"Sound Breathing, Second Form: Rotating Drum Beat!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of black spheres shot through the air with shrill whistles, streaking toward Gyutaro from different angles and embedding themselves in the surroundings.
Almost simultaneously, the sprinting Tengen shouted.
"Shinichi!!"
Clang!
Shinichi blocked Gyutaro's sickle strike without hesitation, then delivered a powerful side kick to knock Gyutaro back while using the recoil to leap away.
"Nice!" Tengen grinned.
His whirling cleavers then flicked several nearly invisible black needles from the broad backs of the blades, sending them shooting forward.
Every needle struck the black spheres scattered around Gyutaro with perfect accuracy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, orange-red fireballs erupted in violent explosions, the terrifying shockwaves and pressure all converging toward Gyutaro at the center.
"What the hell? These things explode?" Gyutaro bared his fangs, instinctively raising his twin sickles to block.
But the explosive shockwaves seemed alive, detonating in sync with Uzui Tengen's swinging Nichirin Blade, flinging Gyutaro's body around like a ragged cloth over and over.
The Nichirin Blade in his hand was a drumstick, the explosive shockwaves the rhythm—Uzui Tengen moved like an elegant musician conducting a drum symphony.
"That guy is Upper Rank Five—fast, probably highly poisonous. Be careful. He also has a sister clone. Cutting just one of their heads off won't be enough," Shinichi quickly explained as he retreated to Tengen's side.
Hearing this, Tengen's gaze shifted to the nearby battle.
Though the commotion wasn't as intense, according to Shinichi, Tanjiro and the other two were also fighting Upper Rank Five's sister.
BOOM!!
With the final explosive fireball detonated, the relentless barrage of explosions finally quieted, leaving the battlefield in a brief moment of eerie silence.
"So, what's your plan?" Tengen asked, his tone just as swift.
Shinichi raised his Nichirin Blade, expression grave.
"You go help Tanjiro and the others subdue the sister. I'll keep this one occupied. When the chance comes, we'll cut both their heads off together!"
"What? Sorry, but this flashy man can't agree to that. This guy's way stronger than that useless-looking female demon. Taking him down first is the priority!" Tengen's expression darkened slightly as he watched a figure slowly reforming from the shadows.
Gyutaro, his body barely intact after the explosions, regenerated his wounds at a visible rate within mere breaths.
One of his blood-stained sickles had been shattered into fragments, but Gyutaro didn't care, tossing the remnants aside.
He stretched out his left hand, and soon, pale bone spurs extended from his wrist, rapidly wrapping in fresh blood to form a brand-new sickle.
"You bastards… I'm really starting to get pissed off now!"
CRACK!
Gyutaro twisted his neck, the killing intent in his eyes intensifying.
BAM!
The ground beneath him shattered as Gyutaro vanished, reappearing instantly before Shinichi and Tengen.
"Blood Demon Art: Spinning Slashes—Flying Blood Sickles!"
Horrifying crimson slashes, thick as blood, coiled around Gyutaro's arms in an instant.
The spinning blood-red slashes erupted like twin storms, surging toward Shinichi and Tengen from each of Gyutaro's arms.
"Watch out!"
"Forest Breathing, Fourth Form: Dandelion Dance!"
"Sound Breathing, Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slash!"
Shinichi and Tengen were forced to split apart, each blocking Gyutaro's assault.
However, although Shinichi dodged the blood-colored slashes with agile movements, his mind remained calm.
Gyutaro's speed and attack power were indeed astonishing, but that was all.
Even if Shinichi were alone here, he could eventually defeat Gyutaro after a tough battle, let alone with another Hashira present.
But sometimes, fate loves to play tricks.
Swish!
The Nichirin shortswords were swiftly drawn, forming the Niten Ichiryu stance.
Countless emerald-green blade lights surged like a storm, neutralizing the blood-colored slashes closing in on him.
Shinichi took a deep breath, gripping both swords tightly as his deerskin boots stepped back, gathering all his strength.
"Forest Breathing, Thirteenth Form: Niten Ichiryu—Wolf Spirit!"
Awoooo!!
Vital energy coalesced and enveloped Shinichi's body as an ethereal emerald-green wolf threw its head back and roared, baring its fangs and claws, poised to strike—its target fixed on Gyutaro, who was already engaged in battle with Uzui Tengen.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The phantom wolf lunged forward, charging toward Gyutaro with a furious howl.
Yet at that very moment, a familiar laugh suddenly echoed behind Shinichi.
"Hiss~ Perfect timing, haha~"
Whoosh!!
A terrifying pressure swept in, a wind force so immense it could shake the earth, descending directly upon the emerald-green phantom wolf.
Crack!!
The ground beneath Shinichi's feet instantly split into countless fissures, his feet sinking deep into the earth.
The wolf, formed from condensed vital energy, quickly dissipated.
Shinichi's neck veins bulged as he raised his head, his expression twisting slightly as he turned around—sure enough!
A familiar figure stood atop the ruins behind him.
A grinning young face, menacing demon horns, and a gently swaying fan-shaped weapon.
The eyes bore the familiar markings of "Upper Moon" and "Four"—none other than Karaku, one of the split forms of Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, whom he had fought before!
"Upper Moon Four!" Shinichi growled lowly, his heterochromatic eyes turning fierce.
Not only because these damned creatures had escaped last time, but also because Karaku's appearance meant the other split forms of Upper Moon Four would surely follow.
Indeed!
A bolt of lightning crackled beside Karaku as a cloaked demon leaning on a staff slowly materialized—a face riddled with bulging veins.
Sekido, the Wrath form of Upper Moon Four!
"We meet again, you infuriating bastard!" Sekido gnashed his teeth, glaring at Shinichi.
And beside Sekido, another gray-skinned demon had quietly appeared.
Upper Moon Six—Kamaro, clasping his hands behind his back, bowed mockingly in Shinichi's direction.
"Hashiras of the Demon Slayer Corps, nice to meet you~"