Chapter 47: Decisive Strike

Tanjiro never expected his Nichirin blade to break. In the next instant, he was momentarily stunned.

"Chichi chichi~ My neck has been specially reinforced! Your sword is broken—you have no chance now!" Hand Demon reveled in his supposed victory, as if both Haru and Tanjiro were already his prey.

Seeing Tanjiro's shattered blade, Haru didn't hesitate. He immediately tossed his Demon-Slaying Blade toward him.

"Tanjiro, catch!" Haru called out.

Tanjiro saw the blade flying toward him and instinctively reached out.

The Hand Demon's smug expression froze instantly.

"I won't let you succeed!" the Hand Demon sneered, forming an additional arm with all his strength.

That arm clenched into a fist and hurled itself straight at Tanjiro's head.

This was the same attack the Hand Demon had used to kill Urokodaki Sakonji's strongest disciple years ago. Back then, just like Tanjiro now, that boy's Nichirin blade had snapped upon striking the demon's neck.

The Hand Demon intended to repeat history—finishing Tanjiro in the exact same way.

"Die!" the Hand Demon spat venomously.

But Tanjiro showed no fear. Instead, he took a deep breath and charged forward, using his forehead to directly collide with the demon's fist.

Boom

A dull thud echoed. Tanjiro's iron-hard skull smashed against the demon's fist.

This was Tanjiro's advantage—his unbelievably tough head. The demon's punch had no effect on him.

At that moment, Tanjiro twisted his body mid-air and firmly grasped Haru's Demon-Slaying Blade.

Using the demon's arm as a bar, he swung himself forward, landing on top of it.

Then, with a fierce determination, he rushed toward the Hand Demon's neck.

Water Breathing—First Form: Water Surface Slash

Wielding Haru's Demon-Slaying Blade, Tanjiro unleashed his technique once more.

In the blink of an eye, the blade struck the Hand Demon's neck.

"Hah! It's useless! You couldn't cut me the first time, and the second time will be no different! Hahaha!"

The Hand Demon remained unfazed, convinced that no matter how many chances Tanjiro had, the outcome would stay the same.

"This time, I'll crush your skull completely! Just like I did to that other brat!"

"You're wrong. You won't get another chance!" Tanjiro's eyes burned with resolve. "I won't betray Haru-senpai's trust!"

Fueled by unwavering determination and the unparalleled sharpness of the Demon-Slaying Blade, Tanjiro pressed forward. The moment his words fell, the blade cut deep into the Hand Demon's reinforced neck, sending a spray of water-like energy into the air.

"Impossible!" The Hand Demon panicked as he felt the blade sink into his flesh.

"Die!!" Tanjiro roared.

Water splashed in all directions as the impossibly sharp blade cleaved through the demon's neck with a clean, decisive stroke.

Tanjiro, unable to control his momentum, fell swiftly to the ground.

The Hand Demon's severed head, detached from its body, rolled onto the dirt.

It was over.