The moment Shion heard those sinister words, his mind blanked.
An invisible aura seeped from the demon, paralyzing his body and sending violent shudders down his spine.
His limbs refused to obey him as the demon took a single step forward.
Shion's entire frame trembled under the weight of that step. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to take a step back, the effort draining every ounce of his will.
His heartbeat thundered in his chest, each pulse a deafening roar in his ears.
'Damn it… What do I do? I need to run. But… it's faster than me.'
The thought of escape was futile, and before he could think further, the demon moved.
Its nails extended, grotesque and razor-sharp, glinting faintly in the moonlight as it took another step forward.
And then—
The wind howled, and in the blink of an eye, the demon was right in front of him.
Shion's vision was consumed by the monster's claws, poised to pierce straight through his skull.
Clang—!
The sharp ring of metal shattered the tension, vibrating through the alleyway.
"Huh?"
A confused sound escaped Shion's lips. His vision cleared, revealing a broad back shielding him from the demon's claws.
He stumbled, his legs giving out as he fell against the wall, the impact jarring his head. A groan slipped from his lips, but his eyes stayed glued to the scene before him.
A man stood between him and the demon—a bald man gripping a katana, its blade locked against the demon's elongated claws.
The demon leaped back, crouching low, its lips curling into a wicked grin.
"Tonight's feast just got more exciting!" it hissed, its voice dripping with sadistic glee.
The man ignored the taunt. He glanced back at Shion, his expression grim.
"Kid. Get out of here. Now."
His voice was low.
Shion froze.
The man turned back to the demon, his grip on the katana tightening.
"Bold, aren't you? Hunting in such a crowded place..."
The demon's grin faltered, replaced by a snarl.
"What do you mean by that, you wretched piece of meat? You dare insult me!?"
Shion's chest heaved as he watched, his body trembling.
'A demon slayer…'
A shaky breath escaped his lips in relief, but dread quickly clawed its way back.
'I don't recognize him… He's probably just fodder like me, some low-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps.'
Still, he didn't recognize the demon either. Maybe, just maybe, the unknown slayer could win against this unknown demon.
His answer came swiftly.
The man lunged, and the demon met him halfway.
The air split with the force of their clash, katana and claws colliding in a cacophony of metal and fury.
Blood splattered across Shion's face. He couldn't tell whose it was. His body refused to move, frozen in place by fear.
Cling!
Cling!
Cling!
The sound of their battle echoed through the narrow alley, punctuated by the demon's mocking laughter.
"Hahaha! Is that all you've got? Getting tired already? Of course, you are—you're nothing but an inferior species! Now, accept your fate and become cattle!"
The demon's taunts struck like daggers.
Shion could barely keep up. The slayer's face was pale, his breaths labored, and his body marked by deep gashes. Blood seeped from his shoulder, and his movements were slowing.
It was clear.
The demon slayer wasn't winning.
And then it happened.
The demon's claws tore into the man's throat, blood gushing in a gruesome arc.
"No!" Shion's voice broke, but the scene unfolded mercilessly before him.
The demon plunged its claw into the man's chest, then ripped his head clean off with the other hand.
With a laugh, it tossed the slayer's lifeless body against the wall, his katana clattering to the ground.
Shion's eyes widened in disbelief.
'He just… died.'
The demon's wounds, though numerous, were already healing, the flesh knitting itself back together.
'This is insane…!'
The demon turned its gaze to Shion, a wicked grin spreading across its face.
"Oh? What's this? You're still here? Are you going to fight me, too?" It chuckled darkly. "Go on, pick it up. I love it when my food resists!"
Shion's eyes darted to the katana lying in front of him.
His heart pounded furiously as his trembling hands reached for the weapon.
He gripped it with both hands, the steel feeling foreign and heavy.
'I've never fought with a weapon before…'
But what choice did he have?
Running wasn't an option. If he turned his back now, he'd end up like the slayer. Like the woman. Dead.
'I've got nothing to lose anyway…!'
Letting out a guttural shout, Shion charged forward, swinging the katana with all his might.
The demon sidestepped effortlessly, a laugh rumbling from its chest as its claw raked across Shion's shoulder.
"Argh!"
Shion screamed as pain shot through him, his body slamming against the wall.
"Come on! Try again!" the demon sneered, baring its fangs in delight.
Every inch of his body screamed in agony, his left shoulder bleeding profusely. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred.
But Shion didn't let go of the katana.
His grip tightened as he pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling.
With another cry, he lunged again, swinging the blade horizontally.
Clang!
The demon caught the katana mid-swing with its clawed hand, its grin widening.
"Oh? Not bad. There's some strength in that scrawny body of yours. You might not have much meat, but perhaps you'll make up for it in taste.
Shion shuddered, unable to wrest the katana free from the demon's iron grip.
'What do I do...!'
He needed the blade. It was his only chance against the demon—there was nothing else. The sun wouldn't rise soon enough, and there was no way he could hold the demon here until dawn.
"Ugh!"
A sudden, crushing blow slammed into his stomach, forcing blood to spew from his mouth. His body flew back, slamming hard against the alley wall.
"Agh..."
Despite the impact, the katana remained locked in his trembling hands. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, his vision blurred, and his head felt unnervingly light.
Raising a shaky hand, Shion touched the back of his skull, where a warm, sticky liquid greeted him.
Blood.
'Damn it...'
"Hahaha! You just won't let go of that toy, will you?" The demon's mocking laughter rang through the narrow alley. "What if I rip your arm clean off? Think you'll still cling to it then?"
To the demon, Shion's desperation was a spectacle—a source of endless amusement.
'Am I going to die here? Again?'
Alone in a filthy alley?
Had he been brought to this world just to become a meal for some random demon? Was this all his life was worth?
His grip tightened around the katana's hilt. Blood smeared his hands.
The demon's smile faltered. Its amusement shifted to irritation as it clicked its tongue.
"Tch. You're starting to annoy me. Let's see if you can keep that glare when I rip you apart piece by piece. Yeah... scream for me."
Shion rose, his legs trembling beneath him. He held the katana up, blade pointed toward the demon.
'One chance... I just need one chance...!'
The demon closed the distance in an instant, its clawed hand raised high.
"Scream!"
'Now!'
Shion twisted his body just as the demon's claws raked down. Pain flared across his chest as the talons tore into his flesh, but he ignored it.
With a shout, Shion swung the katana.
"Die!"
The demon's eyes widened in shock as the blade arced toward its neck.
"Huh?"
The blade connected, biting deep into its throat. Warm blood sprayed across Shion's face. The resistance halfway down the cut was maddening, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through with every ounce of strength his battered body could muster.
The blade carved through.
The demon's head toppled from its shoulders, landing with a dull thud, followed by its lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
"Huh? What's... happening?" The severed head's lips moved, its voice filled with disbelief. "Why... why is my vision so low?"
Shion staggered backward, falling to the ground with a scream as the pain in his body roared to life. His chest heaved with labored breaths, and his vision wavered like a fever dream.
He could still hear the demon speaking.
"Hey... you let go of the hilt."
"Did you... kill me?"
"Impossible!"
"A weak kid like you!"
The demon's head began to crumble, its form disintegrating like ash caught in the wind.
"I refuse to believe this! You're just... food!"
Its voice faded, and its glare was the last thing Shion saw before the creature's body disappeared entirely.
And just like that...
He had killed a demon.