If one arm can't be used, then use the legs.
Akaza, who had just suffered a loss, didn't retreat but advanced, launching continuous kicks at Kyoujurou, surrounded by a blue flowing light. Their trajectories were elusive, like wandering meteors.
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
Facing Akaza's attack, Kyoujurou raised his nichirin blade and swung it around himself, blocking Akaza's kicks with a sword technique like swirling flames.
Kyoujurou felt stronger than ever before. His strength and speed surpassed all previous times. Although his left eye still couldn't open, his vision had become even better, allowing him to clearly see and block Akaza's attacks.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Akaza's attacks landed on the nichirin blade, making sounds. Kyoujurou, whose strength had already increased, still retreated a few steps under his attacks.
This demon's strength is also stronger than before!
Kyoujurou felt a bit shocked.
"The strength in my legs is stronger than my arms! Hahahaha!" Akaza laughed loudly, shouting at Kyoujurou. His upper body, which had been severed, had now regenerated to his shoulder, and his compass had adapted to Kyoujurou's current speed.
"Destructive Kill: Leg Type: Flashing Light Barrage!"
Suddenly, Akaza's kicks converged at one point, then followed by several rapid and fierce kicks, causing blue light to explode.
Although Kyoujurou blocked his attacks, his body was still kicked away.
"Rengoku-sensei!"
"Googly-Eyed Boy!"
Tanjirou and Inosuke, behind Kyoujurou, shouted at him worriedly. At this moment, they could only hate their own weakness, unable to participate in Kyoujurou's battle.
Kyoujurou, who was kicked away, twisted his body in the air and landed steadily on the ground. Although severely injured, his stamina and strength were better than before.
"I won't let you harm any human! Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Clutching his nichirin blade, Kyoujurou charged at Akaza once again, a rapid thrust, and the surrounding flames, like a fierce tiger, bit at Akaza.
It was the same move, but this time its power was even greater than before.
The scorching heat rushed towards Akaza, who instead opened his mouth and laughed.
"Hahahahaha! It's wonderful to meet you, Kyoujurou! You are the only Hashira I've encountered who can make me use my full strength! Among the Hashira I've met, no one is stronger than you. I, Akaza, declare you the strongest!"
Akaza grinned and shouted at Kyoujurou, taking a stance as the Flame Tiger was about to reach him.
"Destructive Kill: Demon Core Eightfold!"
Blue flowing light assailed Kyoujurou's Flame Tiger from all directions. Because he was missing an arm, the power of Akaza's move was also slightly diminished.
Kyoujurou's Flame Tiger, enduring the eightfold consecutive attacks, charged in front of Akaza, then slammed into him.
Just then, Akaza's right arm had finally grown back after this period of time. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he met Kyoujurou's attack.
"Destructive Kill: Chaotic Style!"
His fists swung rapidly, delivering fierce blows to the same spot at extremely high speed. The Flame Tiger, weakened by the Demon Core Eightfold, finally couldn't withstand it and dissipated.
Akaza's fists and Kyoujurou's nichirin blade collided again, and then the two figures separated once more.
"Hahahahaha, wonderful! Kyoujurou, you must endure the next move and not die!"
Akaza laughed loudly, taking a crouching stance, then crossed his fists in front of his chest.
"Destructive Kill: Final Form: Blue-Silver…"
Just as Akaza was about to swing his fist and attack, a white line suddenly appeared in the sky, and then the shadows of the distant mountains gradually dispersed, and the sunlight rapidly approached this direction.
Too engrossed in the battle, Akaza had even ignored the change in time.
The sun…
Noticing the white line in the distance, fear arose in Akaza's heart, and his hands, intending to attack, stopped.
Damn it! Why now of all times!
Akaza cursed inwardly, glanced at Kyoujurou and Tanjirou in the distance, and unwillingly turned and fled towards the forest behind him.
"Next time we meet, I will definitely settle the score with you! Just wait, Kyoujurou! I will come for you!"
Akaza turned his head and shouted at Kyoujurou while running into the forest.
"Hoo… hoo…"
Watching Akaza flee, and feeling the sunlight already bathing him, Kyoujurou's taut spirit finally relaxed. The drawbacks of his unrestrained burst of power also became apparent at this moment.
His lungs burned painfully, and the high temperature of his body felt as if it were boiling him. His thumping heartbeat was unusually clear and much faster than usual, and sharp pains radiated from his right abdomen and left eye, injured by Akaza.
But even so, Kyoujurou did not fall. He turned and walked towards Tanjirou and the others.
"Rengoku-sensei!"
Tanjirou and Inosuke rushed towards Kyoujurou as soon as they saw the battle end, each supporting one of his arms.
"Hmm…"
Using his Breathing Technique to stop the bleeding from the wound on his right abdomen, Kyoujurou felt his condition improve slightly. Then he turned to Tanjirou and the two of them and said, "Don't worry about me for now. There are many injured passengers as well. If you have the strength, go take care of them. I've already stopped the bleeding with my Breathing Technique. I'll be fine if I rest for a bit… cough cough… I'll be fine."
Although his body was already in great pain, Kyoujurou still instructed Tanjirou and the others.
"But…"
Tanjirou had tears on his face and didn't want to listen to Kyoujurou, wanting to take care of him first.
"Your own injuries aren't light either. You can rest for a while… Don't worry about me…"
Kyoujurou pulled away from Tanjirou and Inosuke's hands and slowly leaned against a large tree. If he could, he still wanted to go take care of the injured passengers, but he was truly too exhausted now.
During the battle with Akaza, he felt like he could hold on a bit longer, but as soon as the battle ended, all the pain and exhaustion flooded his body. For a moment, he even nearly collapsed.
Kyoujurou leaned against the tree, gasping for breath. His right eye gradually blurred…
Did I… fulfill my duty well…
A thought flashed through his mind, and the intense fatigue made him unable to hold on, and he fell unconscious.
In his unconsciousness, he had a dream. He dreamed that he had returned to the past, his mother was not sick, and his father was not as decadent as he was now, patiently guiding him in his sword techniques. A smile always hung on the faces of his family.
Then he became a Hashira, and his father praised him proudly. His mother and Senjuro also felt very happy.
Immediately after, he took in many Tsuguko, who all called him "Big Brother." He taught all these Tsuguko to become strong individuals who could stand on their own. Finally, everyone eliminated all the demons, the Master's body also recovered, and everyone lived happily…
How wonderful…
…
"Quick! Rengoku-sama is over here!"
"He's unconscious, and his physical condition is not optimistic. Quickly send Rengoku-sama to the Butterfly Mansion!"