86 Chapter 84: I am from the place you are going to.

The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple. The moon, a silver crescent, was slowly making its appearance, casting a soft glow on the earth. The tranquility of the scene was a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.

Jon, with his mysterious aura, was leading the way. His senses were heightened, his eyes scanning the surroundings, his nose picking up the faintest of scents. He was on a mission, a mission to find Satoko, a girl who had been taken by a ghost. Kazumi, an ordinary man with an extraordinary love for Satoko, was trailing behind him. Despite Jon's repeated warnings about the dangers that lay ahead, Kazumi was adamant. He wanted to be there when Satoko was rescued.

Kazumi, his heart pounding in his chest, finally broke the silence. "Do you want to continue searching?" His voice was barely above a whisper, a hint of fear lacing his words.

Jon stopped in his tracks, turning to face Kazumi. His eyes were cold, his voice stern. "You don't want to save your girlfriend?" He asked, his question hanging in the air like a challenge.

Kazumi swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the ground. "But it's already sunset, it's dangerous!" He protested weakly. "Although I'm very happy that you think about Satoko, I think it's time to take a rest and save your strength for tomorrow."

Jon's response was swift and harsh. "First, I didn't ask you to follow me. I said you can just go home and wait for the news; secondly, those things act at night, so now is the time to be vigilant!" He paused, his gaze piercing through Kazumi. "In addition, I have to remind you that your girlfriend is in danger all the time."

Kazumi's face paled at Jon's words. He was silent for a moment, his mind racing. Then, a memory surfaced, a story he had heard before. "Are you...?" He began, his voice trembling.

Jon cut him off with a sneer. "One of Demon Slayer Corps?" He scoffed. "No, I am not one those weaklings."

Kazumi was taken aback by Jon's response. He was about to ask what he meant when Jon suddenly stopped, his eyes darting around. His body was tense, his senses on high alert.

"What's wrong?" Kazumi asked, his voice barely audible.

Jon held up a hand, signaling for silence. His eyes were narrowed, his gaze fixed on the shadows that danced in the ground.

"It should be around here!" Jon's voice was a mere whisper, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The scent of sin was strong, almost overpowering. It was a sign that they were close, too close.

Hmmm~

Suddenly, a faint melody filled the air. It was a sweet, innocent tune that seemed out of place in the eerie silence of the night. Jon and Kazumi turned towards the source of the sound, their eyes landing on a young girl.

She was dressed in simple Japanese clothes, her hair tied in two neat braids. A basket full of medicinal herbs was slung over her shoulder. She was humming a tune, oblivious to the danger that lurked in the shadows.

"It's Shinoko, the daughter of the drugstore owner in the town. She goes out to collect medicinal materials every day!" Kazumi's voice was filled with concern. "But why did she come back now? I remember she always came back before the sunset. Especially.."

Before he could end his words, a crisp sound echoed through the air. Kazumi turned to see a heavy chain materializing around Jon's body. His eyes widened in surprise. "What are you going to do?" He asked, a hint of fear creeping into his voice.

Jon's gaze was fixed on Shinoko. "The demon's scent stopped here, which means he is ambushing nearby, and he usually likes to catch girls. In other words, his target of the ambush this time should be her." He explained, his voice steady.

With the chain in his hand, Jon positioned himself behind Shinoko, ready to strike at the first sign of danger. He was a predator, waiting for his prey to reveal itself.

Meanwhile, Shinoko continued walking, her voice filling the air with a sweet melody. She was blissfully unaware of the danger that was closing in on her.

!

Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet turned into a dark swamp. She felt herself sinking, her song cut short by a gasp of surprise. As she struggled to free herself, a pair of withered hands shot out from the swamp, grabbing her ankles and pulling her down.

Aaaaah!

A scream tore through the silence of the night. Shinoko was in danger, and Jon was ready to act. With a swift movement, he threw the chain, its metallic links cutting through the air.

Shinoko, her heart pounding in her chest, reached out for the chain, hoping it would pull her out of the swamp. But to her surprise, the chain bypassed her and plunged into the swamp. A moment of silence followed, then a grotesque scream echoed through the night. The chain retracted, pulling a demonic figure out of the swamp. The demon was bound by the chain, its struggles futile against the iron grip.

"Here you are! So, the girls who disappeared in the town were all captured by this thing." Jon's voice was cold, his eyes fixed on the creature. Kazumi followed closely behind, his gaze filled with a mix of fear and anger.

The demon was a horrifying sight. Its skin was pale, veins bulging out grotesquely. Long purple hair cascaded down its back, framing a face adorned with sharp fangs and twisted horns. It glared at Jon, its eyes filled with rage.

"Damn it, damn demon slayer, don't get in the way, the freshness of this woman is going to decrease!" The demon's voice was a guttural growl, its words sending a chill down Kazumi's spine.

It turned its gaze to Shinoko, who was sitting on the ground, her face pale with shock. "That woman is just sixteen years old now. If I don't eat her early, she will be no longer fresh!" The demon's words were a cruel taunt, a blatant disregard for human life.

Kazumi's blood boiled at the demon's words. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. But before he could react, Jon spoke up.

"Oh, really! I am so sorry." His voice was dripping with sarcasm, a smirk playing on his lips. He turned to the demon, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.

"But you will be always fresh!"

The demon recoiled at Jon's words, a shiver running down its spine. It stared at Jon, its eyes wide with fear. "You are not one of the Demon Slayer Corps, who are you?!" The demon's voice was shaky, its bravado crumbling under Jon's intense gaze.

The demon's eyes widened in terror as it recognized the look in Jon's eyes. It was the same look it had when it preyed on humans, especially the young girls he favored. The realization hit it like a punch - in Jon's eyes, he was the prey.

"I come from the place you are going to." Jon's voice was soft, almost a whisper. As he spoke, hellfire engulfed his body, burning away his human form to reveal the Ghost Rider. The demon recoiled in fear, its eyes wide with terror. "Who sent you?!" It demanded, its voice shaking.

Aaaaaaaah!

But before it could get an answer, the hellfire spread along the chains, engulfing the demon. Its screams echoed through the night as it was reduced to ashes. But Jon knew that the demon wasn't truly defeated. There was no mission prompt, no reply of completion.

Jon returned to his human form, turning to face Kazumi and Shinoko. Their faces were pale, their eyes wide with fear. The sight of the Ghost Rider had shaken them, its skeletal form and flaming body more terrifying than the demon itself.

But they also knew that Jon was their savior. If he had wanted to harm them, he would have done so already. Shinoko bowed, her voice trembling as she thanked Jon for saving her.

"Watch out!" Jon's warning came just in time. Shinoko jumped back, narrowly avoiding the dark swamp that appeared beneath her feet. Two withered hands shot out from the swamp, reaching for her and Kazumi. The demon was back, and the battle was far from over.

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