Soutarou stood for a moment studying her. 'No multiple eyes or disfigured body. She still has her human form fully. Definitely a Jōkyu ranked.'
Only Jōkyu ranked upwards could retain their human fully when turned into demons.
Soutarou bursted forward in a fraction of a second.
His sword whistled through the air, aiming straight for her throat.
She lifted her arm effortlessly.
CLANG.
His blade met her skin, but the impact sounded like he had struck another metal.
His katana bounced off her arm without leaving even a scratch.
The demon chuckled.
"How do you suppose you'll kill me? With a deadblade. I can see you're not using it."
Soutarou roared—cutting her off.
His right leg stomped to the ground, dirt exploded beneath his heel.
He yanked his katana back with all his might.
It struck her skin, but this time it bit deeper.
A thin crimson line welled along her forearm.
The demon's laughter died instantly. Her eyes widened.
She sprang backward immediately creating distance between them.
"Not bad," she purred. "But barely a scratch." She reached to touch a shallow cut but froze.
Soutarou held up her severed forearm.
"Not bad?"
The demon looked at the stump where her arm had been then back at Soutarou.
Her cheeks flushed—not with anger, but with something entirely different. Her breath quickened.
"Amazing..." she whispered, breathlessly, almost reverently. "You're strong."
She swayed slightly like she felt intoxicated.
"What's your name?"
Soutarou said nothing. He dropped the severed arm and raised his blade.
Miwaka stood behind him with her jaw dropped.
"He... he actually cut a Jōkyu... Rank demon. Without Ki."
The demon's arm began to heal, flesh weaving itself back onto bone with wet, organic sounds that made Miwaka's stomach turn.
The demon moved. So Fast Soutarou barely saw her coming.
He focused, trying to channel the surge of energy into his blade. He felt it thrumming in his grip, but no glow appeared on the steel.
'Why won't it work?'
Soutarou swung at her neck. She moved like a serpent, her body twisting mid-lunge.
Her claws slashed toward his face.
Soutarou jerked back. Her claws flashed past, missing by an inch.
He thrust his sword forward aiming for her heart. He attempted again concentrating on the energy he felt building inside.
The demon trapped his blade with her armpit, clamping the blade between her arm and ribs.
She caught his collar before he could react and yanked him closer.
Their faces were so close he could feel her breath warm on his face. Her crimson eyes burned into his with hunger.
"You're not using ki," she said, her voice low. "You know you can never kill me without it."
"Shit," Soutarou muttered, trying to wrench himself free. 'She's got me. She's too fast.'
"Or..." Her lips parted slightly. "Do you love to dance with me?"
Soutarou ignored her. He grabbed her throat, squeezing as hard as he could.
Her cheeks turned red. eyes half-closing. "You want me too—"
"RUN! NOW!" Soutarou screamed over his shoulder.
Silence.
He gritted his teeth. 'I'm supposed to kill it, not tell her to run.'
No footsteps. No movement. He continued gripping the demon's throat.
The words tasted bitter in his mouth. "I said RUN, DAMMIT!"
Still nothing.
'Is she dead?' His heart lurched.
The demon's face twisted from excitement to disgust.
She shoved him off and kicked him squarely in the chest.
Soutarou flew backward.
He landed hard on his feet, skidding. He looked at Miwaka.
She stood exactly where he'd left her, frozen, eyes wide with horror.
Rage flooded through him. He lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and squeezed.
"Why didn't you run?!"
"S-so you're that type of man?!" the demon grumbled.
Both Soutarou and Miwaka stay still.
The demon fists clenched, eyes glistening with... tears?
"We just fell in love and you're already cheating! I HATE YOU!"
She stomped her foot like a petulant child.
The ground cracked beneath her.
Violet light burst from the point of impact, spreading like a spiderweb across the forest floor. The lines pulsed with raw power.
The recognition came unbidden—not a proper memory, but something deeper. Soul memory.
Soutarou's eyes widened. 'I've seen this before.' He knows this was her demon art. but his soul felt like he had seen it before despite being the first time fighting this particular demon.
He released Miwaka's arm and gripped his katana tighter.
'This is where it gets hard.'
He couldn't use ki. So, from now on her attacks would be invisible to him. With Ki he wouldn't know what her demon art did or how it worked until it struck him.
'This is about to get worse.' His jaw clenched. 'But I just have to save her. That's all. Or maybe this time... I'll get it right.'
"Hey." His voice was steadier than he felt. He didn't look at Miwaka, keeping his gaze locked on the demon. "I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But if you want to leave here alive, when I say run, you run."
"But..." Miwaka's voice trembled. "How will you kill her?"
Silence.
"I've heard of you," she said, barely more than a whisper. "Every new recruit has. We're all warned... not to end up like you."
Soutarou gritted his teeth so hard they ached.
'That's how far my name has fallen. The prodigy, now used to mock recruits.'
"I couldn't run because..." Miwaka faced the ground, her voice soft but steady. " I couldn't run and leave a fellow slayer to die."
She raised her head, looking up at him.
"You're giving your all even though you know you can't win... That's the type of slayer I want to be."
Soutarou felt something in his chest tighten, then ease.
A genuine smile tugged at his lips. Someone was inspired by him. Not pitying. Not mocking. 'Inspired.'
He glanced at her briefly. "What's your name?"
"Miwaka."
"I'll pin her down. You focus on one clean strike. Don't hesitate. Just take the opening when it comes. That's the plan"
She nodded, tightening her grip on her katana.
"Good." His smile sharpened. "Let's finish this together."
The demon stood, twitching. Veins bulged on her forehead and neck, pulsing in rhythm with the glowing web beneath their feet.
"Unacceptable," she hissed. "You're flirting with her right in front of me! Just die!"
"You talk too much."
Soutarou had already moved, his blade slashing toward her throat.
The demon flowed like water. Her nails lashed at his side.
He blocked, steel clashing against bone in an ugly screech.
Her other hand came up low, aiming for his ribs.
He pivoted, lifting his leg to intercept.
Her wrist slammed to his shin. The impact spun him through the air.
He slammed into a tree. The bark exploded outward.
Time seemed to slow.
Soutarou caught a glimpse of the demon charging furiously toward Miwaka, claws outstretched.
'Shit—she's going for Miwaka. Too fast. Can't reach her in time.'
His eyes snapped to his blade. It was the only thing he could do.
He hurled his katana.
The blade spun end over end and pierced through the demon's hand.
She shrieked.
Soutarou launched himself from the tree. The sole of his boot struck the hilt of his embedded sword, driving it deeper through her hand and into the earth.
He balanced on the hilt, pinning her like an insect.
"Now, Miwaka!"
Miwaka leaped forward, sword drawn high above her head, determination blazing on her face.
All she had to do was bring the blade down.
"You WHORE!"
Before Soutarou could react. The demon tore her own hand off, ripping her own flesh and bone. She sprang aside and Miwaka's blade sliced through empty air.
The force of the missed attack made Miwaka stagger. Her katana flew from her grip, clattering across the ground.
Soutarou dropped from his perch, crouching. He yanked his katana free and rose to his feet.
"We'll get her next time," Miwaka said, breathing hard.
The demon stood several paces away, head bowed, shoulders shaking.
Her newly regenerated hand dripped blood onto the purple-lit ground.
"Husband-kun..." Her voice was soft now. Broken. "You don't want to repent. So I have no choice..."
She lifted her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but her smile was manic.
"I have to kill you. Along with her. I wanted to love you. But you refused by loving another woman..." Her voice cracked. "I'm hurt."
"Husband-kun? What's wrong with her?" Soutarou muttered.
Miwaka whispered back, "She's insane."
Soutarou tightened his grip on his sword. But something nagged at him, like a sense of déjà vu, a warning that he'd been here before.
'Have I... met her?'
Images flickered through his mind out of focus.
White hair. Crimson eyes. A name he couldn't quite grasp.
His head ached. 'What... What is this?'