Hatsune felt like crying but had no tears, cursing Shinobu Kocho and the Demon Slayer Corps repeatedly in his mind.
Though he was furious, this arrangement piqued his interest, making him even more curious about what kind of organization the Demon Slayer Corps was.
If just one test was this life-threatening, this organization might really have something to it and could indeed help him find his sister.
Alright, since you want to watch, I'll let you watch enough. It's not the first time I've encountered a demon.
Igoya Akiyama, I will definitely walk over the corpses of your kind to face you.
To avoid dirtying his new haori, Hatsune casually threw it into a nearby bush, picked up a wrist-thick wooden stick, and broke it. The sharp break could serve as a weapon against the enemy.
"Ugly creature, come on, show me your strength."
Understanding Hatsune's provocation, the demon opened its mouth wide, let out a "Hah" howl, and leapt toward Hatsune again, using both its hands and feet.
This demon's speed and jumping ability were astonishing, like a fierce beast, completely abandoning the bipedal form.
Its hind leg muscles were well-developed for movement, and its front claws were sharp and used for attacking.
"Cold Tide."
Without a blade, Hatsune could only temporarily rely on the cold air his body emitted to expand his perception and seek a larger dodging space. From the initial contact, he found that the demon seemed to dislike the cold.
A rancid wind carrying a strong stench rushed at him. Hatsune swung the stick hard at the demon's chest.
In mid-air, the demon slapped away the stick with one hand and reached for Hatsune's face with the other.
Hatsune leaned back, dodging the demon's attack, then slid quickly under the demon, landing on the clearing below.
Just as Hatsune expected, the demon was very afraid of the cold. As soon as its feet touched the ground, it jumped onto a nearby tree as if scalded.
Its sharp claws gave it strong penetration power, clinging horizontally to the tree trunk without falling.
Hatsune also noticed the demon's strength was immense. Given his current physical condition, defeating it with strength alone was impossible.
The demon, frustrated by two failed attacks and discomfort from the cold, was thoroughly enraged. It screeched, kicked off the tree trunk with both feet, and lunged at Hatsune again.
Hatsune tracked the demon's attack direction, sidestepped as it approached, and seized the moment when its hands and feet were not touching the ground simultaneously, raising the stick to smash its back.
However, he underestimated the demon's flexibility.
In mid-air, the demon's waist twisted bizarrely, its legs rotating 90 degrees counterclockwise, aiming its feet at Hatsune's chest.
Though Hatsune noticed the demon's twist, they were too close to retract his move. The demon twisted its body almost simultaneously with his strike. Even if he blocked now, he would get hurt.
If he lost here, all his subsequent actions would likely be passive.
After a brief thought, Hatsune made a bold decision. He figured the demon's feet wouldn't be too powerful in a hurry. Rather than being passive later, he decided to take the initiative, aiming for mutual harm.
Though risky, this method might force the demon to retract its move. Even if it didn't, its attack power would likely weaken, and the breathing technique could enhance his body's resistance.
With this in mind, Hatsune took a deep breath and shouted, "Snowfall."
Instantly, his body released a large amount of cold air, with snowflakes falling around him. Gripping the stick tightly, it was soon covered in ice and snow, and he swung it hard at the demon's back with a chop technique.
Indeed, humans have an instinct to avoid harm, even transformed into demons.
Faced with Hatsune's aggressive move, the demon hesitated briefly but didn't retract its move. It screeched, kicking Hatsune's chest with both feet while the stick slashed its back.
Hatsune took the full brunt of the demon's kick to his chest, causing him to gasp and fly into a bush, then roll down a slope, stopping at the base of a large tree.
Hatsune groaned, feeling dizzy, his stomach churning, and his throat blocked. He spat out a mouthful of blood, finally breathing more easily.
After resting on the ground for a while and catching his breath, Hatsune struggled to get up.
The demon's kick had been strong, causing a slight pain with each breath, but fortunately, no bones were broken.
Hatsune grabbed the bush to climb the slope and returned to the clearing.
The demon was also in discomfort, kneeling and clawing at the ice forming on its back.
If it were a blade, it might have been effective, but it was just a wooden stick, causing minimal harm.
Though it hadn't cut the demon's back, the sharp break left a finger-length wound.
The move "Snowfall" wasn't just about causing a cut; its essence was freezing the enemy's wound, emitting cold air that hindered movement and stopped healing. If the wound was at a joint, the effect was better.
In their first encounter, neither side gained an advantage, though Hatsune was more injured.
However, the discomfort in its back made the demon realize its prey wasn't easy.
In the past, its prey would run for their lives, eyes filled with fear and despair, but this prey wasn't afraid and even attacked.
The demon felt anger and a bit of danger, instinctively wanting to retreat, but the scent of blood made it restless.
The demon's greedy eyes fixed on Hatsune's injury, drooling nauseatingly, making strange noises, and restlessly moving its hands and feet.
Seeing the demon's eager state, Hatsune had an idea. He unwrapped the bandage on his right hand, letting his blood drip to the ground.
As expected, the scent of blood made the demon frantic, its desire overcoming fear. It howled and lunged at Hatsune, not towards him but the blood on the ground.
The demon landed, grabbing the bloodstained soil and stuffing it into its mouth.
Seizing the opportunity, Hatsune moved behind the demon, ignoring his chest pain, and took a deep breath.
"Scattered Shower."
He swung the stick at the demon's back, sending several transparent ice spikes and snowflakes at it.