A Monster Against Demons

Upper Moon 4: Hantengu

Soaring through the sky, Monster Garou looks sharply at the ground for any sign of a recent battle. At that moment, he saw a wooden dragon breeze through the trees. Near the area was the same strong presence Garou felt at the start of the night. He drops down onto the area, all six fists raised. He looks around himself and sees a child-like demon with multiple drums on his back. Garou looked into his eyes and found what he was searching for. The kanji, "Upper 4" was visible. The demon looked at Monster Garou, visibly angry.

Zohakuten: "Who the hell are you?"

Monster Garou: "I'm the one that'll kill you, piece of shit."

Zohakuten scoffed and hit one of the drums on his back, conjuring a large wooden dragon that charged straight at Monster Garou. However, Garou quickly slashed it into pieces using Instant Attack.

Zohakuten: "Tch, how annoying.."

Zohakuten hit two drums, conjuring two wooden dragons behind him that aimed their mouths at Monster Garou.

Zohakuten: "Blood Demon Art: Crazed Cry of Thunder Death!"

The wooden dragons blast red lightning at Garou, destroying most of the environment around him. Monster Garou charges through the lightning and at the dragons. He rotates his fists in a circular motion while doing so, his six fists glowing.

Monster Garou: "Roaring Aura Sky Ripping Fist."

Monster Garou pierces through the lightning and strikes the dragons with two of his palms, absolutely obliterating the wooden dragons. Suddenly, a woman jumps into the air above Zohakuten and calls out.

"Love Breathing, Fifth Form: Swaying Love, Wildclaw!"

Garou turns around and sees ten wooden dragons being cut into pieces by the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji. Mitsuri then goes through the debris and tries striking at Zohakuten with her whip-like sword. Zohakuten's arms are cut off while Monster Garou is left there, confused. Mitsuri gracefully falls onto the ground, staring at the two.

Mitsuri: "..Another demon?"

Monster Garou looks at Mitsuri, then looks back at Zohakuten, remembering his goal. He strikes Zohakuten's abdomen with Ascending Attack, sending him flying through the trees. Mitsuri is visibly impressed by the technique, clapping her hands for Garou.

Mitsuri: "Woohoo! Bravo, bravo! I take it you're one of us then, even if you don't look like it..?"

Monster Garou raised his fists, getting into a fighting stance.

Monster Garou: "..I've learned not to underestimate demon slayers, you look strong, as well.."

Mitsuri: "Wait, wait! There's no need for us to fight, really!-"

Monster Garou disappears and reappears in front of Mitsuri in the blink of an eye, attempting to strike her with a chop. Mitsuri gracefully dodges and jumps backward into the air. Garou notices her sheer speed and a mark on her, similar to that of Muichiro's. Monster Garou made a "come at me" motion with his hands, taunting her. Mitsuri runs at him to the left, her breathing steady.

Mitsuri: "Love Breathing, Third Form: Catlove Shower!"

Mitsuri lept into the air and performed multiple arced slashes at Monster Garou in quick succession. Garou deflected each of the slashes with Instant Attack.

Monster Garou (mind): "..What the hell is 'Love Breathing'?"

With the technique failing, Mitsuri tries another.

Mitsuri: "Love Breathing, First Form: Shivers of First Love!"

Mitsuri dashes forward while in the air, her sword winding through the air toward Garou. However, the attack is intercepted by a wooden dragon coming in between Mitsuri and Garou.

Zohakuten: "I'm not done with you, slayers.."

One dragon went in front of Mitsuri and another dragon went in front of Monster Garou. They slowly opened their mouths.

Mitsuri: "This isn't good.."

Zohakuten: "Blood Demon Art: Compressed Sound Waves!"

A heavy shockwave blasts both Mitsuri and Monster Garou. Mitsuri gets sent back flying, while Garou uses his wings to remain in place. His vision slowly gets blurry as he holds on to the ground. He uses Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist to cut the dragon in half.

Monster Garou: "Seems that technique has gotten stronger ever since my Monsterfication.."

The dragon on Mitsuri's side turns to Monster Garou, ready to fire another blast at him, but before it does, Monster Garou utilizes Monster Calamity God Slayer Fist, Instant Atack to swiftly close the distance between them and destroy the dragon. He looks back at Mitsuri, who was on the ground a few meters back. He scoffs and runs toward Zohakuten, ready to kill him He quickly closes the distance between the Upper Moon Four and him.

Monster Garou: "Exploding Heart Release Fist."

Garou strikes Zohakuten's head. It strangely turns into dust and crumbles before Monster Garou. Zohakuten falls down, disintegrating slowly. "Was his technique that powerful?", Garou asked himself. Unbeknownst to Monster Garou, Tanjiro has slain Hantengu elsewhere, leading to Zohakuten's death. Monster Garou notices the sun slowly rising. He looks at Mitsuri, who stares in awe as Zohakuten crumbles in front of her. She runs off somewhere, but Monster Garou doesn't bother following her. His goal was completed here, so he slowly flapped his wings and soared through the sky once more, close to the ultimate goal of slaying all the Twelve Kizuki and eventually the Demon King himself.