Upper Rank Two, Douma

Moss covered the rotten, broken trees. Judging by how decayed they were, the village had likely been abandoned for a long time.

A red-eyed demon moved swiftly through the ruins, cursing nonstop under his breath.

"Of all things, I had to run into a Hashira. Damn it, what rotten luck!"

Just then, a gentle female voice called from behind him.

"Mr. Demon, could you please stop running? I'm here to help you put an end to your sins!"

"Fuck! Are you crazy? I don't want to die!"

The red-eyed demon found it strange. He had clearly shaken her off long ago, so how had she suddenly appeared again? The thought made him suck in a cold breath.

A Hashira-level fighter was truly terrifying!

Kanae Kocho leaped onto a fallen tree nearby, allowing her to close the distance faster.

When the red-eyed demon looked back, his whole body went cold. That Hashira had vanished again. Was she playing hide-and-seek with him? Damn it!

"Mr. Demon, I'm over here!"

The red-eyed demon looked in the direction of the voice and saw Kanae Kocho standing high above him, at a height from which she could leap straight in front of him. There was no escaping now. He would fight to the death! So what if she was a Hashira? What was so special about that?

But the red-eyed demon regretted that decision the very next moment. Kanae Kocho sprang into the air and unleashed Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach.

In an instant, pink petals filled the sky. Kanae Kocho looked like a fairy among flowers. Then she flipped sideways in midair, and a horizontal slash swept across the red-eyed demon's neck.

Amid the petals drifting around the Nichirin Blade, the red-eyed demon's body and head slowly turned to ash. As always, Kanae Kocho hoped he would be a good person in his next life.

Kanae Kocho sheathed her blade and headed into the distance. I can finally go home. I've been on missions for several days straight. Why have demons been so active lately?

Just as Kanae Kocho reached the village entrance, a man approached her from another direction.

The man muttered softly, "Where am I? Why did I get lost?"

They soon drew close. Kanae Kocho had initially thought he was merely someone who had lost his way, but when he raised his head, she finally saw his full appearance.

The man had rainbow-colored eyes and pure white hair like bleached oak. His face was deathly pale.

He wore a red top with a black collar. There was a blood-soaked-looking patch on his head, its black edges spreading outward.

Kanae Kocho tensed up and instantly drew her Nichirin Blade. Years of combat experience made her feel afraid, because the man before her was a demon—and no ordinary demon.

The irises of his left and right eyes bore the characters "Upper Moon" and "Two" respectively. He was Upper Rank Two, Douma.

A pervert with no emotional fluctuations who enjoyed eating women, a terrifying existence second only to Scum Boss and Upper Rank One.

Douma noticed Kanae Kocho as well. He froze for a moment before sighing in admiration. "What a beautiful girl!"

Douma's pathetic drool nearly flowed from his mouth. Over the past few centuries, he had seen every kind of girl, but this one was absolutely top-tier. Her flavor surely would not disappoint.

"May I ask the beautiful young lady's name?"

"Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho!"

"Oh! So you're a Hashira. Your name is as beautiful as you are!"

"I didn't expect Mr. Demon to be such a smooth talker." Kanae stared at Douma with vigilant eyes.

"Right, it's time for me to introduce myself!"

"Upper Rank Two, Douma. I like eating pretty girls!"

Douma wore a gentle smile the entire time, but it was the only expression he ever had. Kanae Kocho felt that his smile was utterly fake.

"Oh, and I'm different from those lowly demons. Saving humanity is my mission. If I eat humans completely, from blood to flesh, leaving nothing behind, they can achieve immortality with me. Then I can guide them toward salvation!"

"Don't you think I'm amazing, Miss Kanae?"

"Of course not!"

Kanae had no desire to listen to Douma's grand speeches any longer. She immediately used Flower Breathing, Second Form: Misty Plum. Four curved slashes shot toward Douma in an instant, their paths as unpredictable as plum blossoms.

Douma calmly pulled out two golden Iron Fans, their surfaces engraved with pinkish-purple lotuses and green lotus leaves.

Facing the incoming sword technique, Douma swung the Pair of Fans. Lotus-shaped ice crystals appeared alongside them, instantly shattering the four blade strikes.

Still, Douma's cheek was cut. It healed in an instant, but he still touched his face. After all, it had been many years since a human had managed to injure him.

Kanae Kocho instantly rushed before Douma and unleashed Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo, but several vines entwined with ice lotuses suddenly appeared around Douma.

The vines not only blocked her attack but also trapped Kanae Kocho. This was Douma's Blood Demon Art: Winding Lotus.

But Kanae reacted quickly as well. After several slashes, the ice vines shattered, and she swung her blade straight at Douma's neck.

However, Douma blocked it with his arm. What he had not expected was that the Nichirin Blade would sever his arm outright. Though it regrew instantly, the blade had already reached his neck.

Left with no choice, Douma used Blood Demon Art: Scattering Lotus. Countless icy lotus petals drifted toward Kanae Kocho like sharp blades.

Her Nichirin Blade was knocked aside, and Kanae Kocho was forced to retreat. Even so, many small cuts appeared across her body.

As expected of an Upper Moon. She had already moved at her fastest speed, yet he still defended and attacked without the slightest hurry. Fortunately, she had already sent her Kasugai Crow to deliver the message.

Douma raised one hand toward Kanae Kocho. Dense Ice Cones then appeared above her head. As Douma lowered his hand, countless ice cones fell from the sky, pelting Kanae Kocho like raindrops.

Kanae Kocho could only dodge and block at the same time, barely evading the Ice Cones. Douma suddenly began to clap.

"Miss Kanae is amazing! You actually dodged my Blood Demon Art: Winter Chill Pillars!"

"That only makes me want to save you more. Don't you want to achieve immortality with me?"

"Mr. Douma, I have no such intention!" Kanae Kocho refused without hesitation.

"Oh my! What a pity. You humans truly are such pitiful creatures!"

Then Douma flashed before Kanae Kocho and unleashed Blood Demon Art: Withered Garden Falling Snow, rapidly swinging the Pair of Fans.

Ice crystals drifted continuously through the air. Kanae Kocho could only barely withstand his attacks, while the temperature around them rapidly dropped. Under the silent night sky, only the clash of metal could be heard.

Suddenly, Douma swept out with a heavy strike. Kanae's Nichirin Blade was knocked away, and Douma drove a fist into her abdomen.

The tremendous impact sent Kanae flying, and her entire body crashed into a rotten tree.

Watching the beauty disappear from sight, Douma said, "Oh dear! I hit her too hard. If she dies, she won't be fresh anymore!"