From Demon Slayer to the Multiverse: The Ultimate Exploiter

As Tong Gu stepped out of the venue, the suffocating tension in his chest began to ease.

Yang Yuanping, who hadn't been invited and had no reason to attend, somehow appeared nearby. He took a drag from his cigarette, clearly aware of the events inside, and commented,

"You know, acting like this might give people the impression that you're arrogant… Many won't like it."

Hearing this, Tong Gu smirked indifferently.

"What gave you the illusion that I care about appearing humble? Most of the time, I just don't bother."

Yang Yuanping looked at Tong Gu in surprise. This tall young man seemed almost unfamiliar now. Before he could say more, a cold, hostile voice interrupted them.

"Yang Yuanping, so it is you…"

Wu Guangzhi had also left the venue, his face dark as he stared at Yang Yuanping.

Yang Yuanping dropped his pretense, his tone dripping with mockery.

"What's this? Not calling me 'Brother Yuanping' anymore?"

Yang Yuanping had once been part of the Fallen Street crowd. But unlike the others, his outlook changed drastically during his first mission in the World of Titans. Witnessing members of the Survey Corps risk their lives despite the constant threat of death profoundly moved him. From then on, he worked tirelessly, learning from every player he encountered until the Dongxia Abnormal Bureau noticed him. That marked his departure from Fallen Street and his break from figures like Old Ma and Wu Guangzhi.

Wu Guangzhi glared at Yang Yuanping, his hatred palpable. With a flick of his thoughts, Yang Yuanping's cigarette crumbled into ash.

"Even after escaping Fallen Street, you dare turn against us?"

Yet Yang Yuanping appeared unfazed, holding his fingers as if the cigarette were still there. He stared back at Wu Guangzhi with calm defiance.

"Guangzhi, without that thing, you'd never have become the so-called powerful and mysterious 'Shaman King.'"

Wu Guangzhi's expression darkened. How had these people uncovered his secret? Had they somehow encountered someone capable of exposing him?

Tong Gu shifted his gaze from the massive shadow that had slithered into the sewers, locking eyes with Wu Guangzhi. He asked casually,

"That was a cursed spirit, wasn't it? What grade? Grade Two? Grade One? Or… Special Grade?"

Wu Guangzhi's face twisted with shock. He stared at Tong Gu, realizing for the first time the terrifying potential of this Exploiter and newly-minted S-Rank Awakened. After only two missions, Tong Gu could already perceive cursed spirits. Didn't this mean he was knocking on the door of Black Iron-tier abilities? Worse still, it was the energy system most dreaded by Wu Guangzhi and his backers: one tied to the soul.

Wu Guangzhi's face twitched as he struggled to suppress the murderous intent welling up within him. Yet the S-Rank designation surrounding Tong Gu was a massive shield. Dongxia's upper echelons might disagree on the best path for humanity's survival, but S-Rank Awakened individuals were universally seen as invaluable. No one would tolerate harm coming to one over petty disputes.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Guangzhi forced a grim smile and approached Tong Gu. Yang Yuanping tensed, his energy flaring up instinctively. But Wu Guangzhi made no move against Tong Gu, brushing past him instead.

"Tong Gu, friendships forged on Fallen Street aren't something you can accept or discard at will…"

Tong Gu didn't bother responding to the low-grade threat, not even with a change in expression. Soon, he would ascend to Black Iron-tier. Wu Guangzhi, who had stumbled into his abilities by sheer luck during a mission in Academy City, would be nothing more than a minor obstacle he could crush with ease.

Yet it was these "minor figures" who used their petty schemes to harm countless innocent people. Just as Wu Guangzhi was boarding his car, Tong Gu crouched and asked aloud,

"Xiao Ling, was this the man you saw that day?"

Wu Guangzhi froze in place, his head snapping back in disbelief. Tong Gu, crouched on the ground, appeared to be conversing with someone invisible. When he looked up at Wu Guangzhi, his gaze was filled with certainty.

He can really see spirits. He's awakened to that kind of power!

Although Xiao Ling couldn't leave the building where she was bound, Tong Gu's ruse had worked perfectly. From Wu Guangzhi's reaction, Tong Gu had confirmed the truth.

So it really was you, Wu Guangzhi… the so-called "Shaman King."

The two men locked eyes, their mutual killing intent palpable.

---

Gong Li stepped out of the venue and drove over to pick up the two men. This time, Yang Yuanping sat in the passenger seat, while Tong Gu sat alone in the back, his head lowered, making it difficult to read his expression.

Sensing the faint trace of killing intent emanating from Tong Gu, Yang Yuanping voiced his concern:

"Tong Gu, even without that 'thing' aiding him, Wu Guangzhi is a genuine Black Iron-Tier player and a formidable psychic. Moreover, regardless of strength, even as an S-rank Awakened, conducting a vigilante trial against a Black Iron-Tier player without evidence isn't permissible."

Tong Gu, as if not hearing him, continued to fiddle with a unique Log Pose and a golden bracelet in his hands.

[Item: Log Pose - Demon Slayer World (Recorded)]

[Quality: Blue]

[Description: A specialized recording compass from the One Piece world, capable of marking locations based on residual energies.]

[Effect 1: In the One Piece world, it can repeatedly record island coordinates.]

[Effect 2: When in contact with items from specific worlds, it can log that world's coordinates. After a single use, the compass will shatter.]

After more than a week, the compass had successfully completed its recording.

[Item: Agony of Paradise (Cursed)]

[Quality: Green]

[Description: Born from the infernal hell of "bliss," this bracelet absorbs the endless agony of an innocent girl, carrying her desperate longing for release.]

[Effect 1: Once per day, it can absorb all of a target's pain for five minutes.]

[Effect 2: The collected torment can be unleashed in one burst upon a target, inflicting immense suffering.]

[Effect 3 (Curse - Diminishing): Imbued with the girl's dying wish, the bracelet guides its wielder toward an inevitable encounter with Doma.]

The curse's potency was steadily weakening, fading as it left the Demon Slayer world. This type of fate-bound curse would eventually dissipate. Yet, while the item's curse might vanish, the scars of human pain remained indelible.

"If we can't even resolve the curses and tragedies of task worlds," Tong Gu thought grimly, "how can we hope to address the suffering and injustice of the real world?"

Having made up his mind, Tong Gu finally spoke:

"My next destination will be the Demon Slayer world."

Gong Li and Yang Yuanping exchanged worried glances. Attempting to fully clear the Demon Slayer world after only one intervening task seemed reckless.

"If he fails," they silently acknowledged, "it could deal a devastating blow to public confidence and the prestige of the [Exploiter] organization."

---

On Fallen Street, Wu Guangzhi returned to his residence, driving everyone else away before making a phone call.

"I apologize deeply. We failed to secure auxiliary jurisdiction over the Amber District. It seems the authorities are aware of your identity…"

There was only silence on the other end of the line. Wu Guangzhi's forehead dripped with cold sweat. Suddenly, the television turned on by itself, its screen flickering. Before he could react, the image shifted to a desolate, bone-dry well.

A creeping horror enveloped him. He felt a slimy, cold sensation slithering across his skin, sending shivers down his spine. From within the well on the screen, a white figure slowly emerged, its movements unnatural and jerky. Wu Guangzhi wanted to activate his psychic powers but found himself paralyzed, unable to do anything but watch as the figure crawled out of the screen, inch by inch.

Just as his heart pounded to the verge of bursting, a woman's laugh shattered the oppressive atmosphere. The slimy sensation vanished, and Wu Guangzhi collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.

The figure's face twisted and shifted before settling into the visage of a woman with strikingly exotic features.

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