Chapter 26: Demon! I will... kill you!
"Cough, cough... cough..."
Masashi coughed up blood while trying to grip the Nichirin Sword in his hand to stand up, but his body completely refused to listen.
The demon walked slowly in front of Masashi,
Looking down at the struggling boy, the mockery in its eyes intensified.
"Is this all you've got? How disappointing."
The demon bent down and easily snatched the green Nichirin Sword from Masashi's trembling hand,
Toying with it in its hand,
"This is the so-called Nichirin Sword?"
"The so-called Color-changing blade?"
"Aside from being a bit sharp, it's nothing special."
Masashi tried to reach out and grab it, but the demon stepped on his chest.
"Ugh!! Aah!!"
The sound of sternum snapping was clearly audible; Masashi let out a cry of agony.
"Don't be in a hurry, the game has just begun."
A look of extreme cruelty appeared on the demon's face.
It grabbed Masashi by the hair, lifting him up,
And then slammed him hard against the tree trunk behind him.
"Since you love swinging a sword so much, these hands are useless now, right?"
As soon as the demon spoke, a cold light flashed.
"Slash! Slash!"
Two pillars of blood shot into the sky.
Masashi's arms were severed at the shoulders, falling onto the grass,
His fingers even twitched a few times from neural reflex.
Because the blade was so fast, the pain was delayed for a few seconds before reaching the brain.
Masashi stared blankly at his empty shoulders, watching the blood gushing out,
Until the heart-wrenching, bone-deep pain surged like a tide.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH——!!!"
The shrill scream echoed through the sky.
"So noisy."
The demon frowned and thrust the Nichirin Sword forward.
"Squelch!"
The green blade pierced through Masashi's right chest without resistance.
It punctured the lung and then nailed him deep into the tree trunk behind him.
Masashi was pinned firmly to the tree.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Blood poured from his mouth and nose, blocking his trachea, making every breath a form of torture.
"Wait here, don't be in a hurry."
The demon patted Masashi's pale, bloodless cheek,
"I want you to watch with your own eyes how I enjoy your brother.
This is a special treat for you."
After speaking, the demon turned around and walked with light steps toward Masaki's corpse nearby.
Masashi's consciousness had begun to blur; the excessive blood loss made him feel an unprecedented cold and dizziness.
But when he saw the demon walking toward the corpse covered by a Haori,
A fear originating from the depths of his soul instantly snapped him awake.
That was his brother... the brother who died to protect him...
"No... don't..."
Masashi weakly opened his mouth,
"Please... don't touch him..."
The demon turned a deaf ear.
It walked to Masaki's corpse and tossed aside the Haori covering it.
Masaki's face, with eyes that wouldn't close in death, was exposed once more to the moonlight.
"Mm... it really smells delicious."
The demon took a deep breath and then extended its sharp claws, grabbing Masaki's shoulder.
"Stop it... stop it!!"
Masashi struggled desperately, his body rubbing against the tree trunk, tearing the wound even wider,
But he couldn't feel the pain.
"Crack."
A crisp sound of bone breaking.
Under Masashi's despairing gaze, the demon forcibly tore off one of Masaki's arms.
"AAAAAAH!!"
Masashi let out a beast-like howl, the corners of his eyes splitting, blood and tears streaming down,
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!"
The demon ignored the noise behind it, opened its blood-red maw, and bit into the arm.
"Crunch... crunch..."
It was the sound of teeth chewing bone and muscle.
In the silent night, the sound was amplified infinitely, drilling clearly into Masashi's ears.
Every chew felt like it was grinding Masashi's heart.
"Mm, not bad, very chewy."
The demon commented indistinctly while chewing,
"Firm muscles, full of energy.
Much better than those soft villagers."
Masashi watched helplessly as his brother's body was destroyed bit by bit.
That once warm embrace,
That back that used to run with him on it under the sunset,
That large hand that had stroked his head countless times...
At this moment, they all became food and scraps in the demon's mouth.
The demon ate carefully and slowly, as if intentionally showing it to Masashi.
It tore open the abdominal cavity and pulled out the organs, as if tasting some rare delicacy.
Blood splattered across the demon's face, making it look even more hideous and terrifying.
Masashi watched as his brother's body became increasingly incomplete.
Watching that familiar face get covered in blood and eventually become unrecognizable.
Memories flashed wildly before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
"Masashi, from now on I'm a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, I'll protect you!"
"Stupid Masashi, your sword posture is wrong, Master will scold you."
"Masashi, don't be afraid, Big Brother is here."
"Masashi, run..."
All the memories, all the warmth, were crushed to pieces in that "crunch, crunch" sound of chewing.
"Beast... beast... BEAST!!!"
Masashi's voice was already hoarse, but he continued to roar.
Extreme grief, indignation, and a sense of powerlessness caused his Spiritual world to completely collapse.
If there were a hell on earth, it would surely be the sight before him.
If I don't kill it... if I don't tear this demon into a thousand pieces... I will never rest in peace!
About half an hour later, the chewing finally stopped.
Only a glaring pool of blood and some unrecognizable remains were left on the ground.
The demon burped contentedly, wiped the blood from the corner of its mouth,
And turned around to look at Masashi, who was pinned to the tree.
By now, Masashi was no longer crying.
His eyes were hollow and dead, with only two fires burning in the deepest depths—the fires of "hatred."
"Thank you for the meal."
The demon gave a satisfied smile and slowly walked toward Masashi,
"Next, it's your turn, little brother.
I wonder if your flavor will be even better than your brother's?"
Masashi looked at the approaching demon, at that face stained with his brother's blood,
And used the last ounce of strength in his body to let out a roar that shook the mountains:
"DEMON!!! I will... kill you!!!"