Chapter 8 - 8: 08: The battle had officially begun

What the hell was that?! A supernatural ability?! Seeing the water demon control flowing water to form sharp blades, Takeo's pupils narrowed. He hadn't expected this. On top of their rapid regeneration, demons could also manipulate elements? Was this some kind of water-based technique? Is this demon a water bender or something?! Don't tell me every demon is like this! As the blades of water flew toward him, Takeo had no way to judge how powerful they were—so he didn't take the risk. He dodged to the side without hesitation. The demon slayer beside him made the same split-second decision, diving in the opposite direction. Both of them moved fast. In the next instant, the two blades of water tore through the space where they had just been standing and slammed into the stacked cargo behind them—wooden crates filled with porcelain. Crashhh—!!! The boxes were split in two like paper. Several toppled down, shattering their contents across the floor. The battle had officially begun. Now that the water demon had attacked, Takeo didn't waste a single breath on words. The moment he evaded the strike, he launched himself toward the demon. The demon slayer, seeing this, didn't hold back either. Just from that first slash when Takeo entered the cargo hold and struck at the water demon, it was already clear—he had what it took to fight a demon. And now, after easily dodging the demon's Blood Demon Art, his capabilities were even more evident. He might not have trained in any formal Breathing Technique, but this boy—young as he looked—was undeniably strong. The demon slayer wasn't foolish. He wasn't about to reject a capable ally in a situation like this. So when he saw Takeo charging at the demon again, the slayer raised his Nichirin sword and rushed in from the opposite direction, calling out a warning: "Watch out for his Blood Demon Art! He can control the water inside the ship!" Blood Demon Art? So that was what this demon's supernatural ability was called? Takeo noted it mentally and began deliberately avoiding the puddles scattered across the floor. Earlier, on his way into the cargo hold, he had noticed how damp the air smelled. He had chalked it up to being at sea—water was everywhere, after all. He hadn't realized the water itself was being created and manipulated by the demon. Now aware of the danger, Takeo weaved around the wet patches and resumed his charge. The water demon, meanwhile, raised both of its pale arms and opened its hands wide—each pointed directly at Takeo and the demon slayer. The water pooled on the floor began to ripple and writhe. And before there was even time to blink, it surged upward—forming multiple water arrows that shot out from the ground, targeting both Takeo and the demon slayer. Blood Demon Art: Water Arrows! Takeo had already been keeping a close eye on the puddles and reacted instantly, dodging to the side. But the arrows were too fast, and there were too many. A few of them grazed him, cutting shallow wounds across his arms and shoulders. Still, for Takeo, those minor scrapes meant nothing. Using the brief opening created by the demon's attack, he closed the gap and charged forward—raising his blade and slashing toward the demon's neck! The cold steel flashed— But the demon narrowly twisted out of range at the last second. "Kuhuhu~~ You brat," the demon sneered. "You think you can hit me a second time?" Its lower body, fluid and shifting like water, had coiled into a serpentine tail. With a whip-like motion, it used that tail to vault backward, creating space between them. From a distance, the demon let out a mocking laugh. But it didn't last. Because at that very moment, the demon slayer appeared—right at the demon's side! The demon slayer leapt high into the air, his blade wreathed in an invisible current. A massive slash of wind surged forward, roaring downward with the momentum to cleave the water demon in half. Wind Breathing, Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind! Takeo's eyes widened. "!?" The powerful burst of wind that exploded from the demon slayer's blade left him stunned. That surreal, otherworldly display of power proved beyond all doubt—this world really did have its own combat techniques and systems of training unique to humanity. Unfortunately… the demon slayer's strength still wasn't enough. The fearsome, howling wind blade, which had been aimed squarely at the demon's neck, missed by the narrowest of margins. Instead of severing its head, the attack only managed to slice off the demon's right arm. "Tch tch tch… How terrifying. As expected of a demon slayer. If I hadn't dodged just in time, you really might've taken my head off…" the water demon sneered. "But what a shame—you were this close!" Its grotesque grin widened. Dodging the demon slayer's strike, it immediately launched a counterattack. While the demon slayer was still midair and vulnerable, the demon manipulated the surrounding water in the hold. The liquid writhed like a living serpent, surging toward him to coil and bite down on its target. "Look out!" Takeo shouted. Seeing that the demon slayer was about to be entangled by the serpent-like water attack, Takeo immediately gave up his offensive on the water demon and changed course, rushing to his ally's side. Just as the water coils were about to wrap around the demon slayer, Takeo tackled him aside. Thud—roll… Clutching the demon slayer, the two of them tumbled across the floor, narrowly dodging the writhing water tendrils. They quickly separated and scrambled to their feet, both of them turning to face the demon once more. The water demon didn't follow up with another attack. Instead, it picked up its severed arm—the one the demon slayer had cut off—and placed it back against its shoulder. Within the blink of an eye, the limb reattached itself and fully regenerated. "…OK! Now that's just insane," Takeo muttered, unable to hold back a comment. The rate at which this thing could heal was ridiculous. Any injury Takeo inflicted on it would close up within seconds—while attacks it landed on him would take over ten minutes to heal, even with his enhanced regeneration. If it had been anyone else without that kind of ability, even killing the demon would come at a devastating cost. They'd be left half-dead, if not worse. "That's a demon for you," the slayer said grimly."Count yourself lucky this room is tight. He can't move at full speed in here…If he could, he'd be even harder to handle." The demon slayer spoke in a low voice. Demons far surpassed humans in physical ability. Their strength, speed, endurance, and resilience were all many times greater than that of ordinary people. Only by relying on Breathing Techniques could members of the Demon Slayer Corps barely manage to fight them on equal footing. Even then, a demon slayer's healing ability was still that of a normal human—it couldn't compare to a demon's regeneration. Especially when facing a demon with a Blood Demon Art, even a fully trained swordsman with mastery of a Breathing Style could still die. And the demon they were up against now… was exactly that—a high-ranking demon capable of using a Blood Demon Art. Someone like this should normally be dealt with by a group of demon slayers working together… but unfortunately, due to a lack of manpower and intel, only this one swordsman had been sent. And alongside him now—was just a kid with a bit of combat skill. "…So how do we kill it?" Takeo hadn't noticed the glance the demon slayer gave him—he was too focused on the problem at hand: how to kill something that could regenerate so absurdly fast. The demon slayer exhaled slowly and explained: "There are two ways. First—use the blade in my hand and sever his head." "Yeah, I've seen how well that's going for you. What's the second method?" "Ehm… Wait until sunrise." "Huh?" "Demons are weak to sunlight. If we can hold out until dawn… and break through the ceiling to let sunlight in, he's finished." The demon slayer revealed the two key weaknesses of demons. But upon hearing that, Takeo fell silent. Severing the demon's head clearly wasn't going to work—not with the slayer already wounded and the demon too fast. As for sunlight… It was barely past midnight—and it was winter, meaning sunrise would come even later. If they wanted to kill the water demon using the second method, they'd have to survive for at least six more hours. And against a demon this powerful—one who vastly outclassed both of them—not even one hour seemed likely, let alone six. The weight of the situation settled in. Takeo felt despair creeping up his spine. How were they supposed to win this? Headbutt him to death?