Terror filled Yoshio's eyes.
Meng Xiyu tightened his grip around the boy's neck, preparing to crush it in a single motion.
Just then
A hand seized his wrist.
"Enough."
Hera's cold voice rang out.
"I already told you."
"You are not allowed to touch anyone from that village."
Her tone remained calm and expressionless.
Yet there was an undeniable authority behind her words.
Meng Xiyu froze.
The memory of the beating she had given him earlier immediately resurfaced.
Reluctantly, he loosened his grip.
Yoshio collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently as he struggled to breathe.
His entire body trembled.
He stared at Hera with eyes full of fear and confusion.
He neither fled…
Nor spoke.
Hera slowly walked toward him.
Her expression remained as blank as ever.
Then…
She gently pinched Yoshio's cheek.
"Go home."
"Tell everyone…"
"Hera is dead."
After saying those words, she turned and began walking away.
Yoshio instinctively reached out.
"Hera-nee!"
His trembling hand grasped the edge of her sleeve.
Before either of them could react
Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!
A violent gale exploded across the clearing.
Meng Xiyu reacted first.
Boom!
He raised both arms, blocking the incoming slash head-on.
The impact forced him several steps backward.
His eyes immediately lit up.
"A Demon Slayer…"
He looked toward the white-haired man approaching through the snow.
A savage grin spread across his face.
"Interesting."
Unlike Hera…
Meng Xiyu welcomed battle.
At nearly the same instant
Another figure silently appeared behind Hera.
Serpent Breathing, Fourth Form: Twin-Headed Reptile.
Obanai Iguro's Nichirin Blade curved through the air like a living serpent.
The twisting slash aimed directly for Hera's neck.
She calmly leaned backward.
The blade narrowly missed.
However…
Obanai's true objective had never been Hera herself.
With one swift motion, he grabbed Yoshio and retreated.
Kaburamaru coiled protectively around the frightened child.
Sanemi also disengaged after exchanging blows with Meng Xiyu.
The two Hashira now stood together.
Across from them…
The two strange demons observed silently.
For a brief moment…
Neither side moved.
Sanemi quietly evaluated their opponents.
The male demon…
Strong.
Very strong.
But manageable.
The woman…
Entirely different.
Even without exchanging many blows…
His instincts screamed that she posed the greater threat.
Hera slowly raised her arms.
The flesh shifted.
Both forearms transformed into enormous mantis-like scythes lined with countless serrated teeth.
As for the swordsmanship Kokushibo had taught her…
She abandoned it completely.
Against worthy opponents…
She preferred relying upon her own natural abilities.
Sanemi tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade.
Neither he nor Obanai suggested retreating.
Hashira did not abandon civilians.
Especially not a frightened child standing behind them.
Without another word
Hera attacked.
Boom!
She vanished.
The next instant
She appeared directly before Sanemi.
Both scythe-like arms descended simultaneously.
Clang!
Sanemi barely managed to block.
The tremendous force pushed him backward despite successfully deflecting the strike.
Before he could recover
Bang!
Hera's kick struck his abdomen.
The Wind Hashira was launched several meters away.
Obanai immediately counterattacked.
Serpent Breathing, First Form: Winding Serpent Slash.
His twisting sword path proved extremely difficult to predict.
Even Hera reacted a fraction too slowly.
Slash!
One of her arms was severed cleanly.
At that exact moment
Sanemi rejoined the battle.
Wind Breathing, Seventh Form: Gale Sudden Gusts.
Countless wind blades surged toward Hera from every direction.
Together, the two Hashira coordinated flawlessly.
For the first time…
Hera was completely overwhelmed.
Dozens of slashes tore across her body.
Her regeneration immediately began repairing the damage.
Just then
Meng Xiyu rushed into the battlefield.
His fist shot toward the Hashira.
Unexpectedly
Hera stepped backward.
She completely withdrew from the fight.
Meng Xiyu blinked.
"…Huh?"
Hera calmly looked at him.
"You fight them."
Then…
She simply walked away.
Meng Xiyu stared blankly.
She had…
Abandoned her teammate.
If he had possessed enough strength to defeat her…
He would have certainly repaid today's humiliation.
Unfortunately…
He didn't.
Meanwhile, Sanemi and Obanai paid no attention to their brief exchange.
Their target remained Hera.
Removing the stronger opponent first was the logical choice.
Sanemi inhaled deeply.
Wind Breathing, Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash.
The enormous wind blade swept forward.
Meng Xiyu was caught directly in its path.
Boom!
The attack overwhelmed him.
Just as Obanai closed in to deliver the finishing strike
Kaburamaru suddenly hissed sharply.
Obanai's eyes narrowed.
Something felt wrong.
Meng Xiyu's skin…
Had suddenly changed color.
Before either Hashira could react
Boom!!
A violent explosion erupted directly beside them.
The forest shook violently.
Smoke and shattered earth flew everywhere.
"Obanai!"
Sanemi shouted.
Ignoring the shockwave, he immediately rushed into the smoke with sword in hand.
Not far away…
Hera watched silently.
Her face remained expressionless.
No one could tell what she was thinking.
Behind the Hashira…
Yoshio stared blankly.
His thoughts had descended into complete chaos.
He looked toward Hera.
The sister he had admired.
The person who had protected him.
The creature who had also devoured humans.
His lips trembled.
"Hera-nee…"
Near the wreckage of the Mugen TrainThe battle had reached its climax.
Akaza and Kyojuro Rengoku stood shoulder to shoulder.
Opposite them
Moko and Barons radiated murderous intent.
Moko was, above all else, a martial artist.
He valued battle above nearly everything.
Barons, by contrast, cared far more about elegance and appearances than strategy.
Despite their eccentric personalities…
Neither could be underestimated.
Kyojuro planted his sword firmly before him.
His voice rang out with unwavering conviction.
"I will never allow either of you to harm the passengers!"
Akaza glanced sideways.
"…You know."
"I wasn't planning to kill them either."
His tone carried a trace of awkwardness.
Kyojuro ignored him completely.
The two strange demons charged simultaneously.
This battle had only one objective.
To avenge their lord.
If they could eliminate both the Flame Hashira and Upper Rank Three…
Their master would surely be pleased.
Naturally…
Neither held anything back.
The pressure immediately intensified.
Kyojuro inhaled.
His breathing burned hotter than ever.
Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger.
A blazing tiger roared across the battlefield.
At almost the same instant
Akaza assumed his familiar stance.
Destructive Death: Disorder.
An overwhelming barrage of punches erupted.
The two attacks struck from opposite directions.
Moko met Kyojuro head-on.
Barons intercepted Akaza.
At the final moment
Kyojuro shifted his footing.
His flaming blade changed trajectory.
Slash!
Moko's arm was split open.
Without hesitation
Kyojuro continued.
Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe.
The blazing slash pursued relentlessly.
Elsewhere
Akaza's fist crashed directly into Barons.
The impact launched the winged demon skyward.
Akaza bent his knees.
Then exploded upward.
Destructive Death: Leg Type – Crown Splitter.
Boom!
His kick smashed directly beneath Barons' jaw.
Bone shattered.
The winged demon spun helplessly through the air.
Akaza casually lowered his leg.
"…Better."
Apparently…
The self-proclaimed "Jaw Breaker" had reclaimed his dignity.
Meanwhile…
Kokushibo remained completely unconcerned by the fierce battles unfolding nearby.
Compared to everyone else…
He seemed almost leisurely.
His attention remained fixed upon Tanjiro and the others.
Of course…
Simply allowing them to leave unharmed would make his intentions far too obvious.
He still needed to maintain appearances.
His gaze shifted.
Toward Nezuko.
Zenitsu immediately stepped protectively in front of her.
Despite trembling from fear…
He refused to move aside.
Kokushibo merely flicked his sleeve.
Bang!
Zenitsu was effortlessly sent crashing into Inosuke.
The two tumbled together across the ground.
Kokushibo calmly continued forward.
Nezuko attacked first.
With surprising agility
She leaped high into the air.
Her powerful axe kick descended toward his head.
Kokushibo calmly raised one hand.
Before the kick could land
His fingers wrapped gently around her throat.
He caught her effortlessly.
For a brief moment…
Everything became strangely quiet.
Tanjiro's eyes widened.
"Nezuko!"
He struggled to force himself back onto his feet.
Ignoring his own injuries, he charged forward.
Kokushibo effortlessly evaded every desperate strike from Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu while continuing to hold Nezuko with one hand.
He scarcely appeared to be fighting.
Instead…
He seemed to be thinking.
Then…
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"It is time."
A faint smile appeared.
"Do not disappoint me…"
"Arashi."
Far away…
Within the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps…
A lone figure silently crossed the estate's entrance.
An unexpected visitor…
Had arrived.