Shinobu was still stunned by the change before her when that deep, pleasant voice rang out again. Then, her right hand suddenly felt empty.
Kurozawa did not want to expose the existence of Pitch-Black Aura in front of outsiders, so he borrowed Kocho Shinobu's Nichirin Blade.
The instant he obtained the blade, he beheaded the four demons that were struggling to regenerate.
Potential Points +40, Undying Man-Eating Demon Power of Despair +3
As Kurozawa's strength leaped forward, the Potential Points and Power of Despair he gained from weaker demons had not diminished. However, advancing further now required more Potential Points than before.
Massacring weak creatures to rapidly strengthen himself still seemed to be the most efficient method he could find for acquiring Potential Points.
Killing ten ordinary demons yielded roughly the same rewards as killing one Hand Demon, but with far less difficulty. The better choice was obvious.
Under the moonlight, four streams of ash spiraled upward.
At that moment, Shinobu recognized Kurozawa from his appearance. Looking at the four demons he had cleanly and efficiently slain, she hesitated.
"Are you Uncle Kurozawa?"
"Uncle Kurozawa?" Kurozawa's eye twitched.
"Yes. You couldn't recognize me that quickly?"
Shinobu accepted the Nichirin Blade Kurozawa handed back to her. After hesitating for a moment, she finally could not help speaking.
"Um... your hair is gone."
"And why have you changed so much? You got taller, and you're covered in muscles."
"You look kind of ugly."
Oh no! I accidentally said what I was thinking! Shinobu quickly shut her little mouth.
"Uncle Kurozawa is kind of ugly." Those words were like a sharp sword, stabbing straight into Kurozawa's chest.
Shinobu's later sly nature was already beginning to show. She truly left people no way to live with her words.
He clutched his chest. After a moment, he took a deep breath and revealed a bright smile.
Though that smile was somewhat frightening given his current build and appearance.
"Little girl, is your Breathing Technique derived from Water Breathing?"
Shinobu nodded. "Yes. My sister and I both use self-created Breathing Techniques derived from Water Breathing."
Self-created Breathing Techniques—Breathing Techniques tailored to suit oneself best. What a pair of genius sisters.
Kurozawa looked around, then leaned close to Shinobu as if sharing a secret. In a solemn voice, he said, "What I learned is Water Breathing."
"Didn't you ask how I became like this? It concerns some secrets of Water Breathing."
"What?" Shinobu's interest was piqued.
"Whether it's Water Breathing or a Breathing Technique derived from Water Breathing, once you train it to a certain level, your hair will fall out and your muscles will grow. After that, you might not even be able to change back."
"You're lying!" Shinobu was still a child, after all, and her face immediately changed in fright.
Kurozawa put on a stern expression and said each word carefully. "As a Water Breathing swordsman who practices the orthodox Breathing Technique, I naturally know more than you do. Why would I lie to you? What would I gain from it?"
His voice, enhanced by his Charm Stat, carried a convincing force that made Shinobu instinctively believe him.
How could a mere little girl possibly contend with a mature and handsome man like me?
Watching Shinobu grow nervous, her expression constantly shifting, Kurozawa burst into laughter inside.
Some of the shadows hidden in his heart temporarily vanished along with it.
"Be careful. Maybe one day, you'll wake up and find all your hair gone and your whole body covered in muscles," Kurozawa warned her earnestly.
"Even if I turn into that, I still won't stop training my Breathing Technique."
Shinobu clenched her fists tightly, her face filled with determination.
"Once we leave Mount Fujikasane, I'll tell my sister about this secret of Water Breathing. Her Flower Breathing is also derived from Water Breathing."
"With your sister's strength, she might reach that stage very soon." Kurozawa continued scaring her, fully displaying an adult's twisted sense of humor.
In truth, once Shinobu solemnly told Kocho Kanae about this, Kanae would surely be surprised at first, then helplessly tell Shinobu the truth.
As the pinnacle of swordsmen, the Hashira had profound knowledge and understanding of Breathing Techniques. There was no way Kanae would be fooled by Kurozawa's simple lies.
"All right, farewell if fate allows."
"Yes, thank you for telling me all this. You're a good person." Shinobu nodded in thanks.
Meanwhile, Kurozawa, who was secretly cackling inside, promptly slipped away. After only a few more words, he parted ways with Shinobu.
Acting alone made Kurozawa far more efficient at eliminating demons. With his vision-based perception, he could easily spot demons lurking in the dark and erase them directly.
At the same time, he was exploring the uses of Pitch-Black Aura.
Sizzle! A palm wrapped in Pitch-Black Aura struck the chest of a gaunt demon.
This demon had many bone spikes protruding from its elbows, knees, and other areas, serving as weapons. It looked rather formidable.
"It hurts! What is this thing?!"
Looking at the Pitch-Black Aura filled with a deep aura of despair, Bone Demon's face was full of terror.
Kurozawa said nothing. He simply punched its shoulder again, caving it in and sending flesh and blood flying.
"Why? Why can't I regenerate?"
Bone Demon fled frantically, with no intention of fighting Kurozawa.
Its body was covered in sunken fist marks and torn flesh. Waves of agonizing pain kept washing over it.
While fleeing, Bone Demon focused all its energy on healing its injuries, only to discover in horror that its once-proud regenerative ability no longer worked. An immense sense of resistance filled its mind.
The areas injured by Kurozawa's hands had become extraordinarily difficult to regenerate. Its flesh writhed for a long time, yet only barely began to grow back.
Kurozawa followed behind Bone Demon like a shadow, lost in thought.
"Like a Nichirin Blade, it can harm demons without needing to behead them directly."
"It can greatly suppress a demon's regenerative ability while causing intense pain, fear, despair, and other negative emotions. After being struck by Pitch-Black Aura only once, this demon is already filled with despair and fear, too afraid to face me again. Though perhaps these demons are simply too cowardly."
"Thinking about it this way, Pitch-Black Aura seems to be a mental attack?"
"With the demons I tested before, I kept attacking their torsos. Once enough injuries accumulated, they turned to ash."
"Hmm, I should try splitting its skull again. Hand Demon died instantly after I smashed its head apart."
When Kurozawa focused his attention on Bone Demon's head—
The scent of death immediately enveloped it, making every hair on its body stand on end.
It fled even more desperately.
Kurozawa instantly accelerated, easily caught up to it, and pressed one hand against the back of Bone Demon's head.
Strong Hand Skull Splitter! Kurozawa's White Bone Claw! Crack!
His five fingers, carrying immense force, pierced straight through its skull and dug deep into its brain. At the same time, Kurozawa felt a slick, nauseating sensation.
The gaunt, wounded Bone Demon shuddered violently and wailed as it struggled with all its might. Its struggles were powerful at first, but rapidly weakened.
A few breaths later, Bone Demon had stopped moving.
"Hah." Kurozawa blew out a breath, turning Bone Demon into ash that scattered across the sky and vanished into the deep night.
"Although attacks from Pitch-Black Aura against the torso can deal effective damage, they still require a great accumulation of injuries. Demons really do have abnormally tenacious life force."
"But destroying the brain can kill them instantly and extinguish their life force."
Potential Points +15, Undying Man-Eating Demon Power of Despair +2
As the Power of Despair increased, the thin layer of Pitch-Black Aura clinging to his hands seemed to grow slightly denser.
The change was extremely subtle, almost like an illusion. Kurozawa could not be entirely certain.
"It probably wasn't an illusion."
"As the Power of Despair increases, this Pitch-Black Aura may become thicker. It might even cover my entire body and form armor, since it originates from the Power of Despair."
Kurozawa withdrew the Pitch-Black Aura from his hands, a smile appearing on his face.
"Looks like I won't need the Nichirin Gauntlets."
Before you continue