A huge cloud of thick mist surged forward, accompanied by a fierce wind. A brilliant flash of blade light gleamed within the mist, and the wooden dragons on both sides were simultaneously cut down. Seizing this perfect opportunity, Muichiro immediately retreated frantically with Mitsuri in tow.
"Tokito-kun! That's incredible!"
Tanjiro's eyes welled up with tears of relief.
Muichiro nodded briefly, his gaze fixed intently on the demon standing opposite them.
"He can summon wooden dragons by beating those drums on his back. Both he and the wooden dragons can unleash the abilities of the weapons possessed by the four previous clones: sound waves, lightning, strong winds, and shockwaves."
Tanjiro quickly shared the crucial information with Muichiro and Mitsuri.
"However, he is not the main body. His true main body is a hunched old man, currently hiding inside that wooden ball behind him. To defeat him completely, we must kill that main body."
Combining his previous experience fighting Gyutaro and Daki, Tanjiro relayed the information he had just discovered. Both Mitsuri and Muichiro looked thoughtful as they processed this strategy.
"In that case, the most urgent task now is to be able to reach that wooden ball. I will take the main attack to draw his attention. Mitsuri-san, please cooperate with me to attack the demon that looks like a young man. Tanjiro, you look for an opportunity to deal with the main body."
Muichiro quickly made the tactical arrangements. Mitsuri and Tanjiro exchanged meaningful glances and both nodded in agreement.
"I'm here too!"
Genya crawled out painfully from the ruins and debris. Sekido, who had merged with the power of the other demons, had possessed terrifying leg strength, and it had taken Genya quite a long time to recover.
"Perfect, Genya, you come with me. We'll go deal with the main body together."
Tanjiro said to Genya with determination.
The strategic meeting concluded quickly. Muichiro gave Mitsuri a look, pushed off powerfully with his feet, and his figure flickered as he quickly covered a significant distance.
Zohakuten struck the drums on his back, and wooden dragons reappeared on the battlefield, launching a coordinated attack on Muichiro. Two wooden dragons gathered destructive power, while three more opened their gaping maws and swooped down toward Muichiro.
"Mist Breathing—Second Form: Eight-Layered Mist!"
Muichiro rapidly swung his sword, unleashing multiple vertical slashes forward. The sharp blade strikes collided head-on with the three wooden dragons, forcing their descent to halt completely, and several deep cracks appeared along their heads.
Their heads are much harder than their bodies. Slicing their necks by moving to the side would be the most effective method.
Muichiro's analytical thoughts raced. He parried a wooden dragon flying from the side with his sword, and the tremendous impact sent him flying high into the sky.
"Mist Breathing—Fifth Form: Sea of Clouds and Haze!"
A thick, concealing mist gradually appeared in the air, which even the fierce wind brought by the wooden dragons' impact could not dispel. Muichiro, rolling gracefully in mid-air, vanished completely into the protective mist.
Meanwhile, the two wooden dragons on the outside, having gathered their destructive strength, prepared to unleash powerful winds into the mist. But a pink figure had already swiftly arrived behind them.
"Love Breathing—Second Form: Love Pangs!"
Mitsuri, moving at incredible high speed, wielded her flexible blade with deadly precision. The ribbon-like sword quickly slashed across the wooden dragons' backs, causing the wooden parts to shatter inch by inch, making it impossible for them to unleash their devastating impact attack.
Zohakuten, unable to see clearly through the mist, found his three wooden dragons completely disoriented. Streaks of cyan sword light flashed repeatedly, and by the time the concealing mist cleared, all the wooden dragons had completely shattered.
Seizing this crucial opportunity, Tanjiro and Genya had already rushed toward the wooden ball.
"Thunder Breathing—First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
Without any hesitation, Tanjiro accelerated with all his might, rapidly approaching the wooden ball during the brief period when there were no wooden dragons to obstruct him.
"How unbelievably fast!"
Zohakuten bared his sharp fangs, a menacing grin spreading across his face. His hands didn't stop moving for a second. He struck the drums over a dozen times in quick succession. With a huge, earth-shaking roar, over a dozen wooden dragons surged out from behind him.
"How can there be so many!"
Tanjiro gritted his teeth and continued to charge forward with unwavering determination. He believed completely that Mitsuri and Muichiro would help him. The only thing he had to accomplish now was to quickly reach the main body and cut off its head!
"Mist Breathing—Seventh Form: Obscuring Clouds!"
A vast, concealing mist spread all around the battlefield, successfully obscuring Zohakuten's vision, yet Tanjiro did not lose his direction within the protective mist.
Within the swirling mist, streaks of brilliant pink sword light flickered like lightning, and soon several wooden dragons shattered and completely disintegrated.
Outside the mist, the remaining wooden dragons, having gathered their strength, simultaneously unleashed powerful shockwaves. Fierce winds blew violently, sending sand and stones flying everywhere, and several massive pillars of storm energy crashed horizontally into the mist. The protective mist was quickly blown away, revealing the four individuals rapidly advancing within.
At the same time, several more wooden dragons opened their large mouths around Zohakuten. Lightning crackled and flashed within their throats.
The situation instantly became critically dangerous.
Too far away!
Muichiro and Mitsuri could undoubtedly dodge the attack, but Tanjiro, advancing behind them, might be hit by the devastating impact. Even after repelling one wooden dragon, neither Muichiro nor Mitsuri attempted to dodge. They both held a belief in certain death if necessary.
Or rather, every Hashira or person fighting an Upper Moon demon held a belief in certain death. Hesitation in battle was a great and deadly taboo.
"Muichiro Tokito! Mitsuri-san! Please get out of the way!"
Tanjiro shouted desperately from behind. Without any hesitation or delay, both Mitsuri and Muichiro immediately jumped to either side.
Violent lightning bolts surged straight ahead, cracking the ground inch by inch wherever they passed, forming huge deep trenches in the earth.
"Sun Breathing—Revolving Heaven!"
Tanjiro took a deep breath, and air surged wildly into his body. His spiritual aura transformed from the violent Hinokami Kagura to a warm and peaceful energy. This was the Sun Breathing that Seiichi had taught him!
Countless layers of sword energy overlapped to form a massive white sphere, which then spun at incredible high speed. The sword energy storm expanded from small to large, and the lightning shockwave was directly deflected away.
But it wasn't over yet. Anything caught within the sphere was torn to shreds by the spinning energy. Several nearby wooden dragons instantly turned into wood chips, sticking to the top of the sphere and rotating with it.
Before long, with the white energy sphere as the center, a massive tornado had formed above it.
Zohakuten's expression became extremely grim.
Before he could react to the devastating tornado, two figures, like lightning bolts, rapidly approached the wooden ball. It was Mitsuri and Muichiro, who had just been positioned on either side!
They're within striking range!
Raise the blades!
"Mist Breathing—Fourth Form: Shifting Flow Slash!"
"Love Breathing—First Form: Shivers of First Love!"
A huge crash resounded, and smoke and dust billowed everywhere. The wooden ball was directly cut open and shattered into pieces, but there was absolutely nothing inside!
"He's very small! He's trying to escape!"
Hearing Tanjiro's urgent shout, who had stopped his spinning technique, the two quickly surveyed their surroundings. They spotted a tiny figure rapidly fleeing across the flat ground not far away.
Zohakuten, having reacted to the situation, directly opened his mouth toward Mitsuri and Muichiro.
When he uses the attack himself, it's far more powerful than when the wooden dragons use it!
Lightning flashed wildly in preparation, but before it could be unleashed, it was swallowed back.
Tanjiro had already arrived directly before him! If Zohakuten didn't face Tanjiro's direction, he might have his neck cut off. This would require a significant period of recovery, and during that time, with the pursuit of the three slayers, Hantengu would be completely doomed.
He turned his head to look directly at Tanjiro. Without hesitation, he retreated and continued to strike the drums behind him. Several wooden dragons burst out from the ground.
Tanjiro didn't pay attention to the wooden dragons at all. He sensed the exact direction between himself and Zohakuten. A line that couldn't be straighter.
It's now. His red pupils gleamed with determination. He held his sword with both hands, yet placed the blade at his waist in a drawing stance.
"Sun Breathing—Phantom Draw!"