As Akaza slipped into unconsciousness, Vincent Fox stepped in front of him.
He watched as the characters etched into Akaza's eyes slowly cleared, then turned murky again.
At last, complete stillness settled in them. Not a trace of killing intent remained.
"Goodbye," Vincent said softly.
His right hand lifted, and the blade fell.
There was no resistance this time.
With ease, he severed Akaza's head.
The head hit the ground, a faint smile on its lips, gratitude lingering in its eyes.
At the neck, flesh buds began to writhe, trying to regrow the head.
"That's enough. Stop regenerating."
A voice echoed from within the body itself.
It was Akaza.
"Extinguishing Jutsu!"
He roared, his fist gathering an immense surge of power, blue light blooming violently.
"Watch out!"
Rengoku sensed the energy condensing within Akaza. Vincent was standing right beside him, far too close.
But the next scene left Rengoku frozen in place.
Akaza's fist, heavy with gathered power, swung toward his own regenerating head.
Boom!
The explosion tore through the forest. When the smoke cleared, Akaza's shattered body was revealed.
He dropped to his knees, then began to fade away, piece by piece.
Akaza was dead.
"What just happened?"
Hearing the blast, the others rushed over.
Tanjiro dragged his injured body to Vincent's side. Staring at the ashes before him, realization dawned.
"This… was that Upper Rank Three demon?"
Vincent nodded gently. "He's gone."
Joy flashed across Tanjiro's face, only to be replaced by confusion.
"But why do I smell gratitude?"
Vincent smiled faintly and scattered Akaza's ashes into the air.
"Maybe because he left with a smile."
The moment the words left his mouth, dizziness slammed into Vincent's mind.
It felt as if fire had ignited inside his body.
Clutching his chest, Vincent gasped and collapsed to his knees.
"Mr. Fox. Mr. Fox, what's wrong?"
"Mr. Fox!"
Tanjiro panicked and instinctively reached out to support him.
The instant his hand touched Vincent, he recoiled as if shocked.
"So hot!"
Tanjiro cried out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Big Brother, Mr. Fox's body is burning. Just touching him felt like grabbing red hot iron!"
He turned desperately to Rengoku, hoping the experienced Flame Hashira would know what to do.
Rengoku rushed over and placed a hand on Vincent.
"So hot."
Even with his flame affinity, the heat made him flinch.
Rengoku vanished in a blur and returned moments later from the overturned train, cloak in hand. He soaked it with water and wrapped it around Vincent.
Turning to Inosuke, he barked orders.
"Quick, give him water. At this temperature, he'll dehydrate fast. His life's in danger."
Inosuke sprinted over, chopped off the top of a water bottle, and poured it down Vincent's throat.
Four or five bottles went in, with more splashed over his body.
The terrifying heat finally began to subside.
"Take him to the Butterfly Mansion immediately," Rengoku said quietly. "This condition might return at any time. He's in real danger."
He lifted Vincent and set him on Inosuke's back.
"Got it. Huh? Big Brother, aren't you coming back with us?"
Inosuke caught the odd note in Rengoku's words.
Rengoku smiled and shook his head, his expression turning serious.
"I still have a mission. Every day I'm late means innocent people may die at a demon's hands. I can't delay."
He stood, tightening his grip on his Nichirin Blade.
The three understood. As the sun slowly rose in the east, they spoke solemnly.
"Rengoku, please come back safely."
Rengoku paused, then nodded with a smile.
"The path is right ahead. Just keep walking. Don't worry about me. We'll meet again."
He beckoned Tanjiro over and pulled a flame-patterned sword guard from his robes, placing it in Tanjiro's hands.
"Tanjiro, I think highly of you. Keep this. When you've made up your mind, become my successor."
He said it with spirited confidence, as if his injuries had already healed.
Tanjiro accepted the flame-shaped guard and tucked it carefully into his chest.
"I'll think about it seriously, Big Brother."
Rengoku smiled.
"As for the Dance of the Fire God you mentioned, you can visit the Rengoku estate. There's a journal left by past Flame Hashira. My father reads it daily, so I never had the chance. It might contain what you're looking for."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the forest.
The three stood there, watching him go.
Not long after, they arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
Though they had just parted, news of their feats had already spread through the mansion and across the Demon Slayer Corps, carried by the crows.
They received careful treatment.
Vincent's condition gradually stabilized.
That night, the moon hung high in the sky.
Vincent awoke slowly, silver needles protruding from his body. Aside from the tearing pain in his muscles, the unbearable heat had eased.
The needles trembled softly as he moved.
"Mr. Fox, you're awake."
Aoi, one of the girls, was tidying up nearby. Hearing the sound, she hurried over and saw Vincent sitting up.
"Please don't move yet. These needles are to release excess heat. Let me check your temperature first."
She skipped out and soon returned with a thermometer.
As Vincent held it in his mouth, he looked around.
This wasn't a private room anymore. He was sharing the room with the others.
Zenitsu slept soundly, a huge snot bubble inflating and deflating beneath his nose.
Inosuke had removed his boar mask and was chewing on his blanket with enthusiasm, likely lost in some glorious dream.
Only Tanjiro lay completely still, his blanket pulled tightly over him.
Vincent didn't think much of it.
Aoi returned, checked the thermometer under the moonlight, and nodded.
"The temperature's down. We can remove the needles now."
She quietly congratulated him and carefully pulled out each needle, placing them back into their case.
Just as she was about to leave, something felt off.
"Mr. Tanjiro?"
She stepped closer and gently shook the blanket.
It felt soft. Too soft.
Realization struck. Aoi lifted the blanket in one swift motion.
There was no Tanjiro underneath.
Only a few pillows lay there in his place.
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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