บท 45: Chapter 45: The Hunt and the Hunted
Hatsune's actions stunned everyone. No one had expected someone to proactively challenge that giant demon.
Nae hesitated for a moment, feeling her heart surge with emotion and her blood boil. She drew her Nichirin Sword and walked behind Hatsune. "I'll help you."
Yuka nodded to Akino, who also drew his Nichirin Sword and stood beside Hatsune. "I'll help too."
Kimura drew his sword, as did Emiko. One by one, the group drew their swords, stepping into the clearing to face the surrounding demons head-on.
The moonlight was like water, and the wild wind was bleak. The air was filled with the smell of iron and blood. It seemed as though everyone's blood was boiling, the atmosphere serious and solemn.
Yes, how could they join the Demon Slayer Corps if they were afraid of demons? What kind of sense does that make? Since there was no way to escape, they might as well face life and death directly. After six days of fleeing and hiding, it was time to wield their Nichirin Blades to the fullest.
The collective response from the contestants angered the surrounding demons, who bared their teeth and howled in rage.
"Don't stand with me. Staying here will only drag me down. Lead them away from here."
Hatsune's words, though harsh, were the truth, as Nae knew.
Hatsune's unique breathing technique released cold air that would affect other contestants. The disparity in strength would also tip the balance. If they insisted on staying, Hatsune would have to divide his attention to rescue them, greatly diminishing his power.
Nae felt utterly useless for the first time, realizing she wasn't even qualified to stand beside Hatsune. She lowered her head and meekly said, "You... be careful."
Exchanging a glance with Akino, she headed towards the main group.
The clearing wasn't large, so almost everyone heard Hatsune's words. Some felt joy, some felt worry, but most were shocked.
Did he want to face that giant demon alone? How could he possibly win? Either he's crazy, or I am.
Many people wished to distance themselves from that ugly giant. Now that someone had taken the lead, they followed, scurrying to the outskirts of the clearing, leaving the center to the white-clad boy.
Once everyone had left, Hatsune took a deep breath and silently recited, "Ice Breathing: First Form - Cold Tide."
A white mist slowly appeared around him, expanding outward at a visible rate. Snow-white ice flakes began to fall from the sky, forming a white circle with Hatsune at its center in an instant.
"Cold Tide" wasn't an attack skill but enhanced his sensory perception, amplifying other skills. The white mist and ice flakes confused the enemy's vision, lowered their body temperature, and slowed their blood flow, thus reducing their attack speed and power.
It was akin to a domain, a unique feature of Hatsune's breathing technique.
Hatsune's transformation shocked everyone. Not only had they never seen such a peculiar breathing technique, but this boy also seemed incredibly powerful. He might even be able to defeat that giant demon.
Kimura and Emiko exchanged glances, their mouths half-open, unsure of what to say.
Kimura had a keen eye. He sensed something extraordinary about this boy when he first saw him in the plaza, but it wasn't enough.
Provoked, the three-headed demon let out a thunderous roar and charged at Hatsune, its legs carrying its massive body.
The roar seemed to signal an attack. The demons in the forest and on the slopes responded, howling as they charged at the contestants around the clearing. Only the bouncing demon remained on the slope, while the spider demon lay in wait on a tree branch.
After six days of hunting and fleeing, the remaining contestants were somewhat skilled.
"Aim for the neck. Don't hold back anymore. It's the last night. Either they die, or we do. The longer we drag this out, the worse it will be for us."
Hatsune's voice echoed in the clearing. "I'll handle the three-headed demon. The rest of you deal with the ordinary demons. Nae, Kimura, Akino, keep an eye on the bouncing demon and the spider demon on the slope. Prevent them from launching sneak attacks. If they target me, don't worry. Just stop them from disrupting the others."
"Understood."
Kimura never thought he'd one day follow someone else's orders as he once led the team. Though it felt awkward, he knew their survival depended on whether that boy could defeat the giant demon. His instructions were reasonable.
Initially, the appearance of the bouncing demon and the spider demon had shattered everyone's mental defenses, leading to the team's disintegration.
The two groups clashed again as the three-headed demon charged at Hatsune.
Six arms extended toward Hatsune in the white mist.
"Ice Breathing: Second Form - Snow Drift."
Hatsune gripped his sword tightly, swinging it with force. The white mist and ice flakes followed his blade, forming a white arc.
Faced with the six flexible arms, Hatsune remained unmoved, his sharp blade leaving frozen wounds on the demon's hands.
After a few rounds, everyone witnessed the white-haired boy's strength.
Six arms were equivalent to three people. Fighting against three alone, he swung his sword steadily and powerfully, his moves fierce yet controlled. And he hadn't even used his full strength, yet the three-headed demon was already howling in pain.
Initially doubtful, the crowd gained confidence after seeing Hatsune's elegant battle stance.
Without the giant demon and the two strange demons on the slope, they weren't afraid of these ugly monsters.
Screams echoed from the crowd, some from demons, others from contestants.
Demons attacked based on instinct, their moves chaotic. Upon careful observation, their attacks consisted of a few basic moves: grabbing, scratching, pouncing, and biting.
The only tricky part was their incredible regeneration and unlimited stamina. To eliminate them completely, severing their necks was the only way.
Nae, Kimura, and Akino kept an eye on the two demons on the slope while helping contestants deal with ordinary demons.
As the first demon was eliminated, the contestants seemed to find their rhythm. Their hands stopped trembling, and they even let out a few cheers of excitement as they finally had an outlet after six days of pent-up frustration.
The contestants gradually gained the upper hand.
Finally, the two demons on the slope couldn't stay put any longer.
One leaped into the air, reaching a height of over ten meters. The impact upon landing was formidable, not to mention the added power of its legs.
The other demon slithered down the tree trunk, its body agile as it swiftly headed toward the clearing, its speed matching that of the bouncing demon.
Which group would they choose to attack? The contestants? Or Hatsune?
After all, both had been wounded by Hatsune, with the spider demon almost losing its life.
Nae, Kimura, and Akino noticed the movements of the three demons, their tension reaching its peak.
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