Rengoku tilted his head slightly toward Tanjiro, who was still gasping for breath, before turning back to Akaza.
"There's no need to continue this meaningless attempt to drive a wedge between us! I will not believe a single word you say!"
"Is that so…" Akaza lowered his stance. A crystalline blue hexagonal snowflake bloomed beneath his feet, and the aura around him shifted completely. "Then I have no choice but to kill you."
The moment those words fell, man and demon collided.
Blade-light and fist shadows flashed through the dust stirred by their clash, each impact sending rippling shockwaves through the air.
Tanjiro followed their movements intently. His throat moved unconsciously as he swallowed.
This was the first time since becoming a demon that he had suffered such severe damage. Although the wound had healed quickly, the long-forgotten urge to destroy burned fiercely within his mind.
[Calm down… you have to suppress it.]
[So regeneration consumes this much energy…? I never noticed before because I had never been injured this badly.]
Tanjiro grabbed the front of his clothing. Veins bulged along his forehead and along the sides of his face.
[That demon carries a very strong scent of Kibutsuji Muzan. I have to help… I can't leave Rengoku-san to face him alone.]
[Control yourself, Tanjiro. Just like all the times you controlled your hunger before. You must fight for your family.]
[Focus. Focus even more. Use your breathing properly.]
[You can do this, Tanjiro.]
While Tanjiro struggled to suppress the boiling destructive impulse within him, the battle between Rengoku and Akaza grew increasingly fierce.
"What beautiful movements!" Akaza grinned broadly as his fists rained down relentlessly toward Rengoku. "Among the Hashira I've killed before, there's never been a Flame Hashira! And none have ever accepted my invitation! Even the ones who answered only tried to use underhanded tricks. Pathetic people, unworthy of the stage! Why do you think that is, Kyojuro?"
Rengoku ignored him completely. He simply swung his blade, orange-red flames surging along its edge like living fire as he blocked Akaza's relentless attacks.
But Rengoku's indifference only made Akaza more excited.
"As fellow seekers of martial arts, I truly cannot understand it!" he exclaimed. "Only those who are chosen can become demons! Do you know how painful it is to watch people with such incredible talent slowly wither away in such an ugly way? I truly feel sorry for them!"
"No… I can't tolerate it!" Akaza's eyes gleamed with intensity. "After all, Kyojuro—you should die while you are still young and strong! Destructive Death: Air Type!"
His speed was almost impossible to follow.
Six fierce shockwaves of punching force blasted toward Rengoku at once.
Just as the attack reached him, Rengoku rotated his blade and unleashed a diagonal spinning slash. Orange-red flames erupted along the sword, forming a roaring vortex of fire that intercepted all six attacks.
At the same moment, Rengoku made his decision.
His feet drove forward explosively as he closed the distance with Akaza in an instant, his blade sweeping upward from below in a powerful strike.
"What incredible reaction speed!" Akaza bent backward to the extreme, narrowly avoiding the slash. His grin widened further as his assaults grew even more ferocious. "Your swordsmanship is just as brilliant! But all of this will eventually abandon you as you grow old, Kyojuro! Don't you regret it?!"
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of the natural order!" Rengoku's voice remained firm as he fought. "That is the way things should be! Even if I fall, more outstanding people will rise to take my place! Since ancient times, this is how the world has always turned!"
"You're wrong!" Akaza roared. "The weak are not worthy of leaving any trace of themselves!"
"The efforts and struggles of others are not things you have the right to belittle!" Rengoku's blade ignited once more. "Flame Breathing: Third Form — Blazing Universe!"
The blade descended in a blaze of flames.
Rengoku saw the tip of his sword carve through pale skin, exposing the organs beneath. He knew this was a perfect opportunity.
In that instant, his breathing reached its absolute peak.
His shoulder muscles drove his arm forward, the arm guiding the wrist. The blade that had just completed its downward strike flipped upward in a smooth, ingenious motion.
The blade thrust toward Akaza's neck through the opening in his chest.
"Destructive Death—Chaotic Type!"
Countless fists shot forward at incredible speed, all striking the same point.
But they were not aimed at the blade driving toward his neck.
Instead—
They targeted Rengoku's left shoulder.
Akaza had chosen to endure the incoming strike and counterattack directly.
At such close range, Rengoku had no way to dodge. But he showed no fear.
Trading injuries would only place him at a greater disadvantage, but the demon before him moved with terrifying speed. If he lost this chance, the longer the fight dragged on, the worse his position would become.
Then—
At that critical moment—
Rengoku felt warm blood splash across his face. He also felt the faint vibration of his blade slicing through flesh and scraping against bone.
The night sky above suddenly flared with light.
Crimson flames illuminated the faces of both combatants, freezing them in surprise.
But none of that held his attention.
His eyes were fixed entirely on the figure descending from the sky.
Tanjiro.
His once youthful frame had grown noticeably taller. The flame-like mark on his face had spread further, crawling down his neck and disappearing somewhere beneath his clothes.
The ferocious, almost crazed expression on his face bore no resemblance to the gentle boy who had remained kind even after becoming a demon.
Akaza raised a hand and adjusted his partially severed throat.
His golden eyes locked onto Tanjiro.
The demon who had been smiling throughout his battle with Rengoku now wore a dark, displeased expression.
"The timing was good. Your technique is worthy of praise," he said coldly. "But interfering in someone else's fight without permission… that really pisses me off."
Tanjiro didn't respond.
His pupils had shrunk to thin slits as he stared unblinking at Akaza, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
Seeing this, worry crept into Rengoku's expression.
"…Kamado boy?"
But Tanjiro seemed unable to hear him.
The instant Rengoku spoke, it was as if Tanjiro had received some signal.
He bent his knees and slammed his foot into the ground.
The earth shattered beneath him as he shot forward toward Akaza.
His blade erupted in dazzling crimson flames, the strike sweeping forward like a blazing dragon.
Seeing Tanjiro charge in, Akaza's anger surged even higher.
He didn't dodge.
He met the attack head-on.
But Tanjiro had clearly anticipated this.
He drew a deep breath and twisted his body, shifting the blow that had been aimed at his heart toward his side.
Akaza's strike blasted a massive wound into Tanjiro's ribs—
But at the same time, Tanjiro's blade sliced into Akaza.
When the flaming blade cut into his flesh, the pain immediately felt different.
Normally, it was only the sensation of flesh being split by steel.
But now—
A strange burning sensation clung to the wound and refused to fade.
Akaza's expression darkened instantly.
The muscles in his arm tightened as he unleashed a devastating punch, sending Tanjiro flying.
Everything happened in a flash.
Akaza glanced down at the faint crimson flames still burning along his wound. His expression turned grim as he raised his hand and sliced away the entire section of flesh.
Only then did he look toward Tanjiro, who had been blasted away.
The veins at his temples bulged.
"Nothing but petty tricks…" he said coldly. "You people really know how to make me angry."