Sun Breathing, huh…"
On the mountainside.
Some Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, hearing the conversation between the two behind them, felt a surge of emotion.
It was said that the Sun Breathing inheritance was submitted to the headquarters by a young boy half a year ago.
Upon receiving it, headquarters immediately treated it as a precious treasure.
They had initially planned to promote this Breathing Technique, but then discovered its extreme difficulty.
Direct cultivation proved challenging even for Pillar-level swordsmen.
the the the
Therefore, headquarters broke it down into twelve forms.
One could learn a single form by slaying twenty demons.
The reduction in difficulty came with a decrease in power.
But even so, some Pillars who learned it saw their strength increase by more than thirty per cent.
Like the Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, whom they knew well.
Just two months ago, he mastered a fusion sword technique combining Water Breathing and Sun Breathing.
Because of this, some ordinary swordsmen wondered if they could do the same.
But unfortunately, this was an impractical fantasy.
Twenty demons were hard to kill.
Moreover, without talent, even if given the opportunity, one might not be able to learn it.
Thoughts surged.
The surrounding terrifying atmosphere was somewhat diluted by the conversation.
Having not encountered a single demon along the way, some believed that this mission might indeed be a rumour.
But unfortunately, the subsequent sudden change directly panicked them.
A slender spider thread descended from the sky, tightly wrapping around one person's Nichirin blade.
At the same time, another spider thread wrapped around that person's wrist.
Click!
The sword guard clanged.
He swung his sword, slashing at the person beside him with extreme speed!
Blood, like a fountain, splattered onto that person's cheek.
Blood dyed his eyes red, and the Demon Slayer Corps swordsman who was slashed hadn't even reacted before the pain was etched into his bones.
"Wh… what?!"
Everything happened in a flash.
"Damn it!"
To the side.
Seeing this situation, everyone cursed aloud.
"What are you doing?!"
"You killed him?"
"Are you insane?!"
They spoke while retreating.
Some did not forget to tightly grip the nichirin blade at their waist, trying to defend against this seemingly traitorous teammate.
But then they realised that the reality was not what they had imagined.
The person who had injured his companion had a look of horror on his face.
His voice was loud, as if defending his actions:
"No, it's not, I didn't kill him!"
"My hand moved on its own!"
Though he said this, he still swung his sword forward.
The swordsman at the front of the group, facing the incoming slash, decisively drew his sword.
But…
As soon as the blade left its sheath, it uncontrollably slashed at a teammate beside him.
"Hmm?!"
Blood bloomed vividly before their eyes like a blossoming rose.
This scene made them suddenly freeze, then exclaim: "Quick, get out of the way! There's a demon!"
Their judgment was so decisive, but unfortunately, by the time they reacted, it was too late.
Spider Mother, hidden in the shadows, had already used hundreds of spider threads to control their every move.
nichirin blade, fingers, wrists, ankles, calves, thighs…
A struggle between comrades unfolded in the gloomy forest.
At the end of the line.
Murata covered his mouth with both hands, hiding behind a tree, trembling uncontrollably.
Above his head was a Kasugai Crow—as soon as a sense of unease had arisen in his heart, he had called the Kasugai Crow in, just in case.
He hadn't expected to need it.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly, with a trembling voice, informed the Kasugai Crow of everything that had happened here.
Watching the Kasugai Crow fly away, vanishing into the sky, he slowly clasped his hands together.
Hidden in the bushes behind the tree, he curled up as much as he could.
His breathing gradually slowed.
Praying silently in his heart.
"Come quickly, come quickly, preferably a Pillar!!"
Bang!
The moment his thought appeared.
A sudden bang echoed in the air.
A sound like shattering air.
Murata lifted his half-closed, trembling eyes, suppressing his breath, and instinctively looked upwards through the sparse leaves.
He saw.
A person standing quietly high in the sky.
Behind him was a silver moon.
His black robes swayed in the wind, so dazzling under the clear moonlight.
It made Murata wonder if he was seeing an illusion.
—A person…
How could he stand in the sky?
…
"A demon?"
"Such a foul, terrible stench."
Invisible reishi gathered at his feet. Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked down at the scene in the forest below, his brows slightly furrowed.
The shouts of humans reached his ears.
He waved his hand:
"Bakudo Number Sixty-Three: Sajō Sabaku."
A reishi chain, a hundred meters long, like a giant snake, rushed down into the forest below.
Instantly.
The snake writhed and crawled.
Numerous Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen were bound one after another.
The spider threads on their bodies all broke under the impact of the Kido, causing the Spider Mother nearby to freeze for a second.
Then.
—Run!
Her peripheral vision reflected Tsugikuni Yoriichi in the sky, and a terrifying sense of crisis emerged in her heart.
It was like standing on a ten-thousand-meter cliff, one step forward leading to an endless abyss.
The fear from her soul stung her body. She had never thought that one day she would follow her instincts and betray Rui.
She ran madly down the mountain.
Her actions were undisguised.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked at her.
His gaze was cold.
Then.
Step!
Ripples spread in the air, and he instantly vanished from his original spot.
On the ground, Murata was trapped in shock, unable to recover for a long time.
After some thought, he realised that he had not been mistaken; that was indeed a person.
But.
How could a person fly?
An illusion!
It must be an illusion!
He took a deep breath, attempting to forget what had happened tonight.
But for some reason.
The image of the man stepping on air and suddenly disappearing was like a maggot in his bones, deeply etched into his brain.
After much thought.
He could only find one phrase to describe this experience.
A world-shaking spectacle!
…
On the other side.
Because the Kasugai Crow's flight was not obstructed.
In just two short minutes.
It flew to a nearby household connected to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Through the phone, it quickly reported the matter to Yashiki Kagaya at headquarters.
Upon learning of the heavy casualties among the teams.
Yashiki Kagaya immediately decided.
To dispatch Pillar-level swordsmen to assist.
Because being able to silently control more than a dozen members, even if not a Twelve Demon Moons, the demon must certainly be of high status.
It needed to be eliminated immediately.
Thus.
The nearby Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, and Insect Pillar, Kochou Shinobu, accepted the order and immediately set off for Mt. Natagumo, a hundred li away.
In the forest, Kochou Shinobu's figure was as light as a dancing butterfly.
She looked at Giyu Tomioka, who was running alongside her with a stern expression, and her voice was soft and clear:
"Hey, Tomioka-san, do you think we'll make it in time?"
"The opponent might be one of the Twelve Demon Moons."
"I wonder if my special poison will be effective…"
"I hope they can hold on until we arrive."