Faint purple markings gradually appeared on his face, and even his eyes were covered in violet. His entire aura changed as well.
He actually looked somewhat cold and ruthless.
Yet the gentleness in his eyes could not be concealed no matter what.
"So this is what Demonification looks like?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Tanjiro, who stood not far before him with a completely transformed appearance and aura. His expression grew more serious.
Based on his instincts honed through years of battle,
he could be certain that Tanjiro was strong now!
Tanjiro, on the other hand, held his blade in one hand and respectfully said, "I'm coming. Please be careful!"
As soon as he spoke,
his body shot forward in an instant, his blade carrying dazzling flames.
Even Sanemi Shinazugawa had not expected such speed. With no time to react, he immediately used a sword technique to block.
This time,
both of them possessed strength beyond that of ordinary Hashira.
A fierce battle officially began on this plain!
Watching the fight from a distance, Inosuke was already somewhat dumbfounded. In his hoarse voice, he said,
"Tanjiro's already this strong?! Does that mean he's become a Hashira now...?"
The two clashed fiercely.
The battle grew increasingly intense until both of them unleashed their final forms, their strongest attacks!
Tanjiro gripped his sword with both hands and raised it above his head, his momentum reaching its peak.
"Dance of the Fire God—Dragon Sun Halo!"
Flames erupted violently from the blade, condensing into a massive fiery dragon.
Sanemi Shinazugawa gathered his strength as well. He leaped into the air with both hands on his sword, a green hurricane whipping his uniform around him.
"Wind Breathing—Ninth Form—Idaten Typhoon!"
In an instant, he slashed out two enormous Wind Blades.
Tanjiro also leaped upward with his sword, accompanied by the fiery dragon.
Tanjiro's Worries
The fiery dragon, burning as it rose from below, collided midair with the two enormous Wind Blades slashing down from above!
The dragon roared. One Wind Blade severed its body, while its head followed Tanjiro's blade and tore apart the other!
At that moment, their blades collided as well.
The next instant,
Sanemi Shinazugawa watched with his own eyes as the blade of his Nichirin Blade was effortlessly cut in half by Ajuramaru.
The broken blade flew away and landed directly on the ground.
The two passed by one another.
After Sanemi Shinazugawa landed, he lowered his head slightly and looked at the broken Nichirin Blade in his hand. Even his fierce gaze froze for a moment.
He truly had not expected Ajuramaru to be so Sharp!
Tanjiro, who had landed behind him as well, rapidly lost his Demonification traits. He was panting heavily.
Still, he struggled to turn around and quickly bowed deeply, filled with apology. "I'm truly sorry for cutting your Nichirin Blade in half, Mr. Sanemi..."
Before he could finish speaking,
Sanemi Shinazugawa turned around first. He faced Tanjiro with a fierce gaze and stern expression, interrupting him coldly.
"No need to apologize. Your strength has earned my recognition. Today's training ends here."
With that, he turned away coldly.
Tanjiro hurried forward and reminded him,
"Let me heal your sword wounds first. Otherwise, they'll only get worse!"
Without giving Sanemi Shinazugawa a chance to refuse, he immediately placed a hand on his shoulder and thought,
"Please, Ajuramaru."
Hearing that, Ajuramaru within the blade immediately released Demon Power to repair his sword wounds, while also replenishing the blood he had lost with Demon Power.
Feeling the changes in his body, Sanemi Shinazugawa once again experienced Ajuramaru's power.
This only strengthened his resolve even further!
However, he did not say it aloud. He did not even offer a word of thanks, merely picking up the broken blade from the ground.
Without saying a word, he left directly, leaving Tanjiro only with a lonely silhouette as he walked alone down the country road toward the Master's estate.
Behind him, Tanjiro watched his departing figure, still feeling guilty from the bottom of his heart. Fortunately, his guilt lasted only a moment before Zenitsu, who had awakened nearby, startled him out of it with his shouting.
"Ugh... I feel like my stomach's about to explode... That guy's bullying people just because he's a Hashira, isn't he? That's way too awful... I'm gonna die..."
Zenitsu rolled around on the ground in an exaggerated frenzy.
Tanjiro came back to his senses. Seeing this, he hurried over and asked him with concern,
"Zenitsu, are you okay?"
Faced with Tanjiro's concern, Zenitsu's expression became even more pained. Trembling, he begged,
"How could I possibly be okay? I think my ribs are broken... Hurry, have Ajuramaru heal me..."
It did not look like he was faking it. After all, Sanemi Shinazugawa had not held back much with that punch.
Tanjiro crouched down helplessly and placed one hand on Zenitsu's shoulder. Then he thought, Ajuramaru, sorry to trouble you. Please heal Zenitsu's injuries too.
"Fine, if you say so."
Ajuramaru reluctantly released Demon Power. Black threads ran down Tanjiro's arm and touched Zenitsu's shoulder, and the Demon Power entered his body to repair his injuries.
Yet Zenitsu blushed, looking utterly blissful as if he were floating in the clouds. "Hehe... Ajuramaru is healing my injuries..."
At that lovestruck expression, Tanjiro's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He really wanted to tell Zenitsu the truth, but he was afraid Zenitsu would not be able to take the blow.
So he was incredibly conflicted inside.
Only after the injuries were completely healed did Tanjiro withdraw his hand, looking somewhat worried.
But in the end, he still did not say anything. Instead, he ran over to Inosuke and healed his injuries as well.
Although Inosuke looked like he had been beaten badly, they were only superficial wounds. Sanemi Shinazugawa had clearly held back.
Seeing all of this, Tanjiro could not help but give his own assessment. "Mr. Sanemi really is a gentle person after all..."
Hearing that, Zenitsu raised his voice in an exaggerated shriek from the side. "Huh?! That guy's gentle? He broke my ribs!"
Beside him, Inosuke looked at Zenitsu with disdain and ruthlessly mocked him in his hoarse voice. "You're seriously annoying!"
"Who are you calling annoying?!"
Zenitsu immediately shot back.
Tanjiro could only try to break up their argument.
"Stop fighting, you two. Let's keep training together. I still want to learn your Thunder Breathing, Zenitsu..."
"Hmph! Learn my Beast Breathing first..."
The three continued maintaining Total Concentration Breathing on the plain. Meanwhile, Tanjiro also continued honing the Dance of the Fire God.
At the same time,
Sanemi Shinazugawa arrived at the estate alone. He entered a room, found the Master, knelt on one knee, and respectfully reported,
"Master, after Kamado Tanjiro activated Demonification, he possessed strength enough to rival mine. His combat skills are still too immature, but his absolute power is enough to make up for that.
If he releases Ajuramaru's power, perhaps even I would not be his match!"
He truthfully reported all of his observations.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, on the other hand, smiled faintly after hearing this information and looked over with a gentle gaze.
"You've worked hard, Sanemi.
If Tanjiro has the strength to defeat you, then I can rest assured and let him leave headquarters to carry out missions outside."
After learning of Ajuramaru's abilities, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had understood that the only things capable of making Tanjiro stronger quickly
were battle and slaying evil demons!
Since his strength had now received Sanemi's recognition, he could be allowed to leave headquarters without concern. It just so happened that more and more demons were causing trouble now.
Those evil demons would all become nourishment for Tanjiro's growth!
Muzan Kibutsuji, you have chosen the path to death!
At the same time,
within the labyrinthine Infinity Castle, countless buildings and houses were combined in ways that defied all physical common sense. On a wooden platform at its center,
a delicate young man with neck-length black hair and a sickly flush across his face knelt prostrate on the ground. The numbers carved into his dark teal eyes
revealed his identity.
He was the current Lower Rank One, Enmu!
On another platform opposite him, Muzan Kibutsuji looked at him with extremely indifferent peach-colored eyes.
When an Instrument's Strings Break, Replace Them
As he spoke, killing intent surged forth!
"Why are the Lower Rank demons so weak? Becoming one of the Twelve Kizuki is only the beginning. You should begin becoming stronger, become useful to me!
The Upper Ranks have never been replaced in a hundred years, but what about the Lower Rank? This time, five of them were killed at once by that demon slayer!"
As he spoke of this, Muzan even gritted his teeth. Deep within his eyes was an imperceptible fear!
"Now I believe the Twelve Kizuki only need the Upper Ranks. Before you die, do you have anything you wish to say?"
There was no room for negotiation.
All that remained was for him to let out wails and cries before death!
Yet Enmu happened to be an out-and-out lunatic. Even under the threat of death, he showed no fear whatsoever.
Instead, the flush on his face deepened sickeningly. He raised his hands slightly, his eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction!
"That's true. Right now, it feels as though I'm in a dream. To have you personally end my life... I'm truly happy..."
That perverse appearance successfully piqued Muzan's interest. Even the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.
He then controlled the flesh-and-blood tentacles extending from his body, sending them shooting forward. The spikes at their tips pierced directly into Enmu's neck.
Then they began injecting blood into him.
The moment the tentacles withdrew, Enmu collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably as veins bulged across his face.
He seemed to be enduring some inhuman torment.
Muzan stood there, watching Enmu's suffering with great interest. Then he slowly said,
"I've taken a liking to you. This time, I'll give you more blood. Of course, you may be unable to endure it and die, but if you adapt, you will become even stronger!"
He paused before pointing toward his ear and continuing,
"Go kill the demon slayer wearing hanafuda earrings. As long as you kill him, I'll give you even more blood!"
Before you continue