Chương 42: General-level Demon (2)

--- Chapter 42 ---

BOOOOOOMMM~!

As the demonic red pillar absorbed more blood particles and grew taller, a massive explosion occurred, blasting the surrounding trees and rock.

Seeing the massive debris rapidly flying toward them, Shinobu, Eri, and Kanao couldn't help but suck a cold breath. They would die if they got struck by these things.

The size and momentum of the debris alone could squash their bodies to paste.

And they couldn't dodge. After all, the explosion sends debris in nearly all directions, covering their dodging spot. These trees barely could shield them from danger.

Damn it! The three girls couldn't help but curse.

Before the majesty of this explosion, they felt small and weak.

"Haha, why the long face?" A playful and refreshing chuckle brushed their ears. "Did you forget that I'm here?"

Swoosh!

"Tenma-sama!"

"Tenma-kun!"

"Nii-chan!"

The three girls' eyes widened in shock. They saw Tenma walking forward with his trusty White Night. His step is full of confidence and defiance toward the incoming rubbles.

They couldn't see Tenma's expression because he was still wearing his Oni Mask, but they knew he was smiling.

Facing such a danger, he was grinning like a madman.

Yet they felt eased watching his tall figure and broad back.

It feels like a towering tree shielding them from rain.

Tenma twirled White Night as if the long spear was a light object, rotating left and right skillfully. A shadowy yet sharp white aura exudes from the spearhead and creates a white cloak around him.

[Spear Breathing - Sixth Form: Amatsukaze (Heavenly Crossing Wind)]

Tenma swung his spear and created a white tempest, protecting the three girls from the debris and destroying anything that came toward him.

At the same time, he also cleared the ten-meter radius area around him, giving everyone visibility.

"Nii-chan, so strong!" Eri's eyes twinkled in admiration. She wished she could be this powerful. Kanao and Shinobu also have the same look on their faces, but they unconsciously clenched their hands.

Shinobu sighed, 'I'm afraid that only Himejima-san could possess such an abnormal strength in the Demon Slayer Corps. No, I think Tenma-sama is still stronger than the stone Buddha.'

'Then, again... Looking at Tenma-sama's body, slurp, it's justifiable.'

Tenma's body is not something a teenager should have. He's 'literally' blessed by heaven.

As the dust of clouds cleared, the three girls could see the surrounding area had become barren and covered with sawdust.

Tenma breathed out, "Phew... That was a good warm-up."

"You three, be alert."

"The incoming demon is going to be dangerous."

"Eri, I want you to stay close to Shinobu." Tenma glanced at Eri and said seriously. "If you get injured, I'm afraid I can't face Tsume-san later."

"Don't worry, I will watch over her." Shinobu patted, one hand on her katana's hilt.

Eri pouted but didn't complain. She knew this wasn't the time to play the little witch card, as the situation was too dangerous.

Tenma nodded at Eri's acceptance and looked at Kanao, "As for you, Kanao... Keep watch on the area."

"Hmm, is there something special about this place?" Kanao asked with a frown.

Tenma moved his gaze back to the demonic red pillar and answered, "The blood particles earlier give me a faint sense of disgust. You know my nose can detect demon-related things, and the blood particles might relate to this demon's Blood Demon Art."

"I understand..." Kanao replied solemnly. Her eyes slowly observed the surrounding area, wanting to catch any missing details.

Tenma wasn't afraid of the three girls getting injured. He has other means to protect them, such as charms like the one Tamakao made for him. But it is better to be cautious than regretful.

This experience is also good to temper their will.

Since they had to face such an enemy sooner or later.

Fear is the last thing they should think of.

Seeing that the demonic red pillar condensed, Tenma narrowed his eyes and shouted, "Go!"

The three girls nodded and rushed toward the demonic red pillars.

Tenma is at the front, Kanao is at his left, and Shinobu and Eri are at the rear.

"Spear Breathing - 4th Form, Shinkirou (Mirage Wolf)!"

Swoosh!

Tenma became a massive white wolf that bared its fangs at the demonic red pillar.

"Act of Bloom - 3rd Petal: Snow and Flower Ceremony."

Kanao clenched her hilts, entering a stance where she placed both katana horizontally. A faint bluish-pink light burst from Kanao's eyes and body.

"Insect Breathing - Dance of Centipede: Thousand-legged Movement."

Shinobu also emitted a faint lavender-blue light, and her fair legs became misty, allowing her to move freely. Every step Shinobu made created an afterimage.

"Dagger Breathing - 4th Form: Thousand Shadow!"

Eri silently followed behind Shinobu. Eri's movement is just like Shinobu's, but more restrained and covers her presence, as if she had become Shinobu's shadow.

Unlike Tenma and others, Eri didn't emit any aura.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOARRH!

A blood-curdling roar reverberated in the forest, shaking the surrounding tree violently.

A massive creature mixed between a newborn baby and a moth over five meters tall appeared. It has red skin, fleshy wings, and countless red eyes that appeared before their eyes.

The unsettling part is its mouth, which is filled with sharp teeth and dripped with black blood.

'Disgusting!' The girls thought simultaneously.

Even Shinobu, who worked with poisonous insects, felt the demon moth was grotesque.

"Blood Demon Art - Blood Flood!" An eerie yet tender voice swept the forest.

Blood surged from the baby-moth and flooded the forest.

Tenma narrowed his eyes because Shinkirou's momentum wasn't enough to blow all the blood up. At some point, they would get surrounded.

He swiftly brought out two White Fangs, Nichirin Spears, he obtained from the Limitless Simulation. His left-hand finger clamped the 4,5-foot spears tightly, using them like a glorified claw.

This was only possible because of how big Tenma's palm and fingers were. Not to mention his solid yet flexible and well-developed forearm muscles.

"Claw-Sword Style - 3rd Form: Magnum Step!" Tenma borrowed the momentum of his spear and shifted his breathing, thrusting the short spears in his left hand forward.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

A thunderclap noise drummed, pushing the incoming blood away.

"Climb the tree!" Tenma warned the girls.

Kanao, Shinobu, and Eri nodded. They kicked the ground and climbed the nearest trees. They watched Tenma split the red flood into two, creating a deep groove on the ground.

The burning effect left behind by the Fire Tao and Solar Energy prevented the blood flood from recovering in the area.

As if sensing danger from Tenma, the baby-moth cried and created many monsters from the blood flood. These blood monsters are many times stronger than the demon bear made by a high-level demon's Blood Demon Art Tenma fought four years ago.

"Three, five, ten, the number keeps increasing..." Eri calmly counted with a frown. "No wonder Nii-chan didn't let me fight a high-level demon. Blood Demon Art like this is annoyingly dangerous."

"They are strong..." Shinobu commented. "But not durable."

"You noticed it too?" Kanao gave Shinobu a keen look.

Shinobu nodded, "The source of these blood monsters is those blood particles in the air. Although the blood monsters will possess a strong means to attack, its body structure can't be solid with so much air intertwined."

"Too much air, we can just burn it." Shinobu smiled faintly.

"But we have no fuel..." Eri pointed out.

Shinobu chuckled, "Who said I'm not ready for this situation?"

"I have prepared a thousand sachets of Wisteria Poison, as well a mix of colorless, odorless, and tasteless wine that's very flammable, something I developed to fight commander-level demons."

"We can combine them and create a flammable poison mist that could weaken blood monsters. Of course, we still must finish the rest."

"Wow!" Eri was impressed. As expected of a poison maniac, she should learn from her.

"..." Kanao. Thankfully, Shinobu was on our side.

Tenma waved his hand, "I heard of your plan, and it's feasible. Go and fight the blood monster. It would be a good experience for you three."

Receiving Tenma's concurrence, Shinobu immediately pulled her haori and pulled several poison sachets.

Tenma returned his gaze to the baby-moth, "Well, it's ugly."

"I hope you're not too weak."