In that instant—
The Line of Gaps appeared in Aoyama's vision.
Opportunity.
His body plunged downward, the invisible thread tethered to his blade pulling him like fate itself.
Total Concentration. Light Breathing — Second Form: Radiant Burst.
Slash—
Boom—
Aoyama landed in a half-kneel, sword stabbed into the earth to steady himself.
The spider body exploded apart, shattered into fragments.
Only the head remained intact—
But it meant nothing.
Death had arrived all the same.
"I… was cut? I was cut?! Unforgivable! Unforgivable! I—"
The screaming stopped mid-sentence.
From the neck downward, the head began to crumble into ash.
The spider minions froze, lifeless without command.
Ding! Host has slain a Spider Demon. Reward: Blade Sharpness +20. Bonus Item: Concealment Talisman x1.
The Concealment Talisman could erase one's presence and aura—similar in principle to Yushiro's Blood Demon Art.
Zenitsu collapsed onto the ground.
Dark blotches spread across his skin. The poison had fully taken hold, stealing his strength.
Aoyama walked over and knelt beside him.
The boy hadn't fainted from fear yet.
That alone was impressive.
"S-Senior… did I… do it?"
Aoyama placed his hand firmly over Zenitsu's.
"You did well. From the start—you did well."
Zenitsu gave a faint smile.
For once, he'd been acknowledged.
If Grandpa knew… he'd be proud.
The old man had never abandoned him. Always encouraged him.
"Cough… I… I think… I'm done for…"
"Don't give up yet. Use your breathing to slow the poison's spread. Someone will come. Hold on."
Aoyama scanned the forest.
With this many casualties, the Demon Slayer Corps would have dispatched Hashira.
If he wasn't mistaken—
The ones coming would be the Water Hashira and the Insect Hashira.
But when they would arrive—
He couldn't say.
Elsewhere in the forest—
Tanjiro and Inosuke were locked in a desperate battle against the Spider Mother.
They had found the one manipulating the threads—
But they couldn't reach her.
Corps members, controlled by silk threads, attacked relentlessly.
Every strike aimed to kill.
Tanjiro and Inosuke could only dodge without retaliating.
Corps rules forbade harming fellow members.
Some of those being controlled were still alive.
They were prisoners inside their own bodies.
"Inosuke! Be careful! Some of them are still alive!"
"Annoying! Can't even fight back—this is annoying!"
Though he shouted in frustration, Inosuke obeyed and refrained from drawing his blades.
The threads yanked bodies like puppets, sending them at the two again and again.
Tanjiro focused on evasion, forcing himself to stay calm.
He couldn't afford agitation.
This mountain was wrong.
Strange.
Aoyama was nowhere to be seen—
His thoughts faltered for half a second.
A blade nearly sliced his shoulder.
Inosuke reacted instantly and kicked him aside.
"Oi! Trying to die?!"
"Sorry! I spaced out!"
When his mind wandered, his body slowed.
Tanjiro shook his head hard.
No useless thoughts.
Senior Brother Aoyama would be fine.
He had to believe that.
His gaze flicked to the branches above.
An idea struck.
Sheathing his sword, Tanjiro dodged another attack, then rushed forward and grabbed a controlled Corps member by the waist.
With a heave, he hurled the person upward.
The silk threads tightened—
And the body was left hanging from a tree branch.
That worked.
Seeing this, Inosuke's competitive spirit ignited.
He mimicked Tanjiro, tossing bodies into the trees.
"Haha! See that?! I can do it too! I've hung more than you!"
Tanjiro's expression stiffened.
At a time like this—
And he was still keeping score.
But as long as it worked.
"That's right. You can't even handle something so simple."
A cold voice echoed through the forest.
Rui stood upon threads strung between trees, staring down at the Spider Mother without emotion.
"Mother really can't even manage a small task."
"Mother?!" Tanjiro's eyes widened.
They weren't independent demons.
They were… a family?
The Spider Mother, her long white hair draped down her back, trembled.
"N-No, Rui! I can! I can kill them! Just wait! Just a little more!"
Her voice shook—not with anger.
With fear.
Tanjiro studied them.
Was this how a mother and child should speak?
Even for demons—
This was wrong.
"Don't force yourself. If you can, then hurry."
Rui spoke lazily and turned away.
He had something else to attend to.
The forest fell silent—
But the tension only deepened.
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