While Yamada Mura continued his incessant babbling, spewing curses at Kiyokazu, a voice filled with vibrant energy rang out. Accompanying that voice was a strike that resembled a roaring blaze!
There were no visible flames, yet an invisible, searing heat seemed to instantly banish the darkness around the bridge culvert, turning the riverbank a brilliant, fiery red!
"Flame Breathing, First Form—Unknowing Fire!"
With that roar, as fierce as a conflagration, the flame-like strike pierced with unerring precision through Yamada Mura's head, right in the middle of his frantic screeching.
"AAAAAGH!!!"
Yamada Mura's predatory grin and curses were cut short, replaced by wave after wave of shrill, distorted wails of agony.
Unlike the rusted dagger in Kiyokazu's hand, a Nichirin Sword, forged from specialized ore imbued with solar energy, dealt massive auxiliary damage specifically tailored to slay demons.
The moment the blade transfixed his skull, Yamada's head became like a piece of dry wood tossed into a furnace, beginning to crumble and disintegrate at a speed visible to the naked eye. His remaining limbs, scattered across the ground, were simultaneously ignited, venting plumes of white smoke.
The larger chunks of flesh began to twitch violently, rapidly turning to ash as the heat consumed them.
"Curse you... why? Why... why would I die at the hands of small fry like you?!"
Carrying his endless malice and resentment, Yamada Mura's voice—along with the final traces of his existence—vanished into the slightly heated night wind and the flickering embers.
Kiyokazu, currently forcing his nearly collapsing body to hold together, looked up. Through his blurred vision and the fading glow of the "flames," he saw a figure.
It was a tall young man wearing a red-and-white haori over a samurai uniform. His long, yellow-and-red hair was as dazzling as a burning sun. Most striking of all were his eyes—piercingly bright even in the dead of night, looking as though they held an eternal flame within them, radiating a sense of profound warmth and strength.
After confirming the demon was dead, Rengoku Mujuro sheathed his Nichirin Sword and turned to look at Kiyokazu.
"Young man! Pull yourself together!"
His voice was incredibly boisterous, possessing a power that seemed to blow away the surrounding gloom.
"You did splendidly! Facing a demon alone, you did not shrink back; instead, you defeated it! You protected the person behind you! But now, you need treatment!"
As he spoke, Mujuro looked up and saw Ume sprinting toward them, a bright smile crossing his face.
"I noticed just now—the moment you were splattered by that demon's blood, this child began rushing over. It seems you are very important to one another."
Before he could finish, Ume reached Kiyokazu's side, panting for breath. Seeing the wounds on his body festering from the toxic blood, her tears fell instantly.
In her worry for Kiyokazu, Ume had no room for the wariness or fear she should have felt toward a stranger. At this moment, seeing his skin torn and his flesh rotting from the poison, her heart felt as if it had been violently wrenched apart, and her thoughts spiraled into chaos.
That intense sense of loneliness and helplessness swept over her again, more surging than before, threatening to drown her. She wanted to touch him but feared increasing his agony. Her trembling hands frantically pulled medicine from her robes, but her knowledge of medicine was shallow; she had no idea what to use for a toxin she didn't recognize.
She clutched the edge of Kiyokazu's garment, sobbing, "Hey... how are you? Don't die... I won't accept you dying! You promised to let me repay the debt, it's—it's not over yet! Here's the medicine, you'll be fine. I'll find you all the medicine in the world... so don't you dare die!"
Watching this, Rengoku Mujuro seemed to recall some unpleasant memories. His eyes dimmed for a brief moment before he gently nudged Ume aside. After a quick inspection of Kiyokazu's injuries, he spoke to her reassuringly:
"This is not a particularly rare toxin. Members of the Demon Slayer Corps frequently encounter demons who use such underhanded tricks, so we have specialized instructors who teach us these things. I will find a way to treat him. These medicines you have aren't enough. If possible..."
He glanced at Ume, then reconsidered his words.
"I will excise the necrotic flesh from his body and provide basic bandages for the shallower wounds. However, to completely neutralize the poison, I need specific medicinal herbs. I must go to a pharmacy to purchase them. During that time, please look after him."
"Additionally," Mujuro continued, "some of the deeper wounds may require you to suck the toxins out... Umu! Don't worry, I've already cut away the corrosive parts. What remains is a toxin similar to snake venom. This demon was cunning; he hid toxins in his sleeves and within his body. Treatment will be difficult. Someone must perform this task, and if you go out to buy medicine alone, it would be dangerous. Therefore..."
Mujuro trailed off, and Ume naturally understood the unspoken implication. Without a hint of hesitation, she nodded firmly.
"Please rest assured. I will take care of Kiyokazu."
"Umu! His name is Kiyokazu-kun? What a gentle name! I am Rengoku Mujuro. The wounds you need to suck the venom from are here, here, and here! I will remove his clothes and wash them in the river, otherwise the toxins on the fabric will cause a relapse. Thank you for your hard work!"
With that, he decisively tore strips of clean fabric from the inside of his haori. His movements were swift and steady as he applied emergency bandages and removed Kiyokazu's toxin-stained clothing.
As Ume looked at Kiyokazu's bare body, her face grew uncomfortably hot. Despite her embarrassment, she didn't look away, carefully memorizing every location Mujuro pointed out.
She had to remember them all. The poison in those wounds had to be cleaned out completely.
But... but his lower abdomen, his upper thigh... places like that were just... just too embarrassing!
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Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki(71 Chapter- Ongoing)
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