The forest was still, almost eerily so, in the aftermath of the demon's defeat. Ash floated gently to the ground where the monstrous creature once stood, and the only sounds that remained were the faint rustling of leaves and the distant chirp of crickets. The calm after the storm, it seemed.
Tanjiro stood tall, sheathing his Nichirin Blade with practiced precision. His breathing was steady, but the intensity of his eyes had yet to fade. Gon, still brimming with energy, stared in awe at the dissolving ash.
"That was amazing!" Gon said, practically bouncing on his feet. "I've never seen anything like it. You just sliced its head clean off!"
Killua, meanwhile, was more focused. He still felt the strange, oppressive aura that lingered in the air, even after the demon had turned to dust. There was something about this place that felt… off. The rift had thrown them into an entirely different world, and while demons were a new threat, the feeling of unfamiliar danger wasn't.
"That thing was fast, but nothing we couldn't handle," Killua muttered, his silver eyes glinting in the moonlight. "But what was that sword? And why did you say only it can kill those demons?"
Tanjiro turned to face them fully, his expression softening slightly as he realized these strangers weren't ordinary people. They had fought with remarkable speed and strength—clearly not civilians. "It's a Nichirin Blade. Only a sword forged from specific ores, bathed in sunlight, can kill demons. Any other weapon won't work, no matter how strong you are."
Killua's eyebrow twitched. "So, you're saying that without that sword, we can't take down demons? That's ridiculous."
Tanjiro shook his head. "I've fought alongside people stronger than me—people who can crush demons with their bare hands. But demons regenerate. If you don't sever their heads with a Nichirin Blade, they'll keep coming. You saw it yourself. Even after your friend's punch, the demon was still standing."
Gon frowned thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "Hmm, I guess that makes sense. If they heal that fast, you'd need something special to stop them for good." His eyes brightened with an idea. "But what if we helped you? We could figure out how to use your sword too! I bet Killua would be great with one of those."
Killua groaned inwardly. Trust Gon to suggest jumping headfirst into a completely new problem without fully understanding the situation.
Tanjiro's gaze flickered between the two boys, clearly sizing them up. He didn't sense any evil in them, but they were out of place—foreign to this world, just as the energy that rippled around them had suggested. He knew better than to involve strangers in something so dangerous, but… they had already proven themselves capable, and the way they spoke hinted at power he couldn't fully comprehend yet.
"I appreciate the offer," Tanjiro said, his voice calm but firm, "but fighting demons isn't something you can just jump into. It takes training, discipline, and understanding the threat we face. This forest is crawling with demons, and the one you saw was nothing compared to some of the Upper Moons. If you stay here, you'll be in danger."
"Danger?" Killua scoffed, his tone confident but edged with challenge. "We live in danger. You've never seen the kind of monsters we've fought."
Before Tanjiro could respond, Nezuko, who had been standing silently beside her brother, tilted her head toward the distant trees. Her eyes narrowed as if sensing something, and a faint growl escaped her throat. Tanjiro immediately turned his attention to her, understanding the signal.
"There's another one coming," he said, his voice low and serious. "It's stronger than the last."
Killua's eyes flickered with excitement, a small smirk creeping onto his face. "Finally, something interesting."
Without waiting for further explanation, Killua activated Godspeed, his body sparking with electricity as he vanished into the trees. The demon's presence was growing stronger, and the familiar thrill of combat pumped through his veins.
"Killua, wait!" Gon called after him, already preparing to follow.
Tanjiro watched in stunned silence as Killua darted off, moving faster than any human should have been able to. "What was that…?"
"That's Killua," Gon said with a grin, gripping his fishing rod tightly. "He's really fast. Let's go!"
Before Tanjiro could object, Gon had already dashed into the forest after his friend, moving with surprising agility. Tanjiro clenched his jaw and nodded to Nezuko, who followed after them, her speed almost matching Gon's.
Deep in the Forest
The moon hung high above, casting long shadows between the towering pine trees as Killua came to a halt in a small clearing. He could feel the demon's presence now—closer, stronger. This one was different from the first. There was a palpable malevolence in the air, like thick smoke clinging to the forest floor.
From the darkness, it emerged. The demon was massive, its grotesque form even more monstrous than the last. Its skin was a deep, sickly green, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural, crimson light. Sharp, twisted horns sprouted from its head, and its long arms ended in wickedly sharp claws that scraped the ground as it lumbered forward.
"Perfect," Killua muttered, his smirk widening. The demon lunged, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed, but Killua was faster. He dodged easily, appearing behind the creature in a flash of lightning.
With a flick of his wrist, Killua unleashed his Thunderbolt technique, sending a surge of electricity coursing through the demon's body. The creature howled in agony, but to Killua's surprise, it wasn't enough to bring it down. The demon staggered but quickly recovered, turning its burning gaze toward him.
"Tougher than I thought," Killua mused, his excitement growing. "Good."
The demon roared, charging at Killua once again, but this time, Gon appeared from the treeline, his eyes focused with determination. "Jajanken: Scissors!"
Gon's nen-imbued hand slashed through the air, colliding with the demon's shoulder. The force of the attack sent the creature staggering back, but just as Tanjiro had warned, the wound began to heal almost instantly. The demon's flesh regenerated, the gash Gon had made closing within seconds.
"Damn it," Gon cursed, frustrated. "It's just like Tanjiro said. It heals too fast!"
Killua clicked his tongue in annoyance, but before he could try another tactic, Tanjiro and Nezuko arrived, sliding into the clearing with fluid precision. Tanjiro didn't waste any time; he knew this demon was different—stronger, faster, more resilient. But it wasn't invincible.
"Stay back!" Tanjiro called, drawing his sword in one swift motion. He inhaled deeply, centering his breath and focusing all of his energy into the blade.
"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"
With a graceful arc, Tanjiro leaped into the air, his sword spinning with the force of a rushing current. His blade sliced clean through the demon's neck, severing its head with precision. The demon's body crumbled to the ground, turning to ash within moments.
As the dust settled, Gon and Killua stood in silence, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and frustration. They had unleashed powerful attacks, but it had been Tanjiro's blade—his Nichirin Blade—that had finished the job.
"Looks like you were right," Killua muttered, his usual bravado tempered by a grudging respect.
Tanjiro, still catching his breath, sheathed his sword and glanced at the two boys. "Demons are dangerous, but they aren't invincible. You both have incredible power, but without the right tools, it's impossible to kill them."
Gon's eyes gleamed with determination. "Then we'll need to get one of those swords!"
Killua glanced at Gon, his smirk returning. "You're not thinking we're staying here, are you?"
Gon grinned. "Of course we are! This place is amazing. We can learn so much!"
Tanjiro sighed, realizing that these two were going to be harder to shake off than he thought. But there was something about them—something strong, and maybe… necessary. The fight against demons was far from over, and perhaps, with allies like this, they stood a better chance.