Danmachi: Bell Gojo

The halls of the Infinity Castle were eerily quiet, save for the echoing footsteps of a lone Demon Slayer navigating its labyrinthine corridors. The young man's breaths came in measured beats, his grip on his katana firm but slick with sweat. He had been sent ahead to scout, but an oppressive aura, suffocating and cold, suddenly filled the space.

Before he could react, a glint of steel flashed in the darkness. The Slayer barely registered the movement as his right arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder. He screamed in agony, the sound reverberating through the castle like a death knell.

A figure stepped into view, his presence casting a shadow darker than the void around him. Kokushibo, the Upper Rank One, towered over the trembling Slayer. His six golden eyes glinted like eerie lanterns in the dark, and his katana, a grotesque fusion of flesh and blade, pulsed as if alive.

"Your resolve is admirable," Kokushibo said in a voice as calm as a still night. "But resolve without power is meaningless."

The Slayer tried to raise his remaining arm, katana shaking, but Kokushibo didn't give him the chance. In one fluid motion, the Upper Moon brought his blade down in a diagonal arc, slicing the Slayer cleanly from head to toe. The body fell apart in two grotesque halves, blood pooling at Kokushibo's feet.

"How brutal," came a voice, smooth and almost amused.

Kokushibo turned, his six eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the shadows. Bell Cranel stood there, his expression a mix of curiosity and quiet disdain as his gaze lingered on the mutilated body.

"Upper Moon One," Bell said, his voice measured. "Quite the dramatic entrance. And here I thought you'd be more... refined."

Kokushibo's gaze bore into him, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of menace. "Refinement is wasted on those who lack strength. Only the powerful are deserving of survival."

Bell tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Strength, you say? And yet, here you are, raving like a man clinging to a superiority complex. Tell me, does that blade of yours whisper sweet nothings to you, or is it just your ego?"

Kokushibo's grip on his katana tightened, his golden eyes glinting with anger. "You will regret your insolence, human. The Moons are superior to all—humans and demons alike. You stand before perfection incarnate."

Bell chuckled, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. "If this is perfection, I'll gladly remain flawed."

The space between them vanished in an instant as Kokushibo lunged, his blade arcing toward Bell with a speed that could shear the air itself. But Bell was already gone. Kokushibo's katana cleaved through the spot where Bell had stood, the force of the swing splitting the ground in two.

Bell reappeared behind him, his own katana already slicing through Kokushibo's wrists. The Upper Moon's hands, still gripping his sword, fell to the ground.

For the first time in centuries, Kokushibo's composure faltered. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stumbled back, black blood spurting from his severed wrists.

"You..." Kokushibo growled, regenerating his hands with startling speed. "You're holding back."

Bell's smirk deepened, his stance relaxed yet precise. "Wouldn't want to overwhelm you too quickly. It wouldn't be fair, now would it?"

Kokushibo roared, his katana morphing grotesquely as countless crescent-shaped blades sprouted from its length. He swung the weapon with deadly precision, each strike unleashing waves of crescent slashes that shredded the air and carved into the walls.

Bell dodged effortlessly, his movements a blur of grace and precision. Each slash missed him by mere inches, but his expression remained calm, almost bored.

"You're all power, no finesse," Bell remarked, his voice cutting through the cacophony of destruction. "It's like watching a brute swing wildly, hoping to land a lucky hit."

Kokushibo's fury intensified, his attacks growing more relentless. He surged forward, his katana clashing against Bell's in a shower of sparks. The force of the impact cracked the floor beneath them, but Bell held firm, his blade steady.

"Is this the extent of the Upper Moon One's strength?" Bell taunted, parrying a strike and countering with a swift slash that severed Kokushibo's left leg.

The demon staggered, his leg regenerating almost instantly. His six eyes blazed with fury as he snarled, "You dare mock me?! I am Kokushibo, the pinnacle of power! You are nothing but a mortal who dares to play at being strong!"

Bell's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading. "And you're nothing but a relic clinging to a past that no longer matters."

Kokushibo's aura darkened, the oppressive weight of his power suffocating the space around them. His body pulsed with energy as his katana twisted and morphed further, its grotesque form radiating an aura of malevolence.

"You've pushed me far enough," Kokushibo said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now, I'll show you the true difference between us."

He vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Bell with his blade already swinging. Bell turned just in time, his katana meeting Kokushibo's in a deafening clash. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the hall, shattering walls and sending debris flying.

Bell gritted his teeth, the sheer power behind Kokushibo's strikes forcing him to dig his heels into the ground to hold his stance.

"Not bad," Bell admitted, pushing back against the demon's blade. "But you'll need more than raw power to beat me."

Kokushibo roared, his attacks becoming a whirlwind of crescent slashes and relentless strikes. Bell dodged and parried with incredible precision, his movements fluid and calculated.

The battle raged on, the chamber now unrecognizable from the destruction. Kokushibo's strikes became more feral, his frustration evident as Bell continued to evade and counter with startling ease.

"You're toying with me!" Kokushibo snarled, his voice laced with desperation.

Bell's gaze hardened, his smirk replaced by a look of determination. "I'm showing you the difference between true strength and blind arrogance."

With a sudden burst of speed, Bell surged forward, his katana slicing through Kokushibo's torso. The demon stumbled, black blood staining the ground as he clutched his wound.

"You..." Kokushibo hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you—"

Bell silenced him with a piercing glare, his katana poised for another strike. "Your time is over, Kokushibo. Let's end this."

To Be Continued...