16 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

The blade failed to sever the thick neck bone, but with a deft flick of her fingers, Shinobu injected a massive dose of poison into Kyouka's body.

"Hgh…"

Kyouka's graceful composure crumbled as the poison rapidly spread from the wound on her neck, leaving dark streaks across her pale skin. Veins bulged on her face, and her once-serene eyes filled with bloodshot rage.

"Damn swordsman!" she spat, shaking the bell in her hand. The soundwaves rippled outward like a hammer's blow, crashing into Shinobu and sending her flying backward.

"Urgh!" The frail girl slammed into a tree, coughing up blood as she hit the ground.

"You're filthy inside, unworthy of those pure eyes on your face!"

With a roar, Kyouka lunged forward, claws poised to gouge Shinobu's eyes.

Bang!

A deafening gunshot echoed through the forest.

Genya had closed the distance without anyone noticing. His rifle barked as he fired, shattering Kyouka's claws just before they reached Shinobu.

The demon whipped her head around, only for Genya to ram the still-hot barrel into her eye socket.

Boom!

Blood sprayed as the shot exploded her head into a grotesque mess. The elegant woman was reduced to a headless, rotting corpse.

But Genya's bullets, lacking the Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand, couldn't burn her body. He quickly retreated, though not fast enough to avoid her claw. It raked across his chest, tearing his robe and leaving three deep gashes.

"Damn it, that hurts!" Genya swore, clutching his rifle. He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling over.

Why can't I master a Breathing Style?

If I could, one strike would've sent her straight to hell!

"You're no swordsman," Kyouka sneered, her wounds writhing grotesquely as mouths began to form. "Someone who can't even use a Breathing Style is just—"

"Shut up!" Genya barked, veins bulging as his bloodshot eyes locked onto hers. Sweat dripped from his buzzed scalp as he unloaded every remaining bullet in his rifle.

"Mind your own damn business! Breathing or no breathing, I can still blow your head clean off!"

Kyouka's head regrew, and she glared at the holes in her body with mounting fury.

"I've never seen someone as crude and vulgar as you! It's impossible to have a proper conversation!"

"Conversation?" Genya scoffed, sliding into cover behind the bushes as he reloaded. "I don't talk to animals—especially not mangy ones like you!"

Shinobu, struggling to steady her breathing, glanced at him. Her vision swam, a lingering effect of Kyouka's Blood Demon Art.

Wow… Genya's really good at trash-talking. Who would've thought?

Kyouka's chest heaved as her façade of gentleness shattered completely. Poison coursed through her veins, slowing her regeneration.

But what does it matter?

Her rage reached a boiling point. With a snarl, she wrapped her blood-red threads around her kimono, the white fabric darkening into the color of autumn leaves stained with blood. Her sharp fangs glinted as she bared her teeth.

Without needing the bell, the sound of her steps alone now unleashed waves of dizziness.

This is who she truly was—an insatiable demon who had devoured countless humans.

Her wooden sandals made no sound as she propelled herself forward, swift as a sparrow, closing in on Genya.

"Genya, dodge!" Shinobu shouted, clutching her Browning pistol.

Bang!

A single shot rang out, piercing Kyouka's body and injecting even more wisteria poison into her.

"Blood Demon Art!"

A high-pitched screech tore through the air.

Genya's teeth chattered as fear rooted him in place.

No! Stop it, Genya! Don't give in to fear. You hate demons! Tear them apart! Devour them if you have to!

Above, the heavy clouds began to part. Kyouka's eyes narrowed.

Damn it, the sun…

She couldn't stay here any longer. If the sunlight touched her, it was over.

Shinobu fired again, the gunshots startling the birds from the trees. Her trembling hands reached for spare bullets.

"Enough of this… annoying pest!" Kyouka growled, her patience snapping. She turned, blood threads tightening between her and Shinobu's wrist.

"Too noisy. Just die already."

Shinobu's violet eyes lost their spark. She turned the pistol toward her own temple.

"Shinobu!"

The others screamed as they rushed forward to stop her, but Kyouka flung them back with a flick of her wrist.

"You're lucky to face me during the day," Kyouka mocked, retreating toward the shadows. "If it were night, I'd—"

Click.

Shinobu pulled the trigger, but the empty chamber only made a dull sound.

Kyouka smirked, but her expression twisted as Genya sneered from behind a bush.

"You idiot. Guns don't work without bullets. Didn't know that, huh?"

She glared at him, veins pulsing with rage.

"Damn brat!"

Just as she prepared to strike, a small plum flew from behind and struck Genya's wrist, knocking the gun from his hand.

"What the—?!"

A new voice cut through the chaos.

"Picking on my student and Shinobu, huh?" Haruto appeared, his misty blue eyes narrowing. "How many heads do you think I'll let you grow before I cut them all off?"

Shinobu, snapping out of her daze, gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly. With a shout, she plunged it into Kyouka's throat.

"Shut up… Just shut up!"