Chapter 136: Infinity Castle, Upper Moon One Appears The moment Akaza died, Kokushibo, the sole surviving Upper Moon, sensed it from somewhe
Chapter 136: Infinity Castle, Upper Moon One Appears
The moment Akaza died, Kokushibo, the sole surviving Upper Moon, sensed it from somewhere within the Infinity Castle.
"Gone. Akaza's presence has vanished. What happened, Akaza? Didn't you say you'd kill me yourself? To die like this… laughable. And Douma, he died even sooner than Akaza. I didn't expect that. Or rather, I didn't expect them both to be defeated."
"Aoki, Tanjiro… sworn brothers, sharing a bond as strong as blood brothers? Heh, how interesting."
Elsewhere in the Infinity Castle, Gyomei Himejima and Muichiro Tokito, yet to encounter any Upper Moons, were sprinting across a building.
"We're very close to Muzan Kibutsuji's hiding place. Although Aoki and the others have already defeated Upper Moons Two and Three, we still can't let our guard down," Gyomei Himejima warned.
"Yes!" Muichiro Tokito replied. At that moment, the building beside him bulged outward, launching him into the air.
"Tokito!" Gyomei Himejima shouted.
"Don't worry about me, please continue!" Muichiro Tokito yelled, gritting his teeth against the impact.
The building shattered against a wall, but Muichiro Tokito had already disengaged and landed safely.
However, upon landing, he found himself facing a new figure.
"Have you come? Demon Slayer." It was Kokushibo, who had sensed Akaza and Douma's demise.
Suddenly, Kokushibo sensed a familiar aura from Muichiro Tokito. "Hmm? You seem to possess a scent I find quite nostalgic."
Muichiro Tokito hadn't paid much attention to Kokushibo, but upon seeing the number signifying Upper Moon One on Kokushibo's second row of eyes, a wave of overwhelming pressure washed over him.
"Upper Moon One…"
Instinctively, Muichiro Tokito tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade at his hip.
From Kokushibo's perspective, Muichiro Tokito's body was completely transparent.
Indeed, as a warrior from the Sengoku period, Kokushibo had long since awakened his Demon Slayer Mark and achieved Transparent World. This explained his unbroken tenure as Upper Moon One—even before becoming a demon, he possessed the strength to rival the Upper Moons.
"This is Upper Moon One.
Completely different from the other Upper Moons.
He exudes an aura of unshakeable authority," Muichiro Tokito thought, suddenly noticing the unsheathed Nichirin Blade in Kokushibo's hand. "And that heavily rusted blade… could this man have once been a Demon Slayer? His strength is unfathomable.
I can definitely not win against him."
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
"My hands won't stop shaking. My body instinctively recoils from fighting this opponent.
It's the first time in my life I've encountered such a formidable foe."
Kokushibo spoke. "What is your name?"
Muichiro Tokito was startled. He didn't know why Kokushibo asked, but he answered, "Muichiro Tokito."
"I see… so that's it. The name 'Tsugikuni'… has been lost to history." Kokushibo said, with an air of realization.
The name "Tsugikuni" confused Muichiro Tokito. "Tsugikuni? Who is that?"
Kokushibo explained, "It can't be helped; it's been centuries. That was my name as a human: Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
Kokushibo's next words left Muichiro Tokito reeling. "And you are a descendant of the Tsugikuni family. In other words, I am your ancestor."
Stunned, Muichiro Tokito stood frozen. "Descendant? I'm his descendant? Impossible. Upper Moon One… a swordsman who mastered Moon Breathing? Calm down, don't panic! This is irrelevant, calm down!"
The shock on Muichiro Tokito's face gradually subsided, replaced by his usual impassive expression.
Kokushibo couldn't help but praise him.
"Hmm, your mental fortitude is indeed impeccable. You recovered from the initial shock remarkably quickly."
The next second, Muichiro Tokito appeared before Kokushibo, his Nichirin Blade slashing without mercy.
"Mist Breathing, Second Form: Eight-Layered Mist!"
Muichiro Tokito unleashed eight rapid strikes. However, when he looked again, Kokushibo had somehow appeared behind him.
"A quite impressive technique… Mist, is it? Not bad at all."
A light mist appeared as Muichiro Tokito launched a rapid series of linear strikes.
"Mist Breathing, Fifth Form: Sea of Clouds and Haze!"
This attack was far stronger and faster than the previous one, yet after the strike, he found Kokushibo once again behind him.
"Muichiro, you must be around fourteen years old, yes? At such a young age, you've already mastered such refined techniques. Despite the fear you must feel, you remain composed and attack me without hesitation.
Truly a worthy descendant of my bloodline. Even if the bloodline is diluted, it matters little. Even though the family name is gone, my cells still reside within you."
To be honest, Kokushibo's intermittent speech was rather irritating to Muichiro Tokito.
"Are you insulting me? Even if I am your descendant, centuries have passed. There's certainly no trace of your blood or cells left in me!" Muichiro Tokito declared resolutely, his Demon Slayer Mark beginning to manifest on his face.
Seeing Muichiro Tokito's Demon Slayer Mark, Kokushibo paused. "A Black Mark… I see. It has already appeared."
"Mist Breathing, Seventh Form: Obscuring Clouds!"
Thick smoke erupted, obscuring Muichiro Tokito's movements. He reappeared behind Kokushibo, launching attacks repeatedly. Kokushibo reacted swiftly, but each strike only landed on an afterimage.
"A technique I've never seen before.
Previous Mist Breathing users never employed a Form like this. The rhythm is unique, the movements exceptionally subtle, and it even disrupts the opponent's hearing.
A truly exceptional technique, fluid and elegant.
He must have created it himself."
"Against such refined skill, I cannot afford to respond with anything less."
With a low, grave tone, Kokushibo drew his blade.
He unleashed an impossibly fast iaido strike, leaving countless crescent blades in its wake.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!"
Moonlight sliced through the air.
The next instant, Muichiro Tokito, concealed within the mist, was struck, losing one of his hands.
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