The Infinity Castle trembled, its twisting corridors warping as Hantengu's grotesque laughter echoed through the massive chamber. His frail, trembling body shuddered as he peeked out from behind his towering monstrous clones, his voice quivering in manufactured terror.
"Oh nooo! The big bad Demon Slayers are going to hurt me!" he whined, his beady eyes darting between the slayers like a frightened rodent.
Tanjiro gripped his sword tightly, his crimson Sun Breathing blade gleaming under the flickering lights. Beside him, Obanai Iguro stood, his curved serpent-shaped katana poised like a coiled viper.
"Quit the act, you oversized cockroach," Obanai sneered. "We know exactly what you are."
Tanjiro nodded, his eyes burning with determination. "You prey on the weak, hide behind your emotions, and use your manifestations as shields. Today, that ends."
Hantengu's manifestations grinned wickedly, each one exuding a terrifying aura of their own.
"Oh? The little slayers think they can take all of us?!"Urogi, the winged demon of Joy, cackled, his massive razor-edged wings spreading wide.
"How delightful! I'll be sure to enjoy tearing you apart!"Karaku, the wind-wielding demon of Pleasure, laughed, lazily waving his enormous fan.
"It's useless... You're going to lose... Why even try?"Aizetsu, the somber Manifestation of Sorrow, sighed, his long spear glinting ominously.
"ENOUGH TALK!"Sekido, the furious Manifestation of Anger, roared as lightning crackled around his body, the air itself trembling under the sheer pressure of his power.
Obanai exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. "They talk too much. Let's shut them up."
"Agreed!"Tanjiro launched forward, unleashing Sun Breathing: Raging Sun—a pair of blazing horizontal slashes that forced Karaku and Urogi back, their mocking laughter turning into focused expressions.
Obanai moved like a ghost, his blade twisting like a striking snake.
"Serpent Breathing: Second Form – Snake Fang Rush!"
His curved blade weaved through the air, slashing at Sekido's arms and torso. Sparks flew as lightning clashed against Nichirin steel, Sekido snarling in rage.
"Tch, annoying pest!" Sekido roared, sending a lightning-infused punch toward Obanai, who barely dodged, flipping gracefully backward.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro twisted mid-air, his blade glowing like the morning sun, just in time to counter a massive wind gust from Karaku's fan.
"Sun Breathing: Fire Wheel!"
Flipping through the air, he sliced downward with scorching force, forcing Karaku to dodge, a playful smirk still on the demon's face.
"Hahaha! You're strong! I like you!" Karaku grinned, swinging his fan once more, creating another monstrous gust.
Tanjiro braced himself, feeling the air crackle around him. But before he could react, a spear shot toward him from behind.
"Crying and Wailing: Piercing Despair!"
Aizetsu's spear shot forward, its tip gleaming with deadly intent.
Tanjiro barely twisted out of the way, but the spear grazed his shoulder, sending a pulse of sorrow through his body.
"Ugh… this attack… feels... heavy," he gasped, feeling his mind sink into a sudden pit of despair.
"That's right… just give up..." Aizetsu murmured, his somber eyes staring through Tanjiro's soul.
Obanai rushed in, his katana curving like a striking cobra.
"Serpent Breathing: Fifth Form – Slithering Serpent!"
His sword weaved around Aizetsu's defenses, slashing across the demon's torso, black blood spraying across the air.
"Tch!" Aizetsu stumbled back, glaring at Obanai.
The battle continued, but it quickly became clear—Tanjiro and Obanai were being overwhelmed.
With Sekido's relentless lightning strikes, Karaku's devastating wind blasts, Aizetsu's spear assaults, and Urogi's deafening sonic screams, the onslaught of deadly attacks left no room to breathe.
"Damn it… we need reinforcements!" Obanai hissed, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Tanjiro narrowed his eyes, ignoring the pain.
"We have to hold out!"
Suddenly—
The air shimmered, as if the entire castle itself had distorted—
Then—
BOOM!
A blinding flash of light erupted in the chamber.
Four figures descended from the sky, their silhouettes casting ominous shadows.
"Yo! Looks like you guys are having fun without us!"
Tengen Uzui landed dramatically, his dual cleavers spinning before slamming into the ground, causing a miniature explosion of dust.
"Ahhh, what a pain..."Zenitsu sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. "Why did it have to be flying demons?!"
"T-Tanjiro! Are you okay?!"Kanao rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern as she checked his injuries.
Shinobu twirled a kunai between her fingers, smirking as she stepped forward.
"Well, well. It seems like we have an infestation of oversized pests. Shall we exterminate them?"
Tanjiro and Obanai exchanged glances—then grinned.
"Perfect timing."
The Manifestations of Hantengu suddenly stopped, their expressions shifting.
Sekido growled, his red eyes flaring with rage.
"More of you?! Good! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
Tengen flashed his signature grin, rolling his shoulders.
"Ohhh? A guy with an anger problem? My favorite kind of opponent!"
Sekido snarled, but before he could react—
BOOM!
A flash bomb detonated in his face, making him stumble backward, disoriented.
Tengen whipped out another explosive kunai, twirling it casually.
"Now that's a flashy entrance, don't you think?"
Urogi laughed maniacally, flapping his wings.
"Oh? More playmates?! This is getting even better!"
Zenitsu paled, pointing at Urogi.
"YOU! YOU'RE LITERALLY MY WORST NIGHTMARE!"
Urogi cackled.
"Oh? You don't like flying, little one?"
Before Zenitsu could run, Urogi swooped down, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him into the air.
"LET ME GO, YOU STUPID BIRD!" Zenitsu screamed, flailing wildly.
Shinobu sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Looks like Zenitsu has his hands full."
Meanwhile, Kanao and Shinobu turned toward Aizetsu and Karaku, their eyes filled with steely resolve.
"Shall we?" Kanao asked, gripping her blade.
Shinobu smiled sweetly, her poisoned blade gleaming.
"Of course. Let's turn this into a wonderful science experiment."
The battlefield was now set—
The fight against Hantengu's Manifestations was about to explode into chaos.
TO BE CONTINUED… 🔥