Demon Slayer: The Demon Hunter

Word count: 1584

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Soaring through the darkened sky, a scream tore from Fujino's lips as he flailed helplessly in the air before crashing hard onto the ground, his body rolling before finally coming to a halt after colliding with a tree.

[-87 HP]

[Health: 363/450 (+3/sec)]

Gasping for breath, Fujino struggled to pull air back into his lungs, which had been forcefully emptied. He managed to rise unsteadily, sharp pain shooting through his arms, so intense that he could almost feel a second heartbeat in them.

'Maybe antagonizing a demon who's twice as strong as you isn't a good idea' But he couldn't help it; seeing the spider mother shrink back in fear before her so-called "son" infuriated him so much, he just had to say something.

As he regained his bearings, his gaze shifted to the numerous notifications waiting for his attention.

[Swordsmanship: 20 —> 22]

[Objective updated: Prey to Hunter: (33/50)]

[Objective Updated!

—>★To Kill a Lower Moon

After investigation of the mountain you have discovered that it's indeed inhibited by demons—specifically a family of spider themed ones headed by the youngest member of said family named Rui who bears the title of "Lower 5" one. 

Main Objective: Kill Rui

Main Reward: 75,000 XP - 15 to all physical attributes - 10 to all non-physical attributes]

Fujino's focus sharpened on the quest details, particularly the requirement that puzzled him; it only required for the elimination of Rui, not the others. Sure, the quest was referencing Rui, but surely they should count for something, right?

however, Reflecting on his brief encounter, it was clear that Rui, despite his childlike appearance, was the true leader of the family.

'Is he even a child to begin with? Something tells me that demon don't really age,'

Fujino would have pondered this further if he hadn't noticed the demon that had sent him flying, now leaping toward him with both arms raised. He jumped to escape just as the demon landed with a thunderous crash, shattering the tree into splinters.

"Right, I almost forgot about you." he muttered, watching as the demon slowly got back on its feet. This demon looked like a... well, a spider. It had a physique similar to the headless demon but was larger, with a face adorned with long white hair, nine blue orb-like eyes, and jaws that reminded him of a spider's.

It was also very ugly.

He couldn't help but feel sympathy for the spider mother, having such a brute as a husband.

'observe'

[ —> Rui's Father

Name: Spider Father

Level: 40

Health: 1350/1350

Stamina: 400/400]

'Despise it's size, it weaker than rui… is the "lower moons" that big of a deal?'

Fujino took out his Nichirin Katana and assumed a fighting stance. Usually, he would fight an opponent with his fists first, but after that last hit, he preferred to play it safe. This demon was significantly taller, a whole head and upper body to be exact.

Unless he used Demonic Assimilation, he would rely on his sword.

[Health: 399/450 (+3/sec)]

The battle commenced as the Spider demon charged at Fujino, throwing a series of right and left hooks, both of which he skillfully dodged.

Just as he was ready to counterattack, he had to duck quickly as the demon clapped his hands together, nearly crushing he skull. He then rolled away as the Spider demon stomped down where he had just been, then executed a backflip to evade another attack.

"Damn, this guy is not giving me a breather" Fujino muttered. This brute was surprisingly clever, constantly keeping him on the defensive and not allowing any chance for retaliation.

The two engaged in a relentless back-and-forth, each taking turns attacking and defending.

'Shit!'

As Fujino dodged another strike, he misjudged his position and collided with a tree. The Spider Father seized the moment and launched a punch.

In a panic, he raised his blade and jumped to the side, but the attack grazed his sword, sending him crashing into another tree.

[-14 HP]

Quickly recovering, Fujino felt the impact reverberate through his arms, even though the blow hadn't hit him directly. He sidestepped just as the Spider demon's punch connected with the tree, causing splinters to fly as the trunk buckled and began to topple. Without hesitation, the demon grabbed the falling tree and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

"Stay away from my family!" he growled in a deep, raspy voice, before bringing the tree crashing down on Fujino. A cloud of dust and splinters erupted, obscuring the Spider Father's view of the human.

The spider demon stood as it scanned the dissipating cloud, anticipating the sight of the crushed body. To its astonishment, there was no sign of the human it had expected to find—no blood, not even a trace.

Searching the surroundings for the human, the spider demon couldn't locate him. It then relied on its keen sense of smell to pick up his scent.

In an instant, the demon raised its arm to block the sword strike aimed at its head.

"Damn! I was so close!" Fujino grunted, pushing with all his strength, only to realize his sword barely penetrated the demon's skin—just shy of an inch. 'What the hell is he made out of? I can't even— GAH!'

[-150 HP]

His thoughts were abruptly cut off as the demon flung him away, delivering a powerful uppercut that sent him soaring into the air. After an unceremonious flight, Fujino crashed down into a shallow stream, landing hard on a rock.

[-13 HP]

[broken Ribcage: -20% DUR

Time limit: 3 min]

[Moderate Internal Bleeding: -1 (HP/S)

Time limit: 1 min]

[Health: 287/450 (+2/sec)]

[Stamina: 300/450 (+3/sec)]

Blood poured from Fujino's mouth, mingling with the water below. Each gasp for air brought fresh waves of pain. He wasn't a doctor, but he could tell his ribs might have punctured his lungs.

"I... messed up..." Fujino gasped as he struggled to his feet, feeling lightheaded from the impact.

'I can't beat him; I'm not strong enough to pierce his skin' It felt like trying to slice through a boulder—nearly impossible for someone at his level.

Luckily, had planned accordingly just for that.

'System, add 20 points to STR'

[Name: Fujino Yuki

Level: 37 (11,807/13,000)

Race: human

Health: 287 / 450 (+2/sec)

Stamina: 300 / 450 (+3/sec)

STR: 70

DUR: 45 (36)

END: 45

AGI: 45

INT: 20

CHA: 30

Attributes Points (AP): 5]

A searing pain shot through Fujino's arms, his muscles tightening and twisting in response. He stood firm, gripping his Nichirin Katana with both hands, ready for the demon's approach.

In the distance, heavy thuds echoed, and suddenly, the spider demon burst from the trees, crashing down onto the boulder where Fujino stood. "Stay away from my family" it roared.

"For kami's sake, can't you say something else?" Fujino shot back, charging straight at the demon. As they collided, the demon swung a powerful punch, which he countered with an upward slash of his blade.

The difference in their strength was evident as Fujino's sword sliced through the demon's arm, cutting up vertically until it reached the shoulder. A grin spread across his face; clearly, choosing to hoard Attribute points (AB) was the right choice

The spider father growled in pain, staring at its severed hand. In retaliation, he backhanded Fujino, who managed to block the blow with his sword but was still sent stumbling back.

[-10 HP]

'Looks like you don't like it when you get hurt, huh?' Fujino smiled, relishing the demon's reaction.

Without hesitation, he charged at the spider father again, refusing to play defensively this time. He had learned a crucial lesson: in battle, it's essential to take the initiative and dictate the pace of the fight. The rhythm of combat resumed, and now both Fujino and the spider father were evenly matched. Fujino was to admit he was thoroughly enjoying the clash, which was why he hadn't resorted to using Demonic Assimilation.

He leaped over a ground punch and swiftly slashed at the demon's elbow, severing the arm completely. Rolling away from another punch, he repositioned himself behind the demon and targeted its leg tendons, forcing it down to one knee.

"Stay away from my family!" the demon snarled, using its remaining leg to leap away as Fujino held his ground, waiting for the spider father to recover.

It was after he heard that sentence had he remembered his goal was to kill the lower moon 5, Rui. He felt a pang of shame for becoming so engrossed in the fight that he had forgotten his goal.

And for forgetting the spider mother's predicament.

"Right, it's been fun but it's time to end this" Fujino said, licking the blood off his blade, already feeling the transformation and the strength that came with it.

Just as he was about to decapitate the demon, a loud shout echoed through the air. He turned to see a half-naked boy with a boar's head, wielding two blades.

"Tarzan! Wait, he's not Japanese," And he doesn't exist.

The boy slashed at the spider father's arm, but like Fujino, he met resistance. The demon then backhanded the wild boy away, sending him tumbling.

Fujino seized the opportunity without hesitation, dashing toward the demon. His superior physical abilities allowed him to close the distance quickly, and before the demon could react, he swiftly decapitated it.

He landed on the water, watching as the demon slowly decayed before his gaze shifted to the fake tarzan on the ground. both of them stood without saying a word until...

"huh? You're a demon?"

<—>

Taisho-era secrets!

Fujino was the kind of player who hoared his Attribute points in RPG games. So, when he gained his powers, he made sure to keep a stash of (AP) as a backup, just in case he encountered an enemy he couldn't defeat.

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Got some news to share: I have midterm exams next week, which will last for two whole weeks. However, I might be able to squeeze in a chapter or two during that time, so fingers crossed.