The water dragon, as if sentient, writhed and twisted with Tanjiro's arm movements, snapping at the approaching silk threads and severing them.
"I cut it! If I can get close and find an opening to cut his neck, I'll win!" Tanjiro exclaimed, overjoyed that the layered power of his attack finally manifested on the sixth strike.
Lower Rank Five, surprised that Tanjiro had cut his threads, also recognized the technique's nature.
"He's increasing the blade's power through spinning his body?! Time to get serious," Lower Rank Five thought.
"While you surprised me, don't mistake this for my strongest silk."
Lower Rank Five's pale hands turned blood-red, and the silk threads connected to his fingers also turned blood-red.
"Blood Demon Art: Blood Web Prison!"
Lower Rank Five, now serious, unleashed his Blood Demon Art on the charging Tanjiro. With a spread of his hands, a massive, spiderweb-like net instantly surrounded Tanjiro.
"Farewell, you fool!" Lower Rank Five taunted as he began to tighten the blood-red web.
Tanjiro watched the web closing in, his newly kindled hope crushed once more.
"It's over! I can't handle threads of this caliber!"
As death seemed imminent, time appeared to stand still. Memories of his past flooded Tanjiro's mind.
Countless fragments of his life flashed before his eyes, including joyful memories of him and Nezuko playing with their father as children.
Standing before his father in this memory, Tanjiro felt a pang of sadness. His father, as if sensing his son's presence across realms, suddenly spoke, "Tanjiro, learn to breathe.
Regulate your breathing, and become one with the Fire."
The scene shifted to a vast, snowy expanse, lit by torches.
Tanjiro's father danced in the center, performing what looked like a ritual.
Tanjiro watched, mesmerized. Then, a woman's voice called out. He saw his mother kneeling beside a young Tanjiro, saying, "Look, Papa is performing the Kagura dance."
After finishing the Kagura, his father approached Tanjiro—not the young Tanjiro from the memory, but the adult Tanjiro within the memory.
The surrounding scenery then faded away, leaving only Tanjiro's father. It was as though his father had always been present in Tanjiro's spirit, supporting him.
Looking at his father, Tanjiro called out, "Papa!"
His father placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder, giving him a gentle pat.
"Tanjiro, all I can leave you is the breathing technique of the Kagura and these earrings.
I hope you will carry on the Fire God's will! You can do it!"
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