Boom!
A boundless smoke screen suddenly rose.
Thunder rumbled in his ears.
High above, the cold and pale moonlight poured down like a thin mist, adding a sense of desolation to the surroundings.
On the clearing.
"Click."
The sword guard gently collided, an invisible and subtle sound like a plague, instantly making the surrounding air even more stifling and oppressive.
Yoriichi held his Nichirin blade in his right hand, his eyes sharp, staring directly at the figure emanating monstrous demonic energy in front of him…
Whoosh!
Suddenly, six golden flickers of light, like fireflies in the night, pierced through the heavy mist, and the demonic aura surged even more intensely as Kokushibou looked up.
He faced the two, his eyes sharp, killing intent rising.
Even though the surrounding dust had not dispersed.
They could still feel it.
The immense pressure permeating the surroundings…
The two looked at each other in silence.
However.
This pressure, like radiation, rapidly spread through the air as time passed.
At the foot of the mountain, animals fainted, unconscious.
Halfway up the mountain, Kochou Shinobu and a group of "Kakushi" members found it difficult to breathe.
They looked up at the mountain peak in horror, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up in their hearts.
Behind them.
Giyu Tomioka looked as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in his life; even with his calm disposition, he found it difficult to compose himself at this moment.
His face was pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and the nichirin blade at his waist trembled slightly inadvertently.
He tried to regulate his body's functions through rapid breathing, one hand barely raised, gripping the sword hilt tightly, to reduce the fear in his heart.
Finally, as the fear gradually receded and his will overcame his instincts, he was barely able to lift his eyes and look forward.
A gust of wind blew past.
He saw…
Golden pupils, like eerie candlelight, with…
[Upper Rank…]
[One!]
They were so dazzling.
...
"Tanjirou… Tanjirou!"
"I'm going to faint!!"
"It's so uncomfortable!"
In the forest, a secluded spot.
The three people climbing the mountain suddenly got lost.
Surrounded by lush green trees, it was now enveloped in darkness.
Azuma Zenitsu listened to the thunder-like sound coming from not far away.
His pale hands tightly clutched Tanjirou's clothes.
His breathing gradually weakened amidst his increasingly faint murmurs.
He could only see a dark mist rising before his eyes.
The mist completely enveloped him.
At the same time, he also saw a patch of grass with blooming blue spider lilies.
Behind the grass was a river.
For some reason.
Zenitsu had a feeling.
That it was the Sanzu River.
It was so painful.
Even without seeing the creature making the sound with his own eyes, Zenitsu knew it was definitely not human.
"Zenitsu! Zenitsu!"
His eyes gradually closing, in his increasingly hazy thoughts, Azuma Zenitsu seemed to hear someone calling him.
He struggled to open his half-closed eyes.
The voice in his ear became clearer:
"Don't sleep! Wake up!"
"Is that Tanjirou?" he murmured to himself.
"Ah… I'm so tired, I can't hold on, the demon is so scary."
At this moment, he was like a human enveloped by the aftermath of two colliding aeroplanes.
The surging flames mixed with a sound powerful enough to shatter his soul were eroding him.
For the first time, he felt so insignificant.
He wanted to just fall asleep and never wake up.
But…
"Nezuko is waiting for you!"
"Don't sleep!"
This sudden voice immediately invigorated Azuma Zenitsu.
He abruptly opened his golden eyes.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Tanjirou's hands, his voice excited and fervent:
"Really? Tanjirou!!"
"You're really willing to marry Nezuko to me!!?"
...
Tanjirou's words were caught in his throat.
Zenitsu's golden pupils reflected Tanjirou's somewhat helpless and flustered expression.
He clearly didn't say that…
No!
Snapping back to reality, Tanjirou extended his finger towards the mountain peak, his tone urgent:
"Zenitsu! This isn't the time for that! I smell Tsugikuni-san's scent!"
"He's confronting another demon, and that demon is very strong, almost second only to Kibutsuji Muzan!"
"I'm worried…!"
"What!" Azuma Zenitsu was bored.
His excitement instantly faded, and he waved his hand, interrupting Tanjirou's words.
"I thought you were going to marry your sister to me; you got me all excited for nothing!"
"However…"
"Tsugikuni-san? He's here too!"
"That's great!"
"He'll definitely protect me like last time!"
"Tanjirou, let's hurry up!"
Although their goals were different, the same conclusion was all that mattered.
The two exchanged glances, then were about to act.
But the next second, they realised Inosuke Hashibira was gone.
...
Silence was a momentary shock.
Azuma Zenitsu's pupils contracted slightly.
He wanted to shout.
Suddenly.
A thunderous cry came from the top of the mountain.
"Yah!"
"Taste my 'Boar Rush,' you disgusting guy with three eyes!!"
"Let me tell you, I'm the King of the Mountain here!!"
Hearing that voice.
The two exchanged glances.
Three eyes?
A figure slowly emerged in their minds.
And at the same time, a similar thought was born.
--It's over!
...
"Who is this guy?"
"A boar demon?"
On the grass, Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked at Inosuke Hashibira, who had suddenly appeared in front of him and was provoking Kokushibou, his complex thoughts momentarily solidified.
Giyu Tomioka suppressed his breathing.
Leaning against a tree.
Although he didn't know Inosuke Hashibira.
He was surprised by his courage.
Even he didn't dare to fight the demon in front of him, because he could clearly perceive the difference between them, like the sun and a star.
Approaching… would often only lead to demise.
As for Kokushibou…
He coldly stared at Inosuke Hashibira, his indifferent voice coming from his lips:
"Human…"
"You are very brave…"
"But…"
He glanced at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, all six of his eyes trembling violently, and a strong hint of jealousy flashed in his gaze at the extremely youthful appearance.
If…
In these four hundred years…
You had not died…
Then…
What would be the meaning of my existence…
Yoriichi…
With boulders pressing on his shoulders, the tsunami-like jealousy transformed into towering waves that crushed his spirit and dignity.
Kokushibou gritted his teeth and spat out four words:
"You are too weak."
"The weak…"
"Have no value in existence."
Almost the instant his words fell.
Clang!
The flesh-formed Nichirin blade suddenly unsheathed!
The black blade reflected a chilling light under the moonlight, and countless eerie patterns formed eyes covered its surface!
At the same time!
Bang!
The ground suddenly caved in!
Dust rose everywhere, and Kokushibou's figure, which had been standing still, blurred into a sprinting shadow and rushed towards Inosuke!
At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind.
--Annoying weakling!
Meanwhile.
Memories from four hundred years ago, like lantern slides, appeared one by one before Kokushibou's eyes.
.........
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