Meanwhile, at the other end of Mount Fujikasane.
Thunder rumbled. Dark clouds suddenly shrouded the previously clear night sky, and a light rain began to fall.
"Waaaaah-stop chasing me! I don't taste good! My meat is sour!"
Accompanied by piercing screams, a golden figure fled madly along a muddy forest path. Zenitsu Agatsuma wiped away his tears as he scrambled forward, even forgetting to draw the Nichirin Blade at his waist.
Behind him, two demons with tongues as long as whips pursued him relentlessly, cackling all the while.
"Don't run, brat! Your crying sounds so lovely! Let me rip out your tongue to have with my booze!"
Zenitsu tripped over a tree root and fell heavily into the muddy water. He looked back at the two terrifying demons drawing ever closer, the fear in his eyes reaching its peak.
"It's over... I'm going to die... Grandpa, I'm sorry. I really am useless after all..."
Under this extreme terror and despair, Zenitsu's eyes suddenly rolled back, and he passed out on the spot. His body lay limp and motionless in the muddy water.
"Hahahaha! This kid actually fainted from fright! How boring. Let's just eat him!"
The two demons lunged forward with vicious grins, their barbed tongues shooting toward Zenitsu's heart like swords.
Just then.
Rokuya, who had been hiding in the shadows and was already prepared to rescue him, suddenly stopped moving. Standing on a high branch, he watched the unconscious boy below with interest.
Here it comes. Let me see just how much of my move you've learned, kid.
The instant the demons' tongues were about to touch Zenitsu's body.
Zenitsu, who had been lying face down on the ground, suddenly underwent a complete change in his breathing. His rapid, panicked breaths instantly became incredibly long and deep.
"Hiss-hoo-"