Demon Slayer: Tanjiro becomes a ghost, Nezuko becomes a pillar!

Chapter 36 The Hand Ghost

Mizuko's grip on the Nichirin Blade tightened suddenly, and her brows furrowed instantly beneath the mask.

She hadn't expected that this evil spirit would know Master Urokodaki, and a sense of vigilance immediately rose in her heart.

With the help of the moonlight, Nezuko was able to clearly see the appearance of the evil spirit.

It was enormous, with two thick arms encircling its neck, golden cross-shaped pupils, and several arms on its body.

Given this difference in size, the terrifying aura emanating from this hand ghost was far stronger than that of any other ghost she had encountered.

This ghost... is very strong, even stronger than that monk ghost!

Ni Douzi's heart raced, and a bead of sweat appeared on his palms.

This is likely to be a fierce battle, especially on Zenitsu's side...

Thinking of this, Mizuko was about to turn around and ask the chosen one she had just rescued to help Zenitsu.

But when she looked over, she realized that the selector had slipped away at some point.

Mizuko was somewhat taken aback, but at that moment, the intense sensory stimulation urged her to move aside.

Without the slightest hesitation, she swiftly flashed away.

"Bang—!"

A deafening roar erupted as the large tree she had just hidden under was smashed in two by the suddenly extended arm of the Hand Ghost.

"Kid, I'm asking you a question, why aren't you answering me?"

The Hand Demon withdrew his arm, staring at Ni Douzi with fierce eyes.

Mizuko did not answer, but instead used her senses to observe the hand demon's weaknesses.

"Looks like you're not going to tell me, what a boring brat."

The Hand Ghost chuckled, his tone full of disdain.

"But that's understandable; only that guy's disciple would wear such an eyesore of a fox mask!"

It completely ignored Mi Douzi's wary gaze and continued talking to itself, while the two thick arms around its neck suddenly opened up and down.

It unexpectedly formed a strange, wrinkled "mouth" shape on its chest.

The Hand Ghost slowly raised one arm and probed its rough fingers into the strange "mouth".

A moment later, it let out a smug chuckle.

"Oh! Found it!"

The next second, in the sudden contraction of Midouzi's pupils, the Hand Demon pulled out more than a dozen fox masks.

The masks were exactly the same as the one on her face, except that some were missing corners and others had dark brown marks on them, clearly remnants of a bloody battle.

"Let me count, one, two, three... thirteen!"

The Hand Demon spread the mask out in front of him, fiddling with it as if showing off a trophy.

"Thirteen brats! They're all that guy's disciples!"

As it counted, it squinted its eyes, as if reliving those bloody past events.

Looking at the mottled masks, Midouzi felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an icy hand.

Thirteen...thirteen vibrant senior brothers and sisters.

They came to Fujikasane Mountain full of hope, but ended up like this, with even their masks becoming toys for the Hand Demon.

Anger and chill instantly swept over her entire body. Mizuko gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly, her lips beneath the mask forming a sharp arc.

He then took a deep breath, and the concentrated airflow exploded in his chest cavity.

"Hoo! Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"

A clear shout pierced the deathly silence of the forest, and Mi Douzi's figure suddenly transformed into a nimble phantom, like a stream.

The Nichirin Blade, accompanied by a spray of azure waves, slashed towards the Hand Demon's head.

"Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry, let me find them for you. There are two masks that I remember very clearly."

The Hand Demon completely ignored Mizuko's attack, and its many arms, like giant pythons, attacked Mizuko.

With her senses amplified and empowered by the Third Form, Nezuko continuously severed the Hand Demon's arms while dodging attacks from the other arms.

For a moment, Midouzi was unable to get close to the Hand Demon.

No, I can't get close enough to cut its neck!

Midouzi continuously utilizes the movement characteristics of Liuliuwu, transforming her body into a flowing stream to move, attack, and dodge.

But just as she had initially thought, the Hand Demon was the strongest one she had encountered so far.

Even if one of its arms is cut off, the arm will regenerate quickly.

This caused Mizuko's attack to come to a standstill for a moment.

But the Hand Demon seemed to be a manipulator, completely ignoring how many times Nezuko would cut off its arm.

He was just rummaging through those masks on his own.

It quickly exclaimed, "Found it! Come and see, come and see!"

Like a child, the Hand Demon merged several arms into two and fiercely grabbed at Midouzi.

Mizuko was startled and quickly swung her Nichirin Blade to slash, but sparks flew the moment the blade touched her arm.

Midouzi immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly sheathed his sword, creating some distance between himself and the enemy.

[It's hardened?] After creating some distance, Nezuko raised her Nichirin Blade and looked at it, only to find that the attack had actually left a nick in the blade.

[Thank goodness I sheathed my sword, otherwise that attack would have broken my Nichirin Blade!]

Mizuko was glad she had held back, but when she looked up and saw the two masks in the Hand Demon's hands...

Her pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart skipped a beat!

"The owner of this mask, let me think... oh right, it's a little girl, wearing a short kimono with a plum blossom pattern. Although she's small, she's extremely agile; I almost couldn't catch her!"

The Hand Demon held up a fox mask with a plum blossom pattern and began to explain in detail.

Midouzi stared at the mask, her pupils trembling uncontrollably beneath it.

Makomo's innocent smile and the way she patiently guided me through the Total Concentration Breathing Technique kept replaying in my mind.

At this moment, Mizuko's breathing also began to become rapid, as if she was suppressing immense anger.

The next move by the Hand Demon caused Nezuko's hand to creak as she gripped the hilt of the knife.

"I remember that scarred brat most clearly. His strange hair color and white haori are unforgettable. But he was really strong. It's just a pity he couldn't kill me!"

As it finished speaking, a soft "crack" sounded, and a hideous crack appeared on the mask of the Sacred Rabbit.

"That guy Urokodaki..." the Hand Demon continued to ramble on.

"Let go of me..."

An angry voice emanated from beneath the fox mask, trembling with suppressed rage.

The hand ghost paused for a moment, then tilted its head and chuckled strangely, "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I said—let go of me!!!"

Midouzi suddenly roared, the anger in his voice almost tearing his throat apart.

She took a deep breath, focusing all her energy on her breathing, causing the air around her to fluctuate violently due to this extreme aura.

Sabito's strict guidance, Makomo's gentle encouragement, those days and nights spent training together, those warm smiles hidden behind the masks...

At this moment, it all transformed into scalding anger, burning her entire body.

Driven by anger, the senses were pushed to their limits beyond what they had ever experienced before!

Every detail of the Hand Demon's body was magnified infinitely in her eyes.

The subtle pause as it regenerates its arm, the fleeting relaxation of its neck as it speaks.

Even the frequency of contraction of its golden cross-shaped pupils became incredibly clear.

Those once elusive and fleeting flaws are now densely appearing before Midouzi's eyes.

"Complete Collection, Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Tide Rising!"