked purple eyes seemed to pierce through obstacles as he looked directly at a wall and laughed.
"Heh, I figured the Demon Slayer Corps wouldn't just send one little girl to deal with me! Stop hiding and come out already. I know you're right there."
Boom!
With a loud crash, more than thirty swordsmen drew their blades and surrounded Evernight, their sharp Nichirin Swords pointed directly at his throat.
Looking at the crowd surrounding him, Evernight couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Hahaha! What a wonderful night. I'm going to have a feast!"
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