From Demon Slayer to the Multiverse: The Ultimate Exploiter

Guo Dengyuan, born with a frail constitution, had always been a master of online exploration. In addition to popular sites like Destiny Forum and Blitzstation, he often used special software to access hidden websites.

Anshui was a moderately well-known information hub among his circle of internet-savvy wanderers. Its servers' mysterious location had allowed it to remain operational for years, gradually becoming a melting pot of various intelligence.

Messages that couldn't appear on mainstream platforms—covert government warnings, dangerous weapon transactions, and even hired assassinations—frequently surfaced there.

Of course, navigating this space required a sharp eye for separating rumors from scams.

Although Guo Dengyuan had the means, he never left comments or engaged with posts on the site. He treated it strictly as a window into the world's secrets and rumors, nothing more.

Today, whether due to a sluggish internet connection or the site being overloaded, logging in was unusually slow. Eventually, the page loaded, but a single glance at the homepage made Guo's face pale.

"Red Spirit Live Announcement: We will kill Dongxia's newly ranked S-Class, the Suppressor Tong Gu, in our next broadcast."

The post, marked with a striking red header, was pinned at the top. Thanks to the site's built-in language translation feature, Guo couldn't determine the original language of the post.

Guo had heard of Red Spirit before—an infamous team on this site, notorious for live-streaming dangerous global missions. Although their members often suffered casualties, they always managed to quickly recruit replacements.

An S-Class operative was a rarity in any country, and the title immediately drew a flood of onlookers. The post included a link, which Guo clicked. The browser quickly redirected to an unknown live-streaming platform. The person broadcasting clearly had substantial backing, equipped with the latest Stargazer super hardware.

The stream showed a school under ominously dark skies. The camera was positioned on the rooftop of one building, which was trembling violently.

Boom!

In an instant, the building collapsed. From its ruins emerged a massive green creature over ten stories tall, roaring skyward.

Woooooaaah!

The strange howl rippled through the air.

Guo quickly adjusted the camera angle and spotted the streamer: a young man in a black suit with a red tie. His well-groomed hair gave him more the appearance of a professional manager than a player.

"Holy crap, that thing's massive!"

"Nothing short of advanced tech could take it down."

"This is a Black-Iron class world with an energy system. Who needs advanced tech here?"

The chat exploded as Guo shifted the camera toward the rubble. There, he saw three figures—two men and one woman—standing on the schoolyard below. One was tall, wearing a brown trench coat. It was none other than the Exploiter Tong Gu!

"It really is the Exploiter!"

"How did Red Spirit predict this encounter?"

"Rumor has it Red Spirit has ties to the Deathbringers…"

The chat was closely monitored, and accounts leaking key information were quickly muted. Guo's anxiety grew. If he remembered correctly, Tong Gu hadn't yet undergone the Black-Iron Trial...

Meanwhile, reports of the attack surfaced on Destiny Forum, spreading like wildfire despite swift deletions. News of an unidentified team targeting the Exploiter shook the internet.

---

On the ground, Tong Gu took note of the enormous cursed spirit's grotesque form. However, he remained calm, knowing the current stage of events. This creature wasn't a real threat.

After all, Gojo Satoru was outside, watching everything unfold. And should Yuta Okkotsu face danger, the special-grade cursed spirit Rika would manifest. That, Tong Gu thought, was the real crisis he needed to prepare for.

Yuta, unaware of Tong Gu's identity, sensed no hostility from him. In fact, Tong Gu had shielded Yuta from the shattered glass as they exited the building together.

"Uh…"

Before Yuta could express his gratitude, Maki Zen'in stepped in, her spear raised. The mysterious man gave her an uneasy feeling, and she could tell his physical and swordsmanship abilities were on par, if not superior, to hers.

"Who are you? There shouldn't be anyone else here!"

Tong Gu, not wanting to escalate tensions, took two steps back to show he meant no harm.

"I came to pick up my brother from school, but a black curtain surrounded us. That's when I saw those monsters."

Maki remained vigilant, but the massive cursed spirit didn't give them more time to talk. With a deafening roar, it lunged downward.

Tong Gu pushed off the ground, leaping backward.

Boom!

The cursed spirit's sheer size gave it terrifying destructive power, despite its lack of intelligence or advanced techniques. Dust filled the air as debris flew everywhere. Tong Gu waved his hand, clearing his line of sight.

Maki, an experienced fighter, dodged the attack and leaped onto the cursed spirit's body. With her spear stabbing into its neck, she avoided its flailing attacks and continued creating new wounds.

Yuta watched, marveling at Maki's precision and relentless assault. She was like a sharp blade, unwavering and unstoppable.

Unfortunately, this cursed spirit wasn't meant for Maki. It was left by Gojo as a test for Yuta—and for Rika. No matter how many injuries Maki inflicted, they were ultimately ineffective.

The spirit, realizing it couldn't be hurt, burrowed underground with a roar. Maki nimbly landed back on the ground as the earth trembled violently.

Unable to sense the spirit, Maki turned to Yuta.

"Where is it now?"

Yuta, despite his immense cursed energy, lacked combat experience. Confused, he pointed below his feet.

"Here, I think…"

Maki's face turned pale. She dashed forward, grabbing Yuta just as the ground split open.

Boom!

The green cursed spirit erupted, swallowing both Maki and Yuta whole.

---

On the rooftop, the Red Spirit observer frowned as Tong Gu remained motionless, allowing two key characters to be devoured.

"Is he frozen with fear, or does he know what comes next?"

His organization had spent millions and countless lives gathering information on this event. How did Tong Gu—a self-proclaimed Exploiter—know the script?

Could the Game of Fate really have a "closed beta"?

Watching the cursed spirit devour its prey, Tong Gu smirked. Breathing deeply, his muscles bulged with power. In a world with Gojo Satoru, there was always an "optimal solution."

Raising his arms, he gathered an overwhelming energy.

"Earth Breathing: First Form—Hell Gate!"

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