"In that direction."
Inosuke pointed towards the woman in white, then charged ahead.
"Murata, we'll leave this to you."
Before Murata could respond, Tanjiro also dashed off.
Murata was left alone, gripping his Nichirin Blade tightly, trembling as he looked at the fallen, lifeless members of the Demon Slayer Corps around him.
Tanjiro quickly caught up to Inosuke. As they got closer to their target, the stench grew more intense.
The woman in white seemed to notice their approach, her expression turning to panic. She shouted anxiously, "Don't come near me, don't come near me. You all need to die. You all need to die!" She tugged on the threads forcefully.
Suddenly, a large, grotesque figure blocked their path. This figure was twice their height, headless, with purple skin and its hands replaced by giant metal blades.
Clearly, this was another puppet, but unlike the manipulated Demon Slayers, this puppet was a demon itself, much stronger.
Inosuke, having grown up in the mountains, had amazing jumping ability. He leapt into the air, raising his dual blades and slashed at the puppet's neck.
The puppet blocked Inosuke's attack with its arm blades and then threw him back forcefully.
Inosuke landed next to Tanjiro, only then realizing that the giant figure had no head, which shocked him.
"Ah, did you see that? This thing doesn't have a head! How do we cut off its head if it doesn't have one?" He grew more and more agitated, "That means we can't kill it? What do we do? What do we do?"
"Don't panic, Inosuke."
Relying on his keen sense of smell, Tanjiro identified the puppet's weak spot and marked it with his Nichirin Blade. "From the base of the neck down to the waist. Though it's a long distance, if we coordinate well, we can..."
"Hmph, who needs your help? I can kill it by myself." Inosuke interrupted, rushing forward again.
Inosuke wielded dual blades, just like the puppet. However, in terms of speed and strength, the puppet was far superior. In just one encounter, Inosuke had four or five wounds.
Inosuke, not wanting to be outdone, continued to attack, but each attempt was blocked by the puppet's arm blades.
After a few exchanges, he couldn't break through the puppet's defenses and became increasingly frustrated, shouting in anger.
As he was thrown back again, several white spiders suddenly jumped out from the bushes, quickly wrapping him in threads, immobilizing him. At that moment, the puppet thrust its blade towards him.
Seeing the approaching blade, Inosuke panicked, realizing that if it pierced him, he'd be finished. He started shouting, fearing for his life.
At the critical moment, Tanjiro appeared in front of him, blocking the puppet's blade with his own. As the puppet retreated, Tanjiro cut the threads, freeing Inosuke.
Looking at the righteous Tanjiro, Inosuke felt a warmth in his heart. This feeling was both comforting and slightly resistant. Although he was grateful for Tanjiro's rescue, he wouldn't admit it aloud.
"Hmph, even without your help, I could have escaped."
Tanjiro knew Inosuke's temperament and didn't argue.
"Inosuke, if we work together, we can definitely kill it."
"Alright, I'll give you this chance." This time, Inosuke didn't resist cooperation.
Tanjiro charged first, delivering a horizontal slash that forced the puppet back. He then kneeled and shouted, "Inosuke, step on the box."
Although Inosuke didn't know what Tanjiro planned, he followed instructions, jumping on Tanjiro's back and stepping on the box, meeting the puppet's crossed blade attack.
Taking advantage of the momentum, Inosuke cut off the puppet's arms and used the box to propel himself into the air.
To lower the puppet's height for Inosuke's final strike, Tanjiro aimed at its legs.
"Water Breathing: Fourth Form – Striking Tide."
The sound of flowing water accompanied the blade, effortlessly cutting through the puppet's legs.
With a thud, the puppet fell, now much shorter. At the same time, Inosuke descended, everything fitting together perfectly.
Inosuke felt a mix of surprise and jealousy.
"Inosuke, slice down diagonally now."
Hmph, not bad. I'll listen this time.
Inosuke gripped his Nichirin Blades, swinging with all his strength, cutting from the puppet's neck down to its waist.
Just as Tanjiro predicted, the puppet began to burn from the wound, disintegrating into ash.
"We won. We defeated the puppet, Inosuke, we won."
"Hah, when I get involved, it's always a guaranteed win."
In the forest, the woman in white looked at the loosening threads in her hands, realizing her puppet had been defeated, fear finally showing on her face.
"How could I lose? How could I lose to mere humans?"
With the giant puppet dead, all that was left was the person controlling it.
Based on his earlier "Spatial Awareness," Inosuke judged that the person was just ten meters behind him. Still frustrated by being commanded, he came up with a plan to regain some pride.
"Hah, it irritated me earlier, so now I'll direct you."
Inosuke quickly ran to Tanjiro, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
Tanjiro, confused, wondered why Inosuke, who had been fine a moment ago, suddenly hugged him. Was it to celebrate their victory?
"Inosuke, what are you doing?"
"I'm irritated, so I'll play this game." Without waiting for a response, Inosuke tightened his grip and then hurled Tanjiro into the air.