The blade lodged in his neck instantly burst into magnificent flames and effortlessly severed his head, sending it flying through the air.
The headless corpse swayed before collapsing to the ground.
Seeing this, Tanjiro was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.
Just then, however, Ashura Maru rushed to warn from within the blade, "This guy isn't the main body; the real body is in the heart!"
"What?!"
Tanjiro immediately raised his sword and prepared to strike at the heart.
However, countless wooden roots suddenly sprouted from beneath his feet, entwining around the headless body and wrapping it within. Then, they rapidly rose from the ground.
It looked like an enormous dandelion made of wood!
Tanjiro leaped away and turned his head.
Only to see another demon!
The First Encounter with Despair
Hantengu now appeared in the form of a young boy. Though he looked increasingly younger, his strength was far beyond that of the previous clones.
Two drumsticks formed in his hands, while a round disk floated behind him, bearing five drums engraved with the character for hatred!
Its name was Zohakuten!
He struck one of the drums behind him with a drumstick. As the drumbeat rang out, a wooden dragon suddenly shot up from the ground behind him.
There were no fewer than five wooden dragons, each ten meters tall, poised to strike.
Zohakuten beneath them spoke in a deep voice, "You beasts who only bully the weak are disgusting... Truly disgusting beyond words!
You damned, utterly evil scum!"
Facing this demon, Tanjiro remained remarkably calm. His nose twitched as he smelled the air, and he thought to himself.
A sixth demon? No... that's not right. The scents of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure have all vanished. Did they merge?
Tanjiro gripped his sword with both hands,