Chapter 107: Slaying Upper Rank Four
BOOM!
Zero’s mecha shot forward like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the dense barrier formed by the wooden dragons.
These wooden dragons surged like tidal waves, trying to halt Zero’s advance, but he showed no fear, pressing forward relentlessly.
The exterior of Zero’s mecha glowed with a dark red radiance, exuding an aura of fearless determination.
Zeng Po Tian rapidly struck the Thunder God Drum behind him, gathering the wooden dragons into a solid wall of defense once more.
Zero drove his mecha straight into the barrier—wood splinters flew everywhere, the dragons shattered and scattered.
Zero was not slowed by the wooden dragons’ attacks; he maneuvered his mecha swiftly, charging straight for the heart of the enemy.
Reaching Zeng Po Tian’s position, he stomped down with one foot!
Zeng Po Tian had no time to dodge—he could only command the wooden dragons to block, then rolled sideways to avoid being crushed.
Yet Zeng Po Tian had vastly underestimated the mecha’s speed.
The mecha swiftly extended its arm, seized Zeng Po Tian, and slammed him violently into the ground!
It smashed him over a dozen times, then hurled him high into the air.
The mecha drew a massive greatsword from its back and slashed down—Zeng Po Tian was cut clean in half at the waist!
Before Zeng Po Tian could regenerate, Zero kept the mecha stomping relentlessly on his broken form.
Only when Zeng Po Tian had been crushed into pulp did the mecha finally stop.
After Zeng Po Tian regenerated, the mecha grabbed him and clenched him tightly in its fist.
Zero’s cold voice echoed through the mecha: “You shouldn’t have said that about my Luo Li!”
THUD!
He slammed Zeng Po Tian into the ground once more.
With a deafening roar, the mecha’s engines ignited again.
It raised its colossal mechanical fist.
The fist blazed through the air like a falling star, radiating unstoppable force as it came crashing down upon Zeng Po Tian!
When it struck Zeng Po Tian, the very space around them trembled.
The ground, under the impact, cracked like fragile spiderweb, splitting outward in all directions.
As the ground split, a massive crater opened beneath Zeng Po Tian.
Dirt and stones erupted around the crater, forming a blinding, sky-obscuring dust storm.
When the mecha lifted its fist from the crater, it was caked in Zeng Po Tian’s thick, sticky blood.
Zeng Po Tian, utterly powerless, was filled with terror and rage!
He couldn’t understand how such a monster could exist in this world!?
He couldn’t even fathom who had recruited such a monster into the Demon Slayer Corps!
All Zeng Po Tian now wished for was that his true body flee immediately—otherwise, no matter how long he delayed, it would be useless!
Even facing just this one Pillar was unbearable, let alone the two more coming behind!
But what followed was nothing but endless terror and torment for Zeng Po Tian.
He was shattered again and again, regenerated again and again—but this monster gave him not a single chance to fight back!
Moreover, strange weapons hovered nearby, waiting—forming a deadly four-sided assault!
On the other side, Tanjiro and Inosuke found the true body of Hantengu.
Just as Tanjiro swung his Nichirin Blade to sever its neck, Hantengu suddenly expanded from the size of a fist to monstrous proportions!
Both hands seized Tanjiro and Inosuke, squeezing their necks tightly, cutting off their breath.
“Don’t you think… I’m pitiful?! Don’t bully the weak, aaaaaah!!” Hantengu roared.
He saw himself as weak, believing it was tragic to be hunted by demon slayers.
Shouldn’t they just let him go?
He had done nothing wrong—nothing at all!
In fact, Hantengu believed those he ate had failed to show proper respect to an elder like him!
Hantengu’s twisted worldview revealed just how filthy and repulsive his soul truly was!
“You damn demon, your logic is pure bullshit!”
BANG! BANG!
Even as his neck was crushed, Inosuke raised his firearm and fired two shots straight at Hantengu’s head!
But it had no effect—only further enraged Hantengu.
Determined, Inosuke swung his Nichirin Blade at Hantengu’s neck.
To his shock, the blade snapped clean in two!
“I won’t let you escape…! Even if you flee to the very depths of hell… I will… pursue you… until I cut off your neck…!!”
Tanjiro, equally repulsed by Hantengu’s warped mind, still swung his Nichirin Blade at Hantengu’s neck—even as his own throat was crushed.
Sun Breathing. First Form: Circular Dance!
A flaming arc of cutting energy slashed toward Hantengu’s neck.
But Hantengu’s body was too hard, and Tanjiro’s grip was weakened by the chokehold—this strike only cut halfway in!
And the Nichirin Blade began to crack.
Tanjiro refused to give up—he gripped the blade tighter, channeling explosive force through his wrist!
SPLURT!
Hantengu’s neck was finally severed!
Both men were freed!
At the same time, after prolonged battle, the Nichirin Blade could no longer hold—shattering into multiple fragments once more!
Worse still, Tanjiro noticed the character 【Fear】 on Hantengu’s tongue had changed to 【Hate】!
“The character on the tongue changed! What do we do? My blade is broken!”
Looking ahead at the cliff, Tanjiro’s expression hardened with resolve.
If he had no Nichirin Blade, he would push the demon off the cliff—and find a way to hold it there until sunrise, letting the sun burn it to ash!
He could smell it—Hantengu hadn’t gone far; he was hidden somewhere within this headless body!
Inosuke, watching Tanjiro’s gaze, understood what he intended—and decided to help him.
Mist Breathing. Fourth Form: Stratified Slash!
Love Breathing. First Form: First Love’s Tremor!
Nearby, Mitsuri and Muichiro arrived simultaneously.
Muichiro slid beneath Hantengu and severed both legs; Mitsuri wrapped her Nichirin Blade around the headless body like a whip, effortlessly tearing it apart!
Thus, Hantengu’s tiny, fist-sized true body was exposed once more.
Unexpectedly, Hantengu had hidden inside the heart of the headless body!
Tanjiro shouted: “Miss Mitsuri! Muichiro! That’s Hantengu’s true body! Cut off its neck!”
“Understood!” x2
Mist Breathing. Second Form: Eightfold Mist!
Love Breathing. Fifth Form: Fickle Affection—Wild Grasp!
Eight lightning-fast slashes and chaotic rapid strikes rained down upon Hantengu!
Instantly, Hantengu’s neck was severed, his body torn to shreds, reduced to ash.
And at the very moment his neck was cut, he saw his own life flash before his eyes…
Tanjiro smelled the unmistakable scent of death—his tense nerves finally relaxed.
“Tanjiro, Inosuke—you both fought so hard!” Mitsuri ran over and embraced them both.
Inosuke froze, utterly motionless, his face burning red as if with fever!
Muichiro watched the scene before him; the fog in his mind slowly began to clear.
Though still somewhat confused, for now, it was enough.
The scene shifted back to Zero.
Zero was violently beating Zeng Po Tian—when suddenly, he noticed Zeng Po Tian had gone still.
He looked closer—Zeng Po Tian had vanished. That meant Tanjiro and the others had defeated Hantengu.
Looking at the pitted ground and the fallen forest around him, Zero sighed: “What a pity—this little forest and land, ruined because of Zeng Po Tian’s form…”
(Zeng Po Tian: I ********)
Zero exited the mecha cockpit, retracted all weapons into the [Nanospace], and headed to join Mitsuri and the others.
Dawn arrived.
The morning light illuminated the blue sky.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
All the Kuchisake Crows gathered together, led by Zero’s crow, Snow.
The others stared at this unusual sight, puzzled.
What had happened to make all the Kuchisake Crows assemble like this?
But the news that followed left them utterly stunned!
“Pillar Zero, fought and slew Upper Rank Two alone! Pillar of Love, Mitsuri Kanroji; Pillar of Mist, Muichiro Tokito; and Corps Member Tanjiro Kamado, assisted by Inosuke Hashibira, slew Upper Rank Four!”
“Pillar Zero, fought and slew Upper Rank Two alone! Pillar of Love, Mitsuri Kanroji; Pillar of Mist, Muichiro Tokito; and Corps Member Tanjiro Kamado, assisted by Inosuke Hashibira, slew Upper Rank Four!”
Zero, alone, defeated and slew Upper Moon Two! Love Pillar Kanoe Mitsuji, Mist Pillar Shinobu Kocho, and team member Tanjiro Kamado assisted Zero in slaying Upper Moon Four!
The announcement was repeated three times, spreading to every corner of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Upon hearing it, Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt overwhelming excitement!
“Another Upper Moon demon slain! Two of them! Zero, Mitsuji, Shinobu, Tanjiro, Genya—you did excellently! Zero, thank you for bringing the Demon Slayer Corps unprecedented change!”
“Kagaya…” Ubuyashiki Tōne gripped Kagaya’s hand tightly, her heart rejoicing for him.
This foretold that Doma no Kanao would be slain in this region!
“Tōne, when they return, come with me to thank them!”
“Yes!”
Butterfly House.
“Zero… I never expected you…” Kanae Kocho’s heart overflowed with joy, a sweet tear sliding down her cheek.
She naturally understood why Zero had fought Upper Moon Two alone.
“Sister, why are you crying? Isn’t this wonderful news? Your husband slew Upper Moon Two alone—for you! You should be happy!”
“I know—I’m overjoyed! Meeting him is the happiest thing in my life!”
…………
Himejima Gyomei, meditating beneath the waterfall, heard the news but remained utterly unmoved, not even lifting his eyelids.
Yet it was clear he held even greater admiration for Zero.
“Amitabha, I must further intensify my cultivation!”
On another front, Shinobu Genya, upon hearing the news, felt his competitive spirit ignite!
“Tch. He slew another Upper Moon again? I won’t lose!”
Learning that Genya had also fought in the battle, he felt a bitter pang.
He believed Genya should settle down, marry, have children, and grow old in peace.
His duty was to eliminate all potential threats, ensuring his younger brother could live safely!
But now…
“Why are you so disobedient, my foolish brother!”
Swordsmith Village.
After a night of battle, Swordsmith Village suffered little significant damage.
Yet its location was now exposed—it could no longer remain here; immediate relocation was necessary.
With aid from the Hidden Division, each master of the village gathered their essential tools and relocated.
Mostly, they carried Nichirin blades and forging molds.
Zero, Mitsuji, and Shinobu served as guards, scouting along the route to prevent further incidents.
Tanjiro, injured from battling Hantengu’s four clones, was carried on a stretcher by Hidden Division members and sent ahead to the Butterfly House for treatment.
Genya, after his demon transformation ended, was also returned to the Butterfly House.
Yet along the way, Genya remained trembling with anxiety.
He feared returning to the Demon Slayer Corps and facing his elder brother…
Infinity Castle.
“Doma and Hantengu are both dead… that man… that man!!!”
Doma no Kanao felt increasing dread and terror within.
Upper Moon demons were falling one after another!
All this upheaval stemmed from the emergence of the white-haired demon slayer!
First Yushiro, then Akaza.
Then the sister-brother duo, Gyutaro and Daki.
Now Doma and Hantengu.
That man is a true monster—far greater than Kokushibo from centuries past!
Doma no Kanao had once believed: humans live only decades; if he simply hid for a few more centuries, he could outlast that man!
Yet Zero’s words kept flashing in his mind.
Zero had lived for thousands of years—no matter how long he hid, it would be useless!
Could he truly never become the Ultimate Being?
If he found the Blue Heian Flower now and transformed, why fear Zero at all?
But now, with Upper Moons dead or dwindling—only Kokushibo and Muichiro remained—what could he do?
Creating Upper Moons was effortless for Doma no Kanao.
But what purpose did they serve now?
Even if he created more, they’d only be food for that monster!
The more he thought, the angrier he grew. In a rage of frustration, he overturned everything in the room.
Moments later, Doma no Kanao gradually calmed.
His eyes revealed deep worry and unease.
His heart pounded wildly, as if to burst from his chest; his body trembled faintly—he knew this was an ill omen.
He drew a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
He told himself it was an illusion, mere over-sensitivity.
But his intuition told him otherwise: this was real—a genuine sense of impending danger.
He recalled the recent chain of impossible events, the unsettling anomalies that confused and terrified him.
His thoughts grew increasingly chaotic; he tried to sort them, but they clung to his mind like invisible hands, paralyzing his reasoning.
His heartbeat quickened further; he fought to calm down, yet fear gripped his heart like an invisible fist, stealing his breath.
Suddenly, a chilling wind swept over him, making him shiver.
As if he saw that man from centuries past standing behind him, questioning:
“What do you consider life to be?”
“No… no! I will not allow this! If a hundred years won’t work, I’ll hide for a thousand! Ten thousand! I refuse to believe you’ll live that long!”
"No... no! I will not allow this to happen! If a hundred years isn't enough, I'll hide for a thousand years, ten thousand years! I don't believe you'll live that long!"
End of Chapter
