Chapter 19 – Fighting the Demon
After leaving the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, Hikaru also left behind the quiet traces of life in those remote mountains.
But unlike when he first arrived, this time—he returned as someone entirely different.
Stronger in body. Sharper in perception.
He had surpassed his former self.
And so, though he took his time on the journey, a distance that once took an entire day to cross now only took a few hours.
Only now did he truly understand just how vast the gap was between an ordinary swordsman and a Hashira who had mastered Total Concentration Breathing: Constant.
He also realized just how slow Giyu Tomioka had been that day—barely moving at even half of his real speed.
— — —
A forest.
A river.
Moonlight shimmered upon the gently flowing water, forming patterns like glistening scales as it drifted toward the horizon.
Hikaru strolled along the riverbank, unhurried.
This time, he had no specific destination in mind.
He simply wanted to explore this world—sharpen his skills, train his body, and chase after something greater.
The night deepened.
Crickets sang in harmony with the rustling leaves. And amid that symphony of silence, Hikaru's footsteps moved in rhythm with the pulse of nature.
The cool night air brushed against his face.
The distant hills, the moon's reflection upon the river's surface—it all filled him with a deep, calming stillness.
This world… felt real.
And under the moonlight, his figure melted into the shadows. A silhouette half-real, flickering like a phantom.
Inhale… exhale…
Void Breathing.
Flowing like mist, vanishing like smoke.
Then—
"Help… please… help!"
A voice pierced the stillness of night.
Hikaru stopped in his tracks.
His hand instinctively moved toward his blade. Fingers curled around the hilt.
— — —
Elsewhere in the woods, a man ran with everything he had.
His breath came out ragged, his steps stumbling through the underbrush. The cold night air bit at his skin, and his footfalls echoed through the trees.
Behind him—he could feel it.
An overwhelming danger, closing in.
He didn't need to look.
Something deadly was chasing him.
The wind rushed past, and from between the trees, a dark shape lunged forward—like a shadowy bolt of lightning.
"Run, run… I love it when my prey squirms before I devour them!"
A guttural voice slithered through the branches, malicious and gleeful.
Two glowing red eyes flashed in the dark—burning with bloodlust.
The man being chased was just a simple hunter. He had ventured too deep into the woods, and night had fallen before he could return.
Now, he was trapped.
And the thing chasing him…
…was a demon.
For humans, facing such a creature only led to one possible end.
And then—it happened.
Maybe out of fear, maybe from exhaustion.
His foot caught on a root. He tripped.
He fell to the ground.
His mind went blank.
His heart stopped.
"Game's over, little prey."
The demon lunged forward, claws raised to strike. Grass scattered. Tree branches whipped wildly.
Its red eyes gleamed, and the air split under the force of its attack.
Death was just inches away.
I'm… going to die?!
"Help…!"
A desperate cry left the hunter's lips.
Even though he knew it was useless.
No one would be out here. Not this far in the wilderness.
But still—he didn't want to die.
He wanted to live.
He shut his eyes tightly, body trembling as he braced for the end.
But instead of the pain…
There was a sharp sound.
Not a scream—
—but the clash of steel.
The hunter opened his eyes.
And he saw him.
A figure stood between him and the demon.
His black haori fluttered in the wind. Under the moonlight, his silhouette shimmered like something out of a dream.
He was slender, calm—his hand gripped a translucent blade, holding back the demon's claws with a single elegant stroke.
In one fluid movement, his wrist twisted, and the blade drew a near-invisible arc through the air—aimed directly for the demon's throat.
The demon's eyes widened. It kicked off the ground, barely escaping the lethal strike.
"…What?"
It landed, snarling as it stared at Hikaru from behind glowing red pupils. Its body trembled slightly.
No mistake.
This one—was a Demon Slayer.
And not just any Slayer.
"Get out of here," Hikaru said softly, eyes still locked on the demon. "Now."
"Y-Yessir! Thank you!"
Snapping out of his fear, the hunter scrambled to his feet and ran, legs trembling, as fast and far as he could.
"You dare… steal my meal…!"
The demon growled, veins bulging across its monstrous face. "How dare you get in my way!"
"You're a demon, right?"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow and smiled calmly.
This was the second time he'd faced a demon directly.
But unlike the first time…
There was no fear in his heart.
He had once been just an ordinary human—timid and unsure.
But now, in front of this thing—
He was the hunter.
This would be a perfect test for Void Breathing.
"To hell with it—I'll just eat you instead!"
The demon charged.
Its claws slashed through the air with deadly speed, aimed straight at Hikaru's chest.
But instead of dodging—
Hikaru stepped forward.
His blade moved.
Moonlight danced across the translucent edge, drawing a trail of light in the air—sharp and swift like a falling star.
Hikaru-Style—a technique that relied on pure speed.
The demon had no time to dodge midair.
No way to escape.
But—
The strike passed through harmlessly.
The demon vanished—scattering into shadows.
A fake.
Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
Then, from beneath the earth—
The ground trembled, and from the swirling dust, a pair of claws burst upward and seized his leg!
"Ha! Got you, little Slayer!"
"Your blood… will make me even stronger!"
The demon emerged from the ground, eyes glowing with hatred and glee.
The battle between demons and slayers had raged for centuries. Demons hated them, feared them—and hunted them in return.
From the moment it saw Hikaru, this demon knew: this wasn't an ordinary opponent.
But it wasn't ordinary either. It had devoured many humans, and with that came a Blood Demon Art—the power to create shadow illusions that confused the senses, while its true body hid beneath the earth.
And now—
Its claws sank into Hikaru's body—blood splattered.
But…
That smell…
Was it… wood?
The demon's eyes widened.
Hikaru's form shifted.
And in its hands—
Was a tree trunk.
"What?!"
Its claws were stuck. It couldn't move!
Panic set in.
Then—
A glint of silver pierced the night.
A cold line of light sliced through its neck.
Warm blood sprayed.
A scream tore through the forest.
The demon's body spasmed—then collapsed.
Gone.
— — —
With a clean motion, Hikaru sheathed his blade.
His black haori fluttered in the evening wind.
He looked down at the demon's body, now limp and entangled by tree roots—slowly crumbling to ash.
"When it comes to illusions… you'll never beat me."
His words were calm—spoken to a foe that could no longer hear.
He had seen through the trick from the very beginning.
And in return, he laid a trap of his own.
Using Void Breathing: Mirror Flower, Water Moon, he cast an illusion over himself.
Which was real?
Which was false?
Some might have been able to tell.
But clearly…
…not this demon.
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