The Slime and the Hashira

The Encounter..?

The carts they had was soon filled with different varietes of meat and the group was ready to head back to Tempest.

Only for the demon slayers to catch a wiff of something familiar.

Their arch enemy.

Demons.

"What's wrong-"

"Shhh!" Tanjiro was quick to silence Gobta, drawing his sword and starring hard at a particular direction.

Zenitsu and Inosuke are on the same page, swords drawn and ready to strike.

A mocking laugh resonated in the air before the first one made his appearance, right in front of them. The trio's eyes widens in suprise seeing the very same demon that gave them a really difficult time, back in Taisho era.

"Hmm, so we meet again."

The demons amused eyes starred them down, a menacing smile drawn on his lips.

The second one materializes as well. She indeed is a beauty but she's much more deadly as anyone they've encountered before.

"I don't know how you managed to come in here but I am glad we met again. After all, we are recruiting for strong individuals like yourselves." She croons, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Hah! I know I am strong but why would I join such losers? We fight fair and square here, so if ya think, I'll be beaten the second time around, you're dead wrong!" Inosuke points his katana at the female demon who was taken aback with his words. But then she chuckled.

"Oh my, you are a feisty one, boar boy. I like you. This is exactly why we wanted you guys to join us. Your powers shouldn't be wasted on a place like Jura Tempest Federation. We have better offers than that slime can ever offer."

"Read our lips, lady! Our answer is no and we will not tolerate any more of your insult. Unlike your motto of only the strong survives, Tempest doesn't leave anyone behind! They all consider each other family so don't you go run your dirty mouth as you please!" Tanjiro seethes. It angers him that power grabbers such as these creatures exist everywhere in any universe.

"You don't know what you are missing. We will give you powers that will greatly increases your potential," the male demon tried this time but it only angered the demon slayers more.

"If it's a power to take the lives of the people we care about, then keep it to yourself. Cause our answer is no. And no means no," the thunder breather replies firmly.

"And Rimuru is by far the strongest man we have ever seen. Let's be honest here, just a flick of his fingers and you'd burn till you are no more," Tanjiro added as well.

It riled both demons, so much so that they charged at them. In sync, the slayers jumped back in reflex.

Gobta and Rigur moved back a bit although they too pulled out their weapons and got ready in case of a sudden attack.

These 2 demons might look like ordinary but their menace is a dead give away. And if these were the ones involved in putting the demon slayers in a tough spot, all the more reason to be warry.

The first demon charged swiftly but Inosuke and Zenitsu raised their blades in the nick of time, blocking the attempted attack.

Enjoying immensely, the female vanished, reappearing behind Tanjiro. Her hand reached out, ready to tear his limb only to have her arm severed. She cried out in pain and looked at Tanjiro, her amusement replaced by anger.

"Y-you! You weren't this strong before. But you can now react even to our slightest movement. Did the slime do something?!"

Instead of answering though, Tanjiro attacked this time.