The aftermath of the simultaneous crossfire left the streets slick with water, blood, and the faint shimmer of residual Arcane energy. Lanterns swung violently in the wind, casting fractured shadows across the battlefield, illuminating the toll of relentless combat. Karina's violet eyes scanned her surroundings, every nerve taut, every motion deliberate—but the subtle, insidious sting of poison ran along her veins like fire.
Gyutaro's attack had landed with precision. His daggers, coated in lethal, fast-acting venom, had grazed her side during a feint. The wound burned with unnatural intensity, her Arcane Breathing compensating for pain but unable to purge the toxin entirely. Each heartbeat sent a fresh surge through her body, threatening to undermine her control, distort her perception, and cloud her judgment.
Tanjiro sensed the change immediately. "Karina!" he shouted, eyes wide with alarm. He surged forward, Water Breathing ready, but Karina raised a hand subtly, stopping him. "I'm not done yet," she whispered, voice calm but strained. "I can still fight. Stay close… and be ready."
Her movements remained precise, but the internal strain was mounting. The venom seeped into her muscles, threatening coordination, while Arcane energy strained to maintain the fractured reality manipulations she had relied upon to survive Gyutaro's assaults.
Tengen noticed the subtle falter in her rhythm, his keen eyes sharp even through the chaos of battle. He moved closer, placing himself strategically to shield her from further attacks. "Do not push yourself beyond reason," he warned, voice firm but threaded with concern. His presence was both protective and authoritative, a stabilizing force amid the maelstrom.
Karina's gaze met his, violet eyes steady yet reflective. She felt the tension of the moment—not just the physical threat, but the unspoken bond forming between them. "I can endure this… if it ensures victory," she murmured, voice tight but unwavering. "If I falter now… we lose the advantage."
Gyutaro, sensing the subtle shift in her control, pressed the assault. His poisoned blades danced around her with deadly precision, forcing her to parry, dodge, and counterattack in rapid succession. The venom's effect was insidious, slowing her reaction in fractions of a second, enough to increase risk with every motion.
Tanjiro and Inosuke coordinated nearby, engaging Daki in a relentless offensive. Their synergy complemented Karina's strained efforts, creating openings and distractions necessary to keep both Upper Rank demons on the defensive.
A particularly sharp strike grazed her side again, the venom intensifying. Pain flared sharply, but she converted it into focus. Precision must outweigh the toxin. Mirage Blade arcs refracted around Gyutaro's attacks, creating illusions that forced miscalculations, while subtle shifts in her footing maintained distance and exploited weaknesses.
Tengen's voice cut through the haze of exertion. "Karina, trust me. I will not let you fall here!" His movements were decisive, a shield of both steel and presence, allowing her the critical breathing room to continue striking.
The moment hung suspended, intense and fragile. Karina's violet eyes glimmered faintly as she executed a perfect sequence of Arcane Breathing arcs, forcing Gyutaro to retreat fractionally, stunned by her precision despite the venom coursing through her veins.
Her chest heaved slightly, but her posture was unbroken. Pain, poison, and exhaustion were present—but her resolve remained absolute. This was no longer merely survival or combat. It was a testament to her discipline, skill, and the bond of trust forming with her allies—Tengen, Tanjiro, and Inosuke.
The night stretched around them, holding its breath. Karina had endured Gyutaro's lethal poison, but the toll was evident. Every movement required calculation, every strike demanded unwavering focus. And in the eyes of the Upper Rank, the foreign slayer remained a variable—precise, resilient, and dangerously unyielding.
Tengen's hand hovered near her, a subtle promise of support without intrusion. Tanjiro and Inosuke coordinated strikes nearby, keeping Daki pressured. Karina's violet eyes glimmered with determination, the toxin a cruel reminder that even the strongest precision had limits—but also that her resolve was unbreakable.
The poison had struck, yet Karina remained the variable, the anomaly, the force that even the Upper Rank could not predict or control. And the night, dark and tense, awaited the next move with bated breath.