Destroyer of Demons

Rui was a demon deeply obsessed with family. On Spider Mountain, he played the role of the "youngest child," but in truth, he was the one who held power over the family.

None of its members were related by blood. Rui had forcibly brought them all there to satisfy his obsession and play house.

[No matter what happens, parents must protect their children, and older siblings must protect their younger siblings, even at the cost of their lives.]

That was Rui's belief-and his obsession.

Rui's family members, who were also his subordinates, blocked Tanjiro and Zenitsu's path, intending to kill them there. But Tanjiro had no intention of letting them have their way.

Tanjiro lowered his head, maintaining Total Concentration Breathing. The Nichirin Blade in his hand gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

Spider Father

Spider Brother

Spider Sister

Spider Father attacked first. His physique far surpassed that of an ordinary demon. Clenching his fist and gathering his strength, he hurled a fierce punch at Tanjiro.

The punch carried a powerful gust of wind. Had it struck a tree, it would surely have smashed a hole straight through it.

BANG!!!

"Tanjiro!"

Zenitsu cried out in terror. His mind was filled with a single thought: It's over, it's over! Tanjiro's been smashed to a pulp!

But a few seconds later, once everyone had calmed down, they realized that things were not as they had imagined. Spider Father's fist had not smashed Tanjiro to a pulp. His Nichirin Blade had blocked it.

The Nichirin Blade, hardly indestructible, held firm against the pressure of Spider Father's fist. Seeing this, Zenitsu finally understood just how accomplished Tanjiro was in his Breathing Style, because a Nichirin Blade's hardness was tied to its wielder's proficiency in breathing techniques.

Seeing her father's attack blocked, Spider Sister hurried forward, hoping to strike while Tanjiro was vulnerable.

Spider Sister moved behind Tanjiro, intending to take off his head just as the Demon Slayer Corps cut off demons' heads. But at that moment, the wooden box on Tanjiro's back... moved!

BANG!!!

The wooden box opened, and an "adorable beast" sprang out. Before Spider Sister could react, she delivered a flying kick straight to her stomach.

A great mouthful of saliva spilled from Spider Sister's mouth, and her eyes trembled.

Spider Sister went flying, and the adorable beast landed.

The instant she landed, Nezuko dutifully put her bamboo muzzle back on, having removed it earlier to relax. After all, Zenitsu was still there. Whenever anyone else was around, she had to wear it. That was the promise Nezuko had made to her teacher, Urokodaki.

At Nezuko's appearance, Zenitsu first froze, then his eyes widened. It was as though she was about to steal his very soul.

She's so, so, so, so cute!!!

Though Nezuko and Chinatsu looked very alike as sisters, Chinatsu's demeanor left Zenitsu unable to entertain even the slightest romantic thought about her.

But Nezuko was different. Her gentle, adorable air was like Cupid drawing his bow and letting an arrow fly. Zenitsu felt as though it had pierced his heart.

Just as Tanjiro possessed an extraordinary sense of smell, Zenitsu possessed extraordinary hearing. He had actually noticed long ago that the box on Tanjiro's back contained a living being-and a demon at that.

But Zenitsu had never expected that demon to be so cute!

In his excitement, Zenitsu momentarily forgot to watch his surroundings. Spider Brother circled wide and slipped behind him, seizing the chance to eliminate the weakest member of the group first.

On a battlefield, one should capture the leader first.

But in a fight with so few participants, taking out the person with the weakest defenses was the best choice.

Spider Brother: Got you!

Nezuko: "Mmph, mmph!" (Not a chance!)

Nezuko pushed off the ground and charged again. This time, however, she used neither her fists nor her feet, but a wooden practice sword slightly shorter than a regular sword.

Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!

It was a very crude strike, but it certainly qualified as a Breathing Style sword technique. Combined with Nezuko's strength, which far surpassed that of an ordinary person, it carved a long, wide wound across Spider Brother's body.

Had that strike landed on his neck, Nezuko might have unwittingly claimed her first human head... no, her first demon head.

A swordsman carrying a demon!

A demon who could use a Breathing Style!

And an even scarier older sister!

Zenitsu's head hurt a little as he wondered just what sort of group he had stumbled into. Surely none of these three were the kind of person one simply ran into at random?

Had Chinatsu been there, she would certainly have folded her arms and offered this pointed remark.

[Kid, someday you'll meet a Demon Slayer carrying a firearm, a Buddhist monk wielding a meteor hammer, and a Cherry Blossom Girl whose muscle density is eight times that of an ordinary person...]

Tanjiro and Nezuko stood back-to-back, watching their surroundings warily. Though Nezuko badly wanted to show off to Tanjiro about successfully using a sword technique, she knew this was not the time.

Their most urgent task was to deal with the demons surrounding them!

Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

"Giyu, Shinobu, we're counting on you from here."

"Understood!"

At the Demon Slayer Corps leader's command, two swordsmen bearing the Corps' highest title stood ready to set out for Spider Mountain as reinforcements.

The Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka.

The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho.

One was a genius who had developed Water Breathing Eleventh Form, and was currently the strongest practitioner of Water Breathing.

The other was an expert in poison. Her poisons could kill even a Lower Rank.

The two were dispatched because word had arrived that a member of the Twelve Kizuki might be on Spider Mountain. In fact, one of the Twelve Kizuki was indeed there, though only a Lower Rank.

They would have to hurry, however. If they were too slow, never mind providing reinforcements-they might not see a single demon.

Tanjiro was in the thick of slaying demons, and Chinatsu was naturally doing the same. Her battle with Rui continued to wreak havoc around them.

Though she had not used Hinokami Kagura, Chinatsu was not at a disadvantage against Lower Rank Five. In fact, Lower Rank Five was the one at a disadvantage.

Chinatsu's Beast Instinct let her evade every lethal attack Rui sent her way. She simply ignored the minor, nonlethal wounds; they would heal quickly anyway.

That sheer ferocity frightened even a demon. Rui sent his strongest threads hurtling toward Chinatsu while continuously retreating. Several times, Chinatsu's azure Nichirin Blade swept past his neck, giving him a terrible fright.

"What the hell are you?! Are you really human?!" Rui shouted at Chinatsu through gritted teeth.

Chinatsu said nothing. Her gaze was calm... even icy as she swung her Nichirin Blade with swift, deadly precision, repeatedly threatening Rui's life. Though the battle had yet to be decided, it was only a matter of time.