bioinnovel Chapter 380 [3 Chapters Combined into 1] Melting Stone into Armor, Splashing Flames into Robes
Chapter 380 [3 Chapters Combined into 1] Melting Stone into Armor, Splashing Flames into Robes
With this in mind, the energy flow within Muzan's body, which was originally stubbornly resisting and neutralizing the drug injected into Tamayo's body, was forcibly reversed.
He no longer tried to counteract the reversal force that, like a leech, could turn a ghost back into a human.
Instead, he desperately channeled all the remaining strength he had into his arms!
"Pfft... glug..."
With a sickeningly painful sound of flesh writhing, Muzan's severed arm instantly healed completely.
The arms, which were originally normal, began to expand and deform horribly, as if being inflated, as energy continued to flow in!
The skin was stretched to the point of transparency, revealing the gnarled muscle fibers and twisted blood vessels beneath, while the bones creaked under the strain.
In the blink of an eye, Muzan's arms transformed into two deformed, bloated, yet destructive giant arms!
The enormous hand was outstretched, its five fingers like twisted stone pillars, its nails gleaming with a metallic cold light, as if it could crush metal and stone with a gentle squeeze.
Of course, this was not intended to attack Riley.
Muzan, who only wanted to escape rather than rush in to his death, knew very well that all his attacks would be futile against the god before him.
Even his deformed arms are nothing more than "tools" he uses to carve out a way to survive and create chaos for himself!
The next second, under Riley's calm yet overwhelming gaze, Muzan raised his deformed giant arms high, unleashing all the remaining power in his body, along with the resentment and unwillingness accumulated over a thousand years, and slammed them hysterically and without reservation onto the ground beneath his feet!
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening explosion, far louder than anything before, rang out!
The ground of the Infinite Castle, constructed with Blood Demon Art and which should have been exceptionally solid, was completely shattered and collapsed like a fragile eggshell under the violent bombardment containing Muzan's despairing power!
Huge rock fragments, broken wooden structures, and twisted metal components, mixed with billowing smoke and dust, surged upwards and scattered in all directions like a volcanic eruption!
At that moment, Muzan seemed to have gone mad, wielding his giant arms and recklessly digging and tearing apart everything beneath his feet.
He was no longer the high and mighty Ghost King, but more like a desperate pangolin, desperately trying to dig a crack in the collapsed ruins that led to the underground, to the unknown, to even the slightest possibility of survival!
He wanted to use the cover of the swirling dust and flying sand to burrow into the ground like the most humble insect and escape from this god who made his soul tremble!
Boulders tumbled and the earth shook. The area was utterly transformed into a chaotic wasteland. Muzan's figure loomed in and out of sight amidst the smoke and dust; only his frantic digging and the occasional heavy, trapped breaths testified to his futile and pathetic struggle.
However intense or frantic this struggle may be...
Before that figure, whose entire body was pitch black, who held the Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff), and whose body was surrounded by golden divine light, everything seemed so small.
Riley simply stood there quietly, as if the ground beneath his feet was not crumbling and the boulders beside him were not flying.
Beneath the mask, eyes that quietly burned with golden flames pierced through all obstacles, coldly watching this farce filled with despair.
Perhaps realizing that she was still under Riley's watchful gaze.
Muzan's crimson pupils, completely consumed by bloodshot eyes and panic, lifted involuntarily through the swirling smoke and dust of the pit, locking onto Riley, whose entire body shone with golden light.
The next second, the already swollen and deformed arm muscles, which looked terrifying, bulged even more horribly as the skin cracked and blood splattered.
His long, slender fingernails grew to the size of knives, and with Muzan's swing, they plunged deep into the cracked ground, forcefully prying up two of the largest and hardest giant rocks!
The rock was as large as a house, with countless twisted wooden fragments wrapped around it. It carried terrifying kinetic energy capable of crushing mountains. Like two cannonballs fired from the left and right, it tore through the air and made a deafening whistle as it slammed into Riley!
This is not for killing, it is for concealment, for blocking!
Muzan attempted to use the overwhelming smoke and the enormous object to distract Riley's vision.
Even if he could only gain a fraction of a second, he would scurry into the cracks of the ruins like a rat in a sewer, and escape from this god who had descended to the mortal world!
The moment the rock was thrown, Muzan didn't even dare to look at the devastating scene. His body, like a startled venomous snake, suddenly burrowed into the deepest part of the pit.
Every nerve was stretched to its limit, and perception spread wildly like a spider web, searching for any possible crack in the path of life.
Faced with this attack that resembled a natural disaster, the Pillars present were all horrified.
The immense shadow cast a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, so intense that even the pillars struggled to breathe.
This made them, who had become somewhat complacent due to Riley's intervention and the smooth progress of the battle, finally remember...
The creature before them, terrified and behaving in a pathetic manner by Riley, is ultimately the progenitor of demons, entrenched in the shadows of history, his hands stained with countless blood, a figure that has inspired generations of Demon Slayer Corps to fight and sacrifice countless heroes, yet none have been able to shake him in the slightest!
It is a terrifying enemy whose outcome is still uncertain even if all the Pillars of the present generation join forces with a death-defying determination to attack!
The massive rock that roared towards them, imbued with Muzan's despairing power, was the most direct evidence of its terrifying strength!
The mere glancing blow from the wind pressure it carries is enough to break the bones of an ordinary swordsman.
Even the Rock Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, whose physical training had reached its peak and who was hailed as the strongest pillar of the contemporary era, showed a solemn expression on his face, which was usually as stable as a rock.
He gripped the meteor hammer and axe tightly, his thick arm muscles bulging instinctively as he sensed the approaching danger, yet he had to admit to himself…
Even he could never withstand a physical impact of such scale and power head-on! This was beyond the limits of what a human body could withstand!
However, Riley, who was at the very heart of the attack, remained eerily calm.
His eyes, burning with golden divine flames, calmly gazed at the massive, mountain-like boulder hurtling towards them, as if it were merely a gentle breeze and the dust it stirred up.
Just as those two colossal rocks, carrying Muzan's final madness and overwhelming force, tore through the air and cast shadows that were about to completely engulf Riley's small (relatively speaking) figure, as if they were about to crush him and the surrounding space into dust in the next second—
A miracle beyond the comprehension of mortals... or rather, the display of divine authority, unfolding slowly before the eyes of the people in an almost elegant manner.
There was no earth-shattering roar, no magnificent collision.
There was none of the blocking, lightning-fast dodging, or the visually stunning direct violence that everyone had expected.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Riley remained motionless, as if he were paralyzed with fear.
In contrast, the two massive rocks that carried the full force of Muzan's attack ignited out of thin air when they entered a range of less than ten meters in front of Riley. The golden divine flames, which were not ordinary earthly flames, burst forth from the inside of the rocks!
The hard rock, strong enough to withstand tremendous impact, softened and turned reddish-brown at a visible speed before this sacred flame, like butter being heated. It eventually transformed into scalding, boiling, golden-red magma!
However, this miraculous scene was not yet over.
The magma produced by the divine flames did not follow the laws of physics and splashed everywhere, resulting in the farcical situation of "seriously injuring friendly forces."
Under Riley's deliberate control, the magma flowed towards Riley's body like rivers flowing into the sea or subjects paying homage to a king!
It was at this moment that an even more shocking scene appeared.
The scorching magma, powerful enough to incinerate everything, did not cause any harm the moment it touched Riley's body. Instead, it seemed to have found its final resting place, quickly losing its fiery red glow. Its temperature plummeted, cooled, condensed, and reshaped at an abnormal speed!
Finally, under the wide-eyed gaze of everyone, they transformed into solid armor plates that were ancient, heavy, shimmering with a dark metallic luster, and adorned with scarlet flame patterns!
These armor plates, as if they possessed life, connected with each other and continuously covered Riley's original black battle suit, emitting a deep, clanging sound.
Until it fits perfectly, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it transforms into a complete set of armor with a unique Chinese aesthetic!
At the same time, the burning golden divine flames did not go out. Instead, after the armor was fully formed, they rose and spread again with a casual wave of Riley's hand!
Until behind Riley, it transformed into a magnificent and imposing robe of flames, as if woven from pure light and fire!
Melt stone into armor! Wield flames to forge robes!
At this moment, Riley was clad in heavy armor of gold and stone, covered with a robe of blazing flames, wearing a purple-gold crown, walking on cloud-walking boots, and holding a golden cudgel.
It's beyond just "like"; it's as if the Monkey King himself has possessed him, truly awe-inspiring!
"This...this is..." The Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa, stared wide-eyed, almost forgetting to breathe. For the first time, a near-dull expression appeared on his usually wild and unruly face. What he saw before him far exceeded his entire understanding of the word "power."
"Has a god... descended?" Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Pillar, unconsciously covered her mouth, her pink-green eyes reflecting the golden-armored, flame-scorched figure, filled with indescribable shock and awe from the depths of her soul. It wasn't fear of the strong, but rather the instinctive reverence and sense of insignificance that mortals feel when facing a manifested deity.
Even the most composed and resolute rock pillar, Himejima Gyomei, whose eyes were always filled with tears of compassion, now slid down tears mixed with extreme excitement and devout faith. He clasped his hands together, his thick fingers trembling slightly, and softly chanted indistinct scriptures, as if witnessing the re-enactment of an ancient myth and welcoming the holy light that would cleanse the world of all defilement.
In stark contrast to the shock and hope rising in the hearts of the pillars...
It can only be said that people's joys and sorrows are not shared at this moment.
All of Muzan Kibutsuji's struggles and all his remaining, unrealistic hopes were utterly reduced to cold ashes before this incredible miracle, which far exceeded his understanding of the past thousand years. It was completely burned away by the golden divine flames.
He stood frozen in place, as if all his bones and strength had been drained away, completely losing the courage to resist, and even the slightest resentment was hard to muster.
It could only move stiffly, like a rusty puppet, slowly raising its head, its neck making soft "crackling" sounds, its eyes empty and desperate as it looked at the god forged from flames and metal, radiating magnificent divine might.
At this moment, Muzan felt that he was no longer the progenitor of demons, no longer an eternal being striving for perfection, and not even a complete "individual"...
It was merely a tiny, ugly insect struggling in vain under divine power, which could be crushed at any moment.
However, amidst this extreme despair and oppression...
Whether it was witnessing the miracle firsthand that caused his previously extremely tense mind to relax for a moment.
Or perhaps it was the inhuman torment inflicted on flesh and soul by Muzan's constant erosion that ultimately exceeded the limits of pain endurance, making it impossible to suppress any longer.
Since the start of this final battle, Tamayo has been relying on her astonishing willpower to remain silent and minimize her presence, so that the Demon Slayer Corps warriors would not hesitate to attack Muzan with all their might because of her presence...
Her mangled body, intertwined with Muzan's flesh and blood, and largely integrated into his chest, trembled violently uncontrollably at this crucial moment that would determine her fate!
This tremor, faint yet clear, was like the final flap of a dying butterfly's wings.
With their "intimate connection" and their perceptions already shared to some extent, Muzan immediately noticed the unusual movement in his arms!
He noticed that most of Tamayo's body had already merged with his own, but because of the special constitution of a demon and that stubborn obsession, she had not yet completely died!
In that instant, it was like a drowning person grasping at the last straw!
Muzan's originally despair-filled, dull, and lifeless crimson eyes were suddenly rekindled with a twisted and fiery flame called hope!
Do not!
This isn't over yet!
I still have a chance!
I still have one last chip that might help me turn the tide and save my life!
A thought that he had previously ignored now flashed through his chaotic thoughts like lightning and began to grow wildly!
Yes!
The immense power displayed by this strange deity was enough to shatter all common sense and understanding...
He could have simply used that terrifying stick to smash himself to pieces the moment he fell into the trap and was teleported into this encirclement by Nakime! Wouldn't that have been much more efficient?
But why would the other party go to such lengths?
First, he found eleven "imposters" of "Yoichi Tsugikuni" and deliberately scared him to death and destroyed his confidence, trying to force him to actively split his body and escape.
Then, like a cat playing with a mouse, it leisurely watches itself struggle in a sorry state, being ridiculed in public and subjected to the utmost humiliation.
But only...
Why haven't they truly struck the fatal blow?
It can't be...
This high and mighty god, who simply takes pleasure in this, is so wicked that he wants to die slowly and painfully in endless humiliation and fear.
impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Muzan immediately dismissed this absurd idea in his mind.
How could such a low-level, perverse idea possibly appear in such a powerful deity?
This is completely contrary to the mindset that a strong person should have!
So, after eliminating this seemingly reasonable "wrong option", the answer that Muzan was presented with was almost obvious, and even the only logical explanation.
That's because, inside Muzan's body, there's still a part of that bitch Tamayo that hasn't been completely devoured and digested!
It's because Riley wanted to save her!
To save this woman, whom he considered nothing more than "useless," Riley, who seemed omnipotent like a true god but had not completely escaped the framework of "human" emotions and still retained the "bad habit" of being easily swayed by emotions, went to such lengths, wasting energy on so much groundwork and creating so many elaborate schemes! He was searching for a way to both completely eliminate himself and safely rescue Tamayo!
Yes, that's right, that must be it!
This realization acted like a shot of adrenaline, instantly injecting Muzan's spirit, which was on the verge of collapse.
Within his stiff body, a trace of strength seemed to re-emerge. Even his previously empty and lifeless eyes began to show a twisted excitement, a sense that he had grasped the "weakness" of a god and might be able to force the god to give in.
He suddenly raised his hand, no longer attacking or digging in vain, but using his sharp nails to dig tightly into the spot on his chest where Tamayo's face was faintly visible, as if it were his last talisman.
Then, meeting Riley's indifferent gaze, which seemed to see through all the illusions of the world, he revealed a twisted smile on his face, a mixture of madness, despair, and a sliver of morbid hope, and roared and screamed in a show of bravado but inward cowardice.
"Stop! My Lord! I know you are powerful, but I will not sit idly by and wait to die! If you want to kill me, I will make you pay the price!"
"Oh? The price?"
"That's right! I've figured it out. You care a lot about this bitch... you care about Tamayo's life or death, right? Then let me go! Otherwise... otherwise I'll make her pay with her life right now! Completely annihilated, not even a trace of flesh will be left! Anyway, I've lived this long, if I can take one more person down with me before I die, I won't lose out!"
After he finished speaking, as if to verify the truth of his words, Muzan deliberately used more force, letting his nails dig into Tamayo's neck.
As strands of blood oozed out, Muzan stared intently at Riley's every move, trying to detect any hesitation or apprehension in the majestic deity.
Unfortunately, his cleverness backfired.
His threat, which he believed had the other party's weakness firmly in mind, coupled with his fear that Tamayo might suddenly "die" and cause him to completely lose his bargaining power, led him to subconsciously inject a small amount of pure demon blood into Tamayo's body through their bloodline connection in an attempt to maintain her vital signs...
Instead, under the stimulation of these factors, Tamayo, whose consciousness was already on the verge of collapse due to prolonged erosion and pain, was able to regain her strength as if she were experiencing a final burst of energy before death!
It was at this moment that Tamayo clearly sensed Muzan's fear and unease, felt the supreme majesty contained in Riley's silence, and felt the anxious and concerned gazes cast upon her by the Demon Slayer Corps members around her.
A surge of resentment, determination, and final hope that had been building up for hundreds of years erupted in her heart!
"Demon Slayer Corps members! Please listen to me!"
With all the strength she had gained from this brief moment of lucidity, Tamayo ignored the piercing pain in her neck that seemed to threaten to kill her at any moment, and screamed a clear and mournful cry.
"Please don't worry about me—!! Destroy him! We absolutely... absolutely cannot let Muzan continue to live!!!"
Her voice, though still weak, carried a resolute and unwavering determination.
At that moment, everyone saw clearly that in Tamayo's eyes, which were originally gentle and tender, there was no fear of death, no longing for eternal life...
Only a deep longing for complete liberation called "death" and a final plea to achieve the ultimate goal!
It was an obsession that transcended personal life and death, burning for hundreds of years!
After all, for Tamayo...
Ever since hundreds of years ago, when she was deceived by Muzan's sweet words and forcibly transformed into a bloodthirsty demon, and in a moment of losing control, personally killed her beloved husband and young child...
The only reason she lives in this cold, hopeless world is to endure endless self-blame and pain...
She just wanted to witness with her own eyes the day when this demon, who brought countless calamities to the world and stole all her happiness, would be completely killed!
If it weren't for the burning flame of revenge in her heart, sustaining her on the brink of death and allowing her to continuously research a potion to target Muzan...
She probably chose to commit suicide the day Yoriichi scared Muzan away and unintentionally helped Tamayo break free from Muzan's mental control, so that she could go to another world and tearfully seek forgiveness from her innocent husband and children who died at her hands!
"You...you bitch!! Shut up!!!"
The weaklings I've always looked down on can so calmly choose to die.
In contrast, I, who have always prided myself on being a perfect being, now find myself struggling to survive, even for just one more second, with all my might and without regard for my image, until the very last moment...
The stark contrast between the two made Tamayo's shout feel like a resounding slap across Muzan's face, instantly shattering his carefully constructed facade of composure in negotiations!
He roared in exasperation, and his other hand quickly rose up to cover Tamayo's mouth, which was making "dissonant" sounds, so as to prevent Tamayo from saying more "inappropriate" things and completely extinguishing his last hope of survival!