The air around them seemed to thicken, filled with the tension of the battle that had barely begun. Nakime stood in the center of the clearing, a shadow of malevolence, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement as he regarded his opponents.
Gon, Killua, Tanjiro, and Nezuko formed a loose circle around the Upper Moon demon. They could feel the weight of his power pressing down on them—Nakime wasn't just stronger than any demon they had faced before; he was toying with them.
"We need a strategy," Killua whispered, his eyes never leaving Nakime as the demon shifted slightly, his movements unnervingly smooth. "He's not just fast—he's reading our moves before we even make them."
Tanjiro's grip on his sword tightened. "He's predicting us. But there has to be a way to break through."
Nezuko growled softly beside her brother, her sharp eyes locked onto Nakime's every movement. She could sense the danger in the air, her instincts telling her that this fight would not end easily.
Gon clenched his fists, his nen radiating off him in waves of raw energy. He refused to be intimidated. "We can't hold back," he said, determination in his voice. "If we're going to take him down, we have to go all out."
Killua nodded in agreement, his body already sparking with electricity from Godspeed. "We need to overwhelm him—he can't predict us all if we hit him from every angle."
But before they could put any plan into action, Nakime smiled, his lips curling into a dark grin. "You think you can overwhelm me with brute force?" he mused, his voice a mocking whisper. "You underestimate the difference between us."
Without warning, Nakime vanished again, his form dissolving into the shadows as if he had become one with the darkness itself. Gon and Killua's eyes darted around the clearing, trying to track his movements, but Nakime's presence seemed to flicker in and out of existence like a ghost.
"He's gone!" Gon shouted, his fists clenched in frustration.
"No," Killua growled, his silver eyes narrowing as he activated Godspeed once more. "He's still here… he's just hiding."
Tanjiro's sharp senses kicked into high gear as he inhaled deeply, his breathing steadying as he tried to calm his mind. "Focus," he murmured. "Find his presence. He can't hide forever."
Nezuko's claws flexed as she crouched, her demonic senses far sharper than the others'. She could smell Nakime's scent, faint but lingering in the air. He was moving fast, but he wasn't completely invisible.
Suddenly, from behind them, Nakime's voice echoed once more, his tone dripping with amusement. "You're quick to adapt, but it won't be enough."
Killua spun on his heel just in time to dodge Nakime's claws as they slashed through the air where his throat had been. He narrowly avoided the attack, but Nakime was already gone, vanishing again into the shadows.
"He's using the shadows to move!" Killua shouted, his mind racing. "It's not just speed—he's blending into the darkness."
Tanjiro's eyes widened in realization. "It's part of his power… that's why we can't see him coming."
The clearing was bathed in the dim light of the setting sun, and long shadows stretched across the ground. Nakime was using the fading light to his advantage, disappearing into the darkness and reappearing wherever he pleased. It wasn't just his speed that was the problem—it was the environment itself.
"We need to get rid of the shadows!" Gon declared, his voice filled with resolve.
Killua blinked, glancing at Gon. "Easier said than done. It's not like we can just change the sun."
But Tanjiro was already moving. He knew Gon's idea was sound—if Nakime was using the shadows, then they needed to eliminate them. Tanjiro's breathing steadied as he brought his sword forward, the familiar flow of water surging through his body as he prepared his next move.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
Tanjiro slashed his sword in a wide arc, the water from his blade sweeping across the ground and tearing through the earth. The force of the attack sent debris flying, kicking up dust and forcing Nakime out of hiding.
Nakime reappeared, his eyes narrowing in irritation as the ground trembled beneath him. "You're clever, demon slayer," he hissed. "But not clever enough."
Before Tanjiro could react, Nakime lunged toward him, his claws flashing in the fading light. But just as Nakime closed in, a bolt of lightning shot through the air, crackling with raw power.
Killua had moved faster than the eye could follow, his Thunderbolt slamming into Nakime's chest with enough force to send the demon staggering back.
Gon wasn't far behind. He surged forward, his nen-infused fist raised high. "Jajanken: Rock!"
The earth beneath them cracked as Gon's punch collided with Nakime's side, sending a shockwave through the clearing. The force of the attack sent Nakime skidding across the ground, but even as his body was thrown back, the demon's expression remained calm—almost amused.
Tanjiro rushed forward to capitalize on the moment, his blade raised high for the finishing blow. "Water Breathing, Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought!" His blade slashed downward in a graceful arc, aiming directly for Nakime's neck.
But before Tanjiro's sword could connect, Nakime twisted his body, his speed allowing him to narrowly avoid the fatal strike. The demon's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction as he leapt back, landing gracefully on his feet.
"You're persistent," Nakime sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "But this game is over."
In an instant, Nakime's body shifted, dissolving into the shadows once more. But this time, he didn't reappear. The air around them grew colder, the oppressive weight of Nakime's presence fading into the distance.
"He's gone," Killua muttered, his eyes scanning the area. "He's running."
Tanjiro's breathing slowed as he sheathed his sword, his body tense with lingering frustration. "He retreated… but why?"
Gon's fists slowly unclenched, his heart still racing from the fight. "We didn't beat him," he said, his voice filled with frustration. "He left because he wanted to."
Killua frowned, his mind racing as he tried to piece together Nakime's motives. "He wasn't fighting us seriously. He was testing us."
Tanjiro nodded grimly. "He's an Upper Moon demon. He could have killed us if he really wanted to. But he was holding back."
Nezuko, who had been silent throughout the fight, finally relaxed, her body shifting back to her more human form as her demon rage subsided. She stood beside her brother, her eyes softening as she glanced at the others.
"He'll be back," Killua said quietly, his expression serious. "Next time, we might not be so lucky."
Gon's frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he knew Killua was right. Nakime hadn't shown his true strength—he had toyed with them, learning their abilities, probing for weaknesses. And when the time came for the real fight, Nakime wouldn't hold back.
Tanjiro exhaled slowly, his mind still focused on the task at hand. "We need to get to headquarters," he said quietly. "If Nakime is here, then the others need to know. The Upper Moons are on the move, and we can't waste any more time."
Killua crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "You think Muzan is behind this?"
Tanjiro's eyes darkened at the mention of Muzan's name. "It's possible. The Upper Moons follow Muzan's orders without question. If Nakime is here, then Muzan might be planning something… something bigger than we realize."
Gon, though still burning with frustration, managed a determined smile. "Then let's go. If we're going to fight demons like that, we'll need all the help we can get."
Killua smirked, his usual confidence returning. "Sounds like another adventure, doesn't it?"
Tanjiro smiled slightly at their enthusiasm, though his heart remained heavy with the weight of the danger ahead. "It won't be easy," he said quietly. "But with the strength we have, we might just stand a chance."
Nezuko gave a soft growl of agreement, standing proudly beside her brother. The bond between them was stronger than ever, and with their new allies, they knew the battle against the Upper Moons—and Muzan himself—was only just beginning.
Together, they turned toward the mountains, where the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters awaited. The path ahead was uncertain, but they were ready to face whatever lay in the shadows.