pillar man 2.0

Chapter 40: Illusory Fight, Part 1

While Takeshi was being judged for his crimes, a strange mark appeared on his palm. The clearer it became, the angrier he got, but in the end, it faded away, as if lacking the energy to fully manifest. (Author's note: What could this mark be? Muahahaha, evil author laugh.)

**Huitzi's Point of View**

"After showing my new technique to Kokushibo, he was shocked. Literally." Huitzi chuckled at his own internal joke.

"What are you laughing at, my lord?" Kokushibo asked, momentarily shifting his focus from the run.

"It's nothing, just a joke," Huitzi replied, still wearing a wide grin.

Hearing this, Kokushibo fell silent once again, but that silence was broken by Soloctis, who was cradled in Kokushibo's arms.

"My lord, is it truly necessary to bring Soloctis with us?" Kokushibo questioned.

"After last time, I don't want to leave him alone. You know he doesn't do well with strangers," Huitzi answered, his mind flashing back to the scene of Soloctis being taken by an oni. His fist clenched as he recalled it.

"Damn Upper Moon, I'll kill you for sure. How dare you try to take my little sun. *Sigh*, I need to calm down, or this will affect my fighting." Huitzi shifted his thoughts to other matters to regain composure, eventually reflecting on Soloctis's behavior.

"Soloctis seems quite shy. I've heard him speak several times these past few days, but never to Kokushibo. In fact, Soloctis never speaks when new people are around. That's how our relationship started too, but now he trusts me—not Kokushibo. This will be a problem. I want him to be a king. How can a king fear speaking to others? But that's a problem for the future."

Huitzi snapped out of his thoughts as they neared their destination: Murasato, a city some distance from Hamagane, the port/merchant town where Huitzi had been.

Murasato lay about a few hours' run for a vampire. The city had little contact with the outside world in recent weeks, its situation eerily similar to the first city Huitzi had visited. This was where the Upper Moon was said to be hiding, according to Nobunaga.

"Let's go in and search for the Upper Moon," Huitzi commanded as they approached the city in silence.

The outskirts of Murasato were quiet. Too quiet. Not even the animals seemed willing to venture near. Soloctis was silent too, as though his instincts urged him to stay quiet.

The closer the trio got, the more sinister the atmosphere became. The howling winds seemed to carry the laments of the miserable.

"Hey, Nobunaga, do you know where the Upper Moon is?" Huitzi asked mentally.

"Yes, sir. She's currently in the chief's house—it's the largest one, easy to spot," Nobunaga replied.

Huitzi relayed this to Kokushibo, and the two entered the city.

The place looked normal, but Huitzi and Kokushibo's keen sense of smell picked up the stench of blood. Someone had definitely died recently.

With Nobunaga's help—his numerous rat spies now proving invaluable—Huitzi avoided the oni guards, who seemed like farmers tending their cattle.

"Lord Nosferatu, it's impossible to fall more in love with you. The Upper Moon's house is heavily guarded," Nobunaga quipped as they got closer.

"Kokushibo, stay out of this fight. At most, try to keep the oni from entering the house, but prioritize your safety and Soloctis's," Huitzi instructed firmly.

Kokushibo nodded, and Huitzi advanced toward the Upper Moon's house.

The house had a dark, foreboding aura that would send shivers down any normal person's spine.

Upon entering, Huitzi found no one but could hear the sounds of battle outside—undoubtedly Kokushibo.

Huitzi searched room by room but found nothing. Minutes later, as he approached a random room, the wall suddenly shattered, and a fist came flying toward him.

On instinct, Huitzi raised his arm to block. His arm broke from the impact, and he was thrown back.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Upper Bitch I most wanted to kill," Huitzi taunted, aiming to irritate the Upper Moon and break her focus.

Before him stood a woman with jet-black hair and pale skin.

The Upper Moon said nothing and launched her Demon Art—a sharp, high-pitched sound emanated from her body.

Suddenly, Huitzi saw her multiply before his eyes.

"Clones? But isn't that another Upper Moon's ability? And who is she? I don't recall seeing her in the original series."

Before he could react, the clones all lunged at him. Huitzi braced himself, but as one was about to strike, the distance seemed to stretch infinitely, and the punch never landed.

Distracted by this, Huitzi failed to notice a clone approach from the side, slashing him with claws. His arm was torn apart, but his quick reflexes saved it from being completely severed.

The Upper Moon retreated into the crowd of clones, making it impossible for Huitzi to identify the real one.

"Damn it, what was that just now?" he cursed internally.

This time, Huitzi attacked first, but again, the same infinite distance appeared. Another attack came from behind, but this time, Huitzi was prepared and countered with a bone bullet, hitting the clone.

He grinned, only for his smile to fade as the clone vanished into thin air. The bone bullet reappeared, lodged in a wall where the clone had been.

"They're just illusions... but where's the real one?"

Huitzi was attacked again and allowed himself to be hit, trying to understand why some attacks connected while others didn't.

All the while, the clones remained eerily silent.

Finally, Huitzi formulated a plan to counter the illusion.

Author's Note:I'll explain more about the Demon Art in the next chapter, but let me just say—if this Demon Art were used to its full potential, very few could defeat it.

One of those few is Yoriichi, but only because his body counterattacks instinctively, independent of his awareness. That's the only reason he'd win—he couldn't perceive it either.

Also, sorry for the jokes—I was feeling like a comedian while writing this 🤣😭

End of Chapter