With a sudden burst of power, Evernight's muscles surged as he swung his blade of bone. It collided heavily with Kanao's Nichirin Sword.
CLANG!
The overwhelming force traveled through the blade directly into Kanao's body, the shockwave threatening to shatter her internal organs. The sheer agony forced her to a halt, and a spray of crimson blood erupted from her lips, staining Evernight's clothes.
"Now... die!"
Seizing the moment while Kanao was paralyzed with pain, Evernight swung his blade to claim her life.
"Not on my watch!"
A sharp feminine cry rang out as a purple silhouette blurred into motion. Moving far faster than Kanao, the newcomer drove a slender blade deep into Evernight's abdomen.
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter!"
"Insect Breathing? Heh. You must be the Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. Perfect timing. I came here specifically to take your head!"
Evernight sneered as he activated his Blood Demon Art. His body turned ethereal, allowing him to phase through Shinobu's blade to free himself.
"You aren't Ren. Who are you?"
"Honestly, what makes me so different from him?" Evernight asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "Why is it that every single one of you can tell I'm not that guy? We have the exact same face!"
First it had been Mitsuri Kanroji, then Tanjiro, and now Shinobu Kocho. Why could they all see through him?
"It's simple. Even if the real Ren became a Berserk Demon, he would never fail to recognize me. You don't have a single one of his memories, do you? You're nothing but a cheap imitation."
Shinobu's eyes narrowed, her voice cold and steady. "More importantly, I believe in Ren. I know for a fact that he would never become a demon, no matter the circumstances!"
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Locust: Fatal Sprints!"
Shinobu lunged like a released arrow, her sharp blade whistling through the air toward Evernight's throat.
"Hmph, a mere parlor trick!"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Evernight's mouth. With his superhuman dynamic vision, he spotted the opening in Shinobu's technique instantly. He had a hundred different ways to strike her down in a single move.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll happy to oblige!"
Evernight raised his bone blade to strike, but before the edge could fall, his eyes suddenly widened in shock.
"Argh...!"
He let out a strangled cry and collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach as blood began to pour from his mouth. When he looked down, he saw dark purple veins spider-webbing across his torso. The flesh beneath the markings was rapidly necrotizing, crumbling into ash.
"This... is poison?" Evernight gasped. "But when...?"
He suddenly remembered the moment Shinobu's Nichirin Sword had pierced his gut.
'Was it then? That blade... it was coated in lethal poison!'
"It seems my research hasn't gone to waste," Shinobu said, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched him suffer. "This latest concoction actually works on Upper Moon-level Berserk Demons. It might even work on Muzan."
After the battle where Doma was decapitated, Shinobu had taken the opportunity to collect his blood. Using it as a base, she had developed a toxin specifically designed to destroy his blood cells on contact.
The poison was finally proving its worth. Even though Evernight's power far exceeded Doma's, a toxin tailored for Upper Moon demons was still wreaking havoc on his constitution.
"This is our chance! Strike before he can break down the poison!"
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Centipede: Hundred-Legged Zigzag!"
Shinobu gripped her sword as butterfly-shaped markings manifested on her face. She kicked off the air, moving with the speed of a projectile. Her blade lashed out in a flurry of strikes, all aimed squarely at Evernight's neck.
"You think you can take my head...?" Evernight spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked up at the approaching Hashira, but instead of fear, a distorted, eerie grin spread across his face.
"Blood Demon Art: Dark Space!"
The moment he unleashed his technique, Shinobu's blade arrived with the force of a gale, intent on the kill. But she was a fraction of a second too late. The Nichirin Sword passed harmlessly through Evernight's body.
Shinobu's expression shifted to one of pure shock. "What? That's impossible! How did the blade go through him?"
"Again! Insect Breathing, Dance of the Mantis: Phantom Scythe!"
Refusing to yield, Shinobu twisted in mid-air, raining down a barrage of rapid thrusts. Despite her incredible speed, every single strike passed through Evernight as if he weren't there.
'Is this real? If his body can be phased through like a ghost, then no physical attack will ever work!' Shinobu gritted her teeth, her mind racing. 'No! That can't be right. There's no such thing as an invincible Blood Demon Art. Every technique has a weakness. I just have to find this fake's flaw!'
While Shinobu deliberated, Evernight slowly climbed to his feet. He wiped the blood from his chin, his confident smirk returning.
"Heh... that's quite a poison you have there, little girl. It stung. But unfortunately for you, it's already useless."
"What?" Shinobu gasped, seeing his body fully restored. 'In just a dozen seconds... he completely neutralized the toxin?'
"That really hurt, you know? Since you put me through all that pain, I think I'll let you experience a fate worse than death. Dark Combat Art—"
"Lady Shinobu, look out!"
"Protect the Insect Hashira!"
"Master Shinobu, this demon is too strong! Please retreat, we'll hold him off!"
Before Evernight could strike, a group of wounded slayers from the Butterfly Mansion noticed the peril. Ignoring their injuries, they rushed forward and surrounded Evernight with their swords raised. Their expressions were a mix of pain and resolve, but their eyes held no trace of fear.
"Everyone..."
Moved by their bravery, Shinobu shouted a warning. "Get back! He's too strong for you! You're no match for him—retreat now and I'll cover you!"
"We can't do that! The Hashira are the pillars of the Corps. Your life cannot be thrown away!"
"Even if our bodies perish, we will slay this demon!"
"Everyone, charge!"
With a roar, the slayers swarmed forward, charging at Evernight without a hint of hesitation.
Evernight's face twisted into a cruel, jagged grin. "To swing your blades at me... your courage is commendable. But courage is all you have."
He glanced at Shinobu. "You know, I just had a wonderful idea. Since you love using poison so much, I think I'll give you a taste of your own medicine."
"Blood Demon Art: Scarlet Poison Mist!"
Evernight unhinged his jaw and exhaled a violent, crimson gale. In an instant, a thick, suffocating wall of blood-red mist enveloped the entire Butterfly Mansion.