96: windlass

A strange smile appeared on Rokuro's face. With a light flick of his sharp fingertip, Kasumigaoka Utaha's fair wrist immediately began to bleed. The sudden sting made her cry out in pain.

Blood drops fell, and the sweet, metallic scent wafted into Aki Tomoya's nostrils. Rokuro could clearly feel Aki Tomoya beneath his feet beginning to struggle violently, and that insane strength even made him slightly moved. He held Kasumigaoka and leaped backward, deftly creating distance.

Aki Tomoya slowly straightened his body, the rationality in his eyes completely swallowed by the scent of blood. Saliva continuously dripped from the corners of his mouth, and his blood-red eyes, full of craving, stared fixedly at Kasumigaoka's still bleeding wrist.

"It seems you still can't resist your most primal desires," Rokuro sneered, then suddenly shoved Kasumigaoka Utaha towards Aki Tomoya.

"No! Rinri-kun!" Kasumigaoka's cry of alarm did not awaken Aki Tomoya; instead, it seemed to stimulate him. Seeing the bloody temptation rushing towards him, Aki Tomoya let out a low growl, his sharp claws aiming directly for Kasumigaoka.

Kasumigaoka closed her eyes in despair, but the anticipated pain did not come. She only heard a sharp whoosh, and a figure had already blocked her front.

When she opened her eyes, still shaken, she saw that Lin Luo had appeared in front of her at some unknown point, and Furuhashi Fumino was carefully supporting her arm, pressing a handkerchief tightly against her bleeding wound.

"Fumino, first take Senior Kasumigaoka to a safe place," Lin Luo instructed in a deep voice, his gaze fixed on the out-of-control Aki Tomoya.

Furuhashi glanced at Lin Luo with concern but immediately helped the trembling Kasumigaoka retreat.

Rokuro landed lightly, about to approach Aki Tomoya, but was struck by the out-of-control latter's backhand. He nimbly dodged aside and kicked Aki Tomoya away: "Useless!"

Immediately, his gaze locked onto Lin Luo, a hint of excitement flashing in his golden pupils: "I know you, Lin Luo. I didn't expect to meet you here."

Lin Luo's appearance had long been imprinted in the minds of all demons through Kibutsuji Muzan's blood—this was a target Lord Muzan had personally ordered to be killed.

"Indeed, as Lord Akaza said," Rokuro slowly assumed a fighting stance, "your own strength isn't particularly strong. As long as I suppress your strange methods, I can subdue you."

A victorious smile played on his lips: "It seems today, I, Rokuro, will achieve a great merit."

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Lin Luo's lips.

"It seems I'm being underestimated."

His tone was relaxed, as if the Lower Rank demon before him was nothing more than an insignificant farce. Not to mention that previous Lower Rank enemies could no longer harm him in the slightest, now that his strength had achieved a Breakthrough, such a threat was even more negligible.

Rokuro keenly sensed the change in Lin Luo's demeanor; it wasn't a bluff, but a profound composure from his very bones. His golden pupils constricted slightly, instinctively taking half a step back, his fighting stance unconsciously becoming more serious.

"You..." Rokuro had just opened his mouth when he found that Lin Luo had vanished from his original spot at some unknown time.

The next moment, a calm voice sounded behind him: "You demons, do you rely too much on your noses?"

Lin Luo's figure slowly emerged, his robes gently fluttering in the evening breeze. "You dare to boast without even accurately judging your opponent's true strength?"

A golden light burst forth from Lin Luo's fingertip, and a condensed, tangible beam of light shot through the air, instantly piercing Rokuro's shoulder. Amidst his shrill screams, the golden light in Lin Luo's palm transformed into a myriad of golden threads. As he lightly rotated his wrist, the golden threads danced in mid-air like living things, weaving into a net of death.

Wherever the golden threads passed, the brick walls of the abandoned factory were sliced open like tofu, the cuts as smooth as a mirror. Rokuro dodged with all his might, but still couldn't avoid it—

"Rip!"

Accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing, half of his face was neatly cut off, revealing stark white bone. Immediately after, the golden threads spun back, and an arm fell off, dissipating into black smoke on the ground.

"This is impossible!"

Rokuro staggered backward in retreat, the golden pupil on his remaining half-face contracting violently in horror. Lord Akaza's intelligence clearly stated that this boy named Lin Luo, though possessing strange methods, should not be this strong!

In the excruciating pain in his shoulder and cheek, he could feel the demon race's unique powerful regeneration taking effect, flesh slowly wriggling, attempting to repair the horrific wound. But the golden energy lingering at the wound was like a persistent gangrene, continuously hindering the regeneration process and bringing waves of burning pain.

His venomous gaze swept over Aki Tomoya, who was still on the verge of losing control, and a surge of intense regret welled up in his heart. This useless fellow not only failed to complete Lord Muzan's assigned task but also brought such a terrifying enemy here!

"I must send the information back..." Rokuro gritted his teeth, his regenerated right arm suddenly swung out, several blood blades slashing towards Lin Luo, attempting to buy himself time to retreat. "This Lin Luo's strength has already far exceeded our estimates!"

Rokuro's blood blades had not yet touched Lin Luo when they strangely dissipated in mid-air. Lin Luo formed a hand Seal with one hand and lightly shouted:

"Suppress!"

In an instant, golden light burst forth. The phantom of an ancient giant bell descended from the sky, its body inscribed with countless profound runes, flowing with the magnificent Qi of the Righteous Path. The golden bell's descent seemed slow, yet it felt as if it had locked down the entire space, leaving Rokuro no time to even conceive of dodging.

"No—!"

Rokuro only managed to let out a desperate roar before the golden bell crashed to the ground.

"Dong—"

The heavy bell toll echoed through the desolate factory area, sound waves spreading outwards as visible golden ripples. Lin Luo stood with one foot on the bell's top, looking down at the futilely struggling Lower Rank Two, "Don't talk about you, even your Lord Muzan might not be able to shatter my golden bell."

"Impossible!" Rokuro frantically slammed against the bell wall, his remaining face twisted with fear, "Lord Akaza's intelligence clearly said..."

Lin Luo scoffed, golden runes flowing and shining on the bell's body, "You can advance, so why can't I improve? Tell me, why don't you fear the sun anymore?"

"Do you think I'd tell you such a secret?" Rokuro sneered, unleashing his Blood Demon Art without reservation. Crimson light bombarded the inner wall of the golden bell, yet failed to even stir a ripple.

Lin Luo's eyes turned cold, and his hand Seal changed: "It doesn't matter, you wouldn't think I absolutely need you to say it, would you?"

A scorching Spiritual Fire suddenly ignited within the golden bell, and Rokuro let out a piercing scream. However, as the flames raged, Lin Luo keenly detected a slight abnormality—a peculiar energy within Rokuro seemed to be stubbornly resisting the Spiritual Fire's erosion, a cold and strange power, completely different from ordinary demon blood.

"This is..." Lin Luo frowned slightly, about to perceive it more carefully, but that energy eventually ran out of steam, unable to sustain its resistance. The Spiritual Fire completely devoured Rokuro's demon body, leaving behind only a charred remains.

Lin Luo retracted the golden bell, standing thoughtfully before the charred remains. Although he couldn't ascertain the mystery of the sun, that peculiar resisting energy just now might be the key to their fearlessness of the sun.

Just as Lin Luo was lost in thought, a sudden change occurred!

Aki Tomoya, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly erupted again, his crimson eyes fixed on Kasumigaoka Utaha's not-yet-fully healed wrist. The characteristics of demonification wildly manifested on him, sharp nails gleaming with an ominous cold light, and a beast-like growl rumbling in his throat.

"Blood... give me blood..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha retreated in horror, but tripped over loose stones, falling to the ground.

"Whoosh—"

A golden light instantly pierced Aki Tomoya's chest, foul blood splashing onto Kasumigaoka's pale cheek, causing her to scream uncontrollably.

The golden light Lin Luo threw transformed into a Spirit Binding Rope, firmly tying down the still struggling Aki Tomoya. "Stop screaming, he's not dead."

As stated, the essence of a demon meant Aki Tomoya would not die even if his heart was pierced. Granulations wriggled at the wound, and in a short while, it recovered as before, with only his torn clothes and the bloodstains on Kasumigaoka's face proving what had just happened.

Furuhashi Fumino hurried forward, wiping the bloodstains from Kasumigaoka's face with a handkerchief, but found that her beautiful eyes were filled with shattered fear—the junior she once knew had now become such a monster.

Lin Luo frowned, looking at the still roaring Aki Tomoya, golden light flowing between his fingers: "It seems a more thorough method is needed."

"No!" Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly grabbed Lin Luo's sleeve, her voice filled with choked pleading.

Lin Luo raised an eyebrow at her: "You're quite compassionate. But he's no longer the junior you knew—he truly wanted to eat you just now."

"No, it's not like that..." Kasumigaoka took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, "Do you remember? Before Rokuro appeared, Tomoya still had a clear consciousness. He even fought against that demon to protect me..."

She looked at Aki Tomoya, still struggling in the golden ropes, complex emotions flickering in her eyes: "Since he could maintain his sanity before, that means... he might still have a chance to recover, right?"

The girl's plea gently echoed through the ruins, carrying an unwillingness to give up hope. Furuhashi Fumino couldn't help but speak: "Mr. Lin Luo, perhaps it really is possible..."

Lin Luo looked at Kasumigaoka's determined eyes, the golden light between his fingers dimming slightly. It wasn't that he pitied Kasumigaoka Utaha, but that Aki Tomoya still held research value.

Demons no longer fearing the sun, this was not good news. The rats that once could only hide in the shadows could now openly walk in the sunlight.

Lin Luo summoned the Special Affairs Department's logistics, but this time, several official team members were also accompanying them. When the person in the lead sensed the profound and vast spiritual energy fluctuations around Lin Luo, their originally business-like attitude unconsciously shifted to respectful.

However, when their gaze fell upon the sealed Aki Tomoya, all of their expressions changed dramatically at once.

"Do you know him?" Lin Luo keenly caught their reaction.

The leading captain took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Aki Tomoya was once our intern. Not long ago, he was ordered to infiltrate the Paradise Cult to investigate a missing persons case, and he was out of contact for a long time during that period..."

He crouched down to carefully examine the obvious demonification characteristics on Aki Tomoya, his voice suppressing anger: "When he returned to the team, he claimed he had narrowly escaped... At the time, we were relieved that he could survive from the demons, but we never expected..."

"Never expected he had already been transformed into a demon," Lin Luo interjected. "It seems your Special Affairs Department needs to quickly upgrade its internal personnel detection mechanisms."

The captain nodded with a grave expression: "This matter must be reported immediately. It's likely that other team members who returned at the same time as Aki Tomoya also have the same problem."

Lin Luo continued: "The demons no longer fear sunlight. You can take him back and study him thoroughly."

This statement made all the Special Affairs Department members gasp. The captain suddenly looked up: "What did you say? Not afraid of sunlight? How is that possible!"

"The facts are right before your eyes," Lin Luo pointed to Aki Tomoya on the ground. "He was moving freely in the setting sun just now. This means the demons' greatest weakness no longer exists."

The Special Affairs Department members exchanged glances, each realizing the gravity of the situation. If even sunlight was no longer the bane of demons, then humanity's last advantage against them would be completely gone.

"Immediately activate the highest alert level!" The captain issued instructions to the team members behind him, then solemnly said to Lin Luo: "Thank you for providing such important information; this could change the entire war."

In the distance, Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly listened to this conversation, finally understanding what the mutation that had occurred to Aki Tomoya meant. She gazed at the unconscious figure, complex and unspeakable emotions surfacing in her eyes.