Argentum: Here we are again. It's always such a pleasure.
Slayer: Why are you singing the portal 2 song?
Argentum: I have no idea.
Slayer: Fair enough.
Daki: Why are all of you like this?
Grel'Slyfer: A greater mystery there never was.
Shadow: You mean besides how you ended up being such a di-
Slayer: Language!
Shadow: Bah!
Tanjiro: And here we go again.
Argentum: Oh bother.
Slayer: Hey look the British is back.
Argentum: First I hate you, secondly we need to finish this. Daki! Please end this before we start killing one another. Don't wanna ruin the days without "accidents" record quite yet.
Daki: Okay… Ahem. We here at the Dark Guard productions only own reality building concepts and oc's. Everything else belongs to their beautiful owners. Now without further delay~.
Everyoner: Here's the story!
Hello= Regular talk
Hello= Thoughts
[Hello]= Radio
(Hello)= Telepathy/Mind reading
Chapter Forty Seven: How we started to destroy an entire town or… How I learned that I hate poison with a passion…
"Oomph!" As I had the air knocked out my lungs, curtesy of Kamanue. I was launched back through the wall behind me and onto another roof. Below me I could hear shouts of panic and worry. "Well so much for keeping things quiet." Sitting up I glared at the sixth uppermoon, he was charging me again. Behind him I saw Tanjiro and Genya avoiding the other uppermoon's sashes. I could see that her attacks were cutting up her surroundings.
Jumping across the gap between us my opponent tried to engage myself in melee. However as he was jumping I heard the sound of thunder, I then could only blink as Zenitsu threw Nezuko at the demon. With her super strength she knocked Kamanue back through another roof. As the two landed next to me Kanao tried to get the drop on the female demon only to miss.
Raising his sword Zenitsu eyed our opponent. "Sorry that we were late, had to rescue Uzui's wives. Right now Tengen and Inosuke are helping them, all three were poisoned." Nodding I thought of the last two members of our group.
"Do you know where Mitsuri and Muichiro are?" He shook his head and I gritted my teeth. "Could mean they're engaging with Akaza right now." Both looked at me in worry as I gestured to Kamanue. "He said that both himself, whoever that demon woman is, and the second upper moon. The one we know as Akaza is here."
Cracking her knuckles Nezuko's forehead and eye veins bulged. "That just means we need to finish off these two and go help them!" With a powerful leap she threw fire at Kamanue, as he dodged she landed and then kicked the poor guy in the chest. As he coughed out blood, his organs practically destroyed by Nezuko's kick, both Zenitsu and I winced.
"I may love Nezuko Chan… but even I will admit her strength is scary sometimes." I couldn't help but nod in agreement. Refocusing I got into my tenth form before flashing forward, behind me Zenitsu did the same. As we slashed at the upper six. He defended himself with another shield of air; however I could tell that he was worried. It was now three on one, and his partner couldn't help because she had her own opponents. Deciding to deal with who he thought the bigger threat first, he spat out an air bullet at Nezuko. Unable to dodge it hit her and threw her all the way back to the others. "Nezuko!" As he shouted in worry I deflected another attack that was aimed at Zenitsu.
"Focus! You know she'll be fine!" Though still worried he sheathed his sword and flashed forward again. Using his six fold to get some cuts in on the demon. As we got further away eventually the ground exploded from one of streets near us. All three of us paused to watch as Mitsuri kicked another demon through the street. It was one I didn't recognize. It was also the most grotesque one I'd ever seen.
Mouths where his eyes should be, baby hands growing from his back, white scaly skin, and an eye in where his mouth should be as well as one in his forehead. What those eyes had written on them however was what gave me the most pause.
"Upper moon two?! What?!" As Mitsuri saw us she jumped to us as Muichiro followed her from the hole she made.
She must've heard my question because she gave me a grave look. "Wish we had time for pleasantries, but we have a situation as you've no doubt noticed." Turning back she glared at the grotesque demon as he formed a pot underneath himself. "Apparently Akaza and Kokushibo were recruited by our other enemies. As such they lost their places in the uppermoons. That demon is named Gyokko, he can teleport to various pots he creates, summon demonic fish, and manipulate water. He can probably do more so be on your guard." Nodding me and Zenitsu got ready to fight once more.
"Hold your horses!" In surprise we turned around to see Inosuke and Tengen jump in behind us. "You can't start this party without us! Now that my wives are safe I can now completely focus on the task at hand!" I couldn't help but smirk at this. It was now six on two, with four on one back with the others.
Turning around I faced forward, the two demons talking as we talked. "Kamanue! As pathetic as always I see." The upper six growled at his "friend".
"Oh like you have an excuse Gyokko! Why haven't you taken out the two you were fighting yet?! With how "impressive" your art is, you should be done by now right?" The grotesque demon scoffed before tossing out more pots.
"Well I'll finish them off with this soon enough!" He then clapped his hands together. "Besides! With the power our lord has given me! My abilities have skyrocketed!" As he said that multiple demonic looking fish creatures started jumping out of the pots, all of them making a beeline towards us. All of us quickly used whatever defensive forms we had, but were overwhelmed and had to jump back. As the two demons fired more projectiles at us, we eventually ended up near Tanjiro and the others. They themselves were having a hard time against the female demon.
As all of us were backed into one another I noticed how Tanjiro's sword had chips in it. I'm starting to think that it's his blacksmith's fault that his sword keeps breaking. Holding the stump of her left arm I watched as Nezuko regrew it.
This was something that the female demon also noticed. "Wait a minute… You're that group! The one with the traitorous demon bitch! Looks like my plan worked after all!" As Zenitsu and Tanjiro growled at her insult towards Nezuko, Kamanue spoke up in anger.
"What do you mean by "your" plan Daki?! It was mine! I've been trying to gather everyone up for a while now! Not you!" The now named Daki simply waved him off.
"Bah! Your plan, my plan, it's all the same thing." Kamanue's jaw dropped slightly as he looked at her incredulously. Though I honestly couldn't blame him. Shaking my head I turned to the others and whispered to them.
"Anyone have any ideas? Because while I'm sure we can take on Kamanue and Daki, that Gyokko seems like an entirely different bag of worms." The three who still didn't know me too well, as in Genya, Tengen, and Muichiro, looked at me strangely while the others nodded in agreement.
Biting her lower lip Mitsuri looked at me and Tanjiro. "Well… do you think we could unlock the mark? I mean that would give us a huuge advantage right about now." I couldn't help but shrug at her question.
"No idea, you already know what it took for me and Tanjiro to awaken them. Think you could do that on a battlefield like this?" All three of our fellow Hashira looked conflicted as Zenitsu gripped his sword. I couldn't help but wonder what he was planning, though I guessed it had to do with the mark. Unfortunately we couldn't continue planning for the three demons had stopped arguing.
Jumping forward with a vicious smile, her long white hair billowing in the wind Daki attacked. "As long as they die who cares!" As she landed next to us both her hair and obi lashed out at us. Most of us jumped back to avoid her attack, however Nezuko and her brother along with Zenitsu stood their ground. Deflecting the hair and pieces of cloth as Nezuko punched the demon in the gut. As Daki spat out blood, Nezuko jumped kicked her away. As the upper three went flying, the upper two summoned more fish. However unlike last time they exploded when they got near us, surprising both myself and Muichiro.
As long black spines stabbed into my skin I winced. However while uncomfortable, their secondary affect was what really got to me. For as I pulled them out I started to feel sluggish. Falling to my knees I understood what had just happened.
"Poison?" As Gyokko laughed I stood up, my body now feeling heavy. "Have actually never been poisoned before… don't think I quite like the experience." Next to me Muichiro nodded in agreement. Feeling something I swung my sword. Shi no kata Sei En no Uneri! As I swung I was able to block more of Kamanue's wind bullets. That was before he was mobbed by Kanao, Mitsuri, and Inosuke. This left the remaning four of us to deal with Gyokko.
Walking up to us Tengen gave both myself and Muichiro a packet. "Consume the powder in those, they'll help with the poison enough so you can fight again." Nodding we did exactly that, feeling the effects of the poison slow. Looking forward Tengen brandished his giant cleavers. "Now then! Let's finish this demon off! Can't let him harm anymore innocents!" Jumping forward he unleashed a form on the upper two. "Ichi no kata Todoroki!" I had never seen a form that literally used bombs to create an explosion before. For that's what Tengen did as he slammed his swords in the roof where Gyokko was.
The demon however had easily escaped by teleporting into another pot. "Nice try! But you'll have to try harder than that!" Getting into a stance I gritted my teeth as round two started.
This has become more of team Deathmatch than anything else! With that thought I flashed forward using my tenth form.
Flames, poisons, and horns! What do they mean?! It means I'm the greatest line break!
As I slashed at the demon's neck it had teleported away once again. As I looked around in frustration I saw more pots, Gyokko teleporting constantly to a new one every time one of us caught up. I knew we needed a new plan and looked towards Tengen.
Getting an idea I yelled out to him. "Uzui!" As he turned to me I continued. "Do you think you have enough bombs to destroy all the pots?" He grinned at me before brandishing his chained clevers.
"HA! I have bombs for days!" Twirling his blades around at high speeds he yelled. "Shi no kata Kyōzan Muken!" Then in what I could only describe as a ninja trick bombs flew out everywhere. Destroying pot after pot after pot.
Our enemy however did not like that one bit. "No! My beautiful art!" Turning to glare at Tengen Gyokko raised his an arm towards him. "You will pay dearly for that! Suigokubachi!" With that yell of anger a torrent of water was flung at Tengen. Unfortunately even as he tried to dodge he wasn't fast enough, and as soon as the water touched him. He was encased in what looked like a watery pot. "Go ahead and drown!" I knew he wouldn't be able to get out of there by himself so I rushed forward. "Oh I don't think so!" I wasn't able to stop fast enough as a pot was thrown in front of me.
Only my eyes could widen as an octopus tentacle shot out of the pot and smacked me. Sending me flying to another area, at the same time Tanjiro was also thrown by Daki. As we met in the middle with a loud crack we slumped down on a roof.
As we groaned in pain Mitsuri having seen us called out in worry. "Are you two okay?!" At the same time we gave a shaky thumb's up. Though I had a feeling our ribs were broken. Thankfully Kanao was quick to jump over to us and help in our recovery. As we healed the others bought us time, however Nezuko and Zenitsu were having it rough. Daki's blood demon art was simply cutting them attacks to pieces. Though more so Nezuko's than Zenitsu's.
However I could see something happening with the young demon girl. Having had my Lyb'Craeft activated this whole fight I saw something worrisome. With how she was sustaining more injuries than any fight she's ever been in, the control I put onto her cravings for flesh and blood were deteriorating. I felt as if I needed to do something quick before it was too late.
So even with half broken ribs I stood up much to Kanao's protests. "We need to help Nezuko!" Both teens looked at me before looking at the girl. "Her demon side is starting to take over, if we don't end this fight quickly it might consume her." Tanjiro's eyes widened and tried to stand, however he had more than broken ribs and collapsed down with a broken leg. Turning to him I frowned. "Damn! Alright Kanao! Take care of Tanjiro I'll go and see what I can do with Nezuko." As she nodded to me Tanjiro gave me a seriously look.
"Make sure she comes out of this okay." I simply nodded before flashing forward with my tenth form. Seeing how Daki was throwing a clawed hand at Nezuko I slashed at it, only for my eyes to widen as her arm stretched.
Smirking at me Daki spoke quite condescendingly. "Sorry but I've learned to make my flesh like cloth!" She then kicked me away, however taking advantage of this. Nezuko punctured her hands with claw like nails before tossing her blood out. As the blood turned into flames and consumed the uppermoon. Daki screamed in pain and rage, turning towards the younger girl. "You bitch!" As I stood up I looked as Nezuko tried to weave in between Daki's attacks. Unfortunately she was only partially successful and lost a leg. As she fell a crack of thunder boomed as Zenitsu suddenly appeared.
As Daki lost an arm, and a thin cut appeared on her neck the thunder boy spoke threateningly. "You will leave her alone!" Seeing how Zenitsu had missed her head Daki tsked.
"And you'll mind your own damn business peasant!" Then with one of her sashes Daki slashed at Zenitsu at incredible speeds. Even stepping back he wasn't quite fast enough to completely dodge the blow. Seeing Zenitsu's front get cut open was the last straw for Nezuko. Her pink eyes went wide before becoming pinker, she seemed to grow a bit taller as she jumped up, kicking Daki in the face so hard she flew into another building, the building in turn collapsed inward. As vines like markings spread over her body, a single horn protruded from the top right of her head. She now looked much older, and was even as tall as Zenitsu now.
As I stood up in worry I saw that Nezuko was now in a berserk like state. However before I could do anything she leaped after Daki, the uppermoon just having recovered was slammed into the ground. Cratering it as Nezuko jumped back before charging back in. As I went over to Zenitsu he stood up and waved me off.
"I'm fine! The wound was only superficial." Nodding we both turned to Nezuko. "Is she going to be alright?" Before I could say anything we saw Daki use a sash to cut off on one of Nezuko's legs. Only to watch it instantly regenerate. "Never mind." I let out a breath of frustration as I explained that Nezuko wasn't all right.
"Zenitsu! Her demonic blood has literally taken control right now! We need to find a way to stop her before she eats somebody!" His eyes widened in worry and he stood up quickly.
"Then we have to do something!" I was about to say "yes we do" but Zenitsu blitzed forward. "I'm coming Nezuko!"
"Wait!" As my words fell on his ironically deaf ears I gritted my teeth. Following him as Nezuko punched Daki in the face.
To say the older demon was angry would be an understatement. "You wretched little girl! I'll rip you to pieces before throwing them out in the su-UGH!" Nezuko cut her off with a kick to the stomach. I couldn't help but think that Nezuko was absolutely dominating the fight now. However we couldn't risk her hurting a human so continued forward. Appearing in front of her I watched as Zenitsu tried to calm her down.
"Nezuko! Please enough! I'm fine! There's no need to continue like this!" Nezuko seeing Zenitsu grabbed him with her now claw like nails digging into his shoulders. Holding her back from biting him Zenitsu turned to me. "I have her! Just distract the uppermoon!" Though worried I also noticed how Nezuko still recognized Zenitsu so nodded. Leaping forward I swung at Daki, my sword aflame as I distracted her. Behind me Zenitsu hugged Nezuko. "It's okay now! I'm here, and I'll always will be here." Nezuko while still a bit feral started crying.
What she said next hurt to hear. "Ze-nits-u… I-I can, can't control it! Kill-kill me! I don't wan-nt to hurt you." As I deflected a slash from the Daki Zenitsu did something that gave not only Daki pause, but also myself, Tanjiro, and Kanao who had come over pause. "Mmph!" For the first time that I've seen them, Zenitsu at the very least had kissed Nezuko for the first time in public. For a moment all of us were distracted, then Kanao had to try and hold Tanjiro back.
"I'll kill him!" Raising an eyebrow Daki for the first time turned to me quite cordially.
"Older brother?" I nodded and she folded her arms in understanding. "Yeah… I can see it." She then kicked at me, thankfully I was able to dodge by leaning back. "Doesn't mean I still don't hate all of you!" I could only sigh at this point, while over with Zenitsu and Nezuko he had pulled back.
"You good now?" Nezuko simply nodded, still a little shocked, however it was like she said. Her mind and instincts were calmed down, or at least enough that she could simply focus on Daki. "Good, now let's go kick the bitch's ass!" Grinning Nezuko turned towards Daki who now actually seemed worried.
Seeing how we'd probably be fine now I turned to Kanao and Tanjiro. "Go help Uzui and Muichiro, we'll handle Daki." Though still miffed at Zenitsu a now calm Tanjiro nodded.
"Alright but…" He turned to Zenitsu. "We'll be talking about what happened later." The poor kid gulped while nodding furiously. Still glaring Tanjiro nodded before hopping off with Kanao. I couldn't help but sigh before readying myself against Daki.
"And there goes the overprotective big brother." Everyone even our enemy snorted at that.
Flames, poisons, and horns! What do they mean?! It means I'm the greatest line break!
Argentum: And another chapter finally done! I'll admit I had a very hard time writing this one.
Zenitsu: Good thing we had so many back up chapters right?
Argentum: Yeah but now instead of having eleven I now only have six!
Grel'Slyfer: That still sounds like a good number.
Argentum: I used up half of my reserves!
Gyokko: I can understand where you're coming from. I hate breaking my wondrous art! Even if I have an infinite number of them, it still annoys me having to use them.
Argentum: Exactly!
Zenitsu: I don't see the similaritie-
Tanjiro: I'll kill you Zenitsu!
Zenitsu: AHH! Somebody save me!
Tanjiro: Get back here and face your death like a man!
Grel'Slyfer: Oh what fun~!
Argentum: Yeah fun… any ways like I was saying I had a hard time writing this chapter, and I still don't quite like how it turned out. Please forgive me for that. Now with that out of the way, Gyokko! Please end this chapter off for us.
Gyokko: Sure! This has been a Dark Guard production now signing off!
Everyone-Tanjiro-Zenitsu: Goodbye!
Tanjiro: Stop running!
Zenitsu: Never!
Argentum: Oh boy…