Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

۞ Ghost Hand ⟴ Spectral Swipe! ۞

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion shattered the tranquil sky, unleashing a violent shockwave that rippled through the air. The surrounding gunmen, caught in the blast radius, erupted into crimson sprays that painted the atmosphere.

The earth trembled with tremendous force, making it impossible to stand. The hardened assassins of the Matsushita Group stood paralyzed — awe and terror freezing them in place as they witnessed such overwhelming destructive power.

The Zombie Devil lurked in the shadows, its eyes gleaming with greed. "This one is extraordinary — stronger than all the Civilian Devil Hunters I've ever faced combined. If I could turn him into a Zombie, Chiba would remain in my grasp."

Its gaze fixed on the figure in the sky with visible excitement before commanding its elite Zombies to emerge.

Victory required just one touch. With its evolved infection ability, even the mightiest Devil Hunters couldn't resist the Zombie Virus.

The Matsushita Group's assassins snapped back to their senses and opened fire skyward.

Haruno, though briefly stunned, quickly rallied a counterattack. She coordinated with her team to unleash a barrage of concentrated gunfire, but their ammunition, despite being military-grade, simply ricocheted off the enhanced flesh of the elite Zombies without leaving so much as a scratch.

These creatures, transformed by the Zombie Devil, were nearly immortal — surging forward even with their heads and hearts destroyed.

Haruno and Yukino stood paralyzed by the sight.

What defense could work against such monsters? How had the Zombie Devil grown so powerful?

The Matsushita Group's leader, a bald one-eyed man, watched the unfolding chaos with fanatical glee. His single eye gleamed with a mix of terror and fascination at the supernatural display before him.

When he first encountered the Zombie Devil months ago, its power had been modest — even disappointing. Its transformed creatures were mere shambling corpses, so weak that even novice Devil Hunters could dispatch them easily. Simple headshots or severe trauma would fell these early zombies.

But as time passed, its strength grew tremendously, evolving beyond comprehension. The transformed Zombies developed immortal traits. The mid-stage ones proved especially troublesome, requiring complete destruction of both head and heart for permanent death. Even then, their remarkable regenerative abilities let them withstand devastating damage.

Now, in their latest evolution, they'd transcended even these weaknesses. These enhanced zombies fought on when reduced to pieces, their flesh knitting back together in grotesque displays of supernatural resilience.

The Zombie Devil remained the lynchpin of this horrific army — only its destruction would end these unstoppable creatures. This truth brought both hope and despair, for reaching the Devil through its endless horde seemed impossible.

"Hahahaha... Kill! Kill them all! The Matsushita Group will rule Chiba!" The leader's eyes blazed with visions of conquest.

The Zombie Devil's silent smile mocked the bald man's ravings.

Since it planned to abandon Chiba anyway, why not let chaos reign one final time? The Public Safety Devil Extermination Commission would arrive too late — it would be gone, leaving the Matsushita Group to face the consequences.

Would their leader object? Ha! They'd all signed contracts for power, but the price remained constant from the start.

That price was transformation into Zombies — true for every Devil Hunter who contracted with it, including the Matsushita Group's bald, one-eyed leader.

But what they didn't expect was that Daiki was even stronger than imagined.

"Daiki-kun!" Ichika cried out, her face contorted with terror at the sight of the Zombie horde.

She had thought such horrifying scenes existed only in movie theaters, yet here was an apocalyptic crisis unfolding before her eyes.

Daiki's gaze swept across the field as his Far Sight ability scanned the ground.

۞ Innate Technique ⟴ Dismantle! ۞

With a mere glance at the surging Zombies, he struck. Their bodies were silently cleaved in half at the waist, upper torsos sliding smoothly along the cross-section to the ground. Even the surrounding vegetation fell to his attack.

Before the gunmen could react, their screams pierced the air.

Daiki had launched but a single invisible slash at the ground. Yet because the gunmen stood at different heights, the cut struck them at various points — ankles, knees, thighs, or skulls. Each strike proved fatal.

The scene transformed into a bloody slaughterhouse, filled with agonized screams.

Haruno and Yukino watched with pale faces, unable to comprehend how Daiki had executed such swift destruction. The gunmen and zombies had simply crumpled before him.

The Civilian Devil Hunters recruited by the Yukinoshita family looked on in awe as the counterattack intensified.

Even the elegant Mrs. Yukinoshita stood shocked by the carnage. Yet amid her horror, she remembered their family's connection to this powerful figure.

But wasn't a mere monetary relationship too fragile? They needed something stronger to bind him to them!

Her eyes fell on Ichika in his arms.

Ah yes! Though Daiki's power was devastating enough to be called a human disaster, he was still just an inexperienced young man at heart. Surely he couldn't resist the charm of beautiful women.

And the Yukinoshita family had exactly that to offer — Haruno or Yukino. Whichever daughter caught his eye would secure their family's safety. At least this area of Chiba would remain protected.

Hidden among the Zombies, the Matsushita Group's leader stood dumbfounded as the previously silent Zombie Devil spoke.

"Wonderful! He will become my most elite Zombie! Matsushita, go kill that guy! I will grant you supreme power!" The Zombie Devil's burning gaze fixed on the Matsushita Group's leader.

"Huh? Me?" The bald one-eyed man pointed at himself in disbelief.

This was asking too much of him. He surveyed the hellscape before him, then glanced down at his "frail" physique.

This was a death sentence — he'd be annihilated before getting anywhere near his target!

"What? Don't you want supreme power?" The Zombie Devil's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Devil Lord, couldn't you grant me the supreme power first, then I'll deal with him?" The bald one-eyed man forced a grimace worse than crying.

The Zombie Devil's gaze turned cold, and the bald man erupted in an agonized scream.

His flesh twisted grotesquely — eyes turning deathly blue, neck and spine bending sideways — as he transformed into Zombie form. The bald one-eyed man stared at the Devil with bulging eyes, having underestimated its cunning, though this outcome was predictable.

Making a contract with a Devil was like sleeping beside tigers. The contracts held no true binding power — Devils fulfilled them purely on whim. When facing formidable enemies, they would readily abandon their contractors.

"Just a little more! I can evolve again and reach the threshold of a Primal Fear! All the humans in Chiba will help me advance!" Its mouth split open as the bisected zombies began to move again.

The Matsushita Group leader's screams joined the chorus of wailing.

Daiki pinpointed the Zombie Devil by its distinct scream. Its powerful, violent presence set it apart from ordinary Devils.

"As expected, the Zombie Devil must have devoured one of Sukuna's fingers. No, not just one finger — there's something else too."

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