Demon Slayer : Breath of The Forest

Facing the overwhelming onslaught of frozen clouds and ice crystals, Shinichi and Kanae had no choice but to defend.

Forest Breathing, Fourth Form: Dandelion Dance!

Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum!

"Dammit! Why are these damn things so persistent!?" Shinichi gritted his teeth as he glared at the miniature Douma ice clones on the battlefield.

Though their bodies were small, the Blood Demon Arts they wielded were nearly identical to Douma's own.

The storm-like attacks pressed down on Shinichi and Kanae, making even breathing difficult for the two of them!

There was no way to continue fighting like this.

It was barely midnight—even if they wanted to stall Douma until dawn, they couldn't.

They had to find a way to escape first!

Shinichi slashed through the incoming ice crystals, but in the blink of an eye, a shard pierced his shoulder and countless smaller wounds littered his body.

Shinichi was already struggling, but Kanae situation was even worse.

Her grip on the Nichirin Blade was nearly numb, her face deathly pale and her vision kept fading in and out.

If not for sheer willpower, Kanae might have collapsed long ago.

Yet no matter how strong her will is, her body has its limits.

Blood Demon Art: Frozen Lotus!

One of the miniature Douma clones suddenly darted behind Kanae, waving its ice fan to send a flurry of lotus-shaped ice crystals hurtling toward her.

In her current state, Kanae didn't even notice the ambush.

"Nee-san! Behind you!"

The panicked voice from behind jolted Kanae awake from her fading vision.

"Shinobu!?"

Startled, Kanae whirled around and instinctively unleashed Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum.

The cherry-red slash collided violently with the lotus ice, the impact sending Kanae flying backward.

Though disheveled, she had narrowly avoided a fatal blow.

Heart still racing, Kanae quickly looked toward where Shinobu's voice had come from.

Sure enough, there stood a petite figure—a familiar butterfly-patterned haori, a small face filled with worry and urgency and large violet eyes.

It was definetely Shinobu Kocho!

But at this moment, Kanae first reaction wasn't joy or relief—it was sheer terror.

"Shinobu! Don't come any closer! It's dangerous!!"

Douma, was far too terrifying.

Even as a Hashira, she and Shinichi might not escape unscathed.

Shinobu, who had only recently been promoted to Kinoe rank, stood no chance against him.

So despite her injuries, Kanae desperately tried to shout, to warn Shinobu to run—to get away from here!

But a pair of rainbow-colored eyes had already locked onto the newly arrived Shinobu.

Douma curled his lips into a smirk, his tone playful.

"Ara ara, another little girl? That butterfly outfit looks so similar~ Wow, are you sisters? How rare~ But since you're here, why don't you merge with me too, little girl~"

Swish!

With a mere thought, one of the miniature Douma clones raised its ice fan and lunged straight for Shinobu.

Meanwhile, Shinobu was nearly consumed by panic.

An Upper Moon!

Her sister and that blockhead Shinichi were facing an Upper Moon!

She didn't know how strong an Upper Moon demon was, but within the Demon Slayer Corps, from centuries past to the present, there had never been a member who could slay an Upper Moon.

This alone demonstrated their terrifying power.

Shinobu Kocho understood clearly that staying put and waiting for headquarters' reinforcements was the safest choice.

Yet the commotion caused by Shinichi, Kanae and Douma battle in the distance was simply too overwhelming.

Not only Shinobu, but even many devout followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult had been frightened out of their homes.

No matter how fast the Kasugai Crows flew, reinforcements would take at least two to three hours to arrive.

Unable to wait any longer, Shinobu gritted her teeth and ran toward the battlefield.

When she saw her elder sister Kanae lying severely wounded on the ground, her beautiful violet eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Blood Demon Art: Scattering Lotuses!

Just as Shinobu rushed toward Kanae, a miniature Douma ice clone suddenly appeared before her.

Without hesitation, it swung its frost fan, instantly releasing a barrage of razor-sharp ice petals toward Shinobu.

Shinobu reacted with lightning speed, drawing her uniquely shaped Nichirin Blade in an instant.

However, upon unsheathing it, she froze—the obstacle before her was a tiny ice figure less than half a meter tall, a lifeless construct.

How could she possibly use her Insect Breathing against such a thing?

But the storm of ice petals was already upon her.

Shinobu could only curl her body, bracing to endure the attack.

Yet Kanae moved faster, flashing before Shinobu in an instant.

Her cherry-red Nichirin Blade danced like swirling petals, the constant clang of metal ringing out as countless ice blossoms were shattered.

"Shinobu! Run! This isn't a battle you should be in!" Kanae shouted desperately.

But Shinobu refused firmly "No! I won't leave you Nee-san I'll fight by your side!"

With that, Shinobu leaped forward, charging toward the miniature Douma clone.

"SHINOBU!"

Shinichi, who was locked in combat with the ice clones, spotted Shinobu's sudden intrusion into the battlefield.

From afar, he roared at her.

"YOU FOOL!! GET OUT OF HERE, SHINOBU!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp golden fan sliced through his shoulder, sending a spray of scorching blood into the air.

The opened golden fan obscured half of Douma face, revealing only a sinister smile on the visible half.

"Leaving so soon~? Stay a for while will you? I'll reserve the finest spots on my shelves just for you~"

***

"Nee-san!" Shinobu caught Kanae as she swayed—no, by now, Kanae had completely lost her strength, collapsing weakly into Shinobu arms, her body covered in wounds.

At the same time, crackling sounds echoed above the sisters' heads as pillars of ice began forming.

Blood Demon Art: Wintry Icicles!

Countless spear-like icicles loomed overhead, their needle-sharp tips glinting with a bone-chilling light, aimed directly at the two sisters.

"Shi...nobu...ru...n..." Kanae mustered her last ounce of strength to whisper.

But Shinobu only held her sister tighter, tears flooding her eyes. Though her body trembled slightly, she refused to let go.

"No! I'll never abandon you, Nee-san! We promised to join the Demon Slayer Corps together, to slay demons together. We'll never abandon each other!"

However, this touching scene of sisterly affection did not move Douma in the slightest.

Dozens of sharp ice pillars instantly shot down with a piercing whistle through the air.

Shinobu closed her eyes, but the expected pain never came.

Instead, she heard the sound of flesh being pierced repeatedly.

Squelch squelch!!

A drop of blood fell onto Shinobu forehead.

Puzzled, she opened her eyes.

A figure stood shielding her and her sister.

Blood-soaked ice pillars had pierced through his body and his once peach-colored eyes were now completely crimson.

Shinobu stared at him, stunned.

"Shi... Shinichi..."

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