𝙠𝙣𝙮, 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚

04. Inferior

"[name]-san!" Tanjiro yelled out as he watched the heated battle between [name] and Akaza. He felt inferior then as he watched [name] being able to go up against Akaza, only to have the Upper Moon Three to be smirking in response at how [name] was moving.

"If I remember, we do have someone new rising up the ranks as well. His movements seem to be similar to yours," Akaza commented, and his eyes could only widen then at the gentle smile on [name]'s face that still remained.

"Well, that's probably my senior, Ryuu! Glad to see he is still alive and has yet to be killed yet," [name] said with the smile on her face still, and Akaza had an irked mark on his forehead as he got irritated with the name was behaving.

She was smiling, despite her strong battle spirit and how irritated she actually was. Rather surprised that he has encountered someone who could hide her emotions very well.

"[name]-san! Look out!" Tanjiro yelled as he sliced Akaza's foot that was coming to kick her on the side. [name] watched with her eyes widened then as Tanjiro was immediately kicked back, and he crashed badly against the walls of the cabin.

"Tanjiro!" she yelled out, only to pay attention to Akaza before her.

"[name]? That's your name? What a splendid name to remember," Akaza spoke out with a smirk as [name] was running out of stamina then. She wasn't used to fighting in such a confined space, and she could only think about how to lure Akaza out of the cabin.

She could hear Tanjiro groaning in pain, and [name] could only grit her teeth in response as she tried to catch a glimpse of Tanjiro, hoping that he was alright. She couldn't see Tanjiro in any way and she turned to look at the Upper Moon Three, and her eyes widened once more.

For his face was just right in front of hers, and it was only a few centimeters apart. [name] could only groan in pain then as she felt her stomach being punched harshly and she was sent flying to the side with ease.

Tanjiro slowly got up from where he was and his dark red eyes could only widen then at the bloodied state [name] was in. He watched as Akaza picked [name] up by the head, using his hand to grab her head and lifted her up. As if she was just a doll, and he watched as [name] dropped her nichirin blade.

"I can turn you into a demon, and you will survive, [name]," Akaza spoke out, and he watched as [name] gritted her teeth together, and the smile still remained on her face still.

"As I said, Akaza, over my dead body," she spat out despite the smile on her face.

"Then, I should just kill you since you don't want to become a demon," Akaza spoke out and Tanjiro's eyes widened then as he lunged forward, only to have Akaza easily dodging his attack. Tanjiro started to panic as he managed to leave a gash on [name]'s leg by accident.

"Oh? You injured your comrade, Kamado Tanjiro," Akaza taunted as he easily kicked the distracted Tanjiro, sending him back. Tanjiro gritted his teeth as his back slammed against the wall once more and he stood up with shaky legs, wielding his nichirin blade in his hands still.

"Don't... Don't touch [name]-san like that..." Tanjiro muttered out as he watched Akaza raising his hand. His dark red eyes could only widen as he tried to take a step forward as he noticed Akaza was using his Blood Demon Art.

"Blood Demon Art: Obliteration Style!" and he watched as [name] struggled against his hold as he raised his free hand. He sent his punch straight at [name]'s soon to be the limp body with a wide smirk on his face then.

"[NAME]-SAN!" Tanjiro yelled out as the dust started to rise and covered his vision. He tried to move forward, but he couldn't. He was too weak right now against the Upper Moon Three. He could only bite his lips then as the dust cleared, and his dark red eyes widened.