Ch-17

"Where's the demon?" Tomioka Giyuu, quickly assessing the situation, shifted into combat mode. As a Pillar, he understood the urgency of the scene and abandoned the painful memories of his dream.

"In the cabin, the two Upper Six demons must have their heads cut off simultaneously to die. We'll need to work together. I'll take Daki, and you handle Gyutaro. Is that okay?" Tom explained as he leapt off Tomioka Giyuu's shoulder. With a swift motion, he pressed his paws on Tomioka's Nichirin Sword, wrapping it in a stream of water.

There was a notable difference in power between a Pillar and Upper Rank demons—unless the Pillar had unlocked their Demon Slayer Mark. However, doing so shortened their lifespan, capping it at 25 years. Despite knowing this, Tom had never shared any information about the Demon Slayer Marks. After all, if his plan to scientifically exterminate demons worked, those Marks wouldn't matter.

"This water control will help boost your combat ability. But don't forget the other techniques you've been training for over the past two years—don't rely solely on the Nichirin Sword in critical moments," Tom advised, understanding what lay ahead.

Tomioka Giyuu nodded, touching the Colt New Standard Revolver strapped to his waist. The revolver, a large-caliber firearm developed in 1898, had been part of Tom's long-term plan to combine scientific advancements with demon-killing methods. After the Pillar meeting two and a half years ago, the Ubuyashiki family secured an agreement to import firearms and technology from the United States, including materials necessary for crafting bullets.

Normal bullets couldn't harm demons, so the swordsmiths who once forged Nichirin Swords were tasked with creating bullets from Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore—materials that absorbed sunlight and could kill demons just as effectively as the swords.

"Let's move," Tomioka said, gripping his enhanced Nichirin Sword as he led the charge, entering the cabin through a hole created by Gyutaro's earlier attack. Tom followed, ready for battle.

The moment they stepped inside, a barrage of blood blades rushed toward them. Tom surged ahead, wielding his sword in wide arcs, creating splashes of water that neutralized the attacks. As the two landed, Tomioka Giyuu launched himself straight toward Gyutaro, the sounds of clashing blades echoing through the cabin.

Meanwhile, Daki, furious after being tricked by Tom earlier, unleashed her attack. "Blood Demon Art: Eight-Layered Obi Slash!" Eight sharp ribbons, like blades, shot out, slicing everything in their path. The entire cabin was enveloped in her lethal assault, cutting everything into tiny pieces.

Daki smiled in satisfaction, convinced that her attack had finished Tom, but her grin disappeared as the pieces of the cat reassembled and Tom continued his advance, unharmed.

"Impossible!" Daki screamed, horrified.

"Did Muzan never tell you? I'm immortal," Tom taunted, before slashing Daki again with his Nichirin Sword, sending her flying backward.

Daki coughed up blood as her pride shattered. Tom's strength had grown far beyond what she could handle. Realizing she was no match for him, she panicked. "I can't die here! If I can just hold out until my brother defeats the Water Pillar, we can kill that cursed cat together! I just need to escape!"

Desperately, Daki transformed into her ribbon form, disappearing into the narrow cracks of the walls to flee. She was certain that the cat wouldn't be able to follow her in such a tight space.

But to her shock, Tom flattened himself like paper and chased after her, squeezing into the cracks with ease.

"What!? How is this possible?!" Daki's voice trembled as she screamed.

Tom smirked as he pressed forward, relentlessly chasing her through the walls. No matter where she went, he pursued her. In tight spaces, he became paper-thin; in pipes, he twisted into a roll. Daki fled frantically, but Tom was always right behind her.

As she escaped into the lower decks of the cruise ship, she glanced back and saw Tom accidentally swallow a dumbbell, transforming into a round "dumbbell cat." Daki's will to fight crumbled completely. She now had a psychological terror of cats.

Their chase brought them to the ship's engine room, where large boilers and steam turbines hummed. Nearby, Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira were battling Enmu, while Zenitsu Agatsuma was busy cutting through the fleshy walls and tentacles to protect the sleeping passengers.

"Master Tom?" Tanjiro sensed Tom's presence.

Tom, preoccupied with Daki, didn't respond immediately. He spat out the dumbbell he had swallowed and grabbed Daki's ribbon, biting into it and tearing it apart. With the situation under control, Tom decided not to intervene with Tanjiro and Inosuke's fight against Enmu, believing they needed the experience to grow stronger.

After securing Daki, Tom hurried back to the cabin, where Tomioka Giyuu and Gyutaro's battle was reaching its climax. He noticed Tomioka's hand resting on the revolver holster at his waist.

Gyutaro's relentless attacks had forced Tomioka Giyuu onto the defensive, but the water-breathing Pillar was holding his ground. "Damn you! I'll kill you both!" Gyutaro snarled, his blood blades flying wildly.

"Now!" Tom shouted, tossing Daki's head toward Tomioka Giyuu. With a swift motion, the Water Pillar decapitated Gyutaro, the synchronized beheading finally bringing an end to the Upper Six demons.

Both Daki and Gyutaro's bodies dissolved into ash, leaving Tom and Tomioka standing victorious amidst the wreckage of the cabin. Tom glanced at the pile of ash, satisfied.

"We've completed this phase, but this is only the beginning," Tom murmured, his thoughts already on the next battle with Muzan Kibutsuji and the other upper demons. The blood demon arts they had acquired so far were powerful, but they would need more if they were to stand a chance in the final showdown.

As Tom stood on the blood-soaked deck, looking out at the moonlit sea, he couldn't help but think about the heavy weapons shipment waiting for them in America.