The boys and girls gathered around one after another. Among these Demon Slayer trainees, only a small number showed fear and panic. Most of them, however, tightly gripped the hilts of their swords, determination burning in their eyes.
"Sensei, let us go support them too."
A boy nad Kurokawa Yuichi stepped forward and spoke first.
Soma's gaze swept across the gathered youths before he answered calmly,
"Your strength is still far from enough, and none of you have ever experienced real combat against demons. If you go now, you won't be helping anyone. You'll only create trouble… or throw your lives away."
Kurokawa Yuichi looked unwilling to accept that answer.
"Today, everyone will retreat deeper into the mountain, to the area where the wisteria trees are planted."
Soma directly gave the order.
Ever since arriving at Mount Sagiri, he had continuously planted wisteria trees throughout the mountain. One valley in particular had been almost completely covered in them.
That was where he intended to take everyone to hide.
Many of the trainees were clearly unwilling. They still wanted to participate in the demon hunts tonight, or at the very least go support the battles taking place elsewhere. Hearing Soma's decision left many of them visibly discouraged.
…
Carrying only simple luggage, Soma quickly led the group deeper into the mountains.
As they traveled, Kasugai Crows constantly flew overhead. From ti to ti, mournful cries echoed through the sky, reporting the deaths of Demon Slayers from various locations.
Every ti another death was announced, the atmosphere among the group grew heavier. Many clenched their fists tightly in silence.
Eventually, they arrived at the valley surrounded by blooming wisteria trees.
Soma finally stopped and turned toward everyone.
"Rember this feeling of being powerless today."
His voice remained calm, but every word landed heavily in their hearts.
"I hope that in the future, none of you will ever have to face a situation like this again. So work hard… beco stronger."
The expressions on the faces of the boys and girls varied, though many gritted their teeth silently.
"I know many of you are unwilling to accept this," Soma continued as he looked at them. "But this is reality. This is what it ans to be weak."
"If you were strong enough, I would not stop you from fighting alongside the official Demon Slayers today."
"But right now… you are far from ready."
His gaze beca sharper.
"And don't even think about secretly running off to support the battlefields. With your current strength, you wouldn't be helping the swordsn fighting demons."
"You would only beco another burden they have to protect."
"Right now, the only thing you need to do… is focus on what you should be doing."
…
Under the guidance of his Kasugai Crow, Tanjiro moved swiftly through the night.
From ti to ti, other crows passed overhead carrying fresh reports of fallen Demon Slayers from different regions.
Each death announcent caused the young boy's fists to tighten a little more.
Before long, guided by the crow, Tanjiro finally arrived at the town under attack.
The entire settlent was engulfed in flas.
Buildings burned everywhere, many already collapsing into charred ruins. Several demons with bluish-purple skin and vicious appearances rampaged through the streets, slaughtering people freely.
Their twisted smiles flickered beneath the glow of the firelight.
Panicked villagers fled desperately in every direction. A young mother clutching her child tried desperately to escape, trembling in fear, only for a demon to seize her from behind.
In the next instant, her body was torn apart.
Right in front of the crying child, the demon greedily devoured her remains.
"Damn it… damn it…"
Tanjiro's entire body trembled as he stared at the horrifying scene before him. His grip on his Nichirin Blade tightened so hard his hands shook.
"I will never forgive them."
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance."
Without the slightest hesitation, Tanjiro drew his Nichirin Sword and slashed toward one of the demons in the middle of its slaughter.
The battle erupted instantly.
…
The Butterfly Mansion.
A place ant for recovering wounded swordsn had suddenly beco a nightmare.
A demon burst inside and imdiately pounced onto a wounded Demon Slayer lying in bed.
"AAAAAH—!"
A horrifying scream mixed with the sound of flesh being torn apart echoed through the room.
The other wounded slayers froze. Before they could react, more demons erged, pouncing on them.
"Kill them!"
One wounded swordsman ignored his pain and charged at a demon, but halfway there, he was tackled to the ground. Then ca the sound of a beast chewing its prey.
The Butterfly Mansion housed not only wounded swordsn, but also many dical and support staff. Yet now, as demons flooded into the estate, one person after another was dragged down and devoured.
Inside one of the rooms, Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, Aoi Kanzaki, and several other support staff huddled together in fear behind tightly shut doors.
Their bodies trembled violently.
Then ca the sound of pounding against the door.
The next mont, windows and doors burst open.
Hideous demons rushed inside and imdiately tore apart one of the support workers before anyone could react.
"AHHHH!"
The girls scread in panic.
Although she was still young herself, Aoi Kanzaki, being the oldest among them, forced herself to grip a Nichirin Sword with trembling hands and stood protectively in front of Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho like a mother hen shielding her chicks.
"What wonderfully delicious slls…"
One of the demons tore another bite from the body in its hands before raising its head.
Blood covered its mouth, and beneath the moonlight, its savage expression looked even more horrifying.
Faced with such a terrifying monster, Aoi's legs nearly gave out beneath her. Fear had already consud her completely, yet she still forced herself to stand there through sheer instinct alone.
"ROAAAR!"
The demon let out an excited howl and lunged toward Aoi, eager to feast on fresh prey.
I'm going to die.
Aoi instinctively shut her eyes.
She knew she should raise her Nichirin Sword and fight back, but the sight of the demon's blood-covered face had crushed her courage entirely. She could barely even lift the sword.
She knew she was about to be eaten by a demon—
just like her parents had been.
Yet the pain she expected never ca.
Instead, a crisp and icy female voice rang out through the room.
"Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance: Caprice."
A graceful figure swept forward like a butterfly dancing through the air.
The girl's Nichirin Sword pierced into the demon's body almost instantly before being swiftly withdrawn. Her light figure landed gently on the ground a mont later.
The demon that had lunged toward Aoi suddenly stopped.
Looking down at the tiny wound left on its body, it sneered dismissively.
"A wound like this ans nothing to us demons."
"Is that so?"
Shinobu Kochou stood before Aoi and the others, shielding the Butterfly Mansion staff behind her. Her small face was tense, and cold fury burned within her eyes.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the demon—who looked like it was about to say more—suddenly began to convulse. It collapsed to the floor, its life force rapidly fading until it went silent.
"I will protect you. Go to the escape tunnel imdiately!" Shinobu ordered the dical staff behind her.
Having spoken, she led the way out, and the staff followed close behind. The mont they stepped out, more demons rushed them. Shinobu moved forward instantly, cutting them down.
Normally, demons rarely acted together like this.
But tonight, they appeared endlessly.
As Shinobu protected the group, she continuously killed three more demons in succession. By now, she was already breathing heavily from exhaustion.
Fortunately, they had finally reached the hidden escape passage prepared beneath the Butterfly Mansion.
"Get inside! Follow the tunnel out!"
Shinobu shouted toward Aoi and the others.
The mont she noticed another demon approaching, she imdiately rushed forward with her Nichirin Sword and killed it as well.
But after cutting it down, she looked into the darkness ahead.
More shadowy figures were slowly erging.
More demons.
Shinobu tightened her grip on her sword, breathing heavily.
"Co then, you filthy monsters."
The young girl stood firmly with blade in hand.
She had already made up her mind.
As long as she remained here, she would never allow a single demon to harm the defenseless dical staff of the Butterfly Mansion.
Then—
tap… tap… tap…
The sound of footsteps echoed from the darkness.
Unlike the others, this presence carried an overwhelming aura of danger far beyond that of ordinary demons.
Shinobu instinctively tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, her violet eyes staring into the darkness ahead.
Amid the clear sound of approaching footsteps—
a powerful mber of the Twelve Kizuki slowly erged from the shadows.
...
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