Sanemi Shinazugawa was anxious.
Extremely anxious.
If he didn't kill that so-called Moon Demon before the Master noticed, he'd have no choice but to release Makomo.
And afterward, it would be difficult—maybe impossible—to force Ryuya to appear with this method again.
Making peace with demons? He couldn't understand women like Kanae at all.
Demons should be killed.
And Ryuya—that selfish, disrespectful bastard who had turned the Flower Hashira into a demon—Sanemi would cut off his head for her and for the Demon Slayer Corps.
Sanemi paced back and forth in front of Makomo.
Tied to a tree with rope, Makomo tugged helplessly. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free.
But even so, she'd rather be tied here than let her master walk into the Wind Hashira's trap.
"Damn it—are you really not gonna cry until you see your coffin? Should I cut off your hand to provoke him?!"
Sanemi shouted at her.
But even though it infuriated him that Makomo saw Ryuya as her master, he wasn't insane enough to actually cut her hand.
He was only trying to scare her—make her call out for Ryuya and lure him here.
"Go ahead and cut it! I'm not afraid of you!"
Makomo shot back fiercely.
Sanemi's arm twitched with anger, his fingers trembling on the hilt of his Nichirin blade.
Damn brat!
Just as Sanemi was about to lose the last of his patience, Ryuya arrived at Demon Mountain.
Walking beside him was Giyu Tomioka—the "hothead" Sanemi had sent to tip him off.
"You finally came. I've been waiting forever. I thought you were too scared!" Sanemi laughed, expression twisted.
Ryuya cast him a cold glance, a dangerous smile pulling at his lips.
He didn't even bother responding. Instead, he strode straight toward Makomo.
"Master… Makomo has caused trouble for you…"
Tears welled in Makomo's eyes, mixed with guilt and fear.
"A girl, tied to a tree in the middle of the night, deep in the mountains… Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa, you've really outdone yourself."
Ryuya's suppressed fury snapped.
His sclera flushed blood-red, and the Killing Intent pouring off him made Giyu's expression shift.
What terrifying bloodlust…
"Thanks for the compliment. Moon Demon, are you ready for me to cut off your head now?"
Sanemi taunted, watching Ryuya carefully untie Makomo.
"Makomo, stay back and protect yourself."
Ryuya gently patted her head.
"Yes, Master. Please be careful… don't let anything happen to you."
Makomo quickly retreated, unwilling to cause him even the slightest distraction.
"Don't worry. Master will settle your grievances."
The moment he turned toward Sanemi again, all gentleness vanished—cold murder replacing it.
Sanemi's knees twitched, his grip tightening. Whether it was excitement or fear, even he couldn't tell.
"Hey hey hey, demon—here I come! Get ready to lose your damn head!"
Sanemi inhaled sharply. A spiraling hurricane erupted around him, shredding leaves and gouging the earth as he charged.
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
"Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Lunar Soul Calamity!"
Ryuya spun his blade, summoning massive crimson moon blades interlaced with tiny, fragmented golden arcs.
They slammed into Sanemi's whirlwind head-on.
Visibly, the hurricane shredded layer by layer under the carving moon blades.
After neutralizing Sanemi's assault with a defensive form, Ryuya attacked immediately.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon — Palace of the Sky!"
His Iaijutsu-like slash came so fast the air cracked. A horizontal moon blade screamed toward Sanemi's waist.
Too fast!
Sanemi's pupils shrank. He leaped back, hurriedly forming a defensive technique:
"Wind Breathing, Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree!"
Three wind blades spun out, colliding with Ryuya's moon blades.
Sparks exploded between their Nichirin blades, the shockwaves stirring Giyu's sleeves.
So strong…
Though they looked evenly matched overall, Giyu could see the truth.
In precision, in rhythm, in killing instinct—Sanemi was being overwhelmed.
"Moon Breathing, Third Form: Abhorrent Moon — Corrosion!"
Irregular crimson blades spiraled out.
"Wind Breathing, Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm!"
"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Eternal Night — Solitary Moon!"
Sanemi dodged and countered the first attack—
—but Ryuya's follow-up was already upon him.
No way—this fast?!
Wind blades shattered one after another as the concentrated moon blades tore through them.
Sanemi, unable to form another technique in time, used his blade to block—
—and was launched backward as if hit by a battering ram.
Tiny golden moon fragments sliced through his clothing and skin, leaving dozens of small bleeding wounds.
He crashed and scraped along the ground, plowing a long human-shaped trench.
"Cough… cough…"
Disheveled, Sanemi barely stood before Ryuya was already on him again—merciless, relentless.
"Haha! You're interesting! You damn Moon Demon, you're really interesting!"
Sanemi laughed wildly as their blades clashed.
But in raw strength alone, Ryuya forced his knees to buckle.
Who taught this demon Moon Breathing?
Every movement was precise. No waste. No openings. Terrifyingly refined.
Giyu's eyes narrowed. He had thought Sanemi could at least survive this fight unscathed.
But if this continued, Sanemi would die.
He had to intervene.
Giyu drew his blade—
"HEY! Water Hashira, you better not interfere in my fight!"
Sanemi barked, stopping him before he could step in.
At the same time, Sanemi bared his teeth at Ryuya and sneered.
"Why're you slowing down, huh? Confused? Feeling tipsy? My blood's pretty damn good, right, demon?"
Sanemi's grin widened.
His blood—Rarest of the rare.
The intoxicating type.
Demons who inhaled its scent became drunk and numb.
The stronger the demon, the worse the effect.
From the moment Ryuya received a scratch, his movements had indeed slowed—just a little, but enough to notice.
His blood was working.
Ryuya narrowed his eyes.
So that's what it is.
No wonder he felt that faint wave of dizziness. No wonder his movements had dulled slightly.
Though… Sanemi's rare blood did have its charm. He almost wanted a taste.
However—
The ice-poison effect embedded in his sword techniques should've entered Sanemi's body too… right?
...
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