The battlefield surged with the heat of clashing wills and unyielding spirit. Mitsuri Kanroji, her whip-like, pink Nichirin sword swinging with graceful precision, danced around Hantengu's true body, the embodiment of cowardice and despair. Nezuko and Genya were at her side, each facing down the grotesque demon, who sneered and shrieked in terror at every attempted blow.
Hantengu's true body, gaunt and shrunken, was as twisted as the expressions it wore, muttering anxiously under its breath, hands wringing with every narrowly avoided strike from Mitsuri. She closed in on him, her breathing technique radiating intense power. Despite his small stature, the demon lashed back with surprising force, sending waves of cutting air and waves of darkness that forced her back.
"Nezuko, Genya!" Mitsuri called, dodging a scythe of demon energy that cut deep into the ground beside her. "Let's keep him cornered!"
Nezuko, her eyes alight with determination, launched herself forward, her claws tearing through the air with fierce speed, while Genya fired a well-aimed shot that narrowly missed Hantengu's head as he ducked, screeching in terror. Their combined assault forced the demon into a frantic retreat, his eyes darting around, his panic growing with every passing second.
Meanwhile, Muichiro staggered as the adrenaline of his earlier victory waned, his breathing ragged and his vision blurry. Every muscle ached, his body burning with exhaustion after the intense struggle against Gyokko. With a weary sigh, he collapsed to his knees, the world around him tilting.
The injured swordsmith apprentice, Kotetsu, rushed to his side, catching him before he hit the ground fully.
"You did it, Muichiro!" Kotetsu's face lit up with relief and admiration. "You got rid of him!"
Muichiro managed a faint smile, feeling the rush of exhaustion overtaking him. "Yeah… but… need to make sure the others…" His words trailed off as his eyes closed, body finally succumbing to the strain.
As he slipped into unconsciousness, Kotetsu hoisted him up as best as he could and began dragging Muichiro to where the sounds of ongoing battles still rang across the field.
Bell, his figure an unrelenting storm of deadly energy, faced off against Zohakuten, the wrathful embodiment of Hantengu's hatred. The towering demon glared down at him, an unending cascade of hate radiating from his blood-red eyes. And Bell—Bell was smiling, a glint of feral delight in his gaze as he readied his blade.
"So, you're the so-called Hatred demon, huh?" Bell sneered, slowly circling Zohakuten with the measured steps of a predator. "You seem more like a spoiled brat with anger issues."
Zohakuten's face contorted, his voice dripping with venom. "You… filthy mortal… don't you dare mock my divine wrath! I am hatred incarnate, born from the despair and rage of a thousand broken lives. You are nothing more than a pest!"
Bell cackled, a deep, reckless laugh that seemed to catch the demon off guard. "Divine wrath? Oh, please. I've met some angry people, but they didn't spend half their time ranting about it like you do."
With that, Bell flashed forward, his blade slicing through Zohakuten's form in a swift, clean arc, only for the demon to regenerate instantly, his severed parts reforming as though untouched. But Bell only grinned wider, seeming more entertained by the demon's resilience.
"Getting real tired of that smug grin," Zohakuten hissed, his voice vibrating with animosity. His fingers flexed, summoning massive, gnashing dragon heads, each one snapping and tearing through the air in Bell's direction.
Bell sidestepped the first one, ducked under the second, and sliced through the third in one fluid motion, each of his movements almost lazy, his tone mocking.
"Oh, come on. Is that it?" Bell jeered, laughter ringing out as he sliced through another dragon, watching it dissipate into nothingness. "Maybe you should rename yourself to 'Mild Irritation' or 'Annoyance'—it'd be more accurate."
Zohakuten bellowed, his rage seeming to make the air around him tremble. "Enough! I am Hatred, forged from the pain and suffering of countless souls! Your arrogance will be your downfall!"
Bell raised an eyebrow, tilting his head in exaggerated curiosity. "Oh, countless souls, huh? So what, they all just ended up inside this oversized tantrum of a demon? Not sure if that's impressive or just… sad."
Zohakuten lunged forward, his claws extending into wickedly sharp blades, each one slicing toward Bell with deadly precision. But Bell's form was a blur, sidestepping and countering with ease, his eyes alight with a gleeful intensity.
"Is this really all you've got?" Bell taunted, his voice dripping with condescension as he effortlessly dodged Zohakuten's attacks. "No wonder the others fell so easily if this is what Muzan considers worthy of the Upper Moons."
Zohakuten's fury only grew, each missed strike seeming to fuel his rage. "I will end you!" he roared, summoning a torrent of dark energy that surged around him, crackling with malevolent force.
Bell let out a bark of laughter, deflecting the demon's strikes with almost casual disdain. "I'm actually having a great time here, so go ahead and keep going. For as long as that little true body of yours is still alive, I've got all the time in the world to keep tearing you apart."
The two continued their deadly dance, Bell weaving through Zohakuten's attacks with a twisted grin, reveling in the pure joy of battle. His laughter echoed across the battlefield, each chuckle seeming to taunt the demon further.
Back on the other side of the battlefield, Mitsuri, Genya, and Nezuko were locked in their desperate struggle against Hantengu's true body, which moved with surprising agility for its grotesque appearance. Mitsuri's blade struck out, forcing the demon to dodge with a terrified shriek. Genya fired round after round, while Nezuko slashed at Hantengu, her claws glowing with demonic energy.
But every time they seemed to gain the upper hand, Hantengu found a way to slip from their grasp, his wiry form darting from side to side with maddening speed.
Mitsuri huffed in frustration, her brow creased with determination. "This demon is slipperier than an eel! I think I'd be married by now if he were just a bit slower!"
Despite her lighthearted quip, her movements were razor-sharp, her blade whistling through the air with each swing. She could feel the weight of the battle, the press of the demon's presence, but her spirit remained undeterred, bolstered by the resilience of her allies beside her.
As she closed in for another strike, Hantengu let out a panicked cry, his features twisting into a grotesque mask of terror. "No! You cannot harm me—I am too precious, too valuable! I am needed by the great Muzan-sama!"
Genya scoffed, his voice edged with frustration. "Just stop squirming, will you? This is getting old fast!"
Nezuko lunged forward, her claws slicing through the air as she cornered the demon, her eyes gleaming with fierce resolve. Hantengu's true body let out a wail of terror, his body shifting and convulsing as he struggled to evade their combined onslaught. Mitsuri, fueled by determination, pressed her attack, her blade arcing through the air with deadly precision.
As their battle raged on, Zohakuten's furious roars echoed across the battlefield, Bell's laughter intermingling with the sounds of combat.
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