Black Fang burst out laughing, "Hahaha, don't even think about it. I'm not giving you a chance. I'm killing you right now."
"Look at you, with your head pinned to the wall by my blade. Trying to regrow your body from the head alone will take a long time."
"But you're trying to remotely control your body, huh? Don't be stupid. I only let you try so I could give you hope, then crush it."
"I've been a demon for decades. It's not like I've never been decapitated. You think I wouldn't notice your little tricks?"
"Feels like shit, doesn't it? Thought you had a shot, but turns out I saw through you from the beginning."
"I gave you a chance, but you couldn't even use it."
"Haha, now die in despair."
As he spoke, Black Fang stepped forward. The massive blade that had pinned Kamado Asaki's head to the wall dissolved into blood-red energy and was absorbed back into his body.
Black Fang grabbed Asaki's head with one hand and began slamming it over and over into the solid stone wall of the cave, hard.
He wanted to torture the little brat until sunrise, letting him die in agony.
The repeated impacts made Asaki's consciousness blur, and the tenuous control he had finally gained over his body disappeared again.
But right then, a soft voice echoed faintly in Asaki's ears.
"Asaki, don't forget to breathe~"
In that hazy awareness, Asaki remembered his father, Tanjūrō, and the lessons he once taught him.
When he was eleven, Asaki insisted on following Tanjūrō up the mountain to chop firewood. Tanjūrō refused a few times at first, but seeing Asaki's determination, he eventually brought him along.
Climbing the mountain was brutal work.
Asaki was strong-willed, but his young body couldn't keep up. He quickly became exhausted.
Still, he stubbornly followed close behind Tanjūrō's footsteps.
At some point, Tanjūrō stopped, chuckling as he looked at Asaki.
"Little guy, if you can't go on, just head back."
Asaki pressed his lips together. "No, I can do it."
Tanjūrō paused, smiling with the corners of his eyes. He squatted down, gently ruffled Asaki's messy collar.
Then, in a warm tone, he said, "Asaki, don't forget to breathe."
Asaki rolled his eyes. "Dad, I've been breathing the whole time. People die if they stop breathing, you know."
Tanjūrō flicked Asaki's forehead with a bent finger. "You little brat, daring to roll your eyes at me now?"
Asaki grinned. "I'm just telling the truth. Who the heck forgets to breathe?"
At that moment, Tanjūrō's smile faded, and in a solemn voice, he said, "Asaki, listen carefully."
Sensing the seriousness in his father's tone, Asaki tilted his head, ears focused.
"What do you hear?"
"Hmm… I hear leaves rustling in the wind, and some birds chirping as they pass by."
"Oh, and I heard my stomach growl just now, too."
Tanjūrō sighed helplessly. "If you're hungry, just say so. We'll head back when we're done. Kie's probably cooking already."
He grew serious again. "Asaki, remember this—everything in this world breathes. There's rhythm in everything."
"Human breathing is messy and chaotic. But if you can master the right breathing technique, you'll be able to do things that go beyond human limits."
"Memorize my breathing rhythm. This is the breathing technique passed down in our family—Hinokami Kagura."
"You and Tanjiro will carry on Hinokami Kagura one day, along with our family's earrings."
After speaking, Tanjūrō closed his eyes, signaling Asaki to pay attention to his breathing.
To Asaki, in that moment, his father's entire presence changed drastically.
Agile. Lively. Passionate. Burning… and somehow, gently embracing.
Tanjūrō, whose health was always fragile, now radiated an overwhelming life force, as if he could ignite and nurture all things.
The feeling was... surreal.
And Asaki memorized his father's breathing rhythm.
He immediately tried to replicate Hinokami Kagura's breathing technique—but after inhaling a huge breath, he ended up coughing and choking, eyes and nose running, nearly suffocating.
Tanjūrō opened his eyes, patted Asaki on the back, helping him regulate his breath, then joked, "Did you feel the fire god watching you?"
Asaki rolled his eyes again. "I only felt the god of death breathing down my neck… Dad, you totally lied to me."
Tanjūrō laughed heartily. Once his laughter faded, he turned serious again. "Asaki, I didn't lie."
"You're still young. Your body can't handle Hinokami Kagura yet—it's a fierce technique…"
"But when you grow stronger, don't forget to breathe. Don't forget Hinokami Kagura."
"This breathing technique—you must carve it deep into your heart."
Asaki rarely saw his father speak so solemnly. Though he thought Tanjūrō was teasing him at the time, he still nodded seriously, promising to remember Hinokami Kagura.
Seeing the obedient and sensible Asaki, Tanjūrō let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
"Asaki… It's a shame I won't be able to watch you grow up. My time is almost up."
"I can already feel it. You and Tanjiro—your talents far exceed mine. One day, you'll truly master Hinokami Kagura."
"As for me… I'll just head off a little early and greet the Fire God first."
...
"Yeah… when did I forget how to breathe?"
"I can feel it—even though Father's already gone, he's still helping me."
"Your spirit… you're watching me from the sky, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry. I forgot to breathe. And I couldn't protect our family…"
In his daze, Asaki seemed to see Tanjūrō again.
Tanjūrō sighed gently, then, like always, softly patted Asaki's head.
"The one who should be saying sorry… is me."
"I'm sorry that because of me, you had to shoulder this burden. That you fell into guilt and self-blame."
"Don't feel guilty. I never blamed you. Neither did your mother nor your siblings. We just want you to live well."
"Even if you've become a demon… You must never forget your heart."
"Asaki, don't forget to breathe~"
The voice faded into the distance. Asaki knew—Tanjūrō had left again, returning to the sky as a star, watching over him.
"Father… I won't let you down."
In Black Fang's grasp, Asaki's head was repeatedly crushed and repaired, smashed against the wall again and again.
Watching Asaki's face twist in pain, Black Fang found it endlessly entertaining.
But suddenly, Black Fang noticed—Asaki's expression was no longer pained. It had turned calm. Steady.
At the same time, a strange sound echoed around Black Fang.
"What the hell is that sound?"
"Sounds kinda like… the breathing techniques those Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen use…"
At that moment, Asaki's bloodied, torn face began to shine. His eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, now gleamed brighter and brighter.
"Hinokami Kagura!"
"Blood Demon Art: Scorching Feathers!"
(End of Chapter)
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