Chapter 42

Looking at the long sword held by Giyu Tomioka, the blade, scabbard, and hilt were all a sea blue, while the tsuba was black and red. At first glance, it didn’t seem much different from an ordinary long sword.

However, since everyone else said that the swords of the Demon Slayer Corps all had the ability to kill demons, there must be something extraordinary about them.

On the contrary, Yuto’s long sword could only be described as old and worn. Although the blade was still relatively intact, the edge was already filled with various uneven notches, making it hard to believe that this sword could still cut anything.

The reason for this wasn’t that Yuto didn’t take care of his sword.

On the contrary, as the embodiment of the will of everyone in that village, Yuto was always very cautious when using this sword in battle.

However, even so, ordinary iron, combined with crude forging techniques, made the sword barely functional, especially when facing demons.

Demons’ bodies were inherently tough, and Yuto’s sword techniques were either as swift as the wind or as explosive as fire, causing significant damage to his weapon.

After slaughtering dozens of demons, even though Yuto was extremely careful with the long sword, after so many battles, the sword was nearly at its breaking point.

At this moment, Giyu Tomioka looked at Yuto with a serious expression, not even having the time to pay attention to Tanjiro and Nezuko.

Although they had only had a brief clash, Giyu Tomioka clearly felt that Yuto was a true strong opponent.

To be able to attack him and simultaneously snatch Nezuko from his hands, even though he was momentarily distracted, such strength was not to be underestimated.

Moreover, Giyu Tomioka did not look down on Yuto just because his long sword was old and worn. As a “Pillar” of the Demon Slayer Corps, he could clearly sense that Yuto’s worn long sword was imbued with the aura of many demons.

To be able to survive multiple battles against demons with such an ordinary long sword, Yuto’s strength was evident.

Most importantly, Giyu Tomioka had already sensed that Yuto was not an ordinary human.

“Who are you? Why do you have an aura similar to a demon’s?”

Giyu Tomioka looked at the handsome Yuto and asked directly, because he had never encountered someone like Yuto in all his time in the Demon Slayer Corps.

How to put it? Yuto’s current appearance was too rational!

Yes, too rational. People who had been demonized, whether ordinary demons or the so-called “Twelve Kizuki,” would all have some degree of extreme emotions and would go into a frenzy at the smell of blood.

But Yuto was too calm and rational. Instead of being attracted to his body, Yuto seemed more interested in the sword in his hand?

“There’s no point in talking. If you want to know what I am, just defeat me.

But if I win, the sword in your hand will become my trophy!”

Facing the more composed Giyu Tomioka, Yuto drew his sword and advanced, partly because he was very interested in the strength of the “Demon Slayer Corps.”

Partly because he really had the intention to rob, as without a “Sunlight Blade,” his demon-hunting efficiency was too slow.

His swift movements allowed Yuto to move through the snow as quickly as a fierce wind, closing the distance to Giyu Tomioka in an instant.

The sudden burst of speed not only allowed Yuto to quickly approach his opponent but also made his sword strikes faster under the terrifying acceleration!

Speed is power! Even a drop of water, under extreme acceleration, could pierce through rock!

Hearing the howl of the divine wind, the momentum of the swift wind cutting through, the technique was called “Swift as the Wind: Breaking Army!”

The moment the worn long sword was drawn, a swift wind blade shot out, and at that instant, Giyu Tomioka felt a near-death threat at close range.

However, as the “Water Hashira” of the Demon Slayer Corps, Giyu Tomioka was clearly not one of the cannon fodder demons Yuto had previously slain. As Yuto’s swift wind blade struck, Giyu Tomioka also drew his sword and leaped into the air, spinning his body.

“Water Breathing: Sixth Form: Rotating Whirlpool!”

By intensely twisting his body, Giyu Tomioka created a powerful water vortex with his blade, which then transformed into sharp and massive water blades that swept around him.

The Sixth Form of Water Breathing was not only a powerful clearing technique but also provided strong defensive capabilities with the water blades surrounding his body.

The rotating water blades met the swift wind blade in the air. The wind blade cut through the water, but the water was continuous, and they ultimately canceled each other out in the air.

Seeing the sword marks left on the snow and the surrounding trees, Giyu Tomioka looked at Yuto with a serious expression.

If Yuto hadn’t been using the Wind Breathing technique, Giyu Tomioka would have suspected that he was fighting his fellow “Nine Pillars,” the Wind Hashira Shinazugawa Tanjirou.

It was hard to imagine that someone could achieve such a level with their sword techniques alone, without mastering a breathing technique.

However, because of this, Giyu Tomioka’s resolve to deal with Yuto became even stronger.

Not only did Yuto have an aura similar to a demon’s, but his strength was also formidable. If left unchecked, he could become an enemy of the Demon Slayer Corps in the future, and many ordinary corps members might die at his hands.

“Water Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance!”

To keep up with the rapidly moving Yuto in the snow, Giyu Tomioka used the Third Form of Water Breathing. His body became like a stream, and his speed increased by more than two levels, leaving afterimages in the air as he moved!

The swift wind and surging water clashed in the snow at a speed that the human eye could not follow. The sound of their weapons colliding echoed through the forest.

Tanjiro, who was taking care of the injured Nezuko, watched the battle and was completely stunned.

Originally, this battle was no place for someone like him, an ordinary person.

But the kind-hearted Tanjiro thought that it was too much to abandon his savior and run away.

Moreover, the fierce Giyu Tomioka made Tanjiro believe that if Yuto couldn’t escape, he might be killed. So he hesitated to leave, hoping he could somehow help.