From Demon Slayer Onward, Forging the Strongest Demon Blade!

Before long.

Inosuke collapsed to the ground, unable to get back up.

Having finished all that, Sanemi Shinazugawa turned to Tanjiro again and coldly reminded him, "You're the only one left. From here on, fight with everything you have!

Don't hold anything back. I permit you to use that blade's power!"

"Really?"

Tanjiro had just been about to ask, but when he saw that the Wind Hashira's gaze had not changed, he steeled himself as well.

"Ashura Maru, lend me your power!"

Hearing that, Ashura Maru in the blade responded as well. "Perfect. I recovered some of my power and abilities after the battle at Mount Natagumo, so I'll give them to you all at once!"

As he spoke.

He activated Borrowed Power.

After that, Tanjiro could feel that he could draw upon Demon Power from him, though Ashura Maru's consent was required.

After activating Borrowed Power.

Tanjiro also felt the difference from before. In the past, Demon Power filling his body only strengthened his flesh, but this time, he felt that he could control it as freely as he wished.

He could even borrow the Demon Power within the blade. On top of that, memories of how to use Demon Power appeared in his mind.

"These are..."

Tanjiro was confused for a moment, but quickly recovered. Facing Sanemi Shinazugawa, who was poised to strike before him, he respectfully said,

"I'm ready!"

The moment he finished speaking.

The two moved almost simultaneously.

Sanemi Shinazugawa gripped his Nichirin Blade and charged forward, moving far faster than before.

"Let me see just how strong you are with Ashura Maru!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa could no longer wait to witness firsthand just how much Ashura Maru could improve Kamado Tanjiro's strength!

But at that moment.

Tanjiro stood where he was and held his blade with both hands as he warned,

"Be careful, Mr. Shinazugawa!"

As soon as he spoke, black smoke blossomed across the blade. With a single slash, the smoke instantly condensed into a crescent-shaped attack that shot toward him.

"What?"

Seeing the crescent slash rushing toward him at terrifying speed, Sanemi Shinazugawa had no time to think. He immediately stopped and unleashed a sword technique.

"Wind Breathing—Fourth Form—Rising Dust Storm!"

Lowering his stance, he rapidly swung his Nichirin Blade upward. The cyan hurricane blooming from the blade formed a protective barrier of Wind Blades around him.

When the black slash came flying in.

The moment it struck the Wind Blades, it tore through two of them before dispersing into nothingness.

Tanjiro could not help but marvel from where he stood.

"As expected of a Hashira. He's really strong!"

After taking that attack, Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately unleashed the First Form of Wind Breathing again.

The blade spun, gathering a hurricane around itself.

It transformed into a horizontal Tornado that sped straight toward Tanjiro.

The distance between them rapidly closed.

Tanjiro was also adapting to the power Ashura Maru had granted him. He swung his blade again.

"Ashura Kannon—Three Blades!"

Demonic energy gathered before him into three sharp blades glowing red, which shot out like arrows.

They tore through the air.

They pierced straight through the hurricane, but Sanemi Shinazugawa managed to block them with his spinning Nichirin Blade, inwardly astonished.

"They can break through the hurricane of my First Form directly? But it seems to require preparation time. As expected, I still need to fight at close range..."

Without slowing his pace, he continued his charge.

Within only a few breaths, he had arrived in front of Tanjiro.

At the same time, Tanjiro released the power within the blade. Massive amounts of black smoke surged outward from him, forming an enormous circular slash. The smoke was like countless tiny blades.

Even though Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately leaped back with all his strength to escape its range, several shallow cuts were still torn across his left hand.

Yet despite how small those wounds were, the blood simply would not stop flowing.

That reminded him of the ability they had mentioned that day. Once cut, the wound could not heal and the bleeding could not be stopped.

Now it seemed that was indeed true.

After only a few brief exchanges.

Sanemi Shinazugawa had already experienced Ashura Maru's power firsthand. It was utterly monstrous!

He began thinking about how to break the deadlock.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro, who stood across from him, also felt that the previous attack had consumed an enormous amount of Demon Power. Remembering that Ashura Maru himself did not have much power to spare,

he immediately apologized guiltily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect that attack to consume so much of your power, Ashura Maru."

"Hmph! Can't you be a little tougher as a blade wielder?!"

Ashura Maru snapped back, somewhat exasperated.

After being scolded, Tanjiro could tell that he was not actually angry. Only then did he softly reply, "Sorry. I'll be tougher next time."

Well.

That was indeed a little difficult.

Inside the blade, Ashura Maru covered his forehead with one hand, looking utterly defeated. Then he came back to himself and seriously asked,

"How well have you adapted to controlling Demon Power now?"

"It feels very smooth to use!"

Tanjiro immediately answered.

That sounded a little strange, but Ashura Maru did not think much of it. Instead, he continued to remind him,

"Then don't use your abilities for now. If you want to improve your strength, the most important thing is still your Breathing technique. Take this excellent opportunity to temper your Dance of the Fire God!"

"I understand."

After replying, Tanjiro immediately looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa, who stood ahead with his blade ready, and earnestly said to him,

"Mr. Shinazugawa, I won't use Ashura Maru's abilities from now on. Please temper my swordsmanship!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa had still been considering how to fight, and he had not expected Tanjiro to make such a request of him.

After all, he had been targeting Tanjiro and his sister the whole time. Instead of taking this chance to retaliate, was Tanjiro setting aside their differences and choosing to trust him?

Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Tanjiro's innocent yet resolute face and saw sincerity in his eyes. Still, he put on a fierce expression and said,

"Since you've chosen this, prepare to be seriously injured by me!"

His words were harsh, but Tanjiro believed he had already seen through him. He was clearly all bark and no bite.

Just like Ashura Maru, he was always thinking of others while putting on a fierce front. But that did not stop Tanjiro from smiling.

"It would be my honor to receive your guidance!"

Hearing that.

Sanemi Shinazugawa finally felt Tanjiro's gentleness. Who could possibly hate someone like that?

Yet on the surface, he still looked fierce and stern.

Tanjiro did not hesitate any longer. Holding his blade in one hand, he pushed off the ground and charged forward. The checkered haori on his back fluttered in the wind resistance.

Tanjiro's heavy breathing accompanied his charge, and flames even surged from the corners of his mouth!

"Is this the legendary Sun Breathing?"

When he saw the flames, Sanemi Shinazugawa watched with interest. Then he stepped forward to meet him. "Wind Breathing—Second Form—Claw Claw: Koto Wind!"

He rapidly swung his blade forward, instantly slashing out four Wind Blades like the claw marks of a beast!

Tanjiro had already closed in. He stepped forward, leaped into the air, and swung Ashura Maru. "Dance of the Fire God—Dance Flash!"

Flames bloomed from the blade, scorching and warm like sunlight. As the flaming blade slashed downward.

The four Wind Blades were completely burned away by the flames!

More accurately, they struck the blade but could not break through its defense.

Facing that scorching slash.

Sanemi Shinazugawa could only take a step back. He stomped hard enough to shatter the ground, twisted his body, and fiercely slashed upward from below.

"Wind Breathing—Sixth Form—Black Wind Smoke Haze!" The Nichirin Blade he swung upward carved out a spinning hurricane.

Tanjiro's flaming slash had already descended.

At the moment their attacks collided.

Tanjiro's body was uncontrollably lifted upward by the hurricane, and the force behind his attack was weakened.

Even so, Sanemi Shinazugawa below could still feel both his hands going slightly numb.

That alone showed just how immense Tanjiro's strength was!

Lifted into the air, Tanjiro held his blade with both hands. The flames burning across it had not gone out. "Dance of the Fire God—Clear Blue Sky!"

With one slash, flames traced a graceful arc through the air.

Sanemi Shinazugawa below seemed to have expected it. He immediately unleashed a sword technique as well, closing in and launching a series of slashes at the instant they passed each other.

"Wind Breathing—Eighth Form—First Gale Slash!"

The slashes swirled around Tanjiro like a hurricane, perfectly countering his attack and leaving several sword wounds across his body.

In an instant.

Blood streamed down his body, but fortunately, they were only ordinary flesh wounds and did not affect him much.

However, after Sanemi Shinazugawa landed, he immediately turned and looked over with fierce eyes. Only when he saw the wounds instantly heal did he relax.

Though all he showed was still fierceness.

"Your sword techniques are far too careless!"

Tanjiro readily accepted the criticism. "I'll pay attention next time!"

That humble attitude pleased Sanemi Shinazugawa greatly, and even his fierce gaze softened slightly.

But remembering his master's instructions, he coldly said, "Now activate Demonification. Let me experience your strength after Demonification!"

"Alright!"

Tanjiro earnestly replied, then thought to himself.

"Please, Ashura Maru!"

Perhaps this was the toughest he could ever be. Ashura Maru smiled helplessly. "Then release your desires to your heart's content, and let him experience what Demonification truly is!"

The moment he finished speaking.

A vast amount of Demon Power poured into Tanjiro's body. Because Tanjiro's body had been greatly strengthened, the time he could maintain it was also rapidly increasing.

Just like before.