Forging the Strongest Demon Blade from Demon Slayer!

Faint purple markings gradually appeared on his face, his eyes turning purple as well, and his entire aura changed with them.

He even looked somewhat cold and ruthless.

Yet the gentleness in his eyes could not be concealed at all.

"Is this what Demonification looks like?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Tanjiro, whose appearance and aura had changed drastically, his expression growing more serious.

Drawing on his many years of battle-honed instincts,

he could be certain that Tanjiro was very strong now!

Tanjiro, on the other hand, held his sword 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 brilliant flames.

Even Sanemi Shinazugawa had not expected him to be so fast. 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 erupted across the plain!

Watching the battle from not far away, Inosuke was already stunned. In his raspy voice, he said,

"Tanjiro is already this strong?! Does that mean he's become a Hashira now...?"

The two clashed fiercely.

The battle grew increasingly intense until they each unleashed their final forms—the strongest strike either of them could deliver!

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 suddenly burst from the blade, gathering into a massive dragon of fire.

Sanemi Shinazugawa likewise gathered his strength. Leaping into the air with both hands on his sword, a cyan hurricane whipped his uniform around him.

"Wind Breathing—Ninth Form—Idaten Typhoon!"

In an instant, he unleashed two enormous Wind Blades.

Tanjiro, carrying the flaming dragon with his blade, also leaped upward.

The flaming dragon rising from below collided in midair with the two massive Wind Blades slashing down from above!

The dragon roared. One Wind Blade severed its body, while its head tore apart the other Wind Blade along with Tanjiro's sword!

Their blades collided at that very moment.

The next instant,

Sanemi Shinazugawa watched with his own eyes as Ashura Maru effortlessly cut his Nichirin Blade in half.

The broken blade flew away and landed directly on the ground.

The two passed by one another.

After landing, Sanemi Shinazugawa lowered his gaze slightly to look at the broken Nichirin Blade in his hand. Even his fierce eyes froze for a moment.

He truly had not expected Ashura Maru to be so sharp!

Tanjiro landed behind him as well. The signs of Demonification rapidly faded, and he panted heavily.

Still, he turned around with difficulty, hurriedly bowed, and apologized profusely. "I'm truly sorry for breaking your Nichirin Blade, Mr. Sanemi..."

Before he could finish,

Sanemi Shinazugawa turned around first. Facing Tanjiro with a fierce gaze and stern expression, he coldly interrupted,

"There is no need to apologize. Your strength has earned my approval. Today's training ends here."

With that, he turned away coldly.

Tanjiro hurried forward and reminded him,

"I should 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, Ashura Maru.

Hearing that, Ashura Maru immediately released Demon Power to mend the sword wounds on his body, replenishing the blood he had lost with Demon Power as well.

Feeling the changes in his body, Sanemi Shinazugawa once again experienced Ashura Maru's power.

That only strengthened his resolve!

But he did not voice it. He did not even offer a word of thanks, merely picking up the broken blade from the ground.

Without another word, he left. All he left Tanjiro was a lonely silhouette as he walked alone along the country road, heading straight for the Master's estate.

Behind him, Tanjiro watched his departing back, still feeling guilty from the bottom of his heart. Fortunately, his guilt only lasted a moment before Zenitsu, who had awakened nearby, snapped him out of it.

"Ugh... I feel like my stomach is about to explode... That guy was bullying people just because he's a Hashira, wasn't he? That's way too cruel... I'm going to die..."

Zenitsu rolled around on the ground in an absurd manner.

Tanjiro came back to his senses and hurried over, crouching beside him with concern.

"Zenitsu, are you okay?"

Faced with Tanjiro's concern, Zenitsu's expression became even more pained. Trembling, he pleaded,

"How could I possibly be okay? I think my ribs are broken... Hurry, have Ashura Maru heal me..."

It did not look like he was faking it. After all, Sanemi Shinazugawa had not held back much with that punch.

Tanjiro helplessly crouched down and placed one hand on Zenitsu's shoulder, then thought, Sorry to trouble you, Ashura Maru. Please heal Zenitsu's injuries too.

"Fine. Since you asked."

Ashura Maru reluctantly released Demon Power. Black threads extended down Tanjiro's arm and touched Zenitsu's shoulder, the Demon Power entering his body to repair his injuries.

But Zenitsu blushed, looking utterly blissful as though he were floating in the clouds. "Hehe... Ashura Maru is Healing my injuries..."

At that lovestruck expression, the corner of Tanjiro's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He really wanted to tell Zenitsu the truth, but he was afraid Zenitsu would not be able to handle the blow.

So he was incredibly conflicted.

Only after the injuries had been completely healed did Tanjiro withdraw his hand, looking somewhat worried.

In the end, however, 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.

Watching all of this, Tanjiro could not help but give his own assessment. "Mr. Sanemi really is a gentle person..."

Zenitsu immediately raised his voice absurdly from the side. "Huh?! That guy is gentle? He broke my ribs!"

Inosuke looked at Zenitsu disdainfully and mercilessly mocked him in his raspy voice, "You're seriously annoying!"

"Who are you calling annoying?!"

Zenitsu instantly snapped 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. At the same time, Tanjiro continued honing the Dance of the Fire God.

Meanwhile,

Sanemi Shinazugawa arrived at the estate alone. After entering the room and finding the Master, he dropped to one knee and respectfully reported,

"Master, after Kamado Tanjiro activates Demonification, he possesses strength enough to rival mine. His combat is still far too immature, but his absolute power is enough to make up for that.

If he releases Ashura Maru's power, perhaps even I would not be his match!"

He truthfully reported all of his observations.

After hearing this information, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's lips curved upward slightly as he looked over with gentle eyes.

"You have 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."

After learning about Ashura Maru's abilities, Kagaya Ubuyashiki knew that the only things that could allow Tanjiro to rapidly grow stronger

were battle and the slaughter of evil demons!

Now that his strength had received Sanemi's approval, he could safely be allowed to leave headquarters. It just so happened that more and more demons were causing trouble.

These evil demons would become nourishment for Tanjiro's growth!

Muzan Kibutsuji, you have chosen the path to death!

Meanwhile,

Within the labyrinthine Infinity Castle, countless buildings and houses were combined in ways that defied common physical laws. On a wooden platform at its center,

a delicate-looking young man with neck-length black hair and a sickly flush across his face knelt prostrate on the ground. The numbers engraved in his dark teal eyes

revealed his identity.

He was the current Lower Rank One, Enmu!

On another platform opposite him, Muzan Kibutsuji looked down at him with utterly indifferent pink eyes.

As he spoke, killing intent burst forth!

"Why are the Lower Rank demons so weak? Becoming one of the Twelve Kizuki is only the beginning—the beginning of becoming stronger, becoming useful to me!

The Upper Ranks have not been replaced in a hundred years, but what about the Lower Rank? This time, five of them were killed in one go by that demon slayer!"

At this point, Muzan was practically gritting his teeth, and deep within his eyes was an almost imperceptible fear!

"Now I think the Twelve Kizuki only need the Upper Ranks. Before you die, is there anything you wish to say?"

There was no room for negotiation.

All that awaited him was the chance to wail and cry before death!

Yet Enmu happened to be an utter pervert. Even under the threat of death, he felt no fear whatsoever.

His expression even flushed with sickly excitement. He slightly raised his hands, his eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction!

"That's true. Right now, I feel as though I'm in a dream. To have you personally end my life... I'm so happy..."

That perverse appearance successfully piqued Muzan's interest, and even a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

He then controlled the extended flesh tentacles, which shot out rapidly. The sharp spike at their tip pierced directly into Enmu's neck.

Blood was then injected into him.

The moment the tentacles withdrew, Enmu collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably as veins bulged across his face.

It seemed as though he were enduring some inhuman torture.

Muzan stood there, taking great interest in Enmu's suffering, before slowly speaking.

"I have taken a liking to you. This time, I will give you more blood, though you may be unable to bear it and die. But if you adapt, you will become even stronger!"

After a brief pause, he pointed a finger toward the ear at his side and continued,

"Go kill the demon slayer with the hanafuda earrings. As long as you kill him, I will give you even more blood!"