Chapter 68: Tanjiro vs. Shusamaru

Tanjiro: “Miss Ju Shi, is there a way to turn a demon back into a human?”

Ju Shi: “Yes, such a thing exists.”

Tanjiro: “Really? Then please tell me—”

Boom!

Before he could finish, Tanjiro, overly eager, stepped forward—only to be thrown over Yu Shi Lang’s shoulder and slammed to the ground.

Yu Shi Lang: “Do not dare approach Lady Ju Shi!”

Ju Shi: “Yu Shi Lang!!!”

“Yes, Lady Ju Shi!” Yu Shi Lang immediately returned to his spot and knelt properly the moment he heard her call his name.

Zero, watching from the side, helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose.

Ju Shi continued answering Tanjiro’s earlier question: “Every disease has its cure—medicine or therapy. Over these past years, I have been developing a drug to turn demons back into humans. I believe it will be completed soon!”

Hearing this, Tanjiro was undoubtedly the most excited—but he could not show it yet, because Yu Shi Lang’s murderous gaze was fixed unblinkingly on him!

As if the moment he dared move like that again, Yu Shi Lang would throw him over his shoulder once more—without mercy!

Ju Shi continued: “Developing this drug owes much to Zero’s help—he provided me with the blood of Upper Moons and Kibutsuji Muzan. Without it, I might never have achieved such progress!”

Tanjiro turned his gaze to Zero, filled with gratitude.

He never imagined Zero had done so much for Nezuko…

“Although I have developed a serum capable of turning demons back into humans, for safety’s sake, I ask you to promise me one thing.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“I wish to collect a sample of your sister’s blood for research. I am deeply surprised by Nezuko—she has suppressed her hunger for human flesh through sheer willpower!”

Tanjiro glanced at Nezuko in Zero’s arms, smiled faintly, and said: “If this drug can turn Nezuko back into a human, I ask for nothing more. Besides… if your drug succeeds, it will save countless others!”

“...Yes.”

Nezuko did not fully understand what they were saying, but she sensed something.

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

Ju Shi, puzzled, asked: “What is she…?”

Zero replied: “Nezuko seems to have understood you need her blood, right, Nezuko~?”

Nezuko nodded, biting her mouthguard, eyes curled into crescents, clearly enjoying Zero’s head pat.

This display once again made Ju Shi realize Nezuko was truly extraordinary—perhaps she was a miracle.

“Almost forgot, Ju Shi, take this.” Zero pulled out a specially designed small syringe and handed it to her.

“This is…!!” As Ju Shi took the syringe, feeling the presence of Kibutsuji Muzan’s blood within, Tanjiro also caught the scent.

“I just ‘borrowed’ a bit from Kibutsuji Muzan when I greeted him earlier. Too bad he split and escaped… Looks like he really dislikes seeing me.”

He spoke without intent; she listened with meaning.

Greeted?

Borrowed blood from Kibutsuji Muzan?

A tense silence settled in the room. Ju Shi and Yu Shi Lang had no idea how to respond.

But then again—considering everything Zero had done, if they were in his place, they wouldn’t just avoid him—they’d run as far as possible.

Suddenly, Zero’s aura turned sharply icy.

He spun around, placing Nezuko safely behind him, then extended his mechanical left hand and crushed a speeding sphere mid-air.

The surrounding space rippled—[Dark Alloy Floating Cross Cannons] and [Destroyer Mini Drones] all deployed from the [Nanospace].

“Xiao Yue, protect them! Tanjiro, come with me—prepare for battle!”

“Yes! Activating [Battle Mode]. Permission granted!”

Xiao Yue released a chilling aura at once, controlling the floating cannons and mini-drones to shield Ju Shi, Yu Shi Lang, and Nezuko.

Tanjiro hadn’t even grasped what was happening when he saw Zero charge out of the room, wielding the Nichirin Scythe!

Though confused, he grabbed his Nichirin Blade and followed after him.

The villa’s backyard.

Shusamaru sensed his sphere crushed and laughed loudly: “Hahahaha, Shi Pahu! My sphere was crushed by a demon slayer! Looks like there’s a powerful one here—maybe the one the Master seeks is among them!”

That sphere had been Shusamaru’s throw—casual, effortless—yet crushed so easily by the demon slayer.

Combined with the earlier attack, paper talismans fluttered down around the house, revealing their true forms.

Zero burst out of the house with his Nichirin Scythe—and saw two demons already in the backyard.

He didn’t bother scanning them with his [Analytical Glasses]; in his eyes, these two demons were weaker than Lower Moons.

“White-haired demon slayer? Scythe? Hahahaha, Shi Pahu, we’re lucky! We found the Master’s target so quickly!”

“Enough, Shusamaru. Deal with them quickly—things could change. And you’ve dirtied my clothes!”

Shi Pahu was furious—Shusamaru kept tossing her sphere, kicking up dust everywhere.

“Yes yes yes, it’s not that dirty~ But still, being killed by us, Upper Moons, is an honor for you demon slayers! Hahahaha!”

Tanjiro arrived moments later, catching the stench radiating from the two demons.

They must have devoured many people.

Their strength surpassed the swamp demon he’d faced before.

Yet when he saw Zero standing calm and composed nearby, a sharp sense of distance struck him.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset.

A resolve sparked within him—he would grow stronger, strong enough to protect his family!

No matter how long it took, he would walk this path without wavering!

Strong enough to ensure no one else suffered harm from demons!

In that moment, Tanjiro felt transformed—his heart hardened, unwavering.

Facing Shi Pahu and Shusamaru, Tanjiro calmed himself, planning his next move.

Zero naturally sensed the subtle change in Tanjiro.

The little boy from the mountains had come this far—proof of his inner conviction.

He has taken one step now; a thousand more lie ahead.

To walk each step with unwavering resolve—this is true growth.

“Tanjiro.”

“Yes, Brother Zero.”

“These two aren’t Upper Moons, but their strength exceeds the demons you’ve faced before. So… are you ready?”

“I understand. I’m ready!”

“Good. Then I’ll kill the male demon. You handle the female. Can you do it?”

“Yes! I will… no, I will definitely do it!”

Shi Pahu and Shusamaru, overhearing, grew furious.

Shusamaru shouted: “How dare you say we aren’t Upper Moons!?”

“Are they Upper Moons?” Tanjiro wondered—but he chose to trust Zero.

If Zero said they weren’t, there must be a reason.

He detected no lie in Zero’s scent.

“Damn you, white-haired demon slayer! How dare you say I’m not an Upper Moon!!!”

Boom!

Shusamaru unleashed her full power and hurled her sphere at Zero.

Facing such pressure, Tanjiro wondered—if it had been aimed at him, could he have caught it?

Zero’s mechanical left hand caught the sphere again—and crushed it.

This time, Shusamaru froze in shock. She couldn’t comprehend why this man possessed such strength.

The first time might’ve been luck—but this was her full-power throw, and he caught it so easily? Crushed it?

“Impossible! This can’t be! How could this guy have such power?!” Shusamaru refused to believe what she saw.

“Tanjiro, she’s yours! I’ll kill the male demon—but I won’t interfere in your fight. Not at all.”

“Understood, Brother Zero!”

Tanjiro drew his Nichirin Blade and charged at Shusamaru.

Water Breathing, First Form: Surface Slash!

He swung his blade in a flat, horizontal cut toward Shusamaru.

“Don’t underestimate me!” Shusamaru summoned another sphere and hurled it at Tanjiro.

“Damn!”

Tanjiro instantly changed his technique, slashing at the sphere.

But the sphere sensed his attack path and veered off—flying straight toward Zero!

“Brother Zero, watch out—!” Tanjiro shouted.

Boom!

The sphere was crushed again.

Just then, as Zero prepared his next move, he felt something strange about his Nichirin Scythe.

It felt controlled—as if it might slip from his grasp.

[Analytical Glasses] scanned the blade’s edge—four red arrows, intertwined, pulling in the same direction.

At that moment, Zhu Shawan also threw her handball over.

“Interesting!”

Zero extended his mechanical left hand again and caught the handball, once more seeing a red arrow on its surface controlling its trajectory.

Boom!

He crushed it outright in his grip.

His figure flashed, spinning the Sun Wheel Scythe—the red arrows entwined around it were instantly severed!

He immediately charged toward Shi Paya’s direction.

“Damn it! How did this white-haired demon slayer find me?” Shi Paya couldn’t fathom how the white-haired demon slayer had detected his movements.

Could this guy really be a Pillar?

But that Lord never said either of these two demon slayers was a Pillar!

His brain’s processing speed seemed to accelerate in an instant.

The arrow-eyed orbs on his palms stared at Zero drawing nearer—especially when meeting those crimson eyes—and a chill ran down his spine!

Boom!

He kicked Shi Paya flying; he crashed into a tree trunk and fell to the ground.

Just as he struggled to rise, the Sun Wheel Scythe’s slash came down.

Splurt!

Shi Paya’s body was instantly cleaved into three pieces, head severed from torso!

Zero grabbed the demon’s head by its hair and held it aloft.

“This guy… really is a Pillar…” The still-intact head of Shi Paya was filled with shock and terror!

“Did Guiwushiwucan send you two brats? I thought he’d send an Upper Moon to cause some trouble~ Heh~ He’s truly the lowest of the low~”

His tone dripped with mockery—he was growing more and more contemptuous of Guiwushiwucan .

“You… you bastard! Don’t you dare insult that Lord! Die!!”

Shi Paya made his final struggle, activating his Blood Demon Art with the still-intact arrow-eyed orbs on his palms.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of red arrows appeared across Zero’s body.

He imagined Zero’s body tearing apart and laughed wildly: “Hahahaha! Even if you’re a Pillar, you’ll die!”

But the imagined tearing never happened—the red arrows were forcibly ripped apart on their own.

Zero sneered: “Heh~ Is that all? Even Guiwushiwucan and the Upper Moons can’t touch me—what are you?”

“This isn’t possible… This isn’t possible! I don’t believe it! I don’t believe…!”

Watching Shi Paya vanish, Zero’s eyes showed no flicker of emotion.

But then he thought again—if this guy had been an Upper Moon, he might’ve been somewhat troublesome.

Too bad—he never was.

On the other side, Tanjiro and Zhu Shawan’s battle had reached a fever pitch.

Two more pairs of arms sprouted from Zhu Shawan’s armpits, veins bulging.

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

At this moment, Tanjiro was clearly struggling, his body bearing multiple wounds.

Yet he never once considered giving up!

He had promised Zero he’d slay this female demon himself—how could he let him down?!

“Stay calm! Don’t panic! Her attacks won’t change trajectory anymore—Zero’s already dealt with his opponent. I need to speed up!”

“All my training and effort so far haven’t been wasted—I can do this!”

As Tanjiro thought, he found openings and countered with matching techniques, cleaving Zhu Shawan’s handballs apart.

Zero stood nearby, watching—no intention to help. This was something he had to endure himself!

Huh~

Tanjiro took a deep breath, raised his Sun Wheel Blade, and re-established his battle stance.

Full Concentration…

Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Dripping Wave Strike!

At blinding speed, he pierced all three oncoming handballs in sequence, then spun the hilt to shatter them!

Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!

His body moved so fast it left afterimages; as he neared Zhu Shawan, he slashed downward, severing all her arms.

But Zhu Shawan felt no pain—she regenerated instantly.

She formed new handballs and spun around, hurling them with all her strength again.

Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Crushing Tide!

Seeing the situation turn dire, Tanjiro swung his Sun Wheel Blade again, delivering multiple slashes that split every handball in half.

Still, one handball slipped through and struck Tanjiro’s forehead.

Perhaps due to inheriting his mother’s headbutt, the handball didn’t injure him—it bounced back and smashed through Zhu Shawan’s skull!

Zero: How hard is this headbutt…

Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!

In that instant, Tanjiro seized the opening—while Zhu Shawan hadn’t finished regenerating—he rushed forward and decapitated her with his Sun Wheel Blade.

Zhu Shawan, whose head had only just begun regenerating, realized at last: she had been beheaded.

She simply could not believe it.

“How is this possible… I… how could I… be beheaded?! That Lord… granted me his blood… I am one of the Twelve Kizuki… I don’t believe it…”

Filled with resentment and fury, her body began to turn to ash.

Only a single handball remained on the ground…

“I… I did it… I succeeded?! Too… too good…” After such a long battle, Tanjiro could no longer stand—he collapsed to his knees.

‘Ball…’

“What was that sound?” Tanjiro thought he heard something strange—like a child’s voice.

‘Ball… together…’

He looked at the handball nearby, used his Sun Wheel Blade to prop himself up, picked it up, and placed it beside Zhu Shawan’s body, which was slowly turning to ash.

‘Ball… play together…’

“Even though she’d devoured many people and reeked of their stench, now that she’s dead, she’s like a childish little kid…” Tanjiro thought.

“Tanjiro, well done! I can see you gave it your all!” Zero walked up to Tanjiro and praised him.

“Zero-brother!”

“Can you still walk?”

“Come on, let’s go inside—otherwise, Nezuko will worry again.”

“Yes!”

………