"Brother Doma!"
"My lord..."
Unlike Ume who appeared extremely excited, the moment he saw Doma, Gyutaro's expression showed some shame.
He of course knew who sent Doma and why Doma came here.
As an Upper Rank demon, as Lord Michikatsu's disciple, to actually need support from other companions during battle with demon slayers—this was simply shameful!
"It's fine, it's fine~"
Seeing through Gyutaro's thoughts at a glance, Doma merely smiled and waved his hand carefreely.
"We Upper Rank demons should help each other out, it's only natural~
Besides, you siblings performed wonderfully. I think that Lord definitely won't blame you..."
WHOOSH!
The instant Doma spoke with his back to everyone, Himejima Gyomei behind him didn't hesitate, seizing the opportunity to directly swing his flail at Doma's skull!
This was no longer the time for martial honor!
Although he couldn't see, Himejima Gyomei could sense that this demon who came to support was strong!
Extremely strong!
He was already poisoned now and had to seize every possible opportunity to end this battle quickly!
However, this sure-kill sneak attack from Himejima Gyomei didn't achieve the result he expected at all.
The flail fell heavily, but what came back was the sensation of hitting the ground.
Almost the instant he moved, Doma's figure simply vanished from where he stood!
[Damn it! Where did he go?!]
"Uwaa~"
Just as Tanjiro was puzzled, from not far beside him, Doma's laughing voice suddenly came.
[What?!]
His body shaking violently, he turned his head in disbelief, only to see Doma somehow crouching beside Kanae, curiously looking at the unconscious Uzui Tengen she was treating!
"Pretty big butterfly, this man seems heavily injured~"
Reaching out to poke Uzui Tengen's body, Doma asked curiously:
"I feel like I can't even hear his heartbeat anymore. Are you sure he can still be saved?"
[So fast!!]
This time, not only were Tanjiro and Himejima Gyomei shocked, even Kanae was shocked, and Genya was completely frozen in terror!
When did he get here?!
[This demon's speed is even faster than Akaza's!]
"Take this!"
After a moment of stunned silence, Kanae immediately drew her sword and swung at Doma beside her!
Similarly, the instant she moved, Doma's figure vanished again.
"Alright, leave everything that follows to me. Gyutaro, you all should go back and busy yourselves with your own matters~"
Saying this, Doma sat back on his beloved little speaker.
"Yes, my lord, please be careful."
Gyutaro didn't hesitate. After a slight nod, he took Ume and left through Infinity Castle.
"Don't worry~ There's no demon slayer in this world who could possibly beat me~"
Saying this with a smile, Doma then turned his gaze to the people before him.
"Alright everyone, next is our time together...
Although I'd really like to say that, actually, I have a small suggestion. I wonder if you'd be willing to accept it..."
"What suggestion?"
Himejima Gyomei asked in a deep voice.
"How should I put it..."
Doma raised his hand, scratching his head embarrassedly.
"The task the Holy Maiden gave me was only to save those two children. Plus, I'm actually in a hurry to get back early tonight and don't really want to fight with everyone.
So... how about we don't fight tonight and just go home separately?"
...Huh?
This demon was telling demon slayers that he didn't want to fight and wanted them to leave quickly?
When he first heard this, Tanjiro was somewhat angry, but soon, he felt this proposal was quite good.
As someone who experienced the entire battle at Infinity Villa, Tanjiro had a rather profound understanding of the strength of the upper-ranked demons.
With their current numbers, they probably couldn't even beat Akaza, let alone the even stronger Upper Rank Two.
Tonight's battle had progressed to this point—they had already gained precise understanding of the Upper Rank Six siblings' strength and Blood Demon Art.
They also had preliminary understanding of Upper Rank Two's Blood Demon Art, at least knowing it was ice-related and could generate ice out of nothing.
Honestly, at this point, their gains tonight were already substantial.
So rather than continuing to stay here and clash desperately with Doma, ultimately being wiped out, it would be better to withdraw with this intelligence and return to think of countermeasures.
But, could they really do this?
Abandon the honor of being demon slayers and flee before a demon?
"Sigh, looks like we really do need to fight a bit after all..."
Seeing the obvious hesitation and uncertainty on everyone's faces, Doma sighed helplessly.
"Then let's end this quickly..."
"Move!"
Roaring once more, Himejima Gyomei struck first, attempting to seize the initiative again.
The chains in his hands swung, successively guiding the flail and hand axe toward Doma!
And Doma... he didn't even get up, merely sliding left and right on his beloved little speaker, consecutively dodging Himejima Gyomei's attacks.
"It won't work, big guy. Although you're indeed quite strong among humans, without opening your Demon Slayer Mark, you still can't touch me~"
"Take this! Sun Breathing · Eleventh Form · Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance!"
Shouting loudly, Tanjiro no longer hesitated, directly raising his sword and charging up, opening with the strongest sword form of Sun Breathing.
"Uwaa! What a cool name! What a handsome fire dragon!"
Instantly captivated by the fire dragon on Tanjiro's blade, Doma became excited at once.
"I want this move!"
He suddenly produced a refined steel fan in his hand. As he swung it, ice qi gradually condensed upon it, actually imitating Tanjiro's move and forming a crystalline ice dragon of similar appearance?!
"Watch this~ Blood Demon Art · Ice Breathing · First Form · Casual Ice Dragon!"
Casually thinking up an extremely crude and absurd name, Doma shouted and flicked his small fan, and that ice dragon actually lunged directly toward Tanjiro?!
"What?!"
This thing could actually move on its own?!
Shocked in his heart, Tanjiro hurriedly swung his sword to respond.
Facing his attack, this ice dragon didn't engage at all, but twisted to dodge, then turned and spat out a breath mixed with countless ice crystals at him!
"Mhm, this move shall be called... Ice Breathing · Second Form · Big Breath Attack!"
Resting his chin on his hand while sitting on the speaker, watching Tanjiro being driven into a frantic mess, Doma happily continued naming moves.
"Demon slayers, you need to work hard~ Whether my Ice Breathing can be fully perfected tonight depends entirely on you~"
...
(The ice dragon isn't absurd—just imagine it as Doma's ice clones from the original that could fight automatically and use his Blood Demon Art, just with a different appearance.)
(Or rather, Doma from the original was exactly this absurd...)