Hantengu ran fast—faster than anyone had expected.
But his speed wasn't just physical; it was rooted deep in his twisted personality.
He was a liar by nature, always twisting the truth, manipulating the facts to paint himself as a victim. In his own mind, no one was more pitiful than he was. Everyone else was cruel, unjust, a villain targeting him. His life was a tragic tale, but the only one who believed it was himself.
The truth was much darker.
Hantengu had always been a cruel man. He bullied the weak, lashed out when criticized, and took out his frustrations on his own family. Whenever he encountered consequences in the outside world, he would return home and murder his wife and children in cold blood. Again and again. An endless, disgusting cycle.
And then, he became a demon.
In an effort to protect himself, Hantengu had split into multiple personalities—each one a manifestation of his fractured psyche. While the clones embodied more aggressive traits, the original body remained cowardly, timid, and vile.
---
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
A streak of lightning surged forward. Tanjirou darted across the ground, rapidly closing the distance between him and the fleeing Hantengu.
Gunshots followed, thundering in the background as the dirt exploded beside the demon's path. It was Genya—covering from a distance, trying to box Hantengu in with well-aimed shots.
Closer!
Tanjirou surged forward, angling his body to minimize wind resistance, blade ready at his side.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance of the Fire God!"
Flames spiraled along his blade as he swung with full force toward Hantengu's neck.
Clang!
A jarring metallic sound echoed—and to his shock, Tanjirou's sword shattered on contact. Shards flew in all directions, one of them slicing a thin line across his cheek.
His neck is that hard?
From behind, Kanroji launched into action. Her pink ribbon-like Nichirin Blades whipped around Hantengu, coiling and tightening like living restraints. The blade squeezed with immense force. Hantengu's joints cracked and popped—but still, he didn't die.
Was this demon made of steel?
Tanjirou was weaponless now, and Kanroji's soft, flexible sword—though strong—could not pierce Hantengu's monstrous neck.
Suddenly, the demon's body swelled. Muscles bulged. His frame expanded until he towered over both of them, more beast than man. With a savage snarl, he lunged, grabbing Tanjirou by the throat and lifting him into the air, intent on strangling him.
But Kanroji was faster.
With a flash of pink light, her sword sliced through the demon's arms like paper. Blood splattered across Tanjirou's shoulder as Hantengu's limbs dropped to the ground.
You were too small for me to handle before, Kanroji thought. But now that you've grown—I can deal with you just fine.
Without hesitation, she slashed again.
In a single, clean motion, Hantengu's head was separated from his body.
"We did it, Tanjirou! We won!" Kanroji cheered, wrapping her arms around him in celebration.
But Tanjirou didn't share her excitement.
His nose twitched.
Something was off.
"Miss Kanroji—look out!"
---
Behind her, the severed head hadn't fallen. Hantengu's body moved—his claws lashed out to tear into Kanroji's exposed back.
Bang!
A shot rang out.
Hantengu flew backward with a gaping hole in his chest. Genya stood behind them, panting heavily, a shotgun in one hand and a sword in the other.
The effects of consuming demon flesh were fading. Akaza's strength was no longer flowing through Genya's body. He was returning to his normal self.
Genya handed the sword to Tanjirou, a strange expression on his face.
"Some weird old guy told me to give you this."
Tanjirou blinked, then smiled. "Mr. Tetsuzuka? Thank you, Genya."
He unsheathed the new Nichirin Blade, and a cold flash of steel caught the morning light. Its sleek black edge reflected a legacy—one that stretched back 300 years.
Perhaps this is fate, Tanjirou thought. A blade that has lasted centuries to end a curse that has lasted just as long.
"Nice sword," Genya muttered, a bit begrudgingly.
Tanjirou turned, now holding the blade with calm determination.
"Even if I can't see you clearly… I can sense where you are."
He approached the shrunken form of Hantengu—who was desperately crawling through the grass, trying to escape once again.
"You've spent your whole existence running. But now—it's time to face justice."
Tanjirou drove the blade down, pinning Hantengu to the earth.
The demon writhed, limbs flailing—but he was trapped.
Then…
A sliver of light peeked over the mountains.
The sun.
As dawn broke, its golden rays bathed the battlefield in warmth. The border between shadow and light passed over Tanjirou and his companions—then fell upon Hantengu.
Ssssssss—
Smoke rose. Hantengu screamed. His flesh burned. His shriveled body twisted violently as it was reduced to ash and cinders.
And just like that—the Upper Rank Four was gone.
---
James arrived moments later, still carrying Muichirou on his back.
Tanjirou turned to greet him with joy. "James! We—"
But then he stopped.
His eyes widened.
Behind James stood a familiar figure.
It was Nezuko—bathed in the sunlight.
Not little Nezuko. Not monstrous demon Nezuko. But a young girl, full of life. Her pink eyes shimmered with tears.
"…Nezuko?"
She nodded vigorously.
Tanjirou fell to his knees, overwhelmed with emotion.
The two siblings hugged tightly, crying in each other's arms. Kanroji sniffled beside them, hugging them both. Muichirou, though injured, smiled quietly.
James crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold. A rare, warm smile played across his lips.
---
Far away, deep within the Infinite Castle, Muzan trembled—not with rage, but with joy.
He had seen everything through Hantengu's eyes.
"Finally… finally!"
His voice echoed through the void like thunder.
"After hundreds of years… a demon immune to the sun has been born! If I devour her—then I… I…"
Muzan's laughter grew louder, more manic. It shook the walls of the Infinite Castle.
His plans were no longer theoretical. The key to conquering the sun was real—and her name was Nezuko.
---
Back on the battlefield, Hantengu's ashes scattered in the wind.
James showed no emotion. Hantengu had been a coward, a murderer, and a cannibal. There was no redemption in death for someone like him.
Of the Upper Six, only Akaza and Gyutaro had genuinely tragic pasts as humans. But once they had become demons, they had made their choices—and their humanity was long gone.
As for Nezuko…
James reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
He hadn't brought her here to provoke Muzan. That wasn't the plan. But when he returned to where she had been resting and saw her standing proudly under the sun—alive, glowing, smiling—he had been stunned.
In that moment, he made a decision.
Fate had brought her here. He would not resist it.
---
In the distance, villagers from the Swordsmith Village were rushing over—carrying stretchers, supplies, and medicine.
Tanjirou, still crying, suddenly felt lightheaded. He had pushed himself too hard. His vision blurred. A wave of exhaustion crashed over him.
And then—he collapsed.
"Brother!"
"Tanjirou!"
Nezuko and Kanroji panicked, clutching his unconscious body.
"Don't worry," James said, kneeling beside him. "He's just exhausted. He'll be fine."
He checked Tanjirou's pulse and smiled softly.
"Everyone worked hard today," he said. "And thanks to that—we won."
---
In a world where demons roamed the night and devoured the innocent, humans still stood tall.
Even in the face of death, they pushed forward.
They had lit this land with their courage for centuries. One generation after another—unbroken.
And tonight, their flame had not gone out.
---
Chief Kawahara Tetsujin, the elder of the Swordsmith Village, bowed deeply before James.
"If it weren't for you, the village would've been destroyed."
James shook his head and helped the old man up.
"No… If it weren't for the swordsmiths like you who've been forging Nichirin Blades all these years, we wouldn't have had any way to fight back. We're the ones who owe you."
Tetsujin's eyes filled with tears.
James smiled and waved it off. "No need to cry, old man. Let's just get everyone home."
With that, he turned and followed the others as they were carried away by the hidden troops.
The sun was shining.
A new chapter had begun.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)