"Haah... haah... haah! There's... too many of them!"
Beads of sweat formed on Shinazugawa Genya's forehead as he struggled to pull his Nichirin Blade free from a demon's neck.
Before he could catch his breath, more demons came howling toward him.
It wasn't just Genya.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and even the recently awakened Inosuke were all surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds, of demons.
Though their skills were among the finest in the Demon Slayer Corps, their stamina was rapidly depleting under such relentless assault.
Tanjiro had lost an eye to a demon's claw, blood covering half his face.
Yet the physical pain paled in comparison to the true horror—the endless horde of demons and the crushing despair of futility.
Clang!!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as Tanjiro staggered backward into a wall.
Through his remaining good eye, he saw it—a small chip missing from the edge of his Nichirin Blade.
'Ah, my sword's damaged. If Haganezuka finds out, he'll be furious. But... I probably won't get to see him again. Won't get to apologize...' Tanjiro thought to himself.
Though he was prepared to die, this didn't mean he would stop fighting.
His nearly exhausted body suddenly surged with renewed strength.
His numb right hand tightly gripped the chipped Nichirin Blade, as if an inner fire was burning within him.
"Before I collapse completely! I will never give up! For everyone, for Nezuko, for the Demon Slayer Corps!!" Tanjiro roared, his Nichirin Blade erupting into a dazzling crimson glow.
"Hinokami Kagura—Dance!"
The brilliant crimson arc of his blade was breathtaking, instantly slaying several demons before him.
"Damn it... I'm really running out of steam... When did I become this weak?! Damn it!" Inosuke grumbled, his chest still stained with blood.
He was half-kneeling behind a black-furred demon, his Nichirin Dual Blades embedded in the demon's neck, but he lacked the strength to pull them out.
Just as more demons were about to pounce—
At the critical moment, a black streak shot through the air.
BAM!!
The head of the demon closest to Inosuke exploded instantly.
"Thank goodness! We made it in time! Ah! Tengen-sama is over there!"
"Idiot Suma! Stop yelling and help already!!"
Three stunning figures descended like an angel, their graceful yet fierce movements clearing the demons around Inosuke while still bickering among themselves.
"Eh?! You dumb women?!" Inosuke recognized them immediately—weren't they the wives of that
"Tengen Whatever-his-name-was wives"?
"Hey! Watch your mouth, little brother, or big sister will get angry!" Suma, clad in blue ninja attire, pouted.
But Hinatsuru had no time for banter.
Frowning at the horde of demons surrounding them, she said.
"The situation's bad. I didn't expect so many demons here. But thankfully, we're not fighting alone!"
"Caw! Reinforcements! Reinforcements incoming!"
"Targets located! Targets located!!"
The night sky suddenly echoed with shouts and the flapping of wings.
Under the pale moonlight, the silhouettes of numerous Kasugai Crows circling overhead became visible.
"Everyone! Charge! Assist our comrades!"
"Kill!!"
One after another, figures clad in the black uniforms of the Demon Slayer Corps emerged from the ruins of the red-light district.
Moonlight glinted off their Nichirin Blades as various Breathing Techniques flashed in the darkness.
Dozens of Demon Slayers, arriving just in time, plunged into the battlefield, swiftly engaging the demons in combat.
Tengen, who had sensed the dire situation before the battle erupted, had rescued his wives and immediately dispatched his Kasugai Crows to rally nearby Demon Slayers for support.
Due to the urgency and the unexpected appearance of an Upper Moon, the reinforcements had only just arrived.
"Tanjiro! Tanjiro! Are you okay?!"
A demon's head was severed instantly as two Nichirin Blades struck its neck simultaneously.
A Demon Slayer rushed to Tanjiro's side in relief.
Tanjiro blinked wearily before recognizing the face before him.
"Jippei-senpai!"
The Demon Slayer who had reached him was none other than his senior, who had survived the Final Selection alongside him.
The reunion of senior and junior brothers was certainly joyous, but this was no time for reminiscing.
The demons were watching them with predatory eyes.
However, with the support of his senpai and other Demon Slayers, Tanjiro and the others felt their pressure ease considerably.
.....
While the Demon Slayers' burden lightened, the Hashiras still faced immense pressure.
Shinichi and Gyomei fought back-to-back, their weapons moving so fast they left only afterimages as they clashed with Kokushibo's countless crescent-shaped slashes.
The more they fought, the graver Shinichi and Gyomei's expressions became.
The strength of Upper Rank One was indeed strong.
Shinichi even had a vague premonition—to slay Kokushibo, the Hashiras would have to fight with the resolve to die, or they might never get the chance.
In the midst of battle, Kokushibo's swordsmanship showed almost no openings.
He even found time to offer a few casual critiques between swings.
Regarding Himejima Gyoumei, he calmly acknowledged.
"A body honed to perfection, flawless. Your strength surpasses ninety-nine percent of Breathing Technique swordsmen. Even in the earliest era, you would have been a formidable warrior. Among practitioners of Stone Breathing, you stand at the pinnacle."
As for Shinichi, Kokushibo's evaluation was equally measured.
"Decent swordsmanship. Stronger than that swordsman from before, but still lacking."
"Shut your filthy mouth you disgusting creature! " Shinichi roared, his Nichirin Dual Blades slashing at Kokushibo with even greater ferocity.
Yet, Kokushibo's defense was nearly flawless, his Moon Breathing exceptionally powerful—stronger than any Breathing Technique Shinichi had ever witnessed.
Moreover, within the shadows of Moon Breathing, Shinichi could faintly discern traces of other Breathing Techniques.
Just what was the origin of this Upper Rank One?
Not only did he wield Breathing Techniques, but he had also mastered them to such an extent!
Shinichi's gaze hardened as he stared at Kokushibo's grotesque, six-eyes.
BOOM!
With a mighty swing of his hammer, Gyoumei forced Kokushibo back through sheer brute strength.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke gravely to Shinichi, "This demon's swordsmanship is extraordinarily refined. Without finding an opening, we cannot strike effectively. Shinichi, you're faster than me. From here on, I'll focus entirely on creating opportunities for you to attack. Remember—ignore everything else and strike with all your might!"
"Gyoumei, you—?" Shinichi was taken aback.
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
Whoosh!
His sightless eyes closed and reopened, now blazing with the wrath of a guardian deity.
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