45 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Something beneath the ground roared.

In a single breath, a colossal flower, formed by countless leaves, erupted from the earth.

The massive bloom spun at a dizzying speed, its movements controlled by Lower Rank Four's hand gestures. Leaves scattered in all directions, attacking everything within range!

Blood Demon Art: Demon Sprout!

Clang! Clang! Clang! The razor-sharp leaves slashed through trees, shattered houses, and reduced the surroundings to ruins.

Haruto gripped the hilt of his blade in a reverse hold, spinning it to form a shield of shimmering blue-violet steel. Sparks flew as the leaves struck his blade.

Nearby, the flamboyantly dressed boy and the three kunoichi managed to dodge between the gaps of the deadly storm. Their movements were swift but strained, their survival hanging by a thread.

"Don't push yourselves! Get them down the mountain—I'll handle her!" Haruto shouted over his shoulder. The barrage of leaves was nothing more than an annoyance to him, but to ordinary humans… No matter how skilled their evasive maneuvers, a single mistake amidst such an overwhelming attack would be fatal.

"Just a little longer… Just a little more time!"

Tengen's eyes narrowed, power building within them. His enhanced hearing and sight were fully focused, every sense heightened to the limit.

To him, the enemy's attacks were notes in a song—one that he was transcribing into his Score.

The Score was Tengen's unique combat formula, allowing him to analyze an opponent's movements, read their attack patterns, and map out their weaknesses. Once completed, every habit, every blind spot of the enemy would be laid bare before him.

All he needed… was time.

In the clearing, the colossal flower continued its deadly spin, pinning Haruto and the others in place.

Lower Rank Four seized the opportunity, lunging straight for Haruto.

All she had to do was kill this pretty-faced swordsman. The others? Not even worth mentioning.

Heh… If I kill the Demon Slayer who defeated Wakuraba, maybe Muzan-sama will finally notice me! Who knows? I might even be rewarded with more of his precious blood.

Even if Wakuraba died by his hand… What does that matter? 

"Come now, little swordsman! Enter my stomach—that's the greatest mercy I can offer you!"

Her face twisted with ecstasy as she lunged, claws glowing black, striking at Haruto's head.

Annoyed by the relentless leaves, Haruto slipped sideways, narrowly dodging her claws, before slicing out in a flash of steel.

CLANG!

Bloodied sprouts converged around Lower Rank Four, forming a shield to block his strike.

Blood Demon Art: Wicked Sprout Aegis!

"Not bad for someone who's all bark and no bite…" Haruto muttered, his Nichirin blade sinking into the shield. There was no metallic clang—only the sickening squelch of flesh.

Lower Rank Four grunted, stumbling back. The crimson sprouts retreated into her body, and the spinning flower ceased its attack, burrowing back underground.

With the suppression lifted, Tengen let out a breath of relief. In his eyes, the enemy's movements were syncing perfectly with his Score.

But Lower Rank Four's expression darkened. That shield—her Wicked Sprout Aegis—had been created from the flesh and blood of countless humans she had devoured. Yet this swordsman had nearly shattered it in a single strike.

How?

Even in battles against Hashira-level swordsmen, her shield had never been so easily damaged.

But this white-haired boy… he moved through her spinning leaves as if they were nothing, striking with the calm precision of a veteran warrior.

A chill ran down her spine. For the first time, the thought of escape flashed through her mind.

If "Muzan-sama finds out about this…

Her heart seized at the thought. If "he" learned of her failure, survival would be out of the question.

Haruto watched her shift uneasily, but he didn't let up.

The Lower Moons no longer posed much of a threat to him. Ever since defeating Wakuraba, his control over his breathing techniques and swordsmanship had reached new heights. If he faced her again, it wouldn't be nearly as messy as last time.

Haruto stomped the ground, launching himself toward her. Dust scattered from the impact as his body closed the distance.

His blade cut through the air, trailing streaks of blue-violet light, his chest swelling with star-like energy that brought a cool, minty clarity to his mind.

Her eyes widened as his form flickered.

That flash again… That damn flash!

Her head snapped to the side just as Haruto's voice murmured softly in her ear.

"Breath of the Stars, Second Form…"

The air chilled, as though every star in the sky had become a shard of ice.

"Orbiting Stars."

The blade's touch was deceptively gentle, its passage through her limbs no more painful than a mosquito bite.

What is this? A mistake? Pity?

Her heart raced as she stumbled back, opening her arms as if to embrace him.

"Dodge!" Tengen shouted, his voice carrying across the battlefield.

Lower Rank Four's movements now danced on the lines of Tengen's completed Score.

Haruto heard the warning and sprang backward with a burst of Orbiting Stars.

From the holes in her chest, her mouth, and beneath her clothes, a flood of crimson tendrils burst out like cannon fire, tearing through the space where Haruto had stood moments ago.

Blood Demon Art: Devouring Growth!

But she'd missed.

Lower Rank Four blinked, her expression blank as pain shot through her limbs.

No mistake. No mercy.

The burning agony raced through her body like a wildfire, creeping toward her neck.

For the first time, a primal panic clawed at her mind.

With her life hanging by a thread, Lower Rank Four made a desperate choice.

Before the blade's energy could sever her neck entirely, she wrenched off her own head.

BOOM! A shockwave erupted as her body exploded, scattering debris.

But her severed head—eyes streaming blood—shot into the sky like a comet, carried by blood-red sprouts that cocooned it as it fled into the night.

"Hey!" Tengen bellowed, hurling his dual blades with all his strength. They struck true, embedding themselves into her escaping head, but she vanished before he could stop her.

"That bastard took my blades!" Tengen fumed, stomping the ground in frustration. "Do you have any idea how much effort went into crafting those? They're the weapons of the god of festivals, you thieving wench!"

Haruto stared after her for a moment, his blade still humming with residual energy.

A Lower Rank fleeing—headless but alive—would need a long time to recover her strength. Until then, vigilance would be key. He'd have to warn Kagaya Ubuyashiki before the new year to prevent further chaos.

With a sigh, Haruto turned back.

Standing beside him, as glittering and gaudy as ever, Tengen grinned, his energy seemingly limitless.

"Well now, my dazzling friend, that was truly spectacular. I am Tengen, the God of Festivals! And you, my dear comrade, have my eternal gratitude."