Seeing the smile on Raiden's face, Doma smiled as well.
His expression looked gentle, almost pure, yet something dangerous lingered beneath it. His voice was light, as though they were discussing an ordinary matter.
"Now that we are friends, we should talk business. You killed the Horned Demon. He supplied me with food. How do you think we should settle that?"
Raiden gave a casual shrug. His goal had already been achieved, and he appeared completely at ease.
"He's dead," Raiden replied calmly, a faint edge of amusement in his tone. "So what exactly do you want to do about it?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Doma's eyes. He clearly had not expected such bluntness.
From this exchange alone, it was obvious Raiden knew he was a demon, and not just any demon. To remain this relaxed before Upper Rank Two required either madness or confidence.
"What to do?" Doma said softly. "A life for a life. That seems fair, doesn't it? A demon for a demon."
The words sounded innocent, almost sincere, which made them colder.
Raiden's lips curved into a thin smile. Internally, his mind was calculating every possibility.
Doma was not angry over the Horned Demon. He simply wanted to enjoy watching a human struggle before death.
The earlier talk of friendship had been part of the game.
Coincidentally, Raiden was playing his own.
Tilting his head slightly, Raiden replied, "By your logic, since you have devoured countless humans, shouldn't you also repay those lives?"
The air turned heavy.
For a moment, Doma's smile faded. His rainbow colored eyes sharpened with scrutiny. Then the smile returned, deeper and more layered.
"How interesting," Doma said. "I was considering offering you salvation. It seems you are not interested."
He waved his golden fan gently.
Tiny ice crystals scattered into the air like drifting snow.
Blood Demon Art, Lotus Leaf Ice.
Each crystal carried lethal cold. Touching skin would freeze it instantly. Inhaling the particles could destroy the lungs from within.
Raiden immediately understood the danger.
He held his breath.
Thunder Breathing surged through his body. Electricity crackled violently around him, bright arcs dancing across his white hair and blade.
In a flash, he closed the distance.
Lightning gathered along his Nichirin sword as he delivered a horizontal slash toward Doma's neck.
Doma raised an eyebrow and snapped his fan shut, positioning it like a shield.
Steel met steel.
Lightning and frost collided. Sparks and ice fragments exploded outward in a violent burst of light.
"Your speed is impressive," Doma said mildly. "But your attack lacks weight."
There was appreciation in his tone, but also condescension.
Raiden's smile did not waver.
"Is that so?"
At the point of impact, the fading lightning surged back to life. The electric arcs intensified, compressing into a brilliant golden sphere.
The vibration traveled through Doma's fan. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Rather than clash directly, he shifted backward, withdrawing the fan and allowing the condensed lightning to tear past him.
"If my power is insufficient," Raiden said coolly, "why did you dodge?"
He had not activated the Transparent World. Nor had he used Compass Needle. This was only his Hashira level strength.
If he could wound Upper Rank Two that easily, something would be wrong.
Doma's smile grew playful.
"It seems I have been underestimated."
His movements suddenly sharpened.
With a swift motion of his fan, he unleashed Blood Demon Art, Scattering Lotuses.
Countless ice petals filled the air, each razor sharp and glimmering under the moonlight. They swirled like a deadly blizzard, sealing off every direction of escape.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Raiden sensed danger from all sides.
Thunder Breathing propelled him forward. His body blurred, leaving faint afterimages as he dodged the slicing petals one after another.
The confined temple courtyard limited his movement. As he created distance, his Nichirin blade shifted color.
Brilliant gold deepened into crimson gold.
Raiden inhaled sharply.
Flame Breathing ignited within him, heat surging through his veins.
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form, Blooming Flame Undulation."
The air around him twisted from intense heat. Flames spiraled outward from his blade, forming a rotating vortex of fire.
The swirling inferno expanded rapidly, becoming a blazing wall.
When fire met ice, steam erupted violently.
The ice petals melted upon contact, transforming into bursts of vapor. Thick steam filled the courtyard, blurring sight and warping the air with pressure from clashing temperatures.
Hot and cold collided in visible layers.
The once serene temple grounds became a battlefield of steam and embers.
Doma watched calmly, fanning himself.
"Hashira level?" he murmured, genuine curiosity in his voice.
Surviving the first exchange proved Raiden was strong. Destroying Scattering Lotuses at partial power was something only a Hashira class swordsman could accomplish.
At such a young age.
"How troublesome," Doma said softly, smiling. "Has the Dem
on Slayer Corps truly raised their standards this much?"
The steam continued to rise between them.
And neither stepped back.
===
Just finished a Presentation, and I low-keyinely think I flopped it 😭