Justice is Blind |『 Female OC 』• Kimetsu no Yaiba

Act 36: A Shiver in the Dark

*Drip*

*Drip*

The air crackled with tension so thick it felt like a storm on the verge of breaking. Blood dripped from Akira's knuckles, staining the stone floor beneath him, but he barely registered the pain.

His entire focus was locked on Nozomi, standing a short distance away, sneering with a sickeningly calm expression that sent a wave of fury rippling through Akira's body. For what felt like the hundredth time in this battle, Akira clenched his fists, the leather wrappings around his nichirin knuckles creaking under the pressure.

His muscles screamed in protest, his lungs burned with every ragged breath, and his vision blurred at the edges. But none of that mattered. Not now. Not when the monster responsible for his parents' death stood right in front of him.

Akira's breath came out in harsh gasps as he narrowed his eyes, focusing on the way Nozomi shifted his weight ever so slightly, preparing to dodge. But Akira wasn't giving him a chance this time. Without warning, he exploded into motion.

His fist flew through the air with a speed that defied even his previous movements. "Light Breathing Second Form-" he said, but the end of his form name never left his lips. His body moved faster than words as he zigzagged and closed the distance between them in an instant.

*Crack*

*Bam*

The sound of flesh and bone breaking echoed through the air as Akira's fist connected with Nozomi's arm. The demon's eyes widened in shock, his mocking smile vanishing as his entire arm was blasted clean off his body, the force of Akira's punch tearing through flesh and skin like paper.

Nozomi stumbled back, blood spraying in a wide arc as he leapt away to put distance between them. He landed a small distance away, his feet skidding against the stone, his severed arm twitching uselessly on the ground where Akira stood.

*Drip*

*Drip*

But the slayer didn't move. His knuckles dripped with blood, both his own and the demon's, as he stood panting, his eyes locked onto Nozomi. For a brief moment, silence fell between them.

Then, Nozomi let out a low chuckle, his expression twisting into a wicked grin despite the gaping wound at his side. His amber eyes gleamed with amusement as if the pain of losing his arm was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Impressive," Nozomi said softly, his voice dripping with condescension. "But look at you... you're reaching your limits, aren't you?" he asked, taking a step forward, his severed stump already regenerated. "Your body is falling apart," he added with a smirk.

Akira opened his mouth to reply, but his body betrayed him before he could speak. A sharp pain surged through his chest, and he doubled over slightly, coughing violently. Blood splattered from his lips, a bright crimson that he wiped away with the back of his hand.