Chapter 39: Escape

The demons' unusual collective activity was clearly aimed at Haru. However, the demons had mistaken Tanjiro for Haru.

Tanjiro quickly realized why they had confused him for Haru—because of the fox-style disaster-prevention mask he was wearing, similar to Haru's.

Tanjiro's thoughts raced, and within a single breath, he came up with a bold plan.

"I'll create a bloody path, you all hurry up and carry Zenitsu and run down the mountain!" Tanjiro whispered his instructions to the boys with him.

Upon hearing this, the boys quickly moved behind Tanjiro, one of them picking up Zenitsu to carry him.

At the moment the group moved, the demons realized Tanjiro's intentions, and the demons behind them immediately launched an attack on everyone but Tanjiro.

Ten demons pounced at Tanjiro and the others. In this critical moment, Tanjiro recalled Haru's encouraging words, and with newfound confidence, he unleashed the Water Breathing technique, Third Form, Flowing Dance.

Water Breathing, Third Form, Flowing Dance

By using footwork and rapidly moving his body, Tanjiro attacked the demons in a fluid, dance-like motion, hence the name "Flowing Dance."

As Tanjiro activated Water Breathing, Third Form, Flowing Dance, his body swiftly moved like flowing water, weaving between the demons. As the demons drew near, Tanjiro's sword, the Nichirin Blade, cut through the "gaps" with precision.

The blade's glow flashed across each demon's eyes, and as the light dissipated, the heads of all ten demons were severed by Tanjiro.

Tanjiro stood there, looking at the ten demon heads he had just cut off, his heart racing in excitement. He had accomplished what he thought was impossible.

Because of Haru's presence, Tanjiro's achievements had always been overshadowed, and he had often doubted himself.

While Tanjiro was still in awe of his own actions, a dangerous scent suddenly triggered his senses, snapping him out of his shock.

"Run!" Tanjiro immediately shouted.

The group quickly began to run down the mountain. They hadn't expected Tanjiro to be so strong, but then again, since Tanjiro and Haru were from the same school, how bad could Tanjiro really be?

As the group began to flee, a large number of demons appeared from behind them, charging in pursuit with a menacing, almost frenzied pace. The sight was like the opening of a death march.

Tanjiro looked back and took a sharp breath, calculating that there were at least fifty demons chasing them.

These demons were like rabid dogs, madly chasing after Tanjiro and the others.

"Haru, is this the trouble you caused?! We're really going to get killed!" Tanjiro ran frantically, inwardly complaining. If he had known this would happen, he would never have tried to find Haru. Now he was mistaken for Haru by all these demons.

At that moment, the boy carrying Zenitsu twisted his ankle while running, causing both him and Zenitsu to tumble to the ground.

The boy instinctively tried to get back up, but the pain from his twisted ankle prevented him from standing again.

Tanjiro abruptly stopped, but the other boys didn't slow down and continued rushing down the mountain.

Tanjiro knew he couldn't stop them, so he stopped worrying about them and turned back to help the injured boy and Zenitsu, who had fainted.