A strong sense of crisis gripped Aoki's heart. The air felt thick and oppressive, like sticky blood, making it hard for him to breathe.
Revenge had been on his mind, but not like this, not now.
Swish!
Muzan Kibutsuji suddenly appeared just five meters away from Aoki.
The aftereffects of "blood boiling" left Aoki's head numb, and he couldn't react for a moment.
Snap!
Muzan Kibutsuji seized Aoki by the neck and slowly lifted him off the ground.
Aoki snapped out of his daze and tried to pry Muzan's arm off with both hands, but his efforts were futile.
The gap between them was insurmountable!
Their strengths were in entirely different dimensions!
"How should I deal with you?" Muzan Kibutsuji asked indifferently, looking at Aoki.
Aoki stopped struggling, his expression gradually calming.
"It seems my life has come to an end. Thankfully, Takina and Master's Wife have escaped," he muttered. "I wonder, if I die now, will it be final, or will I continue on to the next world?"
"Aren't you afraid of death?" Muzan Kibutsuji asked, narrowing his eyes.
Aoki remained silent.
Afraid?
Of course he was afraid of death. How could anyone not be? But having faced death once already, he could confront it with more composure.
A cold smile crept over Muzan Kibutsuji's face. "I've decided. I'll turn you into a demon too!"
For years, he had searched for a demon capable of surviving in sunlight.
This human seemed worth a try.
A look of horror flashed across Aoki's face.
Becoming a demon meant his soul would be corrupted, turning into a monstrous creature that fed on humans, no different from death itself.
What troubled him more was the thought of Takina and Master's Wife returning and encountering him in his twisted demonic form...
No!
This couldn't happen!
Puff!
Muzan Kibutsuji's finger pierced Aoki's forehead, sinking into his skull.
Aoki's thoughts came to an abrupt halt. His expression turned ferocious, veins appearing at the corners of his eyes and spreading quickly across his face.
"Let me see how far you can go," he growled.
Muzan Kibutsuji loosened his grip, giving Aoki a brief glance before disappearing in an instant.
Aoki collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling back, his body convulsing, emitting an unearthly sound from his throat.
Pah pah pah pah!
Raindrops as big as beans began to fall, quickly turning into a heavy downpour.
---
Boom!
Lightning cracked across the sky, followed by thunder and howling winds.
The cold rain splashed against her face, jolting Aomura Rie awake from her daze.
"Takina, where are we headed?" she asked urgently.
"I don't know," Takina replied calmly. "But we need to go far away from home. The only thing we can do now is not to bring trouble to Aoki."
Aomura Rie felt a pang of shame. In such a critical moment, she was proving far less dependable than her daughter.
"Don't wander around! The forest at night is dangerous, especially in this heavy rain," Aomura Rie said firmly. She took a deep breath and grasped Takina's hand firmly. "Come with me. I remember your father built a shelter nearby. We can hide there for now!"
The two braved the heavy rain, struggling along the rugged mountain road.
Fortunately, their physical strength was robust. Living in the mountains meant frequent climbs and descents, ensuring their endurance was formidable.
Finally, they reached a low cave.
"Takina, hold on a little longer. I'll start a fire!" Aomura Rie said, skillfully arranging the firewood.
Soon, a yellow bonfire crackled to life, dispelling the darkness and warming the two shivering with cold.
"Luckily, your father's supplies are still here. Otherwise, making a fire would have been…"
Aomura Rie stopped abruptly mid-sentence.
After a moment, she forced a smile and continued, "Takina, take off your clothes and dry them. Wet clothes can make you sick!"
"Okay," Takina replied.
Neither of them spoke further. They sat silently beside the campfire, letting time pass, unable to sleep.
It was unclear how much time had passed when a strange sound jolted them awake.
Crash!
The simple branch door blocking the cave entrance was suddenly moved aside.
Aomura Rie shielded Takina behind her, while Takina quietly picked up a stone.
Both looked tense, fear flickering in their eyes.
In the depths of the mountain, in the dead of night, amidst pouring rain, who would come knocking?
Two figures wearing bamboo hats, one tall and one small, entered the cave. As they approached the fire, their features became clearer.
They bore a striking resemblance, both exceedingly beautiful, dressed in matching dark blue uniforms adorned with colorful butterfly patterns.
The taller girl removed her hat, revealing a gentle smile, and bowed politely. "I apologize for the intrusion. My name is Kocho Kanae, and this is my sister, Kocho Shinobu. We were caught in the rainstorm and happened upon your cave. Could we shelter here for a while?"
"Of course," Aomura Rie said, relaxing her guard and letting out a breath.
Just moments ago, she had feared it might be "Kazuhiko" drawn by scent, following them.
"Thank you very much," Kocho Kanae replied graciously.
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho bowed gently, then replaced the door and settled down by the campfire.
Despite the Butterfly sisters' unexpected arrival, Aomura Rie and Takina were not inclined to chat at that moment.
Silence fell over the cave.
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho exchanged a glance.
They sensed the fear, worry, pain, and sadness emanating from the woman and girl who appeared to be mother and daughter.
There were few signs of long-term habitation in the cave, indicating they likely sought refuge here recently.
"They must have fled here as well," Shinobu thought. She and her sister had encountered similar situations and witnessed more than their fair share of despair.
Softly, Kanae Kocho asked, "May I ask if you've encountered trouble?"
"We...," Rie Aomura began, but her eyes welled with tears.
She couldn't bring herself to relive the day's events. Just thinking about it threatened to overwhelm her.
"Is your trouble related to demons?" Kanae Kocho inquired gently, sensing the gravity of their situation.
"You... you know about demons?" Takina lifted her head suddenly.
Kanae Kocho lifted her haori, revealing the long sword at her waist. "My sister and I are members of the Demon Slayer Corps. We specialize in fighting demons."
Only then did Takina notice their weapons.
Aomura Rie grasped Kanae Kocho's hand desperately, disregarding their age difference. Tears streamed down her face, her emotions on the edge. "Please... please save Aoki!"
Kanae Kocho's expression turned serious, though her voice remained gentle. She patted Rie's hand reassuringly and asked, "Please calm down and tell us what happened. Who is Aoki? What exactly occurred?"
Takina rushed to explain, anxiety lacing her voice. "My father turned into a demon, and Aoki is fighting the him to help us escape."
The Butterfly sisters exchanged solemn glances. The situation was graver than they had anticipated.
But now, their priority was clear: rescue.
"Take us to where the demon appeared immediately," Kanae Kocho instructed firmly.
"Yes!" Aomura Rie and Takina replied in unison, their urgency matching that of the sisters.
Kanae Kocho kicked aside the branches blocking the cave entrance, hoisted Rie Aomura onto her back, and charged into the heavy rain, with Shinobu Kocho and Takina close behind.