Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words deeply stung Kokushibou.
Even Muzan, behind him, trembled slightly.
Nothing more.
Utter rage.
Because Yoriichi had exposed Kibutsuji's utterly cowardly nature; he truly feared Tsugikuni Yoriichi… no, he feared any swordsman who used Sun Breathing.
So much so that three hundred years ago, after Tsugikuni Yoriichi's death, he dispatched Kokushibou to eliminate all humans who had come into contact with him, attempting to sever the legacy of Sun Breathing.
However.
Plans often go awry.
Tanjiro Kamado inherited his mantle.
But inheriting wasn't enough.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi himself had crawled out of hell!
—This was what truly terrified, scared, and even broke Muzan.
If… he could be resurrected.
Then… what about the others?
What about the demons?
Muzan dared not imagine.
Whew…
Clutching his chest, elbows resting on his knees, he sat alone in a small room within the Infinite Castle.
Observing the scene reflected in Kokushibou's eyes, his breathing gradually slowed.
—This guy who refuses to die!
Clenching his fists, gritting his teeth, Muzan wanted to retort against Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words.
That wasn't cowardice on his part.
It was caution.
But…
The words caught in his throat as he remembered his identity, and he choked.
As the Demon King, he couldn't lose his composure in front of his subordinates.
Although some demons knew he feared Sun Breathing, they were a minority… for now, he would observe.
If, after this encounter…
Kokushibou died…
And Tsugikuni Yoriichi showed no signs of leaving.
Then…
The search for the blue spider lily would have to accelerate; only by standing in the sunlight could he be unafraid of Sun Breathing, unafraid of…
Mere humans!
...
"Clang! Bang!"
Ink-like rolling clouds obscured the moonlight.
Under the dim sky.
The clash of weapons rang out again.
The surrounding air ignited with surging, radiating sparks, like continuous lightning.
For a moment, even the ambient temperature rose by several degrees.
With each breath, Kokushibou felt a distinct pain.
But he still advanced without hesitation.
"Hiss—!!"
Ignoring the abnormality in his lungs, oxygen compressed instantly, and a wisp of white mist escaped his lips.
Then.
Boom!
The air exploded.
A crescent-shaped sword energy transformed into five arcs in mid-air, sweeping horizontally towards Tsugikuni Yoriichi like a shockwave!
The ground was cut into distinct, net-like patterns, almost a dense sword net; everything in front of it instantly disintegrated!
[Moon Breathing…]
[Sixth Form…]
[Solitary Moon of the Long Night – Perpetual!]
The imposing technique was expected to buy some time, allowing him to discern Tsugikuni Yoriichi's weaknesses.
However…
"Brother…"
Yoriichi's calm voice continued to echo in the desolate night:
"This is meaningless…"
"Tell me Kibutsuji Muzan's location."
"I will help you find liberation."
He casually blocked countless slashes; the wind pressure from the sword energy didn't even touch his clothes.
Watching Kokushibou, whose muscles bulged and veins protruded, and seeing his killing intent undiminished, a hint of disappointment flashed in Yoriichi's eyes…
—You've fallen even further, Brother.
—Even if you achieve peak swordsmanship… what's the point if it's at the cost of becoming a monster?
He suddenly recalled his childhood.
Alas, those times were gone forever.
He sighed:
"Very well."
"Brother, since you are so deluded."
"I will send you into reincarnation."
"I hope you're a good person in your next life."
"Your life…"
"Silence!" Yoriichi's words were cut off by Kokushibou's hateful interruption.
His voice was like someone seeing a mortal enemy, twisting his expression noticeably.
Then…
Click!
An intense pain surged like a tsunami, eroding his mind, and the Nichirin blade in his hand suddenly dropped.
He bent over, clutching his head, letting out an incoherent roar.
Past scenes flashed through his mind like turning book pages.
"Brother will definitely become the strongest samurai…"
"I hate fighting… Compared to fighting, I prefer flying kites with Brother…"
"Brother, I'm leaving. After I go, I will cherish the flute you gave me as if it were you…"
"Brother…"
"Brother…"
Layers of echoes flooded his mind.
Kokushibou felt unbearable pain.
—Why, why do I feel disgusted whenever I hear these voices!
—Yoriichi! I hate you!
You possess such incredible talent, why did you abandon everything?
Why can I never catch up to your shadow, no matter how hard I try!
Why, after four hundred years, does the light you emit still burn so fiercely!
What about me!
What am I!?
"Ah… Pfft!"
Kokushibou suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his hunched body swaying precariously; under the rapidly changing emotions, Kokushibou felt true "hatred" for the first time!
He detested everything about Yoriichi.
That talent, that voice, that appearance…
Every single thing caused him unbearable pain!
"Yoriichi!"
He forced himself upright, roaring with his head thrown back, all six eyes wide open.
At the same time.
Cells continuously burned within his flesh regenerated rapidly, muscles bulged grotesquely, and countless bones pierced through his skin, forming a tangible defence on the surface.
The demon blood within him surged, two grotesque horns grew from his forehead, his face festered and regenerated, and countless scales formed a bony membrane that proliferated on both sides of his cheeks.
His teeth grew wildly, and an Asura-like form rapidly constructed itself; from afar, he looked like a monster that had just crawled out of hell!
—Second Form!
"Hmph…"
"Hmph…"
Kokushibou gasped for breath; the world before him had opened up considerably due to his sudden increase in height.
He hunched his body, raised his hand, and spoke in a hoarse voice, like a night owl:
"I will kill you!"
"Absolutely!"
"Four hundred years! I've hated you for four hundred years! Why won't you just die quietly, you bastard!"
"Only when you die can I become the 'strongest' in swordsmanship!"
Swoosh!
The sound of bone blades unsheathing reached his ears. Yoriichi looked at Kokushibou, his expression unchanged even as he transformed into a true demon:
"I see…"
"Brother, have you always detested me?"
"Swordsmanship…"
"I remember saying I wasn't interested in such things…"
"Yes! That's precisely why I'm furious!" Kokushibou roared, "You never studied swordsmanship, so why could you so easily defeat us who trained for years!?
In the face of your talent, our efforts are as laughable as a babbling infant! Why! Why must I be beneath you!"
"I want to become you, I want to surpass you, Yoriichi! For that, you must die!"
"I hate you, Yoriichi!"
"…
"Is that so…" After a moment of silence, Tsugikuni Yoriichi felt a mix of emotions.
At the time, he had never imagined that his unintentional actions would wound his brother so deeply…
He should have realised it sooner.
Only…
"Brother, if becoming a demon means surpassing me…"
"Then…"
"Why do you remain beneath Muzan?"
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