I became the upper moon in the Demon Slayer anime

Chapter Eleven:

"A Sword from the Sky, and a Hand from Hell"

I gripped the sword handle with everything I had and raised it high toward the sky…

The wind roared around me, and the sky above was gray, saturated with electricity.

"I won't die here… not now!"

In a split second…

I grabbed a heavy stone beside me and hurled it toward my opponent like a cannonball!

The rock shot through the air like a meteor toward the face of the Serpent Hashira, but—

He dodged it without even blinking.

And the moment he evaded the attack… I charged!

I rushed at him like a madman…

Leaving the sword behind, I attacked with my bare fists as if I had lost my mind.

"Take this!!"

My first punch was wild, but he stepped back half a pace.

My second was filled with rage, but he blocked it with his elbow.

Then came his response…

A kick to my stomach sent me flying back, but I grabbed onto his arm!

"I won't let go!" I shouted, pulling my body toward him like a beast.

My head smashed into his chest, and my knee rose toward his ribs.

A faint cry of pain escaped his lips… I finally touched him!

But…

The white snake crawled from his neck to his hand, and his green eye glowed.

"Serpent Breathing Style… Third Form: Venom of the Senses!"

He whispered the words, then vanished again!

I didn't see him.

All I felt was a punch to the face… and his sword was still sheathed.

I collapsed to the ground… but I laughed.

I laughed like a madman, blood spilling from my mouth and nose, because I wasn't fighting with logic anymore.

Only instinct.

And before he could deliver his next strike—

"TAAAAAANG!!"

The air shook with the sound of a harsh impact.

The sword… the one I had left behind… had returned.

It fell from the sky like a meteor cutting through the air.

And…

It landed directly in my palm.

Without thought, leaving behind a piercing sound,

I swung the sword sideways, creating a wave of air pressure that cracked the ground between us.

I looked at the Hashira, my body bleeding, my breath heavy… but for the first time, he stepped back.

"Now…" I muttered with a voice like a growl.

"I won't fight you as a former prisoner…

But as a world-class Kudo player… in a demon's body."

I charged at him.

I ran as if the world behind me was collapsing.

First strike… sparks!

Second strike… the sound of shattering!

Third strike… the sword nearly broke, but I kept pressing on!

The Serpent Hashira… began to retreat, his hands blocking, his green eye trembling, his muscles tightening.

"An attack with no thought, no logic… this isn't a fight… it's a hurricane!!"

He shouted, but I didn't hear him.

Because I was shouting too!

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Another strike… and the ground beneath us completely shattered, causing the wide garden to collapse downward with us.

A thunderous fall.

Me and him… in a pit filled with dust, blood, and rage.

Then silence… for a moment.

But my breath didn't calm.

My eyes didn't blink.

And my heart… didn't settle.

"This is just the beginning…" I whispered, preparing for the next stage of the fight.

---

Dust swirled around me, and silence returned to the pit.

I looked at my body… blood covered my arms, my legs trembled, my breath was shallow, and my nerves burned.

But I…

Didn't stop.

"This body… is falling apart."

I whispered.

My knees started to weaken, my eyes dimmed, even my grip on the sword was fading.

But hatred alone… does not fall.

With heavy steps, I walked.

One step…

Then another…

Then a third.

The ground beneath my feet cracked with every step forward, and the Serpent Hashira didn't move.

He was staring at me, maybe in surprise, or fear, or… anticipation.

He didn't raise his sword anymore, as if he knew what I was about to do.

"I…"

I muttered in a hoarse voice.

"I'm the one who will end this. No god, no demons, no breathing styles… only my fists."

I gripped the bloodied sword with both hands and raised it to the side.

As if I were the Grim Reaper… walking in his enemy's funeral.

The air grew heavier.

My heart beat like war drums.

The light dimmed… and time froze.

I raised my sword high, preparing for the final strike… a blow with no return.

But…

In that second.

That moment.

A sound slipped in…

"Teeeeeng…"

The strings of a lute… echoed softly across the horizon, but it pierced through my body like a spear of light.

I froze.

My mind stopped.

The sound continued…

"Teng… teneng… teeeen…"

As if someone was playing inside the abyss… a calm, deadly, strange melody.

I looked up…

The sky was still gray, no one appeared…

But that sound…

That lute…

Stopped me completely.

---_______________________________________________

End of Chapter Eleven

I'm sorry fo

r the long delay before publishing this chapter, but I've been truly busy lately, so please forgive me.