Chapter: The Secret of the Forbidden Plant
Silence reigned.
A thick, heavy silence, one that echoed as if it had weight.
Everything stopped: the wind, the branches, even the breath of the forest.
Akaza's words pierced the stillness like a serrated blade:
"I know where the plant Muzan needs is located."
Just one moment… then the whispers erupted.
The Upper Moons, who had been watching from a distance since the beginning of the fight, widened their eyes. Even Douma, whose fan hovered at Akaza's neck, froze. His fingers stiffened on the edge of the paper fan.
"What did you say?" said the Fourth Upper Moon, her voice trembling.
"Did I just hear that?" she murmured, eyes darting to the others as if pleading for someone to confirm this madness.
But Akaza didn't repeat himself. He didn't need to.
The aura that cloaked his body, the way he spoke his words… it was enough to make them believe. Besides, what would he gain by lying?
Douma slowly withdrew his fan from Akaza's neck. His brows lowered, his usual smile vanished.
"You know that joking about such a thing could make Lord Muzan end your life, right?" he said calmly.
"You're saying you know the location of the plant? The one Lord Muzan has searched for… for centuries?" he added with a sarcastic tone.
Akaza didn't even blink. He looked straight into Douma's eyes and said:
"You've heard my words. I don't believe I need to repeat them."
Tension thickened in the air, like a storm about to break.
Douma let out a short, tasteless laugh.
"Hmm… You've changed, Akaza. But very well, let's see where this confidence takes you."
Akaza didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Gyokko, who had regenerated most of his liquid body and was now leaning against a shattered tree, breathing heavily, eyes cold.
Akaza approached with slow steps, his voice calm like a breeze before a hurricane:
"You're coming with me."
Gyokko raised his head slowly, a distorted smirk twisting his bloody face:
"And who said I'm interested?"
Akaza didn't respond. He didn't argue.
He moved closer until he was right in front of Gyokko. Before the latter could finish speaking, Akaza's hand clamped down on his head.
"Wha—?!" Gyokko shouted, but the sound choked in his throat.
Slowly and deliberately, Akaza began dragging him by the neck like a ragdoll.
He left a trail in the dirt as he pulled him toward the gathered Upper Moons.
They didn't move. They didn't interfere.
Even Douma... only watched with unblinking eyes, fan frozen midair.
Akaza dragged Gyokko in front of them, then lifted his head slightly and said:
"I'll be going now."
Gyokko raised his head in exhaustion, shouting:
"Stop! I said I don't want—!"
But Akaza tightened his grip, slammed his head into the ground with such force that dust exploded around them.
"I said I wasn't asking for your permission."
He looked at the other Upper Moons, who gave no sign of objection.
What mattered was Muzan getting the plant — no matter how many demons it would cost.
Akaza smiled. It was a cold smile, devoid of joy.
"Goodbye."
Then he vanished.
He left behind nothing but trails of torn earth and a chilling silence.
"Do you really believe him?" said the First Upper Moon, voice flat.
"Hmm… I hope he doesn't disappoint me," muttered Douma before walking away.
---
Akaza dragged Gyokko's body through the dark forest, pulling him by the hair across the soil, far from the other demons' sight.
He didn't speak. He didn't look back. His steps were steady, his gaze hard as stone.
Every tree he passed, every breeze that rustled the branches, bore silent witness to what he was about to do.
When they reached a secluded area, surrounded by twisted trunks and dense foliage, he stopped.
He flung Gyokko's body against a massive tree. It hit the bark and collapsed like a lifeless corpse.
From his robes, Akaza pulled something — a broken sword, old, cracked down the middle, stained with dried blood.
He looked silently at Gyokko, then stepped forward.
"Wait, just a moment!" Gyokko raised a trembling hand.
"We serve the same master… will you betray him by killing me? If you do this, he'll know. He'll feel it!"
Panic flooded Gyokko's eyes.
"Wait… we can work together! You need me! You can't do this alone!"
He crawled backward, his body instinctively turning to mud in an attempt to vanish.
But Akaza was faster.
With one leap, he stomped on Gyokko's chest, pinning him down.
"Akaza! Stop!! Listen to me! I'm sorry if I annoyed you… just don't kill me! Please!"
But Akaza's eyes were dead. No pity. No reaction.
"You made your choice," he said softly.
He raised the sword high.
With one clean swing, he brought it down.
Gyokko's head was severed instantly, dropping beside the roots.
There was no scream… only silence.
Akaza took a step back.
The head rolled, lif
eless, without resistance.
He stood over the still corpse, eyes closed for a moment.
Then he whispered calmly:
"System… begin absorption."
Akaza's picture in the comments