"Lord?"
Raiden's gaze narrowed. A Lord of Doma had been hidden in the village, a tiny ice creature shaped exactly like Doma himself. No wonder Doma hadn't appeared at first, that was the trick he'd been hiding.
If a Doma Lord was loose in the Swordsmith Village, things would get dangerous fast.
Although Zenitsu had been helping in the village, he wasn't strong enough yet. In the Infinity Castle, Doma had held off Inosuke and Kanao with only two of his Lords. Back then, Inosuke and Kanao were significantly stronger than Zenitsu was now.
If Doma unleashed even more Lords on the villagers, could the Love Pillar and Zenitsu really handle them?
Raiden shook his head silently. The Love Pillar was already struggling against Zohakuten. If Doma's Lords joined that fight, the situation would reverse entirely.
No, I must return quickly.
It seemed Raiden's unease showed.
Doma cocked his head, playful and serene, asking, "Are you nervous, Raiden? Do those people in the village matter to you that much?"
Raiden stayed silent.
Doma grinned, stretching out a finger and tapping beneath his mouth as if striking a dramatic pose, "I truly want you to rush back, but I can't either. Lord Muzan was displeased with me after our last retreat. If I don't do something this time, Muzan might just sever my head."
As a mock plea, he asked, "As a friend, can you really bear to watch my head get cut off?"
Raiden let a faint smile curve his lips.
The reason he had been uneasy wasn't sympathy, it was because he didn't know what Doma had secretly done. But now Doma had revealed enough, Raiden felt steadier.
Doma's fearlessness stemmed from tampering with the village itself. He wanted Raiden stuck between two choices: use Transparent World to force him away and rush back to save the village, risking Muichiro's defeat… or get entangled here and watch the villagers die.
Doma's strategy was clever, but he had overlooked one thing.
He assumed Raiden hadn't grown stronger since the Entertainment District. He thought Raiden would still run if outmatched.
This time, Raiden wouldn't let Doma slip away so easily.
Doma's eyes glinted with rainbow light as Raiden spoke, but his words seemed to have little effect on him.
How could that be? If the Swordsmith Village fell, wouldn't that devastate the Demon Slayer Corps? Shouldn't Raiden be worried? Weren't other Pillars present in the village?
Even if they were, facing five Lords plus Zohakuten would be overwhelming. Why was Raiden so confident?
Doma couldn't grasp Raiden's reasoning, so he simply smiled, carefree as ever.
"I knew it, Raiden, you're the best," he said with amusement. "How about this? No more fighting. Let's just watch Gyokko and that Pillar battle it out right here."
He crossed his legs and sat down casually, as though truly intending to spectate.
But Raiden wasn't having any of it.
"No, I don't want someone else doing what I should do. I will finish you myself."
His voice was calm, but firm.
Raiden activated Transparent World and Compass Needle completely, no longer holding anything back.
The atmosphere shifted violently as his aura flared. It wasn't a simple presence, it was like a gathering storm. The earth beneath him trembled, cracking as if it couldn't bear the pressure of his power.
His coat fluttered, patterns rippling like wind‑tossed clouds, though not a breeze stirred.
The hexagram beneath his feet seemed alive, vibrating with energy like runes awakening.
Raiden stood at the eye of an invisible storm, the pressure around him suffocating.
Doma blinked, startled by the sudden shift. He felt the change in Raiden's power and something like wariness flickered in his eyes.
Before he could react, Raiden vanished from his original spot.
A soft breeze brushed past, and Doma sensed someone appearing beside him.
He turned instinctively, only to see Raiden standing there with his Nichirin sword glowing with lightning and heat, an aura of overwhelming destruction wrapped around him.
Doma's heart thudded. A chill crawled up his spine.
He instinctively fanned his iron fan to the side, intending to form his Blood Demon Art, Freezing Cloud. But before ice crystals could form, a burning pain erupted in both his arms.
Raiden's speed was unbelievable. Doma hadn't even had time to react before both of his forearms were severed by Raiden's blade. The edges were charred, and Doma's blood seemed to stop flowing instantly.
This kid… he's so fast!
Doma's mind screamed in disbelief.
Pain seared through him, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Protecting his head from Raiden's blade was his only priority now.
Doma opened his mouth and released an icy aura that condensed into several ice lotuses. He wasn't trying to attack Raiden with them; at Raiden's speed, the lotuses would never reach him.
Instead, the ice lotuses burst in the air, scattering ice crystals everywhere. The misty frost thickened into a massive wall of ice, forcing Raiden to retreat.
Cold seeped into the air, and the temperature dropped as though the world itself had frozen.
Doma looked at Raiden standing with his blade lowered in the distance. The playful expression vanished from his face, replaced by seriousness.
Strong. That was all Doma could think. Stronger than ever.
Raiden was nothing like the Raiden Doma had faced in the Entertainment District. How much time had passed? How had his strength improved so terrifyingly?
It had been a long time since Doma's heartbeat raced like this.
Raiden's simple slash, without a Breathing Form, had caused immense pressure. If Raiden fought with a full Breathing Form… could Doma even withstand it?
Doma, an Upper Rank demon who commanded ice, should have felt no chill. Yet now, a coldness spread through his heart.
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Powerstones?? (´ε｀ )
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Patreon = _Zeph