Mukago was still shaken.
She didn't understand, truly didn't understand!
Just a second ago, this guy was incredibly weak, but after saying a bunch of inexplicable things, he suddenly powered up and became strong!
Is this reasonable? Is this right?
Reasonable!
Ryosuke declared.
I'm not pretending anymore! I'm laying it all out!
I'm a cheat!
The lightning flash around Ryosuke gradually converged, no longer bursting forth wildly, but condensing into a deeper, incandescent plasma.
Mukago completely broke down, screaming sharply.
"Playing tricks! No matter what methods you used, the power of a Lower Rank is not something a guy like you can contend with!"
Fear turned into anger, and she once again unleashed her full power, transforming into a bloody afterimage, heading straight for Ryosuke's heart!
Her speed was faster than before! Her power stronger!
However, the moment she moved, Ryosuke also moved.
There was no visible preparatory movement, no sound of breathing.
Only a golden light tore through space, flashing by in an instant!
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - God Speed!
This God Speed was faster and fiercer than before!
Mukago's body was instantly sent flying.
Ryosuke's nichirin blade slashed fiercely at her neck!
The terrifying power of thunder and speed made her panic.
The blade continuously cut into her flesh, and the fear of death instantly enveloped her.
"Puwah—!"
Mukago spewed out a large mouthful of blood, and despite the pain, she forcefully grabbed Ryosuke's nichirin blade with both hands.
Chii!
The blade shrieked, Mukago's arms broke, and her body was instantly blasted away, crashing violently against the city wall behind her!
"Bastard! Bastard!"
Mukago roared in fury, her head, connected by only a sliver of flesh and bone, swayed precariously.
After her arms recovered, she hastily tried to reattach her head, initiating the rejoining process to make the wound heal faster.
No good!
This Demon Slayer is too strange; the power he just unleashed was already Pillar-level!
If I keep fighting, he'll really cut off my head!
"Are you thinking of escaping now?"
Mukago froze, Ryosuke had accurately voiced her inner thoughts.
Ryosuke sheathed his blade and crouched, the lightning flash around him crackling and flickering wildly.
"I hope you can outrun this move!"
"Wh..."
Before Mukago could react, Ryosuke's figure vanished, transforming into a streak of light!
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold!
Mukago's demon eyes spun wildly, but she couldn't catch Ryosuke's figure at all!
The winding lightning flash moved around her, making it impossible to predict which direction he would strike from!
Gale winds howled, and gravel crumbled!
Ryosuke lunged from her undefended side!
Chii!
The ultimate strike whistled in, and Mukago hastily used her Blood Demon Art.
Countless vines intertwined into a shield in front of her.
However, Ryosuke's slash was unstoppable; the vines were instantly cut apart, and his nichirin blade once again neared her neck.
Mukago was shocked and dodged frantically, but she was still pierced through her limbs and chest!
Destructive thunder power raged within her, constantly destroying her regenerating flesh and tissue.
Intense pain and the fear of death overwhelmed her!
I'll die! I'll really die!
What kind of monster is this Demon Slayer?!
He was hiding his strength!
Right!
He must have been hiding his strength just now!
Mukago, having reached this conclusion, was in a state of panic.
A strong will to survive made her hold nothing back; as blood flew, countless seeds rained down.
"Blood Demon Art: Weeping Vine Flower!"
With a roar, countless seeds wriggled frantically, growing dark, thorny vines that quickly wrapped around Ryosuke.
Ryosuke's eyes narrowed, his blade surging with power, and the thunder returned!
Thunder Breathing, Third Form: Gathering Thunder!
Boom!
Lightning flashed all around, and sharp slashes rained down!
The attacking vines were all cut down, turning into dust.
But the sheer number of seeds was too great; the outer vines gradually intertwined, weaving into an impenetrable cage that trapped Ryosuke.
"Cough..."
Mukago seized the opportunity to retreat dozens of meters, coughing up large amounts of blood, her injuries rapidly healing, her face filled with horror and lingering fear.
But fortunately, she had trapped this Demon Slayer.
These vines would burrow into his body, take root, and constantly drain his blood!
"Damn Demon Slayer! You..."
She was about to utter some harsh words when she saw the vine cage trembling incessantly, with faint lightning struggling and roaring within it.
Mukago was utterly astonished, staggering back a few steps.
"Impossible! It's impossible!"
She murmured distractedly, her face full of panic.
The vines she created with her Blood Demon Art were incredibly tough; they couldn't be... Boom!
A violent roar erupted, and the vine cage shattered in response, turning into dust.
Countless bolts of lightning exploded, shaking the earth! An even more terrifying aura of destruction permeated the air!
Ryosuke looked up, his eyes now a luminous white.
Thunder crackled around him, as if divine retribution had descended!
Mukago's pupils constricted to pinprick size, and an unprecedented premonition of death seized her throat.
She hastily turned and fled in a panic!
I'm no match!
I can't beat him!
I have to escape! I must escape!
"Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire Thunder God!"
The moment the chant ended, Ryosuke vanished.
In his place was a ferocious, roaring thunder dragon, composed of ultimate lightning and scorching fighting spirit!
It tore through space; wherever it passed, the ground was ploughed with deep scorch marks, and the demon energy in the air was instantly vaporized!
Mukago didn't even react; she only saw a golden-white bolt of lightning pierce through heaven and earth, and through her vision.
The world seemed to fall silent.
Then, she felt the world spin.
Thump... Thump—
My head fell off... Mukago saw her body slowly collapsing, saw the ferocious thunder dragon slowly dissipating, revealing Ryosuke behind it, barely supporting himself with his blade.
'Am I... going to die?'
Even now, Mukago still couldn't believe it.
She had finally become the lower rank four, eaten so many people, and yet... [Slayed one of the Twelve Kizuki, lower rank four Mukago, gained 25 years of lifespan. Current remaining lifespan: 25 years.]
The system's prompt sounded in his ears.
Ryosuke's lips twitched into a joyful smile before he collapsed to the ground.
The continuous use of God Speed, Sixfold, and Fire Thunder God had drained his stamina.
In the original story's finale, Zenitsu had instantly defeated the beast Kaei Gaku with Fire Thunder God.
Ryosuke's current display of power, though not quite as potent, was more than enough to instantly defeat Mukago.
However, the inability of his stamina bar to keep up was indeed a problem; it seems he'll have to train his body more in the future.
The hummingbird in the air circled incessantly, chirping "chu chu."
"Stupid bird, stop chirping, go notify the Kakushi..."
Ryosuke said weakly.
The hummingbird didn't linger long, flying off into the distance.
Ryosuke ignored everything else, using all his remaining strength to extract Mukago's blood sample.
"Meow~"
A cat's meow, and a calico cat with golden eyes appeared before him.
It still had Yushiro's Blood Demon Art talisman around its neck.
Chachamaru... you arrived just in time.
Ryosuke tossed the blood sample to it, and his consciousness began to gradually fade.
Darkness, viscous, dark with the smell of rust and sweet decay.
Ryosuke's consciousness was like a floating duckweed, bobbing in this swamp of memories that didn't belong to him.
He resisted, not wanting to see any kind of life-review or bedtime story.
But it was useless.
It was like being held down by seven or eight strong men, forced to watch a movie in front of a computer...