He seemed to pierce the mists of time and see the girl in that dark dead-end alley all those years ago, still shielding her younger sister tightly at the brink of death, her eyes filled with despair and defiance. Later, after mastering Flower Breathing, Kanae Kocho had fought with that same desperation, that same resolve, and that same tragically beautiful grace when she killed her first demon.
"What a shame. This girl's heart is like a block of ice, sealed far too tightly." Rokuya sighed. He knew Kanao's tragic childhood had left her emotionally disconnected. Although Kanae and Shinobu had given her warmth, completely melting that ice would still take a fire.
"Hopefully, that boy Tanjiro, as warm as the sun, can be the key that unlocks your heart." Rokuya gathered his thoughts and looked toward the deepest part of Mount Fujikasane.
There, an immense demonic presence, brimming with resentment, was awakening.
"Is the main event finally coming?" A cold, piercing glint flashed through Rokuya's eyes, and he vanished on the spot.
Deep within Mount Fujikasane, in an open stretch of barren ground.
Several low-level demons of various shapes were recoiling in terror, as though they had encountered some utterly horrifying monster.
At the center of their encirclement, Tanjiro Kamado was panting heavily. His green checkered haori was torn in several places, and several bloody scratches marked his cheeks. Yet both hands held his Nichirin Blade tightly, and his clear eyes showed not a trace of fear. Instead, they blazed with fighting spirit.
"Hss-"
Tanjiro drew a deep breath, his lungs feeling as though a ball of fire burned within them. This was the hardest battle he had fought over the past few days. Not because these demons were particularly strong, but because there were too many of them.