Hinokami Kagura

Spider Mountain Midway

"While I don't think you'd be that stupid... judging from your behavior, do you really think you can just get close to me and cut off my neck?"

Lower Moon Five, Rui, almost playfully threw a punch that sent the crimson-haired boy flying several meters, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Even so, the boy bravely stood up, panting as he gripped his broken Nichirin Blade, waiting for the right moment to attack.

Seeing his expression, Lei seemed to become interested and simply opened his arms:

"Sure, why don't you give it a try?"

"ah--!!!"

The boy swung his knife and slashed, but Guiyue dodged left and right like a cat playing with a mouse, punching the boy's face repeatedly, causing him to bleed in pain.

Using the momentum from being spun around, the boy spun around and slashed at Lei's neck!

clang--!!

A crisp clanging sound rang out, but the blade failed to make even the slightest cut!

"See? I told you so." Exhausted, his gaze turned fierce, and he kicked the boy away. "You're no match for me!"

"My body is tougher than the spider silk I control. A swordsman of your caliber can't even cut through my silk, let alone sever my neck?"

"Stop dreaming!"

Seeing the boy being kicked away by Lei, crashing heavily and creating a cloud of dust, a girl hanging upside down in mid-air by several spider silk threads let out an unwilling roar, but the roar was covered by the bamboo tube in her mouth, and only a low whimper could be heard.

"It's so noisy, give me some peace and quiet."

"You're already my brother, stop calling me that!"

*Sizzle!*

Lei raised his pale arm and clenched it in the air towards the girl. At the same time, the spider silk exerted its force and embedded itself directly into the girl's body! It made a series of sounds of flesh tearing apart, and blood splattered everywhere!

Under such excruciating pain, the girl let out a wail and fainted.

"Niedouzi—!!!"

The boy's anger had reached its peak, and the veins on the back of his hands and forehead were about to burst from the shock of the scene!

But he still gripped his sleeve tightly, trying hard to suppress his uncontrollable anger.

"Calm down, Tanjiro! Don't let your emotions get the better of you!" he told himself.

"Concentrate...regulate your breathing..."

"We must end this battle with our final, strongest form!"

"Complete Focus!!"

Tanjiro roared and shot forward! The scar on his forehead looked even more ferocious as the veins on his forehead throbbed!

"Water Breathing - Pick-up Form..."

"What are you doing? Don't you understand? This is pointless. Just give up your sister!"

Tired and somewhat irritated, he casually tossed out a few tough spider silk threads, intending to simply eliminate the boy's existence.

But something unexpected happened.

The spider silk that had previously been able to easily cut the Nichirin Blade was now completely severed as Tanjiro changed his breathing and the blade's momentum shifted!

This was no coincidence. As Tanjiro's spinning became faster and faster, Rui found that his spider silk was being shattered even more quickly!

"...Life flows on and on!!!"

As Tanjiro roared, waves surged on his blade, as if a water dragon had formed from the surging waves!

The water dragon roared, shattering mountains and splitting rocks.

The scales of victory seem to be tipping!

"Tsk... You think this is my limit?"

Lei was getting impatient, and his hands began to ooze crimson ghost blood, which covered the spider silk.

"That's enough, goodbye—Blood Demon Art: Ceramic Prison!"

Om-! !

A scarlet spiderweb cage appeared out of thin air, rapidly compressing Tanjiro's body with a deadly pressure!

There's no way to avoid it!

It can't be severed!

The smell is completely different from the silk thread we just saw!

Tanjiro was shocked and stared blankly ahead.

I'm going to die... I'm going to lose...

We absolutely couldn't have lost...

In that instant, countless memories and flashbacks flooded Tanjiro's mind, helping him complete the final leg of his life's journey.

Until a man's voice rang out...

Tanjiro, you must pass down this earring and the Kagura dance to future generations!

We made a promise.

Lei, who had already planned to end the battle, suddenly sensed that the boy in the Blood Demon Art had a different aura.

For some unknown reason, in a mere fraction of a second, Tanjiro's gaze sharpened, and his entire aura became dangerous.

hiss--!!!

A scorching stream of air rushed between his mouth and nose, and Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade began to vibrate intensely!

"...Hinokami Kagura: Waltz!!"

The Water Breathing sword form, which had been surging and churning just moments before, transformed into a streak of red light due to Tanjiro's sudden change in aura! It was as if... a ball of flame had been unleashed!

Lei's gaze sharpened; he clearly hadn't expected his Blood Demon Art to be severed by a swordsman who had just been unable to get up.

Was it luck?

He shot out spider silk again, slicing through the boy's neck and lacerding his cheek, but the boy simply wouldn't back down.

"Don't stop! Keep running!"

boom--!!

With a series of swirling slashes, he cleaved through the spider silk attacks one after another, rapidly closing the distance!

"If I stop, I'll never be able to move again!"

"I must fight! I must protect Nezuko!!"

"ah--!!"

The boy's knife became faster and fiercer, and he transformed into a red fire dragon, charging wildly between life and death!

"This guy!"

Rai was shocked and quickly retreated to create distance. At the same time, he continuously released spider silk infused with his demon blood, laying countless traps along Tanjiro's path and continuing his attempt to strangle him!

The distance was getting closer and closer, and the blade had even cut through the hem of his clothes, making him feel a sense of impending death!

Suddenly, Tanjiro, who was very close to the Demon Moon, sharpened his eyes, as if he had discovered something.

He swung his knife recklessly, finding the only chance to cut off the head amidst the tangled spider webs!

Even if it means we both die, I will kill you right here!

Faced with such a desperate charge, even the Lower Moon Demon Moon felt a chill run down its spine!

What should I do! The knife will come at me! No, I'll kill him first!

My neck is very tough. Even if this guy suddenly becomes so strong for some reason, he definitely can't cut it off immediately!

Kill him right here!!

Just as he was filled with rage and wanted to kill Tanjiro before the broken Nichirin Blade could strike his neck, he suddenly felt a surge of heat throughout his body!

"Blood Demon Art... Blood Explosion!!"

boom--!!

The ghost girl, Mizuko, who had been strangled unconscious by his spider silk, woke up at some point.

She clenched her fist tightly, and the blood that had flowed down the spider silk suddenly burst into flames!

In an instant, it burned away all the spider silk barrier in front of Lei!

"How is this possible! My spider silk has been burned!"

clang!!

Tanjiro burst out of the flames like a demon, yet remained unharmed! He then slashed heavily into Rui's neck with his sword!

"The bond between me and Nezuko! No one can sever it!!"

*Sizzle!*

The Nichirin Blade, stained with the burning blood of the demon girl, sliced ​​off the head of the Lower Moon Five like tearing cloth!

...At the same time, the birds had also arrived at the scene.

He saw from afar the crimson blade slicing through flesh and blood, and the ghost moon head, radiating a terrifying aura, flying high into the air.

"Such a powerful sword style..."

The bird had already made up its mind.

This is a power worth learning.