CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108: LOWER ONE’S DESPERATE SITUATION!

"...Do you have some misunderstanding about the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Tengen listened to the words from the mouth on the wall, a scornful smile spreading across his face. "Since when have we ever negotiated with demons?"

As his words faded, another blade fell.

Despite his harsh words, Tengen’s strikes were remarkably measured.

Two crucial points demanded attention:

First, the demon’s neck remained concealed. No matter how many blows he landed, they could only inflict damage, not deliver the killing blow.

Second, with each strike, Tengen meticulously observed the wall’s structure. If an opportunity arose, he would immediately breach it and slay the demon from within.

Naturally, he wouldn’t reveal his true intentions to the demon. His outward demeanor projected unwavering resolve: "Better to shatter like jade than remain whole as earthenware!"

Meanwhile, within the confined space behind the wall, the demon whose eyes bore the inscription "Lower One" gradually contorted into a grotesque grimace.

Tengen’s every strike landed on him, the wounds themselves not severe, yet they stubbornly refused to heal.

Moreover, the woman he’d expected to dispatch quickly showed no signs of weakening. Worse still, she seemed to have seen through something! Her expression had grown increasingly resolute.

"This can’t go on!"

His expression darkened further. The moment the thought crossed his mind, another bloody gash appeared on his shoulder. He frowned. "Where did that woman go? The trash has already been killed, so why hasn’t she finished off the blacksmith yet? I’m barely holding on here!"

The strength of his Blood Demon Art naturally had its limits. Otherwise, how could Kanae have exposed his weakness?

Left with no other choice, he had transformed the world within the walls into a gladiatorial arena. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to trap her by layering rooms upon rooms?

But because Kanae had nearly shattered the rooms completely, they had devolved into this chaotic state.

Moreover, even the Demons of this world had all evolved from his Blood Demon Art.

The claim of one hundred and eight "clouds" was nothing but a lie.

His combat style had always been the same: deceive whenever possible. Once an opponent hesitated or showed fear in their words, they would inevitably fall into his fatal trap.

Unfortunately, Kanae’s resolve remained unwavering from beginning to end. Not only did she show no hesitation or fear, but his Blood Demon Art was rapidly approaching its limit.

When both his internal and external defenses collapsed simultaneously, his annihilation would be complete.

Indeed, his claim that Kanae would perish along with the collapsing space if his Blood Demon Art were broken was yet another lie.

The inevitable outcome was that Kanae would return to the real world, while he himself would be expelled from the walls.

The fatal flaw in his Blood Demon Art was this: once a living person was contained within, he became completely immobile.

’The reason I captured Zenitsu earlier was because Kanae had proven too difficult to subdue. I planned to use him as a hostage.’

’But before the hostage could serve its purpose, Tengen stormed in. In a matter of moments, the hostage was lost, my cover was blown, and I found myself in this desperate situation!’

With that thought, he suddenly closed his eyes.

At this critical moment, a decision had to be made!

The next instant, Kanae, who had been relentlessly cutting down demons, noticed the surrounding space beginning to shrink.

The demons before her vanished like fleeting shadows. Simultaneously, darkness enveloped her vision. When light returned, she saw a blade hurtling toward her face.

However, the blade was clearly controlled. The moment it registered her presence, it retracted immediately.

"Sound Pillar!"

Kanae recognized the figure instantly, her expression darkening slightly. "No! He’s trying to escape!"

There was no way he would throw himself out like that without a reason!

During her previous battles against demons within the spatial realm, Kanae had noticed that while the demons initially possessed distinct appearances, as she continued to slay them, demons with identical forms began to appear with increasing frequency.

What kind of person was Kanae?

The gentle and intelligent girl immediately understood what was happening.

Instead of rushing to expose the truth, she realized that while she was fighting these so-called "demons," she was actually battling the master of the Blood Demon Art itself.

Slaying these "demons" was also weakening Lower One!

Victory was merely a matter of time.

She never expected to be suddenly ejected from the realm. Seeing the Sound Pillar, she knew Lower One must have faced some insurmountable crisis, forcing him to cast her out.

Facing two Pillars simultaneously, he must already be contemplating retreat!

As these thoughts coalesced in her mind, the words "He’s going to run!" burst from her lips.

As her words fell, so did her sword. With a sudden twist, the blade pierced the wall with a *clang*!

There was no hesitation in her strike.

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the air as something vanished from the wall, impaled by the blade.

"Outside!"

The Sound Pillar’s ears twitched, catching the sound.

He immediately turned and leaped out the window, Kanae hot on his heels.

The moment they emerged, they saw the Demon, its mouth dripping with blood and its body riddled with wounds, its earlier swagger completely gone. It was fleeing frantically toward a nearby boulder.

"That’s its true form! We can’t let it get inside!"

By now, both the Sound Pillar and Kanae understood the Demon’s abilities. Walls, trees, rocks—any of these could serve as its refuge. Once it burrowed inside, it could escape swiftly through some unknown means.

But it was too late to stop him. Just as panic set in, a blood-soaked figure burst from the forest, a Nichirin Blade glowing with an eerie crimson light in his hand!

The figure leaped into the air, the red blade light dancing in a whirling arc.

Lower One, had also sprung up at that moment, attempting to charge through the stone barrier.

The two collided mid-air. The whirling blade light belonged to Sosuke!

Sun Breathing—Third Form: Comet’s Dance!

Like a comet dragging its tail, all the force and momentum concentrated at the blade’s tip. In a split-second rotation, it unleashed a vast crimson blade aura. A single downward slash meant certain death!

Lower One, was still Lower One. Though he had been forced from his domain, with pursuers at his back and an attack before him, his already bloodshot eyes burned even more fiercely. With a furious roar, countless arms erupted from his front and back, lunging for Sosuke!

The instant blade met flesh, a crimson spray filled the air. Both combatants landed simultaneously.

This strike didn’t kill the Demon, but it perfectly stopped its escape.

When it landed, Sosuke stood before it, while the Sound Pillar and Flower Pillar flanked it from behind. Lower Moon One faced three opponents simultaneously, two of whom were Pillars!

Suddenly, it felt like crying.