Demon Slayer: Taking Care Of Tanjuro's Wife And Daughter

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The mountain winds howled, carrying with them an eerie chill that seemed to seep into the bones of all who walked the forest. Among the twisted trees, a group of demons, once brimming with bloodlust, now found themselves trembling with unease. They were the hunters, but tonight, the tables had turned.

Crack!

A meteor hammer swung with deadly precision, its chain glinting under the pale moonlight. The heavy iron ball crashed into the skull of a demon, shattering bone and splattering gore across the forest floor. The stench of blood mixed with the crisp night air.

Ryuji's stomach churned at the sight. No matter how many demons he'd slain, he still wasn't entirely immune to the visceral reality of combat.

"Master Gyoumei," Ryuji muttered, glancing at the towering figure beside him, "you're as brutal as ever."

Himejima Gyoumei, a hulking figure clad in a dark haori, clasped his hands together in a solemn prayer. "Sin…" he whispered, before hefting his massive weapon—a hybrid of a broadaxe and a flail. Without hesitation, he strode forward, his Nichirin Blades gleaming with a faint crimson hue.

Gyoumei's attacks were devastating. Each swing of his weapon brought obliteration. One demon lunged at him, claws outstretched, only to be caught mid-leap by the spinning hammer. Its head exploded in a grotesque spray of red and white.

"Such wretched creatures," Gyoumei muttered, his deep voice tinged with grim satisfaction. "No matter how many I kill, the hatred never fades."

Ryuji felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched Gyoumei work. Despite his experience, the elder slayer's sheer ferocity still unnerved him.

"Stay focused, Ryuji," he muttered to himself, gripping his own Nichirin Blade tightly.

A demon suddenly leaped from the shadows, aiming for Ryuji's throat. Reacting instinctively, he ducked and countered with a clean slash. The blade sang as it severed flesh and bone, decapitating the demon in one swift motion.

"Ding… Attribute points earned," a familiar, mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind. He barely paid it any attention.

On the other side of the clearing, Gyoumei was a whirlwind of destruction, his weapon cleaving through demon after demon. Blood splattered across his haori, but he moved with purpose, his expression a mix of rage and resolve.

The surviving demons began to scatter, their initial bravado replaced by fear.

"Split up and chase them?" Gyoumei asked, his voice steady despite the carnage.

Ryuji nodded. "Understood. Be careful."

"You as well." Gyoumei clasped his hands together again in prayer before dashing off in pursuit of a fleeing demon, his movements surprisingly swift for a man of his size.

Ryuji exhaled and adjusted his grip on his blade. "Let's do this," he muttered, before taking off after another demon.

The hunt was on.

The forest seemed to close in around him as he ran, the pale light of the moon barely filtering through the thick canopy. Ryuji's breaths were measured, steady, the rhythmic pattern of the Breath of the Sun guiding his every step. His senses were sharp, his mind honed to a singular purpose: to track and eliminate his target.

Broken branches and faint footprints marked the demon's trail. Despite the darkness, Ryuji's heightened awareness made it easy to spot the subtle signs. He moved with precision, his footsteps almost silent against the forest floor.

Finally, he caught sight of the demon—a hulking beast with grotesque horns and a twisted snarl. It turned, sensing his presence, and let out a guttural roar.

Ryuji didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his blade gleaming with the fiery hues of the Breath of the Sun. The demon swung a clawed hand at him, but Ryuji sidestepped gracefully, slashing through its arm in one fluid motion.

"Not fast enough," he said coldly, before driving his blade into the demon's neck. With a sharp twist, he severed its head, and the creature crumbled into ash.

Another mechanical voice echoed in his mind. "Ding… Attribute points earned."

Ryuji wiped his blade clean, glancing around the dark forest. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the faint echoes of Gyoumei's devastating attacks.

"As long as there are demons in this world," Ryuji muttered to himself, "we won't stop. Not until they're all gone."

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The evil demon panted heavily, his clawed feet pounding the forest floor. Each desperate step felt like a futile struggle against the inevitable. The once-proud predator was now prey, fleeing through the dark, moonlit woods. His companions were gone—slain by the relentless Nichirin Blades of the ghost hunters.

The thought alone made his scarlet eyes burn with fear.

"Hah… hah…" His breath came in ragged gasps as he ran. The monk—yes, that terrifying monk—had been left behind. If it were that monster chasing him, there wouldn't even be the illusion of hope. But this one… this one was younger, less ferocious. Perhaps there was still a chance.

Yet the sound of footsteps behind him shattered any lingering hope.

Tap, tap, tap.

The demon turned his head, his eyes wide with panic. Through the shadows, he saw his pursuer—Ryuji. His black haori billowed behind him as he sprinted, his blade glinting in the moonlight. Each step churned up dirt and fallen leaves, and the air seemed to shift with his approach.

"Damn it!" the demon hissed, his voice a guttural growl. Fear turned to desperation. He couldn't outrun this human any longer. Snarling, he skidded to a stop and spun around, his claws digging into the ground. His crimson eyes glared at the approaching figure, anger masking his terror.

Ryuji's steps slowed as he approached, his breath steady, his grip on the blood-red Nichirin Blade firm. His calm demeanor only deepened the demon's unease.

"Why… why won't you just die?!" the demon roared, baring his jagged teeth.

Ryuji's expression remained cold, unyielding. He raised his sword, its faint crimson glow illuminating the area around him. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves carried by the wind.

The demon let out a furious roar and lunged forward. His claws gleamed in the moonlight as they slashed toward Ryuji's chest, the force of the attack splitting the air with a sharp whistle.

But Ryuji didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, meeting the demon head-on. His blade moved with precision, its arc impossibly swift. The faint glow of the crimson steel blurred into a streak of red, cutting through the night like a thread of fire.

Swish.

The sound was almost imperceptible, as if the blade had passed through air. Ryuji landed lightly on the forest floor, crouched low with his blade still drawn. Behind him, the demon stumbled, his movements sluggish and disoriented.

For a brief moment, there was silence. Then—

Thud.

The demon's head fell to the ground, rolling a short distance before coming to a stop. A fountain of scarlet erupted from the severed neck, painting the earth in blood. The body swayed, lifeless, before collapsing in a heap.

Ryuji rose slowly, exhaling as he sheathed his blade. His movements were deliberate, his face calm despite the tension still lingering in the air.

"Ding… congratulations to the host," echoed the mechanical voice in his mind. "You killed an evil demon and gained 0.5 attribute points."

Ryuji barely acknowledged it, his eyes fixed on the blood-soaked ground.

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