Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

With flames surging like an explosion, Zhou Yi charged toward Dōma.

The pale mist was scattered by the air currents around him, revealing Dōma's figure and his distorted face.

"How dare you! I'll make you regret this!"

Zhou Yi's taunt had thoroughly enraged Dōma.

No more pretenses! No more holding back! This Upper Moon demon wasn't going to take it easy anymore!

Dōma was thrilled at Zhou Yi's bold charge.

"You'll regret your recklessness!"

"Blood Demon Art: Barren Hanging Garden!"

With a swing of his fan, Dōma unleashed an attack imbued with frost.

The "Barren Hanging Garden" consisted of nine consecutive strikes, each carrying bone-chilling cold.

To Dōma, there was no way Zhou Yi's mere Unknowing Fire could withstand such an assault!

But people are not all the same.

Zhou Yi's strength far surpassed that of any Hashira Dōma had ever faced.

He was simply too powerful!

The system had already fully updated, and Zhou Yi's Heroic Spirit inheritance progress had reached a terrifying 53%.

Not even the nine-strike combo of Barren Hanging Garden could hold off his Unknowing Fire.

Fortunately for Dōma, his quick reflexes allowed him to dodge, escaping with only half of his white robe burned and his head slightly singed.

This brat was not normal!

Even Dōma, confident after nearly a century of smooth victories, began to waver.

No one had ever countered his Blood Demon Art like this!

That confidence was quickly shattered by Zhou Yi's overwhelming display of power, reduced to ashes.

"Who are you?!" Dōma shouted, disheveled.

"I'm just a passing Water Hashira—Zhou Yi," came the answer, the words instinctively leaving Zhou Yi's lips as if etched into his DNA.

Water Hashira?

Since when did the Demon Slayer Corps get this creative?!

What kind of Water Hashira uses Flame Breathing?!

"You must be wondering why a Water Hashira knows Flame Breathing."

Seeing Dōma nod, Zhou Yi continued.

"Apologies. I'm just well-learned and happen to know a bit about Flame Breathing."

He twirled his invisible blade, showing off a few flashy moves.

"Tch, it's nothing impressive."

Dōma obviously didn't believe him and seized the moment to launch another Blood Demon Art.

"Blood Demon Art: Cold White Princesses!"

Dōma's Blood Demon Art specialized in long-range attacks. Against weaker opponents, he could rely on close combat for flair, but this opponent clearly wasn't someone his flashy tricks could handle.

Two white lotuses formed, their centers containing delicate ice sculptures of young maidens.

The ice maidens had closed almond-shaped eyes and slightly parted lips, exhaling bursts of frosty mist.

Wherever the mist touched, a thick layer of ice formed instantly.

"What a vicious technique." Zhou Yi reacted quickly, leaping out of the frosty mist's range.

Good!

This was Dōma's plan: to create distance.

"Blood Demon Art: Frozen Clouds!"

"Blood Demon Art: Wintry Icicles!"

Two Blood Demon Arts launched consecutively!

The temperature plummeted further. The frozen crystals of Frozen Clouds spread faster under the added chill, while the Wintry Icicles conjured sharp icicles above Zhou Yi's head, ready to fall.

Dōma, as Upper Moon Two, proved his prowess with this barrage of Blood Demon Arts.

But unfortunately for him, his opponent was Zhou Yi.

"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"

Blazing flames surged around Zhou Yi.

Sizzle!

The heavy ice pillars descended, but upon meeting the fire, they let out sharp hisses.

"It's useless! My ice pillars aren't something your feeble flames can melt!"

Dōma couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

But not all flames are created equal.

"At least my flames burn hotter than you think."

As the fire and mist dissipated, Zhou Yi's lean figure came into view.

Sizzle, sizzle.

The icy crystals within five meters of Zhou Yi instantly vaporized into mist upon approach.

Realizing this, Dōma understood the fight wouldn't be easy.

In the past, those who used fire couldn't withstand his Blood Demon Arts.

And those who could resist his techniques usually suffocated from inhaling too many icy crystals.

Yet this Water Hashira wielding flames seemed flawless, perfectly countering him.

"So it seems Lord Muzan was right to send me here. If I don't eliminate you quickly, you'll become a grave threat to us demons."

Dōma dropped all pretense. His expressionless face revealed no trace of emotion, and even his voice carried no warmth.

He was preparing his ultimate technique.

"You should feel honored. No one has ever survived after witnessing this move."

"Blood Demon Art: Rime — Water Lily Bodhisattva!"

Dōma's ultimate move.

A massive ice statue resembling a seated Buddha with hands in prayer appeared. Its enormous size alone was imposing, and a mere wave of its hand carried devastating force. It could also release a massive area of toxic frost while maintaining extraordinary speed.

Dōma stood on the Buddha's shoulder, staring coldly at Zhou Yi.

"Don't even think about running. If you take one step back, I'll slaughter everyone here. I mean it."

To ensure his victory, he resorted to threats.

Zhou Yi gazed at the towering ice statue in awe.

"Why do I feel like his IQ suddenly went up?"

"Now do you understand what it means to fear death?"

Unfazed, Zhou Yi sheathed his weapon and began his performance.

"I'm not the invincible swordsman,Jūbei."

"I'm not the one praised as a master of espionage, Hanzō."

"I'm not the renowned caster Abe-no-Seimei...."

A string of cryptic incantations flowed from Zhou Yi's mouth.

Dōma's entire being trembled with unease, his cells screaming at him to run.

At the same time, a flash of unfamiliar memories streaked through his mind.

"1,800 shattered pieces… a red haori… a demon slayer swinging his blade… and those unyielding eyes!"

Gripping his head in agony, Dōma muttered, "Why… why am I afraid?! This isn't my memory! This is… Lord Muzan's memory!"

The demon slayer in his memories had the same piercing gaze as Zhou Yi.

Without giving Dōma time to react, Zhou Yi chanted on.

"Upon one's arrival are countless tools."

"Carved over a thousand blades, forming a pile of swords...."

As Zhou Yi concluded his incantation, the world around them shifted, drawing Dōma into another dimension—Zhou Yi's Reality Marble.

"The heart of the blade is right here!"

"Take this, This is my Tsumukari Muramasa!!!"

A crimson blade materialized in Zhou Yi's hand, which he swung with devastating power.

The heavens and earth seemed to tremble, and the massive ice statue shattered like paper.

Dōma himself was torn apart into fragments.

This was Zhou Yi's newfound Heroic Spirit inheritance: Senji Muramasa.