NOTHING BURNS LIKE COLD | Shinazugawa Sanemi

CHAPTER 11 - The Hunt

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The Hunt

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The air was thick with a palpable, unnatural tension as Muzan Kibutsuji stood in the darkened chamber, eyes fixed on the blood-red moon outside. The world beyond the window lay in stillness, but inside, he felt the fire of impatience and frustration burning brighter than ever. His lips curled slightly, though the faint smile held no warmth.

His quest for the Blue Spider Lily, a quest that seemed endlessly out of reach, was becoming a dangerous obsession. He had created an army of demons, each one indebted to him for their survival, but none had managed to prove themselves worthy. They were strong, yes, but they lacked his singular, ruthless drive.

His frustration needed an outlet, and tonight, his subordinates would feel it.

Suddenly, his telepathic command struck like a blade, slicing into the minds of his scattered minions with the precision of a death sentence.

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Muzan telepathically "You worthless creatures... I have grown tired of your endless failures. The Blue Spider Lily remains hidden, slipping from your fingers as though it were a ghost. This is the final warning you will receive. You will kill a Hashira, or you will suffer my wrath."

Each demon heard his words with a bone-deep dread, feeling his disdain crawl over their skin like fire. His voice seemed to suffocate them, filling their minds with terror.

"Bring me proof of your loyalty-the head of a Hashira. Fail, and I will personally see to your destruction. This is your last chance."

His voice faded, leaving behind only silence. But it was a silence that bore the weight of a command that could not be refused.

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Lower Moon One (Enmu)

Inside a decaying, forgotten mansion, Enmu lay with his head resting on a pile of torn tatami mats, lips curved in a delighted grin as he fed off the dreams of a trembling human nearby. He watched as the victim's face twisted with fear, limbs frozen as the nightmare tightened its grip.

"Beautiful... Just beautiful," he whispered, savoring the terror like a fine wine. Muzan's command echoed in his mind, filling him with an eager, almost childlike glee.

"A Hashira? Now that is a dream worth entering. I can already imagine the delicious terror..." His fingers twitched in anticipation as he contemplated the nightmare he would trap them in, the agony he would prolong.

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Lower Moon Five (Rui)

Deep in his forest lair, Rui sat amid his twisted, makeshift family, each member bound to him by his spider threads and forced loyalty. A broken man knelt before him, fear in his eyes as he trembled under Rui's gaze.

"You wish to join my family?" Rui asked, his soft, emotionless voice making the human flinch. "Then prove your loyalty. Abandon all you once were and accept your new life under my protection."