What kind of feeling is it to witness your comrades die tragically before your very eyes?
Tanjiro didn't know. He couldn't even clearly describe what he was feeling in his heart right now.
Was it pain? Was it sorrow? Was it anger? Was it despair?
Or was it all of them?
Flames of rage were indeed burning in the depths of his heart.
But to say something very embarrassing—at this very moment, compared to angrily rushing forward to kill Mitsuba, his heart actually wanted more for his comrades to come back to life.
Where did such a weak thought come from?
Perhaps it was because, in the deepest part of Tanjiro's heart, he fundamentally didn't believe he could defeat the demon before him?
If he had still harbored some fluke hopes before, then the moment he saw the state of these three Hashira's deaths, that sliver of hope in his heart was completely shattered.
Tonight's battle—they absolutely could not win.
Before Tsugikuni Mitsuba, no matter how many Demon Slayers came, it would all be in vain.
That was precisely why he understood that even if he were angry, it would be completely useless.
His gaze sweeping over the remains of the Stone Hashira and the others, Tanjiro's heart was filled with grief.
[Senpais, what should I do now?]
"What's wrong, little one? Why are you just standing there in a daze?"
Seeing Tanjiro's prolonged silence, Mitsuba suddenly smiled and said:
"At this very moment, Lord Muzan is in the area behind me. His detoxification is almost complete.
What are you still hesitating for? As long as you defeat me, you can get past."
Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, Tanjiro slowly drew the Nichirin Blade from his waist.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately swung his blade and charged forward.
Sun Breathing: Ninth Form—Sunshine of the Gods!
Leaping into the air, he swung a blazing fire dragon slash down at Mitsuba below.
Mitsuba didn't unleash any technique. She simply moved her feet and stepped back a few paces, avoiding his strike with perfectly measured distance.
Sun Breathing: Third Form—Blazing Universe!
Sun Breathing: Fourth Form—Burning Bones, Summer Sun!
Sun Breathing: Seventh Form—Flame Dance!
Sun Breathing...
After landing, Tanjiro continuously swung his blade, launching attacks at Mitsuba before him.
Flame slashes of various forms were unleashed one after another, yet not a single slash could touch Mitsuba.
This wasn't just because of her extreme speed—more importantly, she was extremely familiar with the techniques of Breathing Styles.
She could always evade Tanjiro's attacks with the smallest movements, at perfectly appropriate moments.
To the point that she was clearly standing right before him, yet he couldn't touch her no matter what.
"Compared to that time at Mount Fujikasane, your progress has indeed been rapid."
Sidestepping another slash from Tanjiro, Mitsuba finally spoke, her tone carrying praise:
"To achieve such great improvement in your strength in such a short time—Tanjiro, you truly have talent.
Even among your generation's Hashira, your strength could rank in the middle right now.
Considering your age, given time, your strength could certainly rise to even greater heights.
It's just a pity—you no longer have that future."
As she said this, Mitsuba finally made her move.
She lightly raised the Nichirin Blade in her hand, landing it with pinpoint precision on the power point of Tanjiro's blade, sending him stumbling back several steps along with his sword.
"At this level alone, it's impossible to defeat me. Activate the Transparent World, Tanjiro."
[The Transparent World? Can such a supreme realm really be activated just by wanting to?]
Tanjiro was stunned.
Previously, he had only briefly entered that transparent world during the battle at the film studio.
After that battle, no matter how he tried, he couldn't succeed.
"Of course you can. If I say you can, then you definitely can."
As if seeing through the doubt in his heart, Mitsuba simply smiled encouragingly:
"If you don't believe me, feel free to try."
Subconsciously, Tanjiro did as Mitsuba said—clearing his mind, opening his five senses, trying once more to feel that transparent world.
And then, he succeeded.
That transparent world which he had been unable to enter again no matter how he tried before, now appeared before him without the slightest obstruction.
Everything around him became transparent. Even Mitsuba's internal condition was now clearly visible to Tanjiro.
[How is this possible? Why was it so easy this time...]
Suddenly, Tanjiro realized something, looking at Mitsuba before him in disbelief.
[Could it be her? Did she use her Blood Demon Art to help me...]
"Exactly."
Mitsuba smiled and lightly nodded.
"My Blood Demon Art can modify the karma on humans. It can not only be used to kill, but also to help you grow stronger.
Just now, I added a causal thread that allows you to activate the Transparent World. And so, you successfully activated it. That's all."
Mitsuba spoke lightly, as if completely unaware of how astonishing a thing she had just done.
"Why would you do this?"
Tanjiro asked in a deep voice.
He couldn't understand why someone would strengthen their enemy during battle.
"Because you're too weak, and I want to make this battle slightly more interesting."
Mitsuba answered honestly.
[Want to make the battle more interesting...]
This was indeed something Mitsuba would say.
Back during the film studio battle, Tanjiro had heard from Doma that this demon before him would even revive all her enemies to fight them again simply because she hadn't enjoyed the battle enough.
[Revive...]
Suddenly, Tanjiro's gaze fell upon the remains of the Stone Hashira and the others around him.
"Fine, I'll fight you."
His heart resolute, Tanjiro swung his blade forward once more, launching an assault on Mitsuba.
This time, having activated the Transparent World, his speed and reaction were much faster than before.
Combined with the predictive enhancement of the Transparent World itself, he finally felt that he could keep up with some of Mitsuba's speed.
But this was still not enough.
This demon before him had been the strongest below the Demon King Muzan for hundreds of years.
Everything he had accomplished so far was entirely within this demon's expectations. If it was only to this degree, he absolutely had no chance of victory.
[Must... become stronger!]
He had to find a way to obtain power beyond this demon's predictions!
"Take this!"
Sun Breathing: Eleventh Form—Hinokami Kagura: Dance!
Gritting his teeth, he once again unleashed the most powerful technique of Sun Breathing. Tanjiro gripped the hilt with both hands, charging at Mitsuba while wrapped in that scorching fire dragon.
[Hmm?]
Beneath these flames, Mitsuba keenly noticed that as Tanjiro swung his blade, the edge of the Nichirin Blade in his hand was gradually turning crimson.
As the younger sister of the strongest being in the long history of the Demon Slayer Corps, she naturally understood what this meant.