"Now, I didn't misunderstand, did I?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa's sharp gaze swept past Kochou Shinobu and landed firmly on Lucas. His eyes were cold, the corners of his lips slightly curled in what might have been amusement—or anticipation.
"You... really are protecting that demon."
Kochou Shinobu sighed, lowering her head slightly, choosing to say nothing more.
She had hoped Lucas would become a future Pillar—his talent was undeniable. But harboring a demon? That was something no one in the Corps could overlook. Not even her.
It was truly a shame. Talents like him were rare... and now, wasted.
---
[Wind Pillar: Sanemi Shinazugawa]
[Race: Human]
[Rank: Upper Pillar]
[Comprehension: Superior]
[Aptitude: Superior]
[Talent: None]
[Physique: Marechi (Rare Blood)]
[Skills: Wind Breathing First Form – Dust Whirlwind Cutter (Mastered), Second Form – Claws-Purifying Wind (Mastered), Third Form – Clear Storm Wind Tree (Mastered), Fourth Form – Rising Dust Storm (Mastered), Fifth Form – Cold Mountain Wind (Mastered), Sixth Form – Black Wind Smoke Haze (Mastered), Seventh Form – Gale: Sudden Gust (Proficient), Eighth Form – Primary Gale Slash (Mastered), Ninth Form – Idaten Typhoon (Proficient)]
---
Looking at the detailed attribute panel displayed before his eyes through the system interface, Lucas quietly rolled his shoulders and adjusted the strap holding Nezuko's box securely on his back.
Sanemi Shinazugawa—this was without question the strongest opponent he had ever faced besides Muzan Kibutsuji himself.
As a Pillar ranked even higher than the former Sound Pillar, Sanemi's strength was in a league of its own. Lucas had recently broken through to Rank E, but even so, there was still a massive four-rank difference between them.
If Lucas didn't give this fight everything he had, he wouldn't just lose—he might die.
Without hesitation, Lucas surged forward like a flash of lightning, becoming a blur of golden-yellow arcs and thunderclaps.
Against an overwhelming opponent, a defensive stance was pointless. The only chance was to strike first—and strike hard.
Sanemi's teal-colored nichirin blade gleamed as he smiled.
He wasn't surprised—he was thrilled.
Lucas's blade clashed with Sanemi's.
Clang!
In an instant, Lucas was sent flying backwards.
Golden arcs of lightning scattered through the air like sparks from a forge. Lucas skidded back across the courtyard, his hands gripping his sword tightly as he bent his knees to stabilize himself.
His Thunder Breathing surged to its maximum.
Exhaling sharply, Lucas narrowed his eyes. The intensity of the first exchange had shaken him, but it also lit a fire in his blood.
"Still not enough," he murmured.
With a shout, Lucas kicked off again. This time, his speed was faster—sharper. The crackle of lightning grew louder as he shot toward Sanemi once more.
But Sanemi blocked it again. Effortlessly.
He raised his blade with calm precision, deflecting the attack with ease.
Any other Pillar might've struggled to deal with such rapid, relentless strikes. But not Sanemi.
He was the Wind Pillar—master of speed, reflex, and chaos. If Thunder Breathing focused on swift, linear attacks, then Wind Breathing danced with unpredictable fury.
At its peak, Wind could even outmatch Thunder in speed.
Lucas launched another series of blinding attacks, but Sanemi remained calm.
His feet barely moved, yet his blade intercepted every strike. Not a single blow landed.
"Again," Lucas said, his voice flat and emotionless, like still water hiding deep currents.
Sanemi's gaze flickered with interest.
If this young man weren't protecting a demon, he would have made a promising successor. His mastery over Thunder Breathing, his reaction speed, his instincts—it all reminded Sanemi of a young Tokito or even the former Sound Pillar.
Such a pity.
A waste of talent.
The courtyard was soon filled with dazzling arcs of golden lightning. Every step Lucas took left trails of sparks behind. His strikes—quick, fierce, and unpredictable—sliced through the air with deadly intent.
And yet, Sanemi remained untouched.
An invisible barrier, a wind-like shield, seemed to swirl around the Wind Pillar. Lucas's blade couldn't penetrate it.
Each time he got close, his strike was redirected, absorbed, or simply deflected. Sanemi countered every move with ease.
Eventually, Sanemi grew tired of standing still.
He began advancing slowly, casually deflecting Lucas's attacks as he closed the distance.
The open courtyard gave Lucas room to maneuver, but that space was quickly vanishing. Sanemi's pressure was like a storm—steady and unstoppable.
From the sidelines, the Sound Pillar watched with a complicated expression.
"No wonder he could kill a Lower Moon Demon," the Sound Pillar murmured. "That speed… and his stamina. Incredible."
Among the Nine Pillars, only the Sound Pillar and the Wind Pillar could truly understand what Lucas was doing. Bursting forward with such velocity again and again wasn't something an ordinary fighter could sustain.
But even as Sanemi smiled, his eyes never relaxed.
Lucas's speed, his unpredictability, his stubborn will—it demanded respect.
From the spectators' gallery, several Demon Slayer Corps members murmured in awe.
"He's fast. Really fast."
"What was the name of that lightning bird again?"
"Forget it. Doesn't matter. Shinazugawa's getting serious now..."
The Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, stood silently, his hands clasped in prayer. His calm voice rumbled.
"It's ending soon. That boy has almost no space left to move. Once he can't dodge, Sanemi will strike. And then..."
Even the gentle Rock Pillar couldn't imagine a way for Lucas to survive what was coming.
Lucas's body trembled slightly. He was now only three meters away from Sanemi, backed into a corner.
The edges of the courtyard pressed close around him. There was nowhere else to go.
He stopped moving.
His blade hung low in his hands. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breaths shallow but deliberate.
Sparks still crackled across the stone floor. His Thunder Breathing had scorched grooves into the ground.
Lucas's body ached all over.
Each of his muscles screamed with strain. His nichirin blade was chipped. His hands were blistered. His legs trembled under the weight of continuous high-speed bursts.
But his eyes remained steady.
Calm.
Resolved.
Sanemi raised an eyebrow.
This was the end, wasn't it?
"Impressive," Sanemi admitted aloud. "But your blade hasn't touched me once."
Lucas didn't respond immediately. He lowered his gaze slightly, staring at the lightning dancing along the ground like golden snakes.
Then he whispered.
"That's about enough."
His tone was soft—but it carried weight.
"Oh?" Sanemi chuckled. "I think I've had my fun too."
He rotated his sword lazily. "Time to finish this."
The Pillars around them tensed. Something had shifted in the air.
Lucas raised his damaged blade slowly. Thunder cracked behind him like a war drum.
"No," he said quietly. "It's just beginning."
As the words left his lips, every arc of electricity crawling across the courtyard responded.
Zzzzzztt!
The thunder snapped into formation, like soldiers answering a commander's call.
They surged toward Lucas.
The golden arcs raced across the ground and gathered around him like an army of light. The courtyard blazed with power.
The sparks danced up his body, crawling along his arms, converging onto his nichirin blade.
The sound grew deafening—a piercing shriek, like a thousand birds crying out at once.
Lightning.
Pure, unfiltered, golden lightning.
Thunder Breathing.
From the corner of the courtyard, Lucas stood tall—bathed in golden light, the sun glinting off his armor and his damaged blade.
He inhaled.
And then chanted.
"Thunder Breathing, Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash."
BOOM!
The courtyard exploded in light.
A blinding, white-gold flash erupted from Lucas. For a moment, it was as if a miniature sun had ignited in the center of the estate.
All the Pillars instinctively shielded their eyes.
Sanemi raised his blade, narrowing his eyes as he braced himself.
From within the blinding light, a thunderous roar cracked the sky.
The final clash had begun.
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