The fourth individual shocked by Horitake's sudden intervention was, of course, the culprit lurking in the distance—the one who had loosed that lethal arrow.
Watching his "sure-kill" shot being caught barehanded sent a jolt of pure ice through his heart. His composure shattered instantly.
How is this possible!? Someone actually caught my ultimate assassination arrow? Who is this guy!? Where was he hiding!? How did he just... appear?
Then, he noticed the flickering arcs of purple lightning dancing across the man's frame. A realization dawned on him.
Wait... that purple lightning. Could it be...
It had to be him. The Sky Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, their strongest combatant—Horitake. He was the man Lord Muzan had marked for death above all others.
The demon hadn't expected to run into such a dangerous monster here.
But it doesn't matter, the culprit thought, regaining a sliver of confidence after the initial shock. As long as I keep my distance, I have a chance. Even if I can't kill him, I can certainly make a clean escape.
Horitake stood protectively in front of Shinobu. The surging purple electricity around him began to settle into a low, menacing hum.
Though he was consumed by a white-hot fury, he appeared unnervingly calm. Yet, those who knew him understood that the quieter he became, the deeper his rage burned. At this moment, his indignation was beyond the reach of words.
Behind him, Shinobu Kocho felt her heart hammering against her ribs, a lingering chill of death still clinging to her skin.
Saved at the precipice of disaster, she gazed at Horitake's back. It felt incomparably reliable, as if those shoulders were broad enough to hold up the very heavens. She let out a long, shaky breath, the weight of a near-death experience finally hitting her.
That sensation of being targeted for assassination hadn't been a delusion. If Horitake hadn't arrived exactly when he did to intercept that arrow, her chances of survival would have been slim to none.
As she looked up at him again, she keenly sensed the repressed volcano within him. His anger had been pushed to its absolute limit; he was a keg of gunpowder waiting for a single spark.
Without a second thought, Shinobu reached out and wrapped her arms around Horitake from behind.
What was the emotion behind that embrace?
Was it the lingering fear of the narrow escape? The terror of being separated from him by death? Or was she trying to offer him some semblance of comfort?
Shinobu didn't quite know herself. She only knew she wanted to hold him, so she did—clinging to him tightly.
A few paces away, Kanao Tsuyuri finally snapped out of her daze.
Master Horitake appeared... he saved Shinobu-nee-san! But where is the enemy? Why can't I see them?
Feeling the warmth of Shinobu's embrace against his back, the inferno in Horitake's chest steadied slightly. The erupting volcano was forced back into a temporary dormancy.
His eyes remained fixed on the arrow gripped in his hand.
This was the thing. This was the tool that had nearly taken Shinobu away from him.
Suddenly, the situation shifted.
The seemingly mundane arrow in Horitake's hand began to writhe. Like living tissue, it pulsed and mutated, transforming into a snake-like organism that coiled rapidly around his arm.
It didn't stop there. The arrowhead split open down the middle like a serpent's maw, revealing rows of tiny, needle-sharp teeth. With a vicious snap, it lunged for Horitake's wrist, intent on tearing away a hunk of flesh.
Horitake let out a cold snort. A flash of purple lightning surged through his arm.
Crackle!
The arrow was instantly incinerated, reduced to nothingness by the electrical discharge.
Both Horitake and Shinobu, who was still holding him, realized the truth simultaneously: the assassin was a demon—one with a highly specialized Blood Demon Art, and likely one of formidable strength.
Horitake looked toward the horizon, his Spirit Vision pushed to its absolute limit.
Enhancing his sight, his gaze pierced through the layers of darkness, branches, and leaves. He locked onto a figure standing atop a distant tree.
The creature had blue skin, savage fangs, and two horns protruding from its forehead. Its body was covered in strange, yellow markings. It was, without question, a demon.
In its left hand, it gripped a massive, masterfully crafted longbow.
Upon closer inspection, the bow seemed to pulse with a faint, fleshy rhythm. It, too, was a product of the demon's Blood Demon Art.
However, what truly triggered Horitake's killing intent were the characters etched into the demon's eyes:
Upper Rank Five.
There was no doubt about it. This was the "big fish" the System quest had mentioned—the one he was supposed to lure out.
The situation tonight had grown complicated. Whether he had successfully "lured" it was debatable, but the fish that had bitten the hook was certainly a heavy hitter.
Unfortunately, Horitake had assumed the camouflaged demon they encountered earlier was the bait. He never intended for Shinobu to become the lure. To be the bait was to be in danger of being swallowed by the predator.
But fate had taken a different turn.
Horitake took a deep, steadying breath and spoke in a level voice.
"It's Upper Rank Five."
Shinobu reluctantly let go of him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Upper Rank Five? Gyokko? Didn't you already kill him?"
Horitake shook his head. "It's not Gyokko. It's a new demon I've never seen before. Likely a replacement Muzan found to fill the vacancy after Gyokko's death."
Though it was a "new" demon, the title of Upper Rank still carried immense weight. Shinobu felt a surge of tension and concern.
The enemy, however, gave them no time for worry.
Through his Spirit Vision, Horitake saw the new Upper Rank Five flash a malicious grin. Standing atop his distant perch, the demon waved his hand. Flesh and bone surged and knitted together, manifesting into a fresh arrow.
The demon notched the arrow and drew the bowstring back with terrifying strength. The massive bow flexed into a perfect crescent moon.
TWANG!
The bowstring roared. The arrow was unleashed with violent force.
The nature of this shot was the polar opposite of the previous one.
The first had been a silent assassination bolt—a smooth, soundless killer that slipped through the air unnoticed. It was the supernatural equivalent of a suppressed sniper round.
This shot, however, was a display of overwhelming power. It tore through the air with a savage boom, shattering the sound barrier. A massive shockwave rippled out from the shaft as it hurtled toward Horitake.
If the first was a sniper bullet, this was a rocket-propelled grenade.
The projectile pulverized every branch and leaf in its path, trailing a white streak of pressurized air as it aimed straight for the space between Horitake's eyes.
Horitake's expression turned grim. Without a word, the blade Weiguang cleared its scabbard in a flash of silver.
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