Chapter 105: Brutal Hantengu, Slay Hantengu!

Kamado Koyuki

DONG! DONG! DONG——!!

“Attack! Attack!” A blacksmith stood on the watchtower, striking a bell with a hammer; the sound echoed throughout the entire village.

It warned everyone that the Blacksmith Village was under threat.

“Protect the heads of every household! Retrieve the Pillar’s Nichirin Blades! Evacuate with the village chief—!!”

The earlier explosion, combined with those gunshots, naturally made them suspect the Blacksmith Village had been exposed—and demons had attacked!

Meanwhile, inside the village chief’s room, several Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen stationed to patrol the village, along with some blacksmiths, held weapons and surrounded the chief, preparing to evacuate him to safety.

“Chief, you evacuate first to a safe place—we’ll handle this!”

“Yes, Chief, your forging skills are the best in the village—go with everyone to safety!”

Yet the village chief shook his head and said: “First, protect the Pillars’ Nichirin Blades. As long as those Blades are safe, the Pillars will have a chance to slay more demons!”

Even at this critical moment, the chief still thought only of protecting the Nichirin Blades—especially those belonging to the Pillars.

The Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen exchanged glances.

Without waiting for the chief’s consent, they hoisted him onto their backs and swiftly evacuated him to safety.

Several other blacksmiths grabbed the already-forged Nichirin Blades, tied them with cloth strips onto their backs, and followed the swordsmen in evacuation.

“Hurry! The Blacksmith Village is under attack! Everyone inside is in danger! Immediate reinforcement! Immediate reinforcement!”

Mitsuji, while patrolling her assigned area, received an urgent message from the Hashira’s crow; under its guidance, she immediately set out for the Blacksmith Village.

Mitsuji hadn’t expected her patrol zone to be so close to the Blacksmith Village—this would drastically shorten her travel distance and get her there faster.

“That’s a surprise! Alright, I’ve got to push harder!!”

“Zero, I’m coming—!!”

Tanjiro stared at the two Upper Rank Fours, an inexplicable pressure making sweat pour down his body.

“It split!”

Earlier, while sleeping, Shinobu had come to him, asking if he knew the blacksmith Tetsuyama.

Tanjiro naturally answered yes, and offered to take him to find him.

Shinobu had been confused—why did Tanjiro care so much about others?

He had his own tasks to do—why help someone else?

Tanjiro’s answer was simple: helping others made him happy too.

Helping others brings its own reward.

These words instantly plunged Shinobu into memory; the fog in his mind cleared further.

Just then, the wooden door slid open.

A hand like a dried branch reached in, followed by an old man with a swollen forehead and a pair of demon horns.

Shinobu immediately drew his slightly worn Nichirin Blade and launched a technique to strike!

Mist Breathing, Fourth Form: Stratified Slash!

Shinobu was surrounded by a misty haze, his blade moving like flowing clouds as he slashed toward Hantengu.

But the attack missed—Hantengu dodged, his body clinging to the ceiling.

Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Solar Bloom Thrust!

Tanjiro showed no fear, drew his Nichirin Blade, and unleashed a spinning, sun-like flame slash, thrusting upward at Hantengu on the ceiling!

Hantengu dodged again.

As he fell, Shinobu seized the opening and decapitated him.

But something strange happened right before their eyes.

The severed head grew a new body; the headless torso sprouted a new head.

Seeing the two demons before him, Shinobu recalled the intelligence on Upper Rank demons he’d seen at Zero’s mansion.

He instantly understood who this demon was.

Just as he prepared to attack again, the demon that had split a new body raised a fan and blew a gale that shattered the roof, flinging Shinobu out.

Hence, this scene.

Tanjiro instinctively glanced beside him, wanting to warn Nezuko.

He remembered—Nezuko had already returned to human form, so she could no longer fight beside him as before.

A pang of loss welled up, but then hardened into resolve.

Since Nezuko wasn’t here, he wouldn’t dwell on anything else—his only task now was to slay the demon!

Zero’s brutal training, and the results of this period’s practice, gave Tanjiro renewed confidence.

Kegai, seeing Tanjiro’s gaze, wore a deeply unpleasant expression.

Kagu laughed heartily: “Hahahaha! Interesting! Very interesting! Kid, you’re alone—how do you plan to deal with us?”

“Even if I’m alone, I won’t retreat! I won’t let anyone down—not even Zero! I’ll cut off your necks!”

Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!

Tanjiro vanished from his spot, leaving only afterimages of his body as he instantly rushed to Kagu and beheaded him.

His body vanished again, reappearing before Kegai.

But Kegai wouldn’t let him succeed—just as Tanjiro’s Nichirin Blade was about to sever his neck, Kegai slammed his staff onto the ground, releasing a dense barrage of lightning.

The lightning engulfed Tanjiro, paralyzing his body, rendering him motionless.

“My body’s paralyzed! I can’t move! Think of a way—move! Move!!”

Even with all his strength, Tanjiro could only twitch a single finger.

To break free from this lightning, someone had to attack Kegai!

But this was only the beginning—Tanjiro noticed the demon he’d beheaded had split again, forming a new body: a winged bird-man.

Upper Rank Four—Kuon.

“Hahahaha! There you are at last!”

Kuon laughed.

“Enough talk! Complete the Lord’s orders—destroy the Blacksmith Village and kill every blacksmith!” Kegai snapped.

“I know, I know, leave it to me!” Kagu, now regenerated, said carelessly.

He raised his fan, preparing to obliterate everything around him.

Suddenly, Tanjiro noticed a figure on the ruined roof.

“That’s... Genya?!”

There stood Shinobu Genya, holding a firearm, firing one shot each at Kegai and Kuon.

BANG! BANG!

Instantly, Kegai and Kuon’s heads exploded.

Seeing this, Shinobu Genya immediately reloaded, drew the Nichirin Blade from his back, and leapt from the roof toward Kagu!

With Kegai attacked, the lightning vanished.

Tanjiro gained a moment to breathe—but the numbness in his legs remained.

He shouted at Shinobu Genya: “Genya, don’t!! No matter how strong the weapon, if you cut him, he’ll split! He’s deliberately letting you cut his neck!!”

“What?!” Shinobu Genya hadn’t expected things to be this complicated!

But it was already too late!

SPLASH!

Kagu was beheaded—but no splitting occurred as expected.

“Genya, watch out behind you!!”

Behind Shinobu Genya, the decapitated Kuon split again into a new form.

Upper Rank Four—Aizetsu.

Shinobu Genya, just turning to fire, couldn’t react in time—Aizetsu drove his spear through his abdomen, spewing blood.

“Genya!!”

Tanjiro realized the numbness in his legs was gone—he swung his Nichirin Blade and charged at Aizetsu.

Water Breathing, Tenth Form..........

“Brat, get down!”

BOOM!

Kagu flapped his fan, unleashing a powerful gust that crushed Tanjiro to the ground, smashing through the floor into the room below—he couldn’t move.

“Damn it! My body... can’t move... too much pressure... Gen... ya... I have to... save him!”

Shinobu Genya, though pierced through the abdomen by Aizetsu’s spear, did not die immediately.

He murmured the Amitabha Sutra.

“What a devout believer~ Let me grant you swift release~”

Seeing this, Aizetsu prepared to pull his spear from Shinobu Genya’s belly—but couldn’t withdraw it.

“Your opponent is me!”

BAM! BAM!

He raised his firearm, blasting Aizetsu’s head off with one shot, and Kagu’s head off with another—freeing Tanjiro.

Then Shinobu Genya swung his Nichirin Blade and charged at Kegai.

“This is getting more and more unpleasant!!” Kegai’s staff released another burst of lightning, striking Shinobu Genya.

Kong Xi dove down from the sky, preparing to seize Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi in one strike.

“I’ll handle this guy! Hahaha!” Kong Xi laughed loudly.

But at that moment, an anomaly suddenly shifted.

Sun Breathing. Eleventh Form. Sun Halo Dragon. Head Dance!

Tanjiro’s body whirled like a fire dragon, unleashing a rapid barrage of strikes that shattered the heads of Xi, Nu, Ai, and Le, saving Xuan Mi.

He stood before Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi, shielding him.

And this time, both speed and power were even stronger than before!

Long ago, while escaping, Tanjiro had swiftly removed the restraints on his wrists and ankles, boosting his strength by a great margin!

Moreover, Tanjiro noticed something.

These four demons had been beheaded again—but no new clones had split off.

From this, he deduced: they could not clone endlessly!

He also noticed the numbers on their tongues: Xi, Nu, Ai, Le—clearly split by emotion. Surely this was their limit?!

Worse still, even after being beheaded, these four demons had not died.

During his earlier attack, he’d sensed something off—he’d smelled the scent of a fifth demon!

“If that’s true, I must find that fifth demon!”

As he thought this, Tanjiro’s collar was seized and lifted by Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi.

He was about to speak, but realized Xuan Mi had changed—he now looked utterly like a demon!

“Don’t get cocky! The one who defeats the Upper Rank demons will be me!!! I’m the one who’ll become a Pillar!!!”

“I see! I understand. I’ll support you fully—I’ll help you! Let’s push forward together!”

Tanjiro did not feel anger at Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi’s behavior.

Instead, he chose to help him fulfill his wish.

Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi stared into Tanjiro’s clear eyes and was momentarily speechless.

“Xuan Mi, there may still be a fifth demon! I’ll fight while searching for it quickly—you strike when I find it!”

No sooner had he spoken than Xi, Nu, Ai, and Le regenerated, surrounding Tanjiro and Bu Nian Chuan Xuan Mi.

Seeing this, the two stood back-to-back.

Boom! Boom!

The unregenerated Dou Mo was mercilessly attacked by Zero.

His body, under Zero’s assault, seemed utterly fragile—each strike echoed with a crunching sound from within.

A storm of fists pounded Dou Mo, mercilessly crushing every inch of his bones.

Zero’s gaze grew increasingly sinister and mad; to meet his eyes was to freeze with dread.

In Dou Mo’s heart, he felt Zero’s hatred for him—far deeper than the last time at Wan Shi Ji Le Jiao!

Born without emotion, he simply could not understand why his hatred for him grew stronger and stronger.

Zero’s attacks continued, showing no sign of stopping—each punch stronger than the last.

Even as Dou Mo spat blood, Zero did not cease; his body was mangled beyond recognition, though as an Upper Rank demon, he could regenerate.

But under such torment, was his spirit not equally broken?

Then Zero grabbed Dou Mo’s hair and hurled him into the sky.

He drew the [Dark Alloy Annihilation Cannon Sniper], fired multiple rounds at Dou Mo—his body exploded into fragments, leaving only his head intact.

Dou Mo’s head landed on the ground. Zero made no move to stop his regeneration.

He retracted the [Dark Alloy Annihilation Cannon Sniper] into his [Nano Space] and switched to the [Dark Alloy Gatling].

He stood several meters away, eyes locked on him.

The moment Dou Mo’s body regenerated, Zero opened fire—furious barrage!

Gatling bullets poured out, mercilessly shredding Dou Mo and the surrounding forest, turning his body into a honeycomb of holes.

Smoke filled the air; long tongues of flame roared like vengeful dragons, proclaiming Zero’s fury.

After a minute and a half, Zero ceased firing.

He carried the Gatling to Dou Mo’s side—once again, only his head remained.

But he was no better off—“unrecognizable” was the only word for it.

“Can you tell me why?” asked Dou Mo, his body regenerating.

“Because Kanae. Because love. That’s all.”

No sooner had he spoken than Zero crushed Dou Mo’s head under his foot, drew his Sun Blade Scythe, and beheaded him!

Plosch!

Finally, Dou Mo’s body ceased regenerating—still incomplete.

His head crushed by Zero, he couldn’t even utter his final words.

Even if he had, they’d have been nothing but empty nonsense.

Dou Mo’s life ended. His body turned to ash and vanished into the air.

Zero stood still, watching the remnants of Dou Mo disappear—his face expressionless.

The vengeance for Kanae’s suffering at Dou Mo’s hands was finally settled tonight.

But upon deeper thought, perhaps it wasn’t truly settled.

Dou Mo was a demon—but the one who turned him into a demon was Gyutaro Muzan.

Then, didn’t that mean Kanae had nearly been killed by Gyutaro Muzan himself?!

“Gyutaro Muzan… next time I see you, it will be your death. If you dared harm my Kanae, then wait for your end!”

“Now…” Zero’s gaze turned to the distant house—the place where Tanjiro and the others fought.

“Time to deal with Upper Rank Four—the Licking Dog.”