"Maple Hashira!"
The sudden turn of events stunned the Demon Slayer Corps members around Yuichiro.
However, they never expected that their comrade Izumo, who had been fine just moments ago, would suddenly attack.
The sharp Nichirin Blade flashed like lightning towards Yuichiro's face.
The surrounding Demon Slayer Corps members only had time to cry out in surprise.
Clang!!
A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out.
Although there was a moment of surprise on Yuichiro's face, he quickly regained his composure.
At this moment, a thin red Nichirin Blade had precisely blocked Izumo's Nichirin Blade.
Yuichiro gripped the handle with one hand.
The tsuba of the red Nichirin Blade was in the shape of a beautiful maple leaf.
Compared to Yuichiro's calm eyes, the eye of 'Izumo' with Lower Six engraved in it was now full of astonishment.
As expected of a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, he could react even at such close range.
"Hehehe..." An eerie laugh emerged from 'Izumo' throat.
By now, the other members had also reacted.
They all saw the 'Lower Six' in Izumo's eyes and quickly drew their Nichirin Blades, swiftly surrounding him.
"It's a demon! Damn it! What have you done to Izumo?!" A Demon Slayer member angrily questioned, but the only response was an eerie laughter and sudden attack.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Surface Slash!"
Splash!
The water-blue slash that quickly rose from the Nichirin Blade in his hand attacked directly towards the Demon Slayer Corps members.
Half of Izumo's face was now slowly covered with a layer of gray substance, like half a human skin.
"Danger! Dodge!" The Demon Slayer Corps members weren't stupid.
Of course, they wouldn't foolishly take this attack head-on.
However, without exception, no one made a move to attack.
Perhaps it was because the demon still had the familiar appearance of their comrade, or perhaps it was because of the familiar breathing technique the demon used.
In any case, at that moment, no one thought to attack the demon.
And this demon wasn't really intending to fight the Demon Slayer Corps to the death.
After forcing everyone back with the attack, it was about to flee at high speed.
Just as the demon was about to step out of the encirclement, a light, nimble voice suddenly sounded in its ear.
"Maple Breathing, Second Form: Light Dance Slash."
Swish!
The slender, fire-red slashes connected into dazzling red lines, moving at an unbelievable speed, even leaving faint afterimages in the air.
Thud!
The fleeing 'Izumo' suddenly stumbled and then fell face-first to the ground.
Yuichiro turned around, still lightly gripping the red Nichirin Blade.
From the perspective of the Demon Slayer Corps members, The Maple Hashira had been behind them just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, he had already rushed in front of the demon.
"Maple Breathing? I've never heard of this breathing style. Wasn't the Maple Hashira practicing Forest Breathing before?" A Demon Slayer member noticed the sword form Yuichiro had just used.
"What's strange about that? Every Hashira's is unparalleled in the world. Creating a new breathing style is almost too simple for them. Isn't it the same for the Insect Hashira and the newly promoted Snake Hashira?" Another Demon Slayer member explained matter-of-factly.
Setting aside the matter of breathing styles for now, Yuichiro's attention was focused on 'Izumo', or rather, the "Lower Rank Six" possessing him.
Sure enough, the demon whose legs and sword-wielding arm had been cut off, stood up again.
However, his form was unsteady.
Half of his body had now completely transformed.
Gray legs and a gray arm were regenerating and growing from the severed parts.
As for his face, half of it was still Izumo's face, now with eyes closed as if unconscious.
The other half had turned into a demon's face with gray skin and pointed horns.
The golden eyes with "Lower Six" engraved in them glowed with an eerie light.
Lower Rank Six - Kamaro.
"Heeheehee, truly worthy of being a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, sufficiently vigilant. It seems impossible to kill you and gain merit with Muzan-sama" the completely different, eerie voice laughed and said.
"Where's the real Izumo?" Yuichiro asked directly, without wasting words.
When they first met, he hadn't recognized the demon either.
Even now, he could still sense a human presence from Kamaro.
"Heeheehee, what a pity. It's rare to have a chance to play with the Demon Slayer Corps' breathing techniques. What a shame. Oh right, Mukago on the mountain is very cute and her rank is higher than mine. Why don't I step aside and let you go find Mukago? Let me borrow this body for a few more days?" Kamaro said with a grin.
Yuichiro's expression completely calm.
He tightened his grip on the red Nichirin Blade.
No one saw how he moved, but dozens of brilliant red slashes, as bright as fire, instantly enveloped Fake.
"Maple Breathing, Fourth Form: Autumn Fire Dance!"
The bursting red slashes momentarily made people feel as if they were seeing maple leaves dancing in autumn, both colorful and giving a unique sense of beauty.
However, for Kamaro these attacks were not only beautiful but also deadly.
Without much thought, Kamaro also picked up the Nichirin Blade from the ground, its blade rippling with blue waves.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
The fluttering maple leaves met with layers of waves.
But the seemingly surging water waves only resisted for a brief moment before being torn apart by the maple leaves.
Cracks appeared all over the water-blue Nichirin Blade.
In the shocked gaze of the Demon Slayer Corps members who had just rushed up to help, Kamaro's attack was directly nullified by Maple Hashira.
Swish swish swish!
Kamaro was almost defenseless as Yuichiro shattered half of its demon body.
"ROOAARR!!" The demon half of Kamaro, now covered in countless cracks, suddenly roared and came alive like a lump of cement, trying to escape from Izumo's body.
For the final strike, Yuichiro stepped forward.
The red Nichirin Blade was sheathed in a flash of lightning and drawn to slash in an instant.
"Maple Breathing, Third Form: One Leaf Autumn!"
A flash of red light, crack!
Yuichiro's figure passed through 'Izumo'.
A large mass of writhing, gray, strange substance was cut from his body with an unwilling roar, continuing to twist and struggle on the ground.
Izumo had returned to his original form - a corpse that had long lost his life.
Everything that had just happened occurred in just a few seconds.
By the time the Demon Slayer Corps members arrived, it was all over.
"IZUMOOO!" The members grieved for their fallen comrade, while also hating the cunning and terrifying nature of demons, able to disguise themselves as their comrades.
At the same time, they marveled at the Maple Hashira's swift and decisive action, killing Lower Rank Six in an instant.
But the person involved didn't think so.
Looking at the twisting Kamaro on the ground, Yuichiro felt that things might not be so simple.
"Hee... ow! Hee hee... ow! Demon Slayer Corps... until we meet again... hee hee!"
After stuttering out these words, Kamaro turning into a lifeless, mushy mess.
.....
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, a woman who had been lying like a corpse in the bushes suddenly opened her eyes.
It was the female hunter that Izumo and Kotetsu had saved earlier.
However, one of her eyes had suddenly turned golden, with a vertical pupil engraved with 'Lower Six' in it.
"Heeheehee..." The eerie, low laughter echoed once again in the deep mountains.
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