Demon Slayer: My breathing technique went awry after Nezuko pushed me down.

That stab just now!

It's Muzan!!!

Were they discovered because they were too close?!

Tsk! I underestimated Muzan's senses!

Cold sweat poured down Shirakawa Yu's forehead. Nezuko was clinging tightly to his head, his clothes and hair flapping wildly in the wind.

From a distance, Shirakawa Yu and Nezuko looked like a combined long-haired, big-headed demon who vanished in a flash.

Even so, five minutes later, in a nearly abandoned alley on the edge of the city, Shirakawa Yu suddenly braked and came to a stop.

A man in a black suit stood quietly in the middle of the alley, looking at him expressionlessly.

Or rather, look at Nezuko on his head.

"There's even a ghost I can't control! What's your name—"

"Breath of Color - First Form - Heroine!!!"

Muzan was only halfway through his sentence when a gigantic pink sword, over twenty meters long and compressed to its limit by Shirakawa Yu, shot into the sky.

The pink light was so dazzling that it even illuminated two nearby streets.

The next second, the broadsword fell cleanly and decisively without the slightest hesitation.

Muzan's expression changed, but not from fear, but from anger!

Even though you can feel the immense power in that slash just by looking at it, for him, even if he stood still, it would only be a superficial wound at most.

What angered him was that the other party dared not let him finish speaking!

Muzan's arm muscles bulged and surged, instantly transforming into two powerful yet incredibly ugly, thick forelimbs that crossed above his head.

"Fine! Since you want to fight, I'll play along!"

Muzan was already feeling suffocated by the fear he felt from the familiar shadow on Tanjiro earlier, and now he could finally vent it!

The moment his arms collided with the giant blade, Muzan's brows furrowed sharply.

The immense force coming from his arm was much stronger than he had expected.

column! ?

Does Ubuyashiki have such a pillar?

when!?

Before Muzan could use his countless brains to find out Shirakawa Yu's background.

The name of the move rang out again.

"Breath of Color - Third Form - Through Flowers!!!"

Muzan's crimson eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

Wearing two swords, able to unleash two moves at once, I see... Is it a dual-wielding style?

"Fine! I'll see what else you've got up your sleeve!"

Muzan snorted coldly, and four scythe-like chain blades appeared out of thin air from his waist.

"Clang clang clang clang!"

Four knocks rang out in succession.

The massive pink blade shattered instantly upon impact with the flying scythe.

But amidst the pervasive pink aura, Muzan did not rush to make a move.

A swordsman with such talent deserves to be tormented!

I'll beat him until he realizes the difference in our strength!

Abuse him to the point of causing him psychological problems!

He was tortured to the point of madness, driven to crave power!

Torture him until he's on his deathbed, then give him another choice...

Maybe I'll get another lower moon, or even... an upper moon!

So he waited, wanting to see how powerful the second move of someone who could deliver such an amazing strike would be!

Whether or not one is qualified to be recruited by him.

wait......

When the powdery mist dissipates...

Waiting for his second move...

.......But.......

......people?

Where are they?!

What are you recruiting?!

Looking at the empty alleyway entrance and the long sword with its hilt stuck in the ground, still in a slashing position.

Muzan stared blankly as he lowered his newly healed arms, his blood-red eyes trembling violently!

it turns out......

They ran away! ??

That demon slayer swordsman... actually got away!?

"You bastard!!! How dare you play me!!!"

Muzan's roar was even louder than the commotion during their actual fight.

Fortunately, this area is near the edge of Asakusa, so there are fewer people here.

Otherwise, who knows how many people would have been attracted by that shout.

Even so, people in the city center could still faintly hear a muffled thud.

Tanjiro, who was familiar with Shirakawa Yu, could even smell the lingering effects of the Color Breathing technique in the air.

"Senior...Senior Brother?"

Tanjiro stared blankly at the direction where the two were fighting in the distance, but at this moment, he was surrounded by Tamayo's Blood Demon Art.

Tanjiro stood up with a worried expression. "Um... if possible, I'll leave this person to you!"

After saying that, she was about to run towards Shirakawa Yu's direction, but was stopped by Tamayo, who was wearing a purple kimono and had a solemn expression.

"Was that commotion just now... your senior brother?"

"Yes, it's my senior brother. He's never made such a commotion before. It seems the ghosts in this place are not easy to deal with."

Tanjiro didn't think of Muzan, firstly because of the distance, and secondly because his senior brother wasn't with him.

He thought that Shirakawa Yu had found the evil spirit that was behind this mission itself.

But since it could make my senior brother erupt like this, it's clear that it's not easy to solve.

"Please move aside, I need to go find my senior brother!"

Tamayo looked at Tanjiro and quietly asked, "What rank is your senior in the Demon Slayer Corps? Is he a Pillar?"

"Pillar?" Tanjiro didn't expect the other party to ask that, but he still answered honestly.

"No, we only officially joined the Demon Slayer Corps half a month ago."

"About two weeks ago?"

Upon hearing this, Tamayo turned her head to look behind her, silently shook her head, and a trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes.

"There's no need to look anymore. I sensed Muzan's energy during the fluctuations just now."

Upon hearing this name, Tanjiro froze instantly. "You mean..."

"Your senior brother is fighting with Muzan..."

Tanjiro: "!!!"

Without a word, Tanjiro immediately tried to forcefully pierce Tamayo's Blood Demon Art.

Tamayo did not stop her, but silently stepped aside.

As Tanjiro passed by her, she suddenly raised her hand and delivered a chop to the back of Tanjiro's neck.

Tanjiro's eyes rolled back instantly, and he collapsed into Yushiro's arms.

"I'm sorry, your senior brother is already dead, and I don't want you to die here too."

"Yushiro, bring him back to the house as well."

Yushiro was clearly reluctant, "But... he's a member of the Demon Slayer Corps..."

"Be good~"

"Yes!"

......

When Tanjiro awoke again, he was already in a house hidden by Yushiro's Blood Demon Art.

"Nezuko! Senior brother!!"

Tanjiro sprang up from the tatami mat, his forehead scar reddened from congestion, and his bloodshot eyes scanned the unfamiliar room.

Nezuko in her pink kimono was nowhere to be seen, nor was Shirakawa Yu's ever-smiling face.

It had only a faint smell like disinfectant and a cool, non-human scent.

"you're awake."

The sliding door was gently pushed open, and Tamayo, dressed in a purple kimono, with a gentle and graceful demeanor like a woman in an ancient painting, stood in the doorway, her light purple eyes calmly looking at him.

"I'm sorry to bring you here in this way."