"Lower Moon… Four?"
Shirou didn't fully understand the meaning of those characters. At least in this world, no one had yet informed him about Lower Moons, Upper Moons, or Kibutsuji Muzan.
He only knew that this world was plagued by demons who cruelly took human lives, and it was his mission to save as many people as he could from such fates.
Yet, Shirou could clearly sense an oppressive strength from her—far beyond that of ordinary demons he'd encountered before.
"A Demon Slayer, hmm? It's been ages since I've tasted Demon Slayer blood…"
She licked her blood-stained fingers, appearing disturbingly alluring under the moonlight. Fresh blood still lingered at the corner of her lips, suggesting she'd recently finished a meal.
Whoosh!
A heated breath escaped Shirou's lips as a silver gleam spread over his Nichirin blade.
A gust of wind surged across the grass-covered fields, flattening the tall grass as if pressed down by an invisible force.
"Are you about to use a Breathing Technique?"
A silky, mocking voice whispered directly into Shirou's ear.
No sound. No movement.
Yet those smiling violet eyes were suddenly just inches from Shirou's face.
His pupils contracted sharply.
When did she—?!
Before he could even react, an intense pain exploded in his abdomen, immediately halting his thoughts.
Her punch had been so fierce it sent a shockwave rippling outward like an exploding storm.
Shirou flew backward instantly, tumbling uncontrollably like a kite with a snapped string.
That wasn't mere speed—was it her Blood Demon Art?
Shirou quickly adjusted his breathing as he rose back onto his feet, carefully eyeing the woman who stood calmly after delivering such a devastating blow.
Had it been simple speed, regardless of whether Shirou could react in time, there should've at least been some audible or tangible indication of movement.
Just like how waving a hand rapidly could produce a noticeable breeze, such extreme movement couldn't possibly occur silently.
"Blood Demon Arts truly are something else," Shirou murmured grimly.
He immediately began moving, knowing that standing still against such a bizarre opponent would be disastrous.
Mukago felt a sudden gust surge past her, and before she could respond, Shirou was already upon her.
"[Sword Breathing—Flame Style: Unknowing Fire]!"
A blazing half-moon slash brimming with scorching heat rushed toward Mukago's neck.
Whoosh—!
Yet in an instant, the woman's figure disappeared, as though she'd never been there at all.
Where is she?!
Shirou turned sharply, scanning the surroundings after his attack met only empty air. Suddenly, he felt the earth beneath him shift slightly.
BOOM—!
He leapt swiftly into the air just as the ground exploded beneath him, soil flying in every direction as a pale hand shot upward from below.
Before Shirou could even glance downward, a chilling murderous intent appeared from behind him.
Trusting his instincts, Shirou twisted rapidly in mid-air, raising his Nichirin blade protectively in front of his chest.
Crash—!
The sound of a heavy collision echoed loudly as claw met blade, sending out a shockwave that rippled violently through the air.
The tremendous impact hurled Shirou downward like a missile, crashing him brutally into the ground and dragging him across it for several dozen meters.
"You managed to block that?"
Mukago smiled faintly, mildly impressed.
This was her Blood Demon Art—Ghost Flash—allowing her to teleport dozens of meters instantaneously.
This ability was precisely why she'd always managed to escape when fighting Hashira. No human could keep pace with a demon capable of instantly traversing hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.
She took pride in that fact—among Lower Moons, few had survived encounters with Hashira as often as she had.
It was akin to a Hashira surviving an encounter with an Upper Moon.
"Cough!"
Shirou quickly understood her strategy. Mukago had deliberately baited him into the air, knowing he'd become completely vulnerable once airborne. He couldn't maneuver or evade properly in mid-air, making him an easy target.
If not for Shirou's exceptional reflexes, his chest would've already been pierced clean through.
She's strong!
In this battle, Shirou barely had any space to think; the attacks came relentlessly, one after another.
With a forceful exhale, Shirou surged forward, dramatically increasing his speed once again.
He knew he had to maintain a continuous offensive—even if his strikes didn't connect, he couldn't afford to slow down.
Shirou's form became a silver blur, a barrage of sword strikes raining down from every angle.
Clang—!
Blade clashed fiercely against claw, the resulting shockwaves reverberating outwards, violently stirring the air around them.
Clang, clang, clang—!
Under the cold glow of the moon, their furious exchanges echoed across the vast fields, sparks flying spectacularly each time their blows collided.
Amid this chaotic scene, Shirou and Mukago engaged in a ferocious duel.
Aside from her troublesome Blood Demon Art, Mukago herself possessed astonishing physical strength.
Despite Shirou's relentless storm of strikes, she remained as solid as a fortress, effortlessly dodging or deflecting every single blow.
Not a single attack landed cleanly.
Though merely a Lower Moon, Mukago's frequent clashes—and escapes—from Hashira meant she was deeply familiar with the Demon Slayers' fighting styles.
Unlike Upper Moons who exclusively targeted Hashira, as a Lower Moon, she faced Demon Slayers almost daily. It was only recently that the Demon Slayer Corps' shortage of personnel granted Lower Moons like her a brief reprieve.
A "reprieve"—though she'd still killed numerous Slayers. Whenever facing a Hashira, she'd fight briefly, then promptly retreat to safety.
A demon who regularly fed on humans had plenty of energy to spare. Fatigue arose solely from injuries sustained during combat, which healed swiftly anyway.
Shirou, on the other hand, was still human. Maintaining such an intense offensive quickly drained his stamina.
The moment Mukago sensed Shirou's attacks begin to slow, she vanished instantly.
During his furious onslaught, she'd been too wary to risk teleporting. A single miscalculation could've allowed Shirou to sever her neck mid-teleportation.
Teleportation required only a thought, but even a fleeting distraction could prove fatal if she attempted it amidst Shirou's blade-storm.
But now, she seized this fleeting opportunity.
"Hyah—!"
A fierce cry erupted directly above Shirou's head.
A massive fist came hurtling down toward Shirou's skull.
BOOM—!
The already ferocious gale intensified into a storm upon impact.
Crash—!
The earth itself shattered into pieces, fragmented stone scattering violently under the sheer force of Mukago's devastating strike.