23 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

"Hey... you seem to know who I am."

The demon wiped the blood trickling down his lips with the back of his hand, revealing a set of razor-sharp fangs in a sinister grin.

His golden eyes locked onto Haruto with an almost drunken flush coloring his cheeks.

"Lower Rank Three…"

Haruto gripped the hilt of his Nichirin blade tightly, stepping back into a ready stance.

"Oh? So you've seen my eyes, huh?"

The demon's smile twisted unnaturally. He tugged down his lower eyelid with a playful, almost childlike motion, his expression mocking. "The name's Wakuraba, kid. Don't forget it."

With that, he thrust his palm downward. Haruto rolled out of the way just in time as the grass beneath him withered into ash.

Blood Demon Art!

So, every demon's Blood Demon Art reflects their name…

Wakuraba didn't seem fazed by the missed attack. Instead, he pressed forward, his movements growing faster. Haruto dodged and leapt, but one wrong step left the tip of his sandal grazing the decayed vegetation. The sole began to corrode instantly.

Haruto's expression remained calm as he launched himself forward with a powerful kick off the ground.

Star Breathing: First Form—Shimmering Tears!

Haruto became a blur, his blade flashing as it sliced through the air toward Wakuraba. The speed of the attack rivaled that of Thunder Breathing's Thunderclap and Flash, aiming for a swift and precise strike.

But this time, Haruto encountered a true challenge.

His blade met no resistance—no sensation of cutting flesh or bone. Alarm shot through him as he twisted midair to launch the attack again.

Wakuraba let out a surprised grunt and leapt onto a nearby tree branch with effortless agility. In his hand, a clawed gauntlet glinted with a sinister black sheen. Coupled with the scars crisscrossing his face and his speed, it was clear—Wakuraba had been a ninja in his human life.

"Not bad, kid. Are you a Hashira?" Wakuraba tilted his head, then shook it. "Nah. I've eaten plenty of Hashira before, and none of them were this weak."

Haruto's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If I hadn't just feasted on a delicious meal," Wakuraba said with a mocking grin, "your limbs would already be broken, and you'd be squirming on the ground like a worm."

His unnervingly long tongue flicked across his lips. "Let's continue!"

Before Haruto could react, Wakuraba lunged at him, claws slashing. Haruto barely managed to block with his blade, sparks flying as metal met metal.

Haruto countered with a spinning kick aimed at Wakuraba's face. The demon somersaulted back, retaliating with another Decay strike. Haruto dodged and retaliated with:

Star Breathing: Second Form—Scattered Sparks!

A flurry of starlight engulfed Wakuraba, spreading from his clawed hand to his chest before detonating in a brilliant explosion.

Blood sprayed onto the forest floor, releasing a foul stench.

Wakuraba flew backward, using a tree branch to halt his momentum. He glanced at the gaping hole in his chest. The flesh wriggled and knit itself back together in moments.

"Flashy, but pointless," he sneered. "You do know demons only die if you cut off their heads, right?"

Haruto gritted his teeth. Usually, this technique left even powerful demons with fatal injuries. But against Wakuraba, it barely left a scratch.

"Tch… the Twelve Kizuki aren't just rumors," Haruto muttered.

Wakuraba smirked, leaping into the air with his claws extended. "New generation of Demon Slayers, huh? Pathetic!"

Haruto dove to the side, but Wakuraba's next move was unexpected—he raised his palm upward.

Blood Demon Art: Growth!

A twisted tree erupted from the ground where Haruto was about to land, its branches coated in purplish-black leaves.

"Damn it!" Haruto twisted his body midair, but a branch still pierced his shoulder with ease.

The tree began siphoning his blood, feeding it directly back into Wakuraba. Haruto sliced through the branch with his blade, but the severed wood clung stubbornly to his shoulder.

Wakuraba's movements slowed slightly, his drunken expression growing more pronounced.

This is my chance…

Wakuraba chuckled, his voice slurred. "Drunk… but your blood… your blood… ah, it's divine…"

Ignoring the pain, Haruto readied himself. His breathing steadied as he raised his blade, channeling all his remaining energy into a single strike.

The stars above dimmed as an ethereal glow surrounded Haruto. Behind him, a constellation lit up like a map, and a crescent moon rose over Wakuraba's head.

Star Breathing: Ninth Form—Fallen Moon!

Wakuraba's instincts screamed danger. Despite his haze, he summoned a massive tree, its gnarled branches stretching toward Haruto.

Blood Demon Art: Embrace of the Forest!

The enormous tree collided with Haruto, who braced himself with every ounce of strength. His blade spun from his hands in a desperate gamble.

Wakuraba sneered—until he realized his vision was tilting.

"Guh…" His head hit the ground with a dull thud, separated cleanly from his body.

Haruto's spinning blade had done its job, burying itself into a tree behind Wakuraba.

The demon's body erupted in flames as Haruto collapsed to the ground, his vision fading.

I… I did it. I killed a Twelve Kizuki…

Through his haze, Haruto smiled weakly. "Master… Sabito… Giyuu… someone… anyone… come see me…"

And with that, he passed out.