"Gaaah——!!!"
Enmu himself had never expected to be so easily slain by a Demon Slayer, unable to use even a single backup plan!
The instant the massive bony spine was severed, the train let out the dying wail of a mortally wounded beast.
The flesh that had been tightly fused with steel, writhing grotesquely without end, lost all vitality at once.
Most of it began to wither and rot. A small portion still attempted to attack the passengers, but it was swiftly cut down by the Demon Slayers' Nichirin Blades.
Creeeeak—BOOM!!
The shrill screech of twisting metal tore through the night sky as the connections between the carriages collapsed first!
The massive rivets and metal hinges had already been on the verge of breaking from Asuka's slash. Once they lost the adhesive support of the flesh, they shattered apart with a thunderous crash!
The ground beneath everyone suddenly gave way. The entire train seemed to be hurled upward by an invisible giant hand, only to be slammed violently back down the next instant with an earth-shaking roar!
Dust surged into the sky like a tidal wave. The carriages shrieked as they slid off the rails. Countless shards of glass and twisted steel rained down like a storm. The unconscious passengers inside were tossed about mercilessly, thrown upside down and side to side!
"Save the passengers!"
Kyojuro Rengoku's roar boomed like thunder. His tall figure stood in the billowing dust like a blazing lighthouse.
In the instant a carriage flipped, he keenly sensed a structural beam about to snap, poised to crush the passengers inside!
Without the slightest hesitation, he burst forward at astonishing speed, his body shooting toward the deadly closing gap like a cannonball!
The muscles in his arms bulged, veins coiling like dragons.
Channeling the full power of Flame Breathing, Rengoku braced himself and forcibly held up the collapsing iron roof.
Only an indomitable will could withstand such terrifying mechanical distortion.
The others unleashed their fastest speed as well, rescuing passenger after passenger amidst the chaos.
Boom—!!
The train plowed across an open field before finally grinding to a battered halt.
Dust and lingering steam shot into the sky.
Asuka leapt out of the carriage by kicking off its tilted wall, carrying a father and son on his back. He gently laid them down on the ground.
Looking at the wreckage before him, he frowned slightly in guilt and hurried toward the rear carriages to assess the injuries.
Fortunately, the train had not been moving very fast. Combined with the remaining flesh acting as a buffer, the passengers had only suffered bruises and minor injuries. No lives were in immediate danger.
Bang!
With a loud crash, Rengoku finally flung aside the iron roof he had been holding up.
"Rengoku-san!" Tanjiro rushed over to check on him. Thankfully, though he looked tired, he was uninjured.
After slicing apart a twisted seat and pulling out a middle-aged man trapped beneath it, Asuka walked over to Rengoku.
"I'm sorry. I lost control."
"There's no need for self-blame, Asuka!" Rengoku's voice remained bright and resonant. He rubbed his aching arm. "You did splendidly in slaying the demon! It had already fused with the train. This was unavoidable!"
However, his tone paused slightly at the end.
"However! Your emotions were somewhat unstable just now! You must not let emotions dictate your actions in battle! It will seriously impair your judgment! Do you understand!"
"...I understand."
"Very good! Let's continue rescuing people!"
The Demon Slayers resumed their work immediately, including Zenitsu, who had awakened from the violent shaking.
"Huh? Why is the train overturned? Was there a fight?"
Tanjiro began pulling unconscious passengers out from beneath twisted iron plates with his bare hands. Zenitsu dashed back and forth carrying women and children. Inosuke roared fiercely, using all his brute strength to lift part of the carriage so Nezuko could pull trapped passengers free.
Asuka and Rengoku rescued people while discussing what had just happened.
"Rengoku-san, after this mission, I want to learn Flame Breathing," Asuka said firmly as they lifted an elderly woman together.
Rengoku was not surprised. He had already agreed to let Asuka read the Flame Breathing manuals. Still, he asked carefully, "You don't merely mean borrowing them for reference, but systematic training?"
"Yes."
"...Asuka, I want to know—what exactly did you dream? Your aura feels different. And that slash earlier… that wasn't Wind Breathing, was it?"
"...It was nothing. Just a bit of morning temper."
Asuka spread his fingers, gazing deeply at his palm.
"Wind Breathing… isn't enough… I need to become stronger."
"No matter how exhausting it is, how difficult it is, no matter the price of training multiple breathing styles at once, I will do it!"
He clenched his fist, his voice unwavering.
Perhaps even mastering every breathing style in the world and pushing mortal swordsmanship to its peak would still not defeat the man in his dream. But he had no choice.
Even the slightest possibility—he would seize it.
"Haha! If Sanemi heard that, he'd surely get angry!"
Though Rengoku appeared straightforward, even reckless at times, he was deeply perceptive.
He could see the resolute flame burning in Asuka's eyes—a complex yet pure fire, dangerous and dazzling.
"I understand! Your determination has reached me clearly! After this mission, I'll take you to the Rengoku family dojo! Father will surely be pleased to hear someone is so passionate about Flame Breathing!"
"Thank you."
Just as Asuka's frustration from the dream turned into renewed fighting spirit through Rengoku's promise, and the burning desire for strength surged within him—
A bone-chilling cold suddenly gripped his heart!
He had not withdrawn his spiritual pressure perception.
Now, a presence far stronger than Lower Rank One, far more suffocating, extended its gaze from the forest behind them!
Nugata at his side trembled faintly, the hairs on his body standing on end.
He froze in place, staring warily into the darkness.
"Asuka?" Rengoku immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Prepare for battle!"
Asuka instantly drew his Asauchi, fingers already gripping the blade, ready to release his Zanpakuto before Rengoku if necessary.
He knew this power did not belong to this world. Revealing it carelessly could bring trouble. But there was no time to worry about that now.
The aura ahead was powerful. He could not afford carelessness.
"You noticed me? Impressive reaction."
At the edge of the dust-covered ruins, within the shadows of collapsed steel—
A figure slowly emerged from the abyss.
Tall and perfectly proportioned, his muscular form looked as though carved from solid marble.
Short pink hair flickered like cold flames. Deep blue intricate tattoos covered his upper body like ancient battle markings.
Golden eyes radiated a beast's hunger for combat.
He stepped across the wreckage, locking onto Rengoku and Asuka.
There was no madness like Enmu's. No malice like Rokuro's. Not even the usual demon greed for flesh.
Only a pure, absolute desire—to seek out powerful opponents and destroy them!
A cold indifference that wished to stand atop the peak of martial prowess, regarding all beings as mere grass beneath his feet!
And within those golden pupils, Asuka saw clearly—
[Upper Rank · Three]