Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

He paused slightly, as if recalling that scene.

Hiroshi Furukawa, who had been patiently building momentum and advancing step by step with an expressionless face, began to contort his features. A fire inevitably ignited in his resolute eyes; his composure was ignited by rage, transforming into a raging inferno.

"kill!"

A roar that seemed to tear his chest apart burst forth, as if all his hatred was contained within the blade.

'Breath of Flames. Third Form. All-Encompassing Flame Breathing'

At this moment, Hiroshi Furukawa's movements became extremely fast. His Nichirin Blade, carrying a scorching current, slashed down at the demon like a meteor.

Before the blade even arrived, the scorching heat was already overwhelming, as if it would ignite the air.

Su Mu remained in the stance of drawing his sword. Facing this strike, he made no attempt to dodge. He drew his sword as well, ready to strike, and slashed forward with a fierce air.

"Flying Sword Style: Draw Sword Slash"

An extremely fast slash, so fast that it defies visual perception.

Two figures collided with a roar in the narrow passage, then instantly separated, their blades flashing across each other's necks at the same instant.

Their knives sliced ​​across each other's necks.

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the flesh, and warm blood flowed down the blade.

The two figures shifted almost instantly after the blade struck, with Su Mu kneeling on one knee, a bloody gash on his neck from the cut, blood slowly flowing.

same

Hiroshi Furukawa's figure was also facing away from the demon, kneeling on the ground with his head slightly lowered. A bloodstain appeared on his neck, but no blood was seen flowing.

Both men were wielding knives and aiming for the other's neck, neither of them protecting themselves. They were both disregarding their own survival and fighting to the death, each determined to kill the other with their own blade.

It all comes down to who has the faster knife.

Whoever is faster lives

Whoever is slower will die.

"The boss won!"

Facing the ghost kneeling on one knee at close range, watching the blood gushing from its neck, and then seemingly losing the strength to support itself on one knee, the ghost fell forward to the ground, motionless.

The remaining three swordsmen couldn't help but show surprise and joy. Another swordsman, who had lost his Nichirin Blade to look after his dead comrade, also rushed over, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Boss..."

One of the swordsmen called out, his voice filled with worry.

Hiroshi Furukawa seemed to hear the sound and tried to turn his head, but with a 'plop' sound, his entire head slid off his neck, and large amounts of scarlet blood gushed out from his neck.

The dimly lit cave was almost entirely blood red.

The next second, grief and rage overwhelmed reason, and two people ran forward almost uncontrollably to check on them.

Just as the two swordsmen passed by the demon lying on the ground, the demon, who had already been killed, suddenly stood up and thrust the Nichirin Blade he had been holding into the back of one of them.

The sharp blade pierced the swordsman's heart as easily as cutting tofu. The other swordsman was shocked. Su Mu had already moved forward, his unsworded hand reaching out to grab the other's neck. Ignoring the other's knife aimed at his abdomen, he clenched his fist tightly.

"Crack!"

The sound was almost like bones shattering.

In the blink of an eye, he killed two people. Su Mu then withdrew the knife that had pierced the heart and lunged at the last swordsman who was still holding a knife, slashing down with his own knife.

The swordsman had already regained his senses, parrying with his sword, his face filled with grief and indignation: "You evil spirit..."

The two swords clashed, sparks flying.

As Su Mu's sword was blocked, his feet landed on the ground at the same moment, and he kicked the swordsman in the abdomen without hesitation.

The sound of something flying and breaking instantly contorted the swordsman's face, and his hand holding the sword faltered.

Su Mu didn't let the opportunity pass. He swept his leg across the swordsman's thigh again, causing the swordsman, who was already struggling to stay upright due to the attack on his 'vital point,' to fall to the ground instantly. At the same moment, Su Mu's forward speed remained almost unchanged, and he switched to a backhand blade that instantly slashed across the swordsman's neck.

"Pfft..."

The blade sliced ​​open the swordsman's neck, and the man's writhing pain from having his vital organs shattered came to an abrupt end.

By this time, Su Mu was soaked in blood, his clothes clinging to his body, dripping thick droplets of blood that were indistinguishable as to whether they were his own or someone else's. Although the wound on his neck was no longer gushing blood, it was still seeping out.

Two Nichirin swords were still embedded in his chest.

The last swordsman who lost his Nichirin Blade, who had been tending to his fallen comrade, witnessed everything. Without saying a word, he turned and ran out of the cave, heading towards the sunlight.

Su Mu stroked the hilt of his sword, remaining silent as well, and quickly caught up.

Just as the opponent was about to step out of the cave and head towards the bright place feared by evil spirits, the extremely fast slash had already landed.

A whistling wind filled the air, and before the wind had even arrived, the blade had already fallen, piercing straight through the swordsman's back and tearing open his heart. The swordsman's escape steps were instantly rendered powerless, and he staggered forward and fell, his fingers reaching futilely towards the sunlight just inches away outside the cave before finally falling limply to the ground.

Su Mu stood in the shadows at the edge of the cave, slowly sheathing his sword. The tip of the sword hung down, and thick blood dripped from the tip onto the ground, staining a small patch of ground blood red.

From clashing swords with Hiroshi Furukawa, to feigning death after being killed, to launching a surprise attack that killed two people, to pursuing and killing one more, to finally piercing the heart of the fleeing swordsman with his last blow, everything happened in a very short time.

He stood inside the cave, unable to go any further, and silently covered his neck with his hand.

The blood was still flowing from his neck, but it was gradually starting to heal. The knife had cut open the skin and flesh of his neck and severed most of his throat bone.

It can be said that most of the neck was completely cut open.

If it were a human, they would have died from that blow long ago.

But for ghosts, as long as their necks are not completely severed, they will not die, and this is one of the most terrifying aspects of evil spirits.

Even so, there was the pain of having one's neck severed, the pain of having one's chest pierced, the pain of having one's arm severed, and the pain of having one's thigh cut off.

How can it not hurt?

But at this moment, he simply gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, standing silently in the dark cave, gazing at the light he feared, looking outside.

The last swordsman remaining in the cave had been staring in the direction of the cave, having just witnessed his last companion being stabbed through the heart.

I also saw someone standing in the darkness.

Those pairs

Scarlet eyes.

Scarlet, cold.

........................

P.S.: Dear readers who want to skip ahead, please do so if possible. Please give this humble author a chance to make a living.

Chapter 74 The Last Ray of Sunlight in the World (1/4)

The warm sunlight fell on him, but the swordsman standing in the sunlight felt cold all over. Even though he knew that the demon could not walk into the sunlight, he still couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.

The swordsman gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Blade tightly, as if only by doing so could he find a little more warmth.

……

Su Mu stood in the darkness of the cave, silently watching the swordsman and the girl he was holding, his scarlet eyes slightly lowered.

He slowly squatted down, kneeling on the spot, and tore a piece of cloth from his tattered clothes.

He began wiping the blood-stained Nichirin Blade over and over again.

The crimson eyes were reflected in the sharp blade, icy cold.

Having gone through this life-or-death battle, he felt that he had gained a deeper understanding of swords and knives.

Since learning the Flying Sword Style, he has practiced it every day, but he always seems to feel that something is missing.

Only now do I truly understand that what's missing is this kind of battle.

So-called swordsmanship, so-called flying sword style, in the end, are all techniques for killing.

How can one truly understand something without killing someone?

He kept wiping his Nichirin Blade over and over again, and sometimes he would look up and look outside at the swordsman in the Land of Light that he feared.

The other party kept hesitating, sometimes angry, sometimes timid, sometimes mustering the courage to step forward, but then retreating in fear.

Su Mu continued to silently wipe the Nichirin Blade in his hand, hoping that the swordsman would rush up and fight him to the death.

But unfortunately

The swordsman wasn't that foolish, nor did he have that much courage. He glared at him resentfully, then whistled.

As the whistle sounded, a raven flapped its wings and landed on the swordsman's shoulder.

"Should we call for help?"

Su Mu lowered his eyes slightly, not surprised by this.

Demon slayers of the Demon Slayer Corps never fight alone.

而鬼

They are often lonely.

Except for a few, most ghosts are always alone, without friends, without family, with nothing. All they possess is immense power, an inexhaustible lifespan, an everlasting craving for flesh and blood, and a slowly...lost sense of self.

He himself was surprised that he could hold on for so long. He had always felt that he was not a particularly strong person and was prepared to end his own life at any time.

But step by step, he persevered until now.

Even now, he has not succumbed to his bloodlust.

Perhaps it's because there's a hope in one's heart that other evil spirits don't exist.

or

He raised his head.

Looking at the girl who was being controlled by the swordsman, his scarlet eyes lowered slightly.

He gently stroked the blade of the Sun Wheel, feeling the unpleasant sunlight, and also noticed the fleeing figure of the Kasugai Crow. He wondered when a new, more powerful demon hunter would arrive.

"What's meant to come will eventually come."

He stroked the blade, wiping it again and again, but then he stopped. The swordsman gave him a hateful look, then quickly left with the girl.

Su Mu, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up and almost instinctively chased after them.