Crack!
Bombarded by missiles, the Crimson Lair was reduced to burning wreckage.
Rui strolled through it slowly, coming to Iron Man who'd already broken free with help from the flames. With a flick of his right index finger, scarlet spider silk flew around again, wrapping him into a dumpling once more.
"If you didn't escape while I was dealing with those toys, there was only one dead end!"
Rui tightened his restraints again, strangling Iron Man.
"Stop!"
At that moment, a shout came from the distance.
Rui looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man whose hairline had reached a crisis point approaching quickly.
It was Coulson.
Because his body had been transformed into a demon, he'd also gained super speed, strength, and stamina. A distance of one kilometer—he'd run it in a few breaths.
"A demon..."
Seeing Coulson, Rui's pupils shrank slightly. Then spider silk popped out to bind Coulson, and he asked indifferently, "You're a demon transformed by the escapee!
After we came to this world, we didn't add new demons. Only she can create new demons. Where is she?"
"Are you referring to Miss Tamayo?"
Coulson seemed to have expected such an outcome. Without showing any panic on his face, he said with a smile, "Don't get excited. I came here on purpose to tell you their whereabouts."
Hmm?
Rui paused for a moment, a strange light in his eyes.
This demon could sacrifice life for his companions—obviously someone who valued friendship deeply and took life and death lightly.
He'd thought it would take some effort to torture the escapee's whereabouts from him, but he hadn't expected this guy to come directly to surrender.
Was it some kind of conspiracy?
Rui carefully examined the expression on Coulson's face and noticed his eyes glancing with concern at Iron Man wrapped in dumplings from time to time. Suddenly he understood.
"I see... It's really a clever idea to use the escapee's information to save a companion." Rui looked at Coulson indifferently. "As you wish. As long as you tell the escapee's whereabouts, I'll let your companion go. Don't try to lie—I can confirm lies through your pulse."
"Of course. I would never lie."
Cold sweat dripped from Coulson's forehead.
"That bastard is indeed an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"
Yushiro said indignantly, "Lady Tamayo clearly saved him, but he doesn't know how to repay her. Instead, he's using Lady Tamayo's life to exchange for that Iron Man. What he said before was definitely lies!"
He and Tamayo had been about to come help, but on the way, they'd heard the conversation between Coulson and Rui through the headset communicator and couldn't help but stop.
Betrayal was something everyone hated.
"No, Mr. Coulson has another plan!"
Tamayo's face was calm, and her purple eyes flickered as if thinking about something.
It wasn't that she had great trust in someone she'd met for less than a day, but if he really wanted to exchange her for Iron Man, he wouldn't speak with the headset on.
"If that's the case, then speak!"
Rui still looked indifferent, but there was a hint of impatience in his tone.
He just wanted to find family members who could treat each other sincerely, then enjoy family happiness. Now he just wanted to quickly complete Muzan's assigned task, then continue looking for family.
"She's nearby!" Coulson said calmly. "After the handball demon and arrow demon attacked, we didn't flee but set a trap here to wait for your arrival. She's been watching the battle nearby."
Hearing this, Rui looked up and glanced around.
But even though it was a full moon night with moonlight illuminating the earth with unparalleled clarity...
In this old building area in disrepair and awaiting demolition, there were empty old houses everywhere. It was impossible to find a person in such a large area.
He couldn't help but look at Coulson again. "The specific location. Where is it?"
"Don't know!"
There was a smile at the corner of Coulson's mouth. "She was with me before, right where I came from. But when she saw the ambush failed, she said she was going to leave. I don't know where she is now. But in such a short time, she must not have gone far."
No lie...
Through the spider silk, he felt Coulson's pulse—calm as before. Rui's face darkened.
This man wasn't trying to sell Tamayo in exchange for Iron Man's life but was forcing him to choose... Whether to chase after Tamayo who'd just escaped, or waste time killing Iron Man, then go after her...
"I'll remember you, and pray you don't fall into my hands again!" Rui's wrists turned. The spider silk tightened, dismembering Coulson's body into eight pieces, then he ran toward the position where Coulson had come from.
"I hope she understands what I meant!"
Half of Coulson's head murmured, not knowing if the person on the other end of the headset heard.
At that moment, the air grew hot.
At first, Coulson didn't care.
Although the Crimson Lair had been burned and flames extinguished, the remaining heat wouldn't dissipate so quickly.
But as the roar of surging air came from far to near, he realized something had changed. Immediately, he desperately rolled his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.
Then he saw it.
Under the bright night, a man with long red and yellow hair wearing a flaming haori rushed over. The air around him was extremely distorted—it seemed roasted by high temperature and seemed unable to bear the man's high-speed movement.
It was as if his whole body was burning.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
At that moment, the man's speed increased even more, like a burning sun falling from the starry sky, turning into an orange beam across the night.
Shlick!
The blade pierced into flesh, then the sound of something falling to the ground rang out, rolling away.
Because of his viewing angle, Coulson couldn't see what was happening, but the picture of the man cutting off a head with his blade and the head falling to the ground naturally appeared in his mind.
But was it really possible?
The Lower Rank demon who'd easily killed several S.H.I.E.L.D. special teams, defeated Iron Man, and shot down five helicopters... Would he really be killed by someone?
Did such people really exist in this world?
Thud... thud...
The rolling sound grew closer. Coulson looked desperately and finally saw what was rolling... It was the existence that had made them feel hopeless—Rui's head.
The head fell to the ground. Rui wasn't dead yet.
His eyes were wide open, as if he hadn't reacted to the fact he'd been killed in one strike.
But as his head turned to ash little by little, he finally accepted the truth, and his face showed unwillingness.
He hadn't found his family yet. He hadn't experienced real family yet. He still wanted to...
Suddenly, he remembered the past: when he was human, he'd been very weak and could only spend his days in bed.
Out of mercy for the same experience, Muzan had transformed him into a demon.
But his parents couldn't accept this version of himself and tried to kill him.
Then he'd killed his parents.
But...
"I'm sorry, Rui. It's all your parents' fault for not letting you come to the world with a healthy body, but we can't let you harm others. So go to hell—let's go to hell and repay this sin together!"
Recalling this detail that he'd ignored at the time, Rui was filled with guilt. Tears fell from his eyes. "It turns out I had everything from the beginning, but I buried it with my own hands.
I'm sorry, Dad... Mom..."
Character Notes:
Kyojuro Rengoku - From: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) (the "sun-like man")
Flame Hashira (Pillar) of the Demon Slayer Corps Master of Flame Breathing techniques Known for his bright personality and flaming appearance Wears a distinctive haori with flame patterns Has red and yellow hair resembling flames Extremely powerful swordsman capable of killing Lower Rank demons instantly Embodies the spirit of protecting humanity from demons
Flame Breathing - From: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
One of the main breathing styles derived from Sun Breathing Creates flame-like visual effects when used First Form: Unknowing Fire - A high-speed dash and slash technique Used by the Rengoku family line of Flame Hashira
Crimson Lair - From: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Rui's Blood Demon Art technique Creates a protective structure made of his threads