As the fights between Muichiro and Gyokko ended, Goku and the others were still fighting Zohakuten, the sixth and last of Hantengu's clones. Goku was flying in the sky, fighting the wood dragons. (There are five wooden dragon heads that can expand to about sixty-six shaku...) he realized. "Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue..." said Tanjiro, who was in the air too. But before he could finish the phrase, one of the five dragons used Urogi's power, and it screamed loudly, sending Tanjiro flying away. "Tanjiro-kun!" exclaimed Goku. Suddenly, a wooden dragon ate him. "Goku-kun!" exclaimed Genya, shooting with his gun. But he got blocked by another wood dragon as weel. Shortly after, also Nezuko and Tanjiro succumbed the same fate, and they got blocked by the wood dragons.
Goku, inside the wooden dragon, was trying to break free. (Shit... This thing is crushing my bones... I have to break free...) he thought, wriggling to escape. But it was no use. (I can't even use Sun Breathing here... This time, I'm really fucked up...) realized the boy. But then, as if for magic, someone arrived to save the situation.
From the sky, Mitsuri arrived, landing on a wooden dragon. The girl ran fast and reached the dragon where Goku was "Hang in there, Goku-kun! You're safe!" she exclaimed, cutting the dragon's mouth and body. Goku got outside, and he started falling on the floor. (AHashira?) thought Zohakuten. (I just got saved by a girl... I'm definitely losing my touch...) thought Goku, landing on the floor. "Goku-kun... You can take a break now! Good job!" said Mitsuri, kneeling to him and shaking his shoulders. "Yeah, I definitely need a break... Save Tanjiro-kun, Genya-kun and Nezuko-chan, please..." said Goku, sitting down. "I will, I promise," said Mitsuri. And so, the girl rushed forward towards the enemy. (Does she knows that's an Upper Rank Demon? Should I help her? I'm not so injured, after all...) thought Goku. Then, the boy touched his face, and noticed he had lost his eyepatch.
(Tch... That dragon stole my eyepatch... How am I going to cover my right eye now...?) he wondered. Goku never regretted losing an eye to save his friends. However, he was very ashamed of it, and preferred to hide it. While Goku was thinking, Mitsuri was fighting. With her sword, she wrapped the flexible blade around one of the dragon's mouth and smashed it on the floor. "Hey, you! You've gone too far! I'm taking Tanjiro-kun, Genya and Nezuko back from you, all right?" she said, pointing her sword to Zohakuten. "Shut up, you shameless tramp. There only one person who can give me orders," said Zohakuten. (Shameless tramp? Is he talking about me? Unbelievable, what a foul mouth that boy has!" thought Mitsuri. "Crazed Cry of Thunderdeath!" exclaimed Zohakuten. "Love Breathing: Third Form -- Cotlove Shower!" exclaimed the Hashira, neutralizing the attack. "I'm angry, all right? I'm not holding back just because you look like a child!" she exclaimed, in mid-air. (What a strange sword she has...) thought Goku. (And for the record, I don't understand what makes that thing look like a kid, according to Mitsuri-chan...) he then wondered.
"Love Breathing: Second Form -- Love Pangs!" exclaimed Mitsuri, attacking one of the wood dragons. One of the dragons threw blasts at her, but the Hashira neutralized them with Love Breathing. (She can still keep up, even at this speed?) wondered Zohakuten. "Blood Demon Art: Countless Striking Trees!" exclaimed the Upper Rank Demon. Meanwhile, Goku, who was watching the fight, noticed something: The main body was running away. "Oh, crap! The main body's running off!" he realized, grabbing his katana and running after Hantengu's main body. (I gotta move on, or it'll be worth nothing...) he realized.
Meanwhile, Mitsuri managed to wrap her blade around Zohakuten's neck. "Ha! Got you!" she exclaimed. But then, Zohakuten charged a supersonic attack. "Mitsuri-chan, cover your ears! That's not the main body!" shouted Goku. But it was too late. The attack landed. Mitsuri fell on her knees, unconscious. (Shit... This is no good...) thought Goku. (Should I follow the main body? Or should I help Mitsuri-chan?) he wondered, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, Zohakuten walked up to Mitsuri and was about to punch her. (Okay, I choose the second option!) decided Goku, rushing towards Mitsuri.
A little flashback about Mitsuri's past...
When she was seventeen years old, Mitsuri's wedding had been canceled. Ever since she was a girl, her physical strength was out of the ordinary. At the age of just fourteen months old, she managed to lift a 33-pound pickling stone. And ever since she was a child, she had a big appetite. Mitsuri loved to eat. But as she grew older, little by little, she began to realize she wasn't like the other girls around her. The day her marriage was called off, she began to hide her strength and dyed her hair back to black. Then, a day, she met a man who was interested in marrying her. But in her mind, that didn't feel right. Was she really ready for a marriage?
Back with the present...
Mitsuri woke up, laying on the floor. Next to her, on their feet, there were Goku, Tanjiro, Nezuko and Genya. "Watch out, the next attack's coming!" said Goku. "I know that!" exclaimed Genya. "We have to protect Mitsuri-chan!" said Goku, grabbing his katana back again. "After me, she's the strongest here. She's our only hope, since I have to follow the main body..." he continued. Then, the four of them took Mitsuri and dragged her safely. (How are all of them free? Did Goku-kun freed them by himself...?) wondered Mitsuri. Then, Zohakuten threw lightings at the heroes. Fortunately, he missed. Or maybe, someone neutralized them. "I'm a Hashira, and I messed up! Sorry! I won't let my friends die!" exclaimed Mitsuri, swinging her sword in the air. "Because the Demon Slayer Corps is my precious home. Upper Rank or not, it makes no difference to me!" she said. (She slashed through all of them... She's so cool...) thought Tanjiro. (If I wasn't already in love with Shinobu-chan, I'd definitely fall in love with her in this moment...) thought Goku.
"I'm going to fight this thing! You four, go after the main body!" exclaimed Mitsuri. "Got it!" exclaimed Goku. "Let's go, guys!" he then commanded, getting up. "Tanjiro-kun, where's the main body?" he asked. "Over there!" replied Tanjiro- "Fine. Let's go..." muttered Goku, clutching his scarred eye. (When this is over, I'll buy a new eyepatch...) he thought. And so, as Mitsuri fought Zohakuten, Goku, Tanjiro, Nezuko and Genya chased the main body. "The demon's inside that tree!" exclaimed Genya, running as fast as he could. "I know!" shouted Goku, running behind Genya. "Got you!" exclaimed Genya, attacking the tree with his sword. But suddenly, the tree grew bigger and taller. Fortunately, everyone managed to grip onto it.
(Oh, fine... All we needed was this...) thought Goku, trying to climb higher. "Don't let go, you all! Before that snake-lizard thing comes this way!" said Tanjiro. (I have no choice...) thought Genya. Then, without hesitating, the boy bit the tree. (Is he... Biting this thing?) wondered Goku. But unexpectedly, Genya's plan worked. The tree broke, and Goku and Tanjiro were sent away with the tree where Hantengu was. "Good job, Genya-kun!" exclaimed Goku. Then, Nezuko threw her own blood on the tree and incendiated it thanks to her Blood Demon Art. "We can do this, Tanjiro-kun!" exclaimed Goku. Then, in unison, the two friends lifted their katanas in the air, and pronounced this words:
"Sun Breathing: Twelfth Form: Flame Dance!"
"Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance!"
The tree splitted in four. But strangely, Hantengu wasn't inside. "He disappeared!" exclaimed Goku. Then, the boy noticed it: Hantengu was running away on his feet. "Let's chase him!" exclaimed Tanjiro. "Yeah, let's go!" repeated Goku. "Don't run away from your sins, you bastard!" exclaimed Tanjiro. Hantengu fell on his knees. (I never lied to anyone... How am I supposed to be a bastard?) he thought, continuing to run away. The final chase has officially began.
Chapter 38 - End.