Yoo, not sick anymore.
Yippee!
Some characters appear from Kimetsu No Yaiba-Signs From The Wind, which is essentially Sanemi's origin story. You don't need to read that, because I've formatted it in a way that you can understand who the character is.
I also wanted to make this a single huge chapter, but I surpassed the word limit of 20k words per chapter, so i had to split into two chapters.
Anyways, enjoy! And please leave a review
~~~
[3rd Person POV]
A tornado.
Wind Breathing's 1st form shared a similarity to Water Breathing's 10th form, that is, both forms relied on constant rotation for an increase.
In the 1st form, the user dashes forward at blinding speeds and continually rotates while slashing all around them. In the span of a second, the rotation becomes so fast that it appears as if the wielder has become a moving tornado capable of executing slashes at a 180-degree angle.
So, calling Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, a tornado was not wrong. Facing such an attack, even a Lower Moon would be shredded into tiny parts in less than a second.
However, it's a pity that Sanemi wasn't facing a Lower Moon.
*BOOM*
An impossibly heavy pressure descended. Knees buckled for a moment as the air thickened. For a moment, the entire room full of Hashira fell silent as they moved their gaze to Gyomei.
Their gazes then turned horrified when they realized it wasn't Gyomei.
"Martial Union Sun Breathing: Dancing Flash"
The 1st form of Sun Breathing, Dance, is a simple form where the user performs a singular vertical slash. Despite its simplicity, the force of the slash must not be underestimated, for it can cut even the hardest of steels.
However, this specific variant also includes the 1st form of Thunder Breathing, Thunderclap, and Flash, also known as the fastest form of Thunder Breathing. This specific move had the user also perform a singular absolute slash while moving faster than sound, decapitating a demon before they could even realize it.
And so, when you combine these two moves into one, an unblockable attack is produced.
*WHOOSH*
*BOOM*
It felt as if the sun itself had descended.
*ting*
Fist and sword met, letting out a metallic sound.
Swirling gusts of wind met lightning and fire. For a moment, and just a moment, the room exploded with the two forces seeming to appear at a standstill as Sanemi poured all his strength into the clash.
In the end, however, how could a tornado overpower the sun?
And so.
*BOOM*
*THUD* *CRASH*
Sanemi was sent flying back. The absolute disparity of overwhelming strength between the two resulted in Sanemi being launched back faster than a bullet.
*crash*
The walls of the meeting room of the Hashira crumbled like thermocol being cut by a hot knife, as Sanemi launched through it. After breaking through the first wall, Sanemi impacted the ground.
Hard.
*BOOM*
The impact launched him skyward, only to slam him down again, ricocheting him across the courtyard. In the end, after creating several craters, he finally skidded to a halt after being stopped by the outermost stone wall.
"Gahk"
Sanemi let out a strangled gasp as he was rendered breathless. Even with the sword blocking Aoyama's punch, the force transmitted was so much that Sanemi could not breathe for several seconds.
He tried to grasp his chest, but his hands, full of numbness, couldn't stop shaking. The shock of the punch was so much that at some point during his crash, he had accidentally let go of his sword.
"Excuse me," Aoyama called, bringing the attention of the dumbfounded Hashira to him as he walked outside the room. "I'm sorry for the wall and the ground. Please relay my apologies to Oyakata-Sama when he arrives."
*whoosh*
Once outside, Aoyama squatted down as the muscles on his hind legs bulged.
"Also, please inform him that Sanemi Shinazugawa may not be able to participate in the fight against Upper Moon 6."
And then he jumped.
*whish*
Everybody in the room fell silent as they watched Aoyama suddenly vanish. Despite jumping dozens of meters in the air, Aoyama didn't produce even a single breath of air, and not even a silver of sound.
Before long, the silence in the room was finally broken by Obanai.
"Impossible," Obanai muttered, rising to his feet. His usually calm voice carried a rare edge of disbelief. "For a Kanoe to overpower a Hashira, that is something that should not exist in this world."
Impossible.
No way, how could a child that hasn't even been a Demon Slayer for more than two months logically overpower a Hashira? It was like expecting an 8-year-old child who had never wielded a sword to defeat a Samurai.
'How can he?'
Obanai looked down.
'No, there is no need for something like how or why, when the answer is obvious.'
It is because he is strong.
No, this isn't strong anymore; this is simply ridiculous strength.
Everyone is born with a capacity or talent for certain crafts. In the end, it is this talent that separates the Hashira, who stand at the pinnacle of swordsmen, from average swordsmen who never even live more than a month.
'The answer is so obvious.'
Aoyama Yuito Daichi. A boy who could replicate a Breathing Technique flawlessly after witnessing it only once. His gift was so absurd, so far beyond reason, that it dwarfed even the Hashira themselves.
When the current generation of Hashira were newbie Slayers, they had to toil day and night, pushing their bodies past the brink of exhaustion. They faced countless brushes with death, and only the lucky few survived long enough to climb higher.
In the end, after years of effort and brushes with death, the swordsmen ascended to the position of Hashira, which was the pinnacle for them.
For Aoyama Yuito Daichi, attaining the position of Hashira was nothing more than a step forward in his life, as natural as walking up a flight of stairs, drawing a breath, or closing his eyes to sleep. It was not a grand achievement in his mind, but a natural continuation.
What was the pinnacle for every swordsman was nothing more than a normal achievement for Aoyama.
'Is this why he's so confident about taking on an Upper Moon?'
Upper Moons are terrifying creatures. Even with the immense hatred he possessed, there was no denying that he possessed a bit of fear and apprehension when he learned that they were going to fight one.
It can't be helped. This Upper Moon in particular had consumed a total of 22 Hashira. Even if Hashira were the pinnacle of human strength, they were nothing compared to the pinnacle of demons, and this one was supposed to be the weakest.
The chances of him becoming just a statistic in this fight were simply too high. And the worst part is, if that happened, then no one would bat an eye. In the end, they would simply say, "Well, it was an Upper Moon; isn't it only natural for a Hashira to die to it?"
Still, even if the demon is an Upper Moon, it is the lowest-ranked Upper Moon, so how strong could it really be? Why would anyone be afraid of the bottom of the barrel?
But, if it was him...
'So, why do I feel so angry?'
In the end, a sense of envy rose deep within him.
'Why him?'
"It's because of you, coward!" his cousin cried. "Mom, Dad, everyone died because you ran away.'
Obanai came from a wealthy, female-dominated family of thieves who worshipped a snake demon, sacrificing their offspring to the demon for riches.
As the first male child born in three hundred and seventy years, Obanai was never meant to live a normal life. He was destined to be offered to the demon. But instead of consuming him outright, the demon decided to keep him as a plaything. At twelve years old, his mouth was carved open to resemble hers, a permanent reminder of his role as her pet.
Later on, Obanai encountered Kabamaru, who helped him escape from his fate. However, in doing so, the snake demon, in rage, killed every single member of his family except for his cousin, who blamed him for his family's death.
Although he recognized that her grudge and words were illogical, he chose to accept that he was at fault and even considered himself as corrupt as his family was, believing he was not worthy to live a normal life.
'If only I had that strength.'
Yes—if he had been strong enough back then, he could have killed the demon before his family's downfall. He could have saved them. He could have redeemed himself.
'This filthy blood flowing through me could have been of use.'
But instead, it had to be him.
Why Aoyama? Why does he have this talent?
He doesn't have anyone to save. He doesn't carry any obligations, any curses, any scars carved into his soul. He isn't shackled by a past drenched in blood. He's just the son of some noble family, living a life where suffering probably never even brushed against him.
So why?
Why give everything to that spoiled brat? Why burden him with strength he doesn't even need?
"Sanemi," Giyu muttered in surprise, "Is the gap between you two really so large?"
'Sabito...'
Thinking so, Giyu clenched his fists as a rare expression of anger appeared on his face.
'Why did you forsake Water Breathing Aoyama? If it were you, then you might have...No, you definitely would have been the greatest of the Water Hashira.
In the end, the Slayer Corps would have gained an actual Water Hashira rather than a fake.'
Giyu lowered his head as he calmed the rage within him.
'First Sabito, now Aoyama...Why must you force me to don a position I am not deserving of.'
On the side, Shinobu stilled in surprise at the turn of events.
'That speed...'
Ever since Shinobu Kocho joined the Slayer Corps, she has never possessed the upper-body strength to decapitate a demon, which is why she created a Breathing Style completely dependent on stabbing and poison.
To make up for her inability to decapitate demons, she developed her speed to the extreme, earning her the title of the fastest Hashira in the current generation, a title which will perhaps only be stripped from her upon the emergence of the Rumble Hashira.
And so, when the fastest Hashira witnessed the clash.
'That speed is on par with mine.'
A sense of discomfort rose from within her.
"Rengoku-San, was Aoyama always this strong?"
"...I do not know." Rengoku hesitated before answering, "But, it has not even been a week since he switched his breathing from Water Breathing to the Sun Breathing that the Kamado trainee displayed."
"Not even a week?" Shinobu remarked in shock, "It takes years for swordsmen to adapt to a brand new Breathing Style. Just how fast did Aoyama master a completely new Breathing?"
Rengoku didn't respond, as he was stuck in deep thought.
'In the end, no matter how much effort you put in, you will never be equal to the Sun Breathers, the true genius.'
At that time, he had dismissed his father's words as merely ridicule. Yet now, seeing a Kanoe Sun breather overpowering a Hashira, he couldn't help but think that the words were not ridicule, but rather helpful advice.
'Was father right?'
Rengoku's grip on his sword tightened as he looked outside.
'Are we really destined to be nothing more than measuring sticks?'
Outside of the broken room, Sanemi's strangled lungs finally loosened.
"Haaa"
After a while, Sanemi finally let out a gasp and started greedily sucking in air. His trembling hands began to calm down, though the numbness spreading across them had yet to dissipate.
"Yo, what happened, Hashira?"
*woosh*
In less than a second, Aoyama appeared above the lying Sanemi with a simple, harmless smile.
"Wha-"
"Surely, the almighty Hashira didn't get so overwhelmed by a mere low-ranking Slayer that they let go of their sword, right?" Aoyama mocked, waving Sanemi's Nichrin around. "I mean, didn't you just boast about your rank all the time?"
Sanemi stared blankly at the sword in Aoyama's hand before subconsciously moving his hand towards his sheath. His expression morphed into fury as he grabbed thin air.
"Oh, scary," Aoyama said, taking in Sanemi's expression. "Please, take your sword back and have mercy on me. Kindly grant this lowly one a quick and painless death."
Saying so, Aoyama released Sanemi's sword.
*whoosh*
Before the Nichrin sword even left Aoyama's grip, Sanemi dashed forward in a blur of speed, reappearing in front of him with the blade clenched in his hand. His movements were fast, but his mind stalled the instant his eyes traced the edge. Subconsciously, his fingers brushed against the shallow nicks running across the blade's surface.
'What the hell? My sword got nicked?'
"Tch, lucky shot," Sanemi spat, forcing a sneer to cover the unease creeping in. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I just held back because you're a low-ranking Slayer."
"Mmm, a lucky shot, Almighty Hashira?" Aoyama echoed with a lopsided smile, flexing his fist until the knuckles cracked. "That's fine. I'm feeling particularly lucky today."
Sanemi's grip on his sword tightened, veins bulging against his skin. His teeth ground together, rage bubbling through the cracks of his pride.
"No way, you're actually sneering. I've only ever seen that in those garbage cultivation novels," Aoyama said, before adopting a thoughtful expression. "I wonder, is your next line going to be, 'Courting death'? Or maybe something like 'Junior, you dare!' Or maybe something like the immensity of the heavens and the earth?"
As Sanemi heard Aoyama's mocking words, he recalled a much more peaceful time.
("It's you, isn't it?" he asked as he worked. "The dumb kid running around hunting demons even though he's not a Demon Slayer. Why would you do a thing like that?"
Sanemi looked away. "I'm going to slaughter every last one of those hideous things."
"Yeah?" The boy seemed unfazed by the bitterness in Sanemi's voice. His tone remained light. "Keep this up and you're gonna die, you know. You won't take out a single demon fighting like that."
"Oh yeah?" Ignoring Sanemi's bitterness, the boy stood up and held out a hand. "I'l introduce you to a Trainer. To kill every last demon, you'll really need to build up your strength." The boy's smile was bottomless and bright.
Despite himself, Sanemi was caught off guard. And that was how Sanemi Shinazugawa met the Demon Slayer Masachika Kumeno.)
'Why...' Sanemi snarled at the memory 'Why am I remembering this?'
Sanemi's jaw locked, a low growl rumbling in his throat as he forced down the retort burning at his tongue. He inhaled sharply through his nose, taking in a deep breath.
'Is it possible that he...?'
As Sanemi looked on, it seemed as if a figure of Masachika appeared behind Aoyama...
'NO!'
Sanemi snarled in rage, surprising Aoyama, as he banged his head with the scabbard of his sword.
'Aoyama's nothing like him! That guy cared about me, but this fucker is just trying to irritate me. No, dumbass, don't get angry during a fight. Don't fall for such basic provocation.'
Taking a deep breath, Sanemi calmly replayed the memory of their first clash, yet the memory he just recalled seemed to be stuck in his mind.
'That guy's strength is way above mine.'
Sanemi begrudingly accepted that even if he attacked at full power, he wouldn't be able to match Aoyama's strength and would still have been blown away. Though being the Tsugoku of the Stone Hashira, abnormal strength wasn't really that strange.
As if!
No, it definitely was absurd. Just look at the size difference. Gyomei was a herculean giant, a man built like a fortress. Aoyama was still practically a child. There was no way he should be capable of exerting that much strength, even if he strained every muscle in his body until they tore apart.
And what the hell was that?
'Did he parry my sword with his fist?'
The sheer strength was already unnerving, but that defense—that impossible durability—was something else entirely. His blade had clashed against bare flesh, and yet Aoyama hadn't even gotten the tiniest scratch.
No, it was worse than that.
'Why was there a metallic sound?'
Sanemi carefully scanned Aoyama, but found no weapons on him. But that's not possible, how could a fist and a sword clashing produce a metallic sound? The absurdity of it made bile rise in his throat.
'Unless his body is as hard as steel?'
The idea was insane—something straight out of drunken campfire tales. Human flesh wasn't meant to rival iron. And yet, the clang in his ears, the unmarked skin on Aoyama's fists… it all pointed to one conclusion.
Sanemi narrowed his eyes at the thought. Aoyama was standing straight under the sun, no fangs, no burning skin, no signs of a demon. He was human. Completely, undeniably human.
So how?
How did he gain skin so tough that even steel couldn't pierce it?
"It's Martial Arts"
"Hah?"
"Looking at the sun, then looking at my fists, it was pretty obvious what you were thinking." Aoyama mentioned ignoring Sanemi's provocation, "Apparently, combining the Martial Arts that the Hashira of the Sengoku Era used with Breathing Techniques produces marvellous effects."
Sanemi's grip tightened on his sword. "Seriously? You expect me to swallow that crap? The Sengoku Hashira had some kind of steel skin for protection?" He raised his blade again, anger sparking in his eyes.
"Steel skin?" Aoyama smiled, "No, this doesn't just enhance the skin, it enhances everything. If you can't even cut my skin, how can you hope to cut through my muscles or my bones?"
Sanemi stood still as he absorbed the information.
"I'll tell you plainly," Aoyama continued, his voice still maddeningly calm. "Even if you stabbed a blade straight into my heart, it would be the blade that shatters." He tilted his head."So tell me, Hashira—what do you plan to do with that knowledge?"
"This is absurd!" Sanemi shouted, "You're telling me that doing a few fancy movements lets you use the equivalent of a Blood Demon Art? There's no way that makes sense at all. That's not logical at all."
"I mean, yeah? Since when was this world logical?" Aoyama countered before shaking his head, "And they aren't fancy movements. I'm sure if you tried to practice them, you wouldn't be able to learn them at all."
"Besides." Aoyama remarked, "It's exactly because of your disbelief that no other generation of Hashira has reached the strength of the Sengoku Hashira."
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind"
In a moment, Sanemi raised his blade up high. Instantly, four wind slashes gathered around the blade as Sanemi slashed down, releasing all four slashes in the form of a claw.
"Looks like someone's angry."
*CLANG*
A sharp metallic sound rang out as Sanemi's sword met Aoyama's bare fist, the gathered winds whipping into a violent storm around them. Dust and debris scattered, walls rattled, but Aoyama's fist didn't budge.
"Damn you," Sanemi snarled, muscles straining, veins bulging as he pushed with everything he had. The claws of wind screeched against Aoyama's guard as sparks fell to the ground. "I'll break through that defense of yours, no matter what!"
"That's the spirit," Aoyama laughed, before bringing down his other arm and punching the sword downwards, embedding it into the ground. "Don't even think about defeating an Upper Moon if you can't even defeat me. Come on and uphold your position as a Hashira!"
("I hope I can become a Pillar in future as well. Sanemi, you feel the same too, right?"
Faced with Masachika who was just talking incessantly, Sanemi decided to ignore him.
"How about let's compete and see who becomes a Pillar first."
Masachika decided on his own that Sanemi agreed with him.
"Hm—how about this. Whoever becomes a Pillar first will get treated by the other person to a meal. It's too boring if it's something like soba so how about beef hot pot? Tofu that has been braised in sauce till it's soft and tender is extremely delicious with beef.")
"Masachika..."
thud
A sharp kick slammed into Sanemi's knee, forcing him down with a grunt.
"Don't get distracted."
whoosh
Sanemi, however, quickly diverted the force from his knees to the ground before jumping up, disengaging the sword from the ground.
"Who's distracted, dumbass?!"
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind"
Sanemi's sword blurred as he unleashed his sword form mid-air.
Seeing the attack, Aoyama dashed backwards, just barely missing the slash, before dashing forwards again as he threw a punch.
*clang*
In retaliation, Sanemi raised his sword, blocking Aoyama's punch for a second, before suddenly thrusting the sword downwards, releasing a large gust of wind. Instantly, Sanemi raised his blade back upward, heading straight to Aoyama's neck.
'Thrusting your blade downwards to redirect my shock to the ground instead of you,' Aoyama complimented, 'Not bad, you are a Hashira after all.'
Aoyama quickly threw his head up as the blade whizzed past his head, before suddenly bringing his head down, headbutting Sanemi.
*thud*
Sanemi snarled for a moment before jumping back in the air.
"Wind Breathing Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind"
While mid-leap, his body twisted up as he charged at Aoyama in a swirling motion before swinging his sword in a horizontal sweep, creating several circular, arched slashes that increased in size above him.
*whoosh*
*clang*
Aoyama's arms blurred, quickly redirecting the slashes away as he dashed at Sanemi. Quickly tilting his head sideways, just barely dodging Sanemi's last slash, Aoyama landed a punch straight to Sanemi's liver, sending him skidding back.
However, the moment Sanemi touched the ground, he instantly got into stance.
"Wind Breathing First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter"
Not even half a second later, Sanemi blurred as he began rotating himself like a tornado. The air around him seemed to be getting sucked in, making a giant vertical tornado heading straight towards Aoyama.
"Martial Union Sun Breathing: Sunflower Thrust"
Aoyama shot forward, bypassing the storm's edges. Instead of using a fancy move to counter the torndao, he quickly unleashed the fastest move of Sun Breathing, landing a straight punch to Sanemi's head located in the epicenter, devoid of any wind.
Or atleast, it would have landed.
"Wind Breathing Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist"
Instantly halting his advance, Sanemi quickly leaned back as he swung his sword backwards, making the force rotate his body in an uppercut movement, narrowly avoiding Aoyama's punch as it passed harmlessly through the space between his legs.
Quickly, Sanemi's legs latched onto Aoyama's hand, binding him.
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind"
With one arm bound, along with the attack being at point range, Aoyama was unable to dodge the attack.
The fabric used to weave the Slayer Uniforms is considered so tough that some demons are unable to break through it. Yet, it offered no resistance as the four claws of wind ripped through the uniform.
*clang*
A heavy metallic sound rang in the air as sparks were produced as the four claws tried to, and failed, to pierce through the skin.
"Not bad"
*Boom*
The ground cracked as Aoyama swung.
*clang*
Bringing his sword up, Sanemi gritted his teeth as Aoyama's fist was blocked. Swiping his sword to the right, Sanemi quickly redirected Aoyama's punch before any vibrations could travel through his body.
*whoosh*
A huge gust of wind picked up, as the shockwaves from Aoyama's hands traveled throughout the clearing, forming a deep pit on the stone wall to their left.
Sanemi's blade snapped back in a flash, arcing straight for Aoyama's chest.
Contrary to Sanemi's expectations, this time Aoyama didn't meet the strike with a fist. His hands blurred, moving faster than the eye could follow, and in the next instant, his fingers were wrapped tightly around the Nichirin's edge.
*whoosh*
*Clang!*
Sparks spat into the air, the hiss of steel grinding against unnatural flesh ringing in Sanemi's ears. But instead of blood, there was only that damned metallic scrape—like blade against blade.
*squeeze*
Sanemi's muscles bulged as veins grew on his hands, but there wasn't the slightest movement. Aoyama's grip clamped down on the Nichirin; the blade locked in place like it was welded to his hand. No matter how Sanemi twisted or pulled, the steel refused to budge.
"Damn brat—"
Instead of wasting strength in a tug-of-war, Sanemi abruptly let go. His palm left the hilt, and before Aoyama could register the shift, Sanemi's leg whipped up like a coiled spring released.
Thud!
The kick slammed into Aoyama's ribs, the impact cracking like wood under an axe. The blow forced Aoyama's torso sideways, the tension in his arm loosening just enough.
Taking in a deep breath, Sanemi suddenly grabbed his blade and jumped up with his sword still in hand. His hand snapped back onto the hilt, his entire body twisting as he shoved the sword past Aoyama's locked wrist.
"How's that brat?" Sanemi roared, driving the blade back until Aoyama's arm bent at an angle no joint could match. "Either you release the sword, or you break your hand!"
"Tch"
In the end, with no choice left, Aoyama quickly let go of the sword.
"Got it back."
With a savage pull, Sanemi ripped his Nichirin free in a single motion, the blade singing as it cut through the air and returned to his control.
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind"
Instantly, four slashes approached Aoyama.
"This again?"
Aoyama quickly disappeared from the initial spots as the slashes passed him. In an instant, he appeared in front of Sanemi, throwing back his fist.
*clang*
But Sanemi's body moved without thought. His instincts, honed from the earlier exchange, seized control. The Nichirin blade intercepted the punch perfectly, angling just right to bleed away the shock before it could tear through his arms. The metallic crack reverberated, but this time his grip didn't shake.
"That trick isn't going to work all the time, brat!"
"I could say the same."
*thud*
"GAH"
Sanemi's body folded around the impact as Aoyama's knee slammed into his gut, spit spraying from his lips.
"I have legs too, dumbass," Aoyama mocked. "Did you forget something that basic?"
Sanemi doubled over from the kick, but his fury burned hotter than the pain. He roared, twisting his wrists as his Nichirin blurred into motion, the steel howling with the wind it cut.
"Kicking with your legs at point-blank range is stupidity, brat!" Sanemi snapped, his voice raw with defiance. "Because with one leg in the air—"
WHRRR!SHHH!
"—you can't dodge at all!"
"Wind Breathing Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree"
Fshhh!Shhhh!
In an instant, dozens of wind slashes erupted from his blade in all directions, shredding the air around him into a violent storm. The sudden whirlwind tore stone from the ground and split deep gouges into the walls, each arc of the blade forming a jagged barrier that protected his battered frame.
*whoosh*
"Martial Union Sun Breathing: Fake Rainbow"
However, before any slash could hit Aoyama, he vanished into bands of rainbows.
*whoosh*
'Chance'
As soon as Aoyama vanished, Sanemi took a deep breath before raising his Katana.
"Wind Breathing Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm"
As wind gathered on his Katana, Sanemi instantly swung down. As his blade carved downward, a monstrous gale exploded outward as winds spiraled and expanded into a massive tornado, engulfing the entire clearing
'An AOE attack?'
Aoyama, who had been ready to chase Sanemi the instant he reappeared, halted mid-step. The towering vortex roared to life, its sheer size threatening to rip even him apart if he closed in recklessly. With a flicker, he dashed backward, retreating to the edges.
"There you are!"
Sanemi's expression turned bloodthirsty as soon as he spotted Aoyama.
"Wind Breathing Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts"
*whoosh*
A violent gust ripped through the area as Sanemi shot forward. Instead of running in a straight line, his movements blurred into sharp zigzags, closing the distance like a hawk weaving through a storm.
*clinnkkk*
But this time, it wasn't the clean clash of steel against steel. Instead, a slow, grating screech filled the air as Sanemi's blade dragged across Aoyama's skin, carving a shallow line where even steel should have failed.
"I did it!" Sanemi screamed like a madman, spit flying as his grin split wide. "I cut through your skin!"
"There's no way you're celebrating something that small," Aoyama remarked, brushing a finger across the faint line. "Then again, I suppose that really is your limit, isn't it? All this effort… and not even a drop of blood."
("Don't just address me so casually. Sanemi this, Sanemi that, it's annoying."
"Then why don't you just address me by my first name then? That would make it fair, right? Masa, Chika—alright, you try."
"That's not the problem!!")
'Yeah, he always was annoying like that, wasn't he? Smiling and taunting away my worries'
"Shut up, brat!" Sanemi barked, veins bulging at his temple, though there was a wild smile on his face. "This is the most you've talked all fight. What's wrong? Getting nervous now that you're not so invincible?"
"...I haven't even used Transparent World or the Red Blade yet."
"Waa waa… is the little baby crying?"
💢
"Alright then."
And then, as if struck by an illusion, Aoyama vanished.
'No… what?' Sanemi's mind raced. 'He's right in front of me'
But he wasn't. Or at least, he seemed not to be. Aoyama hadn't moved a single step, yet Sanemi's body, his senses, his instincts, even his eyes, to a certain extent betrayed him.
'A ghost?'
Impossible. Nothing alive could feel like this. The man standing before him wasn't human
*step*
Aoyama took a single step forward.
And another.
Then another.
'No, calm down.' Sanemi internally snarled, 'He's just hiding his killing intent. The moment he ambushes me, I'll sense it and use a breathing technique.'
And then, Aoyama took one final step.
*clang*
'...What?'
The world rang like a bell.
Sanemi stared dumbfounded at his broken sword.
'When—? I didn't even see him move. How… how the hell is my sword broken?!'
His Nichirin had snapped in two, the broken half clattering against the stone.
'Huh? Where did he go?'
"Behind"
Sanemi instantly jumped back as he heard Aoyama's voice from the back.
'What? I didn't even sense him?'
Sanemi looked at Aoyama, but couldn't sense anything at all.
His eyes locked onto Aoyama's figure, yet… There was nothing. No pressure, no bloodlust, no killing intent. Even his breathing—the one thing Sanemi's instincts always picked up on—was gone.
No, it wasn't just his breathing. Everything was gone. His battle-honed senses, the primal signals that screamed danger in the face of demons—all of it failed.
It was as if his body no longer considered the armed figure before him a threat at all. Even his survival instincts dulled, adrenaline draining from his veins. Muscles slackened against his will, as though forced into a false, unnatural calm.
For the first time in years, Sanemi felt his instincts betray him.
"Urgh," Aoyama groaned, bringing his hand to his eyes.
Instantly, his body retreated back into his combat state, adrenaline flooding in again as though breaking free from an unseen weight. Slowly, the invisible shroud peeled away, and Aoyama's presence trickled back into reality—the faint aura of a living man returning.
"Looks like I can't use Selfless State, huh?" Aoyama muttered, "Well, whatever, that would have been too overkill for you."
Instantly, Sanemi's instincts flared.
*whoosh*
Barely bringing up his broken sword, Sanemi brought up his sword to block Aoyama's fist. However, Aoyama's fist stopped just before hitting Sanemi, and instead coiled around his sword, hitting him straight in his temple.
"Urgh," Sanemi groaned, "That punch... hit harder?"
"That's because I've been going easy on you," Aoyama rasped. "Even now, if I had attacked with full power, your skull would have splattered on the ground."
Sanemi's body went rigid, his breath hitching at the weight of the words.
"Do you realize how many times you have died in this fight?"
*thud*
Aoyama's feet impacted the ground, creating a dull sound.
"Wind Breathing Fi-"
"Too slow"
*BOOM*
Before Sanemi could even breathe, Aoyama had already punched Sanemi's blade down into the ground.
"Wind Breath-"
*thud*
Another punch hit Sanemi straight on his jaw.
"Wind Breathi-"
*thud*
"Wind Brea-"
*thud*
"Wi-"
*thud*
Forget breathing—Sanemi couldn't even think. Every attempt at a form was shattered mid-syllable, his body rocked from angle after angle by Aoyama's relentless fists.
"Do you really think I was going at full power?" Aoyama rasped. "When I was just standing in one place, letting your attacks hit? I was doing that to motivate you, but it's clear that it's just increasing your ego."
*clink* *clang* *clink* *clang* *clink* *clang*
A symphony of metallic sounds ran out as Aoyama attacked with his fist. Sanemi could only helplessly raise his blade to counter every strike, but it was clear from his shaking hands that his body could only handle so much.
*whoosh*
With a desperate gamble, Sanemi tilted his head aside, feeling the wind of Aoyama's fist graze his cheek. In the same motion, he swung down, his broken blade aiming for Aoyama's chest.
*clink*
It was ultimately futile. Aoyama's offhand swatted the strike away with casual precision, pinning the blade against his wrist, which he immediately clenched, locking the sword in place.
*whump*
Sanemi's eyes widened, but he was too slow to react.
While the sword was lodged in his arm, Aoyama let out a punch straight towards Sanemi's head. With the sword stuck in Aoyama's wrist, Sanemi could only helplessly try to dodge the punch by tilting his head.
*squelch*
However, even after putting in all his effort, Sanemi couldn't fully dodge Aoyama's punch. A wet sound was produced as Aoyama's knuckles tore across his forehead, splitting skin and muscle. Warm blood trickled down his temple, blinding one eye.
'I'm bleeding?'
Sanemi absentmindedly wiped the blood off his forehead
Sanemi dashed backwards as he raised his sword.
"Wind Breathing Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts"
His body blurred. Momentum shattered and reignited, zigzags cutting across the battlefield like a hawk weaving through a storm. Each step carried lethal intent, his Nichirin striking in chaotic arcs too fast to predict.
"Just like you said before," Aoyama said, "It won't work twice."
clang clang clash clang
Twisting his body, Aoyama easily dodged the various complex attacks of Sanemi's sword, his fists weaved through the storm, twisting his torso and deflecting every strike with unnerving precision. Sparks showered the air as Sanemi's wild cuts were parried aside, momentum stalling.
Then— crack!
Aoyama's fist slammed against the flat of Sanemi's blade, killing his advance and hurling him backward.
While Sanemi was still mid-air, Aoyama jumped upwards, before spinning sideways, appearing above Sanemi and landing a spinning kick straight at his sword, launching him into the ground.
*THUD*
The impact echoed as Sanemi's body hit the dirt, only to bounce back from the sheer force of the strike.
In that fleeting moment of weightlessness, Aoyama coiled like a spring. His body dipped low, sweeping beneath the rebounding Sanemi with serpent-like fluidity, appearing just below the mid-air Sanemi
whoosh
In one motion, his legs snapped upward as an upper kick that crashed against Sanemi's sword, the shock rattling through steel and bone alike.
*thud*
In the next instant, Aoyama stretched out his hand, grabbing the flying Sanemi before spinning sideways, crashing him into the ground yet again, before he could even fly upwards into the air.
Aoyama's leg blurred—kicks raining from every direction. thudwhooshthud The strikes didn't break bone or tear flesh, but they hammered into Sanemi's guard, chest, and shoulders, driving him back with overwhelming rhythm.
"Did you know that Sun Breathing's true purpose is to cover the world?"
*thud*
An arced kick hit Sanemi's sword.
"Six dimensions make up the third-dimensional world."
Sun Breathing:
"Up"
Dance
Flames erupted from Aoyama's foot as flames trailed his heel as he axe-kicked down onto Sanemi's broken blade.
"Down"
Clear Blue Sky
The downwards kick stalled before it suddenly whipped up, crashing into Sanemi's chin.
"Left, Right"
Raging Sun
The kick suddenly disappeared, before somehow breaking the laws of physics and striking from both the left and right directions at the same time, slamming into Sanemi's cheekbones.
"Back"
Fire Wheel
The kick drove into his spine, forcing him forward.
"And finally, front"
Sunflower Thrust
Aoyama's leg blurred and crashed against Sanemi's forehead with the weight of the sun.
*BOOM*
Sanemi blurred, flying away from the kick.
*CRASH*
Being blown away, Sanemi crashed through the stone walls of the mansion before falling into the forest. The trees split down the middle, trunks snapping as if struck by lightning. Leaves burst skyward, branches ripped apart.
Only after smashing through a line of trees did his body finally slow, crashing into the earth and rolling through the dirt, carving a scar into the ground before coming to a ragged stop.
Sanemi staggered, his vision rattling, but Aoyama caught him by the collar before he collapsed.
"I think that's enough," Aoyama said. "I don't want to hurt you anymore. I think we've had our fair share of violence today."
(His tone was unexpectedly gentle.
That voice was tender to the point that one might even call it weak; it did not sound like it came from this man's mouth. Without realizing it, Sanemi gave up retaliating.
Masachika also released his grip on Sanemi and stopped walking.
"The wounds that you sustained are that deep. However—"
His senior continued talking without turning around.
The word "滅" printed on his back trembled slightly.
I do not wish for you to give up on your own life.")
"...ity"
"Huh?" Aoyama questioned
"I said..."
Sanemi snarled before swinging his sword in a wide arc
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR DAMN PITY!"
*clang*
Steel met flesh and lost. Just as Sanemi's sword moved, Aoyama's fist slammed into the side of the sword before the technique could fully bloom. The force of the punch jarred through the blade, cutting its momentum in half, shattering the forming claws before they could rip the air apart.
"I'm serious, let's stop."
*whoosh*
"SHUT UP! AFTER ALL THAT TALK, YOU WERE THE ONE TO DIE, BASTARD!"
"What are you saying?" Aoyama questioned, "Are you alright in the head?"
Sanemi paid no mind as he dashed backwards into the clearing, before vanishing into the forests.
'...I was the one to die?'
Aoyama stilled for a moment before shaking his head. Pushing the thought aside, he focused back on the battle.
'Using the forest as a cover to sneak attack me?' Aoyama mused 'Too bad, I possess the Transparent World.'
*zwish*
The world turned gray.
His pupils spun, twitching in every direction. In fractions of a second, his vision unraveled the forest. Left, right, above, below. Even his eyes rolled back unnaturally, painting the entire battlefield behind him.
'Found him.'
Aoyama's gaze stopped before zeroing in on the moving skeleton.
"Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind"
"Flame Breathing Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation"
Red flames changed to bright yellow as Aoyama's arms blurred before performing a circular motion, creating a barrier of flames.
*thud*
The claws of wind impacted the flame barrier before dispersing.
"Flame...?"
"Who says I only have to stick to Sun Breathing?" Aoyama countered. "Do you not realize how much I have been holding back this entire time? Sticking to only Sun Breathing and targeting only your sword?"
And then, time seemed to slow down.
"I'm serious about stopping here. I won't be able to guarantee your survival if we continue. Let's just go to the butterfly mansion and get you healed."
("Go to the Butterfly Manor."
"Hah?"
"Go over there and get proper treatment. And while you're there, let Kochou-san give you a good scolding."
"! Stop messing around!"
Sanemi glared at Masachika from a close distance. Never mind about the Kakushi and the other members from his batch; even more senior demon slayers shrank back at how aggressive Sanemi was. Even so, this had absolutely no effect on Masachika.
"I'm really serious about this. It's not a joke."
"I already said it has nothing to do with you! Kumeno!"
"How can this have nothing to do with me? The cultivator I introduced to you when you first joined was my master, so that makes me your Aniki.")
"Piss off, Aniki!" Sanemi shouted, "If you don't take this seriously, I'm gonna stab myself in the heart, you understand!"
'Aniki?'
"WhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhy" Sanemi shouted, scratching his scalp, "Why did you have to go!"
"...?"
*whoosh*
*clang*
"Why!" Aoyama shouted, moving his fist forward as sparks emerged from Sanemi's blade. "Why do you want to go this far?"
"Because!"
"Wind Breathing First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter"
In an instant, Sanemi's blade rotated, making Aoyama's fist throttle forward at the sudden loss of resistance.
"Because I'm a Hashira!"
*zwoom*
At point-blank range, Sanemi's blade whirred into motion before countlessly rotating and slashing at every point of Aoyama's body.
"I finally became a Hashira! But you never fed me my meal!"
*clang* *cling* *clang*
In response, Aoyama utilized his fists, trying to block every slash from reaching his fist.
*clang* *cling* *clang*
*frrr*
A metallic symphony, accompanied by the occasional sparks, occurred throughout the entire forest as Sanemi and Aoyama engaged in battle. Every slash coming towards Aoyama was countered by him, but it appeared as if the blade had its own thoughts, as it recovered in less than a second, and changed directions to head back towards him.
"I have gone through so much, I have killed so much, I have lost so much!"
(Masachika immediately turned his blade's trajectory and missed the girl before his eyes by mere millimeters.
The slash of wind avoided the girl just in time. However, as Masachika's form crumbled just like that, his breathing messed up.
The demon took that chance to attack and intended to kill Masachika together with the girl. In order to protect the girl's life, Masachika was stabbed by the demon's arm through his defenseless abdomen.
Masachika's body jolted and he vomited large amounts of blood.
"—You should have killed the girl as well."
"Ugh….ah..."
"What a fool"
Masachika's hand released his Nichirin blade and he collapsed onto the floor.
Just as Ubume was coldly staring at Masachika, Sanemi silently raised his sword and cut her neck. The female demon's head landed and rolled on the tatami mat with a dull sound.
A beast like roar exploded from deep within Sanemi's injured throat. His heart was full of rage that could not be vented as well as a helpless emptiness.
The demon which had left her body still had an affectionate smile on her face and she dissipated just like that.)
'You were too kind to even kill a demon Masachika. All because she was just a little girl.'
Sanemi roared, putting every single ounce of force in his Nichrin Blade.
'THAT'S WHY, I WON'T HOLD BACK, EVEN IF THE ENEMY DEMON IS A LITTLE GIRL-'
*shinkk*
A thin line protruded from Aoyama's fist to his shoulder.
'-Or even if the enemy is a demon at all'
*clang*
Aoyama attempted to divert Sanemi's blade downwards, but just as he punched the sword, Sanemi, as if predicting it, went down with his sword, before suddenly backflipping along with the momentum and bringing the blade down.
"Wind Breathing Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist"
A single powerful slash emerged from Sanemi's blade, heading straight towards Aoyama.
"Martial Union Sun Breathing: Dance"
In retaliation, Aoyama too unleashed a single punch. His fist ignited with power, body twisting as one fluid strike launched forward. A punch born of martial force and flame, colliding head-on with the incoming slash.
*CLANG*
A harsh metallic screech tore through the forest as fist and blade collided. The sound rattled through the trees, sharp enough to make the air itself quiver.
*BOOM*
A violent dust storm erupted from the clash, swallowing the battlefield. Leaves ripped free, trees bent under the sudden gale, and dirt spiraled upward in a choking cloud. The forest vanished behind a wall of chaos, the two figures at its center hidden within the storm they had birthed.
*whoosh*
The storm suddenly vanished as an individual burst through the cloud.
Sanemi coughed up blood, flying through the air after losing the slash. Gripping his blade tightly, Sanemi let out a strong slash behind him, instantly halting his momentum, before bringing his blade back in front of him.
*CLANG*
Just in time to block one of Aoyama's punches.
Sanemi's teeth ground together, veins bulging. With a brutal wrench, he bent his wrist to the right.
BOOM!
The air split. Aoyama's shockwave, redirected by a fraction of an angle, tore past Sanemi's shoulder and cleaved outward, splitting in two before hammering into the forest. Two massive trees exploded into splinters, collapsing in a shower of bark and leaves.
'He split my attack in two?' Aoyama internally wondered, 'How did he?'
*whoosh*
Aoyama instantly ducked as Sanemi's blade slashed through where his head had been a second before.
*whistle*
Just as Aoyama ducked, Sanemi instantly stepped on Aoyama's back before jumping up backwards.
"DON'T GIVE ME YOUR DAMN PITY"
*clang*
In his rage, Sanemi swung down on Aoyama. Putting his hand first, Aoyama deflected Sanemi's punch before frowning in confusion.
'That attack,' Aoyama mused, shaking his aching wrists, 'That was much stronger.'
As Sanemi attacked, his mind shifted to a more peaceful time.
"Wind Breathing Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm"
Large gusts of wind gathered at Sanemi's blades, swirling faster and faster, gathering into a spiraling mass. As Sanemi swung down, the gusts thickened, merging together until they detonated into a full tornado.
"Martial Union Water Breathing Sixth Form: Whirlpool"
Red-hot flames changed, turning into bright blue water. As soon as the wind tornado descended, Aoyama quickly unleashed the sixth form of Water Breathing and started rotating in the opposite direction, creating his own tornado.
*BOOM* *BAM*
*whoosh*
Wind and water slammed together. The forest shook as two tornadoes collided, their forces grinding against one another. The clash screamed like the earth itself was splitting, shockwaves shredding trees and ripping soil from the ground as opposite elements warred for dominance.
And finally.
*BOOM*
The wind screamed as the two tornadoes cancelled out each other, producing a sound so unholy that if a normal human were present, their organs would completely liquidify within the vicinity.
"Wind Breathing Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind"
Not even a second after the tornado dispersed, Sanemi instantly got into action. The residual wind from the clash suddenly mobilized, heading towards Sanemi's blade and swirling around it.
Five disks of compressed wind ripped free, circular saws screaming as they tore toward Aoyama, spinning fast enough to shred through stone and bone alike.
"Martial Union Water Breathing Fourth Form: Striking Tide"
Aoyama's body blurred, his fists flowing like waves.
*clangshingclash*
Each strike cut into a saw head-on, redirecting and shattering its momentum. His arms flowed in arcs, one blow leading seamlessly into the next, like a tide rising and falling without pause.
"Wind Breathing Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm"
*whoosh*
While Aoyama was distracted by the incoming saws, Sanemi instantly changed his form, unleashing another gigantic tornado.
*screech*
Overburdened by the incoming saws and the giant tornado, Aoyama was unable to fully defend against all the incoming attacks. In the end, Aoyama was struck by both forms, forming a screeching sound, before finally-
*spurt*
His skin finally tore apart, as a small stream of blood bled from his chest.
"SO I'LL BE DAMNED BEFORE I LET SOME PRIVILEGED NEWBIE BEAT ME"
Aoyama silently stared at the small trail of blood flowing from his chest.
"Don't hold back, you bastard," Sanemi screamed, "Until now, you've only defended yourself. You haven't attacked me a single time. Are you looking down at me!?"
"I'm sorry."
Sanemi's mind stilled at Aoyama's apology.
"HAH?!?!"
"You're right, you are a Hashira," Aoyama replied, "You have gone through so much to get to that position of yours. You've endured more than I can ever understand—loss, blood, suffering. To stand where you do, you've paid with everything.
And yet, to lose against someone who wasn't even serious—" he exhaled softly, "—that's a cruel insult. So from the bottom of my heart… I apologize."
"So," Aoyama said, calm as ever, "I swear I will come at you with my full strength."
Sanemi's body convulsed, every nerve screaming, his instincts howling louder than his pride. Every hair on his body stood up in fear, as his legs began feeling numb.
*Hah Hah*
Sanemi's lungs started constricting, as if the atmosphere had become too heavy to breathe, forcing him to take large gasps of air.
Just like that time he faced Lower Moon 1
"Even if it kills you."
And then, time slowed down.
"Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash"
The flames around him flickered—then shattered into streaks of blue electricity. In the blink of an eye, Aoyama vanished, reappearing directly in front of Sanemi. His fist crashed into Sanemi's solar plexus with the force of a thunderbolt, folding the Wind Hashira inward.
0.05s
"Thunder Breathing Second Form: Rice Spirit"
Before the shockwaves from the first strike could even ripple through Sanemi's body, Aoyama was already moving. His fists blurred, unleashing a storm of lightning-charged punches from every angle—front, side, above, below. Each blow landed with crackling impact, battering Sanemi as if he were caught inside the heart of a thunderstorm.
0.07s
"Water Breathing Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust"
Instantly, the sparks of lightning changed into flowing water. Unleashing the fastest move of Water Breathing, Aoyama landed a single devastating punch straight to Sanemi's chest.
0.1s
And time resumed.
In the span of a millisecond, after unleashing a dozen attacks, Aoyama relaxed before walking behind Sanemi.
And then, as if the world finally caught up, multiple booming sounds were heard as Sanemi's body began to fill with bruises out of nowhere, getting attacked from everywhere as lightning and flame assaulted him before a single devastating punch, followed by a stream of water seeming to materialize out of nowhere, which impacted his chest, knocking him up into the sky.
Aoyama had attacked so fast that his attacks weren't even able to register in real time.
"It's up to you to survive."
*Flap*
High above the forest, Sanemi's eyes snapped open. His robe flapped against him, whipping in the wind. For a heartbeat, he took in his surroundings, dazed.
Then it hit—memories of the battle came rushing back, each clash, each scream, each impossibly fast strike hitting him all at once.
"Why hi-gurhk"
Before Sanemi could shout in rage, his jaw suddenly locked, as pain spread throughout...
'Where is the pain?'
Even if Sanemi couldn't retaliate in time, he was still able to feel as dozens of strikes assaulted his body. Even if those strikes could be ignored, the initial strike to his solar plexus and the final strike to his chest should have had him grinding in pain.
And yet, there was only a sense of numbness flowing throughout him, making him unable to feel any part of his body.
'And my heart?'
Not to mention, Sanemi clearly felt his heart stop, so how was he alive?
'Wait, could he?'
Sanemi's eyes widened.
'Could he have done that?'
Even Shinobu, the greatest medic, couldn't have magically patched him up mid-air, so how could Aoyama have...
'It's his thunder!'
The elemental effects produced by Breathing Styles were mostly aesthetic. The only real purpose they served was to cloak the sword in flashy effects so demons couldn't predict the movement of their swords.
Flame Breathing's "flames" never burnt a demon, Water Breathing's "water" never drowned a demon, Snake Breathing's "snakes" didn't do any actual damage, Insect Breathing's "butterflies" never collected pollen or whatever. The only "real" effects were mostly limited to Wind Breathing, and that was because the sword forms of Wind Breathing truly represented tornadoes, so seeing a tornado cut through was pretty accurate.
It was very limited cases, like Flame Breathing's Blooming Flame Undulation, or Flame Tiger, that actually somewhat solidified the flames into a defensive position.
But Aoyama's thunder was able to numb his pain receptors, restart his heart, and kick-start his brain from unconsciousness, which only meant one real thing.
He's producing real thunder! Genuine electricity that could be used to hijack nervous systems or be used as lightning projectiles against demons.
And if it was just thunder, why couldn't it be other elements as well? He could use Flame Breathing and produce genuine flames to burn demons, or use Water Breathing to produce actual water.
'How is that possible?'
The atmosphere shifted in an instant. Sanemi's killing intent exploded outward like a storm, heavy and suffocating. The air grew sharp, every breath stinging the lungs as his bloodlust flooded the room.
"DAMN YOU AOYAMA, DAMN YOU!" Sanemi shouted in fury, "WHY? WHY DO YOU DO THIS? DO YOU FEEL PLEASURE IN MAKING A MOCKERY OF US?"
"Wh-what?" Aoyama sputtered in shock as he turned upwards to see an enraged Sanemi. "What the hell are you talking about, bastard? I just did what you asked me to do!"
("Shinazugawa-sama, you have lost a lot of blood…."
"It's no big deal, leave me alone."
"No, this won't do. Also your ribs are broken and we can't handle the injury in your throat here...I recommend that you head for the Butterfly Manor immediately to get treatment or in the worst case, both of you would..."
"Shut up."
Sanemi glared at the Kakushi harshly and asked him to keep quiet.
"Are you really alright? Can you be sure of it?"
Another Kakushi said. It was a young man with lifeless eyes. Sanemi quietly nodded his head.
"Alright then, let's pull out."
"But Gotou—"
His comrade seemed to want to say something else."
"They are the ones risking their lives to fight demons. At the very least, understand their feelings.")
"SCREW YOU, ONE OF US IS DYING TODAY"
Instantly, all the bloodlust vanished as if it never existed. In a moment, all the bloodlust he had gathered towards his sword, coating it in a dark red. The winds swirling around his blade turned from bright green to blood red.
"WIND BREATHING NINTH FORM: IDATEN TYPHOON"
Instantly, the weather changed.
'This is my final strike!'