"So you're Shinobu Kocho…"
"Would you consider becoming a demon? Join us."
"You're quite the fighter. Become a demon, and use eternity to pursue greater strength…"
Akaza spoke to Shinobu slowly.
After their prolonged fight, he had acknowledged her strength. To fight him to such an extent with the fragile body of a human—it was impressive.
That's why Akaza wanted to persuade her. He pitied her. She had excellent combat technique, yet was limited by her human frame.
If she became a demon, she would surely grow far stronger—perhaps even stronger than him.
"Shinobu Kocho, become a demon."
"Gain more power, and fight me again."
"You're just too weak as you are now."
"You must've noticed—I've been holding back."
Shinobu leaned against the thick trunk of a tree, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.
Akaza. Upper Rank Three. The Combat Demon…
Truly powerful. She couldn't beat him at all. After realizing he had no intention of killing her, she'd tried to break away to help the town—but he blocked her every time.
She'd also tried launching all-out attacks, ignoring defense—but Akaza had still effortlessly countered everything she threw at him.
This guy… it'd probably take at least three combat-focused Hashira to bring him down.
And in truth, Shinobu wasn't especially skilled at direct combat.
"Mr. Demon, thank you kindly for the offer."
"But demons are far too grotesque, too ugly."
"I don't want to become something so hideous."
"And I'd miss the warm sunlight… just the thought of being forced to hide in the shadows all day terrifies me."
Akaza grinned. "You really are a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. Over the centuries, I've killed a few of your kind."
"Each time, I tried to convince them to become demons, to join us. But every last one of them, even at the cost of their life, refused."
"I respect that determination."
"I don't kill or eat women. But if the master finds out I met a Hashira and did nothing, he'll be furious."
"So I'm going to cripple you. Just part of your spine—enough to take away your ability to fight, but not your life."
"My technique is precise. You won't even feel pain."
If he could, Akaza would've just let Shinobu go. But the master could read their hearts. And the Hashira were always targets he wanted eliminated. Akaza didn't dare spare her.
So you won't kill me, but you'll break me? This Akaza really is full of surprises.
Yet Shinobu showed no fear. Her warm, sunlit smile still lingered on her face.
"Is that so… Then come and get me."
She said "come," but it was she who moved first, attacking without hesitation.
She wasn't the type to give up.
Sometimes, you had to fight even when you knew you'd lose.
"Insect Breathing, Centipede Dance: Hundred-Legged Zigzag!"
Shinobu stomped hard with every step, gouging deep holes into the ground, scattering dirt and stone in every direction.
She moved like a giant centipede or serpent, her path erratic, darting and weaving from all sides. At that speed, her form vanished from Akaza's sight.
She was trying to approach him with unpredictable footwork and inject wisteria poison into his neck once again.
Last time, she'd cut his leg and gotten poison into his heart. But Akaza's control over his body was on another level.
He had forced all the poison out by controlling his blood flow and muscle movements.
Akaza shook his head. Her technique surprised him—the speed was so great that even he couldn't see her clearly.
But the fighting spirit sensed by Compass Needle was clear as day, like a flame in the dark—impossible to ignore.
"Destructive Death: Annihilation Style – Scattering Maple!"
Sensing the source of her aura, Akaza punched the ground with incredible force.
From that point, invisible shockwaves erupted in layered explosions, spreading cracks across the ground like branching leaf veins.
He had perfectly predicted where she'd land. The shockwave there was immense.
Shinobu, whose centipede steps could crush stone, couldn't stand up to that power. She was flung high into the air.
Boom!
She hit the ground hard. Her Demon Slayer uniform, from boots to thighs, had been blown apart, the fabric scattered like confetti.
Her pale, slender legs were fully exposed—but they were covered in deep lacerations, and blood poured from them.
She had no strength left. The pain in her legs was overwhelming. It wasn't just superficial wounds—several bones were broken. Both legs had gone numb, like they weren't even there.
She'd exhausted herself using high-energy techniques. That last centipede dance had drained the very last of her stamina—and it still wasn't enough.
Akaza sighed. "Why do you insist on this?"
"That last move of yours was strong. I had to take it seriously, so I couldn't hold back completely. I didn't want to injure you this badly."
Shinobu lay on her back, gazing at the night sky. "You're a decent demon, Mr. Akaza. If you hadn't eaten humans, I think I would've liked being your friend."
Akaza chuckled. "A demon who doesn't eat people? That's impossible."
"Besides, I'm not interested in friendship with you."
"I simply don't kill women. And I enjoy fighting the strong."
"Don't worry—your suffering will end soon. Living as a normal person afterward isn't so bad."
He slowly walked toward her. He was going to break her spine.
Shinobu felt a quiet sorrow in her heart. She knew Akaza wasn't lying—he wouldn't kill her.
But once he crippled her, she'd never fight demons again. She'd be relegated to the Demon Slayer support corps—watching others fight, powerless to help.
Just as Akaza drew closer, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Kawanishi stepped out from the forest shadows, his four wings outstretched, his face twisted and fanged—a clear declaration that he was a demon.
He radiated a monstrous, ancient pressure. Kawanishi forced himself not to look at Shinobu, afraid his emotions might betray him.
"Akaza-sama."
At the sound of that voice, Shinobu's eyes widened in shock. It was a little different—but she still recognized it.
Kawanishi now stood between her and Akaza. She could only see his back—and his wings.
"Those four wings… so beautiful."
"But… Kamado Kawanishi… you're a demon?"
(End of Chapter)