Chapter 136: Battle Beneath the Moon!
The moon hung in the sky like a hook, while the young man's gaze burned like a torch.
His steady breathing struck like rhythmic drumbeats, tolling the death knell of Hell.
Whoosh—
Inhale—
You have begun breathing!
Your fighting spirit is soaring!
You launch an attack on Hantengu!
Blood Demon Art: Torrential Piercing Strike!
Blood Demon Technique: Thunderous Roar Slaughter!
Blood Demon Art: Endless Karma Tree!
Blood Demon Art: Crushing Roaring Tidal Wave!
This was the second clash between Zohakuten and Ren.
And this time, both of them were at the peak of their strength.
As the battle raged, every building around them was destroyed. Countless pieces of rubble were reduced to dust beneath Ren's swordsmanship and Zohakuten's Blood Demon Arts.
This was a battle between the strongest warrior of the Demon Slayer Corps and an Upper Rank demon.
Both sides were fighting with everything they had!
"Incredible!"
From one corner of Kyogoku House, Makio couldn't help but gasp as she watched Ren's movements.
Their battle had spread from the sky to the ground, from one end of the street to the other.
It was a battle Makio and the other two women had never witnessed before.
"It seems Lord Tengen wasn't exaggerating," Hinatsuru said sincerely. "At first, I thought Lord Tengen was simply praising the Dragon Hashira's talent."
"But that isn't the case at all."
"The Dragon Hashira's strength has already reached the very pinnacle of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Mm! Mm!"
Suma's eyes were wide open, afraid that she might miss even a single movement from Ren.
Because watching this battle was simply too spectacular!
They had spent time alongside the Sound Hashira and witnessed countless dazzling techniques.
But Ren was different.
Every movement he made possessed a unique elegance that was completely different from Tengen's.
If Tengen was flamboyant—
Then Ren was graceful.
In the eyes of the three women, Ren's movements were like a lotus blooming.
Every dodge appeared casual, yet each one perfectly avoided the attacks of the Upper Rank demon.
Moreover, Ren seemed completely unrestricted in his movements.
Every time Zohakuten launched an attack, Ren not only avoided it but even managed to rescue civilians who hadn't escaped in time.
The sight was breathtakingly beautiful!
"The Dragon Hashira is the strongest person I've ever seen," Suma said. "Even Lord Tengen can't match his speed!"
"Enough, enough. At the very least, we should cheer for Lord Tengen!" Makio said. "He's fighting an Upper Rank demon, too!"
Hinatsuru nodded.
"Okay."
They said that—
But not one of them moved.
All three women knew that the truly decisive battle was Ren's.
The battle on the Sound Hashira's side was merely buying time.
After all, they knew their husband far too well...
At the center of the battlefield.
After executing a sword technique, Ren used Dragon Breath, Third Form, and successfully closed the distance!
Zohakuten was horrified.
During their previous clash, Zohakuten had effortlessly suppressed Ren without much difficulty at all.
But what he didn't know was that Ren had been injured during their previous encounter.
Moreover, fighting two Upper Rank demons at the Butterfly Mansion had made Ren much more cautious.
But now—
Ren had truly reached his peak state!
Carefree Movement was used for evasion.
Total Concentration—One Hundred Refinements was used to increase his endurance.
And activating his Mark provided a powerful boost to his physical abilities.
Combined with various Breathing techniques, Ren now had virtually no weaknesses.
He could fight anyone head-on!
Therefore, in Zohakuten's eyes, the Ren before him was practically a completely different person.
Zohakuten continuously beat his drums, controlling the wooden dragons as they attacked Ren.
But Ren dodged every single one.
His opponent's physical attributes seemed to have improved across the board.
Physical strength.
Agility.
Power.
And countless other characteristics.
Why?
That was Zohakuten's greatest question.
Then he noticed the lifelike black dragon-shaped mark spreading across Ren's neck.
"A black mark?"
Zohakuten looked confused.
"Is this some kind of mark like a demon's? How could he possibly awaken something like this?"
Zohakuten was certain that the changes in his opponent's body were connected to that black mark.
But he had no idea what the mark actually was.
In truth, the Mark was something unique to the era of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Hantengu had not been an Upper Rank for nearly as long as Kokushibo, so it was only natural that he had never heard of it.
However, Hantengu clearly remembered that Kokushibo possessed the same kind of Mark!
Kokushibo's Mark covered his entire body!
Could it be that Kokushibo was so powerful precisely because he possessed that black Mark?
Hantengu suddenly understood something.
It seemed that this Demon Slayer named Ren had awakened a powerful ability just like Kokushibo!
But it didn't matter.
If his opponent was this powerful, then his flesh should be delicious as well.
After eating him, his strength should be enough to contend with opponents even stronger than himself, right?
In theory, Zohakuten, one of Hantengu's manifestations, had a beautiful vision of the future.
But reality was completely different.
Because as the battle continued, his wooden dragons began having more and more difficulty touching his opponent.
At first, they had been able to force Ren to maintain his distance.
But now, this Demon Slayer named Ren seemed to possess an extraordinarily powerful combat talent.
He was actually beginning to decipher the patterns behind his opponent's attacks in the middle of battle!
After several simple attempts, Ren made Zohakuten's wooden dragons increasingly difficult to land.
Instead—
Ren became faster and faster.
It was an unbelievable movement technique!
"Blood Demon Art: Crushing Roaring Tidal Wave!"
Zohakuten showed no mercy and once again unleashed his Blood Demon Art upon Ren.
But this time—
He couldn't even touch Ren's shadow!
"Blood Demon Art: Torrential Piercing Strike!"
"Blood Demon Technique: Thunderous Roar Slaughter!"
"Blood Demon Art: Endless Karma Tree!"
"Blood Demon Art: Crushing Roaring Tidal Wave!"
Thunder.
Violent winds.
Trees.
Shockwaves.
This time, Zohakuten unleashed everything he had, intending to completely seal off every path forward!
But Ren was like an eel slipping through water.
He could always find the blind spot in an attack's trajectory, then continue advancing with movements so strange that they seemed impossible!
It completely violated Zohakuten's understanding of physics!
As his opponent drew closer and closer, a rare trace of panic finally appeared on Zohakuten's face.
Beneath the night sky, the young man concealed himself within the gaps between the wooden dragons.
His eyes were sharp as blades.
His breathing was steady.
At that moment—
The Dragon Hashira stopped for an instant.
Then he suddenly drew his sword.
[Dragon Breath, Sixth Form—Twisting Tongue of Flame!]
Ren connected the trajectories of his previous movements.
A moment later, a winding crimson rainbow suddenly illuminated the night sky.
The distance between man and demon shrank infinitely.
Time seemed to freeze.
You have used Dragon Breath!
Time appears to slow down in your eyes. You can clearly see the trajectories of every object around you, allowing you to sketch a pattern within your mind!
The streets, houses, wooden dragons, and enemy become the foundation—the parameters!
Thunder, flames, violent winds, and shockwaves transform into ink, becoming the finishing touches!
Time seemed to slow within your eyes.
And your painting—
Came alive!