Shinazugawa Sanemi swept through the entire Buddhist hall in an instant, like a raging hurricane!
The markings on his cheeks radiated waves of heat, veins bulged on his forehead, his wild white hair stood on end, and his eyes burned with a fierce will to fight.
The intricate, complex pathways of the Infinity Castle had wasted a great deal of Sanemi's time.
If his Kasugai Crow, Sourai, hadn't found him, he had no idea how much longer he would have wandered around aimlessly.
The excessive waste of time, coupled with learning from his crow about the Demon Slayer Corps' difficult battles within the Infinity Castle, had long since sent Sanemi into a burning rage.
He didn't waste a single word, not even taking a moment to properly look at the Kocho sisters.
The moment he burst into the Buddhist hall, he raised his Nichirin Blade, his target was clear—Doma!
"Wind Breathing, Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree!"
Three massive, intersecting, cyan wind blades tore through the air, instantly grinding the ice crystals ahead, and even the two Crystalline Divine Children, into powder.
The force of the attack was so ferocious that when it struck the colossal Rime Water Lily Bodhisattva, it left a series of cracks upon its massive icy body!
"Hm?" A flash of surprise crossed Doma's rainbow-colored eyes, which then transformed into even deeper interest and pity.
"Oh my, what a short-tempered guest. You seem quite strong. What a shame. I only want to be friends with pretty, cute girls. For a boy like you, and a rather brutish-looking one at that, you really don't whet my appetite~"
As he spoke, Doma lightly waved the golden fans in his hands, directly fanning out a large, thick, crystalline arc of ice blades.
Boom!
Sanemi returned the favor in kind.
Several wind blades collided violently with the ice blades, creating a piercing explosion!
In the end, Sanemi landed steadily, positioning himself in front of the teetering Kocho sisters.
"Hey! Kocho! Can you still move?!" Sanemi roared without turning his head.
His voice was rough, yet it carried a hint of concern.
Although he had called out for "Kocho," Shinobu was quite certain he wasn't calling for her.
"Sanemi-san..." Kanae barely managed to support herself, offering a weak smile. "We're fine... Be careful. This demon is incredibly strong, and the temperature in the air is causing severe damage to our lungs."
"Hmph! Leave this sissy to me! You two fall back." Sanemi cracked his neck, producing a series of popping sounds.
Although Kanae said she was fine, her deathly pale face and the blood at the corner of her mouth pushed Sanemi's fury to its peak!
"You damn bastard, injuring Kocho this badly! Now it's my turn to send you to hell! Wind Breathing, Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind!"
Sanemi took the offensive.
His Nichirin Blade transformed into a series of violent, hurricane-like slashes, charging straight for Doma with immense power and an overwhelming presence, as if intending to tear the entire Buddhist hall apart!
The false smile on Doma's face faded slightly.
He could sense that this newcomer was indeed stronger than any Demon Slayer he had ever met.
Moreover, the man's Wind Breathing seemed to have a certain suppressive effect on his Blood Demon Art.
"How troublesome," Doma sighed, his figure drifting backward like a phantom as he continuously waved his golden fans.
"But, I still have to complete the new boss's mission. Perhaps, after the battle, I might be interested in trying the flesh of my first boy. Blood Demon Art: Spreading Lotuses!"
...
Sword glints flashed everywhere!
Sabito and Giyuu moved like two fish swimming against the current, rapidly crisscrossing and separating across the complex rooftops and verandas.
Their Nichirin Blades flowed with the azure light of Water Breathing, their auras powerful yet gentle.
But their opponent forced them to hold back.
Although the red tengu mask concealed most of his face, the turbid and cold demon eyes peering through the mask's eyeholes, the familiar, old-yet-clean hunting clothes, and the Water Breathing techniques—so masterfully executed with every move and inherited from the same lineage as theirs—were all tearing Sabito and Giyuu's hearts to shreds.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
The demonized Urokodaki swung his blade, unleashing layers upon layers of tidal slashes.
The power was in no way inferior to his prime, but the slashes were now laced with a sinister, cold demonic energy.
Sabito gritted his teeth and unleashed Striking Tide as well.
The two tides from the same source collided in mid-air, canceling each other out and exploding into a sky full of mist.
"Master..." Sabito's voice was filled with pain. "Look at us! I'm Sabito! And that's Giyuu! Why? How did you become like this?"
The demonized Urokodaki's movements seemed to freeze for an instant.
A strange, guttural "Hgh... hgh..." sound came from his throat under the mask, as if he were struggling.
But soon, a denser demonic energy surged through him, and he swung his blade to attack once more, aiming for Sabito's throat!
"Sabito! Watch out!" Giyuu flashed in front of Sabito to block. "Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
A single point of cold light struck faster than the attack it met, precisely hitting the tip of the demonized Urokodaki's blade and deflecting it.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, their breathing somewhat ragged as they watched their master, who had been knocked back.
It wasn't due to physical exhaustion, but to mental anguish.
"Giyuu... we..." Sabito looked at their master, who was once again assuming a ready stance with his eyes locked on them. His voice was hoarse.
"We can't... we can't really bring ourselves to kill Master..."
Giyuu remained silent, but the hand holding his blade trembled slightly.
He was not good at expressing himself, but his inner pain was no less than Sabito's, perhaps even greater.
To him, Urokodaki Sakonji was not just a master, but the salvation that had pulled him out of the abyss of self-exile.
And now, they had to cross blades...
...
Thunder boomed in the distance.
Dark purple lightning, carrying a destructive aura, tore through the darkness, illuminating a dilapidated corridor in a deathly white light.
"Hinokami Kagura: Waltz!"
Tanjiro's figure transformed into a red flash of fire.
A crimson, arcing slash carrying high heat cut toward the short but terrifyingly imposing demonic figure—the demonized Kuwajima Jigoro.
However, the demonized Jigoro merely leaned slightly to the side.
With a light tap of his Nichirin Blade, which was wreathed in dark purple lightning, he precisely struck the body of Tanjiro's blade!
Clang—!
An immense force traveled through the blade.
A sharp pain shot through the web of Tanjiro's thumb, and he nearly lost his grip on his Nichirin Blade.
He was sent flying backward, crashing through a wooden wall.
"Hey! Tanpachiro! You okay?!" Inosuke roared, charging out from the side and slashing wildly with his dual blades.
"Beast Breathing, Second Fang: Rip and Tear!"
But when his dual blades struck the demonized Jigoro's seemingly withered body, they produced the clang of metal on metal, leaving only faint white marks.
"It's useless! Useless!" Kaigaku shrieked from behind a fallen pillar, his face pale and his voice sharp with terror.
"That's my master! The former Thunder Hashira! He's become a demon now, how could we possibly beat him?! We should look for a chance to run!"
"Kaigaku-senpai!" Zenitsu's eyes widened in anger. "How can you say that? Master taught us never to be afraid and never to retreat! I! I will fight!"
With that, Zenitsu forced down his fear, resolutely raised his Nichirin Blade, and aimed it at the master he respected most.
"Master! No matter who did this to you, I swear! I will never forgive them!"
In an instant, golden lightning enveloped Zenitsu's entire body!
'Fight? Or just get myself killed?' Kaigaku's eyes flickered.
He looked at Zenitsu, then at the terrifying demonic figure ahead.
A venomous thought began to sprout in his mind.
If... if that good-for-nothing Zenitsu went to draw the master attention, would he have a chance...
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