CHAPTER 32 - Exorcist
Law grabbed hold of Inosuke's second blade that was dropped by an unconscious Aoi. He looked at the girl, stabbing the blade upon Daki in retaliation. The latter squealed from the Nichirin blade stabbed onto her forehead, the effects burning through her body.
Meanwhile, Law drew out his long sword. The Demon brother, Gyutaro observed in fury. Moria's muff of a cloth untied itself from all the moving around, letting him yell in wrath.
"Bastards, all of you! I'll make sure to dig every last one of your friends' grave and send them to your deaths!" he bellowed.
"You can't do good with a head and no hands, now can you?" Gyutaro mocked.
"Shut up! You Demons think I'll work with that bastard of a Demon Master. I am the Master of Death! Don't mock me scum!"
Gyutaro's eyes narrowed. Moria gasped to find the Demon's claws right onto his face skin, sharp and deadly. Blood dripped from the scratch.
"It'll be easy to end you." Gyutaro remarked. He looked back upon Law. The latter observed in patience as he did until a moment ago.
"Room." Law commanded, covering the range of his body.
"What's wrong? That move of yours was a lot larger the last time," the former remarked, "Running out of strength?"
Law made no reply.
"You want to contest me with your speed?" Gyutaro grinned. He let down Moria on the ground, drawing out two sickles made out from his Blood Demon Art.
"Anyone getting near this head is going to die a gruesome death." Gyutaro said, patting Moria's cage.
"Get the cage." Law told Zenitsu and Nezuko.
"He's an Upper Demon Moon." Zenitsu replied, looking upon Law in disbelief.
Tanjiro and Inosuke joined the conversation.
"You two get her back to the Mansion." Law told the two of them.
"I don't think it's a good idea to bring back an Upper Demon Moon." Tanjiro replied.
Law extended his Room to cover Daki, "I'll make it easy for you."
"Radio Knife."
He hacked off Daki into pieces making her incapable of rejoining her body back.
"How dare you!" Gyutaro growled, letting his two sickles fly off towards his enemies.
Law blocked the one intended for him whilst Tanjiro and Inosuke dodged the other one in haste. The sickles turned around and flew up high in the sky. Meanwhile, Gyutaro drew out two more of those sickles made out from his blood.
"Get back to the Mansion. Mitsu-ya and Tama-ya should handle the Moon-Demon." Law said.
Though hesitant to leave Nezuko and the others, Tanjiro made a reluctant nod.
"You are not serious, right? You don't expect us to get that man's head, do you?" Zenitsu asked, yet in doubt of Law's plan.
"Or you want to fight that guy?" the latter asked. Zenitsu panicked observing the terrifying Gyutaro.
"You two are the fastest," Law said referring to Nezuko and Zenitsu, "It'll be a mess if Kibutsuji gets hold of Moria and finds a way to use his powers. You don't want that now, do you?"
Zenitsu had little idea of Moria's Devil Fruit powers but he knew any added ability to Kibutsuji's could make things worse any day. That damned demon was the Demon King after all. Rumoured to be undefeatable.
Law sheathed his blade taking a Sword-draw (Iai) stance.
"Wait for my signal." Law said, glancing upon Zenitsu, "You use Thunder Breathing, eh kid? Like the old man Kuwajima."
Zenitsu was surprised to hear his old Master's name.
"How do you know him?" he asked with great interest.
"You can say I learned a few things."
Sparks gave off from Law's arms.
Gyutaro remembered Law had his 'Room' activated. The magical membrane. He set off a new pair of blades along with a few more, hurling them towards his enemies.
"Get ready." said Tanjiro, getting hold of Daki's head.
Inosuke grunted to carry the remainder of the demon's pieces.
Gyutaro's deflected blood sickles from before began returning back falling in from the sky.
"Thunder Breathing… First Form…"
To everyone's surprise, Law muttered the words. He breathed, disappearing from sight. The blood sickles scattered away his disappearance.
Gyutaro had a hard time locating the pirate Captain.
"Damn you!" He bellowed the moment Law showed upfront, realising he had no time to retaliate.
"Thunderclap and Flash!"
Gyutaro found his left arm ripped apart. Law's new sword-draw technique succeeded.
Zenitsu though surprised, knew that Law hadn't executed a genuine Breathing Technique. But it was nonetheless capable of destroying high-level Demons. Breathing techniques needed years of training to execute, let alone master. And yet, the Heart Pirates Captain managed to understand the basics of Thunder Breathing in just a few weeks.
Law knew he had to employ his electrical abilities from his Op-Op Fruit to compensate the full extent of Thunder Breathing. And with added derivation from Zoro's Lion's Song, he was able to perform a successful Sword-Draw technique.
The cue was on. Tanjiro and Zenitsu rushed away from Gyutaro, transporting Daki's severed body away from the battle.
On the other side, Nezuko rushed ahead the moment Law cut off Gyutaro's arms. Zenitsu followed suit, woken up from his surprise. They moved in different directions to avoid direct contact with the Upper Moon. Gyutaro though furious from the kids' attempt to retake Moria's head, was keeping his senses aware of Law's whereabouts.
"You couldn't kill me." Gyutaro taunted, regenerating his arm.
Law was nowhere to be found. Gyutaro decided to focus on the kids rushing for Moria's head. That turned out to be his momentary mistake.
"Takt!" Law had extended his Devil Fruit powers to the ground below and flew off with a piece of hardened rock below his feet. He moved his finger and rushed down from above.
Gyutaro blocked his blade that hurled in with the huge rock. The Demon failed to fathom the attack that followed.
Law placed his left thumb when his opponent was busy defending, releasing a strong Counter Shock. He made sure the Upper Moon couldn't lift a finger.
Nezuko and Zenitsu closed in. The latter managed to get hold of Moria's head with Gyutaro stunned, leaping back. Nezuko, finding her companion succeed, leaped ahead to support Law.
"Damn you all!"
Gyutaro roared releasing, bursts of his blood aiming at random. The liquid turned into solid blades cutting down anything in its paths.
Law grabbed hold of Nezuko and leaped high to avoid being hit. Zenitsu managed to dodge the blades at his distance retreating back into the woods. Law gave him the signal to return back.
The blood barrage ceased after a while. Law landed back on the ground and released Nezuko to her feet.
"He's bad news." Law remarked.
"Mmmf." Nezuko agreed, glaring ahead.
Law saw a cut on his left arm, bleeding down his hands. Despite his minimal damage, he saw Gyutaro in a frenzied state, furious and mad.
"I'm going to destroy you all!" the Upper Moon growled.
"Get behind me." Law said, pushing Nezuko behind his stance. "He's going for the blood attack."
He imbued his sword with Haki.
"Flying Blade Sickles!"
The onslaught of blood poured in from the front. It was more coordinated than the previous barrage. Nezuko couldn't move out of Law's defence even if she wanted to. The attack was fierce and Law had to concentrate harder on both his Armament and Observation Hakis, defending themselves from being cut down.
Nezuko found a bunch of blood sickles rushing from behind. The same ones Gyutaro had employed before his crazy barrage. She managed to block a few of the blades but the remainder began to overtake her defence. She was cut through her arms, legs and face, weakening her from the constant blows. Law sensed her situation and extended his 'Room'.
"Get behind him as soon as you can." he advised.
Nezuko nodded despite the pain she had to endure.
"Shambles." Law swapped Nezuko with the most distant sickle, allowing her out of the rear attack.
"Takt!" He raised a large rock from the ground, blocking the blood barrage ahead.
Gyutaro intensified his attack whilst his rage, breaking the rock in mere seconds. He found Law nowhere in his sight. He turned around and found Nezuko leaping in from above. Gyutaro drew out an instant blood sickle and hurled towards the girl. The sickle made contact, against a decoy rock, swapped for Nezuko, who showed up at the opposite side.
"That pirate is interfering!" he bellowed.
"Mmmmmgh!" Nezuko was furious. She dashed ahead, extending her claws.
Gyutaro observed a flame develop from Nezuko's wounds inflicted from the previous sickle attack. Her blood poured out extending the Demonic flames, her Blood Demon Art, until she controlled fireballs on both her palms.
Gyutaro heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and discovered the kid, Zenitsu, near the trees. Nezuko observed him with surprise. She believed he had retreated from the field of battle.
"You dared hurt my beloved Nezuko." he said, with his eyes shut, "For that, you shall pay."
"Thunder Breathing… First Form…"
"Stupid kid." retorted Gyutaro, splashing blood waves towards the young Demon Slayer.
Nezuko paced ahead to defend Zenitsu.
Law rushed in and dragged Nezuko off her feet. Blood waves swooped right past them, cutting Law's cheeks to the right side. Nezuko struggled.
"The kid's serious. Best not to get in his way." Law replied, leaping behind with the Demon girl.
The blood waves closed in.
"Six Fold…" Zenitsu breathed, "Thunderclap and Flash!"
It was a split-second action. Gyutaro couldn't catch up. Within the blink of an eye, Zenitsu made six jumps, dodging the blood barrage ahead, and closing in on the Upper Moon.
Gyutaro sensed the last move, blocking ahead with her arms. In an instant, both of them were cleaved in a single clean strike. Zenitsu leaped high, hurling Gyutaro's blood and arms along with his jump.
In the meanwhile, Law let go of Nezuko reminding her to follow the previous plan.
Nezuko flanked the Upper Demon Moon from behind sprinting with her blazing palms. Gyutaro's attention shifted from Zenitsu towards her, turning behind, whilst trying his best to regenerate his arms as soon as possible. Zenitsu woke up from his trance and observed the situation below.
"Nezuko!" he bellowed in concern.
"Grrrr…" Nezuko made a fatal rush regardless of consequences, knowing well of two outcomes.
Victory or death.
No one could have stopped her rage. Neither Zenitsu, nor Law. Gyutaro began to lose his stature, getting vibes of a true threat. He knew those glowing pink flames were made from a Blood Demon Art and could prove fatal should Nezuko connect a blow in his undefended situation.
Zenitsu observed in terror as Gyutaro had regenerated his arms to near completion.
"Die, Demon bitch!" Gyutaro roared, turning his premature developed hands into sharp sickles.
"Nezuko!" Zenitsu screamed, knowing full well there was no way for her to dodge at that range.
The sickles hacked.
Clash!
Gyutaro found Law in front of him. The latter swapped in place of Nezuko, blocking the sickles with his sword.
Unaware, the Upper Moon was hit with a nasty blow. He couldn't breathe for a few moments. Tremors shook his entire body. He looked at Law, realising the latter had no part in executing the excruciating pain.
Zenitsu began falling down. He observed Nezuko behind the Upper Moon, pounding her fists engulfed with demonic flames onto her vile enemy. Her claws emblazoned Gyutaro's skin with bright red flames, burning his blood. Her fists shook him to the bone, ringing every muscle in his body.
Gyutaro turned around and saw her infuriated face, eyes narrowed from her lust to end his life. His surprise further turned to agony.
"Takt!"
A sharp rock pierced through the Demon's body from below, impaling his torso, head, and brain. Law observed above and found Zenitsu preparing for a breathing technique.
"Thunderclap and Flash!"
Zenitsu zipped through mid-air, decapitating Gyutaro with a clean cut. Law was surprised with the kid's dextrous strike, and his airborne dash.
That air jump resembled a Moonwalk. One of the Six Powers. He thought.
Nezuko's flames began to engulf Gyutaro's body. Zenitsu observed the Demon's arms move despite the ordeal, making him leap back.
"You bastards are outrageous!" Gyutaro growled, grinning in reply.
The Demon's formidability disturbed Nezuko's thoughts. Zenitsu wondered if the Demon had attained eternal life for real. Decapitated he was, and yet Gyutaro hadn't died for the third time.
Zenitsu realised there had been a reason Law allowed him to bestow the final decapitating blow. Law knew a Nichirin sword to do a better job ending a Demon's life than any other blade. And yet, after all the effort, Gyutaro didn't die.
They felt vexed with the situation. Gyutaro was burning and incapacitated, and yet the Demon showed no sign of demise.
"Ha!" Gyutaro made a surprise attack, releasing a bunch of blood sickles from his decapitated head flying in towards Zenitsu. Nezuko was taken by shock whilst rushing in to help. To her surprise, she couldn't fathom the decapitated head turn into a blade itself, hurling in to behead her.
Law realised he had withdrawn his 'Room' hoping to conserve energy. He had no choice but to throw his sword upon the head. Meanwhile, Zenitsu saw the blood sickles coming in at a distance, dodging the blades whilst his whimper.
Blood spilt. Nezuko fell to ground. She observed the blade stab through Gyutaro's head, posting it to the ground.
But a panic took her composure the moment she saw Law was stabbed from behind by Gyutaro's blades. The burning sickles impaled the Captain, inflicting damage from the blades alone. The flames went out the moment Nezuko found Law wounded.
A lethal poison was injected through the Demon's attack.
"Ugh!" Law groaned in pain.
"Captain!" Zenitsu bellowed.
Law lost his patience.
"Room!" He gave every ounce of rage into his small 'Room' covering the Demon's body. A light began to glow from his arms, combining into one as he grasped both his hands in a manner of holding a sword.
"Gamma Knife!" he roared, stabbing the pale-green light right through the Demon's burning body.
Nezuko was delirious finding Law hurt, slamming onto Gyutaro's pierced head with her flaming punches.
"Arrrgh!" she rumbled, shaking the ground with her fists.
A new head had begun growing out of Gyutaro's burning body to replace the one decapitated.
The look on the new face was no longer glamorous with the grin as he did when Zenitsu had decapitated him.
"I feel afraid." Gyutaro muttered.
"Suffered, we have." Law mentioned, driving his Gamma Knife through the Demon's body.
Zenitsu observed the terror in front of him. Demonic crests in the form of vine tattoos showed up through Nezuko's body. And worse, a horn began to protrude from the right side of her forehead.
"You know no suffering!" Gyutaro growled, "Me and my sister are just returning all the pain and suffering people did to us, and collecting what they owe us. We have to pay our past misfortunes to those who are fortunate, or we can't break even. That's how we lived our lives. And we killed every single person that had a single problem with that."
"And yet, the struggles perpetuate." Law replied, with laughter, "People call me the 'Surgeon of Death'. Do you know why?"
Gyutaro wailed as the Gamma Knife began wrecking his body.
"Weaklings can't choose how they die," Law intensified his Gamma Knife, "I do."
The wilderness of the night glowed pale-green. The screams continued to echo.
TO BE CONTINUED...