Just as the Demon Father roared and charged towards Nae, swinging his fist powerfully into the ground, Nae lightly jumped to evade the attack. Using the Demon Father's arm as a springboard, she leaped onto his back, took a deep breath, and shouted:
"Love Breathing, Fourth Form: Shock of Love."
Nae's Nichirin Sword swiftly wrapped around the Demon Father's neck. Planting her feet firmly on his back, she leaned back, gripping the sword's hilt tightly and began to pull, intending to use this move to sever his head.
With six times the muscle density, her strength was formidable. The Nichirin Sword scraped against the frozen throat, producing a harsh "screeching" sound. The Demon Father fell to his knees with a loud thud, flailing his hands behind him, trying to grab Nae. Unable to reach her, he grabbed at the Nichirin Sword wrapped around his neck. He then struggled to stand, wildly twisting his body to shake Nae off.
Nae clung desperately to the hilt, refusing to let go, the blade slowly cutting deeper into his neck. Across the river, Inosuke was stunned by the scene. He hadn't expected this seemingly dazed girl to possess such tremendous strength. Picking up his broken sword, he prepared to assist.
Sensing the danger, the Demon Father roared continuously, rushing into the nearby forest, crashing into trees and smashing rocks in a mad frenzy. Nae, like a rag doll in the wind, clung to his body. Despite being dizzy and disoriented from the collisions, she held on stubbornly.
A few minutes later, the Demon Father leapt back to the riverbank, attempting to use the force of his fall to shake Nae off. Yet he failed again, as his injured knees couldn't support his massive weight, causing him to kneel once more.
Inosuke saw his chance. Ignoring his pain, he gripped his Nichirin Sword and sprinted across the river towards the struggling pair.
"Beast Breathing, First Fang: Pierce."
With all his might, Inosuke plunged his broken sword into the Demon Father's throat, pushing Nae's Nichirin Sword, hoping to help her decapitate the demon.
Nae understood Inosuke's intent. Bracing her knees against the Demon Father's back, she gritted her teeth, her muscles bulging strangely. If not for her cute face, anyone would have mistaken her for a burly man.
Only three inches remained from the wound on the neck left by Hatsune. Just a bit more effort, and the head would be severed.
In a desperate move, the Demon Father punched Inosuke, sending him flying into the forest. This time, Inosuke couldn't get up. He could only hope this dazed girl could finish the job, or both of them would die.
The Demon Father pulled out the two broken swords from his neck and threw them aside. Roaring, he tried to stand again. Nae's face flushed red, struggling to suppress the massive demon.
Suddenly, a golden wasp appeared out of nowhere, landing on the Demon Father's spider head. A light voice echoed from above.
"Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance: Caprice."
Shinobu Kocho fluttered out of the forest, leaping over Nae's head. A thin sword, like a bee's sting, pierced the Demon Father's head. She then stepped on his head and landed lightly on the ground.
At first, the Demon Father struggled desperately. But soon, his movements slowed, green liquid oozed from his fanged mouth, and spider eyes filled with fine threads, looking like glass balls about to shatter. Finally, under Nae's persistent effort, the Demon Father's head flew into the air. Unable to stop herself, Nae was also thrown off, rolling a few times before hitting a tree stump.
Shinobu Kocho approached Nae, calling her name softly.
Nae slowly opened her eyes, her face twisted in pain.
"Nae, are you alright?"
"Sister Shinobu, why are you here?"
Nae struggled to sit up. After a prolonged battle with the Demon Father and multiple collisions with tree trunks, her body was exhausted and aching.
"I received a mission to support you. Where is Hatsune? Weren't you two together? Where did he go?"
Shinobu Kocho extended a hand to help Nae up.
At the mention of Hatsune, Nae's face turned gloomy. Shaking her head, she said, "I don't know where he went. We were together earlier, then he left on his own."
"By the way, Sister Shinobu, what about the boy with the boar head?"
"Boar head? There's no one with a boar head here."
Shinobu Kocho had arrived after Inosuke was thrown into the forest.
Remembering vaguely, Nae led Shinobu Kocho towards the direction Inosuke had been sent flying. They finally found him barely conscious in a bush.
The boar head had fallen off, revealing a boy with short blue hair. It was hard to believe that the rough voice belonged to such a delicate-looking boy.
"Nae, stay here and take care of him. The medical team will arrive soon. I'll go look for Hatsune."
Nae nodded slightly, reminding Shinobu Kocho to be careful.
She wanted to find Hatsune herself but couldn't leave the injured boy behind. So, she decided to stay and wait for the medical team.
According to the Kasugai Crow's message, a Twelve Kizuki might be on the mountain. Although the big demon was powerful, he wasn't a Twelve Kizuki. A true Twelve Kizuki couldn't be defeated by a few rookies.
Shinobu Kocho suspected Hatsune had left to find the Twelve Kizuki. She couldn't explain why she had this feeling, but she did.
If Hatsune indeed went after a Twelve Kizuki, the situation would be dire. He didn't understand their power. Her sister had been killed by Doma, one of the Twelve Kizuki.
Even a Hashira couldn't match a Twelve Kizuki. What could a low-ranked Demon Slayer like Hatsune do against one?
Deep in the forest, Tanjiro faced a boy in white. He felt an overwhelming chill, never having felt such a powerful presence before. It was as if countless needles pricked his skin.
This... this was a Twelve Kizuki?
Tanjiro's hand trembled as he gripped his sword. The air around him reeked with a nauseating stench. Slowly retreating, he backed into a tree, the dull thud pulling him slightly out of his fear.
"You actually made it here."
The boy in white, playing with a thread in his hands, smiled contemptuously, muttering to himself, "So much for protecting me. In the end, it's still like this. How pathetic."