I don't want to be an elf!

If Tanjiro Kamado wanted to kill them, it would be far too easy for them, who were already severely injured.

Since the other party didn't do that, it means he really didn't have any hostile intentions.

Upon seeing the two Demon Slayer Corps members back down, Tanjiro Kamado immediately tore off some cloth from his clothes and gave them a simple bandage.

"I need to get you out of here. Are you able to walk?"

After the initial bandaging, Tanjiro Kamado said, "We're just getting in the way here. We need to move to a safe place so that the Commander can do his best."

"I'm sorry, I've already done my best to stay conscious."

"Me too, I don't know how many ribs I broke, I definitely can't walk anymore."

“It’s okay, I can carry one of you on my back.”

Tanjiro Kamado beckoned to his sister, Nezuko, and said, "This is my sister, Nezuko. She will be in charge of the other person."

“Your sister… I remember she’s a demon, right?” one of the Demon Slayer Corps members said hesitantly. “Won’t she go berserk and eat us after she smells blood?”

They can trust Tanjiro Kamado for the time being, because after all, he is still human.

But for a demon slayer, believing in a demon is harder than climbing to heaven.

"We have no choice."

Although they also didn't believe in Nezuko, another Demon Slayer Corps member was much braver and volunteered to step forward and stand by Nezuko's side.

So, the Kamado siblings quickly carried the two wounded Demon Slayer Corps members on their backs.

"The wounded have been taken away, so the commander no longer needs to hold back."

After taking one last look at Kotori Itsuka, who was still locked in fierce combat, Tanjiro Kamado activated his breathing technique and quickly left the area.

"The rest is up to you."

Chapter Seventeen: Let the Flames Purify Everything

"Tsk, they ran away."

Realizing that the Kamado siblings had taken away his prey, the Blue-Striped Demon's face grew increasingly gloomy.

However, he did not leave the battle.

The frequency of attacks has actually increased.

Having not fought against his own kind for a long time, he was now truly enraged.

"Then use your body to replace those two demon slayers!"

Having made up his mind to kill and devour the woman in front of him, the Blue-Striped Demon's attacks became even more ferocious.

Injuries for injuries, blood for blood.

Minced flesh and severed limbs flew everywhere, but the Blue-Striped Demon gained the upper hand with overwhelming speed, forcing Kotori Itsuka to retreat step by step.

"boom--!"

Seizing the opportunity, the Blue-Striped Demon punched Kotori Itsuka in the face without holding back.

The demon mask shattered, revealing the girl's true face.

Kotori Itsuka was also sent flying by the blow, crashing heavily into a large tree behind her.

Just as she staggered and tried to stand up, the Blue-Striped Ghost sped up in front of her, grabbed her by the neck, and lifted her up.

"Hmph, you have a path to heaven but you choose not to take it, and you barge into hell when there is no gate to it."

The Blue-Striped Demon sneered, holding the girl up with one hand while using the other to plunge Tanjiro Kamado's Nichirin Blade into her body.

The sword blade pierced her flesh, and Kotori Itsuka was pinned to the tree.

Like fish meat at the mercy of others.

As if venting its anger at the escape of its prey and the resentment accumulated during the battle on her, the Blue-Striped Demon opened its blood-red maw and bit off Kotori Itsuka's hand.

He planned to devour this foolish fellow bit by bit.

The flesh and blood flowed into his stomach, greatly satisfying his bloodlust.

Just then, Kotori Itsuka, who had just seemed to have been knocked unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Is it good?" she asked with a smile. "How does it taste?"

Seeing that the other party not only did not faint, but also kindly asked how it tasted, the blue-striped ghost, who was chewing on flesh and bones, was stunned.

He didn't understand why this guy could be so calm.

His body was nailed to the tree, and his only fate was to be eaten piece by piece, have his blood sucked, and die after losing his self-healing ability.

But she didn't seem worried at all.

This left the Blue-Striped Ghost somewhat puzzled.

"Hehe, it tastes great, of course."

The blue-striped demon retorted coldly, but did not stop chewing: "Indeed, killing one's own kind is the fastest way to increase strength. After eating your flesh and blood, I can already feel the power flowing into my limbs and bones."

"Is that so?" Kotori Itsuka's smile grew even brighter. "That's good."

The Blue-Striped Ghost wanted to say something more.

But his expression suddenly changed, and he stopped chewing.

The flesh and blood he swallowed seemed to contain some kind of energy, making him truly feel an increase in strength.

But for some reason, he was unable to control this power.

An unfamiliar force coursed through his body, rampaging and causing his muscles to tense and veins to bulge.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Suppressed roars of pain rose from his throat as the Blue-Striped Ghost knelt on the ground in agony, tearing open his stomach to try and scoop out everything he had just eaten.

But Kotori Itsuka wouldn't give him that chance.

"clatter."

With a snap of his fingers, the spiritual power within the Blue-Striped Ghost instantly ignited.

However, this time it wasn't the purple self-healing flame.

Instead, it was a crimson flame of destruction.

"Ah ah ah ah ah----!"

In an instant, the Blue-Striped Ghost was engulfed in flames.

His internal organs, bones, marrow, muscles, and blood vessels—every inch of his body was burning.

The extreme pain drove him to frantically tear at his body, trying to rip off the burning parts.

However, this was of no use.

As soon as the burning skin was torn off, new skin grew back, only to be instantly covered by the surrounding flames again.

It's like a form of torture from the deepest hell.

Sinful souls are purified under the eternal flame, cleansing themselves of their debts and sins.

At this moment, immortality has become the most terrifying curse.

“Poor hospitality.”

Kotori Itsuka pulled the Nichirin Blade from her stomach and looked at the demon bathed in flames before her with a half-smile.

In terms of speed alone, she is indeed inferior to this ghost.

That's why she never intended to decide the outcome using pure strength.

Defeating him is easy, but killing him is extremely difficult.

Once he realizes that his strength far surpasses his own, this guy will definitely use his overwhelming speed to escape.

Kotori Itsuka's speed wasn't particularly fast among the ten Pokémon, and her stamina was the worst among the fighting-type Pokémon.

Therefore, the only way to be 100% certain of defeating this ghost is through strategy.

"Kill me! Kill me!"

The Blue-Striped Demon had lost its human form amidst the flames.

His charred skin and flesh were constantly regenerating, making him look like a melting snowman—strange and terrifying.

The ghost, which had been so arrogant just moments before, was now tearing at its own body in agony, begging for release.

Seeing the scene before her, a brighter crimson light shone in Kotori Itsuka's beautiful red eyes.

The screams and pleas made her smile even brighter. She picked up the scorched demon from the ground and inserted it into his body.

As a result, the flames on the Blue-Striped Demon intensified.

The already pitiful cries became even more horrific.

However, Kotori Itsuka quickly suppressed her sadistic desires.

"I've used up a bit too much spiritual power."

Realizing she was beginning to be affected by the manic spiritual energy, Kotori Itsuka took a few deep breaths to suppress her escalating emotions.

Then, he raised his hand and swung his Nichirin Blade.

The Nichirin Blade cleanly and decisively sliced ​​through the Blue-Striped Demon's neck, severing him in two.

This is the ghost's fatal weakness.

Once the neck is severed by a Nichirin Blade imbued with the power of the sun, the brain and heart will be simultaneously eroded.

At that time, the Muzan cells inside the demon's body will also stop regenerating.

As expected, his body stopped regenerating after his neck was severed by the Nichirin Blade.

Amidst the flames, the Blue-Striped Demon's body turned to ashes and vanished from the spot.

Kotori Itsuka stood still, breathing calmly.