A verdant green light emanated from Shinichi's right hand.
Pushing aside a large pile of splintered wood, he knelt and reached out. Under the cover of that life-filled power, Rengoku's collapsed chest beneath his uniform began to slowly reset amidst the ruins.
The faint, dense sound of his broken bones mending could be heard.
Rengoku coughed up several mouthfuls of congealed blood, his once-faint breathing gradually stabilizing.
Although still weak, he was at least temporarily out of mortal danger.
"Cough, cough... I've troubled you, Shinichi!" Even injured, Rengoku's voice sounded as resonant as ever.
Shinichi offered a faint smile in response.
He then used the life force in his hand to staunch the bleeding from the terrifying wound on Mitsuri's waist.
A trace of color returned to her pale cheeks, but she remained unconscious, likely due to severe internal injuries.
Iguro watched as Shinichi tended to Rengoku and Mitsuri's injuries, the taut string in his heart loosening slightly.
However, his grip on his Nichirin Sword remained deathly tight, his narrow eyes warily locked on the two demons ahead, whose auras were terrifying.
"Obanai, thank you for your hard work. Now then," Shinichi's voice was calm.
He took a step forward, his hand still radiating life force as he drew his Nichirin Sword.
The verdant green light spread across the blade as he stood between his heavily injured comrades and the demons.
"Take a rest. Leave this to me."
But Iguro didn't move.
He glanced at Mitsuri, whose breathing had steadied, then at Kyoujurou, who was struggling to stand.
He slowly shook his head, his voice low and firm. "No. I can't let you face two Upper Moons alone."
He raised his Nichirin Sword slightly, the nicks on its curved blade glinting dangerously.
"Besides, that blue bastard who kicked Mitsuri... I'm going to cut off his head with my own hands."
Hearing this, Shinichi glanced sideways at him.
Seeing the unquestionable resolve in his eyes, along with the surging rage and protectiveness deep within, the corner of his mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.
He didn't try to persuade him further.
"Very well." Shinichi nodded slightly, the verdant green light flowing along his Nichirin Sword. "Then I'll take the one on the left. He's an 'old friend' of mine, after all."
As he spoke, Shinichi's gaze shifted to Maito, who stood like an iron tower, radiating an aura of pure destruction.
At this moment, Maito was covered in blood armor thicker and more ferocious than ever before, his golden eyes fixed on Shinichi.
He seemed to have no interest in his resurrection or his past memories; his eyes were filled with the most primitive desire for battle.
"Hngh... Shinichi," Maito's voice rumbled. "Long time no see... Since I'm able to see you, it means you've already passed Shunichi's trial."
Shinichi's gaze was serene, Forest Breathing circulating steadily within him.
The overflowing life force stood in stark contrast to Maito's tyrannical demonic aura.
"That's right. Both my ancestor and you will find rest under my blade."
On the other side, Akaza sized up Shinichi, his own golden pupils glinting with the light of a hunter who had spotted new prey.
"A very special breathing style... The Forest Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps? I've heard of you. You seem very strong. Your fighting spirit... it's unique. So full of vitality, yet so condensed and powerful. You're more interesting than any swordsman I've ever met."
Akaza's gaze then flickered to Iguro. "And you, you cold viper... In your eyes, I see the glint of one who is prepared to die. Very good. Only those who fight with the resolve to die are worthy of being hunted by me!"
Before his words had even faded, the ground beneath Akaza's feet exploded!
The blue figure shot toward Obanai Iguro like a cannonball.
"Destructive Death: Annihilation Style!"
A simple, direct straight punch, yet it contained the power of utter annihilation.
Where the fist passed, the air was compressed into a blue shockwave!
Obanai's pupils contracted.
His body twisted like a true serpent, narrowly avoiding the punch that could shatter the earth.
At the same time, his curved Nichirin Sword struck like a viper's tongue, stabbing toward Akaza's wrist joint from an impossibly tricky angle!
"Serpent Breathing, Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head!"
At almost the exact same moment, Shinichi and Maito also moved.
"Blood Martial Arts: Sword Style - Soul Blade!"
No probing, no flashy moves! Maito's massive frame erupted with a terrifying speed that belied his size.
His blood-armored body moved like lightning.
With a flash of red light, a long, blood-red blade swung down with an aura that could sever anything!
"Forest Breathing, Fifth Form: Soaring Bamboo Slash!"
Shinichi advanced instead of retreating.
His Nichirin Sword transformed into a straight, emerald-green glint of light, like a resilient bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, precisely meeting the edge of Maito's blade.
It was a clash of needle against awl!
CLANG!!!
The deafening shriek of metal on metal threatened to rupture their eardrums.
The tip of the verdant green Nichirin Sword collided violently with the crimson longsword.
A visible shockwave erupted in a ring, plowing the already ravaged ground flat once more.
The ground beneath Shinichi's feet cracked inch by inch, but his stance was as steady as a pine tree; he hadn't retreated a single step.
In contrast, Maito's enormous blood blade was stopped, its downward momentum halted abruptly, and fine cracks appeared on its blade!
An even more excited light burst from Maito's golden eyes.
During the stalemate, his other clawed hand rose and condensed a blood-red longsword, sweeping it across with vicious cruelty.
Seeing this, Shinichi flicked his wrist.
His Nichirin Sword floated in response, his body moving like a dandelion in the wind.
He skimmed past the sweeping longsword, the edge of his blade kicking up a trail of sparks as he used the momentum to spin, his blade tracing a perfect arc.
"Forest Breathing, Fourth Form: Dandelion Dance!"
After dodging the attack, the light blade in Shinichi's hand decisively seized the opportunity to slash at the joints of Maito's blood armor.
Maito roared.
He didn't dodge or evade.
The blood armor on his body suddenly thickened, taking the blow head-on.
At the same time, the sword and blade in his hands changed shape, instantly condensing into two pairs of sharp claws.
"Come!" Maito's brute force erupted.
He thrust his claws forward, his fists hammering the space before him like a pile driver.
Meanwhile, the battle between Obanai Iguro and Akaza was just as perilous.
Akaza's fists and feet were like a torrential storm, each blow containing the terrifying power to shatter stone.
Even more frightening were his martial arts techniques, refined to the point of perfection, and his combat instincts, which repeatedly thwarted Obanai's proud footwork and tricky sword skills.
He could only rely on the agility of Serpent Breathing to maneuver around Akaza, but in the process, several new wounds appeared on Obanai's body, fresh blood staining his black uniform.
"What's wrong? Little viper? Is this all you've got?" Akaza taunted, knocking aside Obanai's thrust with a punch.
"Can your fangs not even pierce my skin?"
Obanai's breathing was ragged, sweat and blood mixing as they trickled down his cheek.
He glanced at the still-unconscious Mitsuri not far away, then at Shinichi locked in a fierce battle with Maito, and at Kyoujurou behind them, weakly struggling to stand.
'Damn it! Am I still not strong enough? After I finally managed to escape that godforsaken Hachijo Island, I met comrades worth giving my all to protect. Is this really the best I can do? Obanai! Is this your limit?'
'No! I won't accept it! Protect!'
'I must protect them! Everyone! My comrades! Mitsuri!'
'I can't lose!'
A scorching flame, as if it would burn through his very soul, suddenly erupted from the deepest part of Obanai's heart.
His blood began to boil.
His heart pounded like a war drum.
A power that had been dormant deep within his body awakened with a roar!
"GRAAAH!! How could this be all I have?! I will—I will cut off your neck!"
Obanai let out a low growl that barely sounded human.
Beneath the skin of his arms, intricate purple markings, like coiling serpents, suddenly appeared and spread to his cheek.
The Mark had awakened!
The small white snake, Kaburamaru, coiled around his neck, was also affected by the awakening of the Mark.
It reared its head, hissing menacingly at Akaza!
At the same time, Obanai's hand, gripping his Nichirin Sword, unleashed an unprecedented force born from extreme rage, the determination to protect, and the thirst for victory.
The hilt seemed on the verge of being embedded into his palm.
VMMMM!!!
The curved blade of his originally pale purple Nichirin Sword began to radiate intense heat, its color rapidly turning a dazzling, scorching crimson.
The Crimson Blade was activated!
The Mark and the Crimson Blade appeared on the Serpent Hashira simultaneously!
A powerful aura—cold, sharp, yet filled with a searing killing intent—surged from Obanai's body like an awakened ancient, ferocious serpent, soaring into the sky.
The contempt on Akaza's face vanished in an instant, replaced by utter astonishment and... an even more fanatical excitement.
"Hahahaha! Wonderful! Now this is more like it! Come on! Let me see what you're worth now that you've awakened!!"
The commotion from Obanai's awakening also caught Shinichi's attention.
"The power of the Mark? Obanai..."