Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

The serpent demon's massive body twisted rapidly before shooting toward Zhou Yi like an arrow.

"You, a mere Mizunoto demon slayer, dare to run your mouth!"

The serpent demon's speed was so great that, to Obanai, it seemed to cover the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Watch out!" Little Obanai instinctively shouted.

Who would have thought that the young Snake Pillar was so eager to help others?

But Zhou Yi calmly blocked the serpent demon's attacks, even having the leisure to converse with Obanai.

"What's your name?"

"Iguro Obanai."

There was no doubt—it's him!

Seeing the unblemished face of the boy before him, Zhou Yi let out a sigh of relief. "Good, his face is still intact. If he'd been disfigured, my reward would be gone!"

Fighting while having time to chat with someone else?

Such arrogance!

The serpent demon was infuriated. Her attacks, which originally relied on venomous fangs and clawed arms, now incorporated her massive tail as well.

"Excellent! It's been a long time since I've been this angry!"

"I'll hang your body up, inject venom into you, and make you suffer until you die!"

Her attacks grew increasingly ferocious, quickly affecting those around them.

Whether it was due to the serpent demon's massive size or her near-invincible reputation over the centuries, the Iguro clan showed no intention of fleeing.

"Lord Serpent God, please defeat this intruder!"

"We're doomed! We'll need even more offerings to calm the Serpent God's wrath this time!"

"This swordsman is pretty skilled, though, to last this long."

"Idiot, Lord Serpent God hasn't even used her true power yet!"

This last remark seemed to provoke the serpent demon, pushing her into a frenzy, making her attacks even more reckless.

Despite her full-powered assault, it was completely ineffective. The demon slayer in front of her, ranked as a mere Mizunoto, blocked everything with impeccable precision.

This isn't good!

For the first time, a sliver of worry crept into the serpent demon's heart.

Centuries of comfort had dulled her fighting instincts. The so-called defeats she inflicted on powerful Demon Slayer swordsmen were tales from before she came to Hachijōjima Island. Over the past few centuries, she had consumed countless humans but made no progress in strength. She wasn't even close to becoming a Lower Moon, and staying stagnant was becoming impossible.

Outwardly ferocious but inwardly weak—this was the serpent demon's most accurate depiction.

When her offensive was dismantled once again, the serpent demon hesitated.

"You can't kill me. How about retreating now, and I'll let you live?"

Huh?

Hearing this proposal, Zhou Yi paused.

"Don't listen to her!" Obanai shouted urgently upon seeing Zhou Yi halt his movements.

In the future, Obanai would become a Pillar; his talent was undoubtedly exceptional. Even as a child, he could see through the situation of the battle—this serpent demon was at her limit!

"Hahaha! This is too funny!" Zhou Yi finally caught on and couldn't help but laugh aloud.

"It seems centuries of an easy life have muddled your mind. With demons like you who feast on humans, there's never room for compromise!"

With that, Zhou Yi turned to Obanai.

"Well, what do you say? Want to become a demon-slaying swordsman?"

Obanai, unable to move his limbs, could only nod furiously.

"I do!"

Good! Zhou Yi's early intervention hadn't caused Obanai to deviate from his destined path.

With a swift movement, Zhou Yi effortlessly saved Obanai.

"Then watch closely," Zhou Yi said, setting the boy down.

For the first time, he gripped his sword with both hands, ready to reveal his true skill.

The serpent demon was startled by Zhou Yi's sudden action.

Such speed!

"This guy has been hiding his strength all along!"

"No, I can't confront him head-on!"

Her snake-like eyes darted around, and in an instant, she came up with a plan.

If he's from the Demon Slayer Corps, then he must foolishly protect humans.

All I need to do is...

A sinister grin crept onto her face.

Such a brilliant idea! She was sure she could escape this time.

"Kid, I admit you're strong."

"But as a human, you have limits!"

Why did this line sound so familiar? Zhou Yi's mouth twitched. Are you going to stop being human too?

Wait a minute. You're a demon; you're not human at all!

The serpent demon quickly answered this unspoken question. She grabbed a nearby onlooker from the Iguro family.

"Don't move! Let me go, or I'll kill her!"

The plump woman she grabbed hadn't even processed what was happening. The very Serpent God she worshipped was now using her as a hostage!

Terrified, she broke down, tears and snot streaming as she cried out.

"Save me! Please, swordsman! Save me!"

Hissss—the serpent demon flicked her forked tongue, a smile spreading across her face.

Yes, just like that! The louder she screamed, the better!

This way, her opponent would hesitate!

While using a hostage to kill her enemy was tempting, the sharpness of Zhou Yi's eyes made her abandon the idea.

Terrifying! There was no way she could kill him.

Escaping was the smarter choice!

With her life spared, she could lie low and return to devouring humans once the heat died down. What a perfect plan!

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. Her grip tightened, her sharp claws sinking deep into the woman's flesh.

"No! Save me!" The obese woman, feeling the sharp pain in her neck, sobbed even more pitifully.

Zhou Yi remained unmoved, advancing step by step.

What's going on?!

The serpent demon was genuinely panicking now!

Pointing to the hostage in her grasp, she shouted, "Stop! Aren't you going to care about her life?! Isn't she one of your kind?!"

"No," Zhou Yi replied, his tone icy. "The moment she chose to aid and abey demon, she ceased to be one of us."

He was now within ten meters of the snake demon.

"I won't go out of my way to kill her," he continued. "But if she stands in the way of my duty to slay demons, I won't hesitate to send her on her way."

Zhou Yi assumed an attacking stance.

"No! Don't kill me!" the obese woman begged desperately. "I have a lot of money! Please, I beg you!"

The serpent demon was shaken by Zhou Yi's cold declaration. Panicking, she threw the hostage aside and turned to flee.

"If I can just get there!"

Behind her lay the area where she usually rested—a hidden passage beneath the ground awaited.

Five meters...

Three meters...

She was almost there!

The snake demon's face lit up with a triumphant grin.

"Haha! I made it!"

"Signature move: Tsubame Gaeshi!"

A terrifying killing intent erupted from behind her.

The space seemed to tear, and time itself felt as if it had paused.

Although there were twenty meters between her and Zhou Yi now, it was futile.

This was the pinnacle of human swordsmanship, a technique deserving of its legendary reputation.

"Even if you are a bird fleeing into the heavens, I will claim your head. And you, mere legless serpent, are no exception!"

Iguro Obanai had the privilege of witnessing this unparalleled technique firsthand.

With three swift strikes appearing out of nowhere, the serpent demon's head was severed from her body.

"Signature move: Tsubame Gaeshi... such... a perfect move," Obanai muttered. He had intended to say it was powerful, but that word seemed inadequate. After scouring his limited vocabulary, the only word he could settle on was "perfect."

Unavoidable. That was the essence of Tsubame Gaeshi.

The serpent demon was dead, while the obese woman miraculously survived.

"The serpent god is dead!"

"That swordsman actually killed the serpent god!"

The Iguro family members were momentarily left in chaos, leaderless.

Zhou Yi glanced at the serpent demon's corpse and clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Couldn't you have held out a little longer? I was hoping to take care of a real menace."

His voice carried a chilling indifference.

The words terrified the Iguro family members to their core.

"Run!" someone shouted, snapping the others out of their daze. Like a flock of startled birds, they scattered in all directions.

Soon, only Iguro Obanai and Zhou Yi were left in the room.

"Let's go. I'll take you somewhere else," Zhou Yi said, casually sheathing his sword.

"Wait! I need to bring a friend!" Obanai quickly straightened his clothes and cautiously made a small request.

"Be quick."

Zhou Yi had a good guess as to who this "friend" was.