Grimm Slaying Blade

by Weebobobo

To dispel the regrets of those killed, to stop any more victims from appearing, he will relentlessly wield his blade against any monster, even in a world more dangerous than his last. Tanjiro finds himself in another hidden war with his goals unchanged: To protect those who couldn't defend themselves and cure his sister!

6. Let Daylight Shine Through!

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Grimm Slaying Blade

Chapter 6

[Let Daylight Shine Through! Hinokami Kagura!]

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Dark, brooding clouds blanketed the skies, obscuring the sun's rays and shrouding the once vibrant Vale in a rare somber gloom. The air hung heavy with anticipation, as if the very heavens were bracing for an impending storm. Amidst this gloom, a boy in a checkered haori slowly made his way over to a box-shaped warehouse, its lower half made of cinder blocks and the upper half sheathed in metal.

When Penny led him to the Docks where she had once met with Torchwick, he noticed a few faint yet distinct scents that became valuable clues in his search. Despite stumbling into the wrong places and accidentally trespassing into private areas, he pressed on, making progress every day. The long days of chasing elusive trails eventually led him to a cluster of large warehouses nestled in the Industrial District of Vale, one of which housed the exact smells he had diligently tracked down.

As he lifted the creaking rolling door, a chilling silence enveloped the dimly lit interior, revealing a man in a white suit and bowler hat and a girl of comparable style. The man's vibrant orange hair and dark green eyes accentuated his aura of confidence as he descended from the stage, assessing him. Casually, he brandished an ordinary-looking cane, but his gestures with it were clearly intimidation tactics. The man's haughty gaze and not-so-subtle hints conveyed a clear message—leave immediately.

But no amount of intimidation would get him to leave. Unfazed by the silent threats, he was resolute; apprehending Torchwick was his sole objective right now, and nothing would dissuade him.

Stepping into the warehouse alone, his heart beat steadily in his chest, a turbulent blend of fear, determination, and anger coursing through his veins. Frayed nerves yielded to a calm storm of purpose, steadying his resolve in the face of uncertainty. The looming confrontation intensified the tension in the air, but he embraced it, ready for whatever would happen next.

The distinct scent of tobacco intertwined with a myriad of Dusts that covered the man left no doubt in his mind: This man before him was none other than Roman Torchwick. He could tell this encounter wouldn't go easy, and he knew Torchwick wouldn't let himself be taken away without a fight.

Yet, he remained prepared, setting his maroon eyes on the thief. He was ready to face any resistance, willing to take Torchwick away by any means necessary—even if it meant dragging him out kicking and screaming.

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Whenever someone asks for your name in this kind of business, it's either because they wanted to propose a deal and make connections—

—Or they wanted your head.

Typically, it's the cops who ask him this kind of question, all authority-like and serious—real stick-up-the-ass kind of guys that only Vale and Atlas have. If not them, it's other criminals seeking to challenge him and gain some street cred, but they don't seem to show up anymore.

The kid standing in front of him didn't quite fit either category; he appeared too soft or gentle to play such roles. Nevertheless, the intensity of his glare was anything but soft or gentle. It was as though he held a grudge, as if he had witnessed Roman commit a heinous act right before his eyes (though Roman couldn't recall any such incidents besides stealing Dust).

Honestly, such a look shouldn't belong to someone so young; the kid barely looked over fifteen, yet the air that surrounded him made him seem far beyond his years. Only kids like the Mistral rats could potentially exude such an aura—survivors who would do anything to stay alive—Roman included.

But even if the kid had one hell of a glare, that wasn't nearly enough to make Roman shy away. In fact, such serious attention made him revel in it, embracing it with gusto.

Flamboyantly gesturing, Roman extended his arms, presenting himself confidently. "The one and only, kid. If it's an autograph you want, then sorry, but I only give those kinds of things after I've relieved someone of their belongings." He was never one to miss an opportunity to be in the spotlight. "Now, if you don't mind, why don't you go make yourself scarce before you end up regretting it? I've got important business to attend to."

His response made the boy's eyes narrow as he stepped further inside the warehouse, stopping a medium distance from Roman, the air between them crackling with tension.

The boy's voice came out low yet commanding. "Please surrender yourself, Torchwick. Don't make this harder than it has to be." Rather than a polite request, it sounded more like a firm order.

For a moment, Roman was taken aback. Who the hell did this kid think he was? Coming up to him alone all ballsy and telling him to surrender? He wasn't a cop; there was only one category left to fit him into—an overly-ambitious Huntsman-in-Training.

An idiotic one at that.

Now that he took a closer look at the kid, the exotic appearance fit the bill for an upcoming Huntsman. Equipped with his own weapon for combat—a katana that Roman half-expected to turn into some sort of weapon of mass destruction since Little Red—the boy looked serious about taking him down.

This kid was really giving off some weird déjà vu to the criminal thief. Where did he see this kind of thing before? After brainstorming for a few moments, he simply dropped the thought as it wasn't worth the time.

'Ah, whatever. It doesn't matter.'

Roman tossed his cane up and caught it with a flourish, twirling it expertly in hand as he leisurely paced back and forth. "Now lookie here..." His gaze swept over the boy again, giving him a new moniker. "...Checkers. I don't know if you've gotten the memo yet, but clearly, you must know who I am since you came looking for me. So you must also know that I'm an incredibly dangerous and highly wanted criminal mastermind."

He paused dramatically and pointed his cane's handle at the boy. "And you still want to face me? Alone, at that?" Roman laughed at him. "Seriously... you must either be overly confident in your skills, or just plain stupid. What gave you the bright idea to just waltz on in here like you own the place? Family not give you enough attention?"

Tanjiro's eyes narrowed further, his glare growing more intense. "Enough talk." A hand reached for his blade.

Roman snorted, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Struck a nerve, did I?"

Once Tanjiro's hand touched the handle of his Nichirin, a sudden scent of vanilla rushed at him, jolting his senses. Instinctively, he craned his head back and immediately backed away, narrowly avoiding the black tip of a white knee boot that grazed the underside of his chin.

The form of a rather short girl had materialized out of thin air with a backflip kick, her lithe figure adorned in a white, broad-tailed jacket that flailed gracefully as she effortlessly twisted and turned through the air. In her show of uncanny agility, she landed right beside Roman, her appearance captivating in its elegance, enhanced by the pink parasol held aloft over her shoulder, secured by her black gloves.

Her ever-shifting eyes, constantly blending an enchanting combination of her trio of colors, fixated on Tanjiro, sizing him up with a sadistic grin that seemed to relish the act.

Tanjiro's gaze darted towards the stage where he had initially seen the girl; she was still there. Her figure, with legs crossed and a smirk playing on her lips as she sat on the edge, suddenly fragmented into a countless display of shattered glass.

'What was that?!'

Was the one on the stage an illusion? Tanjiro's eyes couldn't discern anything unusual or out of place; if it weren't for his keen sense of smell, he would have fallen victim to that attack.

He drew his sword. A nervous bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck as he hastily held his katana in a grounded defensive stance, urgently placing it between him and his opponents.

Roman's brow raised, and he offered a slow, mocking clap. "Bravo~ Checkers! Impressive evasion on that one. Didn't think you'd see Neo coming," he taunted, turning an eye towards the short stack. "You must be getting rusty."

Neo shot back by sticking her tongue out at him, a sassy and playful retort to Roman's gibe at her, then redirecting her attention back to the young Slayer.

The boy had dodged her? Oh, she'd definitely have to fix that.

In a cat-like crouch, Neo leaned forward and sprung at Tanjiro in an instant, her parasol poised to strike low. Their weapons clashed—black Nichirin blade meeting pink parasol. Neo slid it up the blade's length, but Tanjiro quickly responded, pushing the parasol up and away and launching a downward retaliating slash of his own.

Neo simply leaned her body out of the way, the attack missing her by a hair's breadth. She dodged the next diagonal slash that followed after with ease before thrusting forward with her parasol toward Tanjiro's neck. He skillfully backed away, just out of its reach—

—But his eyes widened in panic as a hidden blade slid out of the tip of her parasol.

In a split-second reaction, Tanjiro bent backward as quickly as he could, the blade narrowly grazing up his neck and passing over him.

'Too close!'

Without a moment's pause, he spun low and slashed at Neo's legs. However, his blade passed under her as she somersaulted over his attack and countered by twisting herself mid-dodge, sending her leg sweeping toward the side of Tanjiro's head.

Tanjiro brought his arms up and braced himself. Neo grinned, and upon her leg making contact, she anchored herself onto his arm and pulled herself in, gracefully maneuvering around him and securing her arms tightly around a surprised Tanjiro's neck.

Utilizing her momentum, Neo spun and twisted Tanjiro around and around with her. After a few rotations, her legs came down, deftly planting a boot onto his side, using it as a shaky foothold. Her grip went around him arm and pulled upwards, leaning back, and propelled him over her, and in a display of remarkable force, she kicked Tanjiro away, launching him into the air.

Tanjiro choked back a grunt as he soared through the air, but he soon turned his body, reorienting himself mid-flight and regaining control, landing safely back onto the ground and facing the duo again.

Taking a brief moment to catch his breath, Tanjiro's heart pounded with adrenaline as he recovered from the intense shock of Neo's finesse. If one thing was made clear in that exchange, she was undoubtedly more acrobatic and agile than he was, her flexibility almost comparable to Inosuke's.

She was fast, precise, and incredibly lethal with her attacks. Her movements had caught him off guard, and even nearly killed him with that nick to his throat, but now he knew what to expect.

"Wow~ nice job, Checkers! I honestly wasn't expecting you to handle that so well." Roman's sarcastic voice echoed once more before he gave a look at Neo again. "Looks like we've met someone who can nearly match you step-for-step. And he's just a kid! Haha~! Isn't that funny~?"

Neo scowled at Roman with a silent growl, then directed her scowl at Tanjiro along with her parasol. The hidden blade stuck out menacingly at him, making her intentions crystal clear.

She was gonna skewer that kid! Just so Roman could stop teasing her! It wasn't fun being on the receiving end for a change, especially when she was accustomed to being the one in control.

Roman glanced at the crimson rivulets that trailed down Tanjiro's neck. "And it looks like our buddy here doesn't have his Aura unlocked. Now, isn't that a surprise?"

That fact debunked the idea of this kid being a Huntsman-in-Training. All Trainee Huntsmen have their Auras unlocked since lacking one puts them at major risk and fall behind during training. If this kid didn't have one, then how the hell was he keeping up with Neo? If it was all just body strength, then...

Roman scoffed at the ridiculous idea.

This kid would have to be like that freak if that were the case!

"You must have been drinking quite the juice to be able to fight without Aura. But tell me this, Checkers, how long do you think you can last without it? One good hit's all that's needed to end this," Roman sneered at him, punching his fist against an open palm for emphasis.

Tanjiro's breath quickened as he felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The absence of Aura left him vulnerable compared to them, and Roman's words stung like a warning. Despite his best efforts to remain composed, nerves gnawed at him, threatening to erode his confidence.

But Tanjiro refused to back down. He had come this far, and he couldn't let his determination waver now.

Gulping down his anxiety, Tanjiro steadied his stance, his grip on his Nichirin blade tightening further. He couldn't afford to make mistakes or leave any openings for his opponents to exploit. In this fight, even a single misstep could cost him dearly.

With a resolute gaze, he met Roman's taunt head-on, ready to prove himself in the face of this daunting challenge. He channeled his nerves into resolve, knowing that he had the willpower to keep fighting, even without Aura. No matter what lay ahead, Tanjiro was determined to push forward and give it his all.

"Hmph. Not gonna back down? Wrong choice, kiddo. Because there's this one li~ttle tiny thing you might've forgotten." Roman brandished his cane and stepped forward, the ruthless glint in his eyes intensifying. "It's not just Neo you have to deal with..." His voice trailed off, leaving an ominous pause hanging in the air.

Tanjiro braced himself as Roman charged forward alongside Neo, spearheading the attack. Roman cracked his cane down onto Tanjiro's blade, shaking it from the impact, his leg coming up and thrusting at the boy's stomach.

Turning his body, Tanjiro narrowly avoided the kick and retaliated immediately, pushing Roman's cane aside and striking back with his blade. The sword aimed for Roman's shoulder, but the thief parried the attack with ease and did the same with the next string of strikes, deflecting everything Tanjiro threw at him, their weapons clashing with a stunning clang that reverberated throughout the warehouse

But when Roman finally attempted to return blows, he found out that Tanjiro was no stranger to defense either. With rapid and deft evasive maneuvers, Tanjiro successfully dodged and parried Roman's own strikes—utilizing fluid movements and quick response times to minimize the force of the blows and avoid them. He deflected the attacks he could capitalize on and weaved around the ones that he couldn't.

The two slipped into a smooth pace as they engaged in a continuous exchange of precise and well-timed blows—a back and forth, with both carefully avoiding damage by countering the other in perfect synchrony.

But the exchange ended when a disruptive move broke the flow, catching Tanjiro off guard, having fallen for the trap; Roman's cane forced itself through Tanjiro's guard in a heavy uppercut that smashed into the bottom of the Nichirin's handle, causing the boy's arms to rise and stagger back involuntarily.

With a flourish, Roman swiped his cane up and over his shoulder, quickly switching hands around his back, returning to deliver another uppercut smash at the boy's chin, the tip of his cane seeking to bash his jaw in. Tanjiro barely blocked the strike with the handle of his blade again, taking another few steps back from the force.

Roman leaned down, and in flawless coordination, Neo vaulted over his back, delivering a quick double-leg kick at Tanjiro before he could finish recovering. The young Slayer sloppily blocked it with his blade, but the impact still forced him to take another few steps back, struggling to maintain his balance.

The moment Neo's feet touched the ground, she unleashed a flurry of strikes with her parasol, aiming for Tanjiro's head, sides, and arms in an unrelenting assault. The young Slayer moved to deflect and evade the attacks, but the speed and precision of her strikes kept him under constant pressure.

The instant his blade struck out in retribution, slashing at her neck, Neo ducked under it and sprang back up at him with her parasol. But instead of the hidden blade, the parasol opened up as she rose into the air, momentarily obscuring his movement and vision while staggering him once more.

In that brief pause, Tanjiro unwittingly granted Neo the opportunity she needed. Immediately, she closed her parasol and gripped it by the shaft, hooking the handle onto his arm. With remarkable grace, she pulled herself out of the air and onto the ground behind him, her back to his, positioning herself for what came next.

As Tanjiro found himself entangled with Neo's maneuver, Roman took the chance to press the advantage. He stepped up and swung at Tanjiro, denying the boy the chance to turn and face Neo as the Slayer blocked his strike.

With no time to breathe, Tanjiro had to bend backward underneath the reverse roundhouse Neo sent behind him, seeking his head. And from his evasion opened an opportunity for Roman to twirl his cane and snatch Tanjiro's leg, sweeping the Slayer off his feet.

Tanjiro's breath hitched as he saw Roman's cane descending onto him and sensed Neo's parasol likely coming from below and towards the back of his head.

He needed to stop this!

The air hissed as he took in a harsh, sharp breath.

'Water Breathing, Second Form!'

He threw himself forward, channeling the torrential rush of water that soon manifested in his mind and at the edge of his blade. As he swiftly rolled forward, the harsh sound of rushing water formed a sharp wheel of aquatic force that caught the two criminals by surprise.

'Water Wheel!'

Their Auras flared as the water wheel relentlessly slashed at them. Neo immediately deployed her parasol to defend against the attack, while Roman, feeling the brunt of the force, leaped away just seconds after getting hit.

Tanjiro wasted no time in capitalizing on the brief opening he created. He flung himself away from their dangerous vicinity, dispelling the technique, and hastily slid into a guarded stance as he turned back to them, keenly observing their every move.

That was too close! They almost had him!

Meanwhile, Roman snarled, wincing as he clutched his chest. His Aura had mitigated the damage, but he still felt the blow—and it still hurt. His eyes drifted curiously to the young boy, who stared back at them with an unwavering gaze.

'What the hell was that? That wasn't Dust...'

Roman had clearly felt the force of that damn attack, as if a razor-sharp water jet had cut into him like a sawblade. Despite its undeniable effect, he couldn't shake the feeling that his eyes were playing tricks on him. He quickly glanced at his clothes, expecting them to be soaked or, at the very least, damp, but to his surprise, they remained completely dry.

Whatever that kid did, it had to be some sort of trick. And Roman despised being on the receiving end of tricks.

Neo took the chance to undeploy her parasol, her stance now cautious and alert as she kept her eyes fixed on the young Slayer. It appeared she wasn't a fan of being on the receiving end, either—illusions were her thing, after all.

Tanjiro's mind raced, searching desperately for a strategy that could potentially turn the tables. His Water Breathing technique had proven effective, but now that they were aware of his capabilities, he knew they would be more prepared for his next attacks. He needed to devise a plan that could catch them off guard again and gain the upper hand.

He assessed the situation, coming to the realization that battling them head-on alone would put him at a significant disadvantage. His opponents were skilled and had Aura to protect them, while he was vulnerable to their attacks.

'If I keep going like this, I'll be overwhelmed.'

He needed to think outside the box, find a way to outmaneuver them, and turn the odds in his favor. With a concentrated gaze, he sought a new method that would match their approach and gain an advantage that would level the playing field.

A glimmer of hope sparked when Tanjiro heard the faint scratching sounds inside the box in his back. As if right on cue to provide him with a possible solution to his predicament, the box hatched open. A petite leg stepped out, adorned with a sandal and white tabi socks wrapped in thick black cloth.

Roman and Neo looked at each other, morbid curiosity taking hold of them as they turned their attention to the new addition that had come out of the container. It wasn't every day they saw a person who could fit into a wooden box.

Once the figure fully emerged from the box, small frame growing to fit her clothes as she straightened up to her full height and turned to face Tanjiro. Dull pink eyes quickly spotted the blood on his neck, causing her to frown and point a sharp glare at the two other individuals present.

"Nezuko, please be careful. They're dangerous," he couldn't help but express his concern for her safety.

The Demon Girl acknowledged him with a side glance, her hands clenching in anticipation. However, as her eyes fell on Roman and Neo again, a sense of worry arose within her.

An itch at the back of her mind kept whispering to her, repeatedly reciting, 'All humans are your family. Protect humans. Demons are the enemy!' Nezuko shook her head, attempting to dismiss the subtle suggestions that lingered in her mind. Her fists clenched tighter in frustration as she grappled with the conflicting thoughts, tugging her in opposite directions.

But as her eyes returned to Tanjiro's small wound, the visages of Roman and Neo ceased to resemble anything close to family. The realization dawned upon her that just as some demons could appear as humans to her...

...Some humans could appear as monstrous demons as well.

Nezuko's brows furrowed in agitation, a low growl escaping her bamboo mouthpiece as her fingers dug further into her palm, her blood slowly leaking out. One more suggestion echoed in the furthest part of her mind, suddenly surging forward to the forefront of her thoughts.

'Never forgive any demon...'

Veins bulged from her head, grunting with resolution as she suddenly bolted forward, beelining straight for the criminal duo, with Tanjiro closely following in pursuit.

'...who brings harm onto humans!'

Roman's gasp caught in his throat as he leaned his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the immensely fast kick Nezuko had sent at him. That kick had enough power to easily splatter a normal person's head! The girl moved with such incredible speed he barely had any time to react; she had arrived by his side in a heartbeat!

Still hovering over him, she unleashed another kick with her free leg, which Roman barely managed to block with his cane. The force of the blow pushed his cane into him, sending him stumbling back, off-balance and vulnerable.

With a mighty roar, Tanjiro dashed in, stamping his foot against the ground, and brought his katana down, his blade cutting through Roman cleanly from top to bottom in a single move. The thief's face was a picture of sheer shock as his hat and body separated in two, falling to the ground.

Once he hit the floor, Roman's form shattered into pieces, like glass.

'This again!'

Tanjiro didn't let his shock overwhelm him; he had seen this before! Roman's scent had suddenly moved the moment he approached. He pushed past his stupor and focused his senses, honing in on the aromas of tobacco and vanilla. The fragrances wafted through the air, the trail leading him—

—Right behind him!

With no hesitation, Tanjiro primed his Nichirin low and turned around, taking a deep breath.

'Water Breathing... Fourth Form!'

The Slayer was on them the moment they reappeared, water trailing behind his blade. Its edge neared dangerously close to Roman's arm. The thief's eyes widened, and his cane came up to obstruct its path, but the blade slid up the shaft, cutting up Roman's arm and swerving to slash down at his chest and struck true.

The attack wasn't over yet; Tanjiro's Nichirin traveled further, a graceful arc of water slicing through the air, striking at Neo next as she attempted to flip away from it. She silently hissed when Tanjiro's sword caught her legs in the middle of her backflip. The boy glided past her and raised his blade again.

With one more slash, his blade struck. Flowing water cut into Neo's back with unwavering precision, all consecutive attacks delivered in a moment's breath.

'Striking Tide!'

But the last strike caused Neo's form to shatter once more; she reappeared behind Tanjiro, wielding her parasol with its hidden blade aimed to stab him from behind.

Nezuko instantly arrived by Tanjiro's side mid-air, her legs coiled like a spring. With overwhelming force, her legs shot out, connecting with Neo's side and preventing the attack, making her Aura flicker and pulse as she was sent far away.

Keeping up the momentum, Tanjiro leaned down and presented his back to the demon girl. "Nezuko!" he called out, no further words needed between them. Understanding immediately, Nezuko landed on the box and used it as a springboard, launching herself high into the air.

Tanjiro's sights set on Roman again; he moved forward, drifting with a sudden surge of speed and agility.

'Third Form!'

The sounds of a rushing river filled Roman's ears. He spotted Tanjiro approaching and quickly raised his cane. Determined to counter whatever strange strike the young Slayer would launch next, Roman prepared to parry the incoming attack.

To his astonishment, Tanjiro's blade skillfully curved around Roman's guard, catching him in the back and gliding past. Although the strike caused a stinging sensation, Roman's Aura had kicked in again, absorbing the damage.

Another stinging sensation flared over his arm in quick succession as Tanjiro delivered another passing blow before Roman could react.

With mesmerizing fluidity, Tanjiro moved like a flowing river, gracefully evading Roman's rash swings with ease. The young Slayer's form twisted and slid around his opponent, a current of water following his every movement. In the blink of an eye, he struck Roman's chest once more as he passed by, leaving the thief struggling to keep up. The boy slipped through Roman's grasp like water, rendering him unable to land a significant blow.

Fed up with the persistent onslaught, Roman decided it was time to take action. In a reckless move, he thrust his cane toward Tanjiro's feet, releasing an explosive flare of unstable Dust at the ground. The area became shrouded in thick smoke, a cunning attempt to halt the boy's swift movements and gain a momentary advantage, even if it didn't hit him directly.

Through the dense smoke, Tanjiro's form lunged forward once more, unhindered, his sword poised over his shoulder in a steadfast stance. Roman swung at him again, but the Slayer adeptly twisted and retreated, seamlessly returning just as Roman's attack had passed. Smoothly following his momentum, Tanjiro's blade came up in a blur, its edge slamming into Roman's jaw with pinpoint accuracy and force, sending him hurtling upward.

'Flowing Dance!'

As the events unfolded, Nezuko descended from above, her leg raised high over her head in preparation. She closed the distance until Roman was well within her range. "HMMPH!" Then, with a whirlwind of fury, her heel came slamming down onto Roman's stomach with unyielding force. The impact brought the thief crashing down alongside her, and together, they smashed into the ground, causing the floor to crack and kicking up a large cloud of dust and debris.

The air hung in a momentary pause, engulfed in silence.

Soon, the silence was broken with a rough cough, the noise repeating and echoing through the dust and the warehouse.

Roman lay sprawled on the ground, his head spinning from the tremendous force that had brought him down. Thankfully, he hadn't eaten lunch yet, sparing him from any additional discomfort that could have come with that attack. He felt especially relieved when he found that his hat had somehow stayed on his head, although his suit was definitely worse for wear (he'd just gotten it cleaned, too).

Despite his Aura being a great tool that shielded him from any actual harm, it didn't make him invincible. His Aura began to shimmer and blink, signaling to Roman that it was starting to reach its limit. It made him grimace through the pain that still lingered for the moment.

That girl had one hell of a kick; he'll give her that.

From within the swirling dust, Tanjiro emerged, his black blade's tip promptly shoving itself at Roman's neck, applying a gentle yet firm pressure. Nezuko followed suit, appearing a moment later, her gaze fixed on Roman with a stern glower.

"It's over, Torchwick," Tanjiro declared, his voice carrying a solemn tone.

Roman couldn't help but roll his eyes, snorting and grinning at the kid's remark. "Oh, man. Do you goody-two-shoes types have anything more original to say? You don't understand how many times people have said that to me."

Tanjiro didn't bother responding to that. Instead, he posed his own question.

"Who is it that you're working with? Who is the Witch that's helping you pull the strings?" Tanjiro hadn't forgotten the mention of someone else besides Torchwick behind the scenes. The most valuable source of information that could uncover the identity of the 'Witch' would likely be the criminal right under his sword.

Roman's eyes widened, a hint of surprise briefly revealing itself, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, concealed behind another smirk. "Wonder where you heard that from? In case you haven't heard, I'm Vale's top dog in the crime career," he boasted. "Why on Remnant would I need someone else's help? I work for myself and no one else."

Torchwick's words sounded convincing. So convincing that it almost made Tanjiro question himself with how assuredly the criminal spoke. However, the unmistakable scent of fear revealed part of the truth. Torchwick was afraid, presumably of this Witch, despite attempting to hide it and her existence. His emotions couldn't be concealed well enough to escape Tanjiro's nose.

"Enough lies. Tell me the truth."

"But, Checkers, I am telling the truth! You gotta believe me!" Roman's plea sounded even more genuine.

Tanjiro's sword pressed down harder on Roman's neck, pushing just deep enough to draw a wince and a small hiss from the criminal's lips.

His patience had begun to wear thin.

"So determined to be the Hero who uncovers the truth, hmm~?" Roman spat, a somewhat unsteady grin still plastered on his face. "But, even if I did tell you, you wouldn't be able to change a single thing; it won't make a difference." There was a tinge of hopelessness beneath his air of confidence, as if he knew something nobody else did.

"Even if you're right, I have to try." Tanjiro persisted, his voice firm and resolute as he stared at Torchwick. "Who is it, Torchwick? Who is this Witch? What do you have to gain from this?"

For once, Roman's smirk dropped. "You're asking the wrong questions, Checkers. It's not what I have to gain; it's what I have to lose."

The warehouse was suddenly plunged in near-total darkness. As if on cue, the lights in the warehouse had abruptly blinked out before Tanjiro could further interrogate the criminal.

Tanjiro's sword swiped at Roman, only to feel no resistance against his blade. In the darkness, he could barely make out the figure of the thief shattering into pieces.

His senses heightened as he searched in the dark, his nose perking up when he caught the familiar scent of tobacco and vanilla heading in a certain direction. Without hesitation, he quickly began following its trail, undeterred by Neo's illusions. The darkness wouldn't be enough to shake him off either as he strode further into the warehouse.

"Nezuko, stay close," he urged his sister, and she responded with a soft "Hmph." to let him know she was right beside him.

He continued following their trail, which eventually led him to an elevated platform in front of him. As he strained his eyes, he could just make out a large cloth that hung over the platform, where the scents seemed to culminate.

His grip tightened over his katana as his brows drew close, a sense of unease creeping in. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he noticed the smell of cold steel coming from behind the cloth.

Something felt wrong.

The scent of vanilla abruptly began to fade, and before he could give chase, a sudden bang and mechanical whirring caught his attention. He turned his focus to the cloth on the stage in front of him, where the smell of tobacco still remained.

"I told you, Checkers..." Roman's voice, filtered and somewhat distorted, emanated from behind the cloth, accompanied by eerie metallic groans that rang through the air. "...You made the wrong choice, not backing down. It's not just Neo you have to deal with, and not just me, either."

In a sudden burst, the lights flashed back on, fully illuminating the once-shrouded stage and warehouse. Tanjiro's eyes widened in awe and apprehension as he witnessed the banner's fabric begin to shift and slip off the hanging lines. With each passing moment, his nerves tingled, and a cold sweat began to trail down his back. The anticipation grew, and a sense of impending danger sent alarms through his head.

As the banner finally fell, Tanjiro looked upon an enormous mechanical monstrosity unlike any he had ever seen before.

With a disturbing symphony of mechanical sounds, the automaton's metallic limbs roared to life, its massive form rising to its full height before turning its attention towards the Slayer. A sinking feeling gripped his heart as he mustered all his courage and faced the looming presence of the colossal creation, forcing down the feelings of fear and uncertainty.

The floor shook beneath the enormous mech as it took two massive steps forward, each heavy footfall like thunder reverberating through the air. Tanjiro's heart thumped hard in his chest, feeling the ground tremble beneath him, the vibrations crawling up his legs as he and Nezuko prepared themselves.

"Don't you get it now, kid?" Roman's voice boomed from within the metal behemoth, a mix of arrogance and triumph prominent in his tone.

The bulky mech's right cannon unfolded into a fist and cocked itself back.

"It's CHECKMATE!"

Tanjiro and Nezuko leaped away from the giant fist that crashed down where they had been standing. Debris scattered as the mech jumped off the stage, its arms folding back into cannons. From its twin limbs, it fired a rapid salvo of Dust rounds at both Kamados.

The Dust rounds burst into the ground right behind Tanjiro as he ran. He could feel the momentary heat lash at his haori, the rounds becoming more accurate and closer with each shot.

Glancing back at the colossal battle suit, he carefully examined its structure. The scent of tobacco lingered within the jutting-out protrusion on its upper front: The cockpit. Roman was undoubtedly inside there, most likely controlling it.

He had to think of a way to—

—But before he could finish that thought, an accurate Dust round that was dead on was already hurtling towards him, aiming for a direct hit with its trajectory.

Tanjiro turned to face it, his sandals digging into the ground as he raised his Nichirin. With a determined grunt, the Slayer swung his sword, expertly cutting the projectile in two. The halves of the Dust shot whizzed past him, narrowly missing their target.

Yet another shot followed, and Tanjiro repeated his previous action, batting away the incoming projectile. He continued to defend himself, deflecting one round after another. However, with each successive round, the force shook through his arms and blade, and the pressure on his sword began to mount. He gritted his teeth as his katana kept lashing out.

Slowly, the mech advanced, one of its arms shifting from a cannon into a fist, closing in on Tanjiro with each step as it still fired on him. Despite the relentless pressure, Tanjiro persisted in deflecting shots that unerringly found their mark, furrowing his brows in intense concentration. He tensed up, the rumbling footsteps drawing nearer, yet he refused to back down.

Determined to strike, he stayed in place. He knew he had to get close to deliver a blow!

Out of nowhere, Nezuko leaped into action, quickly jumping up and approaching from behind the mech. Her leg shot out, sweeping at the thing's back, causing it to stumble slightly forward from the impact.

The onslaught briefly halted; Tanjiro seized the opportunity and dashed towards one of the mech's legs. Folding his arms in, he prepared his blade as the air hissed.

'First Form, Water Surface Slash!'

Water enveloped the sudden movement of his sword as he aimed to sever the mech's leg. Like a bear trap, his arms instantly unfolded, his blade biting into the leg with a near-instantaneous, concentrated crescent slash.

His black Nichirin let out a harsh squeal against the unyielding metal, scraping and sparking upon contact, the resistance feeling overwhelmingly strong. Tanjiro's sword soon disengaged from the leg, and a pit formed in his stomach as he saw that his strike had only left a small scratch on the battle suit's armor.

A large shadow cast over him as the mech's leg lifted above; Tanjiro immediately threw himself out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding being crushed as it stomped back down.

"HMMPH!" Nezuko leaped back into the air, her fist delivering another forceful blow to the mech's back, creating a resounding bang that reverberated through the surroundings. But suddenly, the mech's upper half rotated, its hand shooting up and swatting the Demon Girl out of the air as it spun, sending her crashing onto the walkway above.

"Nezuko!" Tanjiro cried out, watching as the mech turned back to him.

"Do you honestly believe a dinky old trinket like that sword could put a dent on this thing? You're not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, are you?" Roman's mocking voice taunted as a plate over the mech's shoulders popped and slid up, revealing a compartment of rear-mounted rockets.

The small rockets shot out, scattering through the air towards their target. Tanjiro sidestepped one and leaped high up, evading the rest of the missiles as they swept underneath him. However, his jaw dropped when the projectiles suddenly changed direction and came back around, persistently following him on his ascent like piranhas.

Tanjiro curved his body out of the way of a rocket that passed him, seeing the other set imminently approaching from multiple directions. He raised his arms, his eyes focusing on their trajectories, his chest expanding.

'Water Breathing, Fourth Form...'

The black Nichirin quickly moved, slashing at the rocket closest, cutting it in half. Tanjiro quickly turned and maneuvered in the air. His katana snaked its way around and through the missiles that surrounded him, water coiling the environment. With each stroke, the missiles met the same fate as the one before, all being effortlessly cut in two with a single slice, never reaching their intended target.

'Striking Tide, Turbulent!'

Moments later, all the projectiles exploded in fiery bursts, their intense heat washing over the upside-down Tanjiro as he remained aloft in the air, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead from the surrounding embers.

While Tanjiro remained airborne, the mech's arm cannon had locked onto him, discharging a round of Dust that struck its target spot on, sending him forward as it blasted his side, forcefully bringing him back down.

Tanjiro landed roughly on the ground, skidding on his side and hissing in pain as the burning sensation from the Dust coursed through his uniform and haori. Dealing with the discomfort, he quickly regained his composure, pushing a hand against the ground to roll into a kneel, surveying his surroundings. However, his eyes widened as he witnessed the mech charging towards him—sprinting at him—at a shocking speed, much faster than he had expected from something that large!

The mech quickly closed in, its massive fist shooting toward the ground. Tanjiro frantically leaped away from the striking limb, feeling the powerful gust tugging at his haori and earrings. The force of the blow left a deep gash in the floor, narrowly missing him.

Its other hand immediately swung around, launching a hook directly at Tanjiro's side while he was still recovering. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the massive fist hurtling towards him; he had barely managed to get back onto his feet just now!

'I can't avoid it!'

In a desperate attempt, Tanjiro quickly raised his blade just as the giant fist neared him. Tensing his muscles, he confronted the arm and made a tenacious effort to redirect the attack.

His blade touched the arm, and it violently shoved his entire body down.

"Khhkkk!"

The force made him buckle onto a knee, threatening to give out as his teeth gnashed together, his blade protectively grating against the moving metal over his lowered head, screeching with a steady stream of sparks. Mere seconds felt like minutes, as the struggle felt like an eternity. He strained his back, endured the aching in his legs that grew, and held his breath, pushing the metallic arm up with all his might.

"GyaaAgghh!"

His eyes trembled as he couldn't take even a moment to breathe, his heart pounding so loudly in his ears it drowned out all other sounds. His arms went numb from the relentless pressure, and the remaining air in his lungs escaped with a desperate gasp.

At last, the mech's arm passed over him, alleviating him from the intense pressure that bore him down. He tried to catch his breath, but another impending attack broke the fleeting moment of respite. A colossal fist hung over him while he wheezed, leaving him with little time to recover from the previous assault.

When he tried to move, his legs gave out from underneath him, leaving him wide open.

Watching the gigantic fist come down, Tanjiro felt the ground beneath him disappear, and he was pulled off his feet and whisked out of harm's way by a familiar figure. Looking down at their clothes, he recognized the one who held him securely over their shoulder.

With tender care, Nezuko gently placed him at a safe distance from the mech, away from danger. He coughed and panted, his breath ragged and labored, as he struggled to collect himself and steady his breathing. Slowly, he brought his wrist to his mouth and wiped away the sweat and saliva.

His legs trembling, Tanjiro managed to rise to his feet. "Thank you, Nezuko. You're a lifesaver," he gratefully expressed, casting a warm smile towards his sister. He then turned his attention to his blade, inspecting its condition.

Relieved to find the black blade intact, neither chipped nor dented despite the torment it had just endured, Tanjiro realized the true extent of the danger they were facing. It became all too clear to him that this battle was shaping up to be far more perilous than he had initially anticipated.

He understood that remaining on the defensive was not a viable option. He couldn't afford to let the mech wear down his Nichirin sword, just as it had happened with Daki; otherwise, it might snap at this rate, and this time, he had no blacksmith to repair or replace it. To turn the tide, they needed to alter their strategy. Allowing Torchwick to maintain the offensive would only lead to an inevitable defeat.

With a weary sigh, he removed the box's straps from around his shoulders, realizing that battling with the box could be easily make it break again. He carefully placed the wooden box on the ground. At least for now, it was too delicate to bring in this kind of fight.

Tanjiro turned to face the mech once more, his mind racing, seeking a quick resolution to end the fight. He scanned the mech's bulky frame, searching for a weakness to exploit. But it was then he remembered something. The cockpit. They should've targeted Torchwick directly rather than striking at the mech. If they could land a powerful blow on that area, it should surely reach the thief.

"Nezuko, we need to aim there. Can you help me reach it?" He pointed a finger at the mech's cockpit, and the girl nodded.

Then it was decided.

Meanwhile, Roman's voice echoed from the mech's speakers once more, dripping with sarcasm as he spoke his thoughts aloud. "Seriously, what the hell are parents feeding their kids these days? What a couple of freaks."

Deflecting a full-blown strike from an Atlesian Paladin with a classic katana and no Aura was just plain ridiculous! But even more ridiculous was that it just happened to him! Not only that, but the girl with the weird muzzle had returned unscathed, even after taking a direct hit! He was sure she lacked any Aura as well, so how was she completely fine?

Honestly, he hadn't pursued them because he was caught in a daze, the sheer disbelief of what had just occurred sinking in and holding him back for a moment as he watched the siblings in utter confusion. Those kids were nothing short of monsters! Almost as threatening as that brat who single-handedly brought down multiple bullheads with a giant beam.

Luckily for him, though, Checkers didn't seem to share that same durability the girl had. If he could manage to land one solid blow, it would be over for that brat, and he could deal with the girl after. However, it seemed the boy had something brewing in his mind, fixing a penetrating gaze not only on the mech but also directly on Roman himself.

The kid didn't seem intent on giving up still.

Roman sighed, suppressing a curse as he saw Tanjiro and Nezuko shoot forward together. With the mech's Dust cannons aimed, he released a barrage of rounds upon them.

The Kamados moved nimbly, evading the projectiles that barreled toward them or flew past. Their feet practically glided over the ground, leaving behind patches of scattered debris and small craters in their wake as they navigated around the continuous bombardment of Dust shots exploding around them.

Tanjiro ducked just in time as a sizzling shot narrowly missed his hair, streaking past with a faint hiss, then quickly shifted his weight and veered away from the next incoming shot. Nezuko avoided her own projectiles, effortlessly hopping over a round before sending her leg in a sweep that sent another one hurtling away. In harmony, the Kamados' actions were a perfect synchronization of form, their movements in sync as they pressed forward, the distance they had yet to cover dwindling by the second.

The rising compartment of rear-mounted rockets didn't escape Tanjiro's notice. "Nezuko, be careful! Those things follow you!" he warned his sister.

Nezuko's eyes fixated on the compartment, an idea taking shape in her mind. She pulled ahead of Tanjiro, positioning her arms parallel in front of her as her sharp nails dug into both her forearms and traveled up, causing her blood to flow deliberately from the wounds.

Although her Blood Demon Art was ineffective against anything that wasn't Demonic in origin, she knew that she could still make use of its capabilities in another way.

Nezuko's legs quickened their pace, gaining speed with every step as she built up momentum with each stride and soared forward like a bullet. Threading through the constant barrage of Dust, she launched herself into the air amidst the storm. Spreading her arms wide, a veritable geyser of blood erupting from her forearms, she spun, the blood dispersing like a crimson shower across the ground in all directions as she barreled forward.

'Blood Demon Art! Exploding Blood!'

Nezuko's blood painted the ground, beginning to glow and simmer with a bright pinkish hue. Each patch erupted into a pillar of dazzlingly bright pink flames. The flames danced and roared with relentless fury, casting a scarlet glow that bathed the warehouse in a warm light. The towering pillars of flames blocked any view of Nezuko and Tanjiro, their forms masked by the raging fires.

A smokescreen.

"What the hell is this now?!" Roman cursed at the veritable inferno, the mech's targeting system losing sight of its targets and activating the laser designators, scanning around the haze for any movement.

Roman huffed, his own eyes searching as his frustration reached its boiling point. The relentless display of tricks and maneuvers these two brats kept pulling out had long surpassed annoyance; he was sick and fed up with their antics—they were such pests!

He didn't have to look for long, as the form of Nezuko abruptly burst from a fiery pillar and landed right on the cockpit, raising a fist. Roman gawked at the girl through the one-way window as Nezuko wasted no time, hammering away at the cockpit's window, causing the massive mech to lurch back slightly with each blow.

The mech's arm unfurled and shot forward, snatching Nezuko off the cockpit and holding her tightly. The Demon Girl let out pained grunts of exertion, her free arm pulling at the giant hand that gripped her, threatening to snap in her half.

Just as Roman was about to laugh at the pitiful struggle, he noticed crimson splotches splattered across his window. Those said splotches lit up and ignited, engulfing the cockpit's window in vibrant pink flames.

Roman grimaced. "Oh, come on!" Now he couldn't see!

The loud beeping of the laser sights brought his attention away from the window, the holographic screen notifying him of a fast-approaching target coming straight for him. A sly grin crept onto his face. Just because he couldn't see doesn't mean the mech couldn't target them! His fist slammed onto a button, firing the homing rockets.

The rockets streaked into the air and quickly locked onto their target. Tanjiro saw them coming, his eyes focusing on them as he followed the scent of a faint, thin line that coiled in the air toward the cockpit. His path was set, taking a deep breath.

'Water Breathing!'

A splash of water swirled around his feet as he kicked off the ground, leaping toward the incoming projectiles. He soared through the air, his foot shifting to place itself precisely on the surface of the closest rocket. His foot knocked the projectile down slightly, but instead of exploding, the rocket cushioned his step with another splash.

'Ninth Form, Water Splashing Flow, Turbulent!'

With the rush of adrenaline pumping through him, Tanjiro bounded forward, landing on the next rocket and using its surface as another foothold. The next rocket, and the one after that, dipped beneath his feet as he climbed into the air, leaping from rocket to rocket with water around his feet every step, rising higher and higher, straight towards the cockpit and closing the distance, the thread beginning to tighten on the tip of his blade.

The pink flames around the warehouse and the one that had encircled the mech sputtered and died, giving way to glowing embers as Tanjiro used the momentum from the final rocket to propel himself into the air.

His sword raised over his head, he dove down, his blade glinting towards the cockpit. Gritting his teeth in determination, prepared to strike, his muscles tense as he quickly approached.

The opening thread pulled taut.

'Eighth Form!'

"Let my Sister—!"

The black blade was engulfed in a fierce whirlpool of raging water, a spinning vortex of liquid fury. Tanjiro closed in on the cockpit, just inches away from his target; with a bellow full of spirit, he slammed his katana down onto the cockpit with all he had.

"—GO!"

'Waterfall Basin!'

A mighty eruption of water sprayed forth in all directions, rising into the air and falling back down with a violent crash. The geysers of water shook the huge mech from its core, sending a shockwave through its bulky frame and into the ground beneath it. The sudden disturbance reverberated through the surroundings, the vibrations of Tanjiro's devastating attack rippling through the air.

'I did it! A direct blow!' he celebrated; his strike had struck true! But...

His excitement quickly faded as he saw the blue waves subside from the mech, revealing a sight that made his blood run cold.

He had only left a large dent on the metal monstrosity. The damage he had caused was nowhere near enough to reach Torchwick or disable the mech, and the threat it posed remained as strong as ever.

A shadow went over him.

Tanjiro stiffly turned and stared wide-eyed, his vision filled with a giant fist barreling towards him. All he could do was gasp in dread while he barely registered Roman's voice.

"You had me going there for a second, Checkers! But this is state-of-the-art Atlas tech! If the Pilot's safety couldn't be ensured, then they wouldn't have shown it off!"

Tanjiro felt himself jerk back.

"GAME OVER!"

The next thing he knew, the mech's fist crashed into him, and he could briefly hear Nezuko's scream.

The world around him began to spin and twist, a dizzying and disorienting feeling that left him feeling detached from his own body, every sensation dulled and fleeting.

The wind shrieked past his ears, a piercing and deafening sound that threatened to overwhelm him. He was flying through the air, a ragdoll while he tossed and turned, his limbs flailing wildly as he struggled to regain some semblance of control. He could feel himself colliding with something hard, yet it failed to halt his uncontrolled flight as his body locked up.

All of a sudden, he could see the gray clouds zip past his vision and the asphalt ground coming after, the two views merging, alternating in a chaotic dance before his bewildered eyes. The world around him became an indistinguishable blend of motion and vertigo, leaving him lost in a whirlwind of sensations and confusion.

Eventually, there was a moment of impact—a bang, a brief but intense shock that ripped through his body like a lightning bolt. He let out a gasp, not a conscious decision but a reflexive response to the sudden and overwhelming force that had crashed into him.

The pain was immediate, a searing sensation that radiated from every pore of his body, leaving him gasping for air, his breath refusing to come to him as the impact still echoed within him. The sensation was so sudden and intense that it felt as though every fiber of his being was vibrating. And then, just as suddenly, it was over. He was left disoriented, his vision blurred, his ears still ringing from the impact as he rebounded off whatever had hit him, dropping to the hard, cold floor on his front.

His body convulsed with violent coughs and chokes, and every breath seemed like a desperate struggle, his throat constricting as if refusing to allow any air. The world around him felt like it was collapsing, tightening its grip, as darkness crept steadily, obscuring his surroundings, his muscles tensing and locking up, leaving him trapped and helpless amidst the encroaching shadows.

"Ne..zu...ko...!" he managed to rasp out before the darkness consumed him.

---

"Argh! FINALLY! Woohoo!" Roman cheered, pumping his fist inside the cockpit with triumphant glee.

That seriously was a close one! If that kid had aimed anywhere else but the cockpit—like an arm or a leg—then he would have easily severed the metallic limb like paper. Funnily enough, Checkers didn't seem privy to the cockpit being the most reinforced aspect of the Atlesian Paladin.

Thank goodness for the latest Atlas Toys!

Roman and the Atlesian Paladin emerged from the confines of the warehouse, a contented grin etched on the thief's face as he fixed his gaze upon the container the kid crashed into.

A direct hit from the Paladin into a trip through a wall of cinderblocks and into a dense metal loading container was surely enough to finish a brat without any Aura. There's no way it wasn't! Dealing with that kid was like trying to swat a damn fly, so easily killed but always managed to escape danger suddenly (and just being an overall pest).

But now he got him! The one solid hit he needed!

"Hahahahaa! Haahh..." Roman exhaled, his laughter transitioning into contemplation as he shifted his attention to the girl still ensnared by the mech's grip. "Now... what to do with you."

Nezuko's eyes widened in horror at the loading container, her struggling momentarily ceased as her pupils shrank and quivered, trying to comprehend the awful event that unfolded before her. Her free hand trembled at the sight of her brother flung away, her mind reeling from the shock.

As Roman pondered his next move, the Demon Girl's breaths became shallow and quick, her heart pounding against her chest with fear for her brother. Each breath grew heavier, her panic and desperation escalating with every passing second.

Yet, with each breath, an overwhelming surge of anger arose within her, a seething fire that overwhelmed and consumed her fear. Her expression contorted from terror to a visage of absolute rage, her pupils narrowing into a feral, cat-like gaze.

Her head raised defiantly towards the sky, "HRRMMMMPHH!" and a guttural growl escaped her bamboo—a primal sound that reverberated with her fury. An ominous crack broke out from her left eye, swirling red and green patterned vines slithered all over her skin, and from the right side of her forehead, a bone-white horn sprouted.

"Oh, what now?!" Roman complained, watching the transformation that occurred.

Nezuko's build began to expand, her frame growing larger and more imposing. With her free arm, she raised and clenched her fist tightly, her gaze locked on the mech's grip. Before Roman could react, the bottom of her fist smashed into the mechanized limb that held her, causing the entire mech to jerk and lean down with her.

A clawed hand pulled at the metallic fingers, bending them and wringing herself free from its clutches. She fell to the ground as the Atlesian Paladin took a few steps back, her eyes shooting a fierce glare over where Torchwick was.

"Seriously... you kids just keep getting weirder!"

"HRRMMPH!"

Nezuko disappeared in a blur, shooting upwards like a rocket, blasting towards the cockpit with her leg winded back. The Paladin's hand came around to swat her out of the air again but found itself suddenly knocked away when Nezuko kicked at it.

Roman grunted when the cockpit shook, the mech stumbling backward when Nezuko landed another kick right at its waist, the tremor shaking through its entire structure. What the hell is happening right now?! He had her struggling right in his hands just a moment ago; now she could cause the Atlesian Paladin to withdraw?! Without Aura or a Semblance?!

The mech's arms shifted back into cannons, letting loose on the Demon Girl. Undeterred, Nezuko dashed forward with reckless abandon, disregarding the incoming volley. The rounds relentlessly pelted her, engulfing her in a bombardment of Dust—searing her skin and charring her bones—but she savagely pressed on.

Despite her flesh being scorched and her bones shattered, she didn't stop her mad dash. And to Roman's astonishment (and disgust), her wounds healed at an incredible rate, her flesh miraculously stitching back together, and her bones mending in a blink of an eye. The once-mangled limbs straightened, and her burnt skin renewed, as if she had never been harmed in the first place.

"You damn freak! Go star in a horror movie or something!" Roman unnervingly exclaimed, an arm of the Atlesian Paladin turning back into a fist and swooping down at Nezuko.

Nezuko raised both her hands and braced herself. A bang resounded through the air, her feet digging grooves into the asphalt, she growled as she was momentarily pushed back, soon stopping the colossal limb dead on its tracks. Her hands seized the metal arm firmly, and she pulled, her muscles straining and veins popping.

"HMMMPH!"

The metallic joints creaked in protest, straining under the force Nezuko exerted. With a resounding crack, the limb finally yielded, its shoulder bending and snapping off from the main body. Nezuko pivoted immediately after, the severed arm still in hand, and with another roar, she spun around, delivering a thunderous blow as she slammed it back against the Atlesian Paladin.

The mech lurched violently from the impact, its metallic frame shuddering from the blow. Roman cursed under his breath as he desperately tried to regain control, the cockpit incessantly sending blaring signals at him about sustained damages.

With the Paladin's arm gone and being used as a makeshift weapon against him, it became apparent to Roman that he would have to abandon the battle suit once this was over. The notion made him quite frustrated, the prospect of losing such a fun tool to some brats left a bitter taste in his mouth.

How was he gonna explain this to the Boss Lady? Everything went to hell so damn fast! How could this get any worse?

---

Consciousness slowly came to him, his eyes flickering open blearily. The fogginess of his vision slowly lifted, but the world remained a vague and hazy blur. Things around him gradually came into focus, but he still found himself disoriented and dazed.

Uneven breaths entered and left, a sharp, jagged pain rippling through his side each time his chest rose and fell. He needed to fix his breathing and check his injury.

He took a deep breath—

"—Hack! Ack!"

But halfway through, the pain sharply returned, forcing him to choke and wince back tears. Opting for more shallow breaths instead, he endured the throbbing ache stabbing at his side with each inhale. His breathing settled into a steady rhythm, but the pain persisted.

Shutting his eyes, he delved deep within himself, searching for all his wounds. He found them—multiple fractures across his body and a couple of broken ribs with internal bleeding, explaining the swelling on his side.

Concentrating on his breathing, he focused on the ruptured blood vessels, gritting his teeth and taking quick breaths. With each exhale, he slowly staunched the bleeding and clotted the wounds, dulling the pain, albeit slightly. However, fixing his broken bones seemed impossible; those injuries were too severe.

As his mind cleared, granting him more control over his body, he mustered the strength for another attempt at a deep breath, pushing through the assailing pain.

'Recovery Breathing.'

Gradually, cramped muscles and rigid limbs loosened, fatigue fading, allowing him more movement. Groggily, he pushed himself up, his body wracked with agony as he rose to his feet, stumbling onto the metal wall for support.

Returning to shallow and short breaths, he spotted his Nichirin lying on the ground nearby. Summoning his remaining strength, he reached down and grasped it, wavering slightly as he made his way out of the cramped metal container through a hole.

The booming echoes of explosions and resounding banging filled his ears, drawing his attention towards the distant battlefield, where the tumultuous clash of combatants unfolded before his eyes.

'Nezuko... you're still fighting. I'm sorry your brother is so weak!'

Tanjiro grimaced at his blade, his reflection glancing back at him with disappointment. Although it wasn't broken, chipped, or dulled, the memory of the metal monstrosity absorbing his blow served as a stark and humbling reminder to him.

'Mr. Urokodaki! Sabito and Makomo! Mr. Tomioka! I'm sorry! I can't go any further with Water Breathing!'

His body simply wasn't compatible with Water Breathing, despite his proficiency and mastery over it. If it were Mr. Tomioka or Mr. Urokodaki who delivered that blow, they would have easily done what he couldn't and ended this battle.

The opening thread he had caught earlier wasn't a lie; he was simply incapable of piercing the cockpit with just the Eighth Form of Water Breathing. To cut through the mech's defenses, he needed a stronger technique that could end the fight immediately.

The Tenth Form, Constant Flux, was a no-go. His body was too battered to gather enough momentum to overpower the mech; he'd sooner be swatted or crushed with how slow he was right now.

So that left him with only one option.

Tanjiro let out a deep, resolved exhale, adjusting his breathing pattern to quicken its pace. The persistent swelling on his side sent jolts of pain through his body, even reaching his brain, but he brushed it aside. His blood surged, and his heartbeat accelerated as circulation intensified, coursing through his entire body.

"Ssssssss..."

Teeth bunched together tightly, narrow gaps formed, and air rushed in, producing a faint, whistling sound as he inhaled deeply, the sound growing ever louder.

'Ablaze.'

His temperature soared with each passing second, intense heat erupting throughout his body, from the tips of his fingers to the crown of his head and down to the ends of his toes, as if the fires of a roaring furnace coursed through every nerve and vein, his skin prickling and perspiration beading on his forehead.

'Ablaze.'

A fierce determination ignited within his eyes, transforming them into blazing orbs of unyielding resolve as he locked an intense, unwavering glare onto the distant mech.

'ABLAZE.'

Torrents of scorching solar flames gushed forth from the corners of his mouth, the blaze-like heat burning the air around him, casting the area in a brilliant radiance. His grip on the ebony blade grew ever tighter, his strength pushing the weapon and his heart towards their zenith.

'SET YOUR HEART ABLAZE!'

---

With an explosive bang, the metal arm Nezuko wielded splintered into fragments, falling into ruin. Yet, the destruction didn't faze her in the slightest.

Because there was another arm ripe for the taking.

The Atlesian Paladin, battered and scarred, had weathered the unrelenting attack, its once-pristine metal orifices now dented and marred. Roman ignored all the red signals and alarms the screens were sending him. Instead, he sent out the homing rockets, trying to test the unkillable girl's limits.

The rockets zoomed into the air and blasted toward the Demon Girl. Nezuko charged forward and took the full brunt of the explosions head-on. Her figure became enveloped in a swirling storm of smoke and fire as the explosions multiplied with each rocket added to the onslaught.

In the heart of the chaos, the billowing smoke and engulfing flames momentarily obscured Nezuko's form, creating an eerie curtain that shrouded her in a veil of rubble. As the smoke began to disperse, her figure emerged, virtually untouched by the devastation around her, save for the layer of soot and grime that now covered her. With a savage cry, she launched herself up and raised a fist, straight at the battered mech.

The remaining damaged arm of the Atlesian Paladin suddenly shot itself at her, its iron-clad fist slamming Nezuko into the ground with brutal force that splatted her into the asphalt. Yet, her bloodied form began to rise once again, much to Roman's dismay.

"Just stay down already!" Roman's frustration peaked as he wasted no time, lifting the mech's bulky leg and mercilessly stomping down onto the girl.

With a vicious snarl, he lifted the foot once more and brutally crushed her beneath its colossal weight. Again and again, he continued pounding the ground, unleashing a barrage that sent tremors traveling through the environment. But despite the onslaught, Nezuko rose back up time and time again, her gaze still trained upon him, promising pain she'd return tenfold.

Roman's throat felt dry, his skin damp with ice-cold sweat. There was no way this girl was human. He was sure that there was nothing—not Huntsman, not Grimm, not even the Boss Lady—that should have been able to withstand this type of torture. Even if this was a Semblance, those things had limits! It would have run out of Aura by now!

He had whacked her, blasted her, blew her up, and flattened her, but the girl just wouldn't stay down! No matter how hard he tried! The only thing left for Roman to do was to keep her at bay and stall for time.

"HRRMMMPHH!"

Easier said than done.

The Paladin's foot came crashing down again, and this time, Nezuko had somehow managed to brace herself and stand her ground, resisting with newfound strength, her knees popping as they bent. Her body had healed, and her muscles bulged, using every last ounce of her strength to push against the entire weight of the Atlesian Paladin.

'She got another burst of strength! How the hell is she doing this?! This can't be real!'

Each passing moment, the girl grew stronger, her power escalating by leaps and bounds. With her going berserk, a shiver went down Roman's spine, fearing that if she laid her hands on him, she would tear him apart without hesitation.

—At this rate, she may end up killing him!

Amidst the sea of red holographic screens, one alert caught his attention—a target heading toward him at breakneck speed.

"TORCHWIIIIICK!"

A gleaming streak of fire appeared over him, its intensity blinding as the Atlesian Paladin's arm snapped up to quickly swat it away. The air crackled in embers, the mech batting away the sudden attack.

*Shink!*

It wasn't left unscathed; the entire arm up to the elbow was cleanly severed, laying uselessly on the ground.

Tanjiro flipped through the air, landing on the edge of the warehouse rooftop.

"Get your foot off Nezuko, you scum!" His voice dripped with venom, the look he sent unparalleled to the ones he sent before. If Roman didn't heed him...

He promised no mercy.

(—Scratch that. Checkers might kill him first.)

Roman's eye twitched. "Why the hell won't either of you just stay down?!"

"HRRRMMMPPHH!" Nezuko's hands dug into the bottom of the Atlesian Paladin's foot. She yanked it to the side, causing the large mech to lurch and sway precariously on one foot. It promptly toppled over on its front, the surroundings trembling as it crashed onto the asphalt.

She continued to pull, her muscles straining as she pivoted again, causing the colossal mech to scrape and grind against the rough ground. During the whirlwind, the Paladin collided with a section of the warehouse, the sound of bending metal and shattering concrete reverberating through the air.

Shockwaves rippled as Roman found himself and his Atlesian Paladin hurtling upwards, Nezuko throwing them to the sky.

"Not again, damn it!" Roman's diminishing voice yelled as he rose.

Tanjiro kept his eyes locked onto the mech, his vision tunneling in as he crouched down, a crushing grip on his Nichirin.

His heart thumped, his lungs filling themselves through the agony that threatened to make him choke.

He kicked off the rooftop, rising into the air and soaring straight for Torchwick, his blade slung over his shoulders as he quickly approached.

At a moment's notice, his blade launched forward in a flash of fire, cutting through the air—

*Swoosh!*

—and missed.

The edge had scraped against the surface of the metal armor as Roman had managed to maneuver the Paladin's body and avoid the slash.

Tanjiro's eyes widened as he passed over the mech, seeing the rocket compartments rise once again.

His heart and lungs were burning, pounding relentlessly against his chest like the beat of a wild drum. Each breath drawn felt as if he was breathing in scorching embers. His arms and legs began to cramp. His body will lock up soon.

'I missed! I need to strike again before the drawback kicks in!' Tanjiro's determination resurged as he twisted mid-air and dived down toward the now-falling mech. 'I can do this! Don't give up! Push through!'

The myriad of small rockets shot out from the compartment and streaked across the air toward Tanjiro.

His haori billowed, and his hair whipped in the gales that assaulted him as he plunged headlong into the incoming barrage. He narrowly evaded one rocket with a daring roll, just missing him by the skin of his teeth.

The rest he had to meet head-on.

Undaunted, Tanjiro relentlessly cut through the barrage, each explosion tearing through the skies and enveloping him in flames that licked at his very skin and haori. Like a cascading river of fireworks, the explosions trailed him during his descent.

The sweltering heat threatened to consume him entirely, the air burning his lungs and singeing his skin. His body's temperature rose even further and quickened his heart, his muscles tensing with each strained beat. His breathing became more shallow as he struggled to endure the suffocating heat.

*Thump!*

His body temperature was rising! It was overwhelming! It felt like his insides were at risk of melting!

*Thump-Thump!*

But that's fine! Whenever his temperature skyrocketed, he was at the top of his game! And right now...

Thump-Thump-Thump!*

He was on fire!

Tanjiro rolled forward, feet oriented first as he closed in on the Paladin. He raised his blade over his head, forcing through the stiffness of his arms, and focused his breathing, harnessing the heat.

The memory of a man dancing from night to day in the cold snow became his guiding light.

"Sssssssss..."

Steam flowed from the corners of his mouth, igniting into a vivid solar flame that billowed from deep within a burning heart.

An offering dedicated to the Fire God.

Fervent tendrils of fire wrapped around Tanjiro's ebony blade, weaving an incandescent embrace that shone through the dark clouds.

A Dance to ward off death and illness.

Tanjiro leaned forward, his blazing blade pulling back as he reached the Atlesian Paladin.

A white thread flashed in his eyes, pulling taut.

Let Daylight Shine Through!

(ヒノカミ神楽)

"Ｈｉｎｏｋａｍｉ Ｋａｇｕｒａ!"

(Dance of The Fire God)

The blade struck down with unyielding might, carving into the cockpit's flank, its fervent touch effortlessly severing the metal plates asunder as fire bloomed.

(碧羅の天)

"Ｃｌｅａｒ Ｂｌｕｅ Ｓｋｙ!"

(Heki-ra no Ten)

Tanjiro's blade emerged out the other end, birthing a roaring circle of dancing flames that swept across the heavens. As if in homage, the clouds parted, and the sun's radiance descended upon Tanjiro, a spotlight cast by the very skies as everything brightened.

The Paladin split in two, its once formidable form cleaved in half. Awe and astonishment filled Roman's gaze as he fell from within, his eyes locked onto the boy who had cut down the mech.

There was only one thought that went through his mind.

'It's just like Him!'

Tanjiro returned a burning gaze that laser-focused on Roman as he also fell towards him.

Torchwick's Aura was still there! He needed to get rid of it!

He tried to raise his blade again. His arms didn't listen; instead, they locked themselves as his muscles felt like they were in a vice grip. The thumping of his heart overwrote all other sounds, his chest beginning to tighten and constrict as his body refused to heed him.

'No! Not now! Not yet! Just one more!'

The repercussions of the Hinokami Kagura had begun to take full effect as his injuries caught up to him. His breaths became increasingly short, his vision beginning to swim and distort as he came closer to Roman.

He needed to land one more attack! A swing from his sword! A kick from his legs! A strike from his arms! Anything!

Otherwise, Torchwick will brush off the fall and escape!

His racing mind and storming emotions were filled with desperation. Despite his body's unwillingness to press on, an unyielding fire still blazed within his heart, refusing to be extinguished. He defied his body's impending exhaustion, pouring all his energy into one last strike.

"HRAAAAGHH!"

The sole part of his body still in his control; he arched his head backward with determined effort. And in a heartbeat that seemed almost unreal, Tanjiro's forehead came bashing down onto Roman's, a thundering thud echoing from the blow, rattling the thief's brain as even gales splashed from the impact.

*Crack!*

Roman's eyes blanked out as his jaw fell slack, his bowler hat knocked off. His Aura flickered weakly and shattered into countless ephemeral motes that dispersed into the skies, leaving behind a trail of fading light.

And moments after, they hit the ground.

Broken remnants of the colossal Atlesian Paladin rained down, impacting the ground with resounding force, sending spiderweb cracks snaking outward through the surroundings. Both Roman and Tanjiro were flung onto the rough asphalt, their bodies rolling to a halt near each other.

Neither moved for a solid minute.

After an agonizing stretch of seconds, it was Tanjiro who stirred first, tilting his head to survey the surroundings and gauge the situation.

The whole area was in total disarray, marred by a landscape of craters and fissures etched across the ground. The warehouse, once a large and sturdy building, now had a conspicuous chunk in its foundation missing, its structural integrity compromised, and pieces crumbling in slow defeat. Amidst this chaotic view, clusters of dust and smoke hung suspended over all the destruction, a sign of the clashes that had recently transpired.

Tanjiro's breathing was erratic, rasping for air as his vision began to darken again. The ache in his side throbbed harder, nearly overwriting all thoughts as the pain worsened by the minute. He tried to move, but not a twitch nor flicker of movement occurred, his body too rigid and stiff. He felt something warm touch upon his hand, and upon seeing what it was, his heart sank.

Sunlight pierced through the parting veil of gray clouds, their reluctant dispersal gradually unveiling the landscape underneath a cerulean sky's grace.

His breaths grew even more erratic, his gaze frantically scanning for his sister, a pained gasp coming out when he couldn't find her. All he found were rubble and debris from the fight. Then, a sudden rustling of movement drew his attention, causing him to slowly turn his head in its direction.

He saw Roman gradually pushing himself upright, one hand steadying his knee while the other cradled his throbbing head, slowly regaining composure after the jarring fall. His dark green eyes soon placed themselves onto Tanjiro's prone form, a wry grin curving his lips with a mixture of amusement and condescension.

Roman gave a weak chuckle. "Well, Checkers...it looks like...you've failed in capturing me... Heh... You look like hell..."

Tanjiro ignored his words and continued searching for Nezuko, a mounting delirium gripping him as the weight of his fatigue finally began to take its toll.

The distant wails of sirens pierced the air, slowly growing louder and drawing nearer with each passing moment.

Roman's other leg extended, aiding him in a shaky but determined ascent. With both hands anchored to his trembling knees, he panted heavily. Eventually, he steadied his stance, managing to straighten up and limp over to retrieve his fallen hat and cane from their nearby resting place.

The hat was resettled upon his orange hair, though it bore scratches and tears, ruining its once-pristine appearance. A disheartened click of his tongue escaped him as he regarded the unfortunate state of his cherished accessory.

Before long, Tanjiro heard loud whirring from above. Managing to turn his head up, he stared in awe and bewilderment as a sizable aircraft swooped and circled the vicinity, suspending itself overhead before descending in proximity to where Roman stood. The aircraft's side door hatched open after landing, revealing the parasol girl with pink and brown hair.

"Took you long enough... Neo..." Roman grumbled, his voice rough with exhaustion.

Neo quickly moved to Roman's side, using her own body as a firm crutch, providing sturdy support as she slowly guided him towards the waiting bullhead aircraft.

Tanjiro could only helplessly watch in his current state, distress etched upon his features. His heart raced with a frantic rhythm, a desperate struggle to cling to consciousness with feeble breaths that barely sustained him.

With one final glance in Tanjiro's direction, Roman cast a parting look before stepping into the waiting aircraft. "Better luck next time... Checkers... It's been a pleasure~..." Roman still couldn't stop himself from showboating with a gesture to see him off.

The metallic door of the aircraft slid shut with a decisive click. The aircraft bobbed, lifting itself off the ground and into the open sky. Pausing briefly, it hung in mid-air like a curious observer. Then, its thrusters shifted, propelling it forward on a trajectory that led it behind the maze of buildings in the bustling Industrial District.

Tanjiro was left alone, his mind in a state of total disarray, the growing sirens filling his ears. The loud noise and flashing lights that came soon filled the air, overwhelming his senses and causing a sense of disorientation.

Darkness crept up his vision further, feeling his consciousness fading with each second. But before he fell unconscious, he needed to know if Nezuko was safe! He can't collapse now!

A surge of unexpected strength coursed through him, propelling him to muster the will to move his arms, even if their motion felt agonizingly rigid and sluggishly paced. He pushed through the pain that dulled him, slowly dragging himself across the ground to search for Nezuko.

Amidst the sea of wreckage and utter devastation, he strained to discern her scent, a fragile trail that guided him towards the heart of the fallen warehouse.

"Ne...zuko...!"

An anguished cry left his lips. And then, above the echoes of his own voice, he caught the soft patter of footsteps, their rhythm growing louder and more urgent as they closed in on him.

"It's a kid! He's injured!"

"What the hell happened here?"

"Someone, get a stretcher!"

A man hastily crouched next to him. "Kid, you need to stop moving!"

Tanjiro continued to drag himself towards the warehouse. He couldn't stop. Not until he found her safe! "Nezuko...! The box...! You need to hide...from the sun...! Nez...uko...!"

"Settle down! Your injuries look bad!"

He reached a hand out to the warehouse. "The box...Nezuko! Please...! Be safe...!"

"We'll find whatever it is you're looking for, so settle down already!"

Another gasp for air, and like a fading ember, darkness encroached upon his whole vision, his hand falling flat to the ground, gradually extinguishing the last vestiges of his consciousness, all noise and sensation withering away and becoming nothing.

---

Author's Note

Heya. I expected this chapter to at least take two weeks to finish. Surprisingly, I got it out a bit earlier than that. This is the longest chapter I've made for this fic so far (maybe I should have split it in half?), and the next one definitely won't be as long.

Thanks a ton to my friends who helped revise this chapter.

Sorry if the fight seemed a bit bland or repetitive; I think I was starting to experience signs of burnout in the middle of this chapter. Eventually just wanted to get it done so I could move on to the next. The creative juices were just not flowing; I ended up somehow forgetting how I wrote and formatted things in the middle of this too for a while and had to take a short break. Nonetheless, I finished it, and I still suck at writing fight scenes.

And man, writing fight scenes—especially for a whole chapter—is hard. Writing, in general, feels hard. I don't know if I should make things short and concise or long and descriptive. A friend said to just keep writing and I'll eventually figure things out and improve, so I guess I'll do just that.

Tanjiro and Nezuko went all out during this chapter, something I wanted for the final fight of this supposed beginning Arc. Now all that's left is the epilogue.

Now, something about the fight with the Atlesian Paladin. I don't know if you're satisfied with how some things turned out or not, but if you do question me about Tanjiro's strength or being nerfed in this fight, I'm also not 100% on some things, but lemme just say that Tanjiro could have won against the Atlesian Paladin if he knew more about its structure. Like Roman said, if Tanjiro targeted anywhere but the cockpit, he would've most likely taken out whatever he targeted. If he focused on taking out the limbs with stronger attacks rather than focusing on the head, then he most likely would have won without the need for Hinokami Kagura. Also sort of against his precedent of aiming for the head, so I guess you could blame that. But I'm just making excuses. Maybe you'll find it reasonable.

Another thing that might be questioned. Why didn't Roman kill Tanjiro? Well... Besides being the main character, there's a little reason behind it. In fact, Roman might seem a bit softer with how he gave multiple chances to Tanjiro to back out and even leave instead of just immediately deciding to kill him. Hopefully, I'll get far enough to have that explained. Plus, got the early "You're asking the wrong questions" thing with Roman, although it's slightly different. I wonder why?

I've given a couple of hints to the upcoming Demon Slayer character, one not so subtle. Honestly, it might have given it away.

I also decided to address Nezuko's hypnotic suggestion that Urokodaki put her under; it was initially supposed to take longer to overcome and included a one-on-one fight between Nezuko and Neo (It was more of a one-sided beatdown in Neo's favor). But, the chapter was getting too long, so it was scrapped. Instead, I had her overcome it quickly for the sake of time.

Tanjiro uses the Hinokami Kagura to finish off the Atlesian Paladin. Unfortunately, I don't know if I brought justice to Hinokami Kagura. I'll leave that for you to decide. Feel free to tell me your thoughts.

Now, there are a few questions or things I want to address.

-Tanjiro and Aura. I didn't want to answer this because it gets answered in the story, but I'm too impatient, so I'll be spoiling it now. Yes, Tanjiro is getting Aura. Pretty soon too, actually. Maybe not the next chapter, but the beginning of the next Arc most likely. In fact, I've already thought up of a Semblance for him, and I'll either be called out for being lazy or smart again(both of my friends said these). I'd prefer to call it me being efficient.

-Tanjiro's sense of smell. Honestly, I often forget it's an important tool at Tanjiro's disposal, but it makes some things a bit too convenient sometimes. One of you brought to my attention how I was underutilizing it last chapter (thanks for doing so), and I actually sort of agree. Tanjiro most likely would have been able to recognize the White Fang leader from earlier, but I chalked it up to the restaurant having too many smells that covered up the Faunus's scent, but maybe that wouldn't be enough to hinder Tanjiro's sense of smell. I'm not too sure, honestly. But I don't think Tanjiro figuring out the Leader's identity out any sooner would've really changed anything. At least it got utilized here a bit against Neo's illusions, and it does work, but too bad Neo's illusions aren't the biggest focus in this chapter. And his little "Smelling the Future" thing probably won't be activated until he goes through something similar enough to Kotetsu's training. Basically, he's gotta be on the verge of death against an overwhelming opponent. I think it'd be too soon to introduce it right now. I'll try to put more consideration for his sense of smell in later chapters.

-Breathing Techniques Effects. Yes, I acknowledge that the effects from Breathing techniques aren't actually real in Demon Slayer, and it was noted in this chapter during the fight. If that wasn't enough to explain, then yes, people can see the effects but they aren't actually real. N̶o̶t̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶s̶t̶. It'd be a waste not to include the effects and not have the world react to it; it's one of the only Demon Slayer aspects that cross over to here, so I think the people—at least the ones strong and imaginative enough—should be able to see the effects. Plus, I know that the manga doesn't have this, but I think Zenitsu flying around with Godlike Speed seems a bit ridiculous. Ridiculous enough to include in this story.

That's all I wanted to answer, I think. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas if you did, whether it be a question, what you thought of the chapter, giving an idea, or criticisms. I appreciate it. And I'm not too sure how I should respond to some things. I don't know if I should address people directly here and answer things straight up or leave things as they are. Maybe I'll figure it out later. Also—I feel like a broken record saying this—feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions of this chapter or the story in general. It's always interesting to see what you think.

It'll be the Arc epilogue next chapter I believe, and I'mma spoil it right now; the third Demon Slayer Character is being revealed next chapter. Do with that what you will.

Also, does anyone else listen to Demon Slayer Music/OST when reading this? No? Just me? Well damn... I think it helps enhance things.

Anyways, thanks for reading, hope you've enjoyed.

See you in the next chapter.