A crescent moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the mountain.
It was the first night.
There had seemed to be quite a few people at the plaza—but once they entered the forest, Sui could no longer see a single soul.
Twisted trees intertwined overhead. A faint mist lingered between them.
Occasionally, the hoarse cry of a night crow echoed.
Other than that—
There was not a trace of human presence.
The grass rustled softly.
A shadow burst forth like a specter, carrying a foul wind as it lunged at the girl from behind.
Just as its claws were about to reach her—
A sheathed white blade appeared without warning.
Bang!
The scabbard struck sideways, sending the figure flying.
It slammed into an old tree, shaking loose brittle leaves that fell over its body. Blood spilled from its mouth.
It had been drawn here by a strange scent—
Something intoxicating.
But now it understood—
That seemingly fragile woman was anything but weak.
"Damn it… why won't you just let me eat you quietly?!"
The pale demon snarled.
As it tried to look up—
The falling leaves obscured its vision.
Then—
They split cleanly in two.
A single arc of light, clear as water.
Blood followed.
Then the faint scent of burning.
…
Sui sheathed her blade after casually removing the demon's head and continued deeper into the mountain.
The further she went, the denser the undergrowth became. The path narrowed.
Yet she moved straight ahead, unaffected.
Her haori remained spotless.
By now, she had already been ambushed more than ten times.
In just half a night—
More than what Kuwajima had described for seven days.
Her blood was irresistible to demons.
She knew that well.
And it was precisely why she had formed certain ideas before coming here.
Suddenly—
She stopped.
Ahead—
There was a demon.
And a human.
"A rare blood coming here to hunt demons? How reckless~"
"And such quality too… enough for a hundred people!"
A demon in a tattered kimono laughed as she fought a young man.
Her black hair whipped wildly, revealing a mature woman's face—once beautiful, now marred by vein-like blood streaks crawling across her skin.
Her eyes were bloodshot, as if they might drip at any moment.
From her fingertips extended black, blade-like claws, clashing against the young man's iron cleavers in showers of sparks.
Sui frowned.
That demon—
It was strong.
Far too strong for this place.
This mountain shouldn't contain demons of this level.
To the average candidate—
Facing her meant death.
Sui concealed her presence in the darkness, observing.
Waiting for the right moment.
The young man—
She recognized him.
White hair, scar across his face.
The one radiating killing intent at the plaza.
His hatred for demons was immense—
But so was his strength.
He held his ground against the demon's relentless assault.
His movements were sharp, heavy.
Each strike forced the demon back.
Chains restricted her movements while protecting his own vital points.
Impressive.
Then—
The demon vanished into the trees, hiding her blades within her wide sleeves—
Before lunging like a dagger toward his head.
The young man inhaled sharply, raising his weapon.
At the same time—
Four claw-shaped wind slashes tore forward.
They ripped through her kimono—
And his cleavers snapped shut, severing one of her arms.
But—
She laughed.
Her remaining arm shot forward without hesitation.
Clang!
Claws met steel.
The young man had forcibly shifted his attack into a block.
He pushed her back and retreated, only slightly shaken.
But his expression darkened.
"You're not one of the demons here."
He tightened his grip.
The demon giggled, her severed limb already regenerating.
"Of course not~ These are all weaklings captured by the Demon Slayers."
"You just have terrible luck."
"You smell too good."
"Then why come here?" he asked coldly.
"You can't escape. Strong swordsmen could kill you easily."
"Why risk it?"
"Want to know?"
She grinned.
"…No."
"Then die without knowing."
Her expression turned cold.
The air froze.
The young man lowered his stance.
He knew—
He might not win.
His eyes flicked briefly to a scar on his arm.
Then back to the demon.
Her regeneration was fast.
Too fast.
Then—
A voice.
Calm. Cool.
"Out of your league. Step back."
The young man froze.
Someone had approached—
Without him noticing.
That alone meant they could've killed him instantly.
A figure passed by him.
Carrying a faint floral scent.
"Who are you?" the demon asked.
"Disciple of the former Thunder Hashira."
Sui replied.
The young man paused.
That title—
It meant strength.
The demon shifted her focus.
The pressure lifted.
He exhaled.
Then studied the woman before him.
Black hair pinned up with a wooden ornament.
Pale neck exposed.
Crimson haori.
A modified white dress beneath—shortened for movement.
A white-sheathed blade in hand, its guard etched with thunder patterns.
He couldn't see her full face—
But she was undoubtedly beautiful.
Still—
No uniform.
Suspicious.
Two people were better than one.
He stepped forward.
"Stay back," Sui said calmly.
"I'm enough."
She turned slightly.
Moonlight illuminated half her face—
Perfect. Untouched.
The young man hesitated.
"…Beautiful…"
The demon's voice trembled with jealousy.
"If I wear your skin, I'd be just as beautiful, wouldn't I?"
"Try it."
Sui's tone was indifferent.
The demon laughed—
And vanished.
The forest filled with the sound of blades slicing air—
From everywhere.
Too fast to track.
"Hey—!"
The young man moved instinctively—
To shield her.
But—
He touched nothing.
Only lightning flashed.
Thunder roared.
And a soft voice echoed—
"Thunder Breathing, First Form:."
"Thunderclap and Flash."