Haruto sprinted along the mountain path. In his state of intense concentration, he easily activated his lungs, allowing himself to enter a state of total concentration.
The barrage of comments on his screen was overwhelming.
"A massive widowhood scene ahead!"
"Sabito—"
"Ahhh, I'll kill you!"
"If Sabito hadn't killed almost all the demons on the mountain, he wouldn't have died from exhaustion and a broken blade..."
"Sabito's death guarantees promotion for his class!"
Will he die... that boy with the fox mask?
Will what the comments say definitely happen?
But the history they spoke of was what Haruto was currently experiencing. For the present, history was not predetermined; it could be changed!
From afar, he saw a flash of blue sword light flickering amidst the dark green demon claws.
In the world of the comments, would Haruto rush to the rescue?
His toes tapped the ground. In a trance, Haruto remembered the last time he died at the hands of the Hand Demon, Sabito had also rushed to his rescue in the same way.
Only this time, their positions seemed to have reversed.
Within arm's reach, Sabito moved swiftly, appearing before the Hand Demon in an instant.
After the outpouring of sword light, what echoed was not the clean sound of a demon's head being severed, but... "Clang—"
Sabito's blade had broken!
In the nick of time, Haruto didn't notice that the comments before his eyes had disappeared. He stomped heavily on the ground, hot air gushing from his nostrils.
His blade dragged a trail of flames, and a single "Unknowing Fire" technique was unleashed with an unstoppable momentum.
The demon hand, which was rushing towards Sabito's head, was severed at the root with one strike!
Sabito was only stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted. He pushed off the Hand Demon's body with his toes, landing behind it and holding his broken blade in front of him.
One in front, one behind, one with fiery flames and one with clear water, the two youths subtly—formed a pincer movement around the massive demon!
Haruto's expression was calm and unruffled, his posture elegant and refined, but in reality, his soul was already starting to wander.
The feeling of being pierced through the chest by the Hand Demon was too real, so much so that he felt a chill when he saw those malicious and sinister eyes.
"Oh dear, what a pity, just barely missed."
The Hand Demon rolled its eyes, scrutinizing the two youths back and forth.
"Little fox boy, what will you use to block my attacks next?"
Its yellow eyes rolled, and the Hand Demon lowered its head, letting out a cunning laugh: "Hehehehehehe... That Urokodaki fellow, not only does he prepare 'calamity-attracting masks' for his disciples, but even the swords he bestows are so fragile, hehehehe."
Haruto blinked in confusion. Although he didn't know who Urokodaki was, seeing Sabito's face turn pale with anger, he must be someone very important to him.
"Shut up," the white-haired youth looked up, his eyes lowered. "Human emotions... would demons know them too?"
There was no pity in those misty blue eyes, only pure disgust and indifference.
This sentence suddenly made the Hand Demon's pupils contract.
He remembered, he remembered again!
When he was caught by that damned Sakonji Urokodaki, beneath that great tengu mask were those same cold eyes!
"Ugh ah ah ah ah ah—"
It suddenly became agitated, dozens of hands on its sides simultaneously pounding the ground: "Damn Urokodaki, damn Urokodaki, damn Urokodaki, damn Urokodaki! Why are you still haunting me after 40 years!"
The Hand Demon no longer focused its gaze on Sabito. It let out a shrill roar, and several demon hands surged towards the white-haired youth!
Kill him! Kill him!
Dig out those eyes of his, just like Urokodaki's, and swallow them, just like those fox boys!
"Watch out!"
Sabito's urgent cry overlapped with the voice in his memory. Haruto looked up, his nichirin blade gleaming.
This big guy, I don't know what triggered him. What did I just say? I didn't say anything!
He didn't even use this much force against Sabito. Is he targeting me?
Haruto struggled to fend off the Hand Demon's attacks. Fortunately, although his Breathing Technique was rather poor, his swordsmanship was extremely skilled.
His figure swept past, stirring up withered leaves, and Haruto swung his nichirin blade, severing several more arms.
"Boy, just cutting off my arms won't defeat me—"
Haruto panted a few times, his limbs gradually becoming covered in soreness.
Was he too useless? He always felt that Flame Breathing rejected his body, no matter how well he trained his body, he could never maintain concentration for long.
Sabito... huh? Sabito disappeared?
Did he run away?
Probably not. Haruto sensed the presence of another swordsman in this space... that meant he had concealed himself, constantly ready to launch a fatal attack.
Haruto used breathing regulation to relieve the soreness in his body. With a thought, he immediately launched an attack on the Hand Demon.
His footwork was very agile. Mr. Shinjuro once commented that if he hadn't been born in such an era, Haruto would have been an excellent swordsman.
But in an age where demons devoured humans, having excellent swordsmanship alone was useless.
If one couldn't combine it well with a Breathing Technique, one couldn't become an excellent Demon Slayer Swordsmen.
Then sooner or later, misfortune would befall him.
Haruto bowed to dodge a flying demon hand, pursing his thin lips.
The Hand Demon's eyes rolled, and in its vision, those cold eyes grew closer and closer.
Come quickly! Come to me!
Urokodaki!
Die in my belly quickly!
Those yellow eyes suddenly narrowed. It found it!
This kid's weakness!
The Hand Demon didn't have time to think much; all its arms poured towards the white-haired boy.
I'm going to tear this guy to shreds, then dig out his eyes and pull out his tongue!
What human emotions... it's all nonsense!
But.
A sense of crisis suddenly surged in the Hand Demon's heart.
Where did that fox boy go?!
The thought had just sprung from its head when a low murmur echoed in its ear.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form..."
Sabito, holding a broken blade, suddenly appeared behind it, his figure as light as flowing water, like a blade.
Impossible! His blade is already broken!
Even with a complete blade, he couldn't cut off my head, let alone a broken blade!
"Striking Tide!"
A ripple of azure light swept past its head, and the Hand Demon only felt a sense of dizziness.
It was cut off!
In the Hand Demon's vision, its massive body began to turn into dust.
The hand that had shot out towards the white-haired youth did indeed hit him. Haruto took a solid punch, falling to the ground with a flap like a bird hitting an airplane, letting out a low cry: "Damn it!"
He struggled to maintain his contorted features, looking at the smoking Hand Demon and letting out a long sigh of relief.
Finally killed it... Sabito floated lightly to the ground, looking at him with concern: "Are you alright?"
The youth with the pinkish-red hair frowned. Sure enough, just as the comments had said earlier, he was a very gentle child.
"Temporarily unharmed..."
Haruto recovered, and with a twitch of his ear, he actually heard the half-dissipated Hand Demon's head muttering to itself.
"Unwilling, unwilling..."
"I clearly paid so much to become strong..."
"Damn Urokodaki, it's all because of him."
"And the guy who turned me into a demon... because of him, I even ate my brother..."
Those yellow, malicious eyes suddenly widened.
"...Brother?"
Haruto watched it indifferently.
"White-haired boy, you are wrong."
As if remembering something, large tears rolled from the Hand Demon's eyes.
"Demons are made from humans. How could demons not know human emotions... Brother, please wait for me, take my hand..."