The night air was cool, and the distant sounds of the forest filled the space between the four travelers. Gon, Killua, Tanjiro, and Nezuko stood in the clearing, the ashes of the fallen demon still swirling at their feet. The adrenaline from the fight began to fade, leaving an almost eerie calm in its wake.
"So, what now?" Killua asked, his silver eyes still trained on Tanjiro. His instincts told him that this demon slayer was strong—strong enough to be trusted, for now—but Killua had learned never to let his guard down, no matter how skilled the people around him might be.
Tanjiro wiped sweat from his brow, his breathing still controlled despite the intensity of the battle. "We need to head back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If more demons like that one are showing up, there's no time to waste."
"Headquarters?" Gon asked, his curiosity piqued. "What's that?"
"It's where the Demon Slayer Corps gathers," Tanjiro explained, his hand resting on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade. "We've been fighting demons for generations, protecting people from these monsters. You're not from here, are you? I've never seen anyone with powers like yours."
Killua exchanged a glance with Gon. They hadn't had a moment to fully explain their situation yet, but it was clear that Tanjiro had picked up on the fact that they weren't exactly locals.
"We're not," Gon admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "We're hunters from another world. I think that rift we saw pulled us into your world."
Tanjiro's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of what Gon was saying. "Another world…?" His voice trailed off as he glanced at Nezuko, who stared back at him silently. He could feel her concern, even without words, and it was clear she sensed that their situation had just become far more complicated than he had initially thought.
Before Tanjiro could respond, Nezuko took a step forward, her eyes darting toward the tree line. Her senses had always been sharper than his, and she'd proven time and time again that she could sense things even he couldn't.
"What is it, Nezuko?" Tanjiro asked quietly.
The bamboo muzzle covering her mouth muffled her response, but the subtle growl that escaped her throat was enough to set everyone on edge.
Another demon? Killua wondered silently, his fingers crackling with the faint remnants of electricity from his Godspeed technique. He couldn't feel any nen aura nearby, but something was definitely off.
Nezuko's gaze remained fixed on the trees as she stepped protectively in front of Tanjiro. Whatever she sensed, it was close—and it wasn't friendly.
The stillness of the night was shattered by the sudden rustle of leaves. In an instant, Killua moved, vanishing from where he stood and appearing beside Gon, ready for whatever might come next. Tanjiro's grip tightened on his sword, and Nezuko's body tensed, ready to spring into action at any moment.
A figure emerged from the shadows, moving with an unsettling grace. It was tall, its limbs impossibly long and thin, with pale, almost translucent skin. Its eyes were wide and black, gleaming with an unnatural hunger. Unlike the demon they had just fought, this one didn't roar or charge—it simply stood there, its head cocked at an unnatural angle, studying them.
"That's… a demon?" Gon asked, his voice barely above a whisper. It looked different from the others, more human-like in its movements, but there was something deeply unsettling about its presence.
"Yes," Tanjiro replied, his voice steady but filled with caution. "But this one is different. Be careful."
The demon moved suddenly, faster than anything Gon or Killua had expected. In a blink, it was upon them, its long arms reaching out like claws. Killua barely had time to react, but his reflexes, honed through years of training as an assassin, kicked in. He activated Godspeed, dodging the demon's attack and landing a few feet away.
"Fast," Killua muttered, his eyes narrowing. "But not fast enough."
Tanjiro moved as well, his sword cutting through the air in a swift, fluid motion. "Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool!" he shouted, spinning his blade in a tight arc. The water-based attack surged forward, aiming for the demon's torso, but the creature dodged at the last second, moving with a speed that caught even Tanjiro off guard.
Gon, now fully focused, darted forward, his eyes trained on the demon's movements. "Jajanken: Rock!" He leapt into the air, charging his fist with nen before slamming it down toward the demon's head. The ground cracked beneath the force of his attack, but the demon twisted out of the way, its movements almost serpentine in nature.
"That thing's too fast," Killua growled, frustration creeping into his voice. "Even with Godspeed, it's hard to land a hit."
Tanjiro's jaw clenched. He had fought demons faster than this one before, but this creature's movements were unnatural, erratic. It was as though it was predicting their attacks before they even made them. "Stay focused," he called, his voice firm but calm. "We need to trap it. It's only a matter of time before we wear it down."
Gon nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "We've got this!"
Nezuko, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally stepped forward. Her body moved with the grace of a predator, her eyes locked onto the demon. In an instant, she was beside it, her claws flashing through the air. The demon hissed as Nezuko's attack landed, its body writhing as it tried to counter.
But Nezuko was relentless. She moved with blinding speed, her strength fueled by a raw, primal fury. For a moment, Gon and Killua could only watch in awe as Nezuko forced the demon back, her attacks becoming more savage with each passing second.
Finally, the demon made a mistake. It tried to retreat, but Nezuko was faster. She lunged forward, her claws tearing into its chest, pinning it to the ground. The demon screeched, its body convulsing as it struggled to break free, but Nezuko held it in place, her eyes blazing with an intense, protective rage.
"Now!" Tanjiro shouted, taking the opportunity to strike.
He moved with precision, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he brought it down on the demon's neck. The blade cut cleanly through, severing the demon's head from its body. The creature let out one final, blood-curdling scream before its body disintegrated into ash.
The forest fell silent once more.
Nezuko stood over the pile of ash, her breathing heavy but controlled. Tanjiro walked over to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Good work, Nezuko," he said softly. She turned to him, her eyes softening as she nodded.
Gon and Killua exchanged glances, still trying to process what they had just witnessed. Nezuko wasn't like any demon they had encountered before. She was different—fierce but controlled, dangerous but protective.
"That was… incredible," Gon said, his voice filled with admiration. "She's so strong!"
Killua, though impressed, remained cautious. "But she's a demon. How can she fight with you like that?"
Tanjiro smiled gently, his gaze soft as he looked at his sister. "Nezuko is different from other demons. She doesn't hurt humans. She fights to protect them."
Gon's eyes sparkled with admiration. "That's amazing! You two must be an incredible team!"
Tanjiro nodded, though his expression remained serious. "We've been through a lot together. But there's still more work to be done. If demons this strong are appearing, it means something bigger is happening."
Killua crossed his arms, his mind already calculating the possibilities. "If we're going to survive in this world, we need to understand what we're dealing with. And fast."
Tanjiro's gaze hardened with resolve. "Then we'll need to return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. There, we can figure out our next move."
Gon's grin widened. "Sounds like a plan! Let's go!"
With that, the four of them set off into the night, their journey only just beginning. Little did they know, the dangers they faced were far greater than any of them could have imagined.