Chapter Twenty-Seven
Almost the instant the vines appeared, Tanjiro moved. He exerted force in his waist and abdomen, and landed like a fish, turning around and drawing his sword in one smooth motion. The Nichirin Blade drew a sharp arc in his hand.
"Water Breathing - The Form of the Rage - Striking Tide".
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
A flash of blue light, and the attacking vines were instantly cut into several pieces, the broken parts charred black and emitting a foul burnt smell.
The viscous liquid splattered on the ground, causing the soil to sizzle as it corroded.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. By the time everyone reacted, Tanjiro had already sheathed his sword, standing there slightly out of breath, and began to look around.
quiet.
A deathly silence.
The blond boy was fast asleep, his butt sticking out.
Kanao looked down at the broken vines on the ground, her smile remaining unchanged.
The blue-haired boy's eyes widened. He jumped up and excitedly pointed the knife at him.
"Hey! You in the green shirt! You're pretty tough, huh? Come on, let's fight!"
"Please keep quiet." Tanjiro instinctively reached out to stop him from saying what he was about to say.
Inosuke, holding his sword high and his foot raised, froze in shock.
He himself didn't know why he had to listen to him, but he did it subconsciously.
Then, he saw countless spots of crimson light shining behind Tanjiro.
Tanjiro couldn't see what was behind him, but he could smell the shadowy, surging scent of demons coming from all directions like a tide.
Sensing danger as well, Genmi took a step back, drew his sword, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
At this moment, all around was silent, and the mountains, like silent behemoths, cast long, dark shadows in the night.
"Something is coming... It doesn't seem aimless... It's as if it's being directed by something!"
The moment he finished speaking, all the starry eyes quickly disappeared.
Sudden--
"boom!!!"
A deafening explosion erupted without warning, and a violent shockwave, like an invisible giant hammer, swept outwards carrying debris and dust, stinging people's cheeks. Almost everyone instinctively closed their eyes or raised their hands to shield themselves.
"Oh my god, the wisteria flowers... are withering!!"
Amid the chaos, a terrified scream pierced the noise.
Despite their discomfort, everyone looked down at the slightly lower mountain below, their hearts nearly stopping.
Along the mountain path, the wisteria flowers that were once as lush as purple clouds were rapidly withering and disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye!
The vibrant purple faded into darkness in large swaths, as if life had been instantly drained away.
The scene was eerie and magnificent, but it brought not beauty, but a chill that went deep into one's bones.
"Hehehehehe—!!"
Almost at the same time that the wisteria barrier completely disappeared, the entire mountain forest seemed to have some forbidden switch turned on.
In Tanjiro's keen sense of smell, what was originally just a lurking aura was instantly filled with a ferocious and greedy demonic aura that was many times stronger than before!
They seemed to have finally broken free of their shackles, swarming out of their nests and shadows, yet strangely rushing in the same direction.
Where are they going?
Tanjiro's mind raced, and a terrifying thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
"Quick! Let's go!"
Without hesitation, Tanjiro roared at everyone present.
"We must get to the entrance of Fujikasayama immediately!"
No one understood his meaning at that moment, but in the face of a leaderless and perilous situation, following his judgment became the only option.
The group rushed toward the entrance as fast as they could. The moment they stepped out of the area surrounded by wisteria, they were met with a panicked Teruya Ubuyashiki and Nika Ubuyashiki.
Before they could even ask—
“Thump…thump…thump…”
A dull tremor began to emanate from the ground, like a stampede of thousands of horses.
Birds in the distance took flight in fright, emitting mournful cries as they circled erratically in the air.
As the billowing dust drew closer, everyone could see the chilling sight.
Where the smoke and dust billowed, there were countless hordes of evil spirits huddled together, shoulder to shoulder, with hideous faces.
They roared, baring their fangs, their murky eyes gleaming with greed and madness, surging towards them like a black tide bursting its banks!
"Aaaaaah! What is that? What is that?"
"Ghosts! So many ghosts!"
"Ah, Mom! I want to go home! I'm not joining the Demon Slayer Corps anymore."
Upon seeing this scene, everyone was stunned. Some people ran away, while others drew their swords and stood ready to fight at any moment.
Tanjiro's face was cold and expressionless. The demon's hideous appearance made him feel fear, and his legs trembled as he couldn't help but back away.
Retreat, retreat, retreat, then turn around...
As far as the eye could see, beyond the chaotic crowd, beyond the foothills that had been annihilated and lost their protective power, the gaze fell upon the tranquil valley below.
There, one, two... countless warm lights twinkled quietly in the deep night, like stars scattered across the earth.
The light shining through the windows of countless homes is the lamp where family members wait, the candlelight when families reunite, and countless ordinary yet precious homes.
In an instant, the fear surging in my chest seemed to be forcefully suppressed by something hotter and heavier.
Tanjiro suddenly turned around, his trembling legs firmly planted on the ground like rocks.
He took a deep breath, and with all his might, he transformed all his fear and hesitation into a roar that resounded throughout the battlefield.
"Everyone—!! We can't retreat!! We can't retreat even one more step!!"
"We must never let these evil spirits... set foot down the mountain!"
“Our family lives down the mountain.”
Those who had run halfway suddenly braked and looked up at the foot of the mountain. The twinkling lights reflected in their eyes and slowly ignited in their hearts.
Their families live there.
"Don't retreat! Kill—!"
No one knows who roared first, but the selectors, like a pack of wolves driven to the brink, turned their heads and faced the surging tide of ghosts with bloodshot eyes!
But how could they possibly defeat so many evil spirits?
The evil spirits here are all ferocious and monstrous, having lived for countless years and devoured countless humans.
The people here are all only ten years old, novices who have just learned breathing techniques, and can't even be called "team members".
The disparity between us and the enemy is so great, it's like moths drawn to a flame.
Then, not a single person present stepped back.
As the horde of demons drew closer, everyone instinctively gripped their Nichirin Blades tightly, swallowing hard.
"Everyone, we have notified the Demon Slayer Corps members and the Pillars to come and help. Five minutes, everyone, just hold on for five minutes."
Ubuyashiki Teruyo and Ubuyashiki Nika also stood with the others, their fear gradually fading, leaving only determination.
"Knock knock knock—"
It was the sound of footsteps from a horde of evil spirits in the distance.
"Knock knock knock—"
It was the sound of everyone's hearts pounding against their chests.
Just then.
"What a bunch of idiots. You think you can start a fight?"
A clear voice rang out from above everyone's heads, instantly breaking the silence.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
Atop the torii gate, a figure in blue stood silently, her clothes fluttering in the breeze, her long hair flowing freely. She stood with her hands behind her back, looking down at the crowd.
"Chika!" Genya's eyes lit up, his voice full of surprise.
"What are you standing there for? Run!" She landed with a leap and grabbed him, trying to pull him away.
Xuanmi grabbed her hand and said, "We can't leave. The wisteria flowers have disappeared, and the people down the mountain are all defenseless humans. If we leave, they will be in danger."
Chika blinked. "Are you a saint?"
Genmi was taken aback: "?"
What is it?
"You know everyone down the mountain?" Qianxia glared at him.
Genmi explained, "No, but it is a human after all."
"You don't even know them, what business is it of yours whether they live or die?"
Chika raised her hand and smacked him on the back of the head.
"Someone like you would have died countless times back in my hometown. Even TV dramas in my hometown don't portray things like that."
Everyone present was stunned. They seemed not to have expected Qianxia to say such a thing, which sent chills down their spines.
Tanjiro opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing. Everyone's thoughts are different, and he had no right to interfere. All he could do was be true to his own conscience.
Xuanmi, who had been hit, covered his head and let out a "woof," but this only strengthened his resolve.
“I can’t understand what Chika is saying, but I know that every stranger I see is someone else’s family, lover, or relative.”
When Genmi opened his eyes again and looked at Chika, there was a hint of stubbornness in his eyes.
"I'm not leaving. I'm staying. The Demon Slayer Corps' job is to protect humanity and protect human emotions."
Chika's lips twitched. "Are you having a bout of chuunibyou? What kind of ridiculous career theory is this? Work is work, don't mix it with life. You'd rather die for work, don't you miss your brother? If you died, your brother would be heartbroken."
"Watch less melodramatic and shonen dramas. What I hate most is your 'saintly' theory. 'Every man for himself' is the way to survive."
"No!" Xuanmi shook his head and suddenly broke free from her hand completely. "If I run away, my brother will be truly heartbroken. I'm sorry."
Chinatsu: "Huh?"
"You can leave now!"
Genya reached out and gave her a push, then silently stood side by side with Tanjiro and the others, who were holding their swords and on guard.
"Hello, my name is Shinazugawa Genya, and I am the younger brother of Shinazugawa Sanemi, the Wind Pillar!"
"Hello, my name is Kamado Tanjiro, nice to meet you."
"I... my name is Murata Taishi, nice to meet you all."
"My name is Yumi Oori, nice to meet you."
Inspired by Xuanmi's words, everyone gripped their knives and stepped forward, their eyes resolute. Even the burly man she had buried in the tree stump was among them.
Chika, standing to the side, felt like she was about to be driven mad with anger.
"What a bunch of idiots. They could have walked by themselves, but they blocked the doorway and went looking for trouble. One or two would be one thing, but they all did it."
Genya didn't know what Chika was thinking, but he could tell that Chika was angry.
He sighed, "Chika! You should go now."
"Shout! What are you shouting for? All you do is shout! And what should you call me?" Qianxia glared at him.
Xuanmi smiled, pursing his lips, "Teacher."
Everyone: Teacher?
Is the Wind Pillar's younger brother this person's apprentice?
Wait a minute, didn't she claim to be the Wind Pillar's stepson?
What a mess of relationships!
"Tch~ It's bad luck to have you as a disciple."
Looking at the group of puzzled little faces, Qianxia nodded in satisfaction, "Since you called me obediently, I will grant you three breaths."
"But we only have three breaths left. Let's hurry and get everyone down the mountain. Courage alone won't be enough to defeat these things."
As she spoke, she revealed her hand behind her back, and upon closer inspection, everyone was surprised to see...
A bow and an arrow.
Everyone looked at each other, not quite understanding what was going on.
What can you do with a bow and an arrow?
Try to get three breaths?
How long is three breaths?
Chika ignored everyone's suspicions, leaped to the ground, stood in front of them, and then drew her bowstring taut.
Everyone was even more puzzled.
What are they trying to do?
"laugh--!"
Blue and white lightning suddenly appeared, bit by bit, and then intertwined into a magnificent blue and white lightning, which exploded with a loud bang.
Everyone took two steps back in unison, their faces filled with horror, unable to believe that this was something a human could do.
The blue lightning gathered even more intensely, climbing up her arms like a living thing, wrapping around her body, and emitting a crackling sound that sent chills down one's spine.
The violent energy stirred up a fierce airflow, causing her clothes and hair to dance wildly, and making it almost impossible for the people behind her to open their eyes.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, a dazzling arrow formed purely from raging lightning shot straight toward the horde of demons with a deafening boom.
The moment that thunderous arrow left the bowstring, time seemed to stretch out infinitely.
Wherever the arrow passed, the air groaned under its strain, and the ground was scorched into a deep furrow by the stray arcs of lightning.
The light was so dazzling that all that could be seen was a blinding blue and white, completely swallowing up even the terrifying appearance of the evil spirit.
There was no loud bang of impact, only a muffled sound, seemingly capable of swallowing everything—
"Buzz—!"
The lightning arrows stopped abruptly the moment they touched the horde of demons, and then... exploded with a deafening roar!
A blue-white ball of lightning, more than ten meters in diameter, expanded and instantly vaporized the dozens of evil spirits in the front row, leaving not even a trace of ash behind.
Immediately following was a devastating shockwave that spread wildly outward in a ring. The demons in the back row were as if they had been struck by an invisible giant hammer, their limbs shattering and charring in the lightning, turning into black ash flying everywhere.
After the bright light and the loud noise, there was a brief silence.
The afterimage of the lightning ball lingered in everyone's vision, and their ears rang incessantly.
They stared blankly ahead. The horde of demons that had surged forward like a tide had now been cleared out, creating a fan-shaped vacuum. At the edge, a few lightning snakes leaped, burning the demons who had managed to survive, emitting mournful howls.
The power of just one arrow has been so great!
"What the hell??"
Yuzui Tengen, who had been rushing all the way and almost ran his legs off, had just arrived when his legs gave way and he nearly lost his balance.
Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro, who arrived shortly afterward, also stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Qianxia sheathed her bow, turned to meet their gaze, and instantly wilted.
"What? Didn't you say there were still five minutes? If I had known you were coming, I wouldn't have made a move."
Damn! She was exposed so easily; all her previous efforts were wasted.
Sanemi squinted as he approached, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
Is this really the same Chika who sat on the rooftop wailing and howling? Is this the same Chika who trembled and screamed while clutching Sanemi's sword? Is this the same Chika who would scurry under the table at the slightest sound, leaving only a rabbit-like figure peeking out?
It must be fake... This must be fake.
Despite the turmoil in my heart, this is not the time to ask questions.
Although Chika's arrow was incredibly powerful, it wasn't made from the same material as the Nichirin Blade, so it couldn't truly and completely destroy the demon.
Not far away, the remaining evil spirits are still writhing and repairing themselves; the battlefield still needs to be cleaned up.
I'll settle the score with you later.
Sanemi Shinazugawa gritted his teeth and growled, then leaped over her and charged straight at the slowly regenerating demons.
"Everyone, follow me! Before they recover, cut off their heads!"
His command instantly ignited the fighting spirit of everyone. The team members drew their Nichirin Blades and surged forward like a tide, bypassing Chika to join the battle.
This is a rare moment when the opponent is almost powerless to resist, how can we miss it?
"What... can't you make amends for your mistakes?"
Chika, who was left behind by the others, pouted, put away her longbow, drew her sword, and stepped forward.
"Besides, with my abilities, why would the lord be angry? He'd be overjoyed. Everyone's reaction was too short-lived; they should have been more shocked a while longer..."
Before she could finish speaking, she abruptly stopped, frozen in place.
The arms around her shoulders from behind were tight, and the force that turned her face away was also strong, forcing her to turn to one side.
The long hair on the side of her neck was neatly cut off. The cold wind was blowing, but the temperature of the hair falling on that spot of skin was almost scalding.
Chika blinked, instinctively trying to turn her head, but for some reason, her whole body felt frozen and she couldn't move.
This power, this scent.
"Do...Doma?"
What's wrong with him now?
“It’s me, Chinatsu.”
"Hey, Chinatsu... you're so dazzling, I can hardly see myself."
The voice beside my ear was very low, as if shrouded in gloom, with a childlike sense of grievance and resentment in its tone.
Then he chuckled softly, as if he couldn't contain his excitement.
"Hey, become a ghost. I'll love you forever~"
"laugh--!"
The sharp teeth pierced her skin so quickly that she had no time to react.
A sharp pain exploded, and the colorful world in my vision was brutally filled with a thick, scarlet blood, as if blood was flowing backwards into my eyes.
A burning, strange sensation surged wildly through her veins, flowing like lava, threatening to burn and reshape her muscles and meridians.
Not far away, Genmi, Uzui Tengen, and Iguro Obanai were all running towards her. All their movements seemed to stretch out in time, and every breath they took could be heard clearly.
Then, she saw Sanemi.
His eyes were bloodshot, and a ferocity she had never seen before surged in his crimson eyes. He pounced like an arrow released from a bow.
He raised his Nichirin Blade high, with a resolute determination to cut through everything, and stabbed it fiercely behind her.
The cold force binding her suddenly loosened.
The feeling of weightlessness lasted only a moment before she fell into a warm, almost scorching, yet incredibly comforting embrace.
"Chinatsu——! Chinatsu——!"
Sanemi's roar seemed to come through a thick layer of water, anxious and panicked, repeatedly assaulting her gradually fading consciousness.
Above all this, another ethereal voice, carrying a smile, pierced her ears precisely, like a bone-deep infection, with a chilling anticipation.
"Chika, do you know where to find me? I'll be waiting for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, his wrist suddenly felt heavy, as if something was winding up his fingertips.
An icy, burning sensation swept over, dragging the crimson vision, the scalding embrace, the anxious cries, and the devil's whispers into endless silence.
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