Demon Slayer : Breath of The Forest

BANG!!

The razor-sharp Nichirin blade stopped less than a centimeter from Douma neck.

A crystal-clear, miniature ice figurine resembling a tiny version of Douma had firmly clamped onto Shinichi's blade.

The tiny ice figure held an identical crystalline fan in its hand.

Blood Demon Art: Crystalline Divine Child.

Douma smirked at Shinichi, whose veins bulged as he gritted his teeth, exerting all his strength.

Yet no matter how hard Shinichi pushed, the Nichirin Blade trapped by the ice figurine couldn't advance another millimeter.

"How dangerous~ I almost got my neck sliced just now~" Douma chuckled, then snapped his golden iron fan shut.

His purple claws gripped the fan and swung viciously toward Shinichi and Kanae abdomens.

The next moment, they were both sent flying like kites with severed strings.

They crashed heavily to the ground, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Kanae had clearly suffered worse injuries than Shinichi, given their different physiques.

While Shinichi managed to stagger back to his feet, Kanae could only kneel upright.

Gripping his Nichirin Blade, Shinichi glanced first at Douma, who was still observing them from a distance.

The bastard kept looking at them with the eyes of a predator toying with its prey, which was infuriating!

Yet his strength was terrifyingly strong.

Inside Shinichi's body, shattered organs and broken bones were rapidly mending under demonic power, though the external damage remained visible.

Taking advantage of Douma not taking them seriously, Shinichi had mostly recovered, yet he felt no relief.

Extending a hand, he helped Kanae up before making a small cut on her shoulder with his short blade.

''Forest Breathing, Second Form: Willow of Life."

A surge of life force formed illusory willow branches at the wound instantly, flooding into Kanae's body and healing her severely damaged organs and flesh.

''Thank you, Shinichi-kun, but this Upper Rank demon is too strong. With just our power alone, we might not be able to defeat him..."

Although her injuries had eased, Kanae face remained pale.

Faced with Douma overwhelming strength, even her usual optimism couldn't deny the reality.

Shinichi said nothing, merely tightening his grip on his dual blades and stepping forward.

His heterochromatic eyes locked onto Douma, his stance declaring his resolve.

''Kanae, there's no demon in this world that can't be defeated. Whether Lower Rank or Upper Rank — even that bastard Muzan — they'll all fall eventually. Don't worry. Tonight, we'll both return alive to the Demon Slayer Corps. Because we are Hashira! How could we possibly fall here?!''

Crossing his blades, Shinichi dragged his deerskin boots backwards, carving a long mark into the brick-paved road.

Suddenly, his left eye blazed with turquoise light and a ferocious aura form around him.

"Forest Breathing, Thirteenth Form: Niten Ichi-ryū — Wolf Spirit!"

A howl seemed to echo as endless slashes formed a massive emerald wolf.

Its eyes gleamed with murderous intent as it charged towards Douma.

BOOM!

The devastating impact tore a deep trench through the brick-laden earth.

"How impressive. Well, it seems I should get serious too." Douma murmured, holding a tiny ice figurine that resembled him.

He tossed it forward to meet the charging emerald wolf.

''Shinichi-kun!'' Kanae eyes widened in shock as she watched Shinichi charge towards Douma.

His earlier words echoed in her ears.

While Kanae herself feared no sacrifice, she felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness against Douma.

She might not fear death, but she still had her little sister, Shinobu.

She dared not imagine what would happen if Shinobu were facing Douma today.

In that moment, Kanae seemed to understand the resolve of the Stone Hashira, Gyomei.

Joining the Demon Slayer Corps to hunt demons was indeed a cruel path.

If possible, she only wished for Shinobu to live on as an ordinary girl.

Yet the sight of Shinichi charging headlong at Douma stirred something in Kanae.

The sacrifices of the Demon Slayer Corps had never been in vain, not even for a single one of the countless years they had been fighting.

Just as Shinichi had said, there was no demon that couldn't be defeated!

With that thought, Kanae gaze hardened.

Her trembling arms tightened around her Nichirin Blade and she followed Shinichi into the fray against Douma.

Meanwhile

The emerald wolf collided with the miniature Douma ice figurine.

The oddly adorable little ice statue waved its tiny fan, unleashing a flurry of petal-like ice crystals.

''Blood Demon Art: Frozen Lotus!"

Shinichi's eyes narrowed. Could this small ice clone use Blood Demon Arts too?

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

A barrage of razor-sharp petal crystals collided with the emerald wolf, creating an endless metallic sounds.

Though the ice clone attack was fierce, it couldn't stop Shinichi from advancing.

His dual Nichirin Blades shattered wave after wave of ice, swiftly closing the distance.

''Blood Demon Art: Lotus Vines!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several ice vines adorned with frozen lotus flowers lashed towards Shinichi, their frigid aura unmistakable.

If entangled, there was no doubt that a person would freeze solid in mere moments.

But the ice clone was right before him.

If he dodged now, he risked being barricaded by another ice storm.

If he couldn't destroy this small clone, how would he ever reach Douma himself?

Just as he braced himself for the vines, a streak of cherry-red slashes erupted from behind him!

''Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!''

Squelch! Squelch!

Several ice vines were severed in mid-air.

Shinichi blinked in surprise, but a single glance to Kanae was all it took.

With a roar, his twin blades ignited in a brilliant emerald light.

The previously faltering emerald wolf regained its footing and unleashed a howl that shook the demons to their core.

Whoosh! Crack! Splinter! Boom!

The emerald wolf lunged at the tiny Douma clone, its jaws gaping wide and swallowed it whole!

Shinichi long Nichirin Blade came down in a flash.

The ice clone raised its tiny fan in a futile attempt to block, only for the fan and half of its body to be cleaved apart.

Shinichi blade followed through with an upward slash, not stopping there.

The frozen head flew straight towards Douma and landed with a hollow clatter at his feet.

Looking at the tiny, spinning head of the ice figurine at his feet — its miniature face identical to his own — Douma ever-present smile finally faded, replaced by a puzzled expression.

His purple claws rubbed his chin as he glanced up at Shinichi and Kanae charging towards him again.

His tone turned cold.

''This is rather troublesome. If one isn't enough, then let's make a few more."

''Blood Demon Art: Crystalline Divine Child!''

Crack, crack, crack!

In the blink of an eye, four more identical ice figurines materialised, each one brandishing a tiny frozen fan.

Suddenly, a blizzard of ice crystals surged towards Shinichi and Kanae.

------------------------------

I upload a new fanfic, Fairy tail : You call this celestial Magic ? Please go read it!

Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator