Looking at Uchida motionless on the ground.
Hase felt a moment of mental disorientation.
Uchida... is dead?
He killed himself?
If I had listened to him tonight and hadn't come, and had continued waiting for the Master to send someone down, wouldn't he have survived?
If Uchida had said he wanted to come with me, and I hadn't agreed, would he have survived?
But... why wasn't it me who died?!
Uchida still has a family!!!
His family will be heartbroken for him!!
Hase gritted his teeth, staring at the demon with bloodshot eyes, one blood vessel after another appearing in his eyes.
A strong sense of malice emanated from the demon, which slightly turned to look at the Demon Slayer had just dodged its attack.
Then his mouth turned up in a wide grin, revealing sharp fangs.
"You're something else! You actually dodged my attack! I should have kept quiet and warned you! Well, it's pretty much the same thing anyway, it's just a matter of dying sooner or dying while playing with fire!"
Hase gritted his teeth and said, word by word:
"You bastard, you really deserve to die!!"
His voice trembled slightly with excessive anger.
Hearing the Demon Slayer's words, the demon became even happier, and he grinned:
"Well, maybe so, but you might be the one dying tonight!"
There was no reply, Hase wasn't in the mood to reply either.
He now has only one goal.
That is...
Kill the demon before you!!!
Hase slightly parted his legs and squatted down, then...
suck--!
Deep breathing came from Hase's nostrils.
The next moment, a low shout rang out from the rooftop.
" Flame Breathing!"
Crimson flames began to appear around the Hase.
" First Form!"
Hase continued in a low voice.
Then he suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the evil spirit in the distance, and boundless rage burst forth from his eyes.
"I... don't know... about... fire!"
Hase stared at the demon in the distance and growled.
His calf muscles, concealed by his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, bulged prominently.
The next moment, accompanied by a 'bang'.
Crimson flames traced a magnificent path through the air.
The demon watched with great interest the Demon Slayer rushing towards it, and the flames drifting in the air.
"Is this Demon Slayer uses Flame Breathing?"
"That's really a beautiful Breathing Style!"
"Hmm, I wonder what Breathing Style that person used just now?"
Ignoring the demon, Hase continued to exert force with his feet, rushing towards the demon's figure at high speed.
The distance between the two continued to close until they were less than ten meters apart, at which point the demon raised its claw-like hand.
Then.
Clang!
The Nichirin Blade clashed with the claws, producing a sharp, piercing sound.
The powerful force was transmitted from the clashing swords to each other.
Feeling the force emanating from the Nichirin Blade, Hase looked through it at the Nichirin Blade opposite him.
I can win!
The blade and claws quickly separated, then swiftly collided again.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!...
The Nichirin Blade and the claws clashed wildly.
Along with the sound of the collision, there were also countless sparks generated by the impact.
Clang!
Another loud bang, and this time the two did not separate immediately, but instead became locked in a struggle.
Hase gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly in front of him.
Opposite him, the demon's claws pressed down on the Nichirin Blade, desperately pushing it downwards.
Hase gritted his teeth, gripping his Nichirin Blade and exerting force, but the Nichirin Blade was still being slowly pressed down.
The demon grinned, looking down at the Demon Slayer face was contorted with rage from exerting too much force, and laughed.
"What, weren't you going to avenge that Demon Slayer? You think you can do it like this?"
Hase gritted his teeth, staring intently into the deep blue pupils of the demon before him, and said through gritted teeth:
"I... will... definitely... punish... you... today!"
The demon grinned, about to say something more to mock Hase, when Hase took two steps back and then abruptly sheathed his long sword at his side.
With the Nichirin Blade no longer obstructing it, the claws, controlled by the demon, slashed straight towards Hase's neck.
Without panicking, Hase quickly moved his Nichirin Blade to the side.
" Fourth Form: The Blooming Flame Undulation!"
The Nichirin Blade quickly traced a circle around Hase.
Crimson flames quickly appeared where the Nichirin Blade had slashed, forming a wheel of fire.
Then, the fiery wheel swiftly swung towards the oncoming claws.
Clang! Clang!
Two sharp, metallic clanging sounds rang out in succession.
The slashing claws were blocked by the Nichirin Blade.
However, before Hase could finish his sword technique, he quickly pushed off with his feet and rushed towards the demon's embrace.
The Nichirin Blade in his hand continued to dance around him, and a new wheel of fire quickly formed.
Upon seeing this, the evil spirit retreated repeatedly, but running backwards was no match for running forwards.
The distance between the two sides closed rapidly, and then...
laugh--!
The fiery wheel crashed straight into the demon.
The remaining flames burned the demon's body, causing it to scream in agony.
Without getting carried away, Hase followed up with his Nichirin Blade, watching the demon lose its balance due to the slash and pain.
" Flame Breathing - Third Form: All- Blazing Universe!"
The Nichirin Blade, wreathed in raging flames, slashed towards the demon's neck.
laugh--!
The blade sliced Flash the butter with the speed and precision of a hot knife.
Bang! Bang! Glug glug...
The demon's head landed on the roof, bounced twice, and then slowly rolled down the roof's slope.
The headless body collapsed to its knees, powerless.
Hase glanced at the demon, the anger in his eyes vanishing, replaced by an overwhelming sadness.
He slowly sheathed his long sword, then turned and walked towards where Uchida was lying.
Seeing Uchida lying on the ground, unable to get up again, tears quickly filled Hase's eyes.
" Uchida, I'm sorry, if it weren't for me..."
"Click-clack!"
A faint sound came from behind.
Hase was slightly taken aback, as the voice seemed somewhat familiar.
My mind raced, and the image that flashed to mind was of myself and Uchida walking on the rooftop tonight.
That's... the sound of footsteps on roof tiles!!!
Is there a second ghost?
Hase's body stiffened slightly. Before he could think about why there was a sound, his right hand quickly reached for the Nichirin Blade at his waist, while his body swiftly turned backward.
The figure behind him seemed to have noticed Hase's movements, abandoned his previous cautious actions, and pounced straight at Hase.
What came into Hase's view was a demon with the same face as the demon from before, but dressed differently.
Are they... twins?