Raiden's voice cut through the air as he prepared to strike again.
Before Doma could reply, the crimson‑gold glow of Raiden's Nichirin blade appeared inches from him.
Raiden felt the surge of power from Transparent World and did not want to waste even a moment.
Maybe he couldn't entirely stop Doma today, but Raiden was confident he could prevent him from interfering any further.
As long as his Transparent World hadn't faded, Doma stood no chance of countering him.
In fact, not just countering — at this moment, Doma couldn't even fight back.
Meanwhile, Gyutaro was struggling under the combined pressure of Sound Hashira and Tanjiro's group.
That Sound Hashira — Uzui Tengen — suddenly matched Gyutaro's attack speed, something he had never expected.
With the help of three other skilled Demon Slayers, even Gyutaro was forced to take them seriously.
Amidst the flurry of attacks, Gyutaro kept glancing toward Raiden and Doma's battle.
He needed to defeat the four opponents before dealing with Raiden, otherwise Doma would look down on him — and that was unacceptable.
But Raiden was alone against Doma. Although Raiden was strong, Doma should still be dominant.
Could Raiden have already overcome him?
Gyutaro's eyes glazed over in confusion and disbelief.
He didn't even notice the incoming strike.
"Older brother, what are you doing?" Daki cried out as she flailed atop the rooftop, struggling against Zenitsu and Inosuke.
Daki watched in shock as Gyutaro was blasted backward.
Why was he spacing out now? Didn't he realize Doma was watching them?
When she looked toward Raiden's fight, her eyes widened in disbelief.
No, she couldn't be seeing things.
Doma was being suppressed — continuously forced back, wounded, and struggling.
Some of Raiden's strikes were landing just centimeters from Doma's neck.
If they had crossed that last gap, Doma's head would have been severed.
What? How was this possible? That brat named Raiden?
He hadn't been like this when he fought Gyutaro.
Now Doma's figure was barely visible through the swirl of Raiden's movements.
It looked as if Doma was hiding, trying to avoid Raiden's attacks. Daki couldn't believe her eyes.
Upper Rank Two Doma — a demon so powerful he effortlessly outclassed most Hashira — was now on the defensive.
Could it be that earlier, Doma was holding back against Gyutaro?
She watched breathlessly, her thoughts racing, but before she could ponder further, the sounds of battle pulled her back.
"Thunder Breathing First Form, Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Beast Breathing! Beast Breathing!"
Golden lightning engulfed Daki as Tengen and the others struck with precision.
Uzui Tengen, who had just sent Gyutaro flying, froze with surprise.
Spacing out during a battle wasn't just foolish — it could be lethal.
Demons regenerated rapidly, but the Demon Slayer Corps did not. A moment's distraction could spell death.
That's when Tengen's gaze shifted in the direction Gyutaro had been staring earlier.
His expression changed.
Impossible… or was the world itself broken?
He saw Raiden suppressing Upper Rank Two Doma.
Uzui Tengen knew Raiden had previously held his own against Upper Rank Three Akaza, but he had assumed it was only possible because Akaza was weakened.
But now it was clear — very, very clear — that Raiden could control the battlefield even against a full‑strength Upper Two.
If Kyojuro Rengoku once said Raiden saved him earlier, it wasn't modesty — it was the absolute truth.
Watching Doma take hit after hit with no ability to retaliate, Tengen had to concede — today, Raiden was extraordinary.
"Raiden is unbelievably strong…" Tanjiro murmured, eyes fixed on the unfolding battle.
He had known Raiden for some time and yet barely scratched the surface of his power.
Every time a demon threatened despair, Raiden's intervention changed the tide effortlessly.
Raiden even made allies of demons, though his methods often ended violently — a strange way to make friends, but it showed Raiden boldly walked his own path.
Raiden struck again, slashing at Doma's shoulder.
If Doma hadn't blocked with his golden fan, the blade would have cut his neck.
Doma hesitated.
Raiden's power was increasing with every blow, while Doma's own strength waned.
The impossible advantage shifted subtly but clearly.
If this continued… Doma might truly be defeated today.
With a swift footing adjustment, Raiden reversed his grip on his blade and launched another strike at Doma.
The golden fan was out of position. Raiden saw the opening.
His blade blazed with crimson fire and golden lightning.
Bang!
Doma's head was severed in a resounding strike, tumbling at Raiden's feet.
Normally, decapitation meant death for a demon.
Raiden should have felt triumph. But his face was unreadable.
"Clone?" Raiden muttered, brow furrowed.
Something had felt off when his blade passed through Doma's skin. It lacked the expected resistance, like slicing through foam.
Raiden stepped back, surveying the aftermath of the fierce confrontation.
In front of him, Doma's severed head lay encased in ice, the surface slowly crystallizing outward like a frozen lake in winter.
His glassy smile remained, but frost now obscured every feature.
A chill wind whispered in the night.
Then bits of ice began to crack and break, the sound like brittle footsteps on fragile glass.
Before Raiden could investigate further, a shadow beneath distant eaves shifted.
Then Doma's relaxed voice echoed from the darkness.
"Hey, Raiden," he called casually, "I'm not learning anymore. Looks like you don't want to teach me Akaza's Blood Demon Art. You just want to kill me. Fine. That's boring. I'm leaving — see you next time."
Raiden's figure appeared on the rooftop, but as soon as he stepped forward, Doma's body dissolved into ice and tumbled down from the eaves.
No more presence remained. No more sound.
Only silence.
____
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