The night sky hung low as Tanjiro and Giyu moved along the cracked mountain road. The wind carried the scent of damp stone and burned earth, a trail left behind by the demon they were tracking. Even before Tanjiro spoke, he already knew that someone fast had passed by here.
Giyu paused and pressed a hand on one of the blackened stones.
"Thunder burn marks. Fresh."
Tanjiro closed his eyes, letting his senses expand. The faint taste of electricity stung the back of his tongue.
"A demon with lightning abilities. This must be Lower Moon Six, right?"
"Yes. His name is Gorai," Giyu said. His expression remained calm, but Tanjiro sensed a quiet irritation behind his eyes. "He is fast, but not very smart. If we find him, we end it quickly."
Tanjiro nodded. "Let's finish this and keep moving."
They stepped deeper into the mountain pass. The silence was suddenly broken by a violent sparkle that lit up the night. A streak of yellow shot across the cliff, carving a path in the rocks.
A voice echoed from the shadows.
"You finally came. I was getting bored."
Tanjiro stepped forward. "Show yourself."
A young demon stepped out onto a broken pillar. His hair stood up like cracked thunderbolts, and veins of light ran across his arms. He grinned, revealing sharpened teeth and crackling sparks.
"I am Gorai. Lower Moon Six. Do you like my welcome?"
Before Tanjiro could answer, Gorai vanished. The next moment, sparks burst behind them. Tanjiro moved on instinct, pulling Giyu aside as a lightning claw sliced the ground where they had stood.
Gorai laughed. "Too slow."
Tanjiro steadied his breathing. The demon's speed was no joke. Even with Reishi flow in his muscles, he could barely see the afterimages.
Giyu raised his blade. "Tanjiro. Watch his rhythm. Speed like this always repeats."
Gorai disappeared again. A loud crack split the air as he charged from the left. Tanjiro blocked the strike with his sword, sparks flying.
"Not bad, human," Gorai grinned, "but you are still slow."
He zipped behind Tanjiro and kicked him away, leaving a smoking trail across the ground.
"Tanjiro." Giyu stepped into the demon's path, his grip tightening on his sword. "Stay focused."
Tanjiro stood and exhaled softly. "He repeats the pattern from left, then right, then above. I can track him."
Gorai looked annoyed. "Hey. Don't analyze me while I am trying to kill you."
He vanished again, but this time Tanjiro was ready.
He swung upward, cutting through the space above him. Gorai barely twisted away from the slash.
Giyu stepped to the side. "Water Breathing Third Form. Flowing Dance."
His sword moved like a calm river, guiding Gorai's movement exactly where he wanted. The demon tried to dart away again, but Tanjiro cut off his escape route.
"You little pests" Gorai snarled, sparks rising along his body. "Fine. I will show you the real speed."
His body crackled violently. A surge of lightning exploded around him, pushing both Tanjiro and Giyu back.
Gorai shot forward, almost teleporting as he bounced off walls and rocks. Every movement left a scorch mark. His laughter echoed everywhere at once.
"You cannot touch me. I am faster than the storm itself."
Tanjiro raised his sword and coated it in Reishi. "Let us test that."
He inhaled slowly, centering himself. His senses sharpened.
Giyu stepped beside him. "Tanjiro. Together."
Tanjiro nodded.
The two unleashed their movements at the same time.
Tanjiro's blade flashed with concentrated fire.
"Breath of the Sun God. Radiant Slice."
Giyu's strike flowed in perfect harmony.
"Water Breathing Fifth Form. Blessed Rain."
The two streams of power overlapped. Fire and water bent around each other like a spiral of contrast. Gorai tried to dodge, but the rhythm of the attacks trapped him.
"What is this? They are coordinating without speaking?" the demon gasped.
Tanjiro appeared in front of him, faster than before. The air around Tanjiro wavered with Reishi pressure. Gorai flinched.
"You are not as fast as you think," Tanjiro said. "Your pattern never changed. Even your strongest burst follows the same path."
Giyu appeared behind Gorai, his presence calm and steady. "This is done."
Tanjiro slashed upward, breaking the demon's balance. Giyu followed with a smooth downward cut.
Gorai stumbled, sparks flickering uncontrollably.
"No. No. No. I cannot lose to humans… to relics."
Tanjiro stepped forward, his blade ready. "Your speed had potential, but you never used it with purpose."
Giyu raised his sword. "Lower Moon Six. Gorai. Your time ends here."
The two blades crossed through the demon's neck in one clean moment. Gorai's head rolled across the ground, sparks falling like dying embers.
Before turning to ash, he whispered, "I could have been a lightning god."
Tanjiro exhaled as the remains faded. "You will find peace."
Giyu sheathed his blade. "We move."
Tanjiro looked up at the sky. "Three Lower Moons remain. Enmu. Arachne. And one more."
Giyu nodded. "Each one brings us closer to Muzan."
Tanjiro tightened his grip on his sword. The memory of Sakura's hopeful eyes echoed in his mind.
I promised her. I promised everyone.
Giyu began walking down the mountain path. "Tanjiro. Stay sharp. The next demon will not be so weak."
Tanjiro followed him, stepping into the darkness without fear.
"Let them come. I will protect this world."