Sekido, cut cleanly in two, naturally could no longer electrocute Genya. Genya's screams of pain also stopped, and then, with a charred but ferocious gaze, he looked directly at Aizetsu, who was still controlling him with the spear.
Stepping forward menacingly, the long spear had directly pierced through Genya's body, and Aizetsu was now face to face with him.
"What? How could this be possible!"
Under Aizetsu's shocked and disbelieving gaze, Genya directly opened his mouth wide and bit down hard on Aizetsu's neck, savagely biting off a large chunk of flesh and swallowing it without even chewing.
He grabbed the long spear firmly with his right hand and used Tanjiro's ultimate technique - the devastating headbutt attack!
The immense force directly sent Aizetsu flying backward! Genya pulled hard, extracting the long spear from his own body, stuck it firmly into the ground, and roared with determination.
"Come on!"
"Genya! Are you alright!"
Tanjiro looked at Genya with concern, checking his condition and knowing that he had been completely pierced through the torso.
"I'm fine, my body constitution is special. We'll talk about it later - let's deal with these demons first."
Genya, now holding the long spear as his weapon, lunged forward with a powerful thrust, sending the recently knocked-down Aizetsu flying again. Then he forcefully stabbed downward, pinning Aizetsu's body to the ground. He leaped up and stepped on Aizetsu to prevent him from moving or regenerating.
"Good job, Genya!"
"You don't need to tell me that! I'm going to be a Hashira!"
"You brat, don't get too arrogant!"
Urogi, swooping down from the sky at incredible speed, brought his razor-sharp claws together to punch a large hole through Tanjiro. Karaku, on the other hand, picked up his powerful fan, preparing to attack Tanjiro directly.
In Karaku's tactical consideration, Genya is currently stepping on Aizetsu. If he uses his fan to blow Genya away, Aizetsu would also be blown away with him. If any unexpected events occurred afterward, they wouldn't be able to properly form Zohakuten. To be safe, attacking Tanjiro is the best option.
"Oh no, he's going to use that fan!"
Tanjiro's thoughts raced frantically, but it was already too late to change course. He still needed to dodge Urogi's claw attack. With a desperate roll, he barely managed to evade the strike, then heard a whooshing sound as Urogi attacked again.
Karaku seized the perfect opportunity, during a brief lull in Urogi's assault, and directly raised his fan high.
Now!
SWISH!
A brilliant pink flash of Nichirin Sword light passed through the air, and Karaku's arm, along with his fan, was directly severed at the shoulder. Blood gushed out everywhere.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late! I went to evacuate and settle the villagers safely as the note instructed."
A pink figure appeared on the battlefield. It was Mitsuri Kanroji, and Tanjiro couldn't help but show pure joy and relief.
"Tanjiro-kun, I've already made sure Nezuko is safe as well, so please don't worry about her."
"Thank you so much, Kanroji-san!"
"Okay, leave the rest to me. I am a Hashira, after all."
Mitsuri stood confidently with her hands on her hips, her distinctive pink flexible Nichirin Sword looking very unique and deadly.
"A Hashira, how truly unfortunate for us. It seems I can only use this final option."
The fully recovered Sekido's gaze swept across the entire battlefield. He surprisingly attacked the nearby Karaku directly, grabbing him and swallowing him whole. He then raised his electric staff, and lightning shot toward Urogi. Urogi was struck down in complete terror and was instantly devoured by Sekido as well.
Before Tanjiro and the others could even react to what was happening, Sekido flashed beside Genya with incredible speed, kicked Genya flying through the air, and swallowed the weeping Aizetsu as well.
Too fast! A drop of cold sweat appeared on Mitsuri's forehead. She had already started moving when Sekido began his flash step, but it was simply far too late to intervene.
"This speed... is this what an Upper Moon is truly capable of?"
"No, it's not like that at all. It wasn't like this before."
Tanjiro, also sweating nervously, watched this bizarre and terrifying scene, equally shocked by the transformation.
After devouring all three of his fellow clones, Sekido's body underwent a dramatic transformation, finally forming the appearance of a youth who looked like a child. He had two prominent curved horns protruding from his forehead, and cracked markings on his forehead and below his eyes.
The sclera of both eyes were deep red, and the irises were golden yellow. His left and right eyes were inscribed with "Four" and "Upper Moon" respectively. He wore golden armor that gleamed menacingly and had five drums with the character "Hate" on his back, holding S-shaped drumsticks in both hands.
"What is this thing? Such an overwhelming evil presence!"
Tanjiro's sword, gripped tightly in both hands, trembled slightly from the oppressive aura.
"Why do you bully the weak?"
Zohakuten's golden irises were as cold as fresh snow, and his opening words were completely incomprehensible to Mitsuri and the others.
Who would waste time explaining anything to a demon! Mitsuri shot forward directly, her flexible Nichirin Sword, moving like a ribbon, waving continuously beside her as she aimed straight for Zohakuten's exposed neck.
Zohakuten remained completely unmoved, merely striking one drumstick against his back drums. With a booming drum sound that shook the air, a giant wooden dragon emerged from behind him, opening its massive gaping maw.
"Watch out!"
Tanjiro shouted desperately.
Mitsuri leaped high into the air, dodging the charging wooden dragon's enormous mouth, and landed gracefully on the dragon's back. Her pink flexible Nichirin Sword continuously extended, wrapping around the entire wooden dragon like a giant ribbon. With a powerful pull, Mitsuri sliced the entire wooden dragon into huge fragments.
"So incredibly strong! Is this the true power of a Hashira?"
Before Tanjiro could finish marveling at her skill, Zohakuten repeatedly struck his drums several times in rapid succession. Five wooden dragons shot out from behind him again, their colossal figures almost completely obscuring the moonlight, leaving only darkness.
Mitsuri weaved gracefully through the wildly thrashing wooden dragons, her vibrant pink figure flashing back and forth like a dancer. The wooden dragons, unable to catch or touch Mitsuri despite their best efforts, instead became tangled with each other while trying to pursue her.
Tanjiro also sprinted forward, his hand gripping his Nichirin Sword firmly. He leaped high into the air, landing directly on the back of one wooden dragon, and swung his Nichirin Sword down with full force, making a sound like striking solid metal.
So incredibly hard!
But it doesn't matter. I just need to clear a path for Kanroji-san.
As Tanjiro thought this, he suddenly shuddered with realization. No, there's another scent here. Is it another demon? What is it exactly?
His keen gaze searched the area, and he spotted a sphere wrapped in layers of wood positioned behind Zohakuten.
That's it! He's also just a clone - the old man is the real main body. Since he's a clone, his abilities... Oh no!
Tanjiro suddenly startled with the terrible realization, shouting loudly.
"Kanroji-san, don't get close!"
But at this critical moment, Mitsuri had already reached Zohakuten's immediate vicinity. She dodged the charge of one wooden dragon, ignoring the wooden dragons on her left and right that were facing her, because her Nichirin Sword was about to strike Zohakuten's neck, and the attacks from the left and right wouldn't be fast enough to stop her.
Hearing Tanjiro's urgent warning, she glanced quickly left and right. The wooden dragons weren't moving to attack, but were slowly opening their massive mouths, and a huge amount of destructive energy was gathering within their throats.
What is that?
Mitsuri stared in growing alarm at the left and right sides, and at Zohakuten, who was now close at hand. They all opened their mouths simultaneously.
A tremendous sense of deadly peril swept over her entire being.
Although I don't know what it is exactly, I feel like I'm going to die. I haven't been in love yet, I haven't married the person I love, and I clearly don't want to die yet. I'm sorry, Tanjiro-kun, I've dragged you into this danger.
Mitsuri felt overwhelmingly disheartened.
Since childhood, her physical constitution had far surpassed that of ordinary people. Her muscle density was eight times that of a normal human, and her seemingly slender body actually contained immense strength.
But precisely because of this unusual strength, she had been harshly rejected by a suitor during a marriage interview, which had been a devastating blow to her self-esteem.
Afterward, Mitsuri had joined the Demon Slayer Corps in order to find a man who could accept her true self, hoping to find a husband within the corps who was stronger than her and could protect her.
Unfortunately, this wish will probably never be realized.
In that critical instant, Mitsuri thought of many things, but the Nichirin Sword in her hand did not loosen its grip.
At least before I die, I can still accomplish something meaningful. Her light green eyes showed unwavering determination.
Tanjiro's desperate roar, Mitsuri's resolve, Zohakuten's cold indifference.
Suddenly, a faint voice emerged from the mist.
"Mist Breathing—Sixth Form: Lunar Dispersing Mist!"