The battlefield in Fuyu County—a desolate stretch of land saturated with the stench of blood and despair.
Yuichiro Nichirin Blade cutting a mournful arc through the air.
Maple Breathing operating at full capacity, crimson slashes coalescing into the form of scarlet maple leaves, raining down in a dense barrage toward the Upper Moon Four standing in his path—Take.
"Maple Breathing, Sixth Form: Crimson Leaf Storm!"
The maple leaves fell like rain, slicing through the air with scorching intensity.
Yet, against this assault capable of rending steel—
Maito merely let out a low, disdainful snort.
His massive frame, clad in blood-red armor, sank slightly as he crossed his arms in front of him.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A torrent of metallic clashes erupted like a storm!
The crimson maple leaves collided with Maito's armor, harder than refined steel, sending sparks flying like red-hot iron shavings striking an anvil.
The searing battle spirit and razor-sharp cutting force contained within the leaves couldn't even leave a scratch on that armor, let alone penetrate it!
"Compared to that guy's Forest Breathing, your power is mediocre, your technique crude!" Maito's voice rumbled like thunder, laced with the condescension of a veteran warrior critiquing a junior.
He suddenly took a step forward and the ground quaked violently.
His towering body erupted with terrifying speed that defied his size.
"Young ones still have much to learn! Blood Martial Arts—Form: Mountain-Crushing Fist!"
Simple. Direct. Overwhelming.
No flashy techniques—just pure, concentrated power and speed!
The air compressed with a deafening crack before the fist even arrived, the sheer pressure alone making Yuichiro's breath hitch.
Too fast!
Yuichiro's pupils constricted as he instinctively raised his blade to block—
BOOM!!!
It felt like being rammed head-on by a charging elephant!
An unstoppable force transmitted through his swords and slammed into Yuichiro's chest.
He heard the unmistakable groan of his ribs buckling under the impact.
His body was sent flying uncontrollably, smashing through a tree as thick as a bowl before crashing to the ground.
Blood gushed from his mouth.
"Cough… cough…" Yuichiro struggled to rise, but the agony in his chest and the churning of his organs made his vision flicker in and out.
His Nichirin Blade trembled in his grip, humming faintly.
'So strong… So unbelievably strong!'
'Is this the power of an Upper Moon?'
The sheer might of the demon before him sent Yuichiro's heart plummeting.
Without a doubt, this was the strongest demon he had faced since joining the Demon Slayer Corps. In just a few exchanges, his proud Maple Breathing had been utterly overwhelmed by sheer brute strength and defense of this demon.
'Should he… give up?'
Gripping his Nichirin Blade, Yuichiro slowly pushed himself to his feet.
He wiped the blood from his lips—even the base of his palms had split open, bleeding—but his gaze remained unshaken, burning with fighting spirit as he stared down Maito.
And once more, he raised his maple-red Nichirin Blade.
"Oh? Interesting." Maito's golden pupils gleamed with intrigue as he studied the boy before him.
Was it just his imagination, or did he catch a fleeting glimpse of an old comrade in Yuichiro's stance?
Could it be that, contrary to its assumptions, this boy's Breathing Technique wasn't merely an imitation of Shinichi?
Thinking this, Maito crossed his arms and asked Yuichiro directly.
"Kid, what exactly is your relationship with Shinichi? That slimy, disgusting guy told me he went mad and died—I don't buy it."
Whoosh!
The blue-green eyes of the black-haired boy burned with rare, surging fury as he gritted his teeth and roared.
"Don't you dare—insult my—master!"
Maple Breathing · Eighth Form: Blazing Maple Forest!
BOOM!!
An endless crimson wave erupted from Yuichiro's body.
The most beautiful moment of maple leaves is their fall—the crimson that blankets the mountains symbolizes not just an end, but also the most passionate vitality.
Yuichiro had never strayed from Shinichi's teachings.
From the day he and his brother were saved by Shinichi, from the day he formally became Shinichi's disciple, the essence of Forest Breathing had already flowed within his body.
"Without my master, my brother and I might have died that night. The legacy of swordsmen, bloodlines—none of that matters. All I must do is protect—protect my brother, protect my master, protect everything I hold dear!"
Yuichiro's "Yu" was the "Yu" that would protect everyone's everything!
"Hahaha, so you're that guy's disciple! You Forest Breathing practitioners really are something. Good, good! Now this is more like it—finally something interesting!"
A grin split Maito's cold face, his fangs bared as his blood-red aura surged violently around him.
"Blood Martial Arts · Blade Style · Soul Blade!"
His palms split open, blood gushing forth, and in an instant, the crimson liquid solidified into two scarlet longswords.
"Let me see—how much of your master's skill you've inherited!"
CRASH!!
An earth-shaking collision reverberated across the battlefield.
In that instant, the sky within a hundred-meter radius was dyed blood-red.
Tens of thousands of battle-aura-infused maple leaves poured down like a storm, clashing against the even more ferocious crimson blade energy.
The ground cracked under countless slashes, the air itself warping and distorting.
As the battle reached its peak, Yuichiro's attacks grew increasingly frenzied, completely disregarding defense.
His left arm was grazed by Maito's blood blade, leaving a deep, bone-exposing wound, while a kick from Maito struck his right chest, forcing a mouthful of blood from his lips.
Yet Yuichiro seemed oblivious to the pain of his shattered ribs—he only pressed forward, attacking, attacking, and attacking again!
"You brat! Have you lost your mind?! Do you think you're some immortal demon like your
Faced with Yuichiro's escalating madness, Maito's expression twisted in shock for the first time.
Was this kid really trying to get himself killed?
"DIEEE!!" Yuichiro's response was short and fierce—a direct slash aimed at Maito's face, though it was swiftly parried.
...
"He's no match for Maito. If this drags on, that boy will die without a doubt." Lee's voice was calm and detached beneath her gray robes—but just as her attention wavered toward the battlefield, a blur suddenly flashed past her.
"Huh?! Wait—what are you doing?!"
Yuichiro's consciousness began to fade.
The brutality of his fight with Maito, the excessive blood loss, and the overuse of his Breathing Technique had pushed his body to its limit.
'I can't fall… Absolutely cant…'
Yet as the battle raged on, even Maito's fury seemed to ignite.
"Kid! I admire you, but I'm afraid I have no choice—even if Shinichi were here today, I'd still kill you without hesitation!"
BOOM!!
The crimson blade slashed down fiercely.
Caught off guard, Yuichiro's Nichirin Blade and Maito's bloodied sword were sent flying.
Seizing the opportunity, Maito raised his fist high.
"Sorry about this!"
Yuichiro's vision blurred.
'Was this the end?'
A flash of purple light suddenly streaked past him.
Thud—!
A sickening sound of flesh being pierced echoed.
Maito's muscular arm tore through Shinobu Kocho's slender body without resistance—entering from her back and exiting through her chest!
Scalding, torrential blood instantly soaked her tattered butterfly-patterned haori, streaming down Maito's arm and dripping onto the charred ground, forming a horrifying pool of dark crimson blood.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Yuichiro's scream caught in his throat.
Lee, who had rushed over mid-air, froze in place.
Even Maito's face twisted in clear shock.
...
On a dim path, Shinichi suddenly halted his steps, pressing a hand to his chest in confusion.
"Why... does it hurt?"
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NOOOO SHINOBUUUUUUUUUU
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