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Levi: Don't lump me in with these superpowered freaks!
Demon Slayer world, Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
The courtyard, usually filled with chatter, had fallen into dead silence.
Even the loudest of them all, Zenitsu Agatsuma, sat frozen, lips pressed shut, not daring to make a sound.
The Hashira stood stiff and grim, their faces tense to the extreme.
None of them were surprised when Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, refused Akaza's invitation without hesitation. That much was expected.
What worried them now was the outcome of this fight.
Rengoku's strength was undeniable.
But…
His opponent was the Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
More Hashira had died at his hands than anyone dared to count.
One-on-one, not even Rengoku—no, not even Himejima, the strongest Stone Hashira—could be guaranteed victory.
And yet…
Worry was all they could do. This was the future; they couldn't interfere.
Under the eyes of countless worlds across the multiverse, the battle began.
The tense negotiation had collapsed. Now it was a fight to the death.
Akaza moved first.
"Destructive Death: Compass Needle!"
He opened with his killing move, unleashing a lightning-fast onslaught.
Rengoku didn't flinch.
Channeling Total Concentration Breathing, his speed pushed the limits of human capability.
Flame against Upper Rank.
Their movements blurred beyond the reach of human sight.
Ordinary viewers could only glimpse streaks of colliding red and blue light.
Attack on Titan world.
"Whoaaa! They're too fast! My eyes can't keep up at all!"
Hange Zoë shouted, her excitement echoing across the barracks.
"Hey, Levi—this Flame guy swings a sword even faster than you. Think you could take him?"
She leaned toward the short, scowling captain at her side.
"Shut it," Levi snapped.
"Don't go comparing me to those superpowered freaks. Throwing out flaming slashes and magic tricks—those Demon Slayers stopped being normal humans a long time ago."
"Yeah, but… you're not exactly 'normal' either, Captain."
The Scouts whispered among themselves. After all, what kind of "ordinary human" sliced Titans apart like weeds?
One Piece world.
"So that's the swordplay of a Hashira, huh? Damn, I'd love to cross blades with them someday!"
Zoro grinned, hand on his swords.
"Rengoku's technique is impressive," Mihawk murmured, eyes narrowing, "but he's far from the summit. Only Yoriichi ever truly caught my eye."
In the New World, aboard the Red-Haired Pirates' ship—
"What a fight!"
"That Flame Hashira's got guts!"
"He's actually keeping up with an Upper Rank… maybe there's hope after all!"
The regular crew cheered with awe.
But Shanks and his officers were silent, their faces solemn. They shook their heads.
"Captain, you don't think Rengoku can win?" Rockstar asked nervously.
"The gap is too wide," Shanks said quietly.
"His spirit and courage are admirable, but he's still too young."
Ben Beckman exhaled smoke, his gaze fixed on the battle. With their advanced Observation Haki, they could see the clash far more clearly than ordinary eyes ever could.
"On the surface, it looks even. But Akaza hasn't shown his full power yet."
"He's been holding back—and still has Rengoku pushed to his limit."
"Rengoku's blade might draw blood, but it doesn't matter. Against a demon with infinite regeneration, those wounds are meaningless."
"And Rengoku? He's only human. Every injury he takes stays with him. Broken bones, torn flesh—there's no coming back from that mid-fight."
"Sooner or later, we already know where this ends."
Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and Beckman laid out the truth in grim tones.
Naruto world.
"The Flame Hashira, huh? Looks like we're not the only ones up against impossible enemies."
Asuma Sarutobi muttered, watching the glowing battle in the sky, before turning back to the immortal standing in front of him.
The Akatsuki's Hidan.
"Don't you dare compare me to those lowly demons, bastard!" Hidan snarled.
"My immortality is a holy gift from Lord Jashin himself! I'm nothing like those filthy monsters!"
Across the multiverse, the clash raged on.
Rengoku and Akaza's duel reached its breaking point.
Each exchange shook the air, Rengoku's sword cleaving through Akaza again and again. Blood splattered, but the wounds sealed instantly, as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Akaza's fists landed with devastating force.
One blow destroyed Rengoku's left eye.
Another shattered his ribs.
Even his organs were ruptured.
If Akaza hadn't been trying to persuade Rengoku to become a demon, the fight would already be over.
But still—Rengoku refused to yield.
With a roar, his body erupted in blazing flame.
"I'll fulfill my duty as a Hashira… I won't let a single soul here die!"
Flame Breathing – Ninth Form: Rengoku!
"..."
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