Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

Around 2 a.m.

The faint rustling of wind through the trees echoed outside.

Then, a commotion broke the silence.

"Kehehehe! A clinic, of all places!"

"Master Dōma will surely love this!"

The demon made no effort to sneak in.

After numerous successful hunts, he had come to understand that no threats existed in this town.

Forget the Demon Slayer Corps; even the exorcist monks wouldn't be able to find him!

The demon approached the room lit by candlelight. The flickering glow revealed the silhouettes of two graceful young women.

"Magnificent! My instincts in the mountains were spot on!"

Even as a demon, some genetic impulses remain unshaken—such as an appreciation for beauty.

Throughout time, humans and demons alike have shared this sentiment.

Inside the room, the two figures huddled closer together, sensing the disturbance.

"Big sister, did you hear something strange outside?"

A timid voice quivered, filled with fear.

"Don't be scared. At this hour, who would be outside?" another voice comforted her.

What a close bond these sisters must have, the demon thought. Their cries will surely be delightful.

Sadistic thoughts bubbled up uncontrollably, and the demon could no longer hold back.

"Kehehehe! No one's outside, but there's a demon here!"

He adjusted his voice perfectly—loud enough for the girls to hear, but not for the neighbors to notice.

"Ahhh! Big sister!"

As the terrified screams of Kanae echoed, the demon swiped a claw and smashed open the door.

A black-haired, red-eyed demon appeared before the two sisters.

His left hand bore long, sharp claws that glimmered with a sinister purple hue.

This was the Claw Demon, a former member of the Eternal Paradise Faith Cult who had been turned into a demon by Dōma.

His main task was capturing women for Dōma's consumption.

His secondary mission, handed down by Muzan himself, was to search for the elusive Blue Spider Lily.

Ordinarily, demons were forbidden from forming alliances or communication. But under Muzan's orders, Dōma was an exception, permitted to have subordinates.

"Too noisy!"

The Claw Demon lunged forward, aiming to silence Kanae with his venomous claws.

But just as the claws were about to strike, a petite figure leapt down from the rafters.

It was Makomo, who had been lying in ambush all this time!

"I won't let you have your way!"

"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"

Utilizing her aerial advantage, Makomo's Water Wheel was faster and more powerful than ever.

Caught off guard, the Claw Demon lost his right arm in an instant.

"The Demon Slayer Corps? How are you here!?"

Clutching his smoldering wound, the Claw Demon stared at Makomo in shock.

The familiar Demon Slayer uniform and iconic Nichirin blade left no doubt about her identity.

Makomo ignored him, focusing on ensuring the Kocho sisters could escape.

"You two, run! Leave this to me."

"Be careful!" Kanae, still shaken, mustered her courage and led her younger sister out of the room.

Makomo kept her gaze locked on the Claw Demon, preventing him from making any moves to stop them.

"Damn it! You let Dōma-sama's food escape!" the Claw Demon roared, his face contorted with rage, sharp teeth bared.

"Dōma? Never heard of him. Whoever he is, he can't save you!" Makomo replied coldly as she closed in, slashing her blade at him.

Clang!

Clang!

Makomo's Nichirin blade collided with the Claw Demon's intact left hand, producing harsh metallic sounds.

What an unbelievably tough hand!

Makomo's strikes left no marks on his claw.

"Kehehehe! Surprised? My left hand is extraordinarily special!"

"Ordinary blades can't even scratch it!"

No wonder the Claw Demon acted so recklessly, barging in through the front door—he had a clear advantage.

The battle continued, the two exchanging over ten rounds.

Makomo's agility gave her a slight edge.

But suddenly, the Claw Demon surged forward, knocking Makomo back.

In the brief pause, he activated his regenerative abilities, and the severed arm regrew instantly.

"This isn't good. When he lost his right arm earlier, he was off-balance, giving me an advantage. Now it's going to be much harder," Makomo thought, concerned.

Her fears were valid. With his right arm restored, the Claw Demon's strength had significantly increased.

In their next exchanges, neither gained a clear upper hand.

"Kehehehe! Did you think I was just some random weakling?"

"To fulfill my mission, I received a great gift from... that great lord!"

"Just a few drops of his blood!"

Growing cocky, the Claw Demon nearly let slip the forbidden name, reveling in his newfound power.

"Hmph! So what if it's just a few drops?"

Makomo sneered at the arrogance of the Clawed Demon.

"Power gifted by others will always be an illusion, like flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water!"

Her words struck a nerve in the Claw Demon. His pitch-black face flushed faintly, and the resentment around him grew heavier by the second.

"How dare you look down on me!"

"Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to grow stronger?!"

"You gifted ones will never understand!"

The Claw Demon grew hysterical, wildly swinging his left hand and wrecking the small hut into chaos. Makomo could only dodge again and again.

"Die already!"

In the cramped space, the Claw Demon saw an opening and thrust his claw toward Makomo's only escape route.

"As expected, fighting head-on in such a place is too risky."

"What?"

Makomo's calm demeanor in the face of danger struck fear into the Claw Demon, who had assumed victory was within his grasp.

"Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool!"

A surge of immense power radiated from Makomo's blade, generating a violent whirlpool. The spinning force morphed into razor-sharp edges, tearing at everything around them. Her fierce assault was relentless!

The Claw Demon barely steadied himself, managing to fend off the attack. Just as he sighed in relief, thinking he had survived the worst, he realized how naive he was.

With a thunderous crash, the hut was torn to shreds, transforming the confined room into an open field.

"I will take your head here and now!"

Makomo held her sword in both hands, leveling it beside her ear with its tip aimed at the Claw Demon, her killing intent palpable.

The Claw Demon finally grasped the severity of his situation.

"Looks like I've met my match!"