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Advance chapter in PATREON
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"Ding! Congratulations to the host for slaying a ghost. You have gained the ability: Burrow."
Burrow: You can escape into the ground and move underground as easily as walking on land. The effect lasts for half an hour but will be interrupted if attacked.
A crisp voice echoed in Sam Miller's mind.
At that moment, Sam felt a strange sensation — as if, with just a thought, he could sink into the ground.
This was the Swamp Ghost's ability. With the ghost's defeat, Sam had now inherited this skill.
"Not bad," Sam muttered, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his face.
This is a useful ability.
"Sam, you're so strong!"
Makomo walked up to him, her gaze full of admiration. Just moments ago, before she'd even had a chance to act, Sam had already handled the entire fight.
"He was careless," Sam replied, shaking his head. "If the Swamp Ghost hadn't underestimated us, I wouldn't have beaten him so easily. With his Burrow and Swamp abilities, he could have been hard to pin down."
"Even so, Sam, you're still amazing," Makomo said firmly.
"Not nearly enough," Sam muttered.
He knew his strength still had a long way to go. After all, this Swamp Ghost was the same one that Tanjiro had struggled to defeat in the early stages of his journey. Considering Tanjiro's power back then, this ghost was hardly a major threat.
Killing such a weak ghost wasn't something to be proud of.
Sam picked up the map and scanned for the next suspected ghost sighting.
"There's another location nearby — a mountain near the city," he said.
"Come on, let's head there next," Sam suggested, turning to Makomo.
Sam's goal was to collect as many abilities as possible. Each time he gained a new skill, his strength would grow.
"Okay," Makomo agreed, her eyes shining with excitement.
Outside the Town — In the Mountains
The forest was dense, and the creatures of the night stirred among the trees. This was a world vastly different from the one they'd walked through during the day.
As they walked, Makomo looked around and remarked, "It's so different from the daytime world. The night feels... quieter."
Sam turned to her. "Your hometown must feel peaceful too, right?"
"Yes," Makomo smiled softly. "Xiawu Mountain... that's where I grew up. It's a wonderful place, and in my heart, it's still the best."
Curious, she tilted her head and asked, "Sam, where's your hometown?"
Her delicate face glowed with curiosity, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
"My hometown..." Sam murmured.
He paused, lifting his gaze to the bright moon overhead. "It's been a long time since I mentioned it... I may never go back."
A wave of loneliness washed over him.
Once, he'd lived peacefully in his own world — before fate threw him into this one. To survive, he'd had to become something different. Something... monstrous.
Makomo's gaze softened as she studied Sam. She could feel the sadness in his voice.
He must be someone with a story.
She wanted to ask more, but before she could speak, Sam suddenly stopped walking.
Distracted, Makomo accidentally bumped into his back.
"Ouch..." She rubbed her nose, looking up at Sam with a small pout.
But her irritation quickly faded when she noticed the change in his expression.
Sam's gaze had turned cold and sharp.
"There's something ahead..."
The realization struck her. Perhaps... a ghost?
Her fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of her sword.
Sam's golden eyes narrowed as he scanned the dark path ahead.
"Let's go," he whispered, a flicker of excitement in his voice.
Another ability to claim...
Deeper in the Mountains
Though the area was far from town, they weren't alone. A house stood at the edge of a cliff — and from it came the faint scent of blood.
Sam and Makomo exchanged grim glances.
"Looks like we're too late," Sam muttered.
The coppery scent of blood lingered heavily in the air. Without hesitation, Sam stepped forward toward the house.
Makomo followed closely behind, her brows furrowed with worry.
Why is Sam... so determined to help people?
Isn't he a ghost too?
She couldn't understand it.
What Makomo didn't know was that Sam wasn't like the other demons of this world. Even as a ghost, his mind remained his own — his thoughts, his values — all still human.
He may have instincts that craved darkness and hated the light, but his heart... still remembered what it meant to be human.
And so, when he saw ghosts preying on people... he couldn't just ignore it.
Inside the House
The door creaked open.
Blood.
Corpses were strewn across the floor, limbs twisted and torn. A severed head had rolled to the entrance, its face frozen in terror.
Sam's golden eyes flickered coldly beneath his bamboo hat.
"Damn it," Makomo muttered through gritted teeth, her pretty face now hardened with anger.
"Sam..." she said quietly.
"Let's find it," Sam replied before she could finish. The blood was still fresh — the killer couldn't have gone far.
On the Mountain Path
A grotesque humanoid figure dragged a blood-soaked corpse along the trail. The foul scent of death filled the air.
Suddenly, the creature paused, its twisted grin widening.
"Looks like I've got company," the ghost sneered. "I'm already full... but I guess I can make room for dessert."
Flesh and blood clung to its jagged teeth as it licked its lips.
"Rustle..."
Leaves stirred, and two figures appeared before the ghost.
A boy in a bamboo hat.
A girl wearing a fox mask.
"Looks like you came looking for me," the ghost sneered. "You must want to be my next meal!"