"Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Flame Thunder God!"
This was Zenitsu's own original technique — a form he created himself, combining the essence of all the other Thunder Breathing forms into a single, ultimate strike.
Zenitsu surged forward at a speed that not even a demon's eyes could perceive. His slashing trajectory traced the shape of a roaring dragon made of lightning, and in the next instant, he was right before Inadama Kaigaku.
With a single flash of his blade — one clean strike — Zenitsu severed Inadama Kaigaku's head.
The decapitated demon's head rolled to the ground. Even as it began to crumble into ash, his eyes glared at Zenitsu in bitter disbelief.
"Why...?! Why could someone as worthless as you create your own form? Why is it that I, who became a demon and gained such power, still lost to you?! Why?!"
Zenitsu's expression didn't change.
"Those who only take, but never give — they'll always end up with nothing in the end. You've lived selfishly, grasping for everything you desired, yet you never understood sacrifice. This end was inevitable for you."
As Inadama Kaigaku's body disintegrated into ash and vanished alone into the wind, Zenitsu felt no joy, nor sorrow — only a quiet, hollow melancholy that lingered in his heart.
Then, suddenly, Zenitsu coughed up another mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.
Tanjiro rushed to his side, performing emergency treatment before hoisting Zenitsu onto his back.
"Inosuke, let's go! We have to get back quickly — Zenitsu's condition is bad!"
But just as Tanjiro and Inosuke prepared to retreat, a voice echoed from nearby.
"Well, well... seems that man by Muzan-sama's side — the one who calls himself the 'God Master' — was right after all. So Kaigaku really did die. What a pity."
Tanjiro and Inosuke froze, slowly turning their heads — only to see Doma standing in the distance.
Doma rested his twin fans under his chin, musing thoughtfully.
"Muzan-sama ordered me to capture one of you alive. I'd much prefer to kill you all here and now, but an order is an order… Hmm, now, which one should I take back?"
"Inosuke! Run!" Tanjiro shouted, gripping Zenitsu tightly on his back.
Zenitsu was gravely wounded, and both Tanjiro and Inosuke were completely exhausted. Against Upper Rank Two — Doma — they stood no chance.
"Blood Demon Art: Frozen Lotus Vines!"
Doma spread his fans, conjuring countless icy vines adorned with lotus blossoms that snaked rapidly toward Tanjiro and Inosuke to ensnare them.
"Beast Breathing, Tenth Fang: Circular Fangs — Rotating Slash!"
Inosuke leapt in front of Tanjiro, spinning both of his Nichirin swords at high speed, shattering the icy vines.
But one vine still slipped through and struck toward his head — knocking his boar mask clean off, revealing his real face.
Doma tilted his head, peering curiously.
"Oh my… you look familiar. Where have I seen that face before…?"
He pressed his fingers to his temple, as if digging through memories.
"Ah, I remember now. You're the son of one of my former followers — Hashibira Kotoha."
Inosuke growled, "You're lying! I'm just a wild child — I don't have parents!"
Doma smiled lightly.
"Oh, I'm not mistaken. Your mother, Kotoha, fled to my Eternal Paradise Faith after suffering abuse from her husband and mother-in-law. But those two chased her there, causing quite the ruckus — so I killed them, of course. Kotoha was so grateful to me for freeing her from her suffering."
He sighed with mock regret, shaking his head.
"Such a shame, really. I quite liked her singing voice. I even planned to keep her by my side until she grew old, without ever eating her. But then she went and saw me… feeding on humans."
"I tried to explain to her — that I only consume humans to guide them to salvation, to bring them to a paradise free of pain — but she wouldn't understand my kindness. She ran away. And so, regrettably, I had no choice but to eat her."
As Doma continued to speak, his voice dripping with mockery, he added coldly,
"Kotoha really was foolish. If she had just behaved herself, she could've lived. But she chose to resist — the stupidest decision of all. What a meaningless life she led."
Inosuke had no memories of his mother — not a single one — yet hearing Doma's cruel words ignited an uncontrollable fury deep in his chest.
"Beast Breathing, Eighth Fang: Explosive Rush!"
Inosuke charged at Doma with reckless abandon.
"Blood Demon Art: Scattering Lotus Ice Crystals!"
Doma swung his fans, scattering countless shards of ice shaped like lotus petals — each one sharp enough to slice flesh.
In the blink of an eye, Inosuke's body was covered in cuts. Already exhausted, he collapsed to the ground.
His consciousness began to fade, and suddenly — he heard it. A gentle song from long ago.
Inosuke had always believed he was abandoned — that his mother didn't want him. So whenever others asked, he denied he even had one.
But now, the memories came flooding back.
When he was a baby crying in her arms, his mother would sing softly to lull him to sleep.
When they fled the Eternal Paradise Faith, she kept apologizing over and over, blaming herself for her weakness, for failing to protect him.
To save his life, she had thrown him from a cliff into the river below, praying that the current would carry him to safety — while she stayed behind to face Doma alone.
Before he realized it, tears streamed down Inosuke's face. For the first time in his life, he wept — out of love, grief, and longing for the mother he'd lost.
"So I wasn't an unwanted child… My mother loved me — so much..."
Inosuke glared at Doma, his hatred burning hotter than ever — the demon who had killed his mother was right before his eyes.
Seeing his expression, Tanjiro realized that what Doma said was likely true.
But with Zenitsu gravely injured and both of them nearly spent, there was no way they could win against Doma now.
Inosuke turned his head and gave Tanjiro a faint, trembling smile.
"Tanjiro… take Zenitsu and go."
Tanjiro was stunned — it was the first time Inosuke had ever called him by name correctly.
"Inosuke… what about you?"
"I'll stay here and hold him off!"
"No! Inosuke, we can't fight him now. The smartest thing we can do is retreat!" Tanjiro pleaded.
Inosuke's voice was steady — perfectly clear.
"I'm not blinded by hatred, Tanjiro. But if we all try to run, we'll all die."
"He said himself he needs to take one of us alive. That means he won't kill me right away. The Osumi Village isn't far from the Butterfly Estate — get Zenitsu back there and bring reinforcements."
"Inosuke…"
Inosuke picked up his Nichirin swords and stood, facing Doma's direction with his back to Tanjiro.
"Go! Tanjiro, hurry! I swear — I won't die here! Please… I'm begging you!"
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