DS Chapter 72: Ren Falls Unconscious! Shinobu's Fury!
Kyojuro had never been particularly determined to win.
He had joined this competition with the mindset of learning from the experience. Winning would be nice, but losing didn't matter to him.
However...
He couldn't agree with what Sanemi had just said.
Although Ren had proposed that everyone could interfere with one another's training...
Kyojuro himself had never intended to do so.
Now, however, Sanemi had clearly grown impatient.
He knew that if he didn't act now, he would lose his chance.
Fortunately...
Sanemi had chosen Kyojuro as his first target.
That meant Kyojuro could stop him here.
Only then would the competition remain fair.
Gripping the wooden sword Sanemi had thrown him, Kyojuro's clear, powerful voice echoed throughout the training grounds.
"Hahaha! Sanemi, I'm truly sorry!"
"But as long as I, Kyojuro Rengoku, stand here..."
"You shall not take another step!"
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
"Then let's find out!"
Sanemi's fighting spirit flared.
Without hesitation, he redirected another Wind Breathing technique toward Ren's group.
His objective had already been achieved once.
He had interrupted Kyojuro's training.
Now...
It was Ren's turn.
Just as the attack was about to reach its target—
A blazing crimson figure arrived first.
Although Kyojuro had moved later...
He intercepted the attack before it could reach Ren.
At the same time, his powerful voice rang out.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Whoosh!
A magnificent streak of crimson flames swept across the sky.
Kyojuro intercepted Sanemi's attack head-on.
"How is that possible?!"
Sanemi's eyes widened in disbelief.
That previous strike had been almost instantaneous.
He had deliberately sacrificed power to maximize speed.
By all rights...
Kyojuro shouldn't have been able to intercept it from that distance.
Yet...
He had.
And the technique he used...
It wasn't one Sanemi had ever seen before.
A Flame Breathing technique capable of manifesting visible flames.
At that moment, Sanemi understood.
So this was the new technique Obanai had mentioned.
"Not bad, Rengoku!"
"But let's see if you can stop this one!"
Without pause, Sanemi launched another hurricane-like slash.
Kyojuro answered with Flame Breathing.
The two Hashira exchanged sword techniques so quickly that their movements became nothing but blurs.
Wind and fire intertwined across the battlefield.
The Demon Slayers watching nearby could only stare in astonishment.
After all...
A battle between two Hashira was an exceptionally rare sight.
Unfortunately...
Their speed was simply too overwhelming.
No one present could follow their movements.
Their figures crossed again and again in midair.
Sword techniques collided countless times within the blink of an eye.
Violent winds and scorching heat swept through the training grounds.
Before long...
The entire Butterfly Mansion felt like a furnace.
"I can't stay here anymore!"
"It's too hot!"
"Hashira Sanemi and Hashira Rengoku are actually fighting!"
"I need some fresh air!"
One after another, the Demon Slayers hurried outside.
Standing by the doorway, Kanao quietly opened the door for them.
At the same time...
Her gaze shifted toward Ren.
Over there...
The patients under Ren's care had also been awakened by the rising heat.
Everyone except Shinobu opened their eyes in alarm.
"What the heck?! It's so hot!"
"What's going on?"
"Why is everyone leaving?"
Only then did they notice the Wind Hashira and Flame Hashira battling in the distance.
At that exact moment...
The two exchanged another clash.
This time...
They had truly become serious.
A single miscalculation caused part of Sanemi's attack to break away from the battlefield.
The stray wind blade flew directly toward Ren's group.
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!"
Several graceful sword arcs bloomed like layered flower petals.
Kanao calmly intercepted the stray attack before it reached Ren.
"Master!"
One of the patients suddenly cried out again.
Kanao turned around.
Another stray slash was flying toward Shinobu.
Shinobu remained seated with her eyes closed.
She was still deep in meditation.
Completely unaware of the approaching danger.
"Master!"
Kanao cried anxiously.
But it was too far.
Even if she rushed over immediately...
She wouldn't make it in time.
Just then...
A figure suddenly stepped in front of Shinobu.
It was Ren.
Both of his arms moved rapidly.
His motions were almost identical to Sanemi's earlier technique.
As the sound of controlled breathing echoed softly...
A profound sword technique blossomed from his empty hand.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
Clang!
The scorching air collided with the incoming wind blade.
Moments later...
The attack dispersed.
But the remaining force crashed directly into Ren.
His face immediately flushed bright red.
Without a Nichirin Blade, blocking the attack had placed an enormous burden on his body.
«[You have forcibly interrupted your state of enlightenment.]
[Your mental faculties have suffered severe strain.]
[You engaged in high-intensity activity before your body had fully recovered.]
[A backlash has occurred. Blood circulation has accelerated, placing tremendous stress on your blood vessels.]
[Severe cerebral congestion detected. Symptoms: dizziness. Immediate rest recommended.]
[Lung damage detected. Internal bleeding confirmed.]»
A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of Ren's mouth.
At the same time...
His vision began to spin.
His body swayed violently.
He nearly collapsed.
Kanao immediately rushed forward.
The smile on her face disappeared instantly.
Dropping her Nichirin Blade, she caught Ren from behind before he could fall.
Only then did she realize...
He had already lost consciousness.
"Ren-san!"
"What happened to you?!"
Two anxious voices rang out simultaneously.
Shinobu had finally awakened.
The moment she saw Ren lying unconscious in Kanao's arms...
The color drained from her face.
An indescribable panic surged through her heart.
"Kanao..."
"What happened?"
Her voice trembled with anxiety.
Kanao bit her lip.
"Ren-san protected Master from that attack..."
"He was injured... and fainted..."
"It's all my fault..."
"I couldn't block the Hashira's attack..."
"Protected... me?"
Shinobu stood frozen.
Slowly...
She turned toward the distant battlefield.
Sanemi and Kyojuro were still exchanging fierce blows.
Every collision sent stray shockwaves throughout the training grounds.
Some of the Butterfly Mansion's buildings had already been damaged by the escaping wind blades.
"Ren-san is bleeding..."
Kanao's trembling voice sounded once more.
Clang.
Beneath the lights of the training hall...
Shinobu slowly drew her slender Nichirin Blade.
Her damp bangs hung over her eyes, concealing her expression.
When she finally spoke...
Her voice was frighteningly calm.
"Kanao."
"Take Ren-san somewhere safe."
"And make sure he gets proper treatment."