The monster seemed not to have expected Kamo Xu to escape its Innate Domain so quickly. After a brief daze, it opened its gaping maw and roared.
By the look of it... just an ordinary special grade cursed spirit.
With the domain shattered, nothing concealed the scenery here anymore, revealing its original appearance.
Blood that had congealed and turned black... rotting severed limbs... scattered bones.
It was a scene straight out of hell on earth!
Oh... how arrogant. Did it think so few people could break through its domain that it never even bothered to clean its own kennel?
It really underestimated me...
The special grade cursed spirit was covered in rolls of fat. Disgusting yellow pus seeped from its countless folds, dripping onto the ground and giving off an unbearable stench.
The special grade cursed spirit-Dream Murmur.
It was a cursed spirit born from humanity's fear of nightmares, so naturally, its abilities had to do with dreams.
But rather than those trivial details, Kamo Xu was more concerned about something else...
The cursed spirit held a boy covered in its slime against its chest. With his pretty, adorable face, he was a rare example of the cute young-boy type.
The instant Dream Murmur saw Kamo Xu escape its domain, it had dragged the child into its arms. Its stubby, pig-trotter-like hand clamped tightly around the child's neck, while its yellow eyes, nearly buried in fat, stared fixedly at Kamo Xu.
It was clever. The moment it sensed Kamo Xu's vast, raging ocean of cursed energy, it had made every preparation.
Its Innate Domain might not be able to control someone this powerful, but...
The doors surrounding the courtyard suddenly opened. Scattered footsteps sounded, and the rooms turned out to be full of people!
Men and women alike had vacant eyes, yet their faces brimmed with ecstasy, excitement, and happiness!
"Mom, you finally came back to see me. Little Geto is so happy..."
"Hahaha... thank you for recognizing my talents, boss... I'll keep working hard..."
"Pour me a drink, pour me a drink... you over there, come give me a kiss..."
They were all people controlled by Dream Murmur. Most had weak wills, excessive greed and desires, or illusions they could not let go of.
Lost in the beauty of the past, the bliss of the present, and fantasies of the future, they became fodder for the curse.
Heh... trying to stop me with these ordinary people?
Interesting...
Kamo Xu watched Dream Murmur twist its face into a hideous smile. It opened its gaping maw, exposing its fangs and a pink tongue covered in disgusting bumps, and licked the child's cheek.
The child did not seem to be under its control. His eyes were terrified and his whole body trembled. The cursed spirit's antics only frightened him into silent sobs.
All he could do was look toward Kamo Xu, desperately hoping he would save him...
Unfortunately, the Maximum Technique's destructive range was too wide. If Kamo Xu used it, everyone present would probably be reduced to charcoal on the spot.
But what did that have to do with him?
Kamo Xu raised a finger and smiled at the terrified boy. "Sorry, kid."
"There's nothing you can do about being killed by a curse. May you, in your next life..."
Be born into a good family.
[Maximum Technique: Red Emperor Blue Star]...
Dazzling light instantly illuminated the dim courtyard. Scorching heat swept through everyone's hair like a wave, and Kamo Xu removed his blindfold and casually tossed it aside.
His crimson eyes held utter madness, along with undisguised hatred for cursed spirits.
If it's to exorcise a curse... then your "sacrifice" will naturally mean something!
"I'll build cenotaphs for you. Please rest in peace..."
"As for that cursed spirit... I'll personally tear it limb from limb, strip away its flesh bit by bit, stomp through its spine, and rip out its heart and lungs!"
Wail, lament, and roar!
Let me hear your agonized screams, let me know your fear, let me feel your desperate curses!
[Then let me know that I'm still alive in this filthy world...]
That shining star slowly descended.
That cursed energy, concentrated to the absolute limit, looked... tiny before them all.
Like a speck of dust washed along by the sea, tottering amid the waves.
This attack... was going to kill everyone here!
Madman... madman, madman!!!
In the dream, he'd seemed so... but the instant he got out, he became such an insane beast!
He actually didn't care about anything! The elderly, children, women-to kill me, he was going to... spare none of them!
No, no, no! Run, I have to run!
The special grade cursed spirit Dream Murmur hesitated no longer. Clutching the child who looked like a porcelain doll, it turned and fled.
Surprisingly, despite dragging that bloated body along, its two short legs moved at astonishing speed!
In no time at all, it was far away from the crowd. At this distance, even Red Emperor Blue Star could not possibly kill it outright!
Hahaha, I survived! Drown in guilt and regret for slaughtering ordinary people for no reason!
The star struck the ground...
A scorching wave rushed toward it and slammed into its back, followed by countless resentments, mingled with the malice countless cursed spirits had directed at Kamo Xu before their deaths.
It sent a chill down the spine.
Dream Murmur twisted its face into a cruel smile and turned to admire the gruesome scene Kamo Xu had created. It opened its mouth, ready to laugh!
But... all that appeared before its eyes was a sudden line of blood. Before it could react, the blood easily pierced its enormous skull!
Those foolish, ignorant humans... not one of them died!?
In the distance, the star flickered briefly, then faded out.
Only Kamo Xu stood with both hands raised, his body turned sideways and his palms pressed together, compressing his blood to high pressure before firing it at that conceited cursed spirit...
[Piercing Blood]!
I've been tricked!
The cursed spirit roared, trying to crush the brat in its arms at once. It knew it could not escape. Even if it died, it would take a human with it!
I'll kill you! Even if that man stops me, I'll leave you crippled for the rest of your life! I want you to remember him every day you live! I want you to curse him!
And those ordinary people-since he can't bear to kill you, you can kill him instead!
With its head pierced through, the cursed spirit issued its command, endlessly unleashing the malice that filled it.
But although that was what it thought, nothing actually happened.
That shot of Piercing Blood had done far more than simply pierce its head...
From Kamo Xu's perspective, it was clear that a fist-sized hole had already been carved through the creature's head.
Without a doubt, that blow had killed the cursed spirit outright.
Its final thoughts were nothing but futile resentment. As its body crashed to the ground, it weakly flung the child from its arms.
After enduring countless torments, the poor child was still hurled a whole kilometer away by that terrifying figure.
Just before he hit the ground, Kamo Xu slid in and caught him. When the agonizing impact he had imagined never came, the boy timidly opened his eyes.
"Hey, kid. Did I scare you?"
It was a very handsome older boy. He did not care about the disgusting slime covering the child and held him firmly in his arms. It did not feel dark and clammy, nor was it that malicious, icy chill!
It was a feeling that made him feel safe, as warm as the sun...
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