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Run.
Keep running.
Feeling the presence of the pursuing demons growing stronger behind them, Tamayo and Yushiro's faces grew increasingly grim.
It seemed... escape was impossible.
The demons tracking them clearly had a way of following their trail.
A demon skilled in tracking... that must be it.
"Lady Tamayo..."
Yushiro suddenly stopped, turning to face her with determined eyes.
"This isn't working," he said firmly.
The demon chasing them could track their movements far too easily. If they didn't find a way to erase their trail, escape would be impossible.
Tamayo's gentle face tightened in thought. But at this point, concealing their presence would be difficult.
"We'll have to fight," Yushiro said with resolve.
He could tell the demons weren't members of the Twelve Kizuki. If that was the case... there was still a chance to win.
Elsewhere
A man with short black hair, dressed in monk-like robes, crouched low to the ground. His outstretched palm revealed a disturbing sight — an eyeball embedded in his hand, blinking as it scanned the earth.
This was Yahaba, one of Muzan Kibutsuji's direct subordinates — a demon gifted with powerful tracking abilities.
"See anything?"
Beside him, a female demon impatiently tossed a handball between her hands. Her carefree grin contrasted with the danger she posed.
This was Susamaru — another of Muzan's direct subordinates.
"I see their footprints," Yahaba muttered with faint excitement. "I know where they're headed..."
If we catch Tamayo... we'll earn more blood from Muzan.
More blood... more power.
The very thought filled Yahaba with twisted excitement.
"Let's have some fun before we catch them," Susamaru grinned, tossing her handball lazily.
"Thanks to Lord Muzan's blood, I'm feeling stronger than ever," she said gleefully.
Yahaba's smile turned cruel.
"Once we find them... let's break their limbs so they can't run anymore."
"Sounds perfect!" Susamaru laughed like a child. "I'll crush their bones with my handballs!"
"Lady Tamayo... they're getting closer," Yushiro warned.
"They've caught up already?" Tamayo muttered, a bitter smile crossing her face.
"Don't worry, Lady Tamayo," Yushiro said with firm determination. "I'll protect you."
"Don't push yourself too hard..."
"I won't fail," Yushiro interrupted. "I won't let anyone harm you."
From his pocket, Yushiro withdrew two small charms. Carefully, he placed one on himself and one on Tamayo.
In an instant, their figures seemed to shimmer and blur — becoming nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Moments later, Yahaba and Susamaru arrived at the same spot.
Yahaba halted abruptly.
"What? Why'd you stop?" Susamaru asked, frowning.
"Their trail ends here..." Yahaba murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Their presence... vanished."
"Vanished?" Susamaru snorted, tossing her handball playfully. "That just makes the game more fun!"
With a wicked grin, Susamaru hurled her handball forward.
The ball shot through the forest like a cannonball, smashing trees into splinters.
CRACK!
A severed arm tumbled to the ground.
"There!" Susamaru giggled. "I found them! Let's keep playing!"
In an instant, two more handballs appeared in her hands.
BOOM!
The balls struck the spot where the arm had fallen, tearing apart trees and earth alike.
"Sure enough... they're invisible," Yahaba muttered, watching closely as faint distortions flickered through the air — movements of the hidden figures dodging the relentless barrage.
"They must be using some sort of Blood Demon Art," Yahaba mused. "They're good at hiding, but... you're too reckless, Susamaru. If you keep bombarding the area like that, you might accidentally kill them before we can drag them to Muzan."
"And your obsession with your clean clothes is annoying," Susamaru scoffed, tossing another handball toward the shadows.
BOOM!
Dust filled the air like smoke.
Yahaba instinctively leapt back to avoid the dirt. "Look at this mess!" he complained. "My robes are filthy!"
"You're too uptight!" Susamaru laughed. "My handballs are the only reason we're tracking them at all!"
In the distance, a muffled scream rang out.
Moments later, Yushiro's flickering form appeared, clutching a tree for support. Blood seeped from a gaping wound in his side.
Tamayo held onto him, her face pale.
"They've found us..." Tamayo whispered anxiously.
"Hah! There they are!" Susamaru giggled like a delighted child.
Yushiro gritted his teeth, struggling to stand despite his injuries.
"Lady Tamayo... go on ahead. I'll hold them off."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Tamayo protested.
"It's fine," Yushiro insisted. Despite the searing pain and his broken leg, he forced himself upright. Blood dripped from his injured arm, but his determined gaze never wavered.
"I won't let anyone touch you," Yushiro vowed.
"Well, well... what a tough one," Susamaru sneered. "Maybe I should keep your head and toss it around like one of my handballs."
As she prepared to throw another attack, Yahaba's voice cut through the air.
"Wait... someone else is coming," he warned.
Glancing at his palm, Yahaba's embedded eye flickered with movement.
"Looks like... a ghost and a human? How strange..."
"Ghosts... working with humans?" Yahaba's expression darkened as a thought struck him.
"Could it be... that ghost who's allied with the Demon Slayer Corps?" Yahaba murmured, excitement flickering in his eyes.
"We're in luck."
In the Forest
The leaves rustled as two figures raced forward — a boy in a bamboo hat and a girl in a fox mask.
"Looks like there are plenty of demons ahead," Sam muttered, his golden eyes narrowing with excitement.
"It's time to fight again," Makomo said softly.
Beneath her fox mask, her eyes glimmered with determination.
"Fighting side by side with Sam... that sounds great."