~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!
<><><><><><><><>
Kaidō surveyed the carnage. His greatsword materialized from thin air.
"That's not happening. I came to this world for a reason. No matter what, I'm keeping Rengoku alive! Prepare to face my wrath!"
"Dragon Breathing, First Form: Dragon's Breath!"
WHOOSH!
SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH!
CLANG!
Like a serpentine dragon, Kaidō blurred through multiple carriages in seconds. Only afterimages remained. Hundreds of strikes connected—every fleshy tendril severed, the walls suffering unprecedented damage.
CRASH!
The Mugen Train shook violently, nearly derailing.
The impact sent Tanjiro tumbling to a carriage door, which he smashed through headfirst.
'What was that?? Did the demon attack??' Tanjiro's head spun.
"AHHHHH!! WHAT'S HAPPENING??" Fused with the train, Enmu screamed in agony. "My regeneration... it's being suppressed!"
At that moment, Kyojuro's eyes snapped open. He assessed the situation instantly.
"Mm~ While I was napping, things escalated considerably! How unexpected!"
"I've failed as a Hashira. If there were a hole here, I'd crawl into it!"
He drew his blade and launched forward.
WHOOSH!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
CRASH!
The train shook again—even more violently than before. It teetered on the edge of derailing.
"WHAT?? NOT AGAIN!!" Enmu's scream was agonized. "Cursed Demon Slayers! That's the second time!"
His regeneration was suppressed once more.
"Ow..." Poor Tanjiro had just extracted his head from the first door when the second impact sent him tumbling into another one. His forehead punched an even bigger hole through it.
When he pulled himself free, Kyojuro materialized before him.
"Young Kamado!"
"Rengoku!"
"Before coming here, young Kaidō and I carved through considerable portions of the demon. It'll take him a long time to recover. I'll keep this brief."
Kyojuro's voice was commanding. "Eight carriages total. Kaidō and I will protect the rear seven. The blonde boy and your sister will handle one more."
"You and Boar-Head will find and sever the demon's neck."
"But Rengoku, the demon fused with the entire train! Where's his neck—"
"No matter what form a demon takes, it still has a neck. Kaidō and I will search for the vital point while fighting. You pull yourself together!"
He vanished toward the rear carriages.
"So fast! He disappeared in an instant!" As Tanjiro prepared to move, Kaidō appeared before him.
"Tanjiro."
"Kaidō!"
"Take this. Wear it—it'll protect you once. Just once, understand? Don't lose it!" Like Kyojuro before him, Kaidō vanished instantly.
The item was a Life-Saving Talisman—capable of negating one fatal injury.
In the original timeline, Tanjiro had been stabbed in the stomach by the possessed conductor. This would prevent that.
'Incredible! So those earthquakes were from Rengoku and Kaidō-san's attacks!' Tanjiro stood stunned.
'No, no—this isn't the time for that, idiot! Focus!' He carefully folded the talisman and tucked it inside his uniform, then sprang into action.
"Inosuke! Where are you?? Inosuke!"
Tanjiro searched for his companion, planning to team up to find Enmu's neck.
"Shut up or I'll gut you! RAHHH!"
"Inosuke? On the roof?"
"Those jerks—that big-eye freak and white-hair pretty boy—ordering ME around! But... but they're both so strong! ARGH! It's pissing me off!"
"Inosuke! We need to find the demon's neck together!"
"Already found it! My Seventh Form led me right to it—straight ahead! WAHAHA!"
'The wind's scattering the scent, so I couldn't track it. But if Inosuke says it's ahead, it must be! I have to get there and cut the neck!' Tanjiro leaped onto the roof, joining Inosuke.
....
The Mugen Train barreled forward. Inosuke and Tanjiro reached the engine.
"Here! The demon's neck! HAH! YAHHH!" Inosuke swung both blades, tearing open the locomotive's roof.
"What are you doing?? Get... get out!" The terrified conductor stared at the boar-masked intruder.
"The vital point! YAHHHH!!"
As Inosuke prepared to strike, countless fleshy tendrils erupted—wrapping around his arms, legs, and head. They began squeezing, trying to crush him.
"Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool!"
Tanjiro arrived just in time, severing every tendril.
"GYAAAHHH!!" Enmu's scream was ear-piercing.
Everyone in the train heard it—Kyojuro, Kaidō, Nezuko, Zenitsu.
....
Inside the Mugen Train
Kyojuro and Kaidō moved through the rear seven carriages like wildfire, blades flashing as they severed countless fleshy tendrils. But something was wrong with Kaidō.
'What's happening?? Why does my blood feel like it's boiling?? My heart's racing faster and faster—and the mark on my forehead is burning hot!' His thoughts raced even as he continued fighting through sheer willpower.
He gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
....
"Inosuke, watch out!"
"Don't interfere with my dreams!!" The possessed conductor lunged from behind, sharp awl aimed at Inosuke's back.
Tanjiro saw the danger instantly. He threw himself between them, taking the blow.
"Ahh!"
Golden light flashed—the Life-Saving Talisman activated, dispersing the attack harmlessly. Tanjiro immediately knocked the conductor unconscious and dragged him aside.
"You got stabbed??" Inosuke shouted.
"I'm fine!"
'Wait... he hit me directly. Why didn't it hurt?' Tanjiro reached into his uniform. The talisman crumbled to ash in his palm.
"Kaidō-san..." Understanding flooded through him. The gift had just saved his life.
"If we don't cut the neck now, everyone's going to collapse!" Inosuke's voice snapped him back to focus.
"I know!"
Enmu sensed their intent. Tendrils erupted violently, attacking both boys.
Inosuke and Tanjiro dodged and countered simultaneously, moving in perfect sync.
"Inosuke, let's coordinate our breathing! Continuous attacks—sever the neck!"
"Got it! And I'm the boss here!"
"I know."
"Beast Breathing, Fourth Fang: Slice 'n' Dice!"
Inosuke descended from above, dual blades crossed. Multiple slashes shredded the protective tendrils surrounding the bone.
'Father, please guide my blade. Let this strike sever the demon's neck!'
"Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky!"
Flames erupted from both sides of Tanjiro's mouth. He swung upward—a circular slash wreathed in fire severed Enmu's neck cleanly.
"GYAAAHHH!!"
The demon's agonized scream pierced through every carriage. Tendrils erupted wildly, grabbing at passengers in a final desperate attempt.
SLASH SLASH SLASH!
In a single instant, Kyojuro and Kaidō moved through all seven carriages, destroying every tendril. Every passenger was safe.
The train began shaking violently. It lurched off the tracks.
"Inosuke, watch out! We're derailing! Ahh!" Tanjiro shouted—then was thrown from the train entirely.
<><><><><><><><>
~# 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~# Every 200 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
~# Add to Library!