It felt like a lot had happened, yet in reality, very little time had passed.
James, still being harassed by Gyokko, frowned. That cold sensation of being watched clung to him like a shadow, and the persistent sense of looming danger made him hesitate.
"No matter what, I need to settle this quickly and rush back. But... how?" he thought grimly.
Teleportation—what a troublesome ability. Gyokko wasn't nearly as careless as he had been in the original storyline. This version of him was a prime example of why he deserved the title of Upper Rank Five.
James glanced at the scattered pots around him and shifted his stance, switching from a one-handed grip on his blade to a two-handed one. Without the red blade or Sun Breathing, killing an Upper Rank instantly was nearly impossible—but he had to try!
If he could land a surprise attack and kill Gyokko, then he could redirect his full focus on the more sinister threat lurking nearby. Even if he couldn't kill him, forcing Gyokko out into the open would be a victory in itself.
After all, a visible enemy was always easier to fight than an invisible one.
From behind a tree, Gyokko observed James through the perspective of the other pots. Seeing James shift into a ready stance, he grew nervous.
Could this guy be even stronger than I thought?
Swish!
In one smooth motion, James cleaved through a pot—and with it, over a dozen trees nearby fell like matchsticks.
Gyokko appeared from another pot not far away, now sporting a shallow gash on his chest.
Seriously?! He nearly hit me again. I can't even rely on vision anymore—guess I'll have to trust my instincts.
Before he could finish the thought, he quickly dove back into the pot—James had already appeared behind him.
Boom!
The tree nearby was sliced cleanly in two.
James clicked his tongue in frustration.
"I could be faster, but it's useless. He judges my attacks through the viewpoints of his pots and reacts preemptively," he muttered to himself.
Then there was only one way.
He exhaled slowly, then inhaled deeply. The blade in his hands gleamed snow-white as he took position.
"Mist Breathing – Seventh Form: Oboro!"
A thick fog erupted, cloaking the entire battlefield in a dense white shroud. Visibility dropped to zero. Gyokko panicked, frantically creating more pots and teleporting from one to another to escape.
But even so, James wasn't far behind.
A blinding flash of his blade swept toward the newest pot. Gyokko was moments away from reemerging.
A cold, derisive snort echoed through the mist.
"You idiot. You don't even know you're about to die."
It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over Gyokko. That overwhelming sense of imminent death seized him, and without hesitation, he dove back into his pot.
The attack missed.
James sighed.
As expected... it's not easy to kill an Upper Rank instantly—especially not with other demons covering for him.
Still, his goal was met. Gyokko had been flushed out of hiding.
Should he use Sun Breathing and unleash the Red Blade? But if he did... Muzan might go into hiding again for another few centuries.
James turned his gaze toward a powerful aura approaching from the distance. His sharp eyes narrowed.
There it is—that cold, prying gaze I've been sensing. Someone is here.
A man with a high ponytail of crimson hair appeared. Tall and imposing, dressed in a purple samurai robe, his face bore six ghastly eyes. In each golden iris was engraved the chilling title: "Upper Rank One."
Kokushibou...
No wonder James had felt so uneasy.
He frowned. The situation was getting worse by the minute. If Kokushibou was here, then there was a high chance other Upper Ranks—perhaps Two or Three—had been dispatched in other directions.
Hopefully, the others can hold their ground.
As for the possibility of dying here... James had never even considered it.
After all, in this world, he couldn't imagine anyone capable of killing him.
His Nichirin Blades twirled lightly in his grip, forming a glowing sword flower.
"The rats in the gutter are finally crawling out. Let's start this again, shall we?"
"Hey," James added, shifting his gaze to Gyokko's pot. "If you're here, then Hantengu's other forms must be nearby too."
Gyokko emerged partially from one of his pots, floating beside Kokushibou. Now that Upper Rank One had arrived, there was no need to stall or hide anymore. Their top priority was eliminating James as fast as possible.
Kokushibou said nothing. He wasn't like the mad ones. He would use any advantage to win—just like when he accepted Kibutsuji Muzan's blood all those years ago.
A gust of wind swept through.
All six of Kokushibou's eyes locked to the side. Without anyone noticing, James had closed the gap and now stood between them, his twin Nichirin Blades shimmering like freshly fallen snow.
"You're strong," Kokushibou said calmly. "In three hundred years, you're the only one—besides him—that has matched this level."
His voice was cold and crisp.
"But it's a shame. You will die here today."
Kokushibou drew his blade.
His weapon, formed from his own blood and bones, could regenerate even when shattered. Its hilt and blade were grotesque—completely covered in eyeballs. Even its sheath looked like a bulbous tumor. The mere sight of it was enough to make one's skin crawl.
James didn't flinch.
He turned abruptly and slashed to his left. Kokushibou blocked instantly, and—boom!—a massive shockwave erupted. Cracks splintered the ground beneath them, and even Gyokko was thrown backward by the force.
There was no time to waste.
James charged forward, blades in hand. With a surge of strength, his figure vanished.
Go in hard and fast.
He reappeared around Kokushibou from multiple angles, surrounding him with afterimages. Kokushibou's six eyes moved constantly, observing every subtle twitch, trying to predict the point of attack.
A flash of white light erupted—and then, it came.
A deep mist engulfed the battlefield.
Unlike the earlier fog, this one was heavy, laden with moisture. Droplets condensed on Kokushibou's clothing, soaking it.
But Kokushibou wasn't caught off guard. He activated the Transparent World.
He had seen all kinds of warriors in his long existence—from frail cowards to terrifying prodigies. And he knew very well:
The Transparent World isn't omnipotent.
Just like his brother, the aged Tsugikuni Yoriichi, it had its limits. Even if Kokushibou could see every muscle twitch and movement of his enemy, it meant nothing if his own body couldn't keep up.
James was one of those overwhelming types. Kokushibou had known it from the moment their blades clashed.
"Mist Breathing – Rainbow Flash!"
A blinding white light exploded from the mist. Water particles refracted light into cascading layers of color. A beautiful, deadly kaleidoscope surrounded them. With it came the roar of wind and crashing waves of energy.
Kokushibou was in the eye of the storm—and he couldn't see anything.
Even with the Transparent World, he had lost sight of James.
Suddenly—flash! A cold light struck first.
A blade came screaming in like a dragon. Even the Rock Hashira—widely regarded as the strongest of the pillars—wouldn't have been able to react.
But Kokushibou wasn't just any enemy. He was a demon who had seen through the Transparent World for centuries.
He raised his sword just in time—Bang!
His foot slammed into the ground to anchor himself.
A violent wave of force exploded again.
More sword strikes followed.
James was relentless—his blades roared like dragons, then danced silently like wind. His swordplay switched unpredictably, every strike a different form.
Clang! Ping! Shing!
Dozens of clashes passed in mere seconds.
Kokushibou blocked each one, though barely. Even with his enhanced perception, James's speed was unbelievable.
Still, Kokushibou's strategy was clear: endure.
If he fought recklessly, James might take his head. But if he simply held on until James tired, the human body would eventually give out.
That was the natural law.
But Kokushibou didn't know—James wasn't bound by such laws.
His energy level was an eight.
When his power reached eight, it became inexhaustible.
He had no concept of fatigue.
James knew Kokushibou's assumption, and he was more than happy to let the demon believe it.
If he used Sun Breathing and activated the Red Blade now, Muzan might retreat again for centuries—but if he didn't, they could all die here.
So be it. Just use one.
A fiery crimson light burst across the battlefield.
The air grew dry. The once-thick mist evaporated instantly under the rising heat. James stood amid swirling clouds, glowing like a divine being.
He looked at Kokushibou, whose expression was finally beginning to twist into something uglier—fear.
Let the second round begin.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)