"Why does such a terrifying human exist? His strength… it's even greater than before."
Gyokko didn't even need to touch the ground to realize his back was drenched in sweat—despite not wearing clothes. The sheer pressure in the air was unbearable, suffocating, and familiar. It was as if the ghost king, Kibutsuji Muzan himself, stood right before him.
Even the dust in the air had been pressed to the ground by this immense pressure.
James stood with his sword held horizontally before him, his cold eyes gleaming with silent intensity. A deep, ocean-like energy churned within his body, flowing steadily into his blade. His lungs expanded slowly, rhythmically, drawing in breath with precise control.
It's coming.
"Sound Breathing – Airstrike!"
He swung the blade.
It wasn't the edge of the sword that struck first—but the raw speed of the swing itself. James held his blade flat and slashed horizontally with incredible power, displacing all the air in front of him in a single motion. The violent compression created a vacuum in an instant.
Too fast. Far too fast! The blade broke the sound barrier. The rapidly compressed air around it created massive shockwaves that rippled on both sides of the blade, sending up powerful gusts of energy.
BOOM!!!
A deafening sonic boom tore through the air like thunder from the heavens. The entire clearing was swallowed in dust. Trees around the blast zone toppled outward, and a roaring explosion swept through the forest like a raging typhoon, radiating in every direction.
The sheer noise was overwhelming.
But Gyokko had anticipated this. Long before James swung his blade, he had retreated into one of his pots and was now moving rapidly between them, warping from one to another with desperate speed.
He had no faith in his ability to dodge James' attack. Preemptive action was his only option.
Still, blood poured from his ears. The sonic boom had ruptured his eardrums. But for a demon, that kind of injury was trivial. It would heal quickly.
"Why would he use such an attack?" Gyokko muttered inside the pot buried in the soil. "That kind of move is wasteful... excessive."
Then realization dawned.
"No, wait. This wasn't meant for me. This… this is a warning to the Demon Slayer Corps."
He scowled, clearly disturbed.
"If Hantengu fails to complete Lord Muzan's mission, then... if we return empty-handed..."
He paused. A chill crept through his spine.
"No. That's not the problem anymore. The real question is—can I even make it out alive?"
James stood above him. Gyokko could feel it. The presence was too overwhelming.
James narrowed his eyes, sensing Gyokko's presence below the surface. "Hiding, are you?" he muttered coldly. "Like a rat underground."
He raised his foot—and stomped.
The earth cracked under the force, spiderweb-like fissures spreading outward. The pot beneath his foot shattered into powder, reduced to dust by sheer pressure.
---
Meanwhile, in the distance, the Swordsmith Village felt the consequences of James' attack.
A tremendous shockwave had swept through the village, blowing out paper windows, shaking wooden frames, and sending tools clattering to the ground. Everyone—from villagers to swordsmiths—was stunned.
In Muichirou's bedroom, Tanjirou and the others were chatting when the sound hit them. The room trembled. Tanjirou immediately jumped to his feet, eyes wide.
"That sound—was that... James?"
Before Muichirou could dash outside, Tanjirou grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait, Tokitou. James left me a secret note before this. I think he was referring to this exact moment."
"Me too," Muichirou replied, pulling out a small brocade pouch.
He opened it and took out a folded note.
> "No need to come over. There are demons in the village. Evacuate the swordsmiths and focus on the breakthrough."
Tanjirou compared it with his own note. The messages matched exactly.
They exchanged looks—and nodded. James could be trusted. For now, they would follow his instructions.
But before they could act, a dry, skeletal hand slowly emerged from the edge of the door. A suffocating miasma poured in—along with terrifying pressure that screamed: Upper-Rank Demon!
Tanjirou's pupils shrank. Time seemed to slow.
His hand reached for the hilt of his blade—but Muichirou moved first.
"Mist Breathing – Fourth Form: Shifting Flow Slash."
A dense mist filled the room. From within it, Muichirou dashed out like a phantom, blade cutting in a swift arc, heading straight for the demon's neck.
But the strike missed.
The demon—Hantengu—was now clinging to the ceiling, sobbing in fear like a terrified child.
Tanjirou didn't hesitate.
"Hinokami Kagura – Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!"
Flames surged around him as he lunged upward, Nichirin Blades in both hands, aiming for Hantengu.
But again, he vanished.
Before the blow could land, Hantengu was gone—now on the ground, curled in fear, trembling violently.
Muichirou reacted instantly. His blade flashed—and a head flew into the air.
"Be careful!" Tanjirou shouted. "Even if you cut off an Upper Moon's head, it doesn't mean they'll die!"
As he finished speaking, Hantengu's headless body began regenerating. The flying head did the same—forming a second demon.
"It… split into two?" Tanjirou gasped.
Muichirou launched himself forward again, blade ready for a horizontal slash—but one of the new demons raised a fan and waved it gently.
WHOOSH!!
A massive gust of wind blasted Muichirou backward, launching him out of the attic and into the air.
Tanjirou held on to a broken beam, barely avoiding the gale that threatened to send him flying.
"What are these things? They're... unbelievably powerful."
"They're just one left. Get rid of him quickly."
Two demons stood before him—one holding a cane, the other a fan. The word "Anger" was carved into the tongue of the cane demon, while "Joy" was written on the one with the fan.
These were **Hantengu's clones—**Jinu and Kole.
Before Kole could strike again, a gunshot rang out.
BOOM!
Kole's body burst apart. Standing in the hallway, Genya cocked his shotgun again, reloading quickly.
"You two are Upper Moons, right?" he snarled. "If I kill you, I can finally become a Pillar!"
"Genya! Be careful! They'll split again!" Tanjirou warned.
"Ha?"
As Kole's scattered flesh wriggled and pulsed, it reformed—this time creating two more demons. One with wings and another wielding a spear.
The new demons bore the words "Sorrow" and "Pleasure" on their tongues. They were Kongshi and Aijuu—Hantengu's other two clones.
Jinu raised his cane, crackling with energy, and fired a bolt of lightning straight at Genya.
ZAP!
He didn't have time to dodge. The electricity hit him squarely in the chest, convulsing his body. Before he could even scream, Aijuu appeared in a blur and thrust the spear into Genya's side.
"Genya!" Tanjirou cried.
He dashed forward—but didn't attack Aijuu.
Instead, he targeted Jinu.
But Kongshi swooped down in front of him, claws extended.
"Interesting. Very interesting!" Kongshi cackled, slashing at Tanjirou's chest and leaving deep wounds.
"Shut up and finish them off already!" Jinu snapped.
He turned his cane back toward Genya, zapping him again with another bolt of lightning. Genya screamed.
"GENYA!"
Tanjirou rolled out of the way of Kongshi's next attack, his eyes now bloodshot with fury. He bent his knees, breathing heavily, focusing deeply.
Just like Zenitsu taught me…
Focus. Focus.
The breath moved to his feet. A flash of energy pulsed.
"Thunder Breathing – First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
A trail of lightning followed him as Tanjirou surged forward. In a flash, he appeared in front of Jinu. He could see the emotion in Jinu's eyes—pure rage.
Now! Switch forms!
"Hinokami Kagura – First Form: Dance!"
A massive arc of fire blazed across the battlefield as Tanjirou's blade cleaved through Jinu and his cane—cutting both in half.
The tide of battle was turning.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)