louisehourcade Chapter 168 Become a Ghost
Chapter 168 Become a Ghost
Before Kyojuro could finish speaking, a heart-wrenching cry, filled with endless pain and anger, burst from Nezuko's mouth, echoing throughout the silent wilderness.
The cries pierced the night, carrying endless heartache and hatred, striking every inch of air. Even the howling cold wind seemed to be stunned by this extreme emotion, suddenly becoming stagnant.
The aura around Mizuko began to surge wildly, and the Nichirin Blade she held in her palm also trembled violently.
She stared intently at Tanjiro, who was battered and on the verge of death amidst the smoke and dust. She watched as her brother lost both arms, half of his head collapsed, and he clung to life by the last vestige of his will.
The tenderness in his heart turned into a raging fire, and his aura became extremely sharp, without the slightest hesitation.
Nenezuko gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly, channeling all her grief and power into the blade.
"Rainbow Breathing - First Form - Rainbow Dance Flash!"
The next second, a dazzling rainbow of light, accompanied by lightning, streaked across the darkness like a shooting star, hurtling towards Akaza at an incredible speed that was impossible for the naked eye to perceive.
Seeing this, Kyojuro's heart sank, and his expression became even more solemn.
He knew all too well the terror of the Upper Moon of the Twelve Demon Moons. For thousands of years, countless swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps had tried and failed to kill an Upper Moon.
Every Upper Moon demon possesses strength that overwhelms Pillar-level swordsmen and incredible regenerative abilities.
At this moment, Midouzi was blinded by rage and made a rash attack, which would be tantamount to suicide.
No, we absolutely cannot let her face Upper Moon Three alone. We must protect her, and Tanjiro too!
The thought vanished in an instant. Without the slightest hesitation, Kyojuro transformed into a blazing fire rainbow and sped off in pursuit of Mizuko's figure.
In the center of the battlefield, Akaza slowly turned his head after hearing Mizuko's heart-wrenching roar, his golden pupils sweeping toward the source of the sound.
Looking at the rainbow-colored Nidouzi, he slightly curled his lips, a hint of casual surprise in his expression, and muttered to himself.
"Huh? A woman?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt an extremely dangerous aura rushing towards him, so fast that it made his nerves tense instantly.
Blood Demon Art: Destruction Kill: Compass Needle immediately activated, snowflake patterns flashing rapidly beneath his feet, precisely locking onto the incoming fatal attack.
Akaza's eyes instantly lost all contempt, replaced by an even stronger excitement for battle.
He suddenly shifted his body to the side, moving with an uncanny speed that defied the limits of human endurance, barely managing to dodge the incredibly fast rainbow light.
The rainbow light grazed his neck and struck the ground behind him, instantly creating a deep trench. The aftershocks of the lightning scattered, sending dirt flying everywhere, its power terrifying.
Akaza steadied himself, looked at the spot where Nezuko's attack had landed, and then looked at Nezuko, whose aura was surging. His eyes were full of fervent admiration, and his tone was excited.
"That's amazing! Such a fast and fierce attack, the technique is exquisite. Are you a Pillar too?"
He had seen countless Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, but he had never seen such a rapid breathing technique, which made him extremely excited.
But the moment he finished speaking, an intensely hot flame, carrying the oppressive power to burn everything, suddenly attacked him from behind. Without any warning, it was extremely domineering and locked onto his entire body.
A deep and resonant voice, accompanied by raging flames, boomed behind him.
"Flame Breathing - First Form - Shiranui!"
Shockingly, Akaza showed no panic in the face of this deadly attack from behind; instead, his excitement only intensified.
He reacted extremely quickly, turning around abruptly. Without drawing his sword or dodging, he simply raised his arm and used his flesh and blood to block the scorching blade.
The blade slashed deep into his arm, black ghost blood gushing out instantly, flames scorching his flesh.
But he didn't even frown; instead, his tone became increasingly excited.
"Oh? It's the Flame Pillar! This is the first time I've encountered the Flame Pillar in hundreds of years!"
Kyojuro withdrew his Nichirin Blade and watched as Akaza's wound on his arm healed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, feeling the power of this Upper Moon Three more clearly than ever before.
His full power of Flame Breathing First Form only caused him minor flesh wounds, failing to inflict even fatal damage. The Upper Moon's strength was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.
"Your swordsmanship far surpasses that of ordinary swordsmen, and your battle aura, honed through countless trials, has reached the pinnacle of human swordsmanship. State your name!"
Akaza shook Hei's arm, his golden pupils fixed on Kyojuro, his tone full of recognition and expectation for the strongman.
He could sense through the Destruction Killing Needle that Kyojuro's aura was deep and resilient.
He had nowhere to dodge that attack except to take it head-on.
He could only rely on the demon's extraordinary regenerative abilities to withstand it; such a powerful being was a rare find for him in hundreds of years.
"My name is Kyojuro Rengoku, and I am the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Kyojuro gripped the burning Nichirin Blade tightly, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his voice loud and firm, without any concealment.
Faced with Akaza, a worthy opponent, he showed him the minimum respect due to a Pillar.
"My name is Akaza."
Akaza readily gave his name, his eyes filled with eagerness as he looked at Kyojuro, his tone conveying a sincere desire to win him over.
"Kyojuro, your swordsmanship is superb, and your fighting spirit has reached its peak. Just one more step, and you will step into the highest realm of martial arts. However, the human body has its limits; lifespan is short, and strength is finite. Become a demon! Become a demon, and you will gain eternal life and unlimited growth potential. Let us hone our martial arts together and step into the highest realm!"
He genuinely acknowledged Kyojuro's strength and longed for such a powerful figure to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts together, no longer confined by the human body.
In his view, Kyojuro's decision to give up becoming a demon and continue as a short-lived human swordsman was a huge waste of his talent.
Upon hearing this, Kyojuro frowned, his eyes instantly sharpened, and his tone became unwavering.
"Didn't you hear my introduction clearly? I am the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, and there's absolutely no way I could become a demon!"
"That's such a shame!"
Upon hearing this, Akaza's eagerness instantly turned into deep disappointment. He shook his head gently, his tone full of regret.
Such a top-tier powerhouse, yet he insisted on standing on the opposite side of himself, determined to be a short-lived human being—this was the outcome he least wanted to see.
As soon as he finished speaking, Akaza's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his ghostly aura surged instantly.
He sensed the fierce aura attacking from behind again, turned around abruptly, and precisely grasped the Nichirin Blade that Nezuko was slashing down on again, the blade embedding itself in his palm.
But he remained unmoved, looking at the furious, bloodshot-eyed Mizuko before him, his tone indifferent yet carrying an overwhelming sense of power:
"Your swordsmanship is also superb, and your speed is exceptional, it's just a pity..."
Before he could finish speaking, Akaza suddenly exerted his strength, his arms suddenly straining to throw Kyojuro and Nezuko aside.
The immense force sent both of them staggering backward several steps.
Kyojuro steadied himself, shielding Nezuko behind him, and unleashed a wall of flames around himself to block Akaza's oppressive aura.
Akaza took a step back, his feet firmly planted on the ground, the snowflake patterns under his feet fully unfolded, and the blue patterns around his body gleamed with a cold light.
His hands assumed an extremely aggressive stance, his golden pupils blazed with battle fervor, his demonic aura was condensed to its peak, and his voice was low and sharp, announcing the arrival of an even stronger attack:
"Destruction Kill - Air Style!"
"Destruction Kill - Air Style!"
Akaza's low shout was like a cold thunderclap, echoing through the silent wilderness and causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly.
The moment he finished speaking, the invisible ghostly energy around him, which had been condensed to the extreme, suddenly erupted. There were no sharp fist shadows, no ear-piercing sound of air being torn apart.
Even though no attack trajectory could be seen, a suffocating pressure instantly enveloped the entire battlefield.
Countless invisible and intangible condensed fist winds swept towards Rengoku Kyojuro and Nezuko like a torrential downpour.
This is a more terrifying move than Destruction Kill: Chaos Style.
Each invisible fist wind is compressed to the extreme, making it more powerful, faster, and more penetrating. Each strike contains terrifying power that can easily shatter human bones and tear flesh apart.
The true strength of the Upper Moon Three, which had been dormant for a century, was now revealed without reservation.
"Be careful!"
Kyojuro's expression changed drastically, his previously composed demeanor instantly becoming extremely serious.
Almost instinctively, he forcefully shielded Midouzi behind him, his broad back firmly blocking the incoming attack.
He instantly pushed his Breath of Flame to its limit, and crimson-gold flames surged from his body, rising wildly along the Nichirin Blade.
He swiftly twisted his wrist, transforming his Nichirin Blade into an impenetrable wall of fire. The raging flames burned fiercely, forming a solid barrier that stood firmly in front of the two, desperately resisting the unseen, deadly attacks.
"Clang clang clang—bang bang bang—"
The extremely dense and continuous sounds of impact echoed across the wilderness, like a sudden downpour striking a rock.
The blazing flames and the invisible force of the fists collided violently, each clash unleashing a burst of violent air currents that swept outwards, raising clouds of dust and grass, enveloping the two figures within them.
Kyojuro felt a series of tearing pains in his arm. His thumb and forefinger were numb from the force of the impact, almost splitting open. His fingers, gripping the hilt of the sword, turned white, and his bones throbbed as if they would shatter at any moment.
He could clearly feel that with each block, a force far exceeding a thousand pounds surged wildly into the blade, rushing down his arm and into his internal organs, causing his blood to churn and his throat to taste sweet.
The power of these invisible attacks far exceeded that of any evil spirits he had encountered before.
Mizuko, who was being tightly protected behind him, watched Kyojuro's trembling back as he endured the attack alone, and her heart was filled with anxiety and guilt.
She bit her lip tightly, her small hand gripping the Nichirin Blade so hard that her knuckles turned white. She was determined not to let Kyojuro put himself in danger to protect her.
She took a deep breath, channeling all her grief and resentment into power. The seven-colored rainbow light surged again along the Nichirin Blade, and her figure instantly transformed into a streak of light, bursting out from behind Kyojuro, disregarding her own safety, and heading straight for Akaza.
She lightly touched the ground with her feet, her figure as fast as a ghost, and circled around to Akaza's side. Without the slightest hesitation, she poured all her strength into the blade and unleashed her fastest strike once again.
"Rainbow Breathing - First Form - Rainbow Dance Flash!"
A rainbow of light, accompanied by faint flashes of lightning, once again pierced the darkness, faster and more fierce than before, heading straight for Akaza's neck with a resolute determination to destroy everything.
Akaza merely glanced at it indifferently, but his Blood Demon Art: Compass instantly sensed the danger. He slightly shifted his body and dodged the fatal blow with extreme ease, without the slightest panic or even using his full strength.
He turned around, his golden pupils landing on Midouzi. There was no murderous intent in his eyes, but rather a genuine appreciation. He spoke in a calm tone.
"You're faster than before, and your swordsmanship is better than your brother's."
He paused, looking at Mi Douzi's angry little face, but still with a hint of trying to win her over, his tone sincere.
"Become a ghost, just like your brother!"
Throughout the entire ordeal, Akaza never intended to kill Mizuko.
Whether it was his previous parry or his current dodge, even though he had countless opportunities to easily hit Midouzi and cause fatal damage, he would subconsciously withdraw most of his strength, merely knocking her back rather than killing her.
Kyojuro noticed this obvious discrimination and a deep sense of doubt welled up in his heart, causing him to furrow his brows.
[He...deliberately held back on the beans roasting in the stove? Why is that?]
Kyojuro was completely baffled.
Before he could think it through, Akaza's excited voice rang in his ears, and a terrifying pressure emanating from him instantly locked onto him.
"Come on, Kyojuro, let me see your superb martial arts skills. Don't disappoint me!"
Akaza's figure vanished suddenly, moving so fast that only a pink afterimage remained. He rushed straight towards Kyojuro, his demonic aura surging, and his battle frenzy erupted completely.
Kyojuro snapped back to his senses and abruptly turned to look at Mizuko, wanting to confirm her safety. But this one glance made his heart sink and his pupils suddenly contract.
Nezuko's Nichirin Blade was broken, and Akaza blasted her away.
"Don't get distracted, Kyojuro."
Akaza's voice suddenly rang in my ears, carrying a cold reminder, with no hint of mockery in his tone, only a serious admonition.
"If you get distracted while fighting me, you'll die."
Kyojuro snapped back to reality, immediately focusing his attention on Akaza in front of him, no longer caring about anything else.
He knew that only by defeating Upper Moon Three could he protect Nezuko, Tanjiro, and all the evacuated passengers.
As the Flame Pillar, he absolutely cannot fall here.
"Flame Breathing - Second Form - Rising Flames!"
Kyojuro launched the first attack, his Nichirin Blade slashing down from above, unleashing a blazing sword light that shot into the sky. The sword energy was immense and incredibly hot, aimed directly at Akaza's face.
Akaza's eyes narrowed, and he lightly stepped forward, his body nimbly dodging. At the same time, he unleashed an invisible fist wind that collided with the fiery blade light, and the shockwave exploded once again.
The two instantly became entangled in combat, with Kyojuro's Flame Breathing techniques proving incredibly powerful.
Each move carries the heat of burning everything, the sword strikes are steady and domineering, showcasing the Flame Pillar's strength to the fullest.
Wherever the Nichirin Blade passed, the air was scorched and distorted, and the flames illuminated the night. The moves were seamlessly connected, without the slightest flaw.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form: All-Encompassing Flame!"
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Kyojuro constantly changed his moves, the flames transforming into fierce tigers and raging storms, overwhelming Akaza with their attacks.
Kakaza's movements were too elusive. His Destruction Killing Compass could always sense the trajectory of the attack in advance, allowing him to dodge with ease. At the same time, he continuously unleashed invisible fist winds, making his counterattacks increasingly fierce.
His fists had no physical form, yet each strike was incredibly powerful. Kyojuro could only keep swinging his sword to defend himself, and the excruciating pain in his arm grew stronger and stronger. His tiger's mouth had already split open, and blood was slowly dripping down the hilt of the sword.
"Not enough, Kyojuro, make your strength stronger and your speed faster!"
Akaza dodged and shouted excitedly, his eyes full of enjoyment of the battle.
"Unleash your full power and show me just how far human swordsmen can go!"
Faced with Akaza's provocation, Kyojuro remained silent, only clenching his teeth and pushing his Flame Breathing to its limit, causing the flames around his body to blaze even more fiercely.
Even though they were sore all over and their strength was constantly waning, they did not back down in the slightest.
With each swing of his sword, he exerted all his strength. Even if he couldn't inflict fatal damage on Akaza, he was constantly searching for his opponent's weaknesses. Upper Moon demons have extremely strong regenerative abilities, and only by delivering a devastating blow could he have a chance of victory.
The battle between the two intensified, their figures moving so fast that they were invisible to the naked eye, flames and invisible ghostly energy colliding constantly.
The entire wilderness was swept up by the aftershocks of the battle; the ground was cracked, trees were snapped in half, and dust filled the air.
Akaza's attacks grew increasingly fierce, and the invisible fist winds of the Destruction Killing Void Style became more and more dense.
Kyojuro's defense gradually showed weaknesses. His shoulders and arms were hit by invisible fist winds one after another, and the sound of bones breaking could be heard from time to time. Blood soaked through his team uniform.
But he still gripped the Nichirin Blade tightly, without taking a single step back.
"Kyojuro, you are very strong, but the human body has its limits!"
Akaza looked at Kyojuro, who was covered in wounds but remained unyielding, and his tone was full of regret.
"If this continues, you'll be worn down to death and become a ghost. I don't want to lose an opponent like you!"
"I am the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, and I will never yield to demons!"
Kyojuro roared and charged forward again, his sword still blazing, his will still unwavering.
"I will protect everyone, and I will cut you down with my sword. This is my mission!"