Horitake rolled up his sleeves, eyeing the demon on the table.
"Forty-sixth experiment, officially begin."
His words echoed a head surgeon's declaration before an operation.
He raised his right hand, index and middle fingers pressed together in a sword-like gesture. Tiny purple arcs of electricity glowed at his fingertips.
Not flickered—glowed.
In the past, Horitake's arcs would flicker unstably.
Now, he controlled them with precision, keeping the purple arcs steady, glowing like the filament of an old incandescent bulb.
The arcs were small, confined to his fingertips.
Such stable control showcased Horitake's refined skill, proof that his countless experiments weren't in vain.
He brought the glowing arcs near the demon's forehead.
The demon stared at his fingers, whimpering in panic.
Translation of its wails: Don't come any closer! (Super loud)
Without a word, Horitake pressed his fingertips to the demon's forehead, activating Spirit Vision.
He clearly saw the curse coiled within the demon's body.
Controlling the purple lightning, he steadily increased its flow. A thin strand surged from the demon's forehead into its body.
The demon's eyes widened, its whimpers halting, frozen in agony—not stupidity, but pain so intense it couldn't make a sound.
Horitake's lightning was anathema to demons. Even with stable control and avoiding vital areas, it caused immense suffering.
Unfazed by the demon's pain, Horitake focused on his delicate task.
He guided the lightning strand like a snake, cautiously approaching the curse's lair.
Once close, the lightning began to encircle and coil around it.
Soon, it formed a perfect containment without alerting the black curse gas!
This was the first phase, now second nature to Horitake. The critical second phase was next.
With a sharp motion, he tightened the lightning's grip!
The curse stirred, sensing danger, and tried to flee!
Too late! The high-quality purple lightning closed in, forming a spherical cage, trapping the curse inside!
The black gas thrashed within, unable to escape.
Did the curse have its own consciousness?
Horitake doubted it. The curse and its bonds likely had instinctive reactions, fleeing from the lightning's threat.
Second phase: complete.
At this point, the lightning's damage to the demon's body was nearly negligible.
Now for the crucial third phase. If it failed, all was for naught.
Horitake took a deep breath, controlling the lightning sphere to extract the curse from the demon's body.
From where?
The mouth, naturally—the easiest exit.
Carefully, cautiously, he maneuvered the sphere…
Now!
Horitake pulled his fingers from the demon's forehead, shifting to a claw-like grip near its gaping mouth. Lightning swirled in his hand, creating a suction to draw the sphere out.
The demon writhed in agony, eyes bulging. With a retch, it spat out a purple lightning sphere mixed with black blood!
Horitake deftly caught the sphere in his hand.
Mitsuri, across the table, gasped in excitement.
"It worked?! But it's spitting blood!"
Checking the demon's condition with Spirit Vision, Horitake explained:
"Some blood is unavoidable, but…"
He smiled slightly.
"The damage is minimal—not even a light injury."
He held up the lightning sphere, examining it.
Mitsuri hurried to his side, peering curiously at the sphere. Knowing the principle, she asked, "Horitake-nii, that black gas is Muzan's curse on the demon?"
Horitake nodded.
"Exactly. The curse in Lord Ubuyashiki's body is the same kind."
With a squeeze, purple lightning flared in his hand, crackling as he crushed the curse like a walnut, obliterating it.
Why keep a curse after extracting it?
Mitsuri gazed at the composed Horitake with admiration, her cheeks flushing. "How'd it go, Horitake-nii?"
"Very smooth. As I predicted, my technique's reached a new level. The curse was extracted with even less damage to the body."
"Can you dispel Lord Ubuyashiki's curse now?"
"I can, but…"
"But what?"
Mitsuri grew anxious.
She deeply respected and cared for Ubuyashiki, longing for his curse to be lifted and his health restored.
Horitake explained seriously:
"I need more practice.
This demon's injury from the extraction is less than light.
But demons are demons, and humans are humans—especially Lord Ubuyashiki, whose physique is far weaker than average.
What's a light injury for a demon could be severe for him.
His current state can barely handle a light injury. A severe one? Unacceptable.
I must be absolutely cautious. This isn't just about Lord Ubuyashiki's safety—it's about the entire Demon Slayer Corps!"
Mitsuri, initially impatient, calmed down.
"You're right, Horitake-nii. I was too hasty."
"No worries," Horitake smiled. "You're just worried for him."
With a crackling slap, he struck the demon's face, reducing its head to a mosaic of gore. Dead as dead could be.
Horitake pushed open the door.
"Mitsuri, let's keep moving while it's dark. We might find more demons."
Mitsuri followed, glancing at the terrain. "Horitake-nii, there shouldn't be many demons ahead. Past this forest is Kusatsu, a big town in Gunma Prefecture.
Demons are scary, but they avoid crowded places, so there'll likely be few."
"Oh, got it."
Horitake considered changing direction, then paused.
"Mitsuri, what did you say is ahead?!"
"Kusatsu. Why?"
Horitake's smile shifted.
"Mitsuri, what's Kusatsu famous for?"
"I know—hot springs!"
"Exactly!"
Eyeing Mitsuri's perfect figure under her Corps uniform, Horitake couldn't help but imagine hot spring-related scenarios.
He hadn't anticipated that Kusatsu might hold some intriguing enemies.
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