"It's amazing that you held on until I arrived!"
Giyu's gaze lingered briefly on Tanjiro, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Immediately, his attention returned to Lei, who was not far away.
"Leave the rest of the battle to me!"
His calm words gave people an indescribable sense of security.
Tanjiro was momentarily stunned as he stared at the figure before him.
Having only met him once, he couldn't immediately recognize the person in front of him. After racking his brains for a long time, he finally recognized him by his distinctive haori.
This is... Mr. Tomioka?
"All of you trash who are just getting in my way, get out of here!"
An irritating voice rang out, and he abruptly raised his tired hands.
" Blood Demon Art: Thread Rotation!"
Dense spider silk rapidly converged in front of Lei, resembling countless blood-red venomous snakes.
More and more spider silk...
Finally, the fine spider silk surged before him like ocean waves.
With his tired hands pushing forward, countless spider silks attacked the direction where Giyu was located.
Before the attack even arrived, a gentle breeze had already begun to stir.
Giyu calmly drew his Nichirin Blade from its sheath.
" Water Breathing - Type 11!"
"Type 11?"
Tanjiro exclaimed in surprise, "This move isn't in the Water Breathing sword style I learned!"
"So what if it's the Type 11? Even if you gave him the Type 20, it wouldn't make a difference!" Lei said disdainfully.
Ignoring their reactions, Giyu the knife with both hands, letting it hang naturally in front of him.
" Dead Calm!"
Though the voice was low, it resonated clearly in everyone's hearts, like the morning bell and evening drum.
As the words fell, the sounds in the forest seemed to vanish in that instant.
There were no insect chirps, no bird calls, and even the overwhelming sea of blood-red spider silk vanished without a trace at that moment.
Everything fell silent.
The disappearing spider silk left Lei momentarily stunned.
How... how could this be?
Where is my spider silk?
Didn't they hit the Demon Slayer at all?
The approaching Demon Slayer brought Lei back to his senses.
Although I don't know what just happened.
But one more time would have been enough.
His tired hands were raised again.
" Blood Demon Art: Engraving Wheel..."
Whoosh--!
Giyu gently stepped past the weary figure.
With a flick of his wrist, he shook off the bloodstains from the blade, then slowly sheathed it.
Having lost its strength, the exhausted figure slowly collapsed.
Tanjiro breathed a sigh of relief upon smelling the familiar scent of the vanished demon.
but...
Nezuko!
He quickly got up, staggered towards Nezuko, and carefully examined her injuries.
After confirming that Nezuko was safe and sound, Tanjiro finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Turning his head to look at Rui, who was slowly turning to ashes beside him, Tanjiro felt a mix of emotions.
He slowly raised a hand and gently covered his tired body.
Rest in peace!
Tanjiro thought to himself silently.
The exhausted body gradually turned to ashes and scattered in the air.
The next moment, a foot stepped on the remaining clothes.
Tanjiro looked up and saw Giyu Tomioka calmly saying:
"Have no pity for a ghost who has eaten people!"
Even though he looks like just a little kid!
But the fact that he's survived to this day and become Lower Rank means he's already eaten countless people!
Tanjiro gazed intently at Giyu.
"To ensure that the murdered can rest in peace, and to prevent future victims, I will naturally cut off the demon's head without hesitation!"
but...
For those ghosts who regretted their actions at the moment of their death!
I will not trample on them, because they were once human beings too!
Just like us...
people!
So please move your foot away!
Upon hearing this, the Giyu Company turned cold.
"I don't know if they'll regret it, but the many lives they've slaughtered can't be erased simply with a little regret!"
After he finished speaking, Giyu suddenly moved.
With the swiftness of a cheetah hunting its prey, he leaped lightly across Tanjiro's position with ease.
Clang!
With her Nichirin Blade clashing, Shinobu Kocho gracefully flipped in the air before landing steadily.
"Huh? Were you just getting in my way of killing the demon, Mr. Tomioka?" Shinobu Kocho looked at Giyu Tomioka with a hint of doubt.
Giyu remained silent and did not reply.
"Seriously, at least say something! That's why everyone dislikes you!"
After waiting a while, seeing that Giyu still hadn't spoken, Shinobu Kocho had no choice but to try again:
"You... you really aren't planning on replying to me?"
Giyu lowered his eyes slightly, remained silent for a moment, and finally spoke slowly:
"I am not disliked!"
Tanjiro looked at Giyu Tomioka with some surprise.
Huh? Is this the question that person wanted to ask?
"Ah, now that you mention it, you haven't realized you're already disliked! You've been a pillar for so many years!"
Shinobu Kocho seemed troubled and didn't ask Giyu any more questions. Shinobu Kocho turned to look at Tanjiro.
"Little brother!"
"Here!" Tanjiro turned his head to look.
"You're protecting a ghost! That's dangerous, get out of the way!"
"She's not... no, that's not right." Tanjiro thought about how to say it, "Um... this is my sister, so..."
"Ah, so that's how it is. How pitiful!"
Shinobu Kocho raised a hand and gently covered her mouth.
"However, since she is a ghost, according to the rules, I must eliminate her."
But don't worry, I'll use a mild poison to take him away; it won't cause her any pain.
"No, Nezuko is different from other demons; she doesn't eat people!"
Upon hearing this, Tanjiro hurriedly tried to explain, but Shinobu Kocho's figure had already pounced on him like a ghost.
Clang!
Giyu blocked another blow, without turning his head, remaining facing Shinobu Kocho, and said:
"Don't leave my side! Shinobu Kocho is too fast. If you leave my side, I might not be able to protect you!"
"Oh dear, Mr. Tomioka, this is putting me in a difficult position!"
Shinobu Kocho chuckled softly.
" Mr. Tomioka, are you really planning to protect this demon? You should know that this violates the team rules, right?"
Giyu, sword in hand, faced Shinobu Kocho and, after a moment's thought, said, "This demon is different from the others!"
Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho's smile froze slightly for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Is it like this again!"
Realizing that Giyu was serious, Shinobu Kocho lost interest in saying anything more to him.
The Nichirin Blade twirled beautifully in the air before the figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
Where did they go? Vanished? So fast!
Tanjiro sighed.
The next moment, Tanjiro's body suddenly tensed up, and his pupils contracted continuously.
A uniquely styled longsword suddenly appeared before him, pointing directly at Nezuko.
Nezuko!!
Get Nezuko out of the way!
No!
It's too late...
Clang!