As Akuma lay in the cave, a demon-mutated Kasugai Crow flew in through the entrance, its eerie red eyes glowing in the dim light. With a raspy croak, it dropped a scroll onto Akuma's lap before flapping its wings and vanishing into the darkness. Groggily, Akuma picked up the scroll and unravelled it. The familiar handwriting of Yoriichi Tsugikuni greeted him.
To Akuma Beelzebub,
I send you a warning: There is a boy in the demon forest who is the son of the clan head and an unknown woman from the Leviathan Clan. Be wary. The Leviathan Clan possesses unique traits that make them formidable. When submerged in water, they regenerate at an accelerated rate. Their bodies are coated in a dense layer of abyssal ichor, rendering them highly resistant to slashing attacks. Unlike typical demons, they do not drown; instead, they thrive underwater, moving at superhuman speeds and manipulating water pressure to crush opponents. They are also highly resistant to conventional poisons due to their evolved bloodstream. However, their greatest weakness is extreme heat and fire-based techniques—Sun Breathing will be most effective against them.
Akuma let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. He tilted his head back against the cold stone of the cave and muttered, "Just fucking great for me, isn't it?" Sarcasm dripped from his words as he crumpled the scroll and shoved it into his robe.
Rising to his feet, he stretched before stepping out into the moonlit forest. The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic—blood? He brushed off the thought and wandered deeper into the forest, eventually finding himself near a cascading acid waterfall. The strange, bubbling liquid shimmered under the moonlight, its fumes creating a faint haze in the air.
On the other side of the stream, a lone figure stood. A girl with long, flowing hair that obscured her face. Her stance was poised but cautious. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm yet deliberate.
"You know, in Hell, there is no water," she said, almost wistfully. "Only acid. So we demons drink weaker acid just to survive."
Akuma looked up at the full moon, his expression unreadable. "Yeah," he murmured in a somber tone, lost in thought.
The girl continued, her voice laced with something akin to determination. "The demon race is in chaos. The clans are at war, and the stronger ones have begun exterminating the weaker races and minor clans." She paused, then, almost hesitantly, added, "I want to bring peace to Hell."
Akuma froze for a second before he let out a sudden, uncontrollable laugh. It was loud, obnoxious, and absolutely ridiculous. He clutched his stomach as he wheezed out, "Peace... in Hell?! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"
The girl remained still, unshaken by his reaction. "If you're going to mock me, at least explain why you don't believe in it," she said, her voice steady but firm.
Akuma exhaled sharply, his laughter fading. He turned serious, his golden eyes locking onto her hidden face. "You can't," he said bluntly. "Because it's impossible. The human world having peace? Fine. Heaven having peace? Expected. Some alien planet? Sure, whatever. But Hell? Hell needs chaos. If Heaven is order, then Hell must be chaos. That's how the universe stays in balance."
The girl remained silent, seemingly absorbing his words.
"Besides," Akuma added, stretching his arms, "it's getting late. Get some rest. Tomorrow, your head might just be at the end of my blade."
With that, he turned on his heel and made his way back to the cave, a small smirk playing on his lips. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
"Peace in Hell... what a fool."