Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Clang! Clang!
The two figures were constantly flashing and shuttling through the dust and mist.
Every now and then, sparks would fly out from their encounter.
"...can't keep up!"
Kyojuro stood there in a daze, gripping his Nichirin blade tightly in his hands as his eyes kept trying to follow the two swordsmen. Cold sweat dripped down from his forehead.
This is the strength of the Upper Moon One!
And...
Kyojuro's gaze fell on Tanjuro, who kept parrying Kokushibo's attacks.
The real strength of a Hashira!
'To think... there is such a big difference in our strength!' Kyojuro's eyes lit up as he realized.
He wanted to go there and help the fighting, but he knew that with his speed, he couldn't cause damage effectively.
On the contrary, it will only hold them back.
'How frustrating!'
'Effort is not enough!'
Even so, Kyojuro could never let Tanjuro fight against an Upper Moon One alone.
Thus, he waited and waited...and waited for the one chance to strike!
As a backup, he also sends away his kasugai crow to find other members of the Corps and inform them of the situation. He also ordered them to return to HQ to bring back this intelligence.
Mirroring Kyojuro's decision, Mitsuri is hiding herself in the ruins while holding the last bomb in her hands. Occasionally, she poked out her head to see the state of the battle with Kokushibo.
She looked down at the countdown of the bomb, her forehead covered in sweat.
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Fortunately, during the time Tanjuro and Kyojuro eliminated the Lower Moon Two, the rest of the squads were successful in removing the bombs scattered in the city.
And all that's left is the bomb in Mitsuri's hands.
However, the members looked at each other in disbelief as they heard the news about their mission progress from Kyojuro's crow.
"Caw! Upper Moon One has appeared!"
"Stay where you are! Caw!"
"!!!"
"An Upper Moon One?"
"How could it be..."
"...why would an Upper Moon One appear here?!"
Someone said in surprise.
"Remain calm, everyone."
"We know that an Upper Moon demons could appear anywhere, right?"
Some people were more composed as they rallied the members together.
"We've been training for so long, and we still haven't been put to real use."
"In the end, we'll only be a burden to Rengoku-sama and Kamado-sama."
He lowered his head in shame as he tightly clenched his cloth.
The rest of the teams also lowered their heads.
"... so we're staying put, right?"
"...then, who's going to notify headquarters?"
One of the senior members frowned as he rolled his eyes hearing those questions.
Smack!
"Ow!"
He raised his hand and chopped the man asking those questions hard in the middle of his head.
"Idiot!"
"Is your crow just a decoration!?"
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Clang!
Sparks flew as Kokushibo's blade collided with Tanjuro's once again.
After the collision, Kokushibo jumped back and landed in the ruins not far away, instantly widening the distance between them.
He kept his blade steady in front of him. His dark red hair fluttered slightly, and his six eyes looked at Tanjuro thoughtfully.
'So that's how it is...'
His gaze landed on the black blade, Kusabimaru, in Tanjuro's hand.
'This man... can also see the world.'
'Using Transparent World vision... he accurately judged my attacks and parried them away with ease.'
'This disgusting feeling of being unable to cut through no matter how hard I swing my sword...'
'What an incredible find... and yet...'
Kokushibo was getting excited at the thought of a proper challenge to his swordsmanship. White steam was puffing out from the corner of his mouth.
'Since you can keep up...'
'...Let's see how you handle this!'
Whoosh!
Kokushibo's figure turned into shadows and dread as he rushed in with speed toward Tanjuro.
A gust of wind and debris accompanied him as he appeared in front of Tanjuro at a speed he had never shown before with his blade raised high in the sky, moonlight glinting along the blade.
Kokushibo's eyes were fixed on Kusabimaru!
'I'll break your sword first!'
Tanjuro stared at Kokushibo's movements, observing the tension of his muscles and the angle of his swing.
Although Kokushibo's feints were masterful, under the Transparent World, Tanjuro already guessed his intentions.
'Breaking Kusabimaru??'
Tanjuro quickly raised his blade to block!
Instead of continuing his swing, Kokushibo shifted his wrist slightly so his swing aimed at the blade on its side.
That's right! Kusabimaru is being struck on its side to break it!
Tanjuro kept his calm and allowed Kokushibo to commit.
Generally speaking, katana are easier to break if you strike them from the side.
An appropriate force and technique must be applied to succeed in depriving your enemy of their best weapon.
TRANG!!
Kokushibo's blade chopped down heavily with powerful force on Kusabimaru!
A stronger sound from the striking metals rang out as Tanjuro absorbed all the force through his body and downward to his feet.
Causing dust to be stirred up between them.
In the midst of this, Kokushibo's eyes widened in shock as he felt it.
The strike from his blade didn't shatter his opponent's sword!
SKREEEE!
The expected broken Kusabimaru took the hit like a champ and used Kokushibo's blade as its slide straight from the blade to his hand holding the hilt.
Sparks and screeching iron sounds were heard sharply through the ears.
Tanjuro took a step forward with his left leg, twisted his waist, and transferred the force through his arms! Sneaking in an attack after a parry!
Taking advantage of the opening Kokushibo gives after exerting his strength and his unstable emotions.
"Hiss—!"
)—Sun Breathing Twelfth Form—(
)—Enbu!—(
(tr Flame Dance)
Hot, dazzling flames burst out in an instant as it surged along the blade.
Puchi!
Tanjuro's first strike entered Kokushibo's arm that he uses to swing his sword.
Scarlet blood spurted from the wound.
Tanjuro held the hilt of Kusabimaru tightly as he went and executed the second swing of his technique. He uses his whole body weight to press his blade upward.
The flame-wrapped Kusabimaru burned and cut through Kokushibo's arm from his wrist all the way to his neck.
Kokushibo's face twisted ferociously as he saw the trajectory of the blade. Angry veins burst out as he endured the pain of the sun on his body.
He could feel it... He knew if this strike landed, he would perish in a single strike!
His golden pupils shrank with fear. He snarled as his sharp fang protruded from his mouth.
He didn't accept this! He refuses!!!
ROARR!!
Kokushibo let out a primal roar; thick saliva burst out from his mouth as he struggled and shook off his fear!
Snick!
Kusabimaru traveled upward as Tanjuro delivered the killing blow.
Thump!
However, instead of a head, an arm, or half an arm that was cut between the middle finger and the ring finger fell to the ground.
Kokushibo retreats instantly from Tanjuro's range.
He clutched his right arm and jumped back to the corner of the street.