"Four-in-One, Zohakuten"
Zohakuten, Hantengu's strongest form, is the culmination of all his blended emotions.
It's the evolved state resulting from Sekido absorbing Urogi, Karaku, and Aizetsu. This transformation occurred when Hantengu's main body, was on the verge of being decapitated by Aoki. Sekido forcibly crushed and absorbed the other three forms before evolving.
"Unpleasant. Utterly and exceedingly unpleasant. A pack of wicked fiends, tormenting the weak…"
Aoki's gaze turned serious upon Zohakuten's appearance. Even facing two of Hantengu's forms simultaneously hadn't caused this level of concern; compared to Zohakuten, the previous Sekido, Urogi, Aizetsu, and Karaku forms seemed almost insignificant.
While Aoki merely displayed a serious expression, Tanjiro and Genya Shinazugawa, considerably weaker, showed deep fear in their eyes.
"I can't breathe… the pressure is terrifying… my heart aches."
"So heavy… this voice… this pressure… I can barely move my limbs, I can hardly stand."
Tanjiro and Genya Shinazugawa were drenched in sweat. Zohakuten's oppressive aura was terrifying; they could barely stand, let alone fight.
"Why… why aren't you speaking? Do you have some complaint about my actions? Hm? Wicked fiends," Zohakuten said, displeased by their silence.
The ability to unleash incredible power when cornered isn't limited to humans. Hantengu, Upper Moon Four, had been pushed to the brink countless times, using his Blood Demon Art to materialize his intense self-preservation emotions into multiple forms, achieving victory time and again. The greater the threat, the stronger he became.
"Why… why are you calling us wicked fiends?" Tanjiro asked, sweat dripping from his brow.
Zohakuten offered what he considered a truthful reason: "Because you torment the weak. I just saw you wielding your blades against a weakling no bigger than a hand. You are utterly wicked, fiends capable of such cruelty!"
Zohakuten looked self-righteously indignant.
But Tanjiro refuted him.
"You call him a weakling the size of a hand? Are you joking? You reek of blood! The humans you've consumed number far more than a hundred, probably closer to two hundred! Did they all do something that deserved death?
You've consumed so many innocent people and still have the nerve to act like victims! Your sense of morality is completely twisted! You're unforgivable! I… I will personally cut off your neck!"
Tanjiro's face contorted with rage.
"Tanjiro, calm down. Don't lose your composure," Aoki said, instantly appearing beside Tanjiro using the Flying Thunder God technique.
He had forgone the perfect opportunity to kill Hantengu because of Zohakuten's appearance; he wasn't entirely confident in killing him.
"This is beyond your capabilities. Without another Hashira, I guarantee you'd be utterly crushed."
Tanjiro, though unconvinced, had to admit Aoki was right.
Zohakuten was incredibly strong, arguably Tanjiro's strongest opponent since Akaza on the Mugen Train. Two Hashira might defeat Zohakuten, allowing them to kill Hantengu's main body.
But only Aoki was present. Muichiro Tokito, who had been blown away, hadn't returned.
"My apologies, everyone. I'm late!"
Mitsuri Kanroji suddenly appeared, looking at Tanjiro and the others with bewildered expressions.
Their worries about Aoki facing Hantengu alone were immediately alleviated by Mitsuri Kanroji's arrival.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? Ugh! Annoying!" Mitsuri Kanroji said, wiping her face, thinking there was dirt on it.
Zohakuten, seeing Mitsuri Kanroji, immediately assumed she was another fiend.
"Seriously, a few fiends are already troublesome enough, and now a female thug appears."
Mitsuri Kanroji was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Female thug? Who's he talking about? Besides me, only Nezuko-chan is a girl here. He can't be calling Aoki-sama and the others female thugs, right?
Wait? Is he talking about me?"
Mitsuri Kanroji realized Zohakuten was referring to her.
"Female thug? He called me a female thug? Is it because I'm dressed revealingly? Even so! Unbelievable! A child saying that! He looks about the same age as my little brother."
"Ah! I remember! Demons' actual ages often differ from their appearances. But even so, that's too much! Calling me a female thug? I'm so cute!"
"Blood Demon Art: Wild Roar: Thunder Kill!"
Zohakuten attacked Mitsuri Kanroji, using a Blood Demon Art that seemed to combine Urogi and Sekido's abilities—a sonic attack with electricity.
"Love Breathing, Third Form: Catlove Shower!"
Aoki almost spat out blood upon hearing the name of the technique.
"I'm furious! Even if you look like a child! I won't hold back!"
Mitsuri Kanroji swiftly moved, her blade movements like a cat's leaps, causing widespread damage and deflecting Zohakuten's attack.
"Amazing!" Tanjiro and Genya Shinazugawa exclaimed.
Zohakuten's eyes narrowed. "This girl… she deflected my attack… troublesome!"
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