"Maple Breathing, Second Form: Light Dance Slash."
A crimson slash flashed through the air.
In an instant, a Demon's neck gushed with foul-smelling blood before it staggered and collapsed at Tokito Yuichiro's feet.
Yuichiro watched as the demon before him gradually turned to ashes.
His composed expression finally revealed a trace of disgust.
"Master..."
The battle in Yoshiwara's red-light district had caused quite a stir within the Demon Slayer Corps when Shinichi's true nature as a demon was exposed.
However, the Demon Slayer Corps members shared a remarkably unified mindset.
Though shocked by the Forest Hashira's identity as a demon, hardly anyone questioned his will or contributions.
They only mourned his disappearance and deepened their hatred toward Upper Rank Demons!
Yuichiro sheathed his blade, his breathing steady.
The battle hadn't lasted long, though chasing the demon had taken some time.
His black uniform was damp with dew.
Yet slaying a low-level demon brought him no satisfaction.
"Too weak," he muttered to himself, voice full of self-doubt—whether directed at himself or the demon was unclear.
"If it were Master..."
His words trailed off as he gazed at the darkening sky.
Three months—nearly three months had passed since his master disappeared during that fierce battle in Yoshiwara.
The Demon Slayer Corps had scoured nearly all of Kyoto searching for the Forest Hashira, yet found not a single clue.
Only those two cracked Nichirin Blades, brought back by Himejima Gyomei.
"Maple Hashira, you're too fast!" Several Demon Slayers arrived belatedly, rushing over in haste.
One noticed bloodstains on Yuichiro's black uniform and asked worriedly.
"Yuichiro-san, are you injured?"
"This isn't my blood," Yuichiro responded coolly, shaking his head as he let the others examine the nearly dissipated demon ashes.
He listened to their murmurs of admiration.
"As expected of the Maple Hashira—so strong! Just as reliable as the Forest Hashira."
"Ah, there's still no news of the Forest Hashira... Damn those vile demons!"
"The Forest Hashira disappeared once before too. I believe he'll return safely again, just like last time."
The hushed whispers of the Demon Slayers darkened Yuichiro's mood as he leaned against a tree.
Suddenly!
A chaotic flapping of wings sounded above them.
"Emergency request! Eastern side of Mount Fugen's rear! Shinobu Kocho has encountered an Upper Rank Demon! Critical injuries! Repeat! Shinobu Kocho—!"
A Kasugai Crow with bloodied wings cried out frantically.
The Demon Slayers froze in shock at the news.
"The Insect Hashira? An Upper Rank Demon?!" they murmured in disbelief, eyes wide.
Yuichiro's blood ran cold, icy dread spreading through his veins.
Shinobu Kocho—the person his master cared the most in the Corps, that always-smiling woman—was now facing an Upper Rank Demon alone?
Without hesitation, Yuichiro vanished from sight, leaving only a crimson afterimage.
The Demon Slayers couldn't even perceive his movement, hearing only the injured crow's desperate cries overhead.
"Help! Shinobu Kocho is under attack! Help—!"
"Shinobu-san, please don't let anything happen to you!" Yuichiro's heart burned with anxiety.
With Maple Breathing operating at full capacity, his speed was astonishing.
The trees along the way blurred into green streaks in his vision, with only the howling wind and the violent pounding of his own heart in his ears.
There was still no news from his master.
He absolutely couldn't let anything happen to Shinobu, whom his master loved so much...
...
After what felt like an eternity, guided by several Kasugai Crows calling for reinforcements, Yuichiro swiftly arrived at Fuyu county.
The trees ahead suddenly thinned, revealing an open clearing.
Yuichiro abruptly halted, his pupils contracting sharply.
In the chaotic clearing, several Demon Slayers lay in pools of their own blood, their condition was unknown.
At the center, Shinobu Kocho knelt on the ground, her pale purple butterfly-patterned haori soaked in blood.
Her slender Nichirin Blade was broken in two, embedded in the earth.
And Shinobu Kocho's right hand—the hand that had mixed countless medicines, saving numerous Demon Slayers and slain innumerable Demons—was now missing.
Most heartbreaking of it all, despite such grievous injuries, Shinobu's face still bore that perfect smile, though blood continuously seeped from the corners of her lips.
"Shinobu-san!" Yuichiro gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Blade tightly, his voice choked with anguish.
"Ara... Yuichiro-kun has arrived..." Her voice was as light as a sigh,
"How embarrassing... for you to see me in such a pitiful state..."
Something seemed to clog Yuichiro's throat, rendering him unable to utter another word.
His gaze shifted to the treetops not far from Shinobu, where two figures had been standing and coldly observing the scene all along.
In that instant, Yuichiro's blood boiled with fury.
"Young child." One of the figures in the treetops spoke softly, then flashed down at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
BOOM!!!
The ground cratered violently from the impact!
As the dust settled, under the pale moonlight, Yuichiro clearly saw the terrifying visage of the imposing figure before him.
The black martial artist's coat was pristine and neat, the exposed arms rippling with powerful muscles.
Just standing there, the figure exuded an immovable, iron-tower-like pressure.
Short black hair was restrained by a headband bearing the character "Martial."
His golden eyes gleamed with the characters "Upper Moon" and "Four" clearly visible in each pupil respectively.
An overwhelming aura surged toward Yuichiro.
"A slightly familiar scent... Forest Breathing? No, not quite. Child, answer me this—is Moriki Shinichi truly dead?" Maito crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as he bared his fangs, his tone was cold as he addressed Yuichiro.
However, before Maito could finish speaking, a crimson slash was already hurtling toward him.
"Maple Breathing, Fifth Form: Leaf Thorns!"
Maito's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but a blood-red aura exploded around him nonetheless.
"Blood Martial Arts, Armor Style: Blood Armor!"
A hardened shell of congealed blood effortlessly blocked Yuichiro's attack!
Seizing the moment, the other figure in the treetops landed gracefully beside the severely wounded Shinobu Kocho.
Beneath the wide gray robe, dull gray eyes lowered silently.
"I once thought, just as Shinichi-kun said, that you were trustworthy friends." Shinobu's lips were stained with blood as she spoke softly.
The figure beneath the gray robe remained silent for a moment.
"We had no choice."
Swish!!
A cold glint flashed through the air, but unfortunately, the poisoned hidden weapon that had been concealed for so long was effortlessly deflected by Lee.
Watching Shinobu's increasingly pale face, Lee let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
"This is my true form—how could you possibly harm me? Come with us, or you will die."
As he spoke, Lee extended his hand towards Shinobu.
"Don't touch her!!" A fiery red slash came crashing down recklessly.
But then, an even more terrifying and immense crimson blade force materialized, blocking the path of the slash!
BOOM!!!!