Seeing Sol Mirek about to escape, Tatsumaki clenched her right hand. A terrifying pressure instantly enveloped his entire body. Just as Sol was about to be crushed by her psychokinesis, his body suddenly dissolved into countless particles of light and disappeared before the S Class heroes.
System notifications echoed in his mind.
Traversed World: Demon Slayer
World Level: Two Stars
Player Stay Duration: One Year
Friendly Reminder: When the host travels to another world, time in the main world remains completely still.
In a forest buried beneath thick snow, Sol's figure slowly materialized.
He dropped to one knee. His black and red armor was already badly damaged, and dark red energy continued leaking through the cracks.
"Cough... cough..."
Sol spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Tatsumaki is seriously ruthless."
He removed the broken armor, revealing a pale face beneath. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
The entire forest was coated in white, trees and ground covered by endless snow.
Sol inhaled deeply. The freezing air cleared his head a little. He tried to stand, but every muscle in his body protested violently.
"Forget it. I will lie down for a bit."
He dropped backward into a snowdrift and stared up at the gray sky as snowflakes slowly fell across his face. His body was strong enough that the cold could not harm him, though it was still uncomfortable.
Bang.
A dull thud suddenly landed beside him.
"Hm?"
Sol turned his head.
A young boy wearing green clothing with red hair had just crashed into the snow nearby.
"A neighbor?" Sol muttered lazily, glancing at him before closing his eyes again.
A second later his eyes snapped open.
Wait.
He quickly sat up and looked carefully at the boy beside him.
That unmistakable red hair. The green checkered clothing.
Kamado Tanjiro.
The main protagonist of Demon Slayer.
Sol lay back down in the snow and quietly watched Tanjiro, who was currently recovering from the shock of his fall.
"Nezuko! Nezuko!"
Tanjiro hurriedly sat up and looked around anxiously, calling his sister's name.
Only then did he notice the pale young man lying beside him in the snow.
"Hello," Sol said casually.
Then he closed his eyes again, continuing to rest.
"Have you seen my sister?" Tanjiro quickly moved closer, panic clear in his voice.
Sol slowly opened his eyes and looked at the worried boy. Without saying much, he raised a hand and pointed toward the forest on the left.
"Over there."
Tanjiro followed the direction.
In the vast white snowfield, a girl stood quietly in the distance.
Her pink kimono stood out clearly against the endless white landscape.
"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro shouted excitedly and struggled to his feet, ready to run toward her.
"Do not move yet."
Sol grabbed Tanjiro and pulled him back.
Tanjiro looked back in confusion.
"What is wrong?"
Sol spoke slowly.
"Your sister's condition is not normal. Give me ten seconds to recover first."
Tanjiro anxiously glanced at Nezuko again, then back at the unfamiliar young man holding him.
Sol looked pale and his clothes were damaged, which made Tanjiro uneasy. However, his worry for Nezuko overwhelmed everything else.
"What happened to Nezuko? Please tell me," Tanjiro asked, his voice trembling.
Sol inhaled slowly and forced himself to sit upright.
"In simple terms," he said calmly, "she is now a demon."
"What?"
Tanjiro's eyes widened as they quickly reddened with disbelief.
At that moment Nezuko suddenly raised her head.
Crimson eyes.
Sharp fangs.
"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro shouted in shock and instinctively tried to rush forward.
Sol grabbed the collar of his clothes and pulled him back.
"Calm down. She does not recognize you right now."
Just then Nezuko released a low, inhuman growl and lunged toward them.
Her speed was far beyond that of a normal human. In a blink she had already closed the distance.
Sol sighed softly.
He pushed Tanjiro aside and twisted his body just enough to dodge Nezuko's attack.
His face turned even paler.
If he had not been exhausted from fighting Bang, Metal Bat, Tanktop Master, and Tatsumaki earlier, he would never look this miserable.
Right now conserving energy was extremely important.
Tanjiro climbed out of the snow. Seeing Sol being attacked, he immediately rushed forward and stood in front of him.
"Nezuko! Stop! It is me! Your brother!"
Nezuko ignored him and lunged again.
Tanjiro instinctively opened his arms, trying to hug his sister, but Sol immediately dragged him away.
"Watch out!"
Sol pulled Tanjiro behind him.
He felt a slight headache coming on. Tanjiro was overwhelmed with emotion, but it was understandable.
The boy was only thirteen years old.
His entire family had been slaughtered by Muzan Kibutsuji, and his only surviving sister had been turned into a demon.
Even so, as long as Sol was here, he would not allow a child to get hurt in front of him.
Nezuko attacked again.
Sol endured the pain in his body and shoved Tanjiro farther away.
"Stay back!" Sol growled.
He raised his arm to block.
Nezuko's sharp claws scraped across his already shattered armor, producing a harsh metallic screech.
Sol exhaled heavily and looked toward Tanjiro.
"Listen carefully," he said while catching his breath.
"Your sister has become a demon, but she still retains her humanity. I can feel her resisting it."
Tanjiro wiped his tears and slowly stood up, trembling.
"I understand."
Then he rushed forward again without hesitation.
"Nezuko! It is me! Your brother is here!"
Sol watched him helplessly.
This kid really does not listen.
Nezuko growled in pain as her claws almost pierced Tanjiro's shoulder.
At the final moment Sol stepped forward and struck her, knocking her unconscious.
Tears streamed down Nezuko's face as she collapsed into the snow.
Tanjiro's tears followed.
"Nezuko..."
Tanjiro hugged his unconscious sister tightly.
"I will definitely turn you back into a human."
"Alright," Sol said weakly, removing the rest of his armor.
"Let us rest here for a while."
He collapsed backward into the snow again.
Cold snowflakes landed across his face as he stared at the sky.
Sol turned his head slightly and saw Tanjiro hugging Nezuko tightly, the boy's thin shoulders trembling in the freezing wind.
"What is your name?" Sol asked hoarsely.
"Tanjiro. Kamado Tanjiro."
Tanjiro looked up with swollen eyes.
"This is my sister, Kamado Nezuko. Thank you for saving us earlier."
Sol nodded slightly.
"My name is Sol Mirek."
Tanjiro held Nezuko protectively while scanning the forest nervously.
Sol suddenly felt a sharp presence approaching.
"Someone is coming," he warned quietly.
The moment he finished speaking, a figure appeared before them like a ghost.
A swordsman.
His expression was cold and emotionless.
He wore a haori with two different patterns, dark red on one side and yellow green on the other. In his hand was a Nichirin blade glowing faintly blue beneath the moonlight.
Giyu Tomioka.
His gaze swept across the three of them before finally stopping on Nezuko.
Slowly, he drew his Nichirin sword.
The blade gleamed with icy sharpness.
"Demons and humans cannot coexist."
His voice was cold and completely devoid of emotion.
Tanjiro tightened his hold on Nezuko.
"Wait! My sister is different! She will not harm humans!"
---