"Mr. Yuki, we..."
Kyojuro urgently questioned Yuki beside him.
Though he couldn't understand why the Upper Rank Demon, who had been so fiercely combative just moments ago, had suddenly resorted to such a cowardly escape, Kyojuro knew one thing for certain: it was all because of Yuki!
The thought that even a demon of this caliber feared Yuki filled Kyojuro's heart with renewed hope.
With Yuki by their side, the Demon Slayer Corps' century-long failure to slay an Upper Rank Demon was about to change!
Without hesitation, Yuki declared firmly:
"Pursue!"
This was a train station, still bustling with activity even at night.
If it were truly Akaza himself, Yuki wouldn't be as concerned. Akaza rarely harmed ordinary humans, allowing him to focus his energy solely on the demon.
But if Muzan were controlling Akaza, Yuki had no doubt the fiend would resort to any despicable tactic!
Moreover...
As Yuki pursued at high speed, he glanced at Kyojuro beside him.
For a rare moment, Rengoku hesitated before speaking, as if unable to end his sentence with an exclamation mark.
Yuki knew that Kyojuro, though he wouldn't admit it, was likely blaming himself.
He was reproaching himself for acting rashly, not only failing to achieve his goal but also allowing Akaza to escape under the cover of his attack, indirectly hindering Yuki's pursuit.
If they failed to kill Akaza tonight, Yuki had no doubt that Kyojuro wouldn't get a good night's sleep for a long time!
Suddenly, Kyojuro shouted:
"Mr. Yuki, let's try this!"
Before his words could finish, Kyojuro had already assumed the starting stance of Flame Breathing once more.
Yuki instantly understood his intention.
In the next moment, Kyojuro drew his blade, but this time, he pulled it out along with its scabbard:
'Flame Breathing Fifth Form: Flame Tiger - Modified'
The Nichirin Blade in Kyojuro's hand, still sheathed, didn't swing forward in a slash. Instead, he pushed it forward.
Yuki leaped forward, his feet landing squarely on Kyojuro's sheathed blade.
Using Rengoku's tremendous force as a springboard, Yuki transformed into a human cannonball, hurtling straight toward Akaza!
In an instant, Yuki closed the distance between them.
'Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust'
But just then, an anomaly erupted!
Behind Akaza, a thunderous explosion suddenly erupted!
Yuki's eyes widened as red and blue lightning crackled before him. He twisted his body mid-stride, his already-formed sword technique twisting with him. Under the night sky, his blade drew a ribbon of Sun Flame, slashing at an impossible angle toward the newly appeared demon.
The demon had horns on its head, crimson eyes, and wielded a tin staff.
Seeing Yuki's attack, the demon opened its mouth as if to speak.
In that instant, Yuki clearly saw the character "Wrath" carved onto the demon's tongue.
'Upper Rank Four: Hantengu, Wrathful'
Before Hantengu, could even utter a sound, Yuki simultaneously severed his neck and the tin staff in his hand with a single strike!
In the next instant, a Japanese cross-spear pierced Yuki's chest.
Yet Hantengu, who had launched the attack, wore a puzzled expression.
His eyes had clearly seen the spear pierce Yuki's chest, but the sensation in his hand told him the strike had missed!
Hantengu, suddenly felt an itch on his neck, and his vision began to tilt.
As his head fell to the ground, he was shocked to realize that the "Yuki" he had just pierced had vanished like a soap bubble.
'Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow'
Meanwhile, Hantengu, who was about to fan his fan, hadn't even reacted when two consecutive bursts of brilliant Sun Flame erupted before his eyes!
'Sun Breathing, Third Form: Raging Sun'
In the blink of an eye, Yuki had slain three Upper-Rank Demons.
Yet his expression grew even more grave.
Upon recognizing Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, Yuki knew he had encountered a Demon even more troublesome than Enmu.
The three Hantengu he had just killed were merely clones of the main body.
Unless he could directly slay the mouse-sized Hantengu, he wouldn't truly defeat the enemy.
Yuki knew perfectly well that the three clones had been sent merely to buy time.
Sure enough, the moment he slew the three demons, another Hantengu clone swooped down from the sky. Its bird-claw-like hand seized Akaza, who was still fleeing.
In an instant, Akaza was soaring skyward, carried by Hantengu, who could fly at incredible speed.
Seeing this, Yuki couldn't help but think of that timeless joke:
Fool, I can fly!
At that moment, Yuki felt so infuriated he almost laughed.
But the spectacle wasn't over yet. A faint sound of a biwa echoed through the air:
Clang!
A bizarre portal materialized before Hantengu and Akaza.
Fine! So that's how you want to play it!
When Enmu was slain, Muzan immediately summoned Upper Moon Three, Akaza, to investigate.
Upon realizing Yuki was present, Muzan remotely logged into Akaza's body and made him flee.
During the escape, he even arranged for Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, to ambush Yuki with three clones, buying more time.
Finally, he had Hantengu, who could fly at high speed, intercept Akaza mid-air and carry him away.
One had to admit, Muzan never failed to come up with new and unexpected tricks!
Yuki had no doubt that Upper Moon Five, Gyokko, was also on his way.
If he continued his pursuit, Kyojuro would face Gyokko's attack!
Yuki took a deep breath.
He now understood that the moment Muzan remotely logged into Akaza, the situation had fundamentally changed.
Akaza had become a pawn in the struggle between him and Muzan.
Yuki wanted to eliminate Akaza, to rid the world of this demon.
But Muzan wanted to protect Akaza in front of "Tsugikuni Yoriichi," using this opportunity to restore his own confidence.
As Hantengu and Akaza were about to enter the portal and escape into the Infinity Castle, Yuki revealed a peculiar smile.
This time, Muzan had gained a slight advantage.
But what Muzan didn't realize was that his actions had also given Yuki the perfect opportunity to turn the tables.
Yuki drew the small knife he used for bloodletting and hurled it directly at Akaza in mid-air.
Clang!
The faint sound of a biwa echoed through the air.
Akaza, along with the knife, vanished into the Infinity Castle...