Chapter 218: Demon Slayer Corps vs Dio, Thunderclap and Flash!

"You lords must be hungry, right? This is our town's most famous fish soup; the old woman specially simmered it for several hours." She smiled benevolently, placing the tray on the table.

"Wonderful!" Zenitsu, who had been lying on the ground playing dead, kipped up in a single motion. "I'm starving to death!"

"Many thanks, old lady." Shinoda Shun politely nodded in thanks.

The old granny smiled as she distributed the soup bowls to each person: "Drink while it's hot; it won't taste good once cold." Finished speaking, she leaned on her cane and slowly withdrew from the room.

Shinoda Shun took out a silver needle, gently testing it in the soup — this is a poison-testing method commonly used by the Demon Slayer Corps. The silver needle did not change color; it seemed safe.

Zenitsu couldn't wait and wolfed it down in big mouthfuls: "Mm! Smells so good! The taste is really not bad!" Seeing this, the other corps members also picked up their chopsticks one after another.

Shinoda Shun hesitated a moment, then also tasted a sip. Indeed, the soup's flavor was surprisingly good, the fish meat also very springy.

Just as the several people were enjoying the food, Zenitsu suddenly clutched his stomach, his face turning green, his whole body curling into a ball: "It hurts. My stomach hurts so much!"

"Zenitsu!" Shinoda Shun just moved to rise, yet discovered his own hands and feet had suddenly become incomparably heavy.

The other corps members also collapsed to the ground in succession, faces twisted in pained expressions; some tried to vomit, yet discovered their throats seemed blocked by something.

"Damn it!" Shinoda Shun instantly understood: "Poisoned! Quickly use the Breathing Technique to force out the toxin!"

He forced himself to stay conscious, immediately circulating Qi throughout his body; the Water Breathing's special technique circulated within, forcing the toxin bit by bit toward his throat.

Only to see his face flush red, blue veins bulge, and he violently spat out a mouthful of turbid soup.

Zenitsu forcibly endured the pain, circulated the Breathing Technique, and spat out a mouthful of soup reeking of fishiness; although his complexion remained pale, he had ultimately escaped disaster.

But the other corps members were not so lucky; they lay on the ground convulsing in pain, having already lost the ability to move.

"I'll go find the antidote!" Shinoda Shun violently yanked open the room door; the old granny was standing right in the dim corridor, her hunched silhouette appearing exceptionally eerie in the twilight.

"Who exactly are you!" Shinoda Shun's words were not yet finished when his pupils suddenly shrank.

Under the dim light, the old granny's mouth corners slowly widened, revealing a row of ghastly white pointed teeth. That wrinkle-covered face suddenly turned ferocious; where was there even half a trace of old age left.

"Truly unexpected." The old granny's voice turned sharp and piercing. "To actually not be poisoned to death. Looks like the Demon Slayer Corps' Rank 1 Swordsman indeed has a couple of tricks."

Her smile grew even more ferocious. "However... your companions won't be so lucky."

Voice not yet fallen, a burst of eerie vibration sound suddenly reached Shinoda Shun's ear.

He subconsciously retreated a step; just at this moment — "Crack!" a huge sound, the floor beneath his feet suddenly exploded, wood chips flying in all directions!

Countless pairs of pale arms extended from the cracks; dozens of humanoid monsters burrowed out from the floor's cracks.

"Letting you become Dio-sama's nourishment is your honor!"

"Could these monsters all be Demons?!" Shinoda Shun was shocked in his heart, but now there was already no time to think further.

He stomped his right foot on the ground, drew his blade with his left hand simultaneously, and his whole person lunged forward.

"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!" Ripple-like light rose on the blade; Shinoda Shun's body spun, like a stream of water slicing through the air.

Cold light flashed; the few monsters charging at the very front were instantly cut in two.

"Something's wrong." Shinoda Shun's brows tightly knit; the sensation transmitted from the blade in his hand made his heart sink.

These monsters' bodies were far too fragile; these monsters were neither human, nor did they resemble Demons! Just at this moment — "Boom!" a huge sound, the wall was suddenly torn open.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a dozen or so figures wearing police uniforms appeared at the breach; their eyes were equally hollow and lifeless, pitch-black rifles held in their hands.

Shinoda Shun's pupils sharply contracted: "Guns?!"

"Bang bang bang!"

Dense gunshots exploded inside the room, muzzle flashes spewing, bullets pouring down like raindrops, the air permeated with the pungent smell of gunpowder.

"Careful!" Shinoda Shun shouted loudly, simultaneously kicking hard with both feet, his body leaping up. "Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Twisting Vortex!"

Blade light turned into a rotating stream of water in midair; Shinoda Shun's wrist rotated at high speed, the great sword weaving an impenetrable defensive net before him.

Most bullets were parried by him, crashing into the walls with crisp sounds.

But three Rank 3 Members already poisoned moved sluggishly, simply unable to dodge in time. "Puff puff" several dull sounds, bullets pierced through their bodies.

Fresh blood splattered; three companions fell in pools of blood, the light in their eyes instantly extinguished.

"Shiraki! Murata! Shinichi!" Shinoda Shun's eyes bloodshot, knuckles pinched white.

But he knew now was not the time to vent.

Zenitsu and the other members still needed protection; he must remain calm!

"Click"

A crisp metallic sound rang out; those police-like monsters were racking their bolts again.

Situation critical, Shinoda Shun's gaze condensed, he turned his head and barked at Zenitsu behind him: "Protect them well! These monsters' bodies are very fragile!"

Zenitsu gripped the blade, whole body trembling: "Shun, Shun Elder Brother I..."

Not waiting for Zenitsu to finish, Shinoda Shun had already crouched and charged forward.

He stomped his left foot heavily on the ground, his whole person shooting toward the gun-wielding police group like an arrow.

The great sword in his hand instantly left its scabbard, the blade wrapped in water-flow-like ripples.

"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Waterfall Splash!"

Shinoda Shun's wrist rapidly flipped; the blade edge drew countless intersecting arcs in the air. Blade light burst forth like raindrops, each precisely locking onto a target's vital point.

"Puff puff puff!" Crisp cutting sounds rang out in succession; several police heads fell in response, fresh blood gushing skyward like fountains.

Just at this moment, more pale-faced figures crawled out from the shattered walls and floor gaps; their speed was astonishing.

Dense footsteps came from all directions; Shinoda Shun quickly scanned his surroundings, discovering he had already fallen into a heavy encirclement.

Although these monsters moved sluggishly, their numbers were simply too many; even he felt a wave of pressure.

"Cannot engage in prolonged battle!"

Shinoda Shun took a deep breath, internal Qi circulating to the extreme. He gripped the hilt with both hands, body slightly crouching.

"Water Breathing, Fifth Form: Endless Flow!"

Shinoda Shun's body began to rotate, faster and faster, soon turning into a blurry shadow.

The great sword in his hands danced out a sheet of silver light, like a rotating stream of water, completely enveloping the surrounding space.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Where the blade light passed, those bizarre humanoid monsters were instantly sliced into pieces.

But the Corpse Puppets around them still surged forth in an endless stream, as if they could never be killed off completely.

"What exactly are these things? Has the entire town turned into these monsters?!"

Shinoda Shun's hand gripping the sword trembled slightly; he had never encountered such a bizarre Existence.

At This Moment, the moonlight was suddenly obscured, and a Shadow enveloped the heads of everyone present.

Shinoda Shun instinctively looked up, only to see a blond man standing on the Roof.

"Wryyy" Dio looked down at the battle below, the corner of his mouth hooking into a playful smile, "So this is the strength of the Demon Slayer Corps?"

The Breathing Techniques these swordsmen use are indeed powerful; the degree of physical enhancement even surpasses the Hamon Breathing.

But they lack that kind of scorching power like the sun; if it were a Messenger of Hamon, they would only need to touch them lightly to melt these Corpse Puppets.

Shinoda Shun looked up straight at Dio, his hand gripping the sword unconsciously tightening: "You are the mastermind behind all this?"

"That's right, I, Dio, am the new master of this Town." The blond man spread his arms: "Welcome to my domain."

His voice carried an indescribable pressure, as if he was born to stand above all living beings.

That momentum even made Shinoda Shun feel a hint of suffocation, but he still maintained his combat posture, sword tip pointing straight at Dio: "What exactly did you do to the people of this town?"

"What did I do?" Dio chuckled lightly, "I merely gave them the chance to gain eternal life. As my servants, gaining power that surpasses Humanity is their honor!"

"You lunatic!" Shinoda Shun gritted his teeth, his hand gripping the sword trembling slightly because of Anger.

Capture the thief by first capturing the king! A thought flashed, Shinoda Shun's right foot suddenly exerted force, the Ground beneath his feet instantly Shattering.

His figure shot toward the Rooftop like an arrow leaving the bow, blade edge pointing straight at Dio's throat.

"Oh?" The smile on Dio's mouth deepened, "Are you sure you should come chase me now? Not going to take care of your companions first?"

Shinoda Shun's Pupils contracted sharply, his peripheral vision sweeping behind him. He saw Zenitsu and the remaining teammates already heavily surrounded by a large swarm of monsters.

What was worse, those monsters holding guns were raising their rifles, the Black Hole-like muzzles aimed at their vitals.

Shinoda Shun's expression changed drastically in mid-air; Zenitsu had barely managed to stand up, but in his poisoned state, there was simply no way to dodge such a dense hail of bullets.

But if he gave up pursuing Dio, it would give the mastermind behind the scenes an opening.

But Shinoda Shun only hesitated for an instant.

"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Flowing Dance!" Shinoda Shun forcibly twisted his body in mid-air, charging toward the muzzles, the Great Sword instantly transforming into countless intertwining streams of water.

"Ding ding ding!" Dense metal collision sounds rang out, the bullets all deflected.

Taking advantage of this gap, his left foot stomped the ground hard, his figure like lightning, the Great Sword sweeping horizontally.

Where the blade edge passed, the surrounding monsters were instantly bisected, severed limbs and broken arms dancing in the air.

"Quick! Take this chance to leave here!" Shinoda Shun shouted loudly, his forehead already covered in sweat. The continuous use of the Breathing Technique's consumption made his breathing somewhat rapid: "I'll hold the rear!"

Voice Not Fall, a piercing beam of light suddenly shot from afar. Shinoda Shun only felt his vision blur, not yet having time to react, his chest already transmitting a burst of severe pain.

"Pfft!" A stream of high-pressure liquid Pierced through his chest like a laser, fresh blood spraying in the air.

"Elder Brother Shun!" Zenitsu's face turned pale.

A burst of severe pain came from his chest. Shinoda Shun lowered his head to look, a thumb-sized wound was gushing blood.

"This is the welcome gift I prepared for the Demon Slayer Corps." Dio jumped down from the Roof at this moment, walking forward slowly: "Space Ripper Stingy Eyes, specially targeted at you guys who rely on Breathing Techniques. How is it, can you still breathe?"

Shinoda Shun Grit Teeth, his peripheral vision glancing at his fallen companions.

Although his chest hurt severely, he still forcibly circulated the remaining Qi in his body.

"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!" Shinoda Shun gripped the sword with both hands, ripple-like light once again surfacing on the blade.

He kicked off the ground, his whole person shooting toward Dio like an arrow leaving the bow, the Great Sword drawing a sharp arc.

Dio did not dodge at all, his right hand directly meeting the blade edge.

"Puchi!" With a sound, the blade cut into his palm. But Dio's face showed No Hesitation of pain.

Shinoda Shun only felt a bone-piercing chill transmit from the sword in his hand.

White frost Spread rapidly along the blade body from the point where the blade edge made contact as the Center.

"What?!" Shinoda Shun's Pupils contracted sharply.

At the moment Shinoda Shun was stunned, Dio's left hand had already clamped onto his neck.

"Let me taste. the blood of the Demon Slayer Corps." Dio licked his lips, the blood vessels on his arm starting to writhe.

A violent suction force came from Dio's palm, Shinoda Shun felt his blood being forcibly drawn out of his body, his vision turning black, consciousness gradually blurring.

"Bang!"

Dio's wound healed, and he casually tossed Shinoda Shun to the side.

"Such vigorous vitality!" Dio licked the blood traces at the corner of his mouth, golden Pupils Shining with excited light, "Worthy Of being the elite of the Demon Slayer Corps, this blood. is far more delicious than ordinary Humanity!"

"However, still not enough!" Dio looked up at the few people kneeling in the distance, his gaze finally landing on Zenitsu, "Your blood. I'll have to savor it properly too!"

"Elder Brother Shun!" Zenitsu abruptly stood up, wanting to rush toward Shinoda Shun.

But he had just taken a step when several Corpse Puppets pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.

"Mmph! Let go of me!" Zenitsu Struggled, but his poisoned body couldn't exert strength, and he was quickly suppressed.

Dio walked slowly to Zenitsu's front, looking down at this blond youth from above.

Zenitsu suddenly stopped moving, eyes tightly closed, body going limp.

"Oh? Scared into fainting? Truly laughable."

Dio walked slowly toward Zenitsu, just as he reached out to grab Zenitsu, a subtle change caught his attention.

Zenitsu's breathing rhythm suddenly changed, the originally rapid and chaotic breathing becoming strangely even "Bang!"

No Hesitation, Dio's foot stomped the ground hard, using the force to leap back several meters. Years of combat experience gave him an almost instinctive intuition for danger.

"Kill him!" Dio gave the order.

The Corpse Puppets on both sides immediately lunged at Zenitsu, their pale palms striking straight for his throat.

At This Critical Moment, Zenitsu slowly exhaled.

That breath seemed to carry the power of thunder, causing the air to tremble.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap Flash!"

Zenitsu's eyes instantly burst with golden electric light. His body, wrapped in the electric light, broke free from the Corpse Puppets' restraint like a bolt of lightning.

Blade Light flashed, faster than lightning!

A thunderous explosion rang out in the air, a dazzling electric light striking straight at Dio's face!

The Corpse Puppets on both sides still held their grasping postures, but their bodies had already been neatly sliced in half.

"What?!" Dio's pupils contracted sharply; the speed of this strike far exceeded his expectations, and even with his reaction speed, he could only barely turn his body to dodge.

"Pfft!"

The blade flashed, blood splattered, and Dio's right half of his body along with his arm was cleanly cut off, drawing a blood-red arc in the air.

"Wryyy!" Dio let out a low scream, his figure rapidly retreating; at his severed arm, thick blood vessels writhed like living things, stretching toward the severed limb flying in the air.

The blood vessels entangled each other, instantly pulling the severed arm back into place.

"Space Ripper Stingy Eyes!"

Dio's golden pupils suddenly burst with dazzling light, a high-pressure liquid shooting toward Zenitsu's face like a laser.

Zenitsu kept his eyes tightly closed, but his ears caught the subtle fluctuations in the air. He flipped his wrist, holding the Great Sword horizontally before him.

With a crisp "clang," the high-pressure liquid struck the blade and was deflected to both sides.

At This Moment, Dio kicked off the ground, his whole body turning into a Body Flicker.

When he appeared again, he had already flashed to Shinoda Shun's side.

"Don't move!" Dio grabbed Shinoda Shun's neck with his left hand, lifting him up to use as a shield in front of himself.

Shun, having lost too much blood, was now powerless to resist. "Take one more step forward, and I'll snap his neck!"

At this moment, Zenitsu's movement suddenly stopped, his hand gripping the blade motionless.

"Move your hand!" Shinoda Shun gritted his teeth, squeezing out two words from his throat.

Zenitsu's figure shook, Lightning Release Armor once again leaping on the blade; he suddenly exerted force with both legs, his whole body shooting toward Dio like a golden bolt of lightning.

Dio's expression changed; at this moment, a shrill scream pierced the Night Sky.

Only to see several Corpse Puppets throwing a girl into the air; the child was only seven or eight years old, her terrified cries echoing throughout the Street.

"Hahahaha!" Dio laughed maniacally, "It seems my servants have already begun to act. Everyone left in this Small Town will become blood food tonight!"

Zenitsu's ears caught the girl's sobs; his figure suddenly turned in midair.

He tapped his left foot on the Wall, wood chips flying, his whole body turning into a golden bolt of lightning flying toward the girl.

Dio seized this opportunity, his right foot heavily stomping on the Ground.

"Boom!"

With a tremendous roar, countless wood fragments exploded outward; he used this reaction force, holding Shinoda Shun's body, to rapidly retreat.

"Demon Slayer Corps." Dio's voice echoed in the night wind, "We will meet again soon. By then, I will show you what true terror is!"

Zenitsu held the little girl in midair; his left foot touched the Ground, gently placing the girl down, but in this brief interval, Dio's figure had already vanished into the night.

At the same time, his ears caught the surrounding sounds. The Town had already fallen into chaos at this moment, screams and cries for help everywhere.

"Sizzle!"

Dazzling Lightning Release Armor flashed incessantly in the Town. Zenitsu's figure shuttled through the Streets like electric light; wherever he passed, all the Corpse Puppets were slain.

Finally, the last Corpse Puppet fell, and the Small Town returned to Silence.

Zenitsu stood in place, his breathing gradually becoming rapid; the exhaustion from continuously using Thunder Breathing was too great.

"Hahaha." Zenitsu's body swayed a few times; finally unable to support himself, he heavily fell to the Ground.

Soon, several Black Shadows appeared soundlessly on the Street. They wore black Demon Slayer Uniforms and Hakama; they were the attendants of the Demon Slayer Corps—the Kakushi.

The leading Kakushi quickly stepped forward, scanning the surroundings, a trace of Shock flashing in his eyes.

"What are these……"

On the Street lay a large number of Corpse Puppet remains haphazardly; some were split in half, some completely carbonized, the smell of blood still lingering in the air.

"Captain! Someone is here!" another Kakushi's voice came.

"Continue searching!" the leading Kakushi immediately ordered, "Group One immediately escort the wounded back to Headquarters, Group Two follow me to search for survivors!"

(Chapter End)