Raiden watched Daki with mild amusement, barely hiding a smirk. Why did she think recalling her sashes would suddenly give her the upper hand? What arrogance, what ignorance.
"This is my true strength, you... huh?" Daki's mocking smile radiated complete confidence. She believed she could finally subdue Raiden. The air seemed charged, on the verge of something catastrophic.
Yet, just as her sashes were about to strike, everything froze. Raiden's movements halted, and with casual precision, he sheathed his nichirin blade.
Daki's eyes widened in disbelief. He sheathed his blade? At this precise moment? Was he courting death? If her attack landed, even his formidable body wouldn't withstand it.
And yet… the sashes stopped mid-air, sliding weakly to the ground as if drained of all power. Daki's jaw dropped. Had she lost control? No, she was at full strength.
Curious, she leaned forward. Instinctively, she reached up—and caught her own head in her hands.
Her eyes went wide with shock. Her head had been severed. But when? By whom? The Yellow-haired boy by the window? Impossible. He was too weak to have done this.
Then her gaze fell on Raiden. Calmly standing, watching her with an unreadable expression. It had to be him. His strength far exceeded what she could handle alone. She would need Older Brother to intervene.
Raiden tilted his head, his tone bored and teasing. "Aren't you going to call your Older Brother yet? You're really too weak. Fighting you isn't fun at all."
Daki's eyes blazed. "What did you say?! Weak?!" She refused to admit her inferiority, even as she realized Raiden outclassed her.
"Are you weak?" Raiden repeated, scratching his chin with mock curiosity. Why wasn't Gyuutarou stepping in?
"I am not weak! I am Upper Moon Six!" she shouted, pride cracking through the panic.
"Oh, but your head was still cut off by me. You're really weak," Raiden said casually.
"I am Upper Moon Six! I will be stronger in the future, I—"
"Oh, but your head was cut off by me."
No matter what Daki said, Raiden only ever replied the same way. Frustrated beyond measure, she finally broke into tears, wailing, "Die! Die! You all die!" She pounded the ground with frantic fists.
"Older Brother—"
From the shadows, a dark figure slowly emerged. At first, it was just a twisted patch of darkness, but it stretched and shaped itself into a humanoid form. Light flickered across it, shadows rippling like water.
Daki trembled, fighting the pain of her split existence. The shadow absorbed the sparse light, becoming more solid. A thin humanoid emerged: upper body seemingly normal, waist impossibly narrow, ghostly gray-white skin blending with the shadows.
Gyuutarou's yellow-tinged eyes glowed, marked with the symbols of his rank. This was the true Upper Moon Six, the partner who had been hidden until now.
Without a glance at Raiden, Gyuutarou approached Daki, reattaching her head and stroking it with a teasing, gentle tone. "Crying is useless. It's just a head. Can't you put it back on yourself? You're really missing a few screws."
Daki's sobs subsided slightly, but her lingering resentment remained.
"Don't cry. You won't be pretty if you keep crying," Gyuutarou added, wiping her tears away.
"Older Brother! It's him! Kill him quickly! Not just him, but the other intruders in the Entertainment District! They bullied me!"
Raiden's expression twitched at her childish complaint. Even in her outburst, the demon sibling bond showed.
Gyuutarou's voice was steady, unwavering. "Don't worry. I'll avenge you. Everyone who wronged you today will pay. I'll collect all the debts you suffered."
Then, his gaze fell on Raiden, who had calmly observed the entire spectacle. He didn't just know Gyuutarou existed—he wasn't afraid.
Could this be a Demon Slayer Corps Pillar? He had never allowed one to escape, yet here was Raiden, unflinching.
No matter, Gyuutarou decided. Since Raiden had crossed Daki, his life would end here.
Upper Moon Six: Gyuutarou & Daki
Race: Demon
Realm: Mid-Pillar
Comprehension: Medium
Aptitude: Medium
Talent: Twin Birth
Skills: Companion Sash (Mastered), Blood Demon Art: Eight-Layered Sash Slash (Mastered), Blood Demon Art: Flying Blood Sickle (Mastered), Arc Jumping (Mastered), Circular Slash Spin: Flying Blood Sickle (Mastered), Poison Scythe Slash (Mastered)…