'What in the world is going on?! Why couldn't I sense his attack? This has never happened before!'
The demon felt panic rising in its chest. Its attack methods were limited—it relied on sensing danger to dodge attacks and then finishing off opponents when they were exhausted or stunned.
But why wasn't it working here?
"This is bad! This is bad! This is bad!"
The intense pain in its abdomen made the demon break out in a cold sweat. Blood continued pouring from the flower-shaped wounds, dripping onto the forest floor.
Such a wound could probably heal about four more times, but the problem is I can't sense the attacks of this strange demon in front of me!
What should I do? Run?
The moment this thought arose, the demon began to plan its escape route. It was severely injured and desperately needed to replenish itself, otherwise, it might die.
This demon in front of it truly wanted to kill it. There was no playfulness, no hesitation—just pure intent.
I'll go back, back to where those Demon Slayer Corps members are. As long as I eat them to regain my strength, I'm confident I can escape!
The demon's dark red eyes focused, and it tried its best to suppress the fear in its heart, blustering loudly.
"So that's it! I already know how you attack!" It forced a laugh that came out shaky. "I'll defeat you with my next strike! You're finished!"
The pain gradually disappeared as its regeneration worked, but the demon knew it was running on borrowed time.
- - -
Haruki clearly sensed that the Blood Demon Art he had just used had consumed a large amount of his stamina. His limbs felt heavier than before, as though weights had been attached to them.
Truth to be told he doesn't even know what his Blood Demon art does yet, While he can feel it that he could do many thing but just now he just did what came to him in instinct and it seems his Blood Demon Art had a fatal flaw: extremely high consumption.
From observing the five Demon Slayer Corps members' attacks earlier, he had roughly understood that this demon had the ability to sense the direction of attacks. He was even surprised himself that the attack he'd launched had hit.
Now, he could probably use his Blood Demon Art about two more times.
These two chances must render it immobile, otherwise, those five people would be in danger.
A drop of sweat slid down Haruki's forehead, but he remained calm, his eyes fixed on the demon's movements, attempting to seize an opportunity in its actions. He needed to time this perfectly.
The demon was thinking the same thing, though from a very different angle.
What's going on?! Why isn't he attacking anymore? Did he see through my plan? That shouldn't be possible; my plan was flawless!
He couldn't have noticed.
Or was he scared by my words, so he doesn't dare to act rashly?
He must have been intimidated by my powerful strength! As expected, I am the most beautiful and intelligent demon! Now, run!
But even if that the case, he's still at disadvantage so the demon decided to risk it. So he turned and fled without warning, looking back at Haruki's momentarily stunned expression and feeling even more triumphant.
"Just you wait! I will never let you go!" it called back mockingly. "If you can't be my meal, then I'll tear you to pieces! It's just a shame about that good appearance—such a waste!"
However, I can't relax yet. His speed is far superior to mine, so it's better to continue using my Blood Demon Art.
"Blood Demon Art: Danger Perception."
Why can't I feel his killing intent at all?
As this question arose in its mind, its left shoulder was pierced again. Its running faltered, nearly making it fall. It quickly regained balance, supported its shoulder with its right hand, and continued to run, pushing through the pain.
"Why! Why! Why!"
A look of terror slowly emerged on the demon's face. It couldn't feel his killing intent at all! How was this possible? Its Blood Demon Art had never failed before!
- - -
"Did I miss?"
Haruki followed closely behind. Since till now he had used his Blood Demon Art by instinct, he wasn't quite used to controlling it yet. But he couldn't miss this last chance.
This demon was still heading towards the Demon Slayer Corps members.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks, making his already pale face even more ashen. His breathing came harder now, each breath requiring more effort than the last.
The consumption was much greater than Haruki had imagined.
What would happen if he activated it a third time? He didn't know.
Would he be unable to move? Would he still have the strength to leave the demon in the sun, and could he still avoid the sun himself? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he pushed forward anyway.
Perhaps sensing a genuine threat to its life, the demon's speed broke its own limit, becoming much faster than before. Survival instinct overrode all other considerations.
Haruki struggled a bit, with about three body lengths separating them. He pushed his legs harder, trying to close the gap.
"I see them!" When the fallen Demon Slayer Corps members appeared in its vision, the demon was overjoyed. Salvation was within reach!
It quickly locked its gaze on the person closest to it, its right hand no longer caring about the wound on its left shoulder, reaching straight out with desperate hunger.
10 meters.
5 meters.
1 meter.
Just as it was about to touch the person, the look of greed on the demon's face became increasingly obvious. Saliva dripped from its fangs.
It had said before that they weren't worth eating, but to survive, it would go against its own principles. Beauty could wait—survival could not.
"As long as I eat him, I can turn the tide! I can heal! I can win!"
Its fingertips had just touched the clothing when its vision suddenly uncontrollably shifted elsewhere, the world tilting at an impossible angle.
"Eh?"
It moved its eyeballs down and saw its own body, still standing, still reaching.
"My head... fell off?"
"What happened?"
The demon's head rolled several times on the ground before stopping against a tree root. It was still in a daze, unable to process what had occurred.
Pat-a-pat-a, tap.
Rapid footsteps approached from not far away.
The golden-haired demon appeared looking completely exhausted, he seems like a gust of wind will topple him over but he still moved and pulled out a nichirin blade that had fallen from a Demon Slayer Corps member and was stuck in the ground. The blade gleamed in the moonlight.
He pushed off with his foot, leaping high into the air, his golden hair flowing freely behind him like a banner.
He gripped the nichirin blade tightly and descended diagonally, severing the demon's headless body at the neck stump with a clean strike.
The demon's blood splattered onto his face in dark streaks.
The young man casually wiped it away with the back of his hand, but the blood left a trace on his face, adding a touch of dark color to his pale features.
His eyes quietly watched the demon's head gradually dissipate on the ground, turning to ash.
It was then that the demon finally understood.
Why it couldn't feel it. Why it couldn't sense his killing intent.
Because he just wanted to do it. He just wanted it to die. So there wasn't even any killing intent—just pure, simple will. No hatred. No anger. Just necessity.
This demon—no! Not a demon, but something far more terrifying. A devil!
"You devil!" The demon's hoarse voice uttered these last words before completely dissipating into nothing, its ashes scattering on the wind.
- - -
"Cough!"
Haruki could no longer support himself. The exhaustion hit him all at once, like a wall collapsing on top of him.
He plunged the nichirin blade into the ground, knelt on one knee, and pressed his hands to the earth. His consciousness became somewhat hazy, the world swimming in and out of focus.
His breathing was ragged, uneven. His entire body trembled with the effort of staying conscious.
"You devil!"
"You're just a heartless monster!"
"You killed him! Murderer!"
"Monster! Monster!"
Each malicious word continuously entered Haruki's ears, voices from memories he didn't fully understand. They echoed and overlapped, creating a cacophony of accusations.
He seemed to have gotten used to it, remaining quiet without any emotional fluctuations. The words washed over him like water over stone, expected and familiar.
Until a pair of warm hands gently covered his ears, blocking out the voices.
"Don't listen to their nonsense!"
The voice was feminine, gentle, protective.
"Haruki is the best child!"
"You haven't done anything wrong."
Finally, those warm hands moved to gently stroke Haruki's head, and a soft voice continued to comfort him.
"It's okay... it's okay..."
"It's okay now~"
Then he heard a new voice calling out his name. The warmth of the touch slowly pulled him back from the edge of unconsciousness. His breathing gradually steadied.
When Haruki opened his eyes, he saw two purple eyes directly staring at him from very close. He was still kneeling on one knee while Shinobu crouched before him, slowly patting his head.
Seeing Haruki open his eyes, Shinobu's smile brightened, though concern lingered in her gaze.
"Good evening, Haruki" she said pleasantly, as though finding him collapsed and covered in blood was the most normal thing in the world. "You look like you've had quite the evening."