Purple Night

### Chapter Five: Purple Night

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the quiet village. The gentle rustle of leaves and the occasional chirping of crickets created a serene backdrop to the evening. Kintaro, moving through the dimly lit hallways of the mansion, gathered the last of the dinner plates, his mind still replaying the conversation with Lady Ayaka. The silence of the house was comforting, a stark contrast to the bustling village life he often observed. The wooden floors creaked softly under his feet as he walked, adding to the tranquil ambiance of the evening.

Just as he placed the final plate into the wash basin, a distant, blood-curdling scream pierced the tranquility. Kintaro's heart skipped a beat. He recognized the voice—it was the scream of a child. Panic surged through him as he dashed to the nearest window. Outside, the village was in chaos. People were running towards the source of the scream, armed with swords and torches, their faces a mix of fear and determination. The flickering light of the torches cast eerie shadows on the walls of the houses, making the scene look like something out of a nightmare.

In the midst of the commotion, a demon stood, towering over the lifeless body of a young girl. Her brother, a boy of no more than ten, was next in line, his face pale with terror. The demon's eyes glinted with malice as it lunged at the boy. But before it could reach him, a group of villagers, armed with real swords from the training club, intercepted the attack. Their strikes were coordinated, a testament to the rigorous training Lady Ayaka had insisted upon. Sweat glistened on their brows, and their breaths came out in ragged gasps, but they stood their ground, determined to protect the boy.

However, the demon was relentless. Despite the villagers' best efforts, their swords barely made a dent in its tough hide. Each cut, each stab wound, healed almost instantly. The battle raged on, the clashing of steel against flesh echoing through the village. The demon roared, knocking several villagers to the ground with a single sweep of its arm. Blood splattered on the cobblestones, and the villagers' cries of pain and frustration filled the air. The boy, frozen in fear, watched the scene unfold with wide, tear-filled eyes.

Inside the mansion, the noise of the fight reached Muzan. His face contorted with annoyance. "Who is this foolish devil who dares to be in the same place as me?" he muttered, trying to maintain his composure. Pretending to be concerned, he stepped out into the corridor where he encountered Kintaro, who had been drawn to the noise.

"What's happening out there?" Kintaro asked, his voice shaky, his eyes wide with worry.

"It seems there is a demon attack in the village," Muzan replied, feigning surprise. "I must ensure the safety of this household." His tone was calm, but Kintaro could sense an undercurrent of irritation.

Kintaro nodded, though a sense of unease gnawed at him. He had seen Muzan's reaction, and something about it didn't sit right with him. But there was no time to ponder. Determined to help, Kintaro sprinted to the training room, grabbed a sword, and dashed out of the mansion. The sword felt heavy in his hand, a stark reminder of the responsibility he now bore.

"Kintaro, wait!" Lady Ayaka called out, her voice filled with fear. "Bring him back, Muzan, please!" Her eyes were wide with panic, and she clutched her chest, her breathing quickening.

Muzan gave a slight nod, but as he watched Kintaro run, he noticed something unusual. The speed at which Kintaro moved was beyond human. Intrigued and slightly concerned, Muzan followed, his steps silent and graceful.

Back in the village, the battle was fierce. The demon laughed maniacally, taunting the villagers with its invulnerability. "Is this all you have?" it sneered, its voice dripping with contempt. "Your swords are like toothpicks to me!"

One of the villagers, his face pale and eyes wide with desperation, shouted back, "We won't let you harm our children! We'll fight you to the end!" His voice quivered, but his grip on the sword remained firm.

Even the retired Demon Slayer who trained the villagers was struggling. His attacks were ineffective, and he admitted, "I have never killed a demon before." His voice was filled with frustration and despair, his grip on his sword tightening. He glanced at the demon, then at the villagers, and a sense of helplessness washed over him.

"You've never killed a demon?" a young villager echoed, disbelief in his voice. "But you trained us... you said you fought demons before!"

The old Slayer's shoulders slumped. "I trained to fight them, but I never faced one like this. My skills... they aren't enough." His eyes glistened with unshed tears, the weight of his failure pressing down on him.

The demon's laughter echoed through the night. "Pathetic. You humans are nothing but weaklings." It advanced, its blood-red eyes gleaming with malice.

In a final, desperate move, the demon conjured a blood sword from its own flesh, its blade pulsating with a dark, sinister energy. It raised the sword high, ready to deliver the fatal blow to the old Slayer. The villagers watched in horror, their hearts sinking.

Suddenly, a purple flash illuminated the battlefield. Kintaro appeared, a wave of purple electricity crackling around him.

The demon stood in shock as he looked at Kintaro, thinking; 'What is this? Hashira? Nah... it's impossible for Hashira to be here. Don't be afraid!'

The demon, momentarily stunned by the display, snarled and swung its blood sword down. But before the blade could connect, Kintaro moved like a lightning bolt, his own sword intercepting the blood sword with a clash that sent purple sparks and Drops of the sword-blood flying.

The old Slayer, who had resigned himself to his fate, looked up in shock. Before him stood Kintaro, his back straight and unwavering, the purple electricity from his sword illuminating the young boy's determined face. "Kintaro..." the old man whispered, his voice filled with awe and gratitude.

Kintaro didn't glance back. His focus was entirely on the demon before him. The demon growled, its eyes narrowing in fury. "You think you can stop me, boy?" it hissed, pushing against Kintaro's blade with all its strength. "You're nothing but a child!"

But Kintaro's grip was firm, his resolve unshakable. He pushed back, his purple lightning clashing with the demon's dark energy. The villagers watched in awe, their earlier despair giving way to hope. They could feel the power radiating from Kintaro, a power unlike anything they had ever seen.

Muzan arrived just in time to see this display of power. His eyes widened in surprise. "This boy..." he muttered under his breath, his mind racing with possibilities.

The demon sensed Muzan's presence, and its entire demeanor changed. Fear coursed through its veins as it thought, 'Muzan-sama is watching?! I must win...' The demon's muscles tensed, and it let out a guttural growl, its eyes darting between Kintaro and Muzan.

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