Huff... huff...
Tanjiro's breathing grew heavier with every breath. Even though he had mastered Sun Breathing, the first breathing style, and had trained thoroughly, he had only joined the Demon Slayer Corps about a month ago.
Rui's expression darkened. He had never expected the Demon Slayer before him to last this long.
His unease kept growing, so he abandoned all thoughts of toying with his opponent and thrust out the threads in his hands like a game of cat's cradle.
"Blood Demon Art: Thread Prison!"
Blood-red spider threads woven into a net rolled toward Tanjiro.
The threads infused with Rui's demon blood were far tougher than the transparent webs from before. Even with Sun Breathing, Tanjiro struggled to cut through them all.
He could only do his utmost to get close to Rui and swing his blade before his strength gave out.
"Sun Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Sun Red Mirror!"
A deep crimson slash swept toward Rui's neck, its light illuminating the demon's eyes...
Tanjiro's brows were tightly knit, his eyes almost bulging from their sockets!
Did I cut through?
As the blade's light swept past, the demon's head flew into the air...
But he hadn't severed it!
Tanjiro saw it. Several strands of web held the demon's head aloft. Before the blade could touch his neck, Rui had taken his own head off!
He can do that?!
Tanjiro rolled twice across the ground to dissipate his momentum.
Rui tugged on his threads, returning his head to its rightful place, then said coldly, "To be honest, you really did make me feel threatened."
If not for that damned rank replacement blood battle, he could have killed the swordsman before him without much effort.
But that failed battle-that rank replacement blood battle that had been doomed to fail-had drained far too