Published: 7/3/2020 - 6,474 words.
Edited: 7/7/2020 - 8,353 words.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Kimetsu no Yaiba" nor any references used in the story. Everything belongs to their respective owners.
"Kamaboko... Gonpachiro? ...What a stupid name."
Indeed.
Comparing to his original human name, Numa had blatantly commented on the samurai demon's name which was less disgusting and more stupider than his own real name.
After all, it was truly a stupid name that only an idiot would come up with. Especially if it correlates to a certain pair that gave his disgusted birth name.
But there was one detail that the Swamp Demon had caught on.
"How did you know my name? Did a fellow kin of ours tell you about me?"
The demon in samurai armor nodded, "Yeah. A fellow demon did."
Judging how fast he replied and without hesitation as he nodded, Numa concluded he was telling the truth. However...
"Is that so? Then, why are you helping that human behind you? Are you a traitor along with that demon over there?"
He pointed at the demon in green and black checkered haori at the wall. With the Demon Slayer's sword planted deep inside his abdomen and the wall behind him.
"More or less, that's only for you to decide. I only intervene is because I saw a cloud of darkness awhile ago. It would seem that it gave you a power boost."
Numa cocked his right brow. Seeing that this particular demon is quite more than he let's on.
"...If I tell you that, you wouldn't even think I would just tell you what that voice in that cloud ordered me."
"I wasn't asking. I was stating on what I just observed. It would seem there is something you've said that I couldn't let it slide. Tell me, did that voice told you his name was Mordred?"
Now this had caught Numa off guard.
"How did you his name?"
He queried while heightening his guard and shifting to a different stance. The level of caution over this demon was going off the roof and Numa did not like it at all.
"Let's say I have a run-in with him. But other than that, what did he order you do?"
The samurai demon shifted his stance as well. The way he acted on his last sentence was something Numa was quite aware that the demon in front of him was prepared to act should his answer be not what he wanted.
"You have to beat me first if you want some answers, kin traitor."
The Swamp Demon declared. Fully prepared on what this demon in samurai armor has to offer in order to beat him. A demon that was enhanced by the cloud of darkness as well as secret techniques known as Martial Demon Arts.
"I knew you were going to say that. Very well, it would seem I have to beat you to a pulp in order to get what I wanted."
"...Try me."
With that, Numa made his first move.
"Martial Demon Art: Pace of the Wind."
The ground below Numa exploded. Producing a large cloud of dust in its wake and alerting the nearby neighborhood at the loud sound. Proving that he had just broken the sound barrier.
This demon is bad news. I need to finish him, or the very least, incapacitate him long enough for me to kill the first kin traitor with that bitch's sword stuck inside his abdomen and decapitate him. That way, I could accomplish one of the tasks Mordred gave me.
Numa thought of his plan of action. Now viewing the voice, Mordred, order to be the topmost priority as of now.
Now, the Swamp Demon had immediately closed the distance between him and the samurai demon. Cocking his right arm and coating it with crimson light. As well as activating a couple more to make it more effective and just to be sure too.
"Martial Demon Arts: Focus Battle Aura! Bash! Gale Acceleration!"
Now feeling an overwhelming power coating his right fist. Numa intended to blow the samurai demon's head off with this move.
With "Bash," as a move made specifically against someone in armor. He knew that he needed the edge if that armor is more than what it seems.
Although, he, himself, did not know how fast the demon in samurai armor's regeneration is. But he doubted that the regeneration speed of the demon in front of him is at least Lower Moon level, or at most, Upper Moon level. But he hoped for the former instead.
Regardless of that, he knew that a few second would be needed to finish the first objective after he accomplished blowing the demon's head for at least a second. With the use of Martial Demon Arts, it would very well in less than a second.
His first objective was to kill the demon with the Hanafuda Earrings. And make the accompanying girl suffer as well.
However, the sight before him shocked him.
Instead of being surprised at the sudden speed Numa produced. The samurai demon had instead cocked his left arm and aimed to counter the incoming blow.
No matter, the force of my fist is more than enough to pulverize a small building. This demon would have his arm blown off instead!
The Swamp Demon thought, confident that the Martial Arts coated his arm is very well be strong enough to overpower him. Just like what it did to the Demon Slayer earlier too.
But instead, the opposite had happened.
As soon as both fists had made contact. The force of the two blows produced an explosion of wind coming out as the shockwave had split the ground and the walls on both sides.
What was more incredibly surprising was Numa's right arm, that was coated by three Martial Demon Arts all at once, was blown off. While the demon in samurai armor's arm was intact and no sign of damage was seen on him and his armor.
Impossible!
It was truly so.
With his right arm disintegrate to literally nothing. Numa could clearly see that his blood was flowing out where his arm was once before.
"Tch!"
The Swamp Demon grunted, but he immediately followed up with another attack. Not wanting to lose his momentum. Not here, not now. Especially against this nobody of a demon.
But this time, he silently used "Ability Boost," and "Greater Ability Boost," to increase his physical parameters as he charged up once more.
"You think that my first attack is nothing!? How about this, kin traitor!? Martial Demon Arts: Focus Battle Aura! Bash! Gale Acceleration!"
The demon of the swamp roared, repeating the same attack as it coated his left arm with crimson light once more. But now, with its intensity far greater than the previous attack seen before. And he could feel it was far more overwhelming than his first attack.
Now with enough power to destroy a large building with one blow. Numa was sure he was going to overpower the second kin traitor he met tonight. But he knew the demon in front of him would have reacted by now. If his combat speed was something he imagined to be much faster than his.
As he had expected, he can see the samurai demon cocking his right arm and aiming to counter the next blow. Attempting to perform the same move he did earlier.
The Swamp Demon smirked. He was completely sure that the demon in front is going to have a nice surprise.
But to his shock and horror once more, the armored demon had blown off his arm once more. The resulting shockwave both blows produced were several times stronger than before, and its destructive results was enough that the humans around here would've thought that a war had just occurred.
Numa could not register what had gone wrong. He was sure that it was several times more powerful than his first attack. He made sure that the buffs "Ability Boost," and "Greater Ability Boost," had powered him beyond what he couldn't normally do even with the newfound powers granted by Mordred in his disembodied voice.
To think a kin traitor like him possesses such power.
The Swamp Demon internally admitted that the samurai demon was indeed powerful. To further cement this, he couldn't even scratch the surface of his armor at all.
He needed to escape. He needed to retreat in order to devise a new plan and attack tomorrow night.
"Mar—!"
Before he could utter a single word, Numa saw the samurai demon grabbed his shoulders, and cocked his head.
Wha—!?
Without his own thoughts being able register in his mind, he felt his head collided with an extremely hard object. And he was sure that it wasn't just the helm itself.
A pressurized burst of air exited at the back of the Swamp Demon's head. Leaving a trail of dust clouds as the pressurized beam of air traveled a few kilometers away where it came from.
With his brain literally blown off from the inside, Numa felt numb after the samurai demon had headbutted him with such force that it was ridiculous enough to have even to happen.
Fortunately for Numa, he had focused his regeneration in fixing his damaged brain far faster than what he would have done the same in restoring his own limbs.
Sadly for him, his opponent wasn't done yet.
As soon as he had gone so far to restore his own brain, the demon samurai kicked him squarely at his solar-plexus and thus propelling the Swamp Demon with enough force to actually have him fly away at speeds that Numa himself couldn't believe he was traveling at.
After reaching the outskirts a few hundred meters away from town. Numa looked behind and saw in the nick of time that the second kin traitor suddenly flickered into existence as if he had been teleporting.
Before the Swamp Demon could even react, Gonpachiro performed a somersault kick that launched Numa far into the air and into the heavens itself.
This is ridiculous! To think this kin traitor is this powerful!? What the hell is he!? An Upper Moon!?
From the very start, Numa had greatly underestimated him. No, "greatly," is more than an understatement here as he did not know he possessed this power from the beginning.
The way he did both of his attacks, which was more powerful than the last. The pressurized air burst from his headbutt. And now his ridiculously fast travel and combat speed all the more plausible that he isn't just an ordinary demon from out of nowhere.
He's a monster! A demon amongst demons! An existence that shouldn't have existed! He is untouchable! Unkillable!
With that thought, and at this point, Numa had finally regenerated both of his arms. And he was falling back into earth and not a demon clad in samurai armor in sight.
Where is he? Where is that bastard!?
Cold sweat broke out from his face as he descended from the heavens at a fast pace. Completely wary and scared of the demon that overpowered him at every turn. The demon that far outclassed him.
Seeing that the demon was nowhere to be seen, Numa sighed a breath of relief as he closed his eyes as he let himself fall on the ground from on high. After all, he could survive the fall without any problems and his regeneration is fast enough that he could come out without scratches.
Unfortunately, after he had opened his eyes, and to his shock and horror once more, he saw Gonpachiro flickered in existence in front of him. His cat-like eyes the color of plum looked at him, extremely bored like he didn't do anything serious.
With the samurai demon raised his right leg above him and spinning like a water wheel. Numa knew he was performing a spinning axe kick aimed directly at him.
"Martial Demon Arts: Fortress!"
At the moment of desperation, Numa activated a defensive Martial Demon Art that it would at least soften the blow for him to perform a counterattack at this ridiculously powerful demon.
Sadly enough, the force the spinning axe kick had exerted was far too strong for Numa to have anticipated. So much so, it punched through "Fortress," like a bullet going through paper-thin armor.
As a result, Numa was sent pummeling downwards and he hit the ground, hard.
At the moment of impact, a cloud of dust and earth filled the air. The force that the demon known as Kamaboko Gonpachiro had exerted was enough to produce a small earthquake that can be felt outside and the entirety of the town itself.
As the dust cloud had settled, Numa was seen to have a large hole in his gut as the force had made it clear that it was powerful enough to punch through "Fortress," with unnerving ease.
Numa trembled, not because he was enrage. He trembled because the power the stupid named demon has in his possession. A power that no demon should have possessed.
It was horrifying, not once he had seen any demon do that. He was sure that not even the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan, himself was powerful as this demon samurai was. And it was truly terrifying.
Truly, he was a monster amongst monsters. A monster capable of ending the entire world by himself.
With that thought, he could see the samurai demon landed gracefully on the ground with a tap. As if the tap of the soles of his sandals produced is an indication of a being far greater than he could imagine.
As the hole in his stomach regenerated, he was met face-to-face with Kamaboko Gonpachiro, the strongest demon so far, himself.
"Had enough?"
The ridiculously powerful demon queried. The tone used by him had made Numa seethe in anger. Yet, at the same time, made him cower in fear.
"No."
He spatted. Pulling up a bravado in defiance of the strong. The strong he admitted was the demon in samurai armor. The demon he could not admit in front of him.
"...Is that so? In any case, you ought to at least give me some answers. How are you able to use Martial Demon Arts?"
Martial Demon Arts.
During his travels in the past three years, they were skills that can augment a demon's physical abilities.
They were skills that a demon mastered during months, years, and even decades of training for demonic martial perfection. Some called them a demon's ki or some kind of aura, but they defied easy description.
In the face of a powerful, towering slayer, a demon who had learned "Fortress," could negate mighty blows of his hunter and stand toe-to-toe with him.
Demons who are capable of wielding swords and weapons of any kind can concentrate their aura onto his blade and swing with "Slash," could slay even the most resilient of slayers.
Against heavily armored slayers, the bludgeoning Martial Art called "Bash," came into play.
Any demon who had learned to temporarily improve their physical parameters with "Ability Boost," could seize victory through the power of their augmented bodies.
Those were some of the many abilities that Tanjiro had faced during his demon hunt in Europe. They were abilities that are so versatile, they were often been used to anticipate all sorts of circumstances.
However, there were key differences between Martial and Blood Demon Arts.
The Swamp Demon in front of him, Numa's red sclera without pupils widening in surprise.
"How... Did you know?"
He queried, in awe and shock laced in his tone. It would seem he wasn't aware that Martial Demon Arts existed.
"I've been traveling around the globe for quite some time. The only demons I know to possess the same powers such as yours are those from the West. Particularly, in Europe."
"Europe you say... Heh. You mean the continent where those big shots who called themselves the Great Powers reside? You must be kidding me, there is no way demons existed there. Not even possible."
He said with certainty, as if he knew the existence of demons outside of Japan was nothing.
"Oh, they certainly do exist. My knowledge of the techniques they've used confirms it. And they are far different than the ones found here in Japan. For instance, they used Martial Demon Arts as oppose to Blood Demon Arts."
"What's the difference? Can't they use Blood Arts along with Martial Arts as well?"
"The difference between here and the West are that they are completely incompatible with each other. Those who used Blood Arts cannot use Martial Arts. The same can be said to those who use Martial Arts as well."
It was true.
Those who mastered Martial Demon Arts cannot use Blood Arts as these two are both fundamentally different abilities. Hence, in the west they were called "Demon Warriors," and in Japan and some parts of Asia they were called "Magic Caster Demons,".
Tanjiro, despite using all of his efforts to incorporate Martial Demon Arts into his arsenal, was unable to learn it, much less than knowing it. In fact, he couldn't even able to use it for that matter at all. Even when the demons in Europe, who were neutral to the cause of demonic extinction, had made it clear that it was impossible.
It was an unspoken rule that was known since the Age of Exploration. And it was never brought up between the demons in the west as a debated topic since then on after experiencing it with firsthand accounts.
However...
"But you, are different."
"How so? What am I different from them?"
Numa asked, Tanjiro knew that he knew, but regardless he answered.
"You can use both Blood and Martial Arts. Don't deny it, I can tell just from looking at you."
Numa looked at Gonpachiro incredulously. But then he chuckled, then a few moments, he broke out i laughter.
"Is that so? You mean I'm a demon who can use both Arts that neither side could perform!? Ha! Regardless of your ridiculous power level, I'm going accomplish what that voice told me!"
"And that would be?" Tanjiro asked, not knowing what he meant that Mordred had ordered Numa to accomplish.
"Like hell I would!"
Numa conjured an eighteen meter diameter wide black swamp appeared beneath him, showing a disgusting black fountain the Swamp Demon considered as his personal playground.
The Demon King of the Rising Sun looked around and found himself standing on the black swamp. Acting like quicksand that was six times faster than he remembered it to be.
What?
Tanjiro looked at Numa, although not surprising since he had been in this situation before.
Then the Swamp Demon taunted. As if he had the advantage now.
"Ha ha ha! You fool! Do you seriously think that I would give in and answer your questions that easily!? The range that I used my Blood Art before that bitch decapitated me is pathetically short, only me and my victims can fit inside back then. Then, the dark cloud not only increased all of my abilities by a factor of six, and it made my Blood Art's range six times larger. Thus giving me enough range for me to transport you to my home environment where I have the total advantage. And for the record, I will never tell you, kin traitor!"
Tanjiro merely crossed his arms and closed his eyes in response. He let the black swamp swallow him whole like it did to him years past.
Oh well. At least nothing had changed then.
Tanjiro opened his eyes. Looking around the darkening marsh, watching the kimonos, sandals, and bags dancing around the place in a horrible festival of merry-making. These belongings had made it known the number of their past victims.
Just like what he remembered. The memories the first time he had seen this sight.
Oddly, it seemed soothing as though he nostalgically missed the place.
"Heh heh heh, do you feel it, kin traitor!?" there is almost no air within this swamp. And with my abilities increased sixfold, it is impossible for you to feel the air. Kin traitor, your body is being entangled by the darkness of the swamp feel extremely heavy doesn't it?"
Numa whizzed past him. Cackling as he made a complete, utter madness painted on his pale face, and a manic smile was presented to mock the existence of his being, so contrast from the calm that was almost mocking. Just as he remembered it to be.
"You cannot move like you were above the ground. You had it coming!"
He chimed, circling around him while still grinding his teeth. The Demon King of the Rising Sun calmly listened to him, like the threats made by Numa was nothing more than a mere bluff. With no power to back it up.
"Stupid kin traitor. But if I can't kill that other kin traitor I might as well leave you here with no way out. You may be strong, but you can't escape here! A perfect win-win scenario!"
Tanjiro was still silent, just watching him move around extremely fast within this damp, disgusting mud. Maneuvering in a zigzag formation just like he last remembered.
Seriously, he's doing the same moves and speech he did previously. And it was getting slightly... annoying.
"Well, what are you going to do, kin traitor? Are you going to use that sword strapped on your waist? If not, too bad, 'cause you're not a Demon Slayer that is going use the same move like her!"
Then, Tanjiro chuckled menacingly. The small shifts of his shoulders made Numa slightly perturbed of his sudden actions. And to make it worse, he was chuckling what was like underwater.
"...What's so funny, kin traitor? Are you mocking me!?"
The Demon King continued to chuckle, making the Swamp Demon in front of him took a slightly frighten expression. Not once he had seen that kind of menacing laughter in his entire demon life.
Numa was trembling. The former Demon Slayer can see that. And as a Demon King, it was amusing to see a prey like him do it.
Then, he answered him. His voice a mixture of arrogance and complete confidence. A tone worthy of a Demon King.
"Do you really think that I don't know a way out of here?"
"What?"
"How foolish of you, Numa," his body started emitting a faint light, a light that gradually became brighter, "Despite everything I did to you. You haven't truly seen a mere fraction of what I am truly capable off. And this merely a fragment of it."
Then suddenly, flames started to surround the Demon King. As if the fire itself have a mind of its own. And what's odd, the flames are seeming unquenchable.
What is this!?
The flames that the Demon King produced was powerful. Yea, the flames that burn as bright as the sun itself. Illuminating the darkness that surrounded him as it lit up the dark swamp.
"What are you doing!? The space here is boiling, impossible! No flames should be able to do it!"
The Swamp Demon showed a look of horror that was a contrast of his previous manic look he gave Tanjiro awhile. This was an expression of fear he made was almost enticing for the demon side.
"As your name suggested, it was easy to know that your personal pocket dimension is akin to that of a swamp. Hence, the water-like substance that your pocket dimension seem to possess. And heat is the main component that boils the water."
If Tanjiro hadn't wore the faceplate that covered his face, he would have seen grinning like a true, evil Demon King would make. An expression that would forever scar the minds of men and demons alike.
Despite retaining his human identity, Tanjiro in the past three years had seen episodes of his demonic self that struck fear on the hearts of both his allies and his enemies. The demon side that will only be seen when he had the overwhelming advantage.
Those who manage to witness it was mostly talked about it akin to recent legends. Recent legends that would forever be told in stories for centuries.
And for Numa, it was easy to see behind the mask of the demon in front of him. The face that brought so much fear and despair with one single look at it.
Tanjiro spread both of his arms on each side. Both arms producing flames that Numa swore they sounded like dragons roaring for dominance. The jaws that moved on their own like actual beings.
"When there is darkness, let light be the guide who had lost their way. And let that light be the fire that will burn those who consumes it with darkness."
The flames formed. The right arm had taken the figure of an eastern dragon. Majestic, sleek, and full of graceful dominance. The Orient Dragon of the East.
The flames on his left arm had taken the form of a dragon depicted those from the west. Powerful, ruthless, and full of fierce dominance. The West Dragon
The sight that beheld these majestic dragons, the Orient and the West, was something no one had beheld these legendary mythical creatures ever seen before. Not once had any human nor demon could conjure physical embodiment of these legendary mythical creatures before.
The heat intensified, boiling the water to the point Numa himself had to brace himself for the impending flames that the demon, Kamaboko Gonpachiro, is about to release. Using a Martial Art that raised his heat resistance to its absolute limit.
Even if he tried to escape, he was sure that his life would be ended in an instant. And nothing would stop that. Not even Martial Demon Arts would help him.
"Farewell, Numa. Blood Demon Art: Dragons of the Orient and the West."
"Hnng!"
Nezuko grunted, trying to pull her zanbato out of her brother's abdomen and the wall behind him. What is the wall made of that pulling out a sword is so hard?
It had been approximately three minutes since both demons, Kamaboko Gonpachiro and Numa (the Swamp Demon's name she learned after she overheard Gonpachiro's greeting), had disappeared. She only had seen a cloud of dust on the outskirts of this town several seconds after their disappearance. And since then, all was quiet.
While they were fighting, Nezuko brought it up to herself that she should at least pull the sword out of her older brother's abdomen while the demon, clad in samurai armor, was busy handling the Swamp Demon. And so far, accomplish that objective seemed to be impossible.
She, however, was still weak. Whatever the demon did to her, he did a good job of draining her. Even pulling a sword, which was supposed to be easy to do, was taking a toll on her weakened body.
As for how and why did the demon drained her, she did not know. But one thing for sure, it did weakened her considerably to the point that she was as weak before Urokodaki trained her. And she did not like that, not one bit of it.
"One more time, this time with Total Concentration Breathing. Hnng!"
She inhaled, using the technique old man Urokodaki Sakonji and Sabito, by extension, had taught her. The same breathing that enhanced her Breath Forms to its fullest possible potential.
With blood vessels fueling her arms and legs, feeling much more relaxed and powerful. Nezuko let out one final grunt as the sword, which was planted deeper than what it actually seems, was finally pulled out as her older brother slid from the wall and clutched the wound where the sword had stabbed him.
"Nii-chan! Are you okay?"
She gave him a concerned look, her tone suggested that she worried for her only living brother's well being. And the look she gave was something her brother would not like to see her make.
Fortunately, her brother gave her his usual eye-smile, telling her that he was fine and nothing to be worried about. And went to the box to eat some snacks to restore some energy.
"What a relief." she sighed, feeling relieved that her brother was alright. Seeing that he had finally regenerated his right arm in just minutes after it had been removed by Numa while eating those snacks.
Tanjiro nodded, joyful as his little sister was okay as well while he munched the food in his mouth. But he turned his attention to the town's outskirts, where the dust cloud Nezuko had seen before. Staring as if he had just seen something amazing.
Nezuko blinked but nonetheless trailed at the direction where her brother was staring at. Wondering why he was looking at the direction of—
The red-eyed Demon Slayer widen her eyes in amazement. The night sky turned bright, like the sun had appeared out of the blue.
The light was bright, bright as day. But not to the extent as the sun that all demons feared of. At the very least, it didn't her brother at all. She assumed it was some sort Blood Demon Art that could've produce such a thing.
She saw two dragons, one was depicted as seen in legends, and the other was something she heard from the western stories her mother had told when she was younger. And they were majestic mythical creatures she dreamed off seeing in real life.
It was a rare sight, a sight that can only be seen in once-in-a-lifetime. And it was beautiful to have seen it at this time.
"Gonpachiro..."
She uttered the name she knew in her heart was truly responsible for creating the flaming constructs of these magnificent dragons. The stupid name she was sure to remember from this night onward.
Soon after, the fire dragons that lit up the night bellowed a single, synchronized roar that she was sure that townspeople will hear at this time. The roar that seemed to have glorified of the being that gave birth to them.
A moment after that, the flame dragons dispersed. Akin to a wind blowing the flames of a candle. A sight that as soon as it appeared, it disappeared as well.
This left a wordless Nezuko and an amazed Tanjiro to gawk at the sight. As if something had abruptly snuffed the flames out of existence.
THUD!
The sound of a body hitting on the ground, hard, was heard.
Both Nezuko and Tanjiro turned their heads to the source of the sound. And they saw a charred body laying on the ground singed as if it had burned by fire.
Then that same charred body squirmed and tried to stand but to no avail.
Nezuko, wondering who was the charred body was, checked its color to see of its identity. And it surprise her who it was.
It was the Swamp Demon, Numa.
She held the sword that had planted her older brother's abdomen, holding it defensively. Despite being weakened by the demon before and still yet to recover from it.
The ponytail haired Demon Slayer knew the demon won't die this easily. Because the only way to kill a monster like him is either to expose him to sunlight, or decapitate him using a Nichirin blade. The former was only a few hours away .
"That... Bastard..."
The Swamp Demon uttered weakly, but soon had the strength to stand on his own two feet. The burns that were covered by his charred body soon recovered via his regeneration. Albeit, took a bit of time to do so.
It was then that Gonpachiro, the demon clad in samurai armor, appeared instantly in front of her. As if he had just used some technique or Blood Demon Art to teleport to his destination seemingly in an instant.
"Had enough?" he queried the weakened demon, knowing full well that Numa had no strength to continue. And Nezuko was sure the color the Swamp Demon had shown her that he had really no strength to continue.
She saw Numa glaring at the stupidly named demon with disgust and anger. But she saw a fog of fear inside of the Swamp Demon. The fear she had seen inside of a demon was astonishing.
Nezuko knew the demon was afraid of the samurai demon, his fog clearly depicted it. And it was clear as day that it was so.
"No."
In defiance that Nezuko was shocked to hear him say that, despite being afraid of the demon samurai. But she knew he was pulling a bravado and lying through his own teeth.
How stubborn is this demon? Nezuko thought, seeing Numa's weakened form. A form she was scared to be in that state.
She heard Gonpachiro sigh, holding the hilt of his sword as he says, "I guess I should finish this then. I have no use for you anymore, Numa."
"What are you gonna do? Don't tell me you're going to cut my head with that sword on your waist? I bet that isn't a Nichirin blade, 'cause you ain't a Demon Slayer to have a sword like those hunters have." Numa taunted the samurai demon. Knowing well enough that Demon Slayers are allowed to have those special blades carry on their person.
Nezuko bit her lower lip. She knew the Swamp Demon was right. Only Demon Slayers have the right, and by extension, the only people have those special blades forged for them. The only people who have the knowledge that such blades have existed at all.
Then Numa continued his taunt.
"If I were you, I would—"
*CLICK*
The Swamp Demon stopped mid-taunt. His body frozen stiff all of a sudden.
Nezuko widen her eyes in surprise as she saw Gonpachiro instantly behind Numa. In a poise that he had just sheath his sword.
What happened? How did he get there so fast?
In that same moment, Numa's head slowly slid off from his shoulders and fell on the ground. As if the click of the sword's sheathing was the catalyst of the Swamp Demon's decapitation.
At the same time, as the head reached to the ground, his body instantly turned to ashes. A sight that gawked Nezuko at how fast it had taken to turn a demon to ashes that fast.
The Swamp Demon's head was no exception as well, turning to ashes soon after his body did. Another sight Nezuko gawked at the speed of disintegration it took.
Seriously, what kind of Nichirin blade did that demon had in his waist.
"You were saying?"
Nezuko's mouth, wide agape at the sight she just beheld. Realizing the sword the demon had on his waist was a Nichirin blade all along.
And it took a mere instant to finish off the demon that Gonpachiro, in Nezuko's realization, was toying with. Who was this ridiculously powerful demon that came to her aid?
Nezuko then saw him walking away after he had taken a nearly tired sigh. But before that, he said.
"Well, I'll be off then. So much for that."
He muttered, as he went his way. His mixed haori swayed with each step.
Before he could go far, Nezuko called out to him.
"Wait! Wait a minute, stop! Kamaboko-san!"
The demon stopped on his tracks, as if the name struck him like thunder as he turned his head to her and asked, "What is it?"
"I... Just wanted to thank you. For helping me kill the demon. Than you very much."
Before she could bow to him, he stopped her as he raised his right hand.
"There is no need, Demon Slayer. I only did what I needed to do after I've made my decision to intervene between you and him. That is all."
He said in a tone that suggested that he was a stranger to her. But in reality, after seeing a certain fog, Nezuko raised her brow that the demon was somehow familiar with her.
"Have we met before?" she asked suddenly, taking the samurai demon off guard.
"...Why do you ask?"
"I just wanted to be sure. I can see the color that suggested that you're familiar with me. You can't lie to me."
"...Is that so? Before I can answer your question first, could you answer mine?"
"Sure," she answered quickly. Wanting to know the demon who saved her.
"I overheard you say that you can see colors. Tell me, is your eyes special that you can see the colors of the world? The colors that defines the world we live in."
"You could say that," Nezuko admitted, "I had this ability since I was young. You see, every living creature has its own color. I can see them as a form of a fog that reaches out of their body like a string of fate. It was always amazing to see tons and tons of colors weaving around like a beautiful rainbow. Although, it was overwhelming at first when I first realized I had this skill. But that's all I could say to you."
"...I see... Just like hers..." Gonpachiro mumbled after hearing her explanation of her eyes.
"Who?"
"A friend, as well as an apprentice of mine... She had that exact skill as yours but what she saw might be the opposite of you see."
This caught her interest, "How so?"
"...Do you, I suppose, remember the war that ended two years ago... The war to end all wars?"
She nodded, remembering the news she and her brother had heard several months before the demon that killed her family and turned Tanjiro into a demon. She could vaguely remember the war's name as, "The Great War".
"She was a survivor of the war's aftermath where her country, one of the leading countries of the Central Powers, had lost. According to her, she only saw colors that says despair, sorrow, lost, and many negatives she had ever seen in her life. And since then on, she could only see those colors ever since."
This surprised her. To think someone had to live an environment during the aftermath of a war with the same abilities as her. And she was sadden to hear that someone who Gonpachiro mention had to experience all of this.
But she did not inquire what he meant by "apprentice," as she did not manage to hear that. Let alone at which apprenticeship.
She felt her legs a bit strange and she nearly fell down if it wasn't for Gonpachiro to catch before her fall.
"Are you okay?" he asked, a bit concerned for her well being. More so than a stranger would do.
"I'm not sure. After that demon, I mean Numa, punched me, I felt my body drained. Whatever he did, it did a good number on my body."
"...I see... I can tell what Numa did to you."
"You do?"
He nodded as he explained, "It's an ability called 'Drain Touch'. It's an ability where demons transfer their Blood energy, found on their blood vessels, via skin contact towards their victims. Weakening them enough for users to finish them off. It's an ability found only in the west. Tch. To think he had this ability as well."
"Is there a cure for this? I-I don't want to remain weak like this." she knew very well remaining this weak will only cause problems in the future.
"Fortunately, there is, and it's quite simple. A single exposure to sunlight should remove the effects instantly."
Nezuko let out a sigh of relief. Seeing dawn is only a few hours left. And she was quite happy with the fact she wouldn't stay this weak
"Is that all?"
The demon, Kamaboko Gonpachiro, asked if that was all. With Nezuko replying with a single nod. And with that, he disappeared. Like he never stood there before.
Using her eyes, she could not find a trace of fog he left behind. Moving so fast, the colors could not even trace where he went.
She sighed and went to her brother, who was oblivious to what she and Gonpachiro had said in their conversation.
She turned one last time where the demon in samurai was last seen. With that she gave her final thoughts for the night
Kamaboko Gonpachiro. What a stupid, and yet, wonderful name. Hope we meet again someday. And not under conflict, at the very least.
The night had fallen and the sun was rising on the horizon.
Kamado Tanjiro, with an alias called "Kamaboko Gonpachiro", stood on top of the mansion and overseeing the pair as they did what he remembered what he and Nezuko did years prior.
With his counterpart already back to hide inside the box the moment his demon survival instincts had told him to.
"It's quite strange that he hasn't discovered that he can survive sun exposure. But then again, it took both you and that girl, Nezuko, months to know. Particularly the time when you've defeated Hatengu."
Muzan commented, having been silent throughout the entire of the night. And saying things for reasons Tanjiro knew he was just bored.
"So, O great Demon King. What is our next move? Now knowing that Mordred has the ability to enhance his targets and gifts them with abilities from the cloud of darkness, particularly Martial Demon Arts?"
"I don't know, Muzan. With Mordred being able to gift Numa with Martial Demon Arts and still be able to use his Blood Arts, and multiplying his overall power by varying factors. I don't know. I just... What we're facing now is someone who is hellbent on killing us. I'm scared just knowing that he'll target Nezuko and my counterpart in this world."
Who was Mordred? What is his goal to accomplish by killing them? And who were these Lords that he mentioned?
There were so many questions and so little answers. It frustrated Tanjiro to no end.
Then, an unexpected answer came in the form of Muzan, saying:
"I think we should do what you and I do best. Gather information. Search for clues. Find reliable allies. Learn from what we can. And finally, get even stronger. There's no telling what Mordred is trying to accomplish. But I do know that we have a purpose as of why we're here. What does this mean for us? How can we do this? That's why, you do your best and I do my part. After all, you and I are two sides of a single coin. You're the Alpha and I'm the Omega. As such, even if shit comes to show, we'll be ready. Don't forget it, Tanjiro."
Hearing the uncharacteristic words of encouragement coming from Muzan, the demon he had accepted as a comrade during the battle that decided the fate of Europe from the demonic hands that binded the continent for nearly two millennia, Tanjiro had found the resolve he needed in this world.
Gather information. Search for clues. Find reliable allies. Learn what they could. And finally, get even stronger.
Tanjiro looked at the Bamboo flask strapped on his waist. The flask that contained Marechi-quality blood inside of it. One of few items he brought before his mysterious transfer in this world. And he knew he would need it when the time comes.
After all, the Demon King of the Rising Sun was no pushover when it comes to combat. Information is key in winning most engagements.
If anything else, those were what the both of them needed in order to anticipate any foreseeable problems in the future.
"Hey, Tanjiro. Can I ask you a question?"
"What is it, Muzan?"
He asked him. Not completely sure what he was going to ask after all the words of encouragement he gave him.
"Why, in the name of the Shinto gods, had made you decide on the name Kamaboko Gonpachiro!?"
His demon subconscious companion shouted in the end of his sentence. Tanjiro swore that if Muzan was physical here, the noise alone would've blown his demon-enhanced eardrums away.
"It was a spur of a moment! It was only thing that came on the spot!"
"AND you had to use it!? You should've chosen a better name! Like Yamato, Musashi, and even a name like Zamasu would have been a better alternative instead of that stupid name that pig-headed idiot called you! And now, rumors will spread about a mysterious demon clad in samurai armor saving civilians in the night with a Nichirin blade in hand but had a stupid name that broke the seriousness that was in it!"
Tanjiro froze, he had to admit, Muzan was right. A name like that would break the seriousness of the identity of the demon in samurai armor in the words of the rumors. And it would definitely wouldn't taken very seriously.
However...
"But hey, at least it broke the seriousness enough for people not hunting me down just to confirm the rumors, right? It could give us something that wouldn't have unforeseen consequences, right?"
"Tch." Muzan grunted, "At least you're right on that part. I'm still a bit iffy on the name you've used... At least it's a bit better than Oppai."
Tanjiro blinked thrice at the last word Muzan mentioned. His face contorted to disgust at how casually the former Demon King had said it.
"...Muzan, could you, uh, repeat what you've said. That last part, I mean."
He needed to confirm it.
"Like what? Oppai?"
He needed to confirm it.
"Yes. What do you mean by 'a better name than Oppai.'"
He really needed to confirm it.
"Ah, that. Well, it was Numa's original human name, why?"
It was the confirmation that he got what he dreaded to expect.
"EHHH!?"
And it was that time forward that the Demon King of the Rising Sun had learned why the Swamp Demon had hated his human name.
Far from the town, in a place surrounded by bonsai trees and a koi pond with sparkling, blue water lies a big temple. Or more specifically, a beautiful Manor that is the Headquarters of the Demon Slaying Corps.
Inside that manor was a man with black hair that reached his shoulder was caressing the crows with the same color. His white haori was tucked under his legs as he sat gracefully, hearing the report the intelligent messengers that served the Demon Slayer Corps well for many centuries.
"Is that so."
His voice was soft, extremely so. Anybody who hears of it will feel the calmness from his tone alone. However...
"It would seem there's a demon wearing dark-colored samurai armor of the Late Edo Period whose strength is far stronger than any ordinary demon and is capable of wielding a sword in combat... One of my newest swordsmen may haven been saved, but this demon in armor might be the infamous 'Upper Moon One whose reasons of saving her is unknown'. It seems there's a need to send the 'Pillars' to investigate."
"Gyomei. Iguro. Kyojuro. Mitsuri. Sanemi. Although it may be too much of a risk to send all five of you to Asakusa town, but I trust that I'll be able to leave the rest to you."
He called both of the people that were sitting politely inside the manor from the start of the meeting. Watching the interaction from behind the back of their guide.
"Order received." was their synchronized reply.
"Hmm. It would seem the demon had failed. That was expected of him, I suppose. He was a weak demon after all"
Mordred, or better known yet as Tanjiro's pursuer, uttered. In the middle of desert-like area. With no sun, moon, or stars to lit up the sky as the white sands had made its own illuminating light.
"Whatever. There are more candidates for me to chose to hunt that Demon King down anyways. It would only be a matter of time for my arrival, in any case."
He said in a way he was sure of it. After all, he had the ability to choose any demon beings in his current list of candidates to do the job. But he can sense the actions caused by the Demon King had caused ripples to that world. And the Noble of Darkness did not like it at all.
60 days left. For his arrival on the world that the Demon King had found himself in.
As he looked at the starry-less dim night sky. The desolate world where the Lords have deemed the HQ of the Nobles of Darkness as their Base of Operation.
Mordred held the hilt of his sword in anticipation as he let out one single breath.
The Lords proclaimed it so. Trials shall await those who sought to avoid. None shall escape conflict.
And cut!
Whew! That's currently the longest chapter I've ever written this story to date. I enjoy writing this story, especially at the last part. Ho ho ho, I'm getting excited! Especially what I've planned for this story.
Also, if you like this story, be sure to press the fav and follow button and be sure to leave a review to share your thoughts. PM me if you want to give me suggestions for this story.
Well, that's all. Gabrielchiong11, out!