CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: MISUNDERSTANDING

Kanae wasn’t the only one who felt the sensation of being watched.

Sosuke also experienced a sudden, inexplicable unease.

In the next instant, he set Kanae down and casually retrieved the hammer-sword from his back.

Indeed, even on a casual stroll, Sosuke carried this massive hammer.

Its advantage lay in its versatility: a weapon in combat, and when not in use, it served as a weighted training tool when carried on his back.

As the hammer settled into his grip, a warm sensation flowed into his heart. He patted Kanae’s hand and said, "Keep an eye out for me."

Kanae glanced at him, understanding his intentions, and nodded.

Sosuke pushed off the ground, his figure darting forward, Kanae close behind.

Moving deeper into the forest, one behind the other, Sosuke caught sight of a figure in the flickering light.

The figure seemed to notice them too, and without a word, a blade of light erupted from its hand.

Sosuke’s irises nearly constricted to pinpoints.

Human or demon?

Hiding furtively in this light-obscured forest, it was clearly no benevolent being.

While it was possible the figure was human, the odds were slim. Even if human, they were certainly no good person.

Considering the worst-case scenario, it could be a demon hiding from the sunlight within the forest!

Among demons, few wielded swords. The only one Sosuke knew was Upper Rank One—Kokushibo!

Kokushibo, originally named Tsugikuni Michikatsu, was the elder brother of Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the martial arts apex of the Demon Slayer world.

His power was terrifying, and after becoming a demon, his ferocity became unparalleled. If this figure truly was Kokushibo, survival today would be nearly impossible.

This realization caused Sosuke’s pupils to dilate instantly, turning crimson.

His mind raced frantically, searching for a countermeasure.

’The only advantage I have is that it’s daytime. The enemy can’t leave this forest!’

The thought flashed through his mind, instantly clarifying his focus. His previously cautious movements accelerated sharply. He had to strike immediately, and as he did, warn Kanae to flee the forest. She could use the sunlight to annihilate the enemy.

In that instant, he had already accepted his death.

There was no other choice. If the enemy truly was Kokushibo, his current strength would mean certain death in an instant.

His only hope was that Kanae wouldn’t lose her composure upon his death, remember his warning, and do everything possible to survive!

The moment his thoughts ceased, he pushed off the ground with explosive force, his body launching upward. His right hand gripped the sword, which spun in a dazzling arc through the air.

Sun Breathing—Third Form: Comet Dance!

Kyojuro’s hellish training had led Sosuke to develop his third hammer technique: the Comet Waltz!

This move involved striking from mid-air, the hammer tracing a unique trajectory like a dancing comet. Any contact would inevitably result in catastrophic consequences.

Yet now, as he unleashed this technique, Sosuke was merely fighting for his life.

The blade light across from him suddenly exploded. Sosuke, mid-swing, sensed something was amiss.

Simultaneously, a thunderous roar seemed to erupt in his mind, and an indescribably subtle sensation flooded his heart.

Instantly, the hammer dancing in mid-air shifted direction. The arc it had been tracing transformed into a straight, vertical descent!

Boom!

The hammer crashed down like a thunderclap.

Hammer and blade collided violently.

In that instant, a voice echoed in Sosuke’s mind:

[Durability -999]

The blade split in two as if cleaved by a razor-sharp edge. The remaining force surged past the blade, and the hammer struck the shadowy figure squarely in the chest.

A cracking sound echoed as the figure spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.

With a clang, the figure slammed into a tree trunk, twitched once on the ground, and then lay still.

"..."

Sosuke landed, his eyes still dazed.

Only now did his eyes gradually adjust to the dim light of the forest. He glanced at Kanae beside him, whose face also wore an expression of shock.

"Not a Demon," she said.

Sosuke felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

Not a Demon?

If it wasn’t a Demon, why did it attack them?

If it wasn’t a Demon, what caused the earlier palpitations?

But these questions seemed unimportant for now. The crucial question was: who exactly was this person?

In truth, halfway through the strike, Sosuke had suddenly realized that the opponent’s speed wasn’t as overwhelming as he had initially thought.

If it were Kokushibo, his meticulously honed swordsmanship would never appear so strained.

His strikes would be as swift as lightning, each movement a thunderous instant, imbued with unwavering resolve and lethal intent.

While this person’s swordsmanship also carried undisguised malice, the killing intent was insufficient.

It was precisely this deficiency that prompted Sosuke to alter his hammer technique, transforming the Third Form into a direct, vertical strike. Simultaneously, that familiar sensation—as if he could perceive the opponent’s weaknesses—surged through his mind, allowing him to shatter the enemy’s weapon in a single blow.

Though he had already retracted most of his force, the remaining momentum still struck the opponent’s chest.

The iron hammer was massive and its weight immense. While such a blow might be manageable against a demon, against a human, it could prove fatal.

And so, it had ended up in its current state!

Realizing this, the two quickly approached the man.

Blood gushed from his mouth, and one leg still twitched. Kanae felt around his chest and said, "Sternum... ribs... hmm, in short, a whole section of bones is broken. The internal organs are likely damaged, but since no organ fragments are coming out of his mouth, the problem shouldn’t be too severe. Let’s get him out of here and assess him properly back at headquarters. Hmm... this man’s physical constitution seems far from ordinary."

Kanae didn’t need to point it out.

Having already adjusted his eyes to the dim light of the forest, Sosuke had recognized the man’s identity.

He immediately regretted holding back his strength earlier.

He should have just smashed the bastard’s head in with his hammer!

Kaigaku!

Another disciple of Jigoro, and Zenitsu’s senior.

It was precisely because this grandson had fallen into demonhood that Jigoro was forced to commit seppuku as an act of atonement.

After recognizing the man, Sosuke finally understood why he had suddenly attacked him and Kanae.

This guy had an extremely twisted personality. He probably just saw them as intruders and decided to teach them a lesson.

But a series of misunderstandings led to Sosuke being hammered into the ground, unable to move.

Though his mind raced with conflicting thoughts, Sosuke ultimately sighed and hoisted the man onto his back.

He couldn’t say what the future held, but he couldn’t let this guy die here. He hadn’t even joined the Demon Slayer Corps yet, and he’d already become a murderer. Sosuke refused to let that happen.

Just minutes after Sosuke and Kanae left the forest, a crimson eye suddenly snapped open from a tree branch!