'Crackle... Crackle...'
As Doma's body disintegrated, the surrounding ice and snow melted away.
The freezing cold receded.
Confirming Doma was sent to hell, an exhausted Sanemi gave in. He collapsed onto the ground to catch his breath and recover his strength.
Compared to Sanemi, Shinichi was in better condition. He wiped the ice and snow from his Nichirin Blade and glanced at the two figures in the distance.
Shinobu and her older sister, Kanae, watched them with concern.
Witnessing Doma's defeat, their eyes held a sense of relief.
In Shinobu's violet eyes, Shinichi's figure reflected with a unique glint—a mix of surprise, reassurance, and other mixed emotions.
"Sanemi, can you still fight?" Shinichi asked.
He extended a hand to help him up.
Sanemi gritted his teeth against the pain. He braced himself and gripped Shinichi's hand, using the leverage to stand up.
"Of course I can! My Nichirin Blade is still waiting to cut Muzan's neck!!"
It was obvious Sanemi was forcing himself to stand, but Shinichi said nothing.
A steady stream of breath of life flowed from Shinichi's hand into Sanemi's. Sanemi felt the warm energy coursing through his arm, mending his body.
Moved, Sanemi's rough nature made it hard for him to show his gratitude.
He turned his head and muttered, "Thanks, Shinichi."
Kanae and Shinobu approached the pair, supporting each other as they walked.
Shinichi continued channeling the breath of life.
With only one free hand left, he took Shinobu's small, cold hand.
At Shinichi's nod, Sanemi took Kanae's hand.
Yet despite the healing energy, why was Sanemi's face so red?
"Heh~"
Holding Shinobu's hand, Shinichi felt its icy chill.
It lacked warmth.
Glancing down at her pale face and bloodstained stomach, he frowned.
'This girl is more reckless than I thought.'
"Does it still hurt?"
Shinobu paused, then shook her head. A faint smile played at the corner of her lips. "It doesn't hurt anymore, Shinichi. I seem to owe you another life. Now I am in trouble... how will I ever repay you?"
Shinichi fell silent, releasing her hand and ruffling her hair instead.
"What nonsense are you saying, you silly girl? Next time, please value your own life more. Slaying demons is our mission, but that doesn't mean we should throw our lives away." His voice carried an undeniable seriousness.
"Besides, with me around, I will never let anything happen to you."
Hearing this, Shinobu looked up at Shinichi.
Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth.
Her voice buzzed with disbelief and surprise. "Is this a confession?... are you asking me to marry you, Shinichi?"
"Uh, hmm?"
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Shinichi was not the only one stunned, Sanemi and Kanae, standing nearby, were dumbstruck.
Sanemi's face, normally flushed, paled as he stared at Shinobu, then back at Shinichi.
'What is going on? Is this really the time for love confessions?'
Kanae watched the scene with a gentle smile, though tears glistened in her eyes.
'Shinobu....'
"What?" Shinichi was bewildered.
'What do you mean this counts as a confession?'
In his mind, he confessed already, had he not?
But when his confused gaze met the mischievous glint in those violet eyes, Shinichi realized the girl was teasing him.
She wanted to ease the tension between her sister and Sanemi, or perhaps hint at Sanemi's feelings for Kanae.
Sanemi turned his head away, letting out a soft hum.
It was just a hint of envy, nothing more.
A kasugai crow swooped down from above and landed on Shinichi's shoulder, squawking.
"Lord Shinichi! Lord Shinichi! Yushiro-sama sent word! Lady Tamayo's location is found! She is deep within the Infinity Castle! Proceed to rescue her!"
Shinichi's expression hardened, and he stood up.
"I understand."
He turned to Shinobu and the other two. "Rest and recover your strength. Leave the next battle to me."
Hearing they were going to rescue Lady Tamayo, Shinobu volunteered, rising to her feet.
"I'm coming too! I will go with you!"
"Absolutely not," Shinichi said, pressing his hand on her shoulder.
Joking aside, venturing deeper into the Infinity Castle in her current condition would be dangerous.
Who knew what traps Shokyu had prepared for them?
His tone left no room for argument. "Your injuries haven't healed yet. Focus on resting and recovering your strength first."
Shinobu bit her lip.
Seeing Shinichi's serious and determined expression, she nodded. "Alright, then... Shinichi, you... please be careful."
Shinichi smiled, the warmth of his smile like a spring breeze.
"Don't worry. I am the Forest Hashira after all. My life is as tough as wild grass."
With those words, his figure transformed into a streak of green light, darting toward the deepest depths of the Infinity Castle.
Behind him, Shinobu watched his retreating figure vanish, whispering a prayer too soft for anyone to hear.
...
At the opposite end of Infinity Castle:
BOOM!!!
A deafening roar, like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting apart, exploded across the vast training hall.
Gyomei Himejima's towering frame stood like a fortress.
His swinging Nichirin Meteor Hammer like a divine punishment made manifest, smashed through countless crescent-moon blades of light!
Before him, two afterimages—one crimson, one azure—pursued a violet streak of light!
The Breath of Maple and Breath of Mist intertwined, clashing with the overwhelming power of the Breath of the Moon.
Their movements were swift.
The human eye struggled to track them. The arcs of light tore through the surrounding Infinity Castle structures, reducing them to splinters.
This brutal battle raged for an eternity.
As the Demon Slayer Corps' strongest Stone Pillar, Gyomei was covered in wounds. The web between his thumb and forefinger on his left hand, which gripped the Nichirin Meteor Hammer, split open from the impact.
The Tokito brothers, Yuichiro and Muichiro, were in equal danger.
Their bodies were covered with fine cuts.
Yuichiro's left arm hung at an unnatural angle, dislocated. A deep gash, inflicted by the Breath of the Moon's blade energy, split Muichiro's chest, staining his uniform crimson with blood.
Yet they stood firm. Their eyes burned with resolve as they glared at Kokushibo.
Kokushibo gazed back, a flicker of complex emotion in his six eyes.
He took a single, deliberate step toward Gyomei Himejima and the Tokito brothers.
Just one step.
The pressure descended like a heavy ocean, crushing in from all sides.
The group felt their breathing grow strained, as if the air thickened into water.
"You... are you truly so foolish?" Kokushibo's voice remained calm.