Fiery Flame, All Creation, Unknown Fire, Burning Away Evil, Purgatory Burns.
Dawn Not Yet Arrived, Life Perished First, All Passengers Asleep, Only the Pillar Rests.
Night Moon Not Yet Set, Sun Flame Rises, Crimson Blade Rekindled, Breath Styles / Marks Formed.
Sky Gradually Light, No One Died, Not Seeking to Survive, Iron Bones Resilient.
(Limited skill, please forgive me)
Akaza landed and stood firm, his severed wrist regenerated, and he then licked the blood from his fist with his tongue. A scar from his left shoulder to his right abdomen remained on his body, slowly recovering.
"Stop, Kyoujurou," Akaza said, looking at the figure opposite him.
"While your strength is indeed formidable, and the blade that suppresses my regeneration has caused me some trouble, even if regeneration is suppressed, our demon recovery ability is far beyond what you humans are capable of. Moreover, you can no longer use that ability to suppress my regeneration, can you? That last strike had no effect."
Akaza said to Kyoujurou with a blank expression.
Originally, he had come by Muzan's command to kill the demon slayer wearing the hanafuda earrings, and after encountering them, as he was about to kill the demon slayer wearing the hanafuda earrings, he was stopped by Kyoujurou.
Upon seeing the powerful fighting spirit around Kyoujurou, Akaza's desire for battle ignited, and at the same time, he wanted Kyoujurou to become a demon and fight him forever.
After Kyoujurou refused, their battle began. Unaware of Kyoujurou's Crimson Blade ability, Akaza's body was almost cut in half.
He then abandoned the strategy of trading blows and instead used Empty Style for long-range attrition, then relied on the guidance of Destructive Kill: Compass Needle to seize opportunities for close-range attacks.
Under these circumstances, Kyoujurou was severely injured, but he also had his wrist cut off. Just as he thought his right hand would be temporarily unable to regenerate, he found that his regeneration was not suppressed.
Upon hearing Akaza's words, Kyoujurou stood at a distance and did not speak.
"The wounds you inflicted on me at the very beginning are almost healed, but what about you? Your left eye is completely blind, and your right abdomen was almost pierced by me. As a human, you can't regenerate quickly from such injuries, can you?
But for a demon, it's effortless. Even if you just used that ability to suppress my regeneration, my recovery ability still far surpasses yours, not to mention you no longer have the strength to use that ability now."
Akaza caressed the scar on his body that almost traversed his entire being. The scar had faded considerably, and he looked at Kyoujurou and said,
"So, become a demon, Kyoujurou. Gain eternal life, have endless time to delve into martial arts, and fight me forever, together to try and step into that supreme realm!" Akaza extended his hand to Kyoujurou, speaking to him with excitement.
He then added, "If you don't agree, you will surely die if you continue to fight."
Facing Akaza's invitation, Kyoujurou's heart did not waver in the slightest. He had refused many times already and no longer wished to answer him.
"Hoo… hoo…"
His left eye was completely shut, and Kyoujurou's right eye stared intently at Akaza opposite him. He knew that what this demon said was correct; his stamina was no longer enough for him to continue using the Crimson Blade. Judging by the strength this demon had shown before, he was very likely to perish here.
But even knowing this, Kyoujurou still did not give up, because behind him stood over two hundred humans.
"I will… fulfill my duty!"
Clutching his nichirin blade again with both hands, his right foot stomped the ground, and Kyoujurou's eyes were filled with tenacity and resolve.
"I will not let anyone here die!"
Raising his nichirin blade with both hands into an offensive stance, Kyoujurou responded to Akaza with his actions.
From Akaza's perspective, Kyoujurou's body once again erupted with astonishing fighting spirit, leaving him deeply shocked.
"To have such spirit and mental strength while severely wounded, a flawless stance… Hahahahaha, you should definitely become a demon, Kyoujurou! Fight me forever!"
Akaza looked at Kyoujurou with deep shock, laughing several times as he shouted to him.
Kyoujurou did not pay attention to Akaza, his eyes still fixed on him.
No need for any worries, pour everything into this, burn your heart, surpass your limits!
Clutching the nichirin blade in his hands, he unleashed all his remaining strength. His heartbeat accelerated continuously, and his body temperature rapidly rose. A new power emerged from within Kyoujurou, transmitted from his heart to every limb.
…
[Whenever a Breath Styles / Marks swordsman appears, more Breath Styles / Marks swordsmen will appear in succession around him, as if resonating.]
…
A sun-shaped red Breath Styles / Marks mark, surrounded by flames, gradually appeared on Kyoujurou's chest. The flame patterns around the edges even extended to his neck.
At the same time, power beyond his usual surged from within. Kyoujurou's grip on his nichirin blade strengthened, causing it to once again display a deeper color, transforming into a Crimson Blade.
"I am the Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyoujurou! Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
Scorching flames rose from around Kyoujurou. He stomped the ground forcefully, shattering a piece of the earth beneath his feet, and then he, like a burning meteor, charged towards Akaza.
The surrounding flames transformed into a fire dragon, roaring towards Akaza's direction, leaving a path of flames in its wake.
"Destructive Kill: Annihilation Style!"
Seeing that Kyoujurou had made his move, Akaza understood that Kyoujurou would not heed his persuasion to become a demon, so he swung both fists to meet Kyoujurou's attack.
The destructive punch collided with Kyoujurou's fire dragon, immediately causing a violent explosion, and Akaza was then pushed back a distance.
What's happening? His strength is much greater than before…
After their attacks connected, Akaza felt something was wrong. Kyoujurou's power exceeded his estimation; he was at a disadvantage in this confrontation.
However, before he could ponder what was happening, Kyoujurou had already appeared before him, his nichirin blade glowing with a deep red light, aimed directly at his neck.
His speed is also much faster than before! If I get cut… I will surely die!
The Compass Needle transmitted danger signals to Akaza. At this moment, he finally lost his composure, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, but it was instantly baked and evaporated by the surrounding high temperature.
Although he didn't know why Kyoujurou was so much stronger than before, Akaza immediately reacted, relying on the Compass Needle.
"Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Crown Splitter!"
An upward kick struck Kyoujurou's nichirin blade, causing it to deviate slightly, and Akaza took the opportunity to tilt his head and dodge.
The crimson nichirin blade grazed Akaza's head, shaving off a few inches of his hair, and then struck his right shoulder.
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
Kyoujurou roared, his arm strength increasing, and the nichirin blade on Akaza's shoulder cut into his body.
"AHHH!"
Akaza shrieked, the burning sensation he had just experienced returning.
His ability to suppress my regeneration! He can still use it!
Akaza was shocked, and then in an instant, Akaza's upper body from his right shoulder to his right abdomen was severed by Kyoujurou.
In terror, Akaza quickly leaped backward, out of Kyoujurou's attack range.
His body slowly recovered, and Akaza temporarily lost his right arm.
Feeling his slowly recovering body, Akaza looked at Kyoujurou and said,
"You've become even stronger! In that case, I should show you even greater respect!"
Injured to this extent by Kyoujurou, and even almost killed, Akaza now had no intention of holding back. The physical pain meant nothing to him; he was now even more excited.
Although a part of his body had been severed, Akaza once again took up his stance.
"Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Flying Star Myriad Wheels!"