At some distance from the town.
The bright moon was the only light source for the two figures, running quickly through the mountain, passing trees at high speed. Branches swayed lightly from the wind the two figures created.
The night got dimmed even more as the cloud blocked the moonlight, making it impossible to see the two figures clearly. Only the footprints from two pairs of legs are the proof of their existence.
Kanzaburo flapped his wings furiously, trying to maintain his lead as he directed them toward the town.
"Caw! Hurry! Hurry!"
---
---
Murata runs around after successfully attracting the attention of the demon.
He made sure to run in the opposite direction of the mother on the other side of the ruins.
'That should do it.'
Murata turned to face this demon.
A dust explosion filled his visions from the demon attack that Murata was lucky enough to dodge.
Soon enough, the dust settled, revealing the grotesque figure of the unicorn-horned demon.
The crunching sound of bones being repaired rang through the air. The demon's hand was healing itself after it had broken from its own attack.
Crack Snap!
The twisted limbs twitched and rotated a few times until the restored muscles were firmly fixed to the correct position.
The demon straightened his back, stretching his body from his waist to his fingers. He looked up at the bright moonlight in the sky before he fixed his gaze on Murata.
The long tongue slowly slid out of his mouth, covered in disgusting saliva. He finally noticed the Nichirin blade in Murata's hands along with the standard uniform of the Corps.
His hideous face twisted even uglier.
"Hmp... another demon slayer?"
The demon voice was sharp, his tone irritated. He scratched his purplish neck, leaving marks that bled because of his dark and pointed fingernails.
"One after another, you guys are so annoying!"
Drool, cssst!
The demon pulled his saliva into threads, some of it dripping from his long tongue and onto the ground at his feet, corroding the dirt and wood chips into black tar.
'No matter, he came at the right time.'
'Consuming high-quality humans will once again enhance my strength.'
'Just a little bit more and I could touch it!'
'The strength of the Twelve Kizuki!'
His red pupils flashed with excitement at the prospect of reaching the pinnacle of demonhood.
'With that kind of strength, I could even eat that arrogant guy who is always disgusted with demons!'
Sreek...
The demon slightly bent its knees and squatted on the ground, its eyes staring straight at Murata as its muscles tensed with veins, ready to burst forward and kill its prey.
The smell of mold and rust mixed in with the stench of blood went straight to Murata's nose.
"It stinks...!" Murata gritted his teeth; his face turned green as he stood trembling in place, feet spread apart as he pointed his Nichirin blade at the demon.
He is Murata, an ordinary Kanoe-rank member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
His comrades who went on this mission with him have disappeared! He's the only one left.
Missing in action and presumed to be...
He swallowed nervously, tightening his grip on his blade.
"Come on! Come on!"
'Don't lose your cool now, Murata!'
Murata blocked out every distraction in his head, took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving the demon form.
Then, as if a referee signaled it.
Bang!
The demon moved, exerting his force from his legs, leaving behind cracked ground and debris as he launched himself forward.
Whooosh!
Instantly, the demon turned into a sprinting afterimage and disappeared from sight.
Murata's eyes were startled, quickly observing his surroundings.
Whoosh!
Despite what he expected, the demon appeared in front of him, poised to strike at his neck.
"Roar!!"
Here it comes!
)—Total Concentration Water Breathing—(
Murata suddenly twisted his body; mist appeared at his mouth. One of his feet firmly stayed grounded as he pivoted away from the strike.
After successfully dodging the attack, Murata is not idle. He regained his balance as he tensed his muscles, his waist twisted as he put his body into swinging his blade.
The energy and breathing condensed on the tip of his sword.
"Hyuu—!"
The blade gained momentum as Murata swung it through the air, aiming at the demon's neck as water manifested from his swing.
)—Water Breathing First Form—(
)—Minamo Giri—(
(tr. Water Surface Slash)
Swish!
The slash traveled horizontally, along with a wave of water through the demon.
However,
Murata's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he separated himself from the demon. He knew he swung his sword with everything he had, and yet he felt nothing but air.
'I missed!'
Murata chastised himself for missing the killing blow. His mastery of Water Breathing wasn't impressive, as he could only manifest water with the First Form.
Even then, just using the Total Concentration Water Breathing left him exhausted and his muscles spasming from overwork.
He put everything in that strike because he knew any more encounters would put him at a disadvantage.
Which is the opening that the demon seized.
Drip
Saliva dripped from above and into Murata's hair.
Csst—!
The corrosive element immediately burned as white smoke rose from his hair.
The demon was hovering behind Murata, blocking the moonlight. His claws were taut as his nails glinted like a sharp knife.
Whoosh!
His arm swung and cut through the air, aiming for Murata's neck.
"Die!"
Murata didn't even have time to turn his head and look at his would-be murderer. The chill ran up his spine and through his neck as his body stiffened.
'Shit!'
While his body was terrified, his heart felt an unprecedented peace.
'Haaa~ All is lost.'
Murata closed his eyes, accepting his death. His grip on his Nichirin blade slackened.
'I'm sorry, Father, Mother.'
'I'm sorry, my friends.'
He lowered his head, his black center-parted hair swaying slightly.
'I'm... going to die...'
...
Murata opened his eyes fiercely; determination suddenly filled his entire being.
'But before I die! I'm going to cut him once!'
Murata slackened grip on his Nichirin blade tighten immediately. He gritted his teeth as he pivoted and swung his blade again with every last ounce of strength in his body.
Both slayer and demon swung together, neither of them giving ground as the fight reached its climax.
---
The figure that was running at high speed suddenly stopped; his dark red haori and hair swayed with inertia as the man looked into the distance.
Cling!
He smoothly drew his blade from its scabbard at his waist.
Then he held it high like he was about to throw a spear.
Pointing the blade horizontally in the direction of the demon that Murata was fighting.
He pulled back his arm and started his throwing motion.
"Hiss—!"
A large amount of oxygen filled his lungs, powering his entire being. He felt his muscles brimming with strength, ready to let loose.
He tensed up and executed his technique—
)—Sun Breathing Eight Form—(
)—Yōkatotsu—(
(tr. Sunflower thrust)
Sha!
The blade erupted in a dazzling fire, instantly enveloping the blade. The scalding flame rolled and burned brightly in the dark night, as if a beacon of hope had been lit.
He exerted all his strength and threw it toward the demon. Along with the katana, another fast and blurred figure rushed out from his side.
Whoosh!