"Senju… what a strange name…"
Tanjiro murmured to himself, thinking about the name. He couldn't figure out where he'd heard it before. But now, there was no time to think.
He adjusted his breathing, dragging his tired body forward, and glanced back at me.
The giant demon had been blasted into pieces by the explosion. Its body was a twisted, unrecognizable mess, mud and debris everywhere. Only a bloodshot head remained, trembling and snarling.
"Damn you… you actually made me… look so weak! I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!"
Tanjiro froze, staring in disbelief. He hadn't even lasted a few seconds against that thing before—one punch had broken several of his bones. And now, in this state, it was still roaring with pride?
My voice rang out, calm and mocking.
"Wow, didn't quite finish you off. You'll have to get stronger next time."
The demon growled, frustrated, and shouted again.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you all! Every last human here!"
Then, without warning, its head sank into the ground, as if merging with it. I tilted my head, walking around in mild curiosity.
"Ha… ran off after all that noise. Typical."
Crack! Boom… boom… boom!
The ground beneath my feet split open. I jumped back, dragging Tanjiro with me. I tossed him safely under a tree and leapt to a high perch to watch.
"Blood Demon Art: Fusion!"
A loud, piercing sound echoed from underground. The cracked earth and broken trees began merging together. Slowly, a massive humanoid demon formed, towering over the battlefield.
"Thought he ran off? Good… now this'll be fun."
The demon's body, made of earth and wood, solidified. Its head turned toward me, eyes snapping open.
"Hehehe… I'll kill you…"
I smiled mockingly and made a friendly wave.
"Come on, hit me. Don't hold back, idiot."
The demon didn't understand my words, but it could sense the taunt. Its anger flared.
Its body hardened, forming four massive fists like spider legs, and it swung wildly at me.
I dodged calmly, my movements smooth. At the same time, a red light enveloped Tanjiro, putting him to sleep from exhaustion.
The final selection had lasted seven grueling days. I couldn't blame him for collapsing.
I watched the demon's slow, lumbering attacks, lifting my hair to mock it.
"You've gotten stronger, but you've slowed down. At this pace, it'll take you 20,000 years to catch me!"
Then I straightened, bringing two fingers to my lips. Red light surged from my hands, enveloping my body. My eyes glowed deeper red, and a cruel smile spread across my lips.
"Blood Demon Art: Red Sun Strike!"
The giant demon froze, uneasy under my presence. After a moment, it attacked again.
This time, I didn't dodge. My expression… exhilarated, or maybe something darker.
Boom!
The impact shook Mount Fujixi, and the explosion woke Tanjiro. He blinked at the red glow surrounding me, confused, then looked toward the source of the sound.
Smoke cleared. I hovered high above, standing on the crimson light. Moonlight gleamed on my face, emotionless, as if I were a statue of iron, towering over everything. Below me, the demon was cut in half.
"What… you couldn't even last three seconds… pathetic!"
At that moment, I received a signal from Mingnu. I pressed my temples briefly, withdrew my hands, and looked down at the demon.
"Human time: Jiujing… Demon time: 'Source.' Cannibalism count: seventy-one. Blood Demon Art: Fusion…"
I spoke in a cold, detached voice. The demon trembled at my words, as if understanding them.
Then my voice grew colder.
"Eating over a hundred humans… really kills my interest. So…"
I gave a wicked smile and gestured toward its neck.
"Die!"
The demon named Senju had completely lost his arrogance. He remembered throwing that punch, seeing a strange red light blast away half his giant body—but it had lasted only a moment.
"Three seconds… no… less than one second… he uses Blood Demon Art… and he smells human… who is he?"
Fear was written all over him. I was like a god in the sky, and he was just an ant on the ground. There was no comparison between us.
After a moment, I decided to finish him. Leaving him alive would only cause problems later.
Red light flowed from my body, swirling, condensing, taking shape. Slowly, a half-bodied giant formed in the air above.
This wasn't a fusion like the demon's—it was a creation. Half of my giant was bigger than his entire body.
"Hmm… Spirit Avatar? Nah. Susanoo? Still doesn't fit… whatever. I'll think of a name later."
I made the giant open its mouth and locked its gaze on Senju. The red light from the giant's mouth concentrated into a massive energy sphere.
"What… is that?"
Tanjiro, nearby, stared up in shock. He couldn't look at the demon—his eyes were fixed on me.
Tanjiro's strength was gone. He leaned on his sword for support, blood trickling from his mouth, his body trembling with exhaustion. Even breathing hurt.
"Impressive," I murmured. "Even from this distance, I can feel his fear."
The demon on the ground shivered, its body flooded with panic, dread, and terror. Its mind was blank, thinking only one thing:
"Escape!"
"I… can't die! My master… he's still waiting… he must be…"
I completed the convergence. My left hand retracted, my right pressed down, and a column of red light shot out from the giant's hair, rushing toward Senju like an unstoppable wave.
"Curse you!"
My cold voice echoed in his ears, freezing him in place. He tried to flee, but the light followed him, perfectly locked on.
"Impossible…!"
Senju cursed as he ran, only to see Tanjiro in his path.
"Hehehe… if I die, I'll take someone with me!"
Tanjiro braced himself with his sword, helpless but determined.
"I'm sorry… Nezuko… Master Yoriichi…"
Senju reached them, ready to die along with Tanjiro. But just as the red light was about to strike, it vanished—only a hair's breadth from impact. Both Tanjiro and Senju looked up, confused.
I had taken the full force of the backlash. Blood poured from my mouth, and I fell from the sky.
Senju, surprised, abandoned Tanjiro to chase me. He rushed forward, claws raised, but I had already braced myself, half-crouched, recovering.
Puff!
The strike passed harmlessly through me—Tanjiro had taken the blow.
"Mr. Fan… I'm… sorry…" Tanjiro gasped, clutching the demon's hands with all his strength.
"You'll die eventually… if you want to go first, fine!"
The demon shook him off, unaware I had stood again. Red light gathered in my hands.
"What… what did you—"
I struck Senju with claws formed of concentrated red light. Flames erupted, and a tiny voice called out:
"Breath of the Sun: Sixth Form—Burning Bones and Sun!"
A fiery figure slashed through the air, slicing at supersonic speed. Senju's head was severed before he even realized it, exploding into fragments with the infusion of red light.
His soul appeared, ugly and twisted, hovering in the air. I focused my gaze, claws glowing red.
"You don't deserve hell… you don't deserve to be reborn."
I slashed through his soul. Pain flickered across his face, silent, and then he vanished entirely.
I had recovered my strength. Demons healed fast; I was at full power again. I moved to Tanjiro's side, where Yoriichi stood, looking worried. He was holding Tanjiro gently, unsure how to help him.
"The Bramiya clan has ended… no descendants to continue their shape-shifting… Muzan Kibutsuji."
"Yes," I said, cold and detached.
Yoriichi's gaze was distant, lost in the worry for his apprentice. Tanjiro stirred, weak but alive.
"Thank… you," he murmured.
I smiled faintly. "A human from the Demon Slayer Corps thanking the Demon King… people would laugh if they heard it."
I checked Tanjiro's breathing. "He's alive. We can save him."
Yoriichi looked relieved. "Really?"
"Yes," I said. I closed my eyes, releasing the red light from my body. My form reverted, hair disheveled, exhaustion evident. Blood dripped from my mouth.
"...Ahem… backlash and recovery… really unpleasant…"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine… mostly. Just… don't look at me like I'm human right now."
I laid my hand on Tanjiro's forehead.
"Blood Demon Art—Red Sun Healing."
With that, Tanjiro's injuries began to mend. I turned to Yoriichi.
"If nothing else happens, I'll leave first."
He grabbed my hand before I could move. "Next time I see you… I won't let you go so easily."
Before I could respond, exhaustion overtook me. Yoriichi caught me, holding me like a child. Tanjiro woke fully, realizing he had survived.
"Master Yoriichi… why are you here? And… where's Mr. Fan?"
"He's fine," Yoriichi said. "The final day of the Tengxi Mountain trial isn't over yet. Let's go."
Tanjiro nodded, trusting his master. I was tired, but unharmed. As Yoriichi carried me, I felt… strangely at peace, as if I could stay like this forever.