Chapter 70: Clash |
After a moment's hesitation, Daki decided against telling her older brother what had happened. She felt it would be utterly pointless, as he would likely just dismiss it as a trick of her memory.
Not to mention, if those events had actually occurred, they certainly involved some form of divine intervention. After all, who else was capable of such unimaginable feats?
"Those damn slayers are already prowling around the Kyogoku House. A Hashira is likely to show up here soon," Daki finally said after a brief silence, pushing her tangled thoughts aside.
"Don't worry. If you feel like you can't handle it, just rely on your big brother," Gyutaro exhaled in relief and offered a thin smile.
"Yes, just like always," Daki nodded. She sent her brother back into his dormant state before returning to the Kyogoku House.
The subsequent events unfolded exactly as they had in her memories.
This continued until the following evening.
Then, the first discrepancy appeared.
Yeruashi never came.
Still caught in a state of confusion, Daki left her room and began to wander aimlessly through the Kyogoku House.
And that was exactly when it happened.
A familiar face caught her eye: Tanjiro, disguised in heavy makeup.
He scurried past with his head bowed, carrying a basin of water, his body giving a barely perceptible shudder halfway through his stride.
Daki followed Tanjiro's retreating back with a piercing gaze. 'He...'
Because the Upper Rank was now focused on finding the Flame Hashira, she immediately recognized him as a powerful Demon Slayer.
His presence was roughly on par with the Hashira she had defeated in the past!
In other words.
He was most likely the Hashira himself.
The Upper Rank lowered her thoughtful gaze to the floor. No matter what had happened, they would have to deal with the slayers eventually. It was better to seize the initiative now!
With that thought, Daki quietly turned and stepped into the nearest room, where she resumed her demon form in the blink of an eye. She lifted a wooden ceiling panel and slipped upward to track the suspected Hashira from above.
Meanwhile, as Tanjiro rounded the corner, a flash of terror crossed his face, and his hands trembled slightly against the basin.
There could be no mistake.
At least one of the Twelve Kizuki!
This was likely the one Tengen was looking for!
'The scent...' Tanjiro's expression shifted drastically as he looked up at the ceiling, feeling goosebumps break out across his skin.
He had already been exposed!
They had discovered each other at the exact same moment!
The newly appointed Flame Hashira dashed down the corridor without a second thought. For his undercover work, he had been forced to leave his Nichirin Sword behind; without it, it would be difficult to handle even an ordinary demon, let alone an Upper Rank.
Furthermore, a battle in such a crowded place would lead to significant civilian casualties.
Tap, tap, tap!
Tanjiro sprinted to the end of the hallway and burst through a window, desperately leaping from the second floor.
The Flame Hashira moved so fast that random onlookers only saw a momentary, blurred silhouette.
However, Daki followed him like a shadow.
'I knew it...' she thought, her eyes narrowing sharply.
If there had been any lingering doubts, she was now completely certain that Tanjiro was comparable to those seven Hashira she had killed before.
It seemed there was no need to wake Gyutaro yet.
Using her full power would be enough.
Whoosh! Whoosh...
Simultaneously, the numerous sashes hidden throughout the Entertainment District slithered toward Daki as if they were alive, merging one by one with her flesh.
As she reclaimed her strength, the hair of Upper Rank Six gradually turned white, and her speed increased exponentially. With this surge, Daki instantly closed the gap with Tanjiro, reaching out toward the back of his head.
But just at that moment...
The Flame Hashira spun around abruptly, his forehead colliding violently with the Upper Rank's clawed hand. The impact sent Daki flying even higher into the air, while Tanjiro crashed into the ground.
However, by the time the Hashira regained his footing, Inosuke and Zenitsu had already appeared nearby, having rushed toward the commotion.
"Tanjiro!" Inosuke shouted, tossing him a Nichirin Sword.
The Flame Hashira deftly caught the hilt of the thrown blade and scanned the myriad of writhing sashes surrounding them.
"Two more? But they seem weaker..." Daki didn't even bat an eye before asking out of nowhere, "By the way, do you happen to remember our last meeting?"
"What? This is the first time I've ever seen you," Tanjiro replied, looking bewildered.
"Oh, I see," the Upper Rank nodded, and in that same instant, her writhing sashes shot toward the Flame Hashira like arrows.
Tanjiro responded with a sharp swing of his Nichirin Sword.
Crack!
However, he only managed to block a portion of the sashes.
"Don't you dare underestimate me! I might be inferior to Tanjiro right now, but sooner or later, I will definitely surpass him!" Inosuke screamed as he charged forward, frantically swinging his twin blades.
Meanwhile.
Zenitsu had no intention of standing idly by either. He first closed his eyes to drift into sleep, then transformed into a fleeting bolt of lightning aimed directly at the Upper Rank's neck.
The Nichirin Sword actually reached its target, but it failed to cut through Daki's neck, which turned into a flexible, yielding sash at the last possible second.
'A Hashira and two other slayers whose strength shouldn't be underestimated, but I should be able to handle this...' the Upper Rank thought.
But in the next heartbeat.
Her gaze froze and slowly shifted to the side, where a fourth person had appeared out of nowhere, wielding two massive Nichirin Swords.
The Sound Hashira.
"My thanks. I saved them, but I still haven't found the Upper Rank," he said calmly, paying no mind to the demon.
Tanjiro's trio stared blankly at Tengen.
From the side, a cold voice rang out.
"Another one... also a Hashira?" Daki hissed, gritting her teeth. She prepared to resume her sash attacks, but a moment later, her eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
The Upper Rank felt a sudden sense of vertigo—literally, for her severed head was spinning through the air.
"Wh—?!"
Beheaded?
But when?
Daki was in a state of pure shock.
Up until today, she had encountered more than twenty Hashira in total. She had defeated seven with her own strength, while her older brother handled the rest. But even those who had gained the upper hand over her couldn't boast such overwhelming strength and speed.
"I never doubted you," Tanjiro exhaled, sheathing his blade.
"Don't celebrate too early. There's still an Upper Rank left," Tengen said, shaking his head.
"I... I am Upper Rank Six!" Daki shrieked, falling into a frenzy at being completely ignored. She fixed a murderous glare on the Sound Hashira. "How dare you! I'm not finished with you yet!"
"What kind of Upper Rank are you? Just die already," Tengen replied disparagingly.
"I told you, I am the Upper Rank, even if I'm only the sixth! Just you wait!" Daki lost all control, screaming at the top of her lungs. "I can't believe I was ambushed by two Hashira at once! You've completely lost your minds! Aaaaah! Aaaaaaah... Brotheeeeer!!!"