Playing that kind of role was the last thing Li Ke wanted. Being a savior was an absolute nightmare of a job.
Yet, there were times when one simply had to make a brief guest appearance in such a capacity.
"I wonder how the Demon Slayer Corps is holding up," Li Ke pondered as he walked toward the city outskirts. "They couldn't have all wiped out, could they?"
He had never actually watched the original anime. His knowledge of the plot came entirely from fanfiction.
From what he gathered, it all started a millennium ago with a guy whose name sounded like it belonged in a hentai: Muzan. The guy fell ill, and a doctor prescribed a miraculous medicine. However, due to the side effects, Muzan assumed the doctor was scampering him before finishing the full treatment. Enraged, he murdered the physician—a classic case of medical malpractice fueled by buyer's remorse.
Shortly after, Muzan discovered he had acquired superpowers. His blood could create "demons" that possessed absolute loyalty to him, absurd regenerative abilities, infinite lifespans, and superhuman strength. The catch was that both he and his spawns had to consume humans to survive and grow stronger.
Their only weaknesses were sunlight, wisteria flowers, or decapitation via blades forged from a special solar ore.
"To find the final ingredient for his cure—the Blue Spider Lily, a legendary flower that the protagonist Tanjiro's family treated as nothing more than backyard weeds—Muzan relentlessly spread his blood across the land."
Naturally, his rampaging creations triggered the rise of hunters, birthing the Demon Slayer Corps. Then came a generational prodigy named Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Not only did this genius invent Breathing Styles, but he also ambushed Muzan just when the demon king thought he was invincible. Yoriichi thrashed him so brutally that Muzan had to explode into thousands of tiny flesh fragments just to escape. The encounter left Muzan with deep psychological trauma, forcing him to abandon his arrogance and hide in the shadows ever since.
Thus, the blood feud between the Corps and Muzan persisted to the present day, with the hunters operating in secrecy to exterminate the threat. That was until Muzan made the fatal mistake of slaughtering Tanjiro's family, effectively triggering his own demise.
Given this lore, Li Ke figured most members of the Demon Slayer Corps were genuinely decent people. Right now, with demons running amok, it should have been their time to shine.
After all, the Corps clearly maintained some backroom ties with the authorities. How else could the Ubuyashiki clan possess such immense privileges? They simply weren't officially recognized. A creature offering eternal life like a demon wasn't something the Ubuyashiki family could keep hidden from greedy politicians on their own.
Besides, if a freak like Muzan could exist, Li Ke could easily accept the reality of actual immortals roaming this world.
After all, this universe literally had an underworld...
"But if the underworld exists, there should be gods too," Li Ke muttered, deeply curious.
"Why hasn't anyone cleaned up these monsters? Why didn't any deity descend to smite Muzan?"
He shook his head. "Well, for now, Muzan is the least of my worries."
It was a puzzle that genuinely intrigued him. Japan's pantheon was cluttered with countless lesser local spirits, but it was still a proper civilization with established deities. Between the gods of Shinto and the traditional Buddhist temples, the country shouldn't have been lacking in spiritual mediums or exorcists.
"Interesting..."
Li Ke continued down the road, methodically hunting for any remaining zombies in the area.
Unfortunately, even after wiping out every single undead creature in the city, he felt no trace of a World Shard. Their ashes didn't manifest into crystal fragments and float into his hands the way they did in the Minecraft world. It seemed he would have to hunt down those Cthulhu-like abominations if he wanted to harvest the shards of this universe.
Relying on his immense strength, Li Ke didn't hesitate. He marched directly toward the path the monsters had taken, keeping his "Observation Haki" fully expanded to ensure no bizarre entities could catch him off guard.
To free up his hands, he had used a length of rope to secure Mai Shiranui firmly to his back. His greatsword was strapped beneath her hips, serving as a makeshift shelf so she wouldn't hang uncomfortably.
Having the plush, shapely Mai pressed against him wasn't a bad deal either. With every step, he was treated to her subtle fragrance and the rhythmic, soft friction against his back, leaving him quite satisfied with the arrangement. He couldn't exactly push things further given the circumstances, but it was still a highly enjoyable bonus.
Li Ke maintained a brisk pace. Following the main highway, a settlement soon materialized in the distance.
Under the pale moonlight, the flickering lights of the village gave off an ironically cozy, welcoming vibe. To top it off, the faint, savory aroma of roasting meat drifted into his nose.
Peering through the dark, he saw a massive bonfire blazing in the center of the square. Faint, ethereal singing echoed through the night air, adding to the surreal warmth of the scene.
For a split second, Li Ke wondered what kind of meat could smell that appetizing. The very next moment, his hand clamped onto the hilt of Kashu, drawing it without a shred of hesitation.
Hidden beneath that rich aroma was the distinct, sickening scent of human flesh.
Wasting no words, Li Ke charged straight into the village. What greeted him was a crowd of villagers laughing and cheering as they feasted on the contents of a massive cauldron. Floating amidst the boiling broth were unmistakable human heads.
Yet, the villagers danced and howled with ecstatic laughter.
Li Ke didn't feel fear. The moment his perception mapped out the grim reality of this place, he stopped viewing these things as human.
As he lunged into the firelight, the villagers turned their manic, bloodshot eyes toward him. Smiling wildly, they extended their hands, offering him chunks of their feast in a cheerful, hospitable invitation.
"Care for a bite? It's delicious! Or better yet... why don't you become our next meal?!"
As the words left their lips, clusters of slick, writhing tentacles erupted from their backs, snapping violently at the air. Li Ke took a deep, steady breath, conjuring a sheath of raging fire around his body. Down in the square, the fire beneath the villagers' cooking cauldron responded to his will, roaring upward in a violent, uncontrollable blaze.
He didn't bother shouting out a flashy move name. Instead, the heat concentrated silently, wrapping his blade Kashu in a shifting shroud of fire. Li Ke intentionally held back his Dragon Fire this time; he wanted to gauge the limits of these Cthulhu-like spawns and see exactly how much punishment they could handle.
The flames erupted in a violent jet, swallowing the mutated host, while his sword sliced clean into the villager who had offered him the flesh.
The moment the blade made contact, the host's form gave way to the corruption within. A mass of squirming tentacles erupted from the shell of the villager, lunging toward Li Ke with unnatural speed.
Sensing the deep malice within the creature through his "Observation Haki," Li Ke didn't hesitate. He summoned his Dragon Fire, and a surge of intense heat vaporized the reaching corruption before it could touch him. With a single, fluid strike, his flaming blade cut through the monstrosity.
The creature let out a sharp cry and dissolved into black mist before hitting the ground. Li Ke noted its physical limits; its defenses were surprisingly low against high-velocity impacts or a sufficiently fast edge.
The surrounding flames quickly overwhelmed the remaining infected hosts. As the fire consumed the parasitic growths, the creatures lost their strength, fading into the same dark smoke. Soon, his "Observation Haki" confirmed that the immediate threat had been neutralized.
"So these are the entities that take over the hosts?" Li Ke muttered, watching the dark vapor begin to transform into a shimmering, golden energy.
He reached out, and the golden motes gathered in his palm. As the light merged with him, his fatigue vanished, replaced by a surge of clarity and renewed strength.
As the last of the darkness faded, ethereal figures appeared in the clearing—the spirits of the villagers, now freed from their torment. They offered silent gestures of thanks, bowing and nodding toward Li Ke before fading away into the light.
"So ghosts really do exist in this world..."
Witnessing the ethereal figures depart, Li Ke couldn't help but click his tongue. It was one thing to assume based on fanfiction lore, but seeing genuine spirits manifest right before his eyes left him with a surreal sensation. It felt odd to gaze directly upon the dead, though fear was the furthest thing from his mind.
The golden motes didn't immediately condense into a pristine World Shard. Instead, the radiant energy fused into his right arm, weaving itself into a sleek, flowing pattern across his skin. The newly formed brand granted a subtle boost to his physical strength, but more importantly, Li Ke could feel the faint, distinct trace of World Energy pulsing deep within the ink.
An intuitive understanding washed over him: once he amassed enough of this localized World Energy, the golden pattern would detach from his flesh and crystallize into a proper World Shard.
This meant the stat boost was merely temporary. The moment the energy matured into a physical shard, the passive enhancement would vanish along with it.
"So World Energy can be utilized as a temporary buff? Fascinating. It's a shame I can't actively manipulate the process yet."
Li Ke inspected the luminous geometric lines stretching along his forearm. It was an aesthetically pleasing design. With a simple thought, he willed the brand to fade beneath his skin, rendering it completely invisible.
Clenching his fist to test the minor strength increase, Li Ke prepared to resume his journey. Knowing that hunting these aberrations offered a reliable method to replenish his stamina and recover energy made the overarching mission feel far less daunting. His standard flames were more than capable of clearing the lesser grunts, allowing him to navigate the local dangers with relative ease.
However, just as he torched the remaining structural ruins of the blighted village to ensure total eradication, his "Observation Haki" picked up multiple presences approaching along the main highway. They were traveling from the direction of the ruined city he had just left.
These individuals rode on horseback, carried katanas at their waists, and bore clothing decorated with distinct wisteria flower patterns. Through his sensory perception, Li Ke noted that their breathing was exceptionally long and measured, and their bone and muscle density far exceeded that of ordinary humans.
"Samurai?"
Li Ke halted his advance, fixing his gaze on the riders. Spotting the raging bonfire consuming the village, the group spurred their mounts and charged directly toward the light.
The moment they caught sight of Li Ke standing by the embers, they hesitated briefly before pulling their reins to a stop, surveying the stranger cautiously.
With the distance closed, Li Ke finally took in their appearances. Leading the pack was a man who exuded a naturally vibrant, cheerful aura. Though he was technically short compared to Li Ke's towering frame, his stature was considered quite tall for the locals. He possessed striking, fiery hair that blended vibrant shades of gold and deep crimson.
"Excuse me, brother! Did you set this fire?!"
The man couldn't help but look Li Ke up and down. Li Ke was taller than any of his acquaintances, and the defined muscle visible through his clothes conveyed a striking sense of raw power.
"I did," Li Ke replied. "The place was crawling with monsters, so I took care of them and cremated the bodies while I was at it. Judging by your appearance, you must be from the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"
Li Ke subtly used his "Observation Haki" to gauge the riders. To his surprise, he detected a faint trace of World Energy radiating from them. It was subtle, but undeniable.
The blonde man studied Li Ke closely. He could sense that the stranger was speaking the truth, detecting a pure, unblemished aura about him that lacked any deceit. More importantly, he felt a strange sense of familiarity from Li Ke, similar to what he felt around his fellow Corps members.
A bright smile broke across his face.
"We are indeed the Demon Slayer Corps! Since you killed the monsters here, you must be an ally. Do you mind if we introduce ourselves? My name is Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. It is a pleasure to meet someone else fighting these abominations. May I know your name and where you are heading?"
Li Ke's hunch was correct. These men were members of the Corps, led by a Hashira. Just as Li Ke was acting with caution, Kyojuro Rengoku was also on high guard; they had encountered far too many monsters recently to take chances.
"My name is Li Ke, just a traveler," he replied, testing the waters to figure out the true state of the world. "As for where I'm going... under these circumstances, I'm just looking for a relatively normal place to settle down. While I can protect myself, my family cannot."
Kyojuro let out a heavy sigh upon hearing this.
Ever since those monsters—and these living dead that could actually infect healthy humans—had appeared, all of Japan had fallen into total chaos. The crisis had forced the Demon Slayer Corps out of the shadows and into the public eye. While they had gained massive amounts of manpower and resources, the threats they faced had become infinitely more deadly.
Kyojuro nodded understandingly at Li Ke.
"Indeed. The world is in turmoil, and everyone is searching for a safe haven. If you are looking for a place to settle down, Mr. Li Ke, follow the main highway until you reach the railway lines. Keep going, and you will eventually find a port city. Most of the survivors are gathered there now. If our current mission goes smoothly, we might meet again soon."
With that, the naturally boisterous Flame Hashira gave Li Ke a wave.
"However, duty calls, and we must not linger. Remember, just follow the tracks!"
Li Ke nodded in appreciation. Given the mutual underlying distrust in these dark times, keeping the interaction brief was the best choice for both sides.
"Thank you! Safe travels!"
"Safe travels to you as well!"
Under Li Ke's watchful gaze, the Flame Hashira and his squad sped off, disappearing into the dark distance.
Li Ke adjusted the rope securing the still-unresponsive Mai Shiranui against his back, then turned and began walking in the direction Kyojuro had pointed out.
He hadn't detected any of that sickening malice radiating from the Hashira, so he figured it was worth a shot. Even if it turned out to be a trap, he could easily handle it with his "Observation Haki" permanently active.
It wasn't long before Li Ke spotted the railway line Kyojuro had mentioned. Following the tracks, he quickly realized this world wasn't set in the distant, primitive past; before long, electric lights flickered into view, illuminating a crowd of people waiting to be scanned.
Li Ke wasn't surprised. Between the zombies and the abominations he had just encountered, every threat in this world possessed a method of infection. It was only natural for the authorities to establish quarantine checkpoints.
Since Li Ke had nothing to hide, he walked right up. The checkpoint employed female attendants for female refugees. Under the watchful eye of his "Observation Haki," Mai Shiranui was thoroughly examined and cleared without a single man laying a hand on her.
By the time a well-meaning nurse led a hollow-eyed Mai back out, Li Ke had pieced together the local situation from the chatter around him.
Most major cities had already fallen, leaving only a handful of fortified strongholds intact. The government had mobilized its remaining forces to clear the regions along the railway lines, setting up tightly controlled survivor camps. No one knew where the primary horde of monsters had vanished to; they only knew their numbers were steadily multiplying.
Furthermore, the demons—once dismissed as mere myths—had finally forced the public to face reality. Because of this, the Demon Slayer Corps had been integrated into the state apparatus as an official, overt government branch.
The world's order had crumbled, but it hadn't shattered completely.
"Fascinating..." Li Ke murmured, shaking his head as he looked at the local currency he had just received in exchange for a single gold leaf. "The government is still functional, and money actually works... though inflation is getting ridiculous."
Leading Mai into a nearby inn, he paid for a room, guided her to the edge of the bed, and sat down directly across from her.
"This world is incredibly dangerous," Li Ke said, breaking the silence. "You need to snap out of this. Even if you're heartbroken over Andy, you have to stay alive if you ever want a chance to fix things."
He couldn't help but speak up. Mai and Andy genuinely loved each other; that was a fundamental part of her identity. They were childhood sweethearts, and his personal denial wasn't going to change that. Still, wallowing in despair in a place like this was pushing it too far.
If Mai truly wanted to patch things up with Andy, Li Ke wouldn't stand in her way. He wasn't the type to steal another man's wife—unless that man was already dead, or an absolute piece of trash.
And Andy...
While Li Ke disliked the guy on multiple levels, finding him passive and severely lacking in masculinity, he had to admit that Andy was fundamentally a good person. He might mock Andy for being indecisive and overly sensitive, but he would never slander a man's character just to chase a beautiful woman. That lacked class.
In a twist of fate, Li Ke had essentially become the homewrecker blocking two true lovers, even though the initial incident wasn't his fault at all; it was a pure freak accident. He didn't blame himself either, because guilt over a cosmic mistake would just be pathetic.
Yet, the moment the words left his mouth, Mai buried her face in her hands, collapsed onto the desk, and burst into uncontrollable tears.
"Andy... he got married!!"
Well, damn...
Li Ke scratched his head, completely at a loss for words.