Transparent World.
A world that can only be seen once the mind becomes clear as crystal—a realm attainable only after pushing one's limits and enduring unbearable pain: the Supreme Domain.
In this state, by shutting off unnecessary senses, the world appears transparent, and living creatures' bodies seem almost see-through. One's movement speed, prediction, and evasion abilities increase dramatically. Even the blood vessels in the lungs of one's opponent become visible.
And now, in Kokushibo's eyes, the bewilderingly powerful muscles of Gyōmei Himejima were exposed under the gaze of the Transparent World.
"Truly formidable," Kokushibo murmured with a flicker of admiration.
But that sentiment quickly turned to irritation. The battle had dragged on too long.
If this went on, he'd be forced to intervene—something that irked his pride as a Sengoku-era samurai. But the mission given by Lord Muzan could not be delayed. He wanted to spend more time on becoming stronger, not waste it here.
He had to end it.
Gripping his demonic blade, Kokushibo decided to strike.
Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon – Evening Palace.
A flash—so fast the blade itself couldn't be seen. A circular moon-shaped slash trailed in the wake of his strike.
The blow encircled both Hantengu's clone and Himejima together.
"Too late!" Gyōmei realized mid-battle. He'd been focusing on Zohakuten, keeping Kokushibo in his peripheral awareness—but hadn't expected an attack this fast!
Thorned Halo—clang!
A glowing shield flared beside Himejima. Kokushibo's blade was suddenly repelled, the grip in his hand trembling from the impact.
What?
"I'll fight you instead," came a voice from the woods.
It was Yohan. He had rushed over from the Butterfly Mansion and arrived at the foot of Peach Mountain just in time to intercept that blow.
"You're Yohan?" Kokushibo narrowed his eyes, tensing. The Transparent World showed him something horrifying—the man's body, monstrously built, something inhuman.
"Are you even human?"
"Hey now, don't start off with insults," Yohan replied with a slight frown. He couldn't understand what Kokushibo was on about. He's asking if I'm human? Has he seen his own face?
Realizing they weren't speaking on the same frequency, Kokushibo dropped the topic.
He gripped his sword tightly.
Moon Breathing, Third Form: Loathsome Moon,Chains.
Circular moon slashes erupted from his blade, a torrent of crescent-shaped attacks flying at Yohan.
Kokushibo knew that Upper Rank Two and Three had died at this man's hands, yet he still couldn't believe someone like Yohan possessed the power to kill him. As Upper Rank One, he stood on a different, unreachable tier.
"No chit-chat? Straight to fighting?"
Yohan was surprised. Most of the demons he'd encountered had loved to monologue before battle. Not this one.
Incursio : Demonic Bound Armor
crimson light burst forth. A roaring demonic aura surged from Yohan's body as golden armor enveloped him, gleaming like divine iron.
Suddenly, Kokushibo realized his Transparent World had stopped functioning on Yohan—it couldn't pierce the armor.
"Is it the armor? No matter. No one can withstand my attacks."
He didn't know how the armor came to be, but Kokushibo wasn't shaken. He had long since believed no one could withstand his strikes.
The only one who might've... died centuries ago.
As the crescent blades slammed into Yohan—
Clang!
The armor took the full force. Smoke billowed. Yohan hadn't moved a muscle.
"...What?"
When Kokushibo's vision cleared, he saw Yohan standing tall—completely unharmed. Not a single crack marred the armor's golden glow under the moonlight.
"How can this be?!"
"What are you?!"
His voice trembled. His expression froze.
Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Perpetual Night,Lonely Moon - Incessant
A storm of moon blades rained down in overlapping waves, aiming to tear Yohan to pieces.
Clang!
Still no damage.
Yohan remained motionless, but this time, his face showed annoyance.
"Hey—just because I'm armored doesn't mean I'm a punching bag. And you, Kokushibo—weren't you a samurai? Since when did sneak attacks become your thing?"
He'd planned to chat a bit more before getting serious, but now he felt it was better to beat Kokushibo into the dirt first and then chat.
"I—" Kokushibo tried to speak, but he didn't say that he had merely scorned talking to humans. Nor that he'd wanted to demonstrate his strength.
"You'll now see... what true power really is."
Kokushibo's eyes darkened as the demonic blade in his hand lengthened—growing grotesque, splitting into multiple edge-like tendrils.
The Demonic Blade—
Forged from Kokushibo's own flesh and blood, this weapon bore eyeballs on the blade, the hilt, and even the grip. Its shape was ever-changing, evolving as his power unfurled.
Elsewhere, the combatants—two demons, two Pillars—sensed the shift. A crushing pressure blanketed the entire mountain forest.
"This… this horrifying power…"
Gyōmei's tears streamed endlessly. He could feel it—the dread that came not from his mind, but from the deepest parts of his body.
His flesh feared this enemy.
Tokito Muichirō said nothing, but his face had gone grim.
Upper Rank One… was this terrifying just from his aura?!
"Hahahaha! Lord Kokushibo is getting serious!"
"You're finished!"
The fish-like Gyokko cackled wildly. His sharp teeth gleamed with madness.
As fellow Upper Moons, he understood better than anyone: Kokushibo's power wasn't just superior—it was overwhelming. Not just a step above, but an insurmountable gulf. He was untouchable.
Be careful!
This thought simultaneously flashed through both Gyōmei and Muichirō's minds.
"What now? You can transform mid-fight?"
Yohan looked at Kokushibo and his distorted, monstrous weapon. As expected, once demons turned, their appearances fell apart. Aside from Daki, none of them had any visual appeal left. The rest? A 1.9-meter gallery of grotesques.
"Well then, allow me to respond in kind."
Yohan crouched—then burst forward like lightning, driving a punch straight at Kokushibo's chest.
Too fast!
Kokushibo hadn't expected that much speed from someone armored. In a split second, he realized he had no time to launch a technique. Desperately, he raised his sword to block—
"BREAK!"
Yohan didn't care what Kokushibo was using to block. Under the raging power of Incursio, he felt like a dragon unchained. His strength surged without end.
Nothing could stand in his way!
Boom!
The demonic blade shattered. The grotesque, eye-covered weapon splintered like paper.
The blow struck Kokushibo's chest directly—
BOOM!
—and sent him crashing into the trees with a thunderous smash.