15 Chapter 15

As Ginryu devoured Muzan's hand, his eyes slowly rolling and fixating on Muzan's own, almost as if to taunt him with silent derision.

Bit by bit, Ginryu savagely tore through the chunks of flesh, his gaze locked onto Muzan's, conveying a chilling message.

The twitching and struggling of Muzan's arm only fuelled his instinct to hold on tightly, relentlessly tearing the flesh from the bone.

The taste of Muzan's flesh was beyond anything Ginryu had ever experienced before, surpassing even the flesh of his demon minions.

If their flesh was considered ordinary grade meat, then Muzan's flesh was like a rare and exquisite premium grade.

It was an opportunity Ginryu couldn't afford to let slip away, and he relished in the thought of savouring it slowly, knowing there was only one of its kind.

Meanwhile, Muzan stood there in shock, desperately searching for a rational explanation for the gruesome scene unfolding before his eyes.

"How did he get over there ? Is he stronger than me ? Why am I the one being eaten ? Am I going to die ? Should I run away ?" Muzan questioned within his mind.

He momentarily forgot that he possessed the power to turn his arm, which housed one of his precious hearts, into a mist of blood, allowing him to reabsorb it.

Instead, he remained transfixed, his gaze fixed on Ginryu's devouring feast.

In the blink of an eye, Ginryu had already devoured not only Muzan's arm but also one of his hearts, leaving him craving for more.

Slowly, Ginryu licked his lips in content and began to approach his stunned prey, his steps deliberate and filled with a predatory anticipation.

Muzan's senses suddenly snapped back, his eyes widening in fear as he saw Ginryu closing in on him.

A mixture of confusion, pride, arrogance, reason, and instinct wrestled within him, each longing for dominance over his actions.

His pride and arrogance urged him to fight back, to destroy the monstrous being standing before him.

His reason sought a way to solve this current crisis, but it was continually interrupted by his instincts, which screamed for him to flee.

Unable to make a clear decision amidst this internal turmoil, Muzan found himself rooted to the spot, paralyzed by the weight of his conflicting thoughts and emotions.

With every step Ginryu took towards him, Muzan's anguish deepened, his thoughts spinning faster and faster.

The tension within him reached its breaking point, culminating in an ear-shattering scream that pierced the air with a deafening pitch.

It wasn't just a subconscious defense mechanism, but also an instinctual command that rallied his nearby minions to his side.

The remaining demons around and the newly-transformed demon villagers, who had been relentlessly attacking the fleeing and hiding villagers, immediately responded to Muzan's call.

As one, they abandoned their previous targets and converged upon the center of the village, ready to heed the orders of their leader.

Sensing the approaching onslaught, Ginryu instinctively made a tactical retreat, giving himself some distance.

Not out of fear or a sense of danger, but rather because he couldn't fully comprehend the nature of Muzan's attack.

His reason was clouded by madness and primal instinct, making it impossible for him to decipher the threat.

Soon enough, the transformed villagers arrived at the center, charging blindly towards Ginryu under the command of their master.

Muzan, having somewhat recovered his composure, seized the opportunity to readjust his body and swiftly dug deep into the ground.

Recognizing Ginryu's superior speed and sensing that escape on the surface would be futile, he sought refuge underground, where tracking him would prove to be a formidable challenge.

Ginryu, however, had keen senses and quickly noticed that Muzan, his prey was escaping and was determined to reach him before he vanished.

Despite the horde of relentless demons obstructing his path, Ginryu powered through them with unmatched speed and strength, pushing his way towards Muzan.

With a vigilant eye, he spotted Muzan's legs sticking out from the ground, a clear indication of his whereabouts.

The legs protruding from the ground were indeed Muzan's legs, but they were nothing more than bait.

Muzan had noticed that Ginryu's sanity had not yet returned, so he cunningly decided to sacrifice his own limbs and two additional hearts to ensure his escape.

He knew that by luring Ginryu with his severed legs, that he would be unable to resist the opportunity to devour it.

It disgusted Muzan to use his own body as a lure, but he also knew that currently, he stood no chance against Ginryu.

There was no doubt in Muzan's mind that when they next met, he would make Ginryu suffer in the most agonizing manner imaginable, and he was confident that he would be stronger and emerge victorious.

Ginryu, having fallen for the ruse, let out a roar of rage. His prized prey had slipped through his fingers, but he was not prepared to let it end so easily.

As the demon villagers who had been attacking before regained their senses, they quickly scattered in different directions, realizing that they did not wish to meet their demise at the hands of Ginryu.

Ginryu swiftly retrieved the severed legs and hearts from the ground, unable to bear the thought of abandoning them. Without hesitation, he consumed the remnants.

His enhanced senses allowed him to pick up faint vibrations coming from underground, serving as a breadcrumb trail that led him out of the village.

Following the elusive sound, Ginryu made his way deeper into the mountains, tracking Muzan relentlessly.

However, the vibrations suddenly ceased, leaving Ginryu at a loss. He had lost his ultimate prize, unable to trace Muzan's elusive trail any longer.

While Ginryu was still raging, an excruciating wave of pain and exhaustion suddenly washed over Ginryu's body.

Slowly, his mind began to calm, and reason started to return. He let out a piercing scream, the agony he felt mirroring the torment he had endured under Muzan's torture.

Vague memories flooded his mind, and it dawned upon him that he was responsible for all the chaos and destruction that had recently unfolded.

"I... I did all that?" Ginryu stammered, disbelief evident in his voice. Despite the haziness of his recollections, he could vaguely recall every act he had committed making him want to vomit it all, but his body refused to throw up.

Suddenly, a system notification resounded in his head, breaking his train of thought.

"[Skills and Transformation will soon be disabled. It is required for the host to find a safe place to hibernate]," the system informed him.

Confusion filled Ginryu's mind as he tried to comprehend the meaning of "hibernate." The entire ordeal felt surreal to him, as if it had all been a fleeting dream.

"What do you mean by hibernate?" Ginryu asked, seeking clarification.

The response came promptly, "[Answer to query: The system forcefully activated a stage two transformation, causing severe damage to the host. Hibernation is necessary for the system to rectify all existing suppressed issues]."

He found it amusingly strange that the system referred to itself as "System."

"I don't understand what all that means, but thank you for saving me" Ginryu said in gratitude. He was just happy that he survived.

Despite Ginryu's attempt at gratitude, the system seemed indifferent, merely functioning according to its programmed directives.

Sighing, Ginryu realized that he needed to find a safe place to heed the system's instructions.

Despite the pain coursing through his battered body, he forced himself to stand and disregarded the discomfort.

Utilizing his incredible speed and enhanced senses, he scoured the mountainside for a secure cave. After what felt like an arduous journey, Ginryu finally reached the heart of the mountain.

Looking at the digital timer displayed on his system HUD, Ginryu realized that there were less than two minutes remaining before his transformation would be undone.

Sensing the urgency, he pressed on and, within thirty seconds, discovered a rather large cave. Intrigued by the faint presence of life emanating from within, Ginryu made up his mind and decided to explore further, time was running out.

Venturing deeper into the cave, the silver glow from his transformation illuminated his path. Gradually, the cavern began to unveil its secrets. It was then that Ginryu stumbled upon a massive bear in the cave.

The immediate thought of ending the bear's life crossed his mind, but memories of the slaughter he had committed in the past, flashed through his thoughts.

Ginryu decided to use his immense strength and incredible speed to carry the bear outside the cave and casted it away.

Confused and startled, the bear awoke took one glance at Ginryu. The intensity in his eyes was enough to send the creature running in fright.

With the bear safely dealt with, Ginryu reentered the cave and collapsed the entrance, ensuring that nothing could intrude while he hibernated.

With a few seconds to spare before his transformation dissipated, Ginryu decided to explore the cave further.

As he delved deeper, the sound of flowing water reached his ears. To his surprise, there was a small pond within the cave, teeming with fish.

Just as Ginryu was about to take in the scenery, the system suddenly notified him, "[Notice to host: Transformation and skills are being undone. Please brace for recoil]." Confused, Ginryu attempted to utter a response, but his words were cut short.

In an instant, his body began to twist and contort, reverting back to its human form. However, this time there was a significant difference.

His skin appeared dried up and flaky, and flesh clinging uncomfortably to his bones. His eyes seemed hollow and devoid of focus.

Thoughts became difficult to form, and exhaustion overcame him, making him incredibly drowsy.

"[Notice: Estim…. Ti… of Hiber…. Is ...]" the system's notification attempted to convey, but Ginryu's mind could no longer comprehend the words as it gradually shut down.

Just as he teetered on the edge of slumber, fleshy tendrils burst forth from his body, enveloping him in a grotesque cocoon-like casing.

Now within the depths of the cave, a monstrous being measuring around five meters in size pulsated rhythmically, emitting a sickening sound.

Tendrils spread out, anchoring themselves into the ground like the roots of a towering tree. Others ventured into the pond, intertwining with the startled fish, while the rest entwined around the cave's entrance, reinforcing the rocks that barred the way.

As Ginryu's consciousness faded into a hazy void, he remained oblivious to the fact that his slumber would extend far beyond anything he had anticipated.

Time would elapse unnoticed as his existence dissolved into a spectral memory within the annals of the mountain.