Guidance, Guidance!

In an instant, crimson-gold arcs, like agile little snakes, swiftly coiled around Hiruma's body, winding upwards. These arcs flashed with dazzling brilliance, as if intent on consuming him.

At the same time, cracks began to appear in the ground beneath Hiruma's feet, spreading like a spiderweb.

Following this, layer upon layer of invisible ripples expanded from his feet, forming a massive wave of energy.

He was like a crimson-gold meteor, carving a perfectly straight line across the earth.

The sword moved like a dance, thunder rumbled, and all was silent.

Beneath the pitch-black night sky, the crimson-gold blade wind condensed into a Thunder Kirin. The Kirin bit down, beheading ten demons in succession.

The entire Mount Fujikasane, save for the Hand Demon who might require a couple more chops, was no match for Hiruma, falling in a single move.

His haori was burned to ash by the intense heat, with lingering embers like scattered starlight.

Sabito's jaw hung wide open. How is this guy so strong? Beyond imagining.

Immediately, he broke into a wide grin and declared loudly, "Hiruma, with you in the Demon Slayer Corps, I love it!"

Hiruma looked back and smiled. Amidst Sabito's bewildered expression, he grabbed his arms, swung him around, and tossed Sabito away.

"You, rabbit-thief, it's decided! Go finish him!"

"No need to tell me, hahaha!"

Sabito gripped his sword hilt, took a deep breath, and facing the thick, meteor-like arms, his fighting spirit surged.

In an instant, his sword light transformed into a vast, icy downpour, falling all around.

Water Breathing, Sixth Form, Twisting Whirlpool.

The grand water vortex, like a mixer at full power, scattered the Hand Demon's arms across the ground.

Sabito stepped on a severed arm and leaped higher.

"No, no, no!"

"Die, die, die!"

"Damn Urokodaki, damn the Fox Mask, I can't die!"

The Hand Demon let out a roar of unwillingness, fleeing frantically while attacking Sabito, but it was all in vain.

Sabito landed, like an unstoppable mountain flood, advancing fearlessly into the rain of blood.

Under the moonlight, eleven young boys and girls, wielding Nichirin Blades, appeared behind Sabito, all around his age.

Eleven swords layered upon each other until the eleven swords merged with Sabito's own.

Water Breathing, Tenth Form, Flowing Water.

As for Sabito's own contribution, Flowing Water twisted to the twelfth layer.

Carrying the will of his senior disciples, he severed the Hand Demon's neck, and its monstrous, bloated body, the size of a small hill, collapsed with a crash.

Sabito had his revenge.

He leaped up quickly, snatched the mementos of his senior disciples, and held them close like precious treasures.

At this moment, his heart was at peace, and the curse of Urokodaki's lineage was severed.

"Urokodaki, I hate you!"

"Urokodaki, I hate you!"

"Urokodaki..."

Amidst the Hand Demon's endless resentment, it turned to ash and blew away in the wind.

With the battle over, Sabito ran towards Giyu and was relieved to find him merely asleep.

He carefully wrapped the eleven broken, blood-stained masks in his haori; it was time to take them home.

Having finished everything, Sabito bowed deeply to Hiruma, as Hiruma had helped him immensely.

"Hiruma, if you need anything, I will spare no effort!" Sabito said frankly, practically ready to go through fire and water for Hiruma.

"No, no, no, we're buddies, it's nothing!" Hiruma couldn't stand such formality and waved his hands frantically.

Hearing this, Sabito smiled calmly and replied sincerely, "I'm very happy to have a friend like you!"

"You're welcome to visit Mount Sagiri anytime!"

He extended his hand, and Hiruma grasped it without hesitation.

Friendship between men is that simple.

"Oh, right!" Letting go of Hiruma's hand, Sabito took off the Disaster Averting Mask and hung it on the side of Hiruma's head. "Hiruma, this is a Disaster Averting Mask that Master carved for me himself. It's for you, hehehe!"

Hiruma's mouth twitched. It was truly a disaster-averting fox mask now, but before, it was just a magnet for disaster.

Since there were two injured individuals, Hiruma and Sabito started a campfire and gnawed on their hard, dry rations.

"Ahhh!"

"I really want to eat meat!"

"These dry rations just don't fill me up!" Hiruma cried out in pain. He was eating Murata's rations; he had already finished his own.

"Hiruma, didn't you just eat half a pig the day before yesterday?" Sabito asked, handing Hiruma some dried food from his bundle, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Why do you think Iguro Obanai calls me a glutton every day?" His eyes lit up as he looked at the dried food Sabito offered.

Sabito tilted his head in confusion. Wasn't "glutton" an insult?

Why was Hiruma so proud?

"Senior Brother, if that's not enough, I have more here!" Murata's eyes gleamed with the admiration of a young fan. He offered his own bundle, which contained wild fruits he had gathered.

"You two are truly the best people, I'm so touched, sob sob sob! ?????????"

For Hiruma, who was in a state of hunger, anyone who provided food was a good person.

After eating, Hiruma volunteered to take the first watch, and the other two, exhausted, quickly fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Hiruma suddenly needed to urinate and hurried into the bushes.

"Ah~"

"So refreshing~"

Only those experiencing urgent need truly understood the relief and comfort of relieving oneself.

However, halfway through, he heard two faint words.

"Thank you!"

Hiruma mechanically turned his head, his face etched with terror.

"Giyu, I'm peeing! (′-ι_-｀)"

"Sorry, I thought you were admiring the scenery!" Giyu said with a cold expression and a flat tone.

Hiruma stared blankly at the dark forest in front of him. He had never felt so speechless in his life.

Who in their right mind would stand in a bush in the middle of the night to admire darkness!

Giyu's thought process... sigh!

"I say, why haven't you left yet? I'm still peeing!"

"Oh!"

"I need to thank you for your blood. Although it tasted a bit strange, are you sick?"

Giyu walked unhurriedly towards the bonfire, leaving Hiruma alone and bewildered in the wind.

What the heck... strange... sick?!

What is all this about! (?｀⊿′)?

Don't get angry, don't get angry, Giyu is a good boy.

Calming himself, Hiruma sat down next to Giyu.

"Thank you!" Giyu said for the third time. Seeing that Hiruma hadn't responded, he felt his gratitude wasn't sincere enough.

Hiruma waved his hand and said, "I know!"

"Let's chat!"

"Mm!" Giyu nodded. Hiruma's status in his heart had silently risen to that of a super good person. In his eyes, anyone who approached him first was a good person, let alone someone who had saved him.

"I know standing up for a friend is a sign of a true man, but you can't forget to cherish your own life!"

"I don't care. Sabito is stronger than me. He'll achieve more if he's alive!"

"Besides, someone like me..." Giyu stopped mid-sentence. He didn't continue with "someone like me should just die."

This was because Sabito had slapped him for saying such disheartening things and threatened to disown him if he ever said it again.

"Do you want to hear about me? I haven't even had parents since I was born..."

Before Hiruma could finish, Giyu's gentle voice interrupted.

"My condolences!"

Hiruma: "???"

He felt that before he could even try to guide Giyu, he would die of frustration.