Kuri woke to the sound of bells ringing in the distance, their sharp, frantic tones cutting through the silence. She tried to sit up, but Tanjiro's firm hand pressed her back down.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice weak but tense. "What do the bells mean?"
"Invasion," Tanjiro replied, his expression darkening. His hand trembled slightly, betraying his calm exterior.
Kuri's eyes widened as she tried to get up again. "Then I have to—"
"No," Tanjiro said firmly, gently but resolutely pinning her to the bed. "You're still hurt. You need to rest."
Outside, Nezuko, Reiko, and Inosuke stood ready, the ground beneath their feet trembling with unnatural force. Fissures cracked open in the earth, and from the depths emerged a towering humanoid figure, its body forged from jagged stone and earth, its eyes glowing an ominous crimson. The golem rose to its full height, over ten feet tall, shaking the ground with every step.
Reiko's sharp eyes scanned the creature. "It's made of earth. Maybe we can control it!" she said quickly, her hands already channeling her power.
Nezuko stepped forward silently, her bare feet grounding her to the trembling earth. She shifted slightly, her stance firm and deliberate, and the golem faltered, stepping back under her influence. For a moment, it looked like the tide might turn.
But the creature steadied itself, roaring as it charged forward again with terrifying force.
"Damn it! Let me at it!" Inosuke bellowed, lunging forward with his twin swords. He struck the golem's leg, shattering a chunk of rock, but the creature retaliated with a powerful swipe that sent him flying backward into the dirt.
Reiko gritted her teeth, vines snaking out from her hands as she tried to immobilize the creature. "It's too strong!" she shouted. "We need help!"
From the window, Kuri watched the scene outside, her heart pounding in her chest. The golem and the chaos surrounding it filled her vision, and a cold dread settled over her.
She pushed herself up, but Tanjiro stopped her again, his hands firm on her shoulders. "Stay here!" he demanded, his voice sharp with worry. "You're too weak to fight right now!"
"Tanjiro, you don't understand!" Kuri cried, her voice trembling with desperation. "That thing—it's connected to the Source! If we don't stop it now, it will keep calling demons to the surface!"
Tanjiro froze, her words sinking in. "The Source?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
As she spoke, more cracks opened in the ground, and from the shadows beneath, grotesque shapes began to emerge. Demons clawed their way up from the depths, their twisted forms hunched and seething with malice. Their glowing eyes fixed on the group outside, and a chorus of screeches filled the air.
"Why is it always demons?" Zenitsu cried, his voice shaking. He stumbled back, clutching his sword tightly, his legs visibly trembling. "We're outnumbered! What are we supposed to do?!"
Nezuko planted herself firmly in front of him, her fiery gaze unwavering as she prepared to defend him and the others. She growled softly, her hands tightening into fists.
Reiko turned to Zenitsu, gripping his arm. "We've faced worse, and we'll survive this too. Just stick to the plan!" she said, her voice steady but urgent.
Inosuke, back on his feet, snarled in frustration. "Forget plans! I'm tearing these things apart!" He launched himself back into the fray, slashing wildly at the oncoming demons.
Inside, Tanjiro's hands shook as he kept Kuri in place. "I don't want to lose you," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "I can't let you go out there."
Kuri's eyes softened, her gaze meeting his. "Tanjiro, I have to. This isn't just about me—it's about all of us. If we don't stop the Source, it will destroy everything. You know that."
His grip loosened as he saw the fire in her eyes. He didn't want to let her go, but deep down, he knew she was right. Slowly, reluctantly, he released her.
"Be careful," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Kuri placed a trembling hand on his cheek, a soft smile breaking through her exhaustion. "I'll come back to you. I promise."
She stood, her body still weak but her determination stronger than ever. Gripping the hilt of Kiboken, the crystal blade at her side, she steadied herself and stepped out into the chaos.
The moment she appeared, the air seemed to shift. The demons paused, their movements stuttering as if they could feel her presence. Even the golem faltered, its glowing eyes turning toward her.
"This ends now!" Kuri shouted, raising Kiboken high. Its crystal blade glowed with a brilliant light, illuminating the battlefield. The demons screeched in defiance, lunging toward her, but she stood her ground, the energy from the sword radiating outward in a protective barrier.
The battle wasn't over, but for the first time, hope glimmered on the horizon.