Damn it, she actually ran?!
Whether it was Natsunishi, Kochou Shinobu—who had not yet recovered from the shock—or the Storm Hashira, who had already quietly gripped his hilt, all of them were stunned.
It wasn't that every demon was expected to be a hot-blooded fool who fought to the death. However, in most cases, when demons encountered Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, they would rely on their regenerative bodies and Blood Demon Arts to trade a few blows first. Of course, it wasn't necessarily that the demons were arrogant; it was simply that in the vast majority of cases, they slaughtered ordinary humans and low-to-mid-rank swordsmen. They naturally possessed the confidence born of arrogance.
Mukago was no different. That is, if she hadn't personally witnessed other Lower Moons being decapitated by "Hashira." Those Demon Slayers with golden buttons were each as terrifyingly strong as demons themselves. Even if the man with glasses before her wasn't the same orange-haired swordsman from her memories, even if this man was weaker—possessing only seventy or eighty percent of that other person's strength—Mukago figured she wouldn't last more than a few moves against him.
So, she had to bolt! Monsters like this should be left to the Upper Moons, who were monsters themselves, to deal with!
In an instant, a smokescreen of eye-stinging spores filled the entire courtyard of the sanatorium. The ground cracked and burst as thick vines surged like a tidal wave.
Watching the rapidly receding demonic figure, Igarashi moved slightly, lowering his stance.
"Pursue."
In the next second, he intended to lead the three of them in a chase. But Natsunishi interrupted him: "Wait, that one is a decoy!"
Perhaps in the eyes of others, that demonic presence—wild, ostentatious, and fleeing for its life—was undoubtedly the main body. But in Natsunishi's eyes, it was a different story entirely. Because on the red label above the figure's head, the words "Vine Clone" were clearly written, and its power level was far lower than the three-hundred-plus from before. It was only fifty.
While swinging his blade to slice through the encroaching vines, he shielded Kochou Shinobu behind him. His gaze quickly swept across the sanatorium. Within the gaps of the interlacing vines, an inconspicuous demonic figure was silently slipping away in a different direction.
In his field of vision, the system's label panel was as eye-catching as ever.
[Mukago ???] Power Level: 321...
"Over there!"
Almost at the same moment Natsunishi's voice rang out, the Storm Hashira followed Natsunishi's gaze and spotted the demon. The young man adjusted his glasses and vanished from their side in the blink of an eye.
In the next instant, a cyan sword-light, like wings tearing through the sky, swept across most of the courtyard accompanied by the whistling of mountain winds. Whether it was the spores floating in the air or the steel-like vines surging from the ground, everything was cleaved in two by this strike, which resembled the spread wings of a flying bluebird.
Cleaved through. Also cut off was Mukago's main body's escape route.
Staring at the deep gouge carved into the ground beneath her feet, the blood drained from the demon's face, her expression shifting between fear and desperation.
"I almost let you slip away, Miss Demon," Igarashi nodded slightly toward Natsunishi. "Good work, Kuguruma."
If not for Natsunishi's reminder, he likely would have been led astray by the opponent's trickery.
"How could you see through it?!" The demon looked at Natsunishi with shock and rage. "I was almost free!"
The sweetness and panic on Mukago's face vanished completely. Now that her retreat had been cut off by the Storm Hashira, she replaced her expression with the ferocity and madness belonging to a Lower Moon demon.
"If that's how it is, you've forced my hand!"
[Saprophytic Nest: Strangling Garden]
She no longer held back, pouring all her strength into her Blood Demon Art. The surging vines suddenly paused. Then, from the cracks in the ruined masonry and from beneath the floorboards, countless vines—far thicker than before and shimmering with an eerie purple light—gushed out frantically. They entangled and fused with one another. Within a few breaths, they transformed into two massive wooden palms that blotted out the moon and sky.
Her confidence seemed to recover slightly along with this move.
"So what if your sword is fast?! This move isn't something that can be stopped by mere slashing! Even against a Hashira, I, Mukago, can hold my own!"
Even if they were lucky enough to withstand her finishing move, the potent poison carried by those vines would leave them in agonizing pain! With a force intended to crush everything, the palms closed in from all directions!
Facing this desperate strike, the Storm Hashira finally drew his sword completely from its sheath for the first time. It was a light blue Nichirin Sword that shimmered slightly like moonlight on flowing water.
[Storm Breathing]
[Seventh Form: Piercing the Woods, Striking the Leaves]
Several arcs of wind, resembling the crisp autumn breeze in a forest, rippled out slowly beneath the giant palms. The wind was as gentle as a nocturnal breath in the woods, yet it carried the damp chill of late autumn and a rustling sound that made it seem as if bamboo leaves were brushing against one's ears.
Crack...
The massive wooden palms, containing terrifying power, were eroded by the autumn wind while still several meters away from the trio. Or rather, they were severed by the Nichirin Sword. They snapped at the base and collapsed. The cross-sections were as smooth as mirrors, as if they had merely been bundles of fragile, withered twigs to begin with.
Mukago's grand finale, her strongest Blood Demon Art... was like a joke.
The demon's face turned deathly pale. The backlash from her destroyed Blood Demon Art was a small matter. Facing a dead end and knowing her head was about to roll was the real problem.
So scary, so scary! This glasses man really is a Hashira! I really should have just kept my head down and run; I shouldn't have dreamed of defeating a Hashira. Mukago... doesn't want to die!
Then, she discovered that the man acted as if he had actually heard her internal plea. He slowly sheathed his Nichirin Sword.
"Eh?"
He's... he's not killing me?
Igarashi looked at Natsunishi beside him. "Kuguruma, you handle this demon. Consider it the final exam of your recent cultivation. Defeat a member of the Twelve Demon Moons. After this... it will be time to set out again. There isn't much more I can teach you."
Hearing this, Natsunishi gave an embarrassed smile. "Ah? This... how could I be so bold? This is your prey, Senior Igarashi."
Though his words were polite, his feet involuntarily shuffled half a step forward.
Igarashi: ...
He wasn't blind. Even before he had made his move, Natsunishi had been itching to draw his sword and join the hunt. Not to mention, his eyes had been glued to the female demon the entire time; that look... was exactly like a man who hadn't eaten in three days staring at a delicacy. If he didn't know the identities of Natsunishi and Mukago, he would have thought Natsunishi was some suspicious pervert stalking a young girl.
Glancing at Natsunishi's already unsheathed blade, Igarashi spoke with a hint of knowing amusement in his voice: "Your Nichirin Sword is already out. Why bother being polite with me?"
Natsunishi looked down at the bright blade in his hand, feeling a momentary pang of awkwardness. But he immediately replied righteously, "I was... always prepared to fill any gaps and, by the way, protect Miss Kochou."
He absolutely didn't have even a tiny desire to steal the kill.
"So you're saying you don't want to slay the demon?" Igarashi's brow arched slightly as he turned to Kochou Shinobu. "In that case, Miss Kochou, I shall leave the slaying of this demon to you."
Me? A member of the Twelve Demon Moons?
The girl, still stunned by the previous strike, snapped back to reality and pointed at herself, looking somewhat dazed.
"Since you don't want to get your hands dirty, Senior," Natsunishi stepped forward immediately, "there's no need to trouble her. I, Kuguruma Natsunishi, happen to love helping others."
Natsunishi stopped declining and stepped forward. His Thunder Breathing activated automatically, and his aura gradually became steady and profound. His power level also began to climb steadily from around two hundred.
Mukago: ...
The way these people were passing her around felt exactly like they were being modest about who should enjoy the final course of a meal. I seem to have been underestimated, hah!
Veins bulged across her forehead as Mukago decided to make these arrogant swordsmen pay the price. I can't take down a Hashira? Do you really think I can't take you down?!
Beside them, Igarashi spoke calmly to Shinobu.
"Miss Shinobu, watch closely. This is a rare opportunity to observe an actual battle against the Twelve Demon Moons. Observe Kuguruma's application of his Breathing Technique, his adaptability under pressure, and... the strength and speed of a Demon Moons themselves, as well as those irrational Blood Demon Arts."
Pausing, he added, "Gyomei and Miss Kanae have both mentioned that you are a gifted child in certain respects. This battle should be of some significance to you."
Shinobu nodded, though she only half-understood. Looking at the advancing Natsunishi, a complex expression appeared on her eleven-year-old face. Lord Storm Hashira... actually thinks this Big Radish can handle a Lower Moon alone? No! Most importantly, Lord Himejima and Sister Kanae... so they actually recognize my potential.
Deep within little Shinobu's heart, a sliver of joy quietly unfurled.
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