Willow, Tanjiro, and Inosuke darted deeper into the twisted web of Natagumo Mountain, Murata holding back the controlled slayers. The oppressive silence was thick with dread, broken only by the distant sounds of pain and the whisper of strings slicing through the air.
"Stay focused," Willow warned, tightening her grip on her blade. "We're close."
Suddenly, a voice—a girl's voice—tore through the forest ahead.
"GET A HIGHER-RANKING SLAYER HERE! PLEASE!" the demon slayer screamed as she staggered into view, her limbs jerking like a marionette. Tears poured down her cheeks as her body convulsed against the strings. "IF YOU DON'T… I'M GOING TO END UP KILLING EVERYONE! PLEASE… I BEG YOU…!!"
Her body snapped unnaturally into motion—bones cracking as her joints twisted in ways they shouldn't. She lunged.
Willow ducked under the girl's katana, her heart pounding. Tanjiro caught her mid-leap and tried to push her away without hurting her. Inosuke roared, using his swords to deflect her attacks without drawing blood.
Then two more slayers emerged from the forest, both of them grotesquely broken—arms and legs shattered, bones piercing skin, eyes glassy with agony.
"The bones… within our arms and legs…" one of them croaked. "Our internal organs… broken… we're being forced to move… it hurts… it HURTS… PLEASE… KILL US…"
"No…" Willow whispered, her entire body trembling. "No, you don't have to die. You don't…"
Willow slices at the strings holding them. Then she reached into her pouch and pulled out wisteria. "Hold on," she murmured, pressing it into their hands. The spiders recoiled, away from the injured slayers.
It worked.
Tears welled up in Willow's eyes. She'd changed fate—saved them from the cruel end she knew was coming.
"Thank you…" one of the boys muttered as he passed out.
"We need to keep moving," she said firmly, standing tall once more. "There's no time to rest."
"OVER HERE!!" Inosuke shouted, his wild eyes scanning the trees. "WE'RE VERY CLOSE!!"
Before they could advance, the ground shook as a massive, headless demon slammed down in front of them—its grotesque body rippling with muscle, scythe-like arms glinting. Strings snaked up from its back into the trees.
Without warning, it attacked.
Inosuke charged recklessly, slicing at its body, but its tough hide barely flinched. The demon countered, slashing across Inosuke's chest and shoulder. Blood spattered.
"Inosuke!!" Tanjiro cried, rushing to defend him.
Before the demon's scythe could impale Inosuke, Willow leapt in with a cry, slicing the arm clean off.
Tanjiro and Inosuke seized the moment, their blades flashing in unison—cutting from shoulder to armpit, tearing the monster apart in a clean, decisive strike.
It groaned, gurgled, and collapsed.
"I can do… whatever you can do, Whisker!" Inosuke yelled, mispronouncing her name as he charged at Willow. "Watch this!"
With unexpected strength, he picked Willow up and hurled her high into the trees.
"Don't just throw people!!" she shouted mid-air—but saw her target ahead.
The source of the strings.
A demon sitting on a rock—graceful, pale-skinned, and weary-eyed. She opened her arms gently, as if welcoming death.
"Please," she whispered. "Free me."
Willow closed her eyes.
"Dragon Breathing—Fifth Form: Peaceful Heaven."
Her blade shimmered as it passed through the demon's neck like a breeze through a field. The vision of the demon's soul drifted into a flowering field beneath the rising sun.
Before fading, she spoke softly:
"There is… a Twelve Demon Moon here… Be careful…"
Willow landed gently, her eyes solemn.
Footsteps rushed behind her. "Did you defeat her?" Tanjiro asked.
"Yes," Willow replied quietly. "But she warned me. One of the Twelve Demon Moons is here."
Tanjiro's face darkened.
Willow's gaze turned to Inosuke, who was trying to stand, blood pouring from his wounds.
"You idiot," she muttered, voice trembling. "You got hurt for no reason…"
She crouched beside him, and with Tanjiro's help, began bandaging Inosuke's arms and chest.
"Don't die, alright?" Willow says softly.
"I never die," Inosuke mumbled, half-conscious. "I just sleep loud."
They continued their march, following a shallow river. Mist curled around them, clinging to their skin like spider silk.
Suddenly—a thunderclap split the sky.
Tanjiro looked up, confused. "That sound… It's thunder. But I don't smell rain. There are no storm clouds…"
From across the river, a pale girl in a demon's kimono stepped into view. Her eyes glinted like glass.
Inosuke growled and ran at her, but she didn't flinch.
"Father!" she called out.
CRASH.
A towering demon landed between them—long, greasy hair, skin stretched unnaturally, and the face of a monstrous spider.
"GET… AWAY… FROM MY FAMILY!!" he roared.
The earth shook.
Tanjiro, Willow, and Inosuke sprang into action, but their blades barely scratched the demon's hide. His skin was like armor.
"We can't slice through it!" Willow cried, panting.
"I've got an idea!" Tanjiro shouted. He ran up a slope and sliced clean through a tree. It fell—crashing down onto the demon's back, pinning him momentarily.
"Now!" he yelled.
He and Willow lunged for the neck, blades poised—but the demon twisted violently, using the tree as leverage.
With a colossal heave, the demon flung them.
They slammed through the forest canopy, being flinged far away. Willow's box shatters on impact and Kokushibo falls.
Willow screamed.
"No—DAD!!"
Tanjiro groaned, winded. "Inosuke…! Listen to me! Don't die! That demon—it might be a Twelve Moon!"
Willow Shouted, heart pounding. "Dad!… please… protect him! If you sense another demon slayer… run!"
The mountain was far from done with them.
And something darker waited in the shadows.