8 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Cough, cough, cough…

Haruto pounded his chest forcefully, expelling the icy powder from his lungs before it could cause further damage.

This demon's Blood Demon Art... it completely countered the Breathing Techniques of Demon Slayers!

"How fascinating~" Doma leaned in close, his face hovering mere inches from Haruto's. "How does it feel? Like your organs are freezing solid?"

Thud!

Haruto didn't waste a second—his fist shot forward, aiming directly for Doma's smug expression.

"Oh?" Doma swayed backward effortlessly, dodging the punch with an exaggerated sway. His lips curled into a pout as he spoke, his voice dripping with mockery. "You're so rude! Here I am trying to have a polite conversation, and you're all fists and fury."

Haruto slammed his hand into the ground, using the leverage to grip his sword tightly and sweep it horizontally toward Doma.

"'Polite conversation'? You mean fattening me up to make my bones tastier?"

Clang!

Doma raised his iron fans, parrying the blade with a flourish.

"Treating a delicacy with care and savoring every morsel is the ultimate sign of respect, wouldn't you agree?"

Haruto scowled. Annoyingly, he couldn't entirely disagree with that logic.

"Was it you? Did you kill the Geisha Demon and the Bull Demon?"

(T/N: They're talking about demons that MC killed a long time ago, it was around 2 inns and MC even died there once, I changed the names a bit to make it clearer)

"Hmm?" Doma tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Those names do ring a bell… Give me a moment to remember. My memory is usually impeccable!"

He raised a hand, gesturing for Haruto to stop attacking.

"Hold up for a sec?"

Haruto let out a sharp laugh, his grip tightening on his blade. He shook off the frost gathering on his sword, and his breathing stilled as he prepared his next move.

"Star Breathing, Second Form: Crimson Haze!"

The blade slashed through the air, its radiant glow slicing apart the frozen powder swirling around them.

"Didn't I ask you to wait?" Doma's playful tone turned sharp as he flicked his fan, sending out his first Blood Demon Art in retaliation.

"Blood Demon Art: Lotus Vines!"

Icy lotus-covered vines burst forth from beneath Doma's fan, snaking toward Haruto with alarming speed.

Haruto twisted mid-air, using the momentum to leap off one of the approaching vines. Frost spread across his boots where they touched the tendril, a chilling reminder of how dangerous even the smallest contact could be.

Without hesitation, he abandoned Starfire Inferno and redirected his attack.

"Star Breathing, Fourth Form: Outlining Star!"

In a flash, Haruto's position swapped with Doma's. The icy vines, originally aimed at Haruto, now rushed toward their creator.

Snap!

The vines coiled tightly around Doma, only to wither and crumble away just before crushing him.

"Oh? Did my position just change?" Doma's eyes sparkled with delight as he turned to face Haruto. "So this is your Breathing Style! How exquisite! A new technique, is it? I've never seen anything so dazzling before!"

Exquisite, my ass! Haruto thought, gritting his teeth.

Despite Doma's ever-present grin, there was no warmth behind it. His eyes, cold and devoid of emotion, betrayed the truth: every word, every gesture, every smile was calculated and artificial.

A foe without genuine emotions was always the hardest to read—and the most dangerous to fight.

"But those names you mentioned... who were they again? Oh, it's going to drive me mad not knowing!" Doma chuckled lightly, his sharp fingers pressing into his temple before—

Before plunging straight through his skull.

"What the—?"

Haruto's mouth twitched as he watched the grotesque scene unfold. Doma twisted his fingers inside his own brain as casually as if he were cleaning his ears.

"Ah, I remember now!" Doma exclaimed cheerfully, his bloodied hand retracting from the hole in his head. "Those two—you mean that girl from the Hirano region, don't you? I had such high hopes for her. She could've made a fine addition to the Twelve Kizuki! But alas, she was far too attached to some mortal man who should've died ages ago."

Haruto's stomach churned as Doma continued, unbothered.

"She was so determined to save him—even as she turned into a demon, she crawled to him and shoved her arm into his mouth, forcing him to consume her blood. They became… that strange pair you spoke of. Quite the disappointment, honestly. I expected better from her."

So that's why Geisha Demon always shared her sustenance with Bull Demon. Haruto's mind pieced together the fragments of the tragic tale.

"Oh, I think I see now." Doma's multicolored eyes lit up as they locked onto Haruto. "Are you hoping I'll grant you eternal life, too? Want to drink my precious blood and be reborn as a demon? Sorry, but I tend to reserve that privilege for women—preferably ones who can bear children. They tend to have better longevity, you see~"

Haruto's heart sank as his gaze flicked toward Kanae. She was slumped against the wall, unconscious and pale from blood loss.

This was bad. If he didn't act soon, neither of them would make it out alive.

"Planning to run away?" Doma's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're an open book, you know that?"

Haruto tightened his jaw, forcing down his frustration.

Did this guy never shut up?

"It won't work, though," Doma continued, tapping his chin with a fan. "Even if you're fast, carrying her will slow you down. You'll never outrun me."

"And has anyone ever told you—you talk too much?" Haruto shot back.

"Not humans, but a few demons have mentioned it!"

Haruto cut off the pointless banter, raising his sword high. "Nighttime Shine!" he yelled, closing the gap between them in an instant.

"So fast!" Doma marveled, blocking with his fans as shimmering lotus-shaped ice bloomed around him. "But still too weak!"

Haruto grit his teeth. He couldn't keep fighting. Kanae's life was slipping away, and every second spent here brought them closer to death. He had to retreat.

But could a Hashira really walk away from a battle like this?

With a deep breath, Haruto steadied his trembling hands. He gathered every ounce of strength into his blade.

Above them, the full moon hung silently in the sky. Haruto glanced up at its pale glow and let out a bitter chuckle.

Tonight… the stars were losing to the darkness.

"Star Breathing, Ninth Form: Haze of Burning Star."

The blade flashed, a brilliant streak of blue-violet cutting through the night. The sheer force tore through Doma's robes and bit into his neck, spilling crimson blood before halting against his iron fan.

Doma's face remained eerily blank as he blocked the attack.

"Your blade… is incredibly fast," he murmured. "But unfortunately, so am I."

Haruto's eyes widened as he looked down. Doma's other fan had pierced his chest, its edge cradling Haruto's still-beating heart.