Nakime stood before them, his presence thick with malicious energy. The Upper Moon demon's aura was almost tangible, pressing down on the forest like an invisible weight. His sharp, predatory eyes flicked between Gon, Killua, Tanjiro, and Nezuko, as if calculating which of them would fall first.
Gon clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of nen gathering in his hands. The tension in the air was palpable, but rather than fear, he felt excitement buzzing in his veins. "We've faced stronger opponents before," Gon muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. He had no intention of backing down, no matter how dangerous this demon seemed.
Killua, on the other hand, took a more cautious stance. He could feel the demon's aura and something darker beneath it—something twisted, unlike any opponent they had faced in their world. "This guy's no joke," Killua said quietly, his body already sparking with the crackling electricity of Godspeed. "Be careful, Gon. He's not like the demons we've fought so far."
Tanjiro stood tense, his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, his breathing steady and controlled. "Upper Moon demons aren't like the others," he warned. "Nakime's on a completely different level—one mistake, and we're dead."
Nakime chuckled, the sound sending shivers down their spines. "How delightful. A group of humans and a half-demon, all eager to throw their lives away. Very well," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Let's see how long you can last."
Before anyone could react, Nakime moved. His body blurred, a shadow in the air as he vanished from sight. Killua's eyes widened as he barely had time to activate Godspeed and dodge to the side. Gon was forced to leap backward, his instincts kicking in as Nakime's razor-sharp claws sliced through the space where he had just stood.
"Fast," Killua muttered, landing lightly on his feet. His heart raced, but his mind remained focused. "This guy's movements… they're on another level."
Tanjiro didn't waste any time. Inhaling deeply, he brought his blade forward, his muscles coiling as he prepared his attack. "Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!" His sword swung downward, the movement smooth and precise as a torrent of water surged around him, crashing toward Nakime with incredible force.
But Nakime was faster.
With a sneer, he sidestepped the attack with inhuman speed, his body twisting unnaturally as he moved. "Is that all, demon slayer?" he taunted, his voice filled with scorn. "You'll have to do better than that."
Tanjiro gritted his teeth, frustration building. Nakime was toying with them, and they all knew it. Every move they made, every attack they launched, the demon was one step ahead.
"We can't hit him," Killua said, his eyes narrowing as he watched Nakime's movements. "It's like he knows what we're going to do before we do it."
Gon's fists glowed with the power of nen, his determination never faltering. "Then we just need to be faster!" With a burst of energy, he charged forward, his fists drawn back for his signature attack. "Jajanken: Rock!"
The air rippled as Gon's nen-fueled punch shot forward with immense force, the ground beneath him cracking as his fist surged toward Nakime. But just as his punch was about to connect, Nakime's form blurred again, vanishing from sight.
Gon's fist slammed into the earth, sending a shockwave through the clearing, but the demon was already gone. Gon's eyes widened in surprise, sweat beading on his forehead. "Where did he go…?"
Tanjiro's heart pounded in his chest, his breathing steadying as he tried to calm his racing mind. Nakime wasn't just fast—he was calculating. Every movement he made was precise, as if he had complete control over the battlefield.
From the shadows, Nakime reappeared, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Is that all the great Gon Freecss has to offer?" he asked mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain. "I expected more from someone with your reputation."
Gon's face hardened, his eyes burning with determination. "I'm not done yet!"
Killua, however, was more focused on figuring out Nakime's pattern. His sharp mind worked quickly, analyzing every detail of the demon's movements. "It's not just speed," Killua said, his voice low. "He's predicting us."
Tanjiro's gaze snapped to Killua. "Predicting us?"
Killua nodded, his silver eyes narrowing as he watched Nakime. "His movements aren't just fast—they're timed perfectly to counter us. It's like he knows what we're going to do before we do it."
Tanjiro clenched his fist around his sword, his mind racing. "Then how do we stop him?"
Before Killua could answer, Nakime attacked again, moving in a blur of speed. This time, he targeted Nezuko, his claws aiming for her throat. Nezuko barely managed to dodge, her body twisting as she leapt backward, her claws flashing as she tried to counterattack.
But Nakime was relentless. He pressed forward, his attacks coming faster and faster, forcing Nezuko onto the defensive. "Such a pitiful little demon," Nakime sneered, his claws grazing Nezuko's shoulder as she dodged to the side. "Muzan-sama will be disappointed if you fall so easily."
Tanjiro's heart lurched as he watched his sister struggle to keep up with Nakime's onslaught. "Nezuko!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation.
But Nezuko wasn't backing down. Her eyes burned with a fierce determination as she lunged forward, her claws glowing with a fiery intensity. With a snarl, she swung her claws toward Nakime's chest, her strength fueled by the protective instinct that had kept her alive all this time.
Nakime's eyes gleamed with amusement as he caught Nezuko's attack, his claws locking with hers. "How amusing," he said softly. "You have spirit. But that won't be enough."
In a flash, Nakime flung Nezuko to the ground, his strength overwhelming hers. She hit the earth hard, but before Nakime could strike again, a blur of silver and electricity shot toward him.
Killua's Godspeed activated at full power as he appeared behind Nakime, his hand crackling with electricity. "Thunderbolt!"
The attack struck Nakime directly, electricity surging through his body. The demon's eyes widened in shock, his form momentarily stunned by the sheer force of Killua's attack.
Tanjiro seized the opportunity. Inhaling deeply, he focused all of his energy into his blade, the familiar rush of water surrounding him as he moved.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"
With a swift, fluid motion, Tanjiro's blade swung in a continuous arc, the water swirling around him like a rushing river. His sword slashed through the air, aiming for Nakime's neck.
But even as the electricity coursed through him, Nakime's reflexes remained sharp. At the last second, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the killing blow. Tanjiro's blade sliced through the demon's shoulder, but it wasn't enough.
Nakime let out a low growl, his eyes flashing with anger as he stepped back. "You're more troublesome than I expected," he hissed, his voice filled with venom. "But this game is far from over."
Gon's eyes burned with determination as he and Killua stood side by side, ready for the next round. "We're not letting you get away!"
Tanjiro, still catching his breath from the attack, gripped his sword tighter, his eyes focused on Nakime. "We'll finish this," he said quietly. "We have to."
Nakime's lips curled into a dark smile. "Then come," he said softly, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Let's see how long you can last."
As the tension mounted, Gon, Killua, and Tanjiro prepared for the next stage of their battle. Nakime was far stronger and faster than they had anticipated, but they had no choice but to fight. The stakes were too high, and failure wasn't an option.
But in the back of Tanjiro's mind, one question remained: could they really win against one of the Twelve Kizuki?