Puchi!
Red blood splattered across the street.
As Hantengu's body was torn apart, strands of blood lines spread wildly from the wound and formed a new granulation.
"Grahh!!"
A new head popped out of his broken neck and was promptly torn off to regenerate another body in midair.
Thump.
When the head finally hit the ground, both his body and his head instantly formed two different demons.
The reborn bodies of Hantengu slowly stand up. This one held a golden tin staff in his hand; his face reflected his thunderous emotion of rage.
"Disgusting!"
The demon with the word '怒' (Anger) engraved on his tongue gritted his teeth as he looked to his side.
He was tall with a lean, muscular build, dark spiky hair that went past his shoulders, and clothing that was similar to Hantengu's.
To its right, he watched as another demon formed, holding a yellow-green fan. He has a similar build to his fellow demon but different kanji on his tongue that says '楽' (Pleasure).
"Isn't this fun, Sekido? It's been so long since we've been separated~"
"Shut up, Karaku!"
Sekido glared at the happy smiling Karaku squatting beside him. Sekido thumped the staff in his hand on the ground.
"They know of the existence of the main body, and I am extremely angry!!"
"It's fine~" Karaku stood up, his mouth smiling so wide that it split his face in two. He idly waved his fan around.
"Our mission is the same: to destroy the Swordsmith village!"
"Even a Hashira... when they have no sword, is just an ordinary human."
The two demons readied themselves for confrontation.
Tanjuro stared at the direction of Hantengu's main body fleeing the scene. His perception with the Transparent World easily keeps track of the demon/demons in front of him.
Even with his vision being obscured by the smoke and dust from Sekido's staff.
The very small figure that was running away, quickly shuffling through the nooks and crannies of houses.
Tanjuro finally switched his attention to Sekido and Karaku.
He had seen enough.
"It is as you say."
Gyomei straightened his posture, sensing the flow of the surrounding aura. His head tilted toward the residence of the village chief.
"We don't need to pay too much attention to these two demons; we just need to focus on finding the main body."
"Indeed." Tanjuro replied beside him.
Click.
He raised Kusabimaru and pointed in the direction of Hantengu's main body hiding place.
"It's over there."
"...Huh?" Gyomei was confused at the fast and sudden finding of Hantengu.
However,
Whoosh!
A strong current of wind suddenly tore through the dust and fog. Huge wind pressure swept across the entire street, rushing toward the two Hashira.
HYUUU!!
Earth, dust, pebbles, and wooden houses were easily blown away like they were made of feathers.
"Kehahahaha!" Karaku laughed and waved his fan with effort. He jumped back with all his might as gusts of strong wind were constantly fanned out.
Tanjuro immediately stabbed his sword into the ground and squinted his eyes to resist the strong wind.
The range and pressure of this wind were too strong for him to dodge. If he jumped up, he would probably be blown far away.
Whoosh!
Which is exactly what happened to Gyomei, though he didn't resist the current at all. Instead, the man spread his arms.
With the help from Karaku's wind, Gyomei took off in a certain direction.
Tanjuro tilted his head subconsciously.
Because the direction that Gyomei went to was the chief village residence.
Along with his recently forged Nichirin blade.
'I see...'
Tanjuro turned his attention back as he understood Gyomei's intention.
While Gyomei went to retrieve his Nichirin blade, Tanjuro would have to hold the line against the demons first.
After the wind pressure let up, Tanjuro straightened up and locked gaze with Karaku, who was hovering in the air with the help of his fan. The demon seems to laugh happily.
But...
Click.
He gripped Kusabimaru tightly as his attention focused on the main body of Hantengu, who was still running and twisting between the houses.
—Fighting a defensive battle was easy, for he is the master of parry!
Tanjuro stepped forward with his right foot, his leg muscles tensed as he took in a deep breath, and a large amount of air was sucked into his lungs.
Karaku's wind attack has cleared his vision from the dust and fog, revealing the two demons standing in Tanjuro's way between them and the main body.
No need for tricks.
Just rush over!
White steam escaped from the corners of Tanjuro's mouth, and his eyes were firm with determination.
)—Sun Breathing Ninth Form—(
)—Nichiun no Ryū Kaburimai!—(
(tr. Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance)
Boom!
The scorching sun flame immediately erupted from Kusabimaru. Its heat was burning vigorously. The dazzling blade instantly drew attention from enemies and allies alike as it swung a gorgeous arc toward the two demons.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Tanjuro had already arrived in front of the unprepared Karaku, who had just landed from his floatation, at full blitzing speed.
"Huh?!" Karaku leaned back slightly in surprise. His pupils engraved with the kanji [three] shrank at the man that appeared in the blink of an eye.
'So fast!'
The wrapped sun flame blade was already at his neck.
Karaku glimpsed at the blade and chose not to dodge. The corner of his mouth rose arrogantly. "Hmph."
As the blade he felt was not a Nichirin, he will be fine even if his neck is cut off. In fact, it would have been better if the foolish swordsman had cut off his neck!
Karaku will split off into two more demons.
喜 (Joy) and 哀 (Sorrow).
'How did you deal with the four of us then?'
'Heh, what a stupid guy.'
Karaku looked at Tanjuro with his eyes full of mockery.
Whoosh!
Snick!
But the expected slash did not come, for the trajectory of the blade changed from slicing Karaku's neck to his hand.
It successfully chopped off the hand holding the fan that controls wind!
"What?!" Karaku looked at his right arm in surprise.
Tanjuro clearly remembered that the fan was very important for Karaku to unleash his Blood Demon Arts.
The blood from the severed hand spurted out, with some landing on Tanjuro's face, and the fan fell out of Karaku's hand and hit the ground.
"Karaku!"
"What are you doing standing stupid right there!?"
Seeing this, Sekido exploded with even more anger.
Clang!
The golden tin staff in his hand struck the ground with force. The six rings on the head of the staff immediately crackled, and the smell of rain was thick in the air.
Crack!
Bzzt!
A spark of blue and red lightning flashed from the staff!
Tanjuro didn't let his guard down after cutting off Karaku's hand. He turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of the lightning attack prepared by Sekido.
The word "危." (Danger) flashed above his head.
Goosebumps shivered all over his body as his hair stood up along with a tingling sensation.
Lightning...
Then, without thinking much, as if his body was moved by memory, Tanjuro jumped into the air before the bewildered expression of Karaku and furious face of Sekido.
The six rings on Sekido's staff floated in the air as he unleashed a devastating thunder strike!
Lightning surged out of the staff so strong, and Sekido roared with anger as he let loose and raised his shakujo high.
"GO TO HELL!!"
Kaboom!!
The blue and red lightning of hideous proportion filled the entire field of vision of anyone witnessing their fight. A thunderous sound blared out that deafened the ears.
Tanjuro jumped in midair and felt the flow of time slow down a bit in his perception.
In his mind, the memory of a voice reciting a mantra reminds him.
"A demon once came to Ashina."
"The demon's thunder is the roar of the true god; it cannot be rebounded except with divine tools."
"Thus, without ever touching the ground."
—"Take control of the lightning and immediately return it!"
)—Way of Tomoe – Kaminari Gaeshi!—(