"Clang!" Two blades clashed. Seeing his carefully planned attack easily blocked, Kaidake's jealousy was completely ignited. He was utterly convinced that the person in front of him understood Thunder Breathing far better than he did.
It was precisely this possibility that allowed him to see through his offensive in such a short time and retaliate.
Kaidake glared hatefully at the person who had saved the Demon Slayer Corps member. He was wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a white haori over it. His handsome face was devoid of expression, and his eyes were filled with calmness.
Seeing the golden buttons on that person's uniform, Kaidake's pupils constricted, then immediately became excited again. He increased his strength, attempting to overpower his opponent. "Hey, you're a Pillar, aren't you? All the Pillar uniforms I've seen have golden buttons…"
Suddenly, he remembered something, and the jealousy on his face could no longer be hidden. "You're that Fang Hao the old man mentioned! You actually became the Sound Pillar! That position was supposed to be mine! Die!"
The force in his hand grew heavier, but the nichirin blade clashing with his remained perfectly still. "Impossible, impossible! I am a perfect being, superior to humans! How could a mere human block my strength!"
He suddenly retreated again, black lightning coiling around him. He gripped his blade tightly, and the blade, wreathed in dark lightning, slashed towards Fang Hao.
"Originally, I was very angry before I met you." Fang Hao paid no attention to Kaidake's attacks, merely moving within a small area, avoiding Kaidake's attacks again and again. "Now that I've seen you, that anger is gone. After all, although your actions are indeed disgusting, even a worm, no matter how it flails, cannot make one angry. At most, one might intentionally or unintentionally step on it."
Fang Hao's Thunder Breathing, after he integrated other breathing forms, could be called the Thunder Breathing max version. More powerful explosive force and speed, stronger physical enhancements, less consumption, and the lightning was more at his command. As for Kaidake in front of him, Fang Hao truly had no desire to compare himself to him.
After Kaidake turned into a demon, his life essence improved, his physical abilities were comprehensively enhanced, and he awakened a Blood Demon Art. But in Fang Hao's eyes, he was still vulnerable. When Fang Hao blocked Kaidake's series of attacks, he probably understood the level Kaidake was at now—slightly stronger than Rui, but that was all.
"Thunder Breathing: Slash." As Fang Hao sidestepped Kaidake's attack, he swung his blade. The air cut open in his hand, and electricity danced on his blade. In an instant, a head flew high into the air…
"Is that… my body?" Kaidake only felt that for some reason he had suddenly twisted his head. Everything around him flashed past his eyes: the relieved expressions of the Demon Slayer Corps members, Fang Hao calmly beginning to wipe his blade, and… a familiar body, which was his body.
He finally realized that his head had been cut off at some unknown time by some unknown person. "Was it him?" Fang Hao's figure flashed through his mind. "What the hell, I haven't even gained that Master's appreciation yet, I haven't made a name for myself!"
Fang Hao stepped forward and collected some of Kaidake's fresh blood before he dissipated. "This time I finally didn't forget. This will have to do. Was it Kokushibo who turned him into a demon this time?" He said, somewhat uncertainly. But after thinking about it, this level of strength probably counted as the blood of a Twelve Kizuki, so it should have some reference value.
Seeing this, Kaidake's eyes widened. Was he being looked down upon?! "You…" Before he could speak, his head dissipated.
Fang Hao turned around and said to the Demon Slayer Corps members who had been injured by Kaidake earlier, "I am Sound Pillar Fang Hao. You should return to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters to treat your injuries."
"Yes, Master Fang Hao." Everyone bowed to Fang Hao, then helped the injured who had difficulty walking leave.
"Meow…" After all the Demon Slayer Corps members had left, a small figure appeared beside Fang Hao.
It was a small cat with a talisman hanging around its neck. Fang Hao had taken his previous blood collection tools from this little fellow.
When Fang Hao left the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, he noticed this little fellow had been following him. At the time, Fang Hao was quite surprised, and then he remembered that it was the special method Tamayo had mentioned for sending her demon blood.
In fact, the kitten had been following Fang Hao and Tanjiro ever since they left Asakusa. As for whether it was following Fang Hao or Tanjiro, that was unknown.
At that time, neither Fang Hao nor Tanjiro had noticed this little fellow, until Fang Hao's breathing form was complete, then he noticed someone following him. However, Fang Hao was still quite surprised that this little fellow could keep up with him.
After his Thunder Breathing max version came out, the enhancement of his breathing form on his physical abilities was much stronger, and Fang Hao could be said to have gone all out when heading to Mount peach. But the kitten was able to firmly keep up with him. Fang Hao even suspected that this kitten had a Blood Demon Art for acceleration…
The kitten was Tamayo's pet. Although it had the appearance of a cat, it had actually been turned into a demon by Tamayo long ago. Due to Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, the talisman hanging around its neck could help it become invisible. It could act as a communication Tool Bird and also a courier for small items.
Fang Hao placed the blood-containing vessel on the kitten, and then with a "meow," it disappeared into the shadows. Fang Hao felt a little regretful, he hadn't even petted it yet, what a pity.
"But, am I supposed to walk from here to Tokyo?" Fang Hao silently estimated the distance from this place to Asakusa, and wiped away non-existent cold sweat. "Good heavens, the animal protection association would call this expert. Oh, it's a demon, not an animal, so it's fine."
"Miss Tamayo is truly… Oh, I usually treat my Tool Birds this way too." Fang Hao thought about it and realized that what he was doing was quite similar to Tamayo's actions, so he added in his mind, "Truly magnificent! To eliminate evil demons, she doesn't hesitate to make her pet travel over mountains and rivers. Truly a role model for our generation!"
It was a good thing the Tool Cat didn't know Fang Hao's thoughts, otherwise it might have cried itself to death on the spot.
———————
Fang Hao looked at the Tool Bird in front of him, revealing a difficult-to-describe expression. So you're not pretending anymore, huh? Treating me like a workhorse? Now seeing this Tool Bird, Fang Hao knew that his task had come again and again and again.
He silently pondered, why did it feel like becoming a Pillar made him even more exhausted? I admit, the treatment for Pillars is indeed good. But if you only give me good treatment and no rest time, what's the point of taking the money?
Fang Hao rolled his eyes and took the letter tied to the Tool Bird's leg. The letter briefly stated that Kuwajima Jigorou had been persuaded by Kagaya Ubuyashiki and was no longer considering committing seppuku.
"You certainly know how to CPU." Fang Hao felt that Kagaya Ubuyashiki probably meant something like, the Demon Slayer Corps cannot be without you, you must remain useful and continue to shine in your position. "As long as he's useful." Fang Hao was relieved to see this news. If the old man had committed seppuku before he arrived, and was still going to commit seppuku after he arrived, wouldn't he have come here for nothing?
Fang Hao continued to read. The text below was densely packed. Fang Hao didn't need to wait until he couldn't sleep in the middle of the night to ponder these words; he knew right now that the words probably spelled out "overtime."
"Sigh, you certainly know how to CPU."