Devil's Eye Reborn - Shadow Angel Awakens - Chapter 49

Chapter 47：’Three-Eyed General
 

Though the swords were reduced to hilts, a strange buzzing sound emanated from where the blades had been, surrounded by shimmering silver light.

The overwhelming killing intent from the invisible blades paralyzed the surviving passengers with fear.

The power of this move was extraordinary, even making me, protected by demonic energy, feel uneasy.

“It seems this ‘Thousand Slashes’ has slain many demons. But no matter how powerful a move is, it’s useless if it can’t hit its target,” I sighed theatrically.

Musashi frowned, puzzled. When he saw me bringing the flute to my lips, he realized something was amiss and lunged forward to strike first.

But I was quicker. Smiling slyly, I placed the “Spirit Flute” to my lips and blew.

“Zing!”

A soft flute melody emerged, causing Musashi’s body to stiffen, his feet rooted to the spot.

His swords hung in mid-air, unable to move, his eyes glaring at me with rage.

Though I lacked musical knowledge, the “Spirit Flute” was miraculous. As long as I felt the music in my heart, my fingers would naturally dance across the flute, playing the tune.

Watching Musashi’s furious, red-faced expression, I couldn’t help but chuckle. My mood shifted, and the melody turned playful and mischievous, like the devil’s laughter.

The enchanting flute notes echoed through the carriage, causing the previously silent passengers to laugh uncontrollably, tears streaming down their faces. Even Musashi wasn’t spared.

In an instant, the carriage was filled with bizarre, hysterical laughter!

“Hahaha… you… brat… hahaha… what… kind of sorcery… hahaha!” Musashi’s face turned crimson, tears streaming from his furious eyes.

Seeing Musashi laughing uncontrollably, I found it amusing but dared not respond, fearing he’d retaliate once free. Instead, my amusement channeled into the “Spirit Flute.”

The song’s playful tone intensified, and the passengers’ laughter grew, though the sound diminished.

Puzzled, I turned to see a schoolgirl in uniform laughing with a purple face, her small hands clutching her throat, eyes filled with terror.

Realizing the “Spirit Flute’s” overwhelming power, I knew they were laughing too hard to breathe. But stopping would free Musashi, leading to disaster.

As I pondered, the girl suddenly went limp, collapsing to the floor, dead from suffocation.

Moments later, the laughter in the carriage began to wane, as passengers fell to the floor one after another, suffocating to death from their uncontrollable mirth.

In an instant, the only sounds left were Miyamoto Musashi’s laughter and the notes from my flute.

“Hahaha… you demon… you’ve killed more people… hahaha…” Musashi laughed angrily, his face twisted in a grimace of mirth.

Although I was forced into this situation, a pang of guilt still flashed through my heart at his words, causing the mirth in my tune to diminish.

But in a duel of masters, there could be no lapse in focus. That fleeting moment of guilt allowed Musashi to exploit the gap, breaking free from the control of the “Spirit Flute.”

“Die!” Musashi roared, flinging his short sword at me with a swift motion of his left hand.

Fortunately, my training kicked in. As soon as the short sword left his hand, I reacted, turning to block it with the flute without missing a note. The song continued, its seductive allure even more potent, immobilizing Musashi once again.

Seizing the opportunity, I shifted the flute from my lips and channeled my demonic energy through my hands. The “Spirit Flute” extended violently, piercing through Musashi’s left shoulder with a resounding crack, pinning him to the wall.

Not daring to be careless, I swept my right leg, kicking the short sword away, and pinned his right hand, which held the long sword, to the wall as well. Only then did I stop playing.

“To think that I, who have slain countless demons and never tasted defeat, would be captured by a mere boy’s sorcery. What a disgrace!” Musashi’s hands bled profusely, yet his voice remained strong, his eyes glaring at me with a desire to devour me whole.

“Sorcery? This flute is a divine artifact crafted by God! You should consider yourself fortunate to witness its power,” I said, patting his face with a smile.

Despite my words, I was inwardly relieved to have such a powerful artifact. Musashi’s strength was formidable, nearly on par with the Seven Lords, even without using his Devil eye. Defeating him would have been far more challenging if he had utilized it.

“Bah!” Musashi spat a thick, forceful glob of phlegm at me, which I easily dodged.

“Don’t be so angry. The game is over, and you can’t escape now. You might as well tell me who you are. I need to help my companions,” I said, bending to pick up the long sword lying on the ground.

I wasn’t too worried about Rahab’s situation, but the “Hell” spell I cast on Zicheng hadn’t been lifted yet. Prolonging it could harm his spirit.

“Shameless scoundrel, winning through dishonorable means,” Musashi growled, his eyes blazing.

“Haha, so what if I won dishonorably? The victor writes history. No matter what underhanded methods I used, a win is a win. You’re the one at my mercy now, not the other way around!” I smiled, gripping the long sword tightly and swinging it. Blood splattered the wall behind Musashi as I severed his left forearm, blood gushing like a fountain.

Musashi’s pupils dilated, the pain of losing his arm evident, but he remained composed.

I couldn’t help but applaud. “What a man! We agreed that if I won, you’d tell me everything. Who sent you to kill me? The Satanic Cult?”

With that, I moved the blade towards his thigh.

“Stop spouting nonsense! I am mortal enemies with those scum!” At the mention of the Satanic Cult, Musashi’s anger flared, making him forget his pain.

“Alright, alright. I mistook you for one of their allies because they’ve been hunting me. So, tell me who you really are,” I said, pausing my actions.

“I’d rather die than confess! Do what you will!” Musashi declared defiantly.

“You think I won’t kill you?” I laughed, thrusting the long sword into his chest.

Blood sprayed out, drenching me, but Musashi’s expression remained resolute.

I sneered, pulling the blade downward with force, splitting Musashi’s body in two. The excruciating pain made him howl.

“Enough with the torture, brat! I admit defeat. Just give me a swift death!” Musashi demanded, his voice weak from the cut in his windpipe.

I chuckled. “Sorry, but I enjoy tormenting others, watching their pained expressions.”

“Demon! The Demon Slayer Association will never let you go!” Musashi roared.

“So, you’re from the Demon Slayer Association? That obscure organization that hunts demons?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes, the Demon Slayer Association. We are your nemesis!” Musashi declared proudly.

“Nemesis? Let’s see who gets the last laugh!” I sneered, preparing to strike again when a clear male voice echoed through the carriage.

“To think the ‘Two-Eyed General’ would lose so disgracefully. Musashi, you’ve shamed the Demon Slayer Association.”

“Who’s there, skulking around?” I shouted, looking around but seeing no one. It seemed to be some kind of voice projection technique.

“Who’s skulking?” the voice replied coldly.

As I prepared a retort, a sense of danger struck me.

Following my instincts, I leapt back just as the carriage shook violently. A massive black shadow engulfed the front carriage, swallowing Musashi and the “Spirit Flute.”

I looked up in shock to see a three-story-tall beast outside the carriage, its body resembling a wolf and a tiger, covered in dense black fur. Its face was indistinct, except for a large red eye in the center, exuding malevolent energy—a Devil eye.

“To think the one who bested Musashi was a mere youth,” the clear voice spoke again.

I looked up to see a man in black Hanfu standing atop the beast, wielding a strange weapon.

His long black hair fluttered in the wind, his handsome face marred by a vertical blood scar on his forehead.

I guessed this was the one who had fought Rahab earlier.

“So, you were the one sneaking around earlier?” I asked with a smile.

“And you were the one boasting earlier?” the man retorted with a cold laugh.

“Haha, I didn’t expect the Demon Slayer Association to have such eloquent members,” I laughed, though I wondered why Rahab had let him come here.

“Hmph, I didn’t expect to meet a demon Musashi couldn’t kill,” the man replied coldly.

“There’s always a stronger demon. Musashi’s undefeated streak was just because he hadn’t met a real challenge,” I countered, though I knew Musashi’s strength was extraordinary. My words were just to provoke the man.

To my surprise, he nodded. “My adoptive father once said that though Musashi is peerless, there are at least five people in the world who can match him.”

“Your adoptive father is quite knowledgeable. So, what do you plan to do? Seek revenge for Musashi with that beast?” I asked with a relaxed smile, though I was worried. If this man was as strong as Musashi, I would struggle without the artifact.

Fortunately, the man shook his head. “Our combined strength is no match for Musashi. We wouldn’t win against you.”

As I breathed a sigh of relief, he continued, “Capturing a demon alive is enough for today. Your head can wait.”

Shocked, I realized he must have taken Zicheng during his fight with Rahab. “Let him go!” I shouted.

“If you have the skill, come take him. But in my thousands of years, no one has ever taken anything from me,” he said arrogantly, reaching into his robe.

When he raised his hand, he held a black object—Rahab!

Though Rahab was motionless, I could hear his heartbeat, indicating he was unconscious.

“Who… who are you?” I asked, horrified that he had captured Rahab.

“You don’t know who I am?” he asked, frowning. The blood scar on his forehead split open. “Wielding a three-pronged, double-edged blade, riding the Howling Celestial Dog, with a third eye on my forehead…”

“I am the ‘Three-Eyed General’ of the Demon Slayer Association, Erlang Shen, Yang Jian!” he declared proudly, the red eye in his forehead darting about, revealing itself as a Devil eye.