Chapter 254: Chapter 254: A vase

Shinobu

The eerie silence of the village weighed heavily on Shinobu as she walked through the empty streets, her keen eyes scanning every corner. Her grip tightened on her sword as a faint rustling echoed in the distance. She couldn’t shake off the unnerving feeling that something was watching her from the shadows.

This place was unlike anything she had encountered in her eight years as a Demon Slayer. Not a single living soul was in sight, but the stench of demons was thick in the air, clinging to every surface like a dark fog. The absence of humans wasn’t the strangest thing—it was the sheer number of demons in one location, and their peculiar behavior.

Demons typically didn’t cooperate. They were selfish creatures driven by primal instincts, often turning on each other when their paths crossed. The rare exceptions, such as Rui and his fabricated “family,” were anomalies. Rui was a Lower Moon, so his authority over other demons made some sense. But here, the demons were weaker, more ordinary, yet they moved with purpose, attacking in organized groups. It defied everything Shinobu thought she knew.

As another gust of wind swept through the deserted streets, Shinobu’s eyes drifted to Alex, walking ahead of her. He strolled casually, hands in his pockets, as if this cursed village were no more threatening than a stroll through a meadow. His expression was relaxed, his gaze distant, as though he were entirely uninterested in their mission.

Shinobu frowned. For someone of his caliber—someone who had effortlessly defeated most of the Hashira in mock battles, herself included—he could at least pretend to take this seriously. Each time a demon attacked, Alex dispatched it with a nonchalance that bordered on infuriating. It was as though the very act of fighting bored him.

“Does he think this is all a game?” Shinobu thought bitterly, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wasn’t sure why his attitude irked her so much, but it did. There was something about his carefree demeanor that clashed with the gravity of their work.

Yet, for all her irritation, she couldn’t deny his strength. Alex had proven himself more than capable, cutting down demons with a skill and efficiency that rivaled, if not exceeded, the best of the Demon Slayer Corps. His movements were precise, calculated, and impossibly fast. Still, Shinobu found it difficult to trust him fully.

Her reasons for inviting Alex on this mission were murky at best. Maybe she hoped to learn something from him—some secret technique or insight that could make her stronger. Or perhaps she was still trying to figure him out, to uncover the truth behind his immense power and enigmatic nature. Whatever the reason, she wasn’t entirely comfortable with him yet.

“It seems another wave of demons is coming,” Alex said suddenly, his voice pulling Shinobu from her thoughts.

She focused her senses, and sure enough, she felt the faint tremor of footsteps approaching from the shadows. A low growl echoed through the village as glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness, one by one.

A dozen demons materialized, their grotesque forms illuminated by the faint moonlight. They snarled and hissed, their twisted faces contorted with malice. Unlike previous encounters, this group moved with unnerving coordination, their bodies shifting in perfect unison as they closed in.

Shinobu readied her blade, her expression calm but focused. “They’re working together again,” she noted aloud.

Alex glanced over his shoulder at her, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “Yeah, it’s almost like they’ve got a little army. Kind of cute, don’t you think?”

“Cute isn’t the word I’d use,” Shinobu replied, her tone dry. “And if you don’t take this seriously, they might actually kill you one day.”

Alex chuckled softly, drawing his own weapon. “I’d like to see them try.”

The demons lunged simultaneously, their clawed hands reaching for Alex and Shinobu with murderous intent. Shinobu darted forward, her blade flashing as she struck with pinpoint precision. She weaved through the swarm with practiced grace, her movements a deadly dance of agility and technique.

Alex, meanwhile, remained an enigma in battle. His strikes were almost lazy, each swing of his sword effortless yet devastatingly effective. Demons fell around him like leaves in a storm, their bodies disintegrating before they even had a chance to retaliate.

Despite the chaos, Alex’s demeanor never changed. He fought with the same casual ease as if he were swatting flies, his face devoid of tension or urgency.

Shinobu gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. She didn’t understand how he could be so indifferent, so unconcerned, in the face of such danger.

As the last demon fell, the silence of the village returned, heavier than before. Shinobu wiped the blood from her blade, her gaze shifting to Alex. He stood amidst the carnage, his sword resting on his shoulder, his expression unreadable.

“You didn’t even break a sweat,” she said, her tone laced with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.

“Why would I?” Alex replied, his voice light. “They weren’t exactly a challenge.”

Shinobu frowned, turning away from him. “You’re impossible.”

Alex shrugged, his smirk returning. “Maybe. But you have to admit, I’m effective.”

Shinobu didn’t respond. Instead, she surveyed the village, her thoughts racing. Something about this place felt off—more so than she initially realized. The coordinated attacks, the sheer number of demons, the eerie emptiness of the streets—it all pointed to a larger threat, one they hadn’t yet encountered.

“Do you feel it?” Alex asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Shinobu glanced at him. “Feel what?”

“There’s something bigger here. Stronger,” he said, “These little guys were just the appetizers.”

Shinobu’s grip on her sword tightened. If Alex was even slightly concerned, then the situation would have been worse than she had thought.

Just then she saw some appear in the corner of her eye.

“What’s that? A vase? In the middle of the road.”

~~~

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