"Shinobu!"
Mitsuri Kanroji spotted Shinobu, who still appeared a bit dazed—this was her first time flying at high altitude, and she hadn't quite adjusted.
"Is there going to be a fight?"
Seeing Shinobu, the other Pillars assumed conflict was at hand. Esdeath grinned as though she'd found prey, an intense cold aura pouring forth from her.
"So cold!"
Even the Pillars felt the chilling sting on their skin, as if frost were biting into them.
"It must be a Blood Demon Art! Protect Lord Ubuyashiki—die, demon!"
With bloodthirst brimming in his eyes, Sanemi Shinazugawa bellowed and charged forward like a raging gale.
"Sanemi-san, stop!"
"Shinazugawa! Cease!"
Shinobu and Kagaya Ubuyashiki both tried to stop him, but they were too late—he was already exhaling forcefully, blade raised for an overhead slash toward Esdeath.
Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!
Alas, it was no wind power, just pure speed and raw force in a slicing rush.
"Pathetic." Esdeath murmured in disappointment. She swung her right leg with lightning speed, her kick striking precisely at Sanemi's abdomen, skimming past his blade.
"Urgh!"
His stomach churned, blood spurting from his mouth. Yet before the blood could even land on Esdeath, it froze into crimson ice and fell to the ground.
Eyes bulging, Sanemi was blasted off like an arrow loosed from the bowstring, crashing into a decorative rock formation in the courtyard. It exploded into rubble beneath the impact.
"What!?" Every Pillar was horrified—Esdeath's kick had been so fast they couldn't even see it!
They nearly rushed forward together, but Esdeath, finding no interest, withdrew her leg. She radiated disdain. "Far too weak… completely disappointing."
Stepping between her and the Pillars, Shinobu raised a hand, preventing them from attacking.
"Everyone, please stand down! These are my friends. They're not demons, nor are they enemies."
"Hold your weapons, children." Kagaya Ubuyashiki also urged them to stop what would be a pointless fight.
Though neither Shinobu nor the Master wanted more violence, the Pillars remained on guard—especially against Esdeath. Her single kick had instantly floored Sanemi, a troubling display of might. If she tried to harm Ubuyashiki, they would be forced into a dire struggle.
Kagaya immediately had someone check on Sanemi, who was fortunately only unconscious. Leaning on Amane Ubuyashiki's arm, Kagaya moved closer.
"You must be the people Shinobu mentioned—those who can deal with Muzan?"
He approached with humility. From Amane's simple descriptions, he had deduced each person's appearance.
The young woman with a halo and faint, radiant wings, like an angel.
The one exuding a gentle, cleansing light.
The one whose icy aura and military attire suggested a hardened warrior.
And the carefree, casually dressed but quietly imposing young man in their midst.
The way they descended from the sky and the coldness Esdeath displayed were not normal by any means. Under typical reasoning, it resembled Blood Demon Art, yet Kagaya Ubuyashiki sensed they were not demons.
"Lord Ubuyashiki," Shinobu said, dropping to one knee.
"Shinobu."
"Yes!"
Standing up at Tatsuki's nod, she introduced them by name, without divulging the rest of their origins—those details were not for her to explain.
"Greetings, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Master of the Demon Slayer Corps. You may call me Tatsuki. I'm the one who asked Shinobu to pass along the message," Tatsuki said, without an overabundance of explanation. He cut straight to the point.
"We won't mince words. I have a plan to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, but it will require your cooperation."
Before the other Pillars could voice suspicion, Tatsuki raised a hand and formed a fist.
Buzz!
"Is… is there a wind?"
Though the air had been calm, wind abruptly kicked up. In seconds, it built to a gale, howling fiercely. Kagaya and Amane nearly toppled, saved only by Gyomei's steadying grip. Everyone felt a massive surge of power as wind roared in from all directions, converging on Tatsuki's fist. A swirling tempest formed around it.
He casually punched toward the sky.
Boom–crack!
The atmosphere shattered with a blast. The gale rapidly expanded, a terrifying wind funnel spiraling upward from Tatsuki's fist straight into the heavens. Debris scattered as the tornado's force pulled in anything nearby. Its thunderous roar gradually faded into the distance, leaving everyone staring overhead. It was as though the sky itself had been punched open.
"Ho… how incredible!" Mitsuri Kanroji shivered, her heart pounding with excitement and awe.
Tengen Uzui was genuinely impressed. "That was… that was a flashy festival of wind!"
Obanai Iguro gaped. "That must be Blood Demon Art. It has to be Blood Demon Art!"
The rest were equally taken aback by Tatsuki's simple punch. A single thought crossed all their minds.
If that punch hits, there'd be nothing left but dust!
***
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