Douma's face was always adorned with an impeccable smile, a smile that appeared particularly terrifying in the wake of him having just devoured a young lady.
He slowly walked towards the girl, his posture as elegant as if he were dancing on blood.
"Oh?" As if sensing something, he tilted his head slightly, his pupils fixed on an unknown spot: "Someone's here?"
It happened almost in an instant; a figure, fluttering like a butterfly, stirred up a whirlwind that tore through the wooden door, and under Douma's very nose, rescued the terrified girl who was on the verge of fainting.
Kanae gently placed the girl on the ground, just as Haruto had once saved her and her sister.
Then... whether facing a common demon, a Lower Moon, or the Upper Moon Two before her, she would fight just like Haruto.
Kanae adjusted her breathing, gripping her nichirin blade tightly, a look of resolve flashing in her pink eyes.
Douma, however, did not immediately attack. His gaze fell upon Kanae's face, and the expression on his face seemed to radiate with joy: "It's a girl... a beautiful, fragrant, and delicious girl!
Such a delicious girl should be enjoyed on an empty stomach for the most pleasure, but I've already eaten one just now..."
He pondered for a moment, as if truly conflicted about what to do: "Then... I'll play with you to burn off some of the food in my stomach."
Douma's smile was truly innocent; if one ignored the bloodstains at the corners of his mouth, he truly resembled an emissary of some deity on earth.
Kanae gritted her teeth, her foot tapping the ground as she instantly launched an attack.
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form... Crimson Hanae!"
The blade swung, countless scattered petals poured from the tip of the blade, filling the sky, and a pink sword light swiftly unleashed two consecutive strikes from bottom to top, attacking Douma, who was completely unguarded.
"Although the move is beautiful, it's still..." Douma smiled and shook his wrist, and a gleaming metal fan bloomed in his hand, blocking all of Kanae's attacks: "Too weak!"
He leaped forward, holding the fan handle horizontally and cutting forward. The fan blade struck Kanae's blade, forcing her to retreat two steps rapidly.
Kanae's heart slowly sank.
This demon before her... had reached an unimaginably powerful level!
Facing her attacks as a Pillar-level Swordsman, he didn't even use his Blood Demon Art, yet he could resist purely with the demon's own strength.
Could she defeat such an enemy?
"Oh my, don't stare at me so intently. Entering my stomach and becoming one with me—that's an honor and a reward~"
Douma's eyes gently curved: "Come, stand up, let me see how the flesh of a Demon Slayer Corps Swordsman differs from other girls'~"
Such a demon... is beyond salvation!
Such a demon has no need for redemption whatsoever!
Blood vessels climbed into Kanae's eyes. She held her nichirin blade horizontally in front of her, trying to stabilize her breathing.
"Flower Breathing, Fifth Form..."
A fierce technique bloomed around her, scattering petals everywhere.
"Meaningless Peony!"
Nine rapid consecutive strikes emerged like lightning from behind the concealing petals, piercing towards the same point like peony petals.
"Nine consecutive strikes are indeed fast! But... they still can't sever my neck~" Douma pressed close, extending his iron fan horizontally. The fan blade, sharp as a knife, immediately slashed a bloody wound across Kanae's lower abdomen.
Blood splattered, staining her Kochou haori crimson.
Kanae let out a muffled groan, then spun around, reorienting her blade in mid-air: "Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach!"
Ineffective, ineffective!
All of her attacks were ineffective against this Upper Moon before her! She couldn't even force him to use his Blood Demon Art!
The pain in her lower abdomen made Kanae realize that her stomach might have been lacerated. She could only free one hand to cover her lower abdomen, to prevent her internal organs from slipping out of her abdominal cavity during the fight.
It seems... there really is no way.
Her Breathing Technique posed no threat to this demon. Was the gap between a Pillar and an Upper Moon really that vast?
Douma seemed in no hurry to finish her off, instead watching her struggle in pain with keen interest.
"The expressions of those believers who once prayed to me were just like yours~" He spread his hands, as if receiving the prayers of his devotees: "They suffered greatly in life, wishing to communicate with the God of Paradise through me, to enter the realm of eternal bliss.
But there is no God of Paradise in this world. The so-called hell is merely a comforting notion for weak-hearted humans. I am the only god they pray to who can lead them to paradise and eternal life~"
He reached out to Kanae: "Now, Miss, wouldn't it be a great blessing to be completely devoured by me and become a part of my body~"
"Blessing—my ass!"
A voice seemed to come from far away, then quickly drew closer, finally transforming into a bright shooting star in the night, cutting down with a 'whoosh'!
Breath of the Stars, First Form: Tear of Light!
The speed of this move was incredibly fast, so fast that Douma didn't even react, and a thin line of blood appeared on his face.
The white-haired swordsman, enveloped by the wind, had rushed all day, finally catching up to this one-sided battle amidst a sky full of laments.
After landing a hit, he did not press his advantage, but instead wrapped his arm around Kanae's waist and swiftly retreated.
Kanae's breathing was very unstable. Haruto pulled his hand away, and the haori on his arm was stained with a large patch of blood.
"Kanae!"
Haruto's heart tightened. The girl looked up, revealing an extremely pale smile: "I'm fine... Haruto, please focus on the enemy..."
Her condition in no way looked fine!
Haruto suppressed the anger in his heart, staring intently at the Upper Moon Two before him.
"Hmm? Another one?"
Douma tilted his head in confusion: "If you're still that weak, then don't fight Let me kill you immediately, and it will reduce your pain a little"
The night wind ruffled the stray hairs on Haruto's forehead, revealing his taut face, which made the demon pause: "Eh Are you actually a boy? That's such a pity With that face, if it were on a girl, then I would definitely eat you clean from every strand of hair to every fingernail~"
"You're a pervert, you bastard!"
Haruto defiantly cast aside his scabbard, raising his hand to unleash his strongest technique: "Breath of the Stars, Ninth Form: Banished Moon!"
Points of starlight appeared around him, and a full moon rose above Douma's head. In the blink of an eye, his nichirin blade sliced through the night sky, heading straight for Douma!
After toying with Kanae for so long, Douma finally felt a threat for the first time.
He no longer underestimated his opponent, turning his iron fan, which bloomed with ice crystal snow lotuses as he swung it.
"Pfft—"
Ice crystal powder sprayed from the fan blade, overwhelmingly showering Haruto.
The bright moon above the demon's head... shattered!
Haruto spun and leaped in the air, landing lightly on the ground behind him, then suddenly covered his mouth and nose.
A trace of freezing powder had entered his nose; just a trace, and it had burrowed into his body through his nasal cavity, wreaking havoc along his respiratory tract!
"Oh dear." The bloodline on Douma's face had already disappeared, and his smile became even brighter.
"It seems... you've inhaled my blood~"