He saw his younger self playing with Nezuko in the courtyard at home, while his frail father watched from behind...
Amid their laughter, his father smiled lovingly. "Tanjiro, practice your breathing. Adjust your breath until you completely become the Fire God."
The scene shifted.
It was a night in the forest. His father danced within a ravine, performing the family's inherited Dance of the Fire God.
Every movement was deeply imprinted in his mind, as though he himself were the one dancing!
Then his father's voice rang out once more.
"There is a method to breathing. With the proper breathing technique, you will not grow tired, and even the cold will be completely driven away...
Tanjiro, I'm entrusting this dance and these earrings to you. Do not let them be lost. We promised..."
The moment the voice faded.
Tanjiro suddenly awakened!
Amid the dust that filled the sky, a crimson gleam flashed!
Blazing flames burst forth!
Awakened Dance of the Fire God
A figure emerged from the dust.
It was Tanjiro, his clothes in tatters. The surging water on his blade had now been replaced by flames.
The scorching fire drove away the surrounding darkness.
"What?!"
Every demon present changed expression. None of them had expected Tanjiro to survive an attack like that!
And the feeling he gave them had changed again.
Lin Fan, within the blade, felt it most deeply. When Tanjiro used the Dance of the Fire God, his entire being underwent a heaven-shaking transformation!
It was absolutely not something Water Breathing could compare to!
Or rather, Water Breathing was merely usable for Tanjiro, while the Dance of the Fire God seemed as though it had been Destined Pair with him!
Outside.
Tanjiro set Nezuko down from the box on his back, then raced through the forest, his blade burning with blazing flames.
Not far away.
Seeing this, Rui immediately raised both hands before him. Countless blood-red threads gathered together, twisting and connecting to form a rotating blood-red wheel.
"You insulted the bond between me and my family, and you still refuse to take back what you said. You should pay for your sins with your life!
Blood Demon Art—Silk Wheel Rotation!"
The blood-red wheel shot straight toward Tanjiro. Everything in its path was sliced to pieces.
Yet Tanjiro showed not the slightest fear as he faced the blood-red wheel. His heart was incomparably resolute.
"If I stop now, forcing Water Breathing into the Dance of the Fire God will probably cause backlash in my body...
I'll likely become extremely weak afterward... So I can't stop. I have to kill these four demons in one swift burst!"
The only reason he had this thought was because of Lin Fan's words.
Don't hesitate when I tell you to run!
But Tanjiro understood it as: if you don't tell me to run, then we can win!
And if he fled now, Zenitsu and the others would definitely be killed. For Zenitsu and Inosuke, he would still choose to risk everything!
"Rapidly spinning threads..."
Tanjiro's mind was clear. Holding his blade in both hands, he felt the resonance between the power within his body and the sword.
"Ashura Kannon—Death-Granting Blade Aura!"
The blade tore through the air as it slashed forward.
Black mist suddenly erupted from the flame-wreathed blade, forming a sword aura mixed with burning fire as it flew forward.
It collided with the blood-red wheel.
The next moment.
The blade aura swept past, and the wheel shattered completely!
Tanjiro followed close behind, continuing his charge toward Rui.
Watching Tanjiro draw ever closer, Rui's gaze gradually turned vicious. "Such dense threads were all cut apart?! Then I'll do it again!"
The other demons also came to their senses and attacked at the same time.
The first to act was Mukago, Lower Rank Four. She controlled several vines behind her, making them dance through the air like spiritual serpents.
The spores at their tips opened, their fruits poised to strike. She cried out, "Don't let him get any closer! Everyone, attack together!"
With that, she aimed at Tanjiro and fired a dense barrage of fruits.
Tanjiro merely swung his sword calmly. Even when the occasional fruit pierced his body, he showed no reaction.
Because he believed Ashuramaru would heal his body. All he needed to do now was kill these demons at any cost!
This sight placed immense pressure on the demons.
What they faced now was no longer a demon slayer, but a madman who would do anything to kill them!
Even Rokuro, the oldest among them, felt a chill run down his spine. But their numerical advantage still gave him confidence.
"Are the four of us really incapable of handling a demon slayer who isn't even a Hashira?! Attack together and kill him!
Blood Demon Art—Wood Release!"
As the Blood Demon Art activated, the nearby trees seemed to come alive. Their trunks twisted, while their lush branches became piercing swords!
More terrifyingly, ghastly demon faces grew from the trunks, letting out shrill cries.
It looked incredibly bizarre!
Wakuraba, who had hidden himself in the darkness again, instinctively sensed danger from Tanjiro. Several shuriken appeared in his hand.
As he held them, they were gradually coated in a dark green liquid.
"Blood Demon Art—Withering Shuriken!"
Countless attacks came flying in.
Tanjiro's gaze was unwavering as he thought to himself.
I can't lose yet. Lend me all your power, Ashuramaru!!!
I have to protect everyone!
The blade in his hand was swung to its limit, cutting through every obstacle before him. Yet Lin Fan's voice also echoed in his mind.
"But you might die here if you keep this up, and Demonification is already nearing its limit. It's not too late to run now..."
"To protect them, I would not hesitate even if it meant perishing with them!"
Tanjiro's response was utterly decisive.
"Ah... I knew it would be like this. You really are impossible..." Lin Fan sighed and chose to increase his Demon Power output.
Tanjiro's strength rose once again.
Black smoke faintly drifted from his hands gripping the blade, as well as from around his body.
Even more terrifying was the fact that a demon horn suddenly sprouted from the right side of his head!
Feeling the power within him, Tanjiro did not care about his current appearance. He simply thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Ashuramaru!"
"You should worry about surviving first."
Lin Fan replied irritably.
The only response Tanjiro could offer was a brilliant smile. Holding the blade in both hands, flames burst forth!
He had already reached Rui.
Facing the countless webs rushing toward him, Tanjiro cleanly cut them apart.
Rui knew he could not fight at close range, so he hurriedly manipulated his threads to pull himself away.
The remaining demons also attacked with all their might, trying to kill or obstruct Tanjiro, but none of them could shake his steps or his resolve.
He pursued Rui relentlessly.
The two chased one another.
Suspended in midair, Rui's expression became twisted and ferocious. The threads that had been carrying him away tightened and gathered, forming blood-red spiderwebs.
They descended from every direction, surrounding them both and sealing off all of Tanjiro's paths of retreat. "Just die already, you irritating piece of trash!"
In contrast, the only thing Tanjiro could hear was his heavy breathing, while even his blade became exceptionally heavy!
He recalled the dance of the Dance of the Fire God.
Everything seemed to flow naturally. His body spun, and the flames upon his blade followed the motion.
They streaked through the air, leaving behind a trail of fire!
Like a falling meteor, brilliant and dazzling. "Dance of the Fire God—Round Dance!"
Ashuramaru, I'm Counting on You
The flame-cloaked blade swept through the air. The spiderwebs rushing in from all around were burned to ashes, and the blade was already cutting toward Rui's neck.
At this distance, Rui had no room left to resist. He could only watch as his head was severed by this strike!
The blade passed through his body, erupting in dazzling flames!
His head flew into the air.
Just when Tanjiro thought it was over, Lin Fan's voice sounded in his mind at the perfect moment. "This guy severed his own neck with spider threads beforehand. He's playing dead!"
"I understand."
Tanjiro did not doubt him in the slightest.
Locking onto Rui's head in midair, he swiftly swung his sword several times.
Rui's head did not even have time to say anything before it was completely cut into several pieces and fell to the ground.
Rui died completely.
His body and shattered head gradually decomposed into nothingness.
This scene shocked the other three demons tremendously. Facing four members of the Twelve Kizuki at once, Tanjiro had still forcefully killed one of them!
Rui was no weaker than they were. If Tanjiro could kill Rui, then he could kill them as well!
Mukago, the weakest among the remaining three demons, had already begun to think of retreating. She wanted to flee this place.
But the moment that thought arose, Muzan's incomparably cold command appeared in her mind.
"I am always watching you. If you dare flee, you will die immediately. But if you kill that demon slayer, I will spare you!"
That voice was like a vengeful ghost demanding her life.
Tears immediately flowed from the corners of Mukago's eyes. She gasped for breath, apologizing over and over.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm truly so sorry... I'll kill this demon slayer for you soon... Please forgive me..."
Hearing her apology, Muzan's killing intent did not lessen at all.
If he did not still need her to hunt Tanjiro, he would have killed her long ago. Why would he give her such an opportunity?
Yet on the other hand, Muzan also felt deeply confused.
What exactly was going on with this guy? Why did he become several times stronger every time they met, and whenever he was pushed into a desperate situation...
His strength would surge dramatically...
Once or twice could be explained as luck, but if it kept happening, then the only explanation was that he had been hiding his strength...
Before you continue