Chapter 68: Tanjiro VS Susamaru

Tanjiro: "Lady Tamayo, is there any way to turn a demon back into a human?"

Tamayo: "Yes, such a method exists."

Tanjiro: "Really? Then please tell me…"

Boom!

Before the words had even faded, the somewhat agitated Tanjiro had just tried to step forward and was immediately taken down by Yushiro with a shoulder throw.

Yushiro: "You're not allowed to get close to Lady Tamayo!"

Tamayo: "Yushiro!!!"

"Yes, Lady Tamayo!" The moment Yushiro heard Tamayo call his name, he immediately returned to his original spot and obediently knelt down properly.

Zero, standing off to the side, helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose.

Then, Tamayo continued answering the question Tanjiro had just asked: "No matter what kind of illness it is, there must always be a medicine or treatment to cure it. And over these past few years, I have also been continuously developing a drug to turn demons back into humans. I believe it won't be long before the development is complete!"

Hearing this, Tanjiro was undoubtedly the most agitated one inside, but for now he couldn't show it, because Yushiro's murderous gaze had been fixed dead on him the whole time!

As if the next moment, if he dared to act like he had just done, Yushiro would absolutely unhesitatingly give him another shoulder throw!

Afterwards, Tamayo continued: "Developing this kind of medicine is also largely thanks to Zero's help, providing me with the blood of Upper Rank demons and Kibutsuji Muzan. Otherwise, I might not have achieved such great success!"

Tanjiro's gaze turned to Zero, filled with gratitude.

He hadn't expected that Zero had done so much for Nezuko…

"Although I have developed a potion that can turn demons back into humans, for safety's sake, I hope you can agree to one thing for me."

"Yes, please go ahead."

"I hope you can let me collect some of your sister's blood for research. Regarding little sister Nezuko's matter, I am also very surprised. I never expected that she could actually suppress her desire to eat humans through her own willpower!"

Tanjiro glanced at Nezuko in Zero's arms, smiled slightly, and said: "As long as Nezuko can be turned back into a human, I have no other wish. Besides… if Lady Tamayo succeeds in developing a drug to turn demons back into humans, it will also save many more people!"

"…That's right."

Although Nezuko didn't quite understand what they were saying, she seemed to vaguely grasp a little of it.

She rolled up her sleeve and extended her delicate little arm toward Tamayo.

Tamayo was a little puzzled and asked: "What is she doing?"

Zero answered: "Nezuko seems to have understood that you need her blood, isn't that right, Nezuko~"

Nezuko nodded, bit on her bamboo muzzle, her eyes curving into crescents, thoroughly enjoying Zero's head pat.

This display once again made Tamayo realize that Nezuko was truly extraordinary. Perhaps, she was a miracle!

"Almost forgot, Tamayo, this is for you." Zero took out a specially made small syringe and handed it to Tamayo.

"This is…!!" Taking the small syringe from Zero's hand and sensing the aura of Kibutsuji Muzan within the blood, Tanjiro also caught this scent.

"This was when I was just saying hello to Kibutsuji Muzan earlier, I 'borrowed' a little from him. Too bad he split apart and escaped… Looks like Kibutsuji Muzan really hates seeing me."

The speaker had no intent, but the listeners took it to heart.

Saying hello?

Borrowing a little blood from Kibutsuji Muzan?

In the room, the atmosphere in the air grew a touch awkward. Tamayo and Yushiro already had no idea how to respond to what he had said.

But thinking about it, given all the things Zero had done before and after, if it had been them, they probably wouldn't just be unwelcome — they'd want to stay as far away as possible.

Suddenly, Zero's aura abruptly became extremely fierce.

He swiftly turned around, placed Nezuko behind him to shield her, and stretched out his mechanical left hand to pinch a hand-ball that had flown in at extreme speed, crushing it!

The surrounding space rippled, and the 【Dark Alloy Cross Floating Cannon】 and 【Destroyer Small Drone】 were all released from the 【Nano Space】.

"Xiao Bai Yue, protect them! Tanjiro, come outside with me, prepare for battle!"

"Yes! 【Combat Mode】 activated, control authority received successfully!"

Xiao Bai Yue also radiated a fierce aura at this moment, controlling the cross floating cannon and small drone to shield Tamayo, Yushiro, and Nezuko within.

Before Tanjiro could figure out what was happening, he saw Zero charge out of the room gripping a Nichirin Sickle!

Although he wasn't entirely sure, he also grabbed his Nichirin Sword and charged out together!

The villa's rear courtyard.

Susamaru sensed that her hand-ball had been crushed and laughed heartily: "Hahaha, Yahaba, my hand-ball was crushed by a Demon Slayer. Looks like there's quite a formidable one in here! Maybe the person that lord is looking for is among them!"

That hand-ball from earlier had been thrown by Susamaru. Although it was just a casual toss, she hadn't expected it to be crushed so easily by a Demon Slayer.

Combined with the earlier attack, some talisman-like papers had also drifted down around the house, immediately revealing their true form.

Zero charged out of the room gripping his Nichirin Sickle and saw two evil demons had appeared in the rear courtyard at some unknown time.

He couldn't be bothered to use the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze their data, because in his eyes, the strength of these two evil demons was not even on par with a Lower Rank demon.

"White-haired Demon Slayer? A sickle? Hahaha, Yahaba, I didn't expect our luck to be this good. We've found the head that lord wants so quickly!"

"Enough, Susamaru, finish them off quickly, or the situation could change! Also, you've dirtied my clothes!"

Yahaba was very displeased. Susamaru had been patting her hand-ball the whole time, and the dust she blew up got everywhere.

"Yes, yes, yes, it didn't get that dirty~ Still, if this Demon Slayer can be killed by us, who are among the Twelve Demon Moons, then that really is their honor. Hahaha!"

Tanjiro, who had arrived right behind, saw these two evil demons and smelled the foul stench permeating the air!

It seemed they had eaten quite a few people!

The strength of these two evil demons was even greater than that swamp evil demon he had encountered before!

But when he saw Zero nearby looking perfectly composed, a sudden sense of disparity welled up in his heart.

However, he quickly adjusted his own state.

A resolve sprouted in his heart! He would become stronger — strong enough to protect his family!

No matter how long it took, he would walk this path with determination!

He would become strong enough to protect every single person from being harmed by evil demons ever again!

At this moment, Tanjiro seemed to undergo a transformation, his heart becoming even more firm and unshakable!

Facing Yahaba and Susamaru, Tanjiro calmed himself, thinking about how to handle the coming battle.

Zero naturally also sensed that subtle change in Tanjiro.

The little child from the mountain forest back then can now reach this step — enough to prove the conviction in his heart.

The him of now can take one small step; the him of the future may still have ten thousand steps to walk!

Being able to walk forward step by step, firm and unshakable, is enough to witness his growth!

"Tanjiro."

"Yes, Big Brother Zero."

"These two may not be members of the Twelve Kizuki, but speaking purely of strength, they're stronger than the demons you've faced before, so, you… are you ready?"

"I understand. I've already made my preparations!"

"Very well! Since that's the case, I'll take care of slaying that male demon! That female demon is yours to deal with — can you do it?"

"Yes! I will… no, I definitely can do it!"

Not far away, Yahaba and Susamaru heard these words and grew even more furious.

Susamaru opened her mouth and shouted: "You bastard, on what grounds do you say we're not members of the Twelve Kizuki!?"

"Are they members of the Twelve Kizuki?" Tanjiro wondered in his heart, but still chose to trust Zero.

Since Zero said they're not members of the Twelve Kizuki, there must be his reasons!

He smelled no trace of lies on Zero.

"Bastard, you damned white-haired Demon Slayer, on what grounds do you say I'm not a member of the Twelve Kizuki!!!"

Boom!

Susamaru unleashed her full power and hurled the ball in her hand toward Zero.

Facing such pressure, Tanjiro even thought to himself — if her target had been him, could he have caught it?

Zero extended his mechanical left hand once more to catch the hand-ball, and crushed it!

This time, Susamaru was completely stunned. She couldn't figure out why this guy would have such tremendous power.

The first time could be called luck, but this time it was her full-power throw, and he still caught it so easily, then crushed it?

"Impossible! This can't be! How could this guy possibly have such tremendous power?" Susamaru simply could not believe the facts before her eyes!

"Tanjiro, she's yours! I'll destroy that male demon, but I won't interfere in your fight! And I won't help you either!"

"Yes, leave it to me, Big Brother Zero!"

Then, Tanjiro took out his Nichirin Blade and charged toward Susamaru.

Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!

He swung the Nichirin Blade in his hand, delivering a flat slash toward Susamaru.

"Don't underestimate me!" Susamaru once again created a hand-ball in her hand and hurled it toward Tanjiro.

"Crap!"

Seeing this, Tanjiro immediately changed his move and slashed toward the hand-ball.

But the hand-ball seemed to know the attack's trajectory, changed direction, and was hurled toward Zero instead!

"Big Brother Zero, be careful…" Tanjiro shouted.

Bang!

The hand-ball was crushed once again.

Just now, as Zero was preparing his next move, he suddenly felt something off about the Nichirin Sickle in his hand.

It was as if it was being controlled, about to slip from his grasp at any moment!

The 【Analysis Glasses】 scanned and detected, at the sickle's blade edge, four red arrows entwined together, pulling in the same direction.

And at this moment, Susamaru's hand-ball was also thrown over.

"Interesting!"

He extended his mechanical left hand again to grab the hand-ball, and likewise saw a red arrow on it controlling its attack trajectory.

Bang!

He crushed it directly.

His figure flashed; he spun the Nichirin Sickle, and the red arrows entwined on the Nichirin Sickle were directly broken!

Then he charged toward Yahaba's direction.

"Damn it! How did this white-haired Demon Slayer discover it?" Yahaba truly couldn't figure out how the white-haired Demon Slayer had discovered his move.

Could this guy actually be a Pillar?

But that lord never mentioned there was a Pillar among these two Demon Slayers!

His brain's thinking ability seemed to accelerate in that instant.

The arrow eyeballs in his palms watched Zero getting closer and closer, and especially meeting those crimson eyes, an involuntary chill ran down his spine!

Bang!

He kicked Yahaba flying, who crashed into a tree trunk and then fell down.

He had just struggled to his feet when the slash of the Nichirin Sickle followed.

Puchi!

Yahaba's body was instantly sliced into three segments by the Nichirin Sickle, his head separated from his body!

The demon's head was held in Zero's hand by its hair.

"This guy really is a Pillar…" Yahaba's not-yet-dispersed head was filled with shock and terror!

"Kibutsuji Muzan sent just you two little brats? I thought he'd send an Upper Rank demon later to cause some trouble~ Heh heh~ He's truly trash to the extreme~"

His tone was full of mockery, and he looked down on Kibutsuji Muzan more and more.

"You... you bastard! Don't you dare insult that lord! Die!!"

Only to see Yahaba make one last struggle, manipulating the arrow-shaped eyeballs on his palms that had not yet disappeared to activate his Blood Demon Art.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of red arrows appeared on Zero's body.

As if he had seen his body torn apart, he laughed loudly: "Hahaha! You bastard, even if you're a Pillar, you still have to die!"

The imagined scene of being torn apart did not happen; those red arrows were forcibly snapped off on their own.

Zero opened his mouth and mocked: "Heh~ Is that all? Even Kibutsuji Muzan and the Upper Rank demons can't do anything to me, you... what are you?"

"This is impossible... this is impossible! I don't believe it! I don't bel—"

Watching Yahaba disappear, there was not the slightest ripple in Zero's eyes.

But on second thought, if this guy had been an Upper Rank demon, it really would have been somewhat difficult to deal with.

Unfortunately, he never was!

On the other side, Tanjiro's battle with Susamaru had also entered a white-hot stage.

Two more pairs of hands sprouted from each side under Susamaru's armpits, veins bulging.

Each of the six hands held a handball and hurled it at Tanjiro.

At this moment, Tanjiro also looked somewhat strained, having sustained quite a few injuries on his body.

But he had never once thought of giving up!

He had promised Zero that he would take down the female demon before him with his own hands — how could he let anyone down?!

"Stay calm, don't panic! Her attacks won't change trajectory on their own anymore — Big Brother Zero must have finished things on his side. Then I need to speed up too!"

"All the effort and sacrifice I've put into training up to now was never wasted — I can do this!"

Thinking as he fought, Tanjiro found an opening and used the corresponding combat technique to split Susamaru's handballs apart.

Zero stood not far away, watching just like that, with no intention of helping — this was something he had to go through!

Hoo—

Tanjiro took a deep breath, raised his Nichirin Blade, and once more settled into his combat stance.

Total Concentration...

Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Droplet Ripple Thrust!

At extreme speed, the three incoming handballs were all pierced through in one line; he then twisted the hilt and split them apart!

Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!

His body, moving at high speed, left afterimages in place; the instant he closed in on Susamaru, he swung the Nichirin Blade in his hand and severed all of her arms.

But Susamaru felt no pain at all, and instantly completed regeneration.

She created handballs, turned around, and hurled them with all her might once more.

Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!

Seeing the situation turn bad, Tanjiro swung his Nichirin Blade again, unleashing multiple slashes that split every handball clean in two.

But one handball still slipped through and slammed into Tanjiro's forehead.

Perhaps because Tanjiro inherited his mother's headbutt, the handball not only failed to harm his forehead — it bounced right back and smashed straight through Susamaru's head!

Zero: Just how hard is that head...

Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!

In that very instant, Tanjiro seized the chance. While Susamaru had not yet finished regenerating, he rushed in at full speed and swung his Nichirin Blade to behead her!

Susamaru, whose head had only just half-completed regeneration, also came to her senses at this moment — she had been beheaded.

She could never accept this as fact.

"How could this be... how... how could I... be beheaded?! That lord... granted me his blood... I am one of the Twelve Kizuki... I don't believe it..."

Bearing unwillingness and fury, her body finally began to turn to ash.

Only a single handball was left where she had stood...

"I... I did it... I really did it!? Th... thank goodness..." After such a long battle, Tanjiro could no longer hold on and sank to his knees on the ground.

"Ball..."

"What's that sound?" Tanjiro seemed to have heard some strange sound, like a child's voice.

"Ball... to... together..."

Looking at the handball not far away, he used his Nichirin Blade to prop himself up, picked it up, and placed it beside Susamaru's body, which was slowly turning to ash.

"Ball... together... play..."

"She clearly reeks of having eaten plenty of people, yet after death she's like a naive little child..." Tanjiro thought to himself.

"Tanjiro, well done! I can tell you've worked very hard!" Zero came over to Tanjiro and praised him.

"Big Brother Zero!"

"Can you still walk?"

"Let's go, inside first, or Nezuko will probably start worrying about you again."

"Yes!"