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"Destructive Death: Air Type!"
Akaza's long-range technique—six consecutive punches thrown into empty air at impossible speed. He leaped high, fists hammering down toward Kyojuro.
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
Kyojuro's spiraling flame slashes neutralized every strike.
'I see. He can hit me from any distance by punching the air. Combined with his speed...' Kyojuro's mind worked rapidly. 'I can't cut his neck from range. I have to close in!'
WHOOSH!
"HAH!!" He exploded forward, blade flashing in rapid succession.
"Excellent reaction speed!" Akaza praised genuinely, fists moving to intercept every slash.
In the distance, Tanjiro and Inosuke tried rushing forward to help.
"STAY BACK!" Kyojuro's command was absolute. "You'll only worsen your injuries! Look after young Kaidō—something's wrong with him!"
"Don't worry about the weak! Focus on fighting me, Kyojuro!" Akaza's grin widened.
"HAH! YAHHH!" Kyojuro's blade connected solidly, sending Akaza flying into the nearby tree line.
Without hesitation, Kyojuro pursued.
But the moment he entered the forest, Akaza materialized before him—leg already in motion.
CLANG!
Kyojuro blocked with his blade, but the force was tremendous. He was launched backward, slamming into an earthen wall.
"Rengoku!"
"Big-Eye Freak!"
Akaza emerged from the trees casually. "Become a demon, Kyojuro. Then you can grow stronger and we can fight forever!"
Even now, he refused to give up on the idea.
"I refuse!" Kyojuro used his sword to push himself upright. "I'll say it again—I despise you. I will never become a demon!"
"Is that so? Then die. Destructive Death—"
"Hehe... hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!"
Laughter shattered the moment.
Akaza stopped, turning toward Kaidō. His eyes widened.
The Dragon Hashira had changed. His fighting spirit had transformed from crimson to pitch black—fully materialized, emanating overwhelming power.
Kaidō removed his fox mask slowly. His legs bent at forty-five-degree angles as he stood. His head and arms hung loosely, unnaturally.
"Kaidō-san... ahh!" Tanjiro started to speak, then grabbed his throat in agony.
The scent hit him like a physical blow—countless overlapping odors radiating from Kaidō. Frustration. Fury. Hatred. Darkness. Violence. Bloodlust. The combination made breathing nearly impossible.
"Huff... huff... Kaidō-san..." Tanjiro gasped, staring at Kaidō's back.
The figure felt alien. Like a completely different person.
Inosuke felt it too—an overwhelming sense of danger pouring off Kaidō in waves.
"Kill... kill... kill..."
"Kill kill kill kill... hahaha! KILL KILL KILL—DEMON EXTERMINATION!!" The words tumbled out mechanically, like a broken mantra.
"Heh..."
His greatsword flew through the air into his waiting hand—controlled by mental energy alone.
Everyone watching—Kyojuro, Tanjiro, Inosuke, even Akaza—stared in shock.
But Kaidō wasn't finished. He assumed a combat stance. Drew a deep breath.
"Inhale... exhale~"
"Dragon Breathing, Ninth Form: Cyclone Pierce—BERSERK."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
He launched forward at incomprehensible speed, spinning like a drill. The vortex carved a straight trench into the earth itself.
Akaza's eyes went wide. 'TOO FAST—I CAN'T DODGE!'
He crossed both arms defensively.
"YAHHH!!" The roar tore from Akaza's throat.
But the explosive power was overwhelming. The drill pierced clean through—arms, chest, everything. A massive hole opened in Akaza's torso.
Kaidō didn't stop. The moment his technique ended, he spun behind Akaza, greatsword already descending toward the demon's neck.
Akaza's Compass Needle sensed the murderous intent. His arms regenerated instantly, catching the blade.
"Destructive Death: Leg Type—Crown Splitter!"
He kicked upward viciously, targeting Kaidō's head.
Kaidō released his sword and leaped aside, immediately throwing a punch at Akaza's face.
Engaging demons in hand-to-hand combat was suicide. But in his berserk state, Kaidō struck before Akaza could react.
The punch connected squarely. Blood spurted from Akaza's nose.
An inexplicable anger surged through the demon. 'This brat... how dare he!'
"YOU BASTARD!"
"Destructive Death: Leg Type—Flowing Light!"
Akaza's leg became a blur—multiple devastating kicks erupting like explosive flashes.
Kaidō's greatsword flew to intercept, blocking the barrage.
CLANG!
CRASH!
The final impact sent Kaidō flying into the forest, sword and all. Akaza pursued immediately.
Seconds later, Akaza came flying back out—slammed into the exact same earthen wall where Kyojuro had landed. Only deeper.
What had been done to Kyojuro, Kaidō returned in kind.
Kaidō emerged from the trees, dual-wielding his massive greatsword. His eyes glowed with two distinct colors—eerie purple and brilliant gold. The mark on his forehead burned crimson.
"You're definitely strong! Become a demon, Kaidō! Someone like you dying would be a tragedy!" Akaza stood, launching another assault.
Kaidō said nothing. Just continued swinging his blade, meeting Akaza's attacks head-on.
Kyojuro positioned himself protectively before Tanjiro and Inosuke, expression grave.
Kaidō had become unrecognizable. This reminded him of something the Master once said: "Every person has both light and darkness within them. Eventually, one will surface."
'Is this what Master meant? Young Kaidō's darkness?'
He wanted to help. But in Kaidō's current state, the risk was obvious—he might not distinguish friend from foe.
'If I'd faced Upper Rank Three alone, young Kaidō wouldn't have been pushed to this extreme.' Guilt gnawed at Kyojuro's chest.
—————————————————
Time lost all meaning. The combat between Kaidō and Akaza reached a fever pitch.
As an Upper Rank, Akaza's regeneration was nearly instantaneous. Meanwhile, Kaidō—consciousness blurred by the Berserk Pill—fought with a human body, tanking damage that would kill ordinary demon slayers. Injuries covered him. Sometimes he traded blow for blow, accepting wounds to land strikes.
Only the System-provided clothing absorbed some of the damage. Otherwise, his condition would be far worse.
"Dragon Breathing, Fifth Form: Tempest Slash—BERSERK!"
Kaidō's blade became invisible—only afterimages remained. Nearly breaking the sound barrier. Close to a thousand sword projections launched at Akaza.
"Destructive Death: Chaos Style!"
Akaza answered with his own storm of strikes.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Fist and blade collided repeatedly. Shockwaves tore through the area, kicking up dust clouds. The ground fractured beneath them.
When the dust cleared, Akaza was covered in cuts and blood. Within moments, every wound had healed completely.
Kaidō, however, drove his greatsword into the ground for support. Blood soaked his clothes. His exposed legs were covered in bruises and blood. His chest caved inward slightly—ribs clearly broken.
He was nearly spent.
"Young Kaidō!!"
"Kaidō-san!"
"White-Hair!"
"Kaidō, are you satisfied with this?" Akaza's voice carried genuine frustration. "Look at me—every injury you inflict heals within seconds."
He gestured at himself, then pointed at Kaidō. "But you? Covered in wounds. Broken bones. Bruises everywhere. What's the point of continuing like this?"
"I can sense your power. That small frame swinging a blade weighing hundreds of pounds. If you became a demon, these injuries would heal instantly. You could reach the Supreme Territory!" His voice rose with passion. "So become a demon, Kaidō!"
"Heh... hehe... hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!" Kaidō threw his head back, laughing maniacally.
"Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong? Is what you're doing really worth this much suffering? As a demon, you'd recover immediately! A place among the Upper Ranks would be yours!"
"You want me... to become a demon... and serve that coward Muzan?" Kaidō's voice was hoarse. "You're... delusional!"
"Mark—activate! Transparent World—activate!"
Akaza's Compass Needle suddenly failed. He couldn't sense Kaidō's presence at all. Despite clearly seeing him standing right there, it was as if he'd become invisible—a weed on the roadside.
This sensation—he'd only felt it once before. From one other demon. Realization struck.
"You've already reached the Supreme Territory?? Impossible! ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE!" Rage and disbelief warred in Akaza's expression.
He'd spent centuries unable to reach that realm. And this child—barely a teenager—had achieved it??
"Dragon Breathing, Eighth Form: Swimming Dragon Assault—BERSERK!"
ROARRR!
A dragon's roar split the air. Kaidō moved like a serpentine dragon, greatsword flashing in rapid succession.
"Destructive Death: Annihilation Type!"
Akaza threw his most devastating punch—colliding with Kaidō's technique in a catastrophic explosion.
The blade carved halfway through Akaza's body before stopping.
"A Hashira's duty—I won't let tragedies happen! DIE!!" Kaidō roared with everything he had.
Akaza caught the greatsword with one hand, raising the other to finish Kaidō with a Blood Demon Art strike.
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Kyojuro couldn't watch any longer. Kaidō had done enough. Losing him would be a catastrophic blow to the Demon Slayer Corps.
During the opening Kaidō created, Kyojuro lunged forward—his blade manifesting as a burning tiger, aimed directly at Akaza's neck.
The Nichirin blade bit halfway through before Akaza's remaining hand caught it, preventing further penetration.
At that moment, the sky began lightening. Dawn approached.
Kaidō had accomplished his goal. Together with Kyojuro, he'd protected everyone.
"Not good! The sun—it'll reach here! I have to escape or I'll die!" Akaza's eyes darted toward the horizon. The sun was rising.
"LET ME GO!!" His voice turned desperate.
"Never!" Kyojuro and Kaidō gripped their embedded weapons with one hand each, the other hand seizing one of Akaza's arms.
"AHHHHH!!" All three roared—demon and humans locked in a deadly stalemate.
"Inosuke, run! We can't let Rengoku and Kaidō-san's efforts go to waste!" Tanjiro forced his broken body upright, charging with Inosuke toward Akaza.
"Beast Breathing, First Fang: Pierce—"
"DAMN IT!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Akaza stomped the ground. A violent shockwave exploded outward, throwing all four back. He tore off both his own arms—along with the weapons embedded in them—and fled into the forest.
"Huff... YAHHH!" Tanjiro activated Hinokami Kagura, hurling his blade. It pierced Akaza's back from behind, impaling his chest.
THUNK!
"Urgh... that brat!" Akaza glanced back, fury burning in his eyes.
"Don't run, coward! DON'T YOU DARE RUN! The Demon Slayer Corps hasn't lost! WE WON'T LOSE!" Tanjiro's scream was raw with emotion.
'What's that kid thinking? I'm fleeing the sun—not the Demon Slayer Corps!' Akaza's thoughts were bitter. 'The outcome was decided. Two Hashira couldn't stop me! One's gravely injured!'
He continued fleeing through the trees, dodging patches of sunlight.
"Rengoku and Kaidō-san are way stronger than you! They didn't lose! They didn't let anyone die! They fought until the very end! They didn't lose—you did!"
"Rengoku and Kaidō-san are the true victors!"
"Sob... AHHHH!!" Tanjiro's shouts dissolved into tears.
"Cough cough... Tanjiro... if you don't get me medical attention soon... cough... I'm actually going to die..." Kaidō and Kyojuro supported each other. Kaidō looked terrible—completely drained.
Kyojuro had only scrapes and minor fractures. But Kaidō? Broken ribs. Massive bruising across his legs. Fractured arms.
"Kaidō-san...! Sob sob..."
"Sorry everyone... I'm exhausted... need to... sleep..." His eyes fluttered closed. He collapsed.
"Young Kaidō, rest now. The Kakushi will arrive soon. Just hold on a little longer."
"That's... good... everyone... survived..." Before finishing, unconsciousness claimed him.
Kyojuro caught him carefully, afraid of worsening his injuries.
At that moment, a system notification chimed in Kaidō's mind—but he was too far gone to hear it.
[Ding! Congratulations! Hidden Quest Complete!]
[Hidden Quest: Save Kyojuro Rengoku]
[Reward: ...]
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