After leaving the civilian base, Kanzaki Izanagi and Hayakawa Aki made their way to the location specified in the request.
The two barely spoke along the way.
[Ding! Attribute points allocated, Vitality +3]
[Vitality: 15]
[Unallocated attribute points: 0]
Izanagi had allocated all his available points into "Vitality" — a necessary preparation for the upcoming battle.
Immediately, he felt his stamina surge, his body filling with a newfound strength. Yet even so, he knew it wasn't enough. One use of Kamui could still drain him severely, but at least now he had a better chance of surviving than before.
When they arrived at the designated spot, Aki turned to him.
"We're here. Stick close, and don't wander off."
Before them stood an old, abandoned stone bridge. A foul-smelling, shallow ditch ran beneath it, littered with trash. The area was deserted — no pedestrians dared venture near.
A large hole gaped at the side of the bridge, connecting to the mountain beside it. The tunnel's entrance was pitch black, and its depth unknown.
"According to the client's information, the devil is hiding inside," Aki said, stepping into the tunnel. "I'll take point — you watch the rear."
Izanagi gave a silent nod and followed closely behind.
From the faint outline of Aki's silhouette, Izanagi could see the hilt of the Cursed Devil's sword strapped to his partner's back.
So Aki's already contracted with the Cursed Devil at this point, Izanagi thought.
If he remembered correctly, in this timeline Aki should be around sixteen — a few years younger than in the original story.
The Cursed Devil's ability was powerful but came with a heavy cost. By stabbing the target three times with the designated nail-like weapon, the Cursed Devil could guarantee instant death — but each use severely shortened Aki's lifespan.
It's not that the Cursed Devil is weak — it's just that the enemies Aki faces are absurdly powerful. Chainsaw Man, Samurai Sword... none of them could be killed by ordinary means.
Izanagi glanced at the second blade on Aki's waist — an ordinary katana.
He himself also carried a katana, purchased at a nearby settlement before setting out.
"Wait," Izanagi suddenly whispered.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan, Izanagi's vision was far sharper than any ordinary human's. Even in the pitch-black tunnel, he could clearly see what lay ahead.
Far off in the shadows, a twisted figure lurked.
It resembled a grotesque, oversized crayfish — at least two meters tall and far longer. Its crimson shell was covered in jagged spikes and deep pits, while its six enormous bloodshot eyes glared menacingly from its pointed head. Thick, whip-like tentacles wriggled at its sides, and its powerful pincers looked capable of crushing a man in an instant.
[Ding! Achievement unlocked: "First Encounter with the Devil" — Attribute points +1!]
Aki, still unable to see through the darkness, frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"I saw the devil. The Crayfish Devil the client described."
Izanagi kept his voice low.
The mission report had detailed a "crayfish-like devil," and this creature matched that description perfectly.
"Where?" Aki asked, clearly surprised. He hadn't expected Izanagi to notice it before he did.
Before Izanagi could respond, the Crayfish Devil stirred. Its grotesque form shifted, and it rushed forward with surprising speed.
"Here it comes!" Izanagi warned.
Aki's grip tightened on his sword. In the narrow tunnel, dodging would be nearly impossible — they would have to fight head-on.
He drew his blade just in time to block one of the devil's powerful strikes, but the sheer force sent him staggering back.
"Heh... foolish humans," the Crayfish Devil sneered in a guttural voice. "You've walked right into my trap! I'll enjoy feasting on your flesh... such a delicious scent..."
The devil's deep laughter echoed through the tunnel.
Aki barely managed to stay on his feet. His clothes were soaked in the filthy water that pooled at the tunnel's base.
"This place is too cramped — we need to lure it outside," Aki muttered.
In these conditions, dodging was impossible — unless they used devil powers, brute force would only get them killed.
Izanagi guessed that Aki had likely only contracted with the Cursed Devil at this point. The Fox Devil, which Aki would later rely on heavily, likely wasn't part of his arsenal yet.
"You won't escape," the Crayfish Devil sneered.
Its tentacles lashed out, one targeting Aki and the other hurtling toward Izanagi.
Yet through his Mangekyō Sharingan, Izanagi saw everything unfold in slow motion.
The devil's movements, no matter how fast, appeared sluggish and predictable. Every attack path, every motion was laid bare before his eyes.
This was the power of the Sharingan — unmatched insight, capable of predicting the enemy's every move.
With the slightest shift of his feet, Izanagi sidestepped the lashing tentacle. It missed him by mere inches, swiping harmlessly past.
On the other side, Aki instinctively jumped back, narrowly avoiding the other tentacle.
"Aki!" Izanagi heard him call out, his voice sharp with concern.
Aki grabbed a fallen flashlight from the tunnel floor and pointed it toward Izanagi — only to find him completely unharmed.
Instead, Izanagi was already closing in on the Crayfish Devil.
With a swift, fluid motion, Izanagi drew his katana and sliced cleanly through one of the devil's tentacles. The severed limb spasmed wildly, spraying dark crimson blood across the tunnel walls.
The Crayfish Devil shrieked in agony.
For a moment, Aki stared at Izanagi's blood-red Sharingan glowing in the dim tunnel. He suddenly realized — the boy he had dismissed as a novice was far more dangerous than he seemed.
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