Eternal Paradise Cult.
Devotees drifted through the shrine like moths chasing salvation, their faces filled with serene piety.
A beautiful woman walked through the corridor, her butterfly-patterned haori fluttering lightly.
Her black hair framed soft features, her purple eyes calm yet sharp, and butterfly-shaped hairpins rested on each side of her head—Kanae Kocho, the Flower Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kanae wrinkled her delicate nose.
A metallic scent of blood.
A faint but revolting demon aura.
After receiving a report from the Kasugai crows, the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, had requested her elder sister to investigate the cult.
Several visitors had gone missing, and the signs pointed clearly to a demon.
Now, feeling the demonic presence firsthand, Kanae's brows knitted gently.
Why do demons, once human, always lose their humanity?
Her dream was simple—humans and demons coexisting peacefully, without slaughter or sorrow.
Her footsteps pressed lightly into the damp ground as she moved with the grace of a drifting butterfly.
"Oh my, what a beautiful young lady! What incredible luck—truly wonderful luck!"
Kanae halted. Her purple eyes lifted to the man blocking her path.
He carried a golden iron fan. His hair was pale—almost white oak. His eyes glimmered with rainbow-like patterns. And his lips curved into a cruel, playful smile—a predator amused by its own hunt.
A demon.
Kanae's fingers brushed the hilt of her Nichirin blade.
"That stance is excellent. From your presence… you must be a Hashira, yes?"
Doma's smile stretched as he glanced upward—toward a figure perched lightly on a tree branch.
"Young Master Ryuya! With you here, my luck is simply outstanding!"
Ryuya Kibutsuji stood above like a shadow.
Doma licked his lips, completely excited at the idea of eating a Hashira—especially a woman.
As a demon, Doma only consumed women, a habit that disgusted Ryuya more than anything.
Even in his past life as a human—and now as a demon—Ryuya only consumed minimal blood when necessary.
He had never eaten a human.
But this woman…
Something about her resembled Shinobu Kocho.
Unable to recall clearly, Ryuya asked bluntly, "Which Hashira are you? And what's your relationship with Shinobu Kocho?"
Kanae froze in surprise.
There was another demon here?
The iron-fan demon already radiated overwhelming danger.
But the one referred to as Young Master—she hadn't sensed him at all.
"Young Miss Butterfly," Doma chirped, "Young Master Ryuya asked you a question. Where are your manners? Such impoliteness must be corrected!"
In an instant, Doma lunged forward.
Kanae's pupils shrank. She leapt backward, drawing her Nichirin blade in a single fluid motion.
Peach-pink metal glimmered.
An emerald-green hilt.
A clover-shaped tsuba.
Her signature blade.
"Ahh… this aura excites me," Doma crooned.
"Your flavor must be exquisite. I've never eaten a female Hashira before!"
His golden bangs fluttered, revealing the engraved kanji in his eyes—
Upper Rank Two.
Kanae's hand trembled.
A Hashira had never survived an encounter with an Upper Rank Demon.
And this one—Upper Rank Two—stood before her, smiling.
Will I die here?
No.
Dawn was approaching. She could hold out.
Her crow had surely reported to the Master—reinforcements were coming.
She only needed to delay.
She could win.
Kanae steadied her breathing despite the chilling dread in her chest.
Demons like this could not be reasoned with.
Though kind, she wasn't naive.
She stepped forward, mud splashing beneath her feet.
"Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility!"
Nine consecutive thrusts burst forth, scattering a whirlwind of pink petals as sword aura surrounded Doma.
"Marvelous speed, Miss Butterfly!"
Doma smirked, waving his fan.
Lotus-shaped ice crystals shot forward, a freezing gale shredding her attacks instantly.
Kanae inhaled—cold stung her lungs.
Her body reacted on instinct. She retreated sharply, widening the distance.
From his vantage point, Ryuya read the situation with ease.
Kanae Kocho's Flower Breathing emphasized elegance and speed—but lacked the power to break Doma's ice.
Worse, Doma's Blood Demon Art was one of the most dangerous for the Demon Slayer Corps:
Ice crystals that disrupted breathing—eventually destroying the lungs.
Kanae, ignorant of his ability, had already inhaled too much.
Just as expected, her body trembled. She struggled to draw air. Her eyes widened.
Why? Why does breathing hurt? Why is it so hard to breathe?
Every inhale felt like stabbing icicles tearing through her lungs.
"Oh my, Miss, how careless!" Doma giggled.
"I forgot to mention—my ice crystals are loaded with extremely potent poison!"
Ryuya watched, unimpressed.
Doma always did this—mocking his prey, revealing his Blood Demon Art, gathering information while believing utterly that his opponent wouldn't live long enough to use it.
Kanae wiped blood from her lips.
And still, she attacked.
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!"
"Blood Demon Art: Frozen Clouds."
Doma moved faster. A wave of ice crystals surged toward her.
Kanae's curved blade clashed with Doma's fan, sparks flying.
Frozen Clouds swirled around her. She deduced instantly that inhaling more would be fatal.
While slashing, she retreated, slipping out of the icy mist.
"Blood Demon Art: Waning Lotus!"
Vines of ice and blooming lotus flowers shot through the air like serpents, converging from all directions.
Kanae gasped—pain ripping her chest as she coughed blood.
Still, she fought through the agony.
"Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum!"
Her strikes sliced the vines apart in a flurry of petals.
But before relief could settle, Doma's assault crashed forward again.
"Blood Demon Art: Withered Garden — Falling Snow."
Frost hardened into blades as he executed a rapid nine-hit combo.
Kanae staggered back.
Sweat dripped down her pale face.
Her Nichirin blade cracked under the relentless force.
Her grip trembled violently.
Doma's speed increased—
Or perhaps hers had begun to fade.
She could barely see his attacks anymore.
"Is that all, young lady? I've only just begun getting a little serious!"