The moment they stepped into the mountain forest, even the surrounding air seemed to grow thick.
The damp earth mingled with rotting leaves, giving off a nauseating smell.
Darkness pressed in from every direction.
"Hahahaha! I can already smell a big one!"
Inosuke's wild laughter sounded especially grating in the deathly still forest.
Like a beast freed from its restraints, he charged ahead, leading the way.
"Inosuke! Be careful!"
Tanjiro followed close behind, carrying Nezuko's box on his back, his face full of worry.
Sasuke walked at the rear.
He was in no hurry to catch up. His scarlet right eye scanned their surroundings without pause.
Threads invisible to the naked eye were practically everywhere in this forest.
They dangled from the treetops and emerged from beneath the ground, like a vast, invisible hunting net.
And Tanjiro and Inosuke had plunged straight into it like two unsuspecting prey animals.
"Rustle..."
A faint scraping sound came from the bushes ahead.
"Who's there!"
Inosuke abruptly stopped, crossing his twin blades in a defensive stance.
Tanjiro immediately gripped his sword hilt as well, staring warily in that direction.
Several figures slowly emerged from the darkness.
They were members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
They all wore the same uniform.
But their movements were utterly bizarre.
Their limbs twisted at unnatural, rigid angles, and with every step, their bones made teeth-grating cracking sounds.
Their faces were expressionless.
Their eyes were hollow, like string puppets whose souls had been ripped away.
"Everyone! Are you all right? We're here to help!"
Seeing that they were comrades, Tanjiro immediately lowered his guard and called out.
But those people did not respond.
They simply raised their Nichirin Blades and charged, their movements haphazard and suicidal.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Tanjiro recoiled in shock, retreating again and again