The arrow loosed by the new Upper Rank Five tore through the sound barrier, erupting in a violent shockwave. It trailed a brilliant white streak through the midnight air, hurtling toward Horitake with unstoppable momentum.
Without a word, Horitake drew his prized blade, Weiguang, from its scabbard in a single, fluid motion.
"Sky Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
In an instant, a strike wreathed in purple lightning seemed to cleave through the very fabric of space. It flashed brilliantly in front of Horitake, meeting the incoming projectile with a thunderous boom that shattered the arrow into splinters.
The moment of impact unleashed a shower of sparks and a massive pressure wave that buffeted the surrounding trees.
Feeling the sheer force behind that single shot, Horitake confirmed his suspicion: this creature truly deserved the title of Upper Rank Five. It was on a completely different level than any ordinary demon.
Clutching Weiguang, Horitake stood calmly upon the high branch. Without turning around, he spoke to Shinobu and Kanao behind him.
"Shinobu-nee-san, Kanao—go deal with the demon lurking nearby. Leave this Upper Rank Five to me. Do not interfere in our fight."
Shinobu looked around, her expression one of pure confusion. "The demon nearby? Where? I don't see anyone."
Horitake reached out and flicked his finger. A bolt of purple lightning shot forth, striking a specific branch on a tree not far away.
Crackle!
Sparks flew as the branch was blasted apart by the electricity. As the wood splintered and leaves fell to the forest floor, the "branch" suddenly began to writhe with pulsing flesh. It morphed and grew, transforming into a female demon with blue skin and savage fangs.
Having taken damage from the lightning, the female demon spat out a mouthful of blood the moment she hit the ground. She shot a look of absolute terror at Horitake before turning on her heel to flee into the depths of the forest.
Shinobu and Kanao's eyes widened in realization.
That branch they had seen... it had been a demon in disguise all along!?
If they remembered correctly, they had both stepped on that very "branch" just moments ago!
With such masterful camouflage and stealth, there was no doubt—this was the same demon who had played the role of the Emperor back at the theater.
Thinking of this, a surge of humiliation washed over Shinobu. Her delicate brows furrowed, and a cold, burning rage ignited in her eyes as she drew her Nichirin Sword.
This insult would not go unpunished. She would have her revenge.
Furious, Shinobu signaled to Kanao, and the two of them vanished into the brush in hot pursuit.
As for the camouflaged demon? The moment she dived into the thicket, she transformed back into a nimble wildcat, darting through the undergrowth at high speed. However, in her panicked state, her movements were loud. Shinobu, fueled by rage, was able to track her scent and sound with ease, refusing to let her quarry escape.
Kanao followed closely behind her mentor, ready to provide support at a moment's notice.
The three of them quickly moved out of the immediate combat zone.
In the vast, shadowed silence of the woods, only Horitake and Upper Rank Five remained.
Though a significant distance separated them, both possessed extraordinary vision. Even through the gloom and the foliage, they could see each other with crystalline clarity.
Horitake could see because of his Spirit Vision.
The Upper Rank Five, meanwhile, seemed to owe his long-range perception to his Blood Demon Art. It made sense—a demon whose primary weapon was a bow would naturally possess eyes capable of extreme telescopic and night vision.
They watched each other from across the clearing, a heavy atmosphere settling between them—a strange, mutual recognition between two masters of their craft.
Horitake tightened his grip on Weiguang and permitted himself a small, cold smile.
"As a newly promoted Upper Rank Five, I assume you already recognize me. I won't bother introducing myself. However, this is the first time we've met. May I ask for your name?"
In the distance, the demon bared his fangs in a grotesque grin.
"I am a member of the Twelve Kizuki, serving directly under Lord Muzan. Upper Rank Five... Lie Shi."
Horitake nodded. "Lie Shi—the 'Hunting Arrow.' It seems your name and your Blood Demon Art are perfectly aligned."
He adjusted his stance, his aura beginning to flare. "Enough talk. Knowing your name is sufficient for your burial..."
Horitake wasted no more breath. He surged his Sky Thunder Breathing to its peak. Purple electrical arcs began to dance wildly across his body. With a sudden burst of speed that left an afterimage, he became a streak of violet light, charging directly toward the demon!
The terrifying velocity of the approach caught Lie Shi off guard.
"So this is the Great Enemy of our kind... what horrifying speed!"
Despite his words, Lie Shi's grin only widened. His hands moved in a blur. Flesh and bone surged within his grip, manifesting a new arrow in an instant. He notched it, drew the bowstring until the frame groaned, and—THWACK!—loosed the projectile.
This arrow was just as devastating as the last, carrying enough force to level a building.
Trailing a white cone of pressurized air, the arrow streaked toward the charging Horitake.
Without breaking his stride, Horitake channeled lightning into Weiguang. His eyes flashed with predatory focus. He swung the blade, sending a crescent of purple light upward.
BOOM!
The collision detonated the arrow mid-air.
But that was only the beginning.
Lie Shi began to retreat rapidly, leaping backward from branch to branch to maintain the gap. As he moved, he continued to draw and fire. One arrow, two, three—each one packed with incredible power, each one fired with rhythmic, machine-gun precision.
If a single arrow was like a rocket, this barrage was a literal MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) aimed directly at Horitake.
Seeing the sky fill with white streaks of death, Horitake's expression grew grim. He pushed his breathing technique to the limit.
"Sky Thunder Breathing, First Form: Seventy-Two Thunderclaps and Flashes!"
Horitake became a whirlwind of violet steel. In the span of a single heartbeat, he unleashed seventy-two consecutive strikes. Each slash was a bolt of lightning that intercepted and detonated an incoming arrow.
The forest was illuminated by the strobing purple light of his blade and the fiery orange explosions of the shattered arrows.
Horitake continued to press forward, hacking through the barrage. However, there was a problem. While he was faster than Lie Shi, the necessity of parrying and destroying every single high-velocity projectile slowed his forward momentum.
His charge speed was being neutralized by Lie Shi's constant retreat and suppressive fire. The distance between them remained frustratingly constant. He couldn't get close enough to deliver a finishing blow.
It was then that Horitake realized the demon's strategy.
He was a master of close-quarters combat, while his opponent was a specialist in long-range warfare. As long as Lie Shi could keep the gap open, he could continue his assault indefinitely without ever being in danger of a counter-slash.
Wait a minute, Horitake thought, his eyes narrowing. This bastard is using 'kiting' tactics!
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