How Could a Sword Be So Inconvenient?

His name was Rust-Eater.

He was hardly among the strongest in this sealed-off mountain forest. At least four or five demons could lord it over him.

But now, the most arrogant of those demons had all become fertilizer.

And he was still standing here, perfectly fine.

He even dared to appear openly before members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

What he relied on was his special ability.

[Blood Demon Art: Rust Corrosion]

It was a special ability bestowed through the blood of the demons' creator, Muzan Kibutsuji, then developed and evolved as a demon devoured humans and grew stronger.

It could instantly rust away most metals.

But it only worked on metal.

It had no particular effect on other demons or humans.

Against these swordsmen wielding Nichirin Blades, however, it was a completely different story.

If he wanted to,

the instant a slash struck him, he could rapidly rust and corrode the blade away.

A swordsman without his Nichirin Blade.

How was that any different from a kitten without teeth or claws?

"Once I eat you and find a chance to escape, I'm sure that lord will make me one of the Twelve Kizuki!"

"My ability is the natural nemesis of you sword-wielding brats."

He lunged forward.

For a moment, he actually forced Xia Xi to dodge several steps from side to side while protecting Seiko.

"So you're not even an officer, then?" Xia Xi asked probingly. "And who's this lord?"

What do you mean, not even an officer?!

Xia Xi's words had struck a nerve.

Rust-Eater roared, his clawing and scratching growing fiercer.

"You have no right to know!"

"Just let me eat you like all those other swordsmen!"

Seeing Xia Xi locked in a "bitter struggle," the swordsmen from earlier gathered around to support him.

But after all three of their Nichirin Blades turned to scrap, they found themselves unable to decide whether to keep attacking or retreat.

"You flies are so annoying."

Unable to bring Xia Xi down, Rust-Eater turned his attention to the ordinary swordsmen standing nearby, now unarmed.

He was just about to attack.

Then a vicious blow struck his abdomen, nearly knocking the stomach acid out of him.

"You..."

Only then did the incredulous Rust-Eater realize that the boy before him had never shown a trace of panic.

Not even when the weapon he supposedly depended on had broken.

"When I ask you a question, answer it."

As his opponent curled up in pain, Xia Xi smoothly followed with a knee strike. It slammed straight into the bridge of his nose, sending dark blood spraying from his nostrils all over his own face.

Rust-Eater cried out in pain, his vision blurring.

Even after becoming a demon,

the nerves in his face and the bridge of his nose remained the most sensitive.

Before he could recover, his feet left the ground, and he fell flat on his back.

"Tell me, what are the Twelve Kizuki? Your officers?" Xia Xi asked after knocking the demon down. "And that ability to rust swords-is it unique to you, or can those Twelve Kizuki do it too?"

"..."

Rust-Eater stared at the blurry stars, still unable to process what had happened.

This was the Demon Slayer Corps' selection ground.

This brat hadn't even become a member yet. Wasn't he a little too strong?

"I asked you a question."

"I'll kill you!"

Rust-Eater struggled to get up, trying to bite Xia Xi.

But before he could rise, Xia Xi easily knocked him down again.

Even this demon still followed the mechanics-or rather, the habits-of human anatomy.

Power began in the waist and abdomen, with the neck and arms providing support, before the hips and lower limbs completed the kinetic chain.

That was the complete sequence of getting up.

But for Xia Xi,

all he needed to do was interrupt it.

He kicked straight into the demon's knee, then turned sideways and drove downward, concentrating all his force into his right palm as he slammed it onto his opponent's head.

Rust-Eater was shoved back down faster than he had risen.

The back of his head struck the gravel with a crack.

It nearly knocked him unconscious.

Even the swordsmen watching felt a chill at the backs of their heads.

...Well, someone had certainly practiced that.

For Xia Xi, these movements were practically etched into his muscles.

Just a [Wake-up Lockdown].

It was even easier than what he had done in other fighting games.

After all, the game he was playing now offered no built-in [Super Armor] while getting up.

"If you talk, I might let you go, you know?"

Rust-Eater's eyes gradually regained focus.

Shame and fury nearly robbed him of all self-control.

He roared, "How would I know anything like that?!"

Xia Xi said, "Then what about your boss? You were just talking about winning his favor. Don't tell me you don't know him."

The demon's expression froze.

As though something terrifying had come to mind, he shuddered involuntarily before going back to his stubborn defiance.

"You stinking brat! Even if you kill me, I won't tell you!"

"Besides, can you even kill me without a sword? Hahahaha!"

Hearing that, Xia Xi merely sighed softly.

It seemed that extracting information would require some interrogation skills or special items.

Forget it. There'll be plenty more demons later.

The Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters and higher-ups might have some of that information too.

Let's advance the main quest first.

His fist came down, and this time he held nothing back.

With the temporary strength boost from his Breathing Style, a single punch left the demon's face a bloody mess.

Then came another punch.

An unending barrage of fists rained down like a storm.

Rust-Eater wanted to fight back, and he wanted to get up and flee.

But every time he so much as moved, Xia Xi's powerful fists interrupted him.

Before long, Rust-Eater had become a leather drum that felt no pain, pinned to the ground and relentlessly pounded by Xia Xi.

And as far as Xia Xi was concerned,

pinning down this

demon was only natural.

Aside from his somewhat troublesome Blood Demon Art, his strength was inferior to Xia Xi's while enhanced by his Breathing Style.

And in terms of technique, he was a complete idiot who knew nothing.

Now that the fight had gone to the ground, he couldn't even manage a halfway decent grapple or submission hold.

Of course Xia Xi could dominate him completely.

This was a different game.

The techniques he had practiced earned no special-effect bonuses here.

But his fighting skills and strong physique were real.

So this was a victory for martial arts.

Still, his opponent wasn't entirely reduced to taking a beating. Rust-Eater's mouth remained as stubborn as ever.

"You stinking brat! You can only act tough for now!"

"So you're strong? What good does strength do?"

"I'm an immortal demon!"

"You can fight now, but can you keep fighting forever?"

"Sunrise is still a long way off. Are you planning to stay here with me all night?"

"Just let me eat you. Don't worry, I'll bite through your neck as quickly as possible. Aren't I merciful? Hahahahaha..."

Xia Xi's punches slowed.

"You do have a point."

The surrounding swordsmen stared wide-eyed. One shouted, "Hey, don't listen to that demon's nonsense! We'll help you hold him here until sunrise, and then this monster is finished!"

Seiko stopped the swordsmen as they were about to step forward and help.

She said, "Xia Xi knows what he's doing."

"You're the smart one, Persimmon."

A series of cracking sounds rang out.

Xia Xi brutally smashed his opponent's limbs.

Then he casually stood, picked up the sword with only half its blade remaining, and walked over to his opponent's head.

"Say, you've eaten quite a few people, haven't you?"

"Your name is awfully red, after all."

Rust-Eater cried out in pain and uncertainty. "Hiss... That hurts! What are you doing?!"

"A sword?"

"Are you stupid? You think that little broken sword can hurt me?"

Xia Xi said expressionlessly, "Did you forget? I already cut your hand off once."

Rust-Eater said, "Huh?"

Although the sword had broken, the fact that it had severed the demon's hand proved that, fast as his corrosion was,

it still had a limit.

"I just need to slash faster than you can rust it."

"Right?"

Xia Xi flicked the broken sword a few times, briefly adjusting to it.

"Besides, what does it matter if the blade is broken..."

[Total Concentration]

At that instant, Xia Xi's power level began soaring wildly.

Of his three attributes, his physique shot rapidly from 26 all the way to 52.

[Wind Breathing: Fifth Form-Cold Autumn Mountain Wind]

A line of frost swept past, like the chill of late autumn piercing the mountains in an instant.

The descending edge tore straight through Rust-Eater's neck and head.

Xia Xi landed, then finished sheathing his sword.

"How could a sword be so inconvenient?"

Then the half-blade of the Nichirin Blade in his hand crumbled completely to ash.

[Progress: 419/2000 (+156)]

Pretty good experience. A bit hard on the swords, though.

Looking at the stunned swordsmen, Xia Xi called out to them.

"Hey, give me a sword."

"Shotaro, don't just stand there."

The swordsman named Shota had yet to recover, murmuring, "So this is the raging wind that can tear evil apart..."

Only then did Xia Xi remember that he had turned off [Breathing Style Effects].

Could the sword form I just used have looked incredibly flashy to them?

Maybe... I should leave them on from now on.

As Xia Xi considered it, Seiko finally fetched a sword from one of the fallen swordsmen.

"Xia Xi, I hope you don't mind."

Xia Xi twirled the sword twice to get a feel for it, then slid it into its sheath.

He looked at Seiko in puzzlement.

What was there to look down on?

Picking up a teammate's gear?

Without giving it much thought, he said to the swordsmen who were gradually coming to their senses, "Anyway, I figure most of the demons are dead by now."

"Follow me from here on out, and help me look for any that slipped through the cracks."

"We'd better not leave a single one alive."

"It'd be a shame to waste them."

The swordsmen nodded one after another, and one girl even shrank back in fright.

This boy was awfully bloodthirsty.

"If you've got a problem with that, speak up."

"No... right?"

"This wouldn't count as cheating, would it?"

"It should be fine..."

Several of the swordsmen looked hesitant.

Xia Xi raised his voice a little. "Is there a problem?"

They all flinched in unison.

They thought of the unstoppable gale he unleashed while killing demons, the chilling killing intent with which he slaughtered them all, and... that face, which had remained almost expressionless the entire time.

Could he be some crazed swordsman whose whole family had been slaughtered, whose little sister had died horribly, and who'd set out on a path of revenge?

If they refused now, would he cut them down on the spot?

"We'll be in your care from now on!"

Without even coordinating, they all bowed deeply to Xia Xi.

Good. Very spirited...

Wait, do I look like a villain?

Bewildered, Xia Xi turned to look at Seiko.

Only to find the young swordswoman pressing a hand tightly over her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly, her face flushed bright red from holding back her laughter.