NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Ice Breathing
"Sorry, senior sister Makomo. I ran into a few small fries on the way and dealt with them, so I got held up a bit."
Zhou Yi, now standing at 1.7 meters tall, was just the right height for Makomo to lean her head against his chest. He gently wiped the dirt off her face.
The fused claw demon stood frozen in place, cold sweat pouring down his body. He hadn't even noticed Zhou Yi's presence. If the man hadn't revealed himself, the demon wouldn't have survived until dawn!
Wait
"Senior sister?"
"On the road?"
A terrifying realization dawned on the demon.
"Y-You're that Hashira who's been slaughtering demons all the way here?"
"You're... this girl's junior?"
"Oh, are you talking about the Demon Slayer Corps member who came here from Hachijōjima Island? That should be me. But I'm not a Hashira yet—probably will be after the next meeting." Zhou Yi spoke nonchalantly, as if everything was perfectly natural. "Besides, who else would dare hold my senior sister like this?"
Makomo smacked his chest playfully.
"You're so full of yourself!"
Hearing this, the fused claw demon was on the verge of tears.
Why was he so unlucky? He had deliberately taken a longer route, yet still ran into this? What kind of karmic debt was this?
A monster whose one day of training equaled others' four years—and a soon-to-be Hashira at that!
"What do we do? Should we risk everything? I can't stand these arrogant prodigies!"
"Are you out of your mind? This guy's clearly a Hashira-level demon slayer!"
"Then what's the point? We're dead anyway. Might as well take one down with us!"
As the claw demons argued amongst themselves, Makomo broke the tension.
"Leave this one to me! Junior, just back me up."
"Alright, senior sister."
Hearing their conversation, the fused claw demon saw an opportunity.
"No way! That's too unfair for me!"
"Kill me if you want, but if you want this girl to fight me one-on-one, you'll have to agree to one condition."
When it came to shamelessness, you could always count on demons.
They kept pushing the limits.
Even Zhou Yi, who had seen it all, was momentarily stunned.
This guy had no shame—like a pig unbothered by boiling water.
Since he was doomed anyway, he figured he might as well use this chance to bargain.
Zhou Yi didn't outright refuse. Instead, he asked with interest, "Go ahead, let's hear it. If it's not unreasonable, I might just agree."
"If I win, you'll let me go! Of course, I promise not to kill your senior sister!"
The claw demon plopped down on the ground, looking as if he'd die right there if Zhou Yi didn't agree.
"Alright! Deal!" Zhou Yi agreed without hesitation, not even furrowing his brow.
He had complete faith in his senior sister. If she was willing to suggest it, she must have absolute confidence.
Makomo didn't hold back either. Stepping forward, her demeanor shifted from joyful to cold.
"One move. I'll defeat you in one move."
Too arrogant!
The complete-form claw demon had never encountered someone so overconfident.
"Hmph! Beating me might be possible, but taking me down in a single move? Dream on!"
"Bring it!"
The demon readied itself, its metallic claws gleaming as it crossed them. It lowered its center of gravity, preparing a comprehensive defense.
"Let me warn you: after merging, my physical strength is several times greater than before. Your earlier moves won't even scratch me!"
Feeling he had the upper hand, the complete-form claw demon even offered Makomo a warning.
"Thanks, but I'll make sure you die painlessly," she replied flatly.
The demon was speechless. Why were youngsters these days so brash?
Not like him in his youth—so calm and steady!
Resigned, the demon consoled itself.
"As long as I survive this move, we can escape and report this to Lord Dōma. Let him deal with these two!"
To him, defeating him in one move was sheer fantasy.
If she could kill me in a single strike, turn me, a former Lower Moon Five, into dust in one move, I'll lie down in the sun for her to watch!
Makomo sheathed her blade, took a deep breath, and prepared her strike.
The sun was almost up. The demon noticed this too.
"Hey, you're not stalling for time until the sun rises, are you?!"
The demon started to protest but immediately stopped when Zhou Yi gave him a cold glare.
"Of course not. That's beneath me."
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"Ice Breathing: First Form — Snow Moon Flower!"
Makomo exhaled a frosty breath, bent slightly, her left hand on the scabbard, right hand gripping the hilt.
With a quick dash forward, her blade arced through the air, carrying a bone-chilling frost. The strike was adorned with blooming snow-like petals, glimmering in the icy air.
"Ice Breathing?"
Zhou Yi was surprised. When did his senior sister learn this move?
He watched leisurely from the side, but the demon facing her wasn't so relaxed.
The claw demon felt the oppressive presence of the snow petals surrounding him. Each one seemed like the blade itself, wielded by the swordswoman.
"Watch out for the snowflakes! They're strange!"
"Of course I know! These people love their flashy moves to show off their superiority!"
The demon swung its claws desperately, scattering the snow petals. After much effort, it managed to cut down all of them.
Panting, it yelled,
"Hah... hah... I've blocked it! Now, let me go as promised!"
"Blocked it? Sure, you can leave," Zhou Yi said calmly. "But can you even move now?"
What?
The demon felt a sudden chill spread through its body.
It tried to lift its legs and run but found its lower body completely numb.
"What's going on? What's happening to me?!"
Makomo's cold voice answered,
"The true killing blow was in the snowflakes you slashed."
The demon's eyes widened in horror.
Indeed, Snow Moon Flower appeared to strike with the blade, but the real danger lay in the scattered snow petals.
The petals were unimaginably cold. When shattered, they clung to the body, rapidly draining its heat.
"In the end, you'll turn into a giant block of ice."
As Makomo spoke, the demon's body began to freeze. It struggled but could only cry out in despair as it transformed into an ice sculpture.
"No... this can't be... I was so close..."
The rising sun cast its rays, piercing through the frozen demon.
Ice and fire, a blend of agony and serenity—a poetic demise.
"Senior Sister, that move was amazing!" Zhou Yi exclaimed.
"Hehe, want me to teach you?"
"No need, I've already learned it!" Zhou Yi grinned and suddenly took off toward the village.
As expected, an enraged Makomo chased after him.
Under the morning sun, the pair had already far exceeded their mission's goals.