As Tanjiro charged at her with his Nichirin Blade in hand, Daki instinctively leaned back. Realizing what she had done, she gritted her teeth and flung both hands forward.
A series of sharp whistles pierced the air as countless sashes shot out. But they could not slow Tanjiro's advance at all. With every flash of searing flame, one or even several sashes were severed.
Something's wrong! Something's wrong! Something's wrong!
Tanjiro kept advancing as he cut through Daki's sashes. When he finally reached her, Daki could no longer hold her ground. She pushed off and retreated.
Daki ran. Tanjiro chased.
Daki was utterly dumbfounded. As an Upper Rank, she had always been the one chasing humans. This was her first time being chased by one.
Were this generation's [Pillars] really this powerful?!
While Daki struggled to make sense of it, Tanjiro suddenly seized an opening between her sash attacks and slashed at her neck.
At that instant, Daki's neck turned into a sash. Its extraordinary hardness and flexibility prevented Tanjiro, who had not activated his Bright Red Nichirin Sword, from cutting through it right away.
Daki seized the chance, splitting another sash from her body and sending it flying at Tanjiro. He reacted instantly, leaping backward to dodge her strike.
With her neck restored, Daki panted heavily, beads of cold sweat running down her face. Tanjiro, by contrast, remained calm. Hinokami Kagura put an enormous strain on his body, but all his training had not been for nothing.
Tanjiro frowned slightly. Why did this Upper Rank Demon seem a little... weak?
No, that can't be right. She must not have shown her true strength yet. She's an Upper Rank. I have to take this more seriously and be even more careful.
"Hinokami Kagura: Blazing Sun Red Mirror!"
Tanjiro leaped toward