Starting with Demon Slayer, Forging the Strongest Demonic Blade!

"Ashura Maru, I need strength! Nezuko and the others are still waiting for me. I can't lose yet..."

"You really want to save them that badly?"

"They're my companions, my family! I have to save them!" Tanjiro replied resolutely, though his hand kept unconsciously pressing against his chest.

Lin Fan sensed Tanjiro's unwavering resolve, but still dealt him a blow.

"But your strength alone isn't enough. That demon's claws pierced your heart just now. You're already on the brink of death.

Even I can't Heal you immediately. Looks like it's over."

Hearing that, Tanjiro fell to his knees in despair. "Is there really no way?"

In response, Lin Fan pushed off the sword hilt and slowly drifted down before Tanjiro, leaning close to his ear.

"There is a way, though. As long as you can fully accept my power."

"Really?"

Like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline, the spark called hope ignited once more, driving away the despair in Tanjiro's heart.

But Lin Fan's next words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over him.

"Of course. But taking on my power comes with certain side effects. In your current condition, you'll lose your mind within three minutes and become a true demon."

"A demon? Could it be..."

Tanjiro had a vague, unpleasant suspicion.

Lin Fan retorted irritably.

"What nonsense are you thinking? The demon I mean isn't the same kind as those things outside."

Lin Fan stepped back a few paces, turned toward the endless expanse, and spoke to himself.

"You want to become stronger without making any sacrifices? Even I can't do that. Tanjiro, do you have the courage to bear becoming a demon for the sake of others?"

Faced with that question, Tanjiro suddenly calmed down. He gave Lin Fan a brilliant smile, his tone firm yet strangely relaxed.

"Whether it's revenge or protection, I need strength. I want to protect Nezuko, protect Zenitsu, protect everything!

That's right. I need strength, even if I become a demon!

So give me your power, Ashura Maru!"

Hearing that, Lin Fan turned around and met Tanjiro's gaze with scarlet eyes.

Then Lin Fan suddenly laughed.

"As expected, you're already broken. For the sake of protecting others, you no longer care what happens to yourself?

Ha, I really can't do anything with you.

You greedy bastard... Fine, have it your way!" Lin Fan said, turning and driving a right palm straight through Tanjiro's chest.

"Wake up, Kamado Tanjiro! Go raise hell!"

"Thank you, Ashura Maru!"

Meanwhile.

Outside.

Zenitsu hurried over to Tanjiro and pulled away the debris piled atop him, only to see the horrific, gaping wounds piercing both sides of his chest.

Tanjiro had already fallen unconscious. He was barely breathing, hanging by a thread at death's door.

He could die at any moment.

"Tanjiro, are you... okay...?"

Zenitsu's body began trembling uncontrollably once again, his expression looking utterly bizarre.

If Lin Fan had to say it—

This guy had been born with a bizarre constitution!

Fortunately, he still had a little reason left. He glanced at Inosuke, who had been buried beneath the rubble after smashing through the wall. He was probably badly injured too, unable to move.

That meant the only ones who could still fight were Zenitsu and that old woman.

But as Kamanue drew closer, Zenitsu felt fear welling up from the depths of his heart. He gripped his sword tightly and frantically tried to encourage himself.

You can do this, Zenitsu. You still need to get married, so you absolutely can't die here!

When Kamanue saw Zenitsu trembling and twitching all over, it nearly burst out laughing.

"You're this terrified, yet you still want to fight me for your companions? What deeply moving friendship. But unfortunately, it's all futile.

You heinous criminals will die in agony!

You should thank me. I'm the one erasing your sinful lives!"

Zenitsu's expression twitched even more at those words, but under such extreme fear, his mind became exceptionally sharp.

He turned his head.

"No, no, no... I can't beat it, I definitely can't beat it... I'll die here, but I haven't gotten married yet, I can't die here..."

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he hurriedly said,

"Um, Ashura... Maru, could you please hurry up and Heal Tanjiro? If you can't, could you at least help me out?"

Unfortunately, there was no response at all.

But that sight only made Kamanue sneer.

"You're actually talking to a sword? Have you been frightened out of your mind? Are you about to go insane?"

As it spoke, it was already nearing the corridor.

Zenitsu's hands shook violently around his sword, but when he saw Nezuko running toward them as well, he unexpectedly hardened his resolve.

"If I die, I die! But if we make it out alive, Tanjiro, you have to grant my wish!"

With that, he raised his sword and prepared to charge forward.

But Nezuko rushed out first. The gap in their strength was simply too great, and one swipe of Kamanue's claws tore off her arm before sending her flying.

At the sight, Zenitsu fainted from fright.

Kamanue licked the blood from its claws and said doubtfully, "This demon feels somewhat different from us. Forget it, I won't kill her yet. Maybe I should bring her back for that lord..."

But when it turned around and saw that Zenitsu had actually fainted from fear, it nearly laughed out loud.

Why would the Demon Slayer Corps even accept someone like this? Were they so short on people?

But in the next moment.

The unconscious Zenitsu abruptly stood up, holding his sword in one hand as he assumed a stance. His aura steadily climbed.

"Oh? You want to come at me head-on?"

Kamanue still didn't take him seriously. The difference in strength was plain to see.

Until Zenitsu drew his blade.

Thunder Breathing—First Form—Thunderclap and Flash!

His body turned into lightning as his blade flashed.

It struck Kamanue's neck with perfect precision, but failed to harm it in the slightest.

"Not bad speed. Terrible power."

With that, it punched Zenitsu away, sending him skidding across the ground.

The moment he came to a stop, Zenitsu coughed up a mouthful of blood and regained consciousness.

He looked somewhat panicked.

"What happened? What's wrong with me... My stomach feels like it's about to split open..."

Even his consciousness began to blur.

Watching Kamanue approach with that mocking smile, Zenitsu fell into despair. "Am I going to die here? I haven't even fulfilled my wish yet..."

Kamanue ignored him and walked toward Tanjiro, intending to finish him off first.

Meanwhile.

Muzan was nearly laughing himself mad at the sight.

"Kill him, yes! Kill him like that! Cut off his head..."

Muzan wanted nothing more than for Kamanue to act quickly and kill that boy. This was the first time he had ever been so excited.

But the instant Kamanue stepped into the room.

Tanjiro, who was on the verge of death and unconsciousness, suddenly snapped open his eyes and rose directly to his feet.

The fatal wounds through both sides of his body healed at a visible rate.

But Tanjiro paid no attention to his own condition. Instead, he looked at the heavily injured Zenitsu and Nezuko, whose arm had been torn off.

At that moment.

His fury had never been greater!

When Kamanue saw Tanjiro restored to full health, its expression abruptly changed. It demanded in disbelief,

"What kind of monster are you?!"

But Tanjiro ignored it. Holding his sword in one hand, he roared, "Ashura Maru! Give me the power to protect Nezuko, protect my companions, protect everything!"

Lin Fan immediately activated Demonification without hesitation.

The moment the ability activated, vast amounts of Demon Power poured into Tanjiro's body, filling every limb and bone.

His strength steadily soared.

But in exchange, pale violet markings spread across the left side of his face, expanding continuously until even his eyes were stained by that eerie purple.

"Not enough. More... Give me more! Ashura Maru, lend me all your power!" Tanjiro roared hysterically.

Suddenly.

Before everyone's eyes.

Black mist emerged beside Tanjiro, instantly condensing into a slender figure.

She was somewhat short, with dark purple hair framing a breathtaking face, crimson eyes, and long ears like an elf's.

She wore a gold-and-black headband, with a pair of white horns on her forehead. Long hair covered half her face, while a purple-and-white evening gown fluttered in the wind.

This figure was Ashura Maru, played by Lin Fan.

Lin Fan approached Tanjiro and whispered close to his ear, "Not bad, Tanjiro. However much you want, I'll give you. Release all the desires you've been suppressing without restraint!"

Kamanue stood frozen in place.

The scene before it had completely exceeded its expectations. What was going on with this guy? And who was that girl who had suddenly appeared?

But someone reacted even more strongly than it did—the heavily injured Zenitsu Agatsuma.

His eyes widened as he stared at the figure beside Tanjiro, and his bizarre expression suddenly became incomparably serious.

Where did such a gorgeous beauty come from?!

This is the first time in my life I've seen someone so beautiful. I have to marry her!

As for our children, they'll be called...

With just one glance, Zenitsu had completely lost himself and had even started thinking up names for their children.