Demon Slayer: Guardian of the Forest

CLANG!

The sharp clash of steel echoed through the forest. Shinichi's pupils constricted as he noticed a pea-sized nick in the blade of his Nichirin Sword. By contrast, the rope armor on Taiping Saburo's arm bore only a faint mark.

Saburo sneered cruelly. Taking advantage of Shinichi's brief hesitation, he reached out and grabbed the blade of the Nichirin Sword with his massive hand. With a powerful tug, Shinichi was yanked forward, pulled directly into Saburo's looming figure.

Sensing danger, Shinichi let go of the sword and quickly curled his fingers. Black claws extended from his nails in a flash, slashing towards Saburo's face.

CLINK!

Unsurprisingly, Shinichi's attack was effortlessly blocked once again. Thanks to his impenetrable rope armor, Saburo could virtually ignore Shinichi's efforts while launching his own relentless assault. His blows were brutish, open-handed, and devastatingly strong. Though not exceptionally fast, each strike carried overwhelming power, forcing Shinichi into a frantic struggle to dodge.

And Saburo wasn't alone. His deadly rope traps and spiked flails lurked nearby, weaving and striking like venomous serpents.

Suddenly—SQUELCH!

A rope pierced Shinichi's thigh, momentarily halting his movements.

CRACK!

A sharp, sickening snap followed. Scalding hot blood sprayed through the air. Shinichi's eyes widened in shock, veins bulging across his face. Looking down, he saw Saburo's massive arm had pierced clean through his chest.

Acting on pure instinct, Shinichi raised both hands and gripped Saburo's arm tightly, preventing him from pulling out.

"Stubborn brat," Saburo growled, his voice laced with morbid curiosity. "Tell me, what drives you to make such reckless choices? What gives you the audacity to face me?"

Blood gushed from Shinichi's mouth, painting his fangs crimson. Despite the agony, he raised his head and grinned—a vicious, blood-streaked grin. "Revenge," he hissed. "To destroy you monsters. To leave none alive. And that includes Muzan Kibutsuji!"

The instant Saburo heard that name, his golden eyes shrank in abject terror. An involuntary shudder ran through him as he tightened his grip on Shinichi.

CRACK!

Saburo roared in rage and disbelief, ripping apart most of Shinichi's chest in one brutal motion. Blood splattered everywhere, drenching the ground.

"How dare you!? HOW DARE YOU SPEAK HIS NAME?!" Saburo's voice shook with fury and panic. It was unthinkable—how could a mere demon, unaffiliated with the Twelve Kizuki, invoke that name without being cursed?

"Enough!" he bellowed. "Die, wretch!"

He lunged at Shinichi, still clutching the Nichirin Sword.

ROAR!

THUD!

Out of nowhere, Junbo, the loyal little demon dog, charged forward, smashing into Saburo mid-strike and forcing him back. But in an instant, Saburo's wrath descended upon him. With a single, furious swing of the blade, Junbo was sliced in two.

"No!" Shinichi's voice rasped, hoarse with anguish.

Saburo barely had time to catch his breath before a streak of green flashed behind him.

"Breath of the Forest: Third Form—Thorn Strike!"

SLASH!

A Nichirin Sword pierced through Saburo's indestructible rope armor, eliciting a guttural scream. "You filthy pests!" Saburo howled. "Why won't you just die!?" He swung his sword backward violently.

But Old Man Morimoto—seasoned and determined—refused to let this rare opportunity go to waste. Despite the blade biting deep into his shoulder, he gripped his own Nichirin Sword with iron resolve. A green glow surrounded the weapon, radiating life energy.

"Breath of the Forest: Second Form—Willow of Vitality!"

The blade pulsed with vibrant energy as verdant branches sprouted from Saburo's wounds, growing and spreading rapidly. At the same time, Saburo's immense strength seemed to ebb away, his regeneration slowing unnaturally.

"What the hell is this?!" Saburo roared in panic, clawing at the branches that siphoned his power. But the more he struggled, the denser the foliage became, rendering him unable to heal.

A bead of sweat dripped down Saburo's forehead. Glancing up, he noticed the moon sinking lower in the sky. Dawn was approaching.

"No," he muttered. "I can't stay here. I have to escape!"

Without hesitation, Saburo turned and fled, clutching his wound as he leaped through the forest. His monstrous physique allowed him to cover great distances in a single bound.

But he had underestimated Shinichi's fury.

WHOOSH!

A Nichirin Sword tore through the air like a thunderbolt. Before Saburo could fully react, the blade pierced his throat, the sheer force driving him backward.

THUNK!

He was pinned against an ancient tree, the sword embedding itself deep into the bark. Blood gushed from the wound as Saburo gurgled, his golden eyes filled with shock.

Not far away, Shinichi stood panting heavily, his body trembling. His crimson eyes blazed with unrelenting rage. His tattered clothes revealed his mutilated chest, where flesh and organs wriggled grotesquely as they struggled to heal.

"You... bastard," Shinichi growled, his voice a guttural rasp. "What did you... do... to my Junbo!?"

Despite his grievous injuries, Shinichi's anger burned hotter than the pain. In the distance, Junbo lay broken, his life slipping away. The little dog had been Shinichi's only companion, his sole source of solace since becoming a demon.

Saburo, clutching the sword in his throat, locked eyes with Shinichi. He committed the young demon's enraged visage to memory before, with an inhuman snarl, he began to pull the blade free.

"You'll regret this, Shinichi," Saburo hissed, his voice a low, menacing growl.

To be continued...