Chiba Yo clearly had no intention of answering it, raising his axe and charging at the monster again.
Seeing Chiba Yo about to swing his axe at it in the next second, the monster lost its previous composure, even its anger disappeared, leaving only fear.
Chiba Yo swung the axe with both hands; the monster quickly moved sideways, trying to dodge the blade. However, its movements had already been predicted by Chiba Yo. Stepping forward, he swung the axe, and the monster's other arm was also severed.
The monster, having lost both arms, had no thought of fighting the young man with the strange Breath Styles / Marks on his forehead. Taking advantage of Chiba Yo having just finished his move, it quickly leaped a large step backward, then turned directly and ran towards the forest outside the village.
"Monster! This guy is absolutely a monster!" The Green-skinned demon shouted like a madman as it ran.
The last time it was so terrified was when it had just become a demon; the feeling that the adult who turned it into a demon gave it was the same as this young man now, but it had felt nothing when it first encountered this young man.
The Green-skinned demon hadn't run many steps before it felt a heavy blow to its back. An axe pierced through its body, and the immense force caused it to fall directly to the ground.
"How could... I let you escape..."
The axe slipped from his hand, and Chiba Yo picked up a hatchet leaning against a house, then walked step by step towards the Green-skinned demon lying on the ground.
Under the moonlight from above, Chiba Yo's face was slightly shadowed, but the red flame Breath Styles / Marks on his forehead were still clearly visible.
"Don't... don't come over, you monster!" Cold sweat broke out on the Green-skinned demon's face as it continuously shuffled backward. Its arms hadn't regenerated yet, and Chiba Yo's recently thrown axe was still stuck in its body.
Buzz!
As Chiba Yo approached step by step, a scene suddenly flashed through the Green-skinned demon's mind.
Under the moonlight, a man with red flame Breath Styles / Marks on his forehead, strikingly similar to the young man in front of it, stood before it holding a fiery red long nichirin blade, like a god.
At this moment, every cell in its body transmitted fear to it, but this image only appeared for an instant before disappearing immediately.
What was this? A memory it had never had...
The fleeting image caused it to freeze, but Chiba Yo was clearly unaware of this. He had already arrived in front of the Green-skinned demon, holding the hatchet.
Swish swish!
A cold light flashed. Chiba Yo swung two strikes with a speed difficult for the naked eye to perceive, severing both of the Green-skinned demon's legs as well.
At this point, all four of the Green-skinned demon's limbs had been cut off by Chiba Yo, leaving only its head and torso.
"Go to hell." A voice filled with rage rang out. Chiba Yo swung his nichirin blade towards the Green-skinned demon's head. He had no interest in continuing to waste time with this monster; he just wanted this guy to die quickly.
With a raise and fall of the nichirin blade, the Green-skinned demon's head flew up, then fell to the ground.
Dropping the hatchet in his hand, Chiba Yo turned around and silently walked in the direction of the path he had come from.
Tap... tap... tap...
Footsteps echoed in the empty village. Chiba Yo walked slowly, not because of his physical strength, but because he was afraid of seeing the tragic scene again.
Past memories gradually emerged in his mind. Tears blurred his vision, flowing down his cheeks and dripping onto the ground.
"It's okay, even if it's just me, I'll definitely raise you well. Mom will always be with you."
...
"Cough cough..."
"Mother, you don't need to trouble yourself making new clothes for me, do you? This current outfit is still very warm. You should pay more attention to your own health instead."
"It's fine, the clothes you're wearing have been worn for two or three years; it's long overdue for a change. You go to sleep first; Mom will finish it soon."
"Then I'll go pour you a glass of water."
...
"It's all my fault... getting such a sickness, making you go out to earn money to support this family at such a young age, dragging you down for so long... I might as well die..."
"Don't ever say that! Didn't you take care of me like this in the past? And you also said in the past that you would always be with me. From now on, you must never try to commit suicide again."
...
He had just convinced his mother to live well together not long ago...
Chiba Yo clenched his fists and walked step by step, not even feeling his fingernails digging into his flesh. A stinging sensation constantly came from his heart.
Upon reaching the previous spot, Chiba Yo fell to his knees with a thud, bowing his head to the ground.
"I'm sorry... If I could have come back earlier, if I hadn't been delayed for so long on the way to buy medicine..."
Words mixed with sobs came from Chiba Yo's mouth. He dared not look up, remaining on his knees and continuously sobbing.
Just then, the limbs of the Green-skinned demon behind him suddenly moved. Its legs reattached to its body, then its head reattached, and its arms grew back again.
However, after regenerating, it didn't take the opportunity to attack Chiba Yo. Instead, it silently turned and ran towards the forest outside the village. At this time, Chiba Yo was still immersed in grief and completely unaware of the demon's situation. As it was his first time encountering a demon, he naturally didn't know the characteristics of such creatures.
"Hahahahaha, luckily this guy doesn't know that we demons are immortal. This level of attack can't kill me."
The Green-skinned demon laughed loudly as it ran at extreme speed, its body filled with the joy of escaping death.
"Once I eat more humans and become even stronger, I will definitely torture this brat to death and then eat him piece by piece!"
Recalling the humiliation and powerlessness from before, the Green-skinned demon said hatefully.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front. He had yellow hair with red tips, wore a haori with flame patterns at the ends, and carried a long nichirin blade with a flame-shaped handguard at his waist.
"Is this the demon? I hope there haven't been any casualties." A cheerful but worried voice rang out. Seeing the demon in front, Rengoku Kyoujurou drew the nichirin blade from his waist.
"Flame Breathing First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Flames surged and covered the nichirin blade, illuminating the area in a fiery red.
Then, his body instantly appeared in front of the Green-skinned demon. He swung his nichirin blade horizontally, and the flames covering the blade sliced across the Green-skinned demon's neck.
"Ah!!!!" The Green-skinned demon let out a mournful shriek, then quickly turned into ashes and dissipated between heaven and earth.
Sheathing his nichirin blade, since the demon hadn't escaped very far, Kyoujurou could clearly see the situation in the village ahead from where he stood.
His mood instantly became heavy, and then he quickly ran into the village ahead, wanting to see if there were any survivors inside.