The night air stirred as Horitake stood atop the rooftop, his voice rising and falling with the cadence of his song, lost in a moment of self-indulgence.
Not only were Akaza and the two Lower Moons stunned, but even Tengen Uzui and Muichiro Tokito stood dumbfounded.
Tengen Uzui scratched his head, his face a mix of confusion and awe. "Horitake, what was that you just sang? I couldn't understand a word, but damn, it sounded flashy!"
Horitake chuckled, explaining, "It's Peking opera, an old tune from my hometown. That piece was The Empty City Stratagem. It's about… well, never mind the details. Let's just say I was inspired and let it out."
"Hey, you bastard up there!" Akaza's voice roared from the battlefield below, his teeth grinding with barely contained fury. "That explosion just now—that was you, wasn't it? You've got some nerve ignoring me!"
Horitake shook his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Ignore the great Akaza? Not a chance. Back in my hometown, they call you Third Brother, the true man among demons!"
With a flourish, Horitake cupped his hands toward Akaza below. "I've long heard of Third Brother's unmatched martial prowess. Now that we meet, care to spar?"
Akaza's lips twisted into a feral, unrestrained grin. "If you're begging for death, I'm happy to oblige!"
Horitake smiled, turning to the two Pillars at his side. "The two Lower Moons beside Akaza—I'll leave them to you. No problem, right?"
Tengen Uzui let out a boisterous laugh. "No problem at all!" With that, he drew his blades and charged into the fray.
Muichiro Tokito said nothing, but his actions spoke louder, as he too dashed forward without hesitation.
And so, the battle erupted. Tengen Uzui took on the Lower Moon Six, Kama Nue, while Muichiro Tokito faced the Lower Moon Four, Zero Yuko. The clash of steel and demonic energy thundered across the battlefield.
Horitake watched the chaos unfold, nodding with satisfaction. He had full confidence in the two Pillars. If they couldn't handle a couple of Lower Moons, they might as well retire.
Wait—where was Akaza?
Horitake glanced up just in time to see Akaza launching himself into the air, soaring high above the rooftop. With a savage grin, Akaza raised his right leg, his foot descending like an axe with terrifying force, aimed straight at Horitake's skull!
Boom! The impact echoed like thunder. Akaza's crushing kick sent Horitake plummeting, smashing through the rooftop, through the second floor, and crashing down to the ground level of the house. Akaza followed, maintaining his downward strike, landing with him.
As his feet hit the ground, Akaza's savage grin faltered. Something felt… off. He hadn't felt the satisfying crunch of flesh under his kick.
The dust settled, revealing Horitake standing unscathed before him.
At the critical moment, Horitake had calmly grabbed his sheathed sword, Radiance, and raised it horizontally, perfectly blocking Akaza's devastating kick.
Akaza pressed down with his foot, unrelenting. Horitake held firm, Radiance still sheathed, the two locked in a test of strength amidst the shattered ruins of the house.
Akaza stared at Horitake, whose expression remained impassive yet resolute, capable of withstanding his immense power. Surprise flickered in Akaza's eyes, quickly giving way to exhilaration.
His grin widened, wild and eager. "A worthy opponent! Who the hell are you?"
A spark flashed in Horitake's eyes. In one fluid motion, he drew Radiance, casting the scabbard aside. Lightning crackled along the blade, and with a speed that outpaced thunder, he slashed at Akaza's face!
The strike was too fierce, too fast, too sudden. Akaza's expression shifted, caught off guard. He leaped back two steps, but not quickly enough—a gash opened across his left cheek.
Far from shaken, Akaza's excitement only grew. "Not bad! You've got skill! Who are you?!"
Horitake, still expressionless, pointed at the wound on Akaza's cheek.
Puzzled, Akaza touched his face, feeling the cut… and realized it wasn't healing. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Horitake. "It's you! You're the one Lord Muzan marked for death! They say your lightning can counter us demons, preventing our regeneration. And now I see it's true."
He shook his head, almost regretful. "Such a pity…"
Horitake smirked. "What's so pitiful?"
"A pity I can't invite a warrior like you to become a demon. Lord Muzan's kill order leaves no room for that. So—die!" Akaza's voice roared as he unleashed his technique. "Destructive Death: Compass Needle!"
With a shout, Akaza assumed his stance: right palm extended forward, left fist drawn back to his waist, legs rooted in a powerful horse stance. A surge of blue aura erupted around him, forming a twelve-pointed snowflake array beneath his feet.
Horitake gazed at the snowflake pattern, but instead of excitement or anticipation, he felt only a pang of sorrow. Third Brother, you've forgotten everything, reduced to a machine of battle. Yet the snowflake array at your feet—it's the shape of your fiancée's hairpin from when you were human.
Perhaps today, I can set you free.
Third Brother was a demon Horitake respected, but he had slaughtered countless lives. What he needed wasn't redemption—it was release.
There was no time for sentiment. Akaza, brimming with battle lust, charged forward. His fist, wreathed in roaring aura, thundered toward Horitake's face!
Horitake remained calm, raising Radiance, its blade shimmering with purple lightning. The sword met Akaza's fist with a deafening boom, the clash of fist, blade, and aura reverberating through the ruined house.
Feeling the sheer force of Akaza's punch, Horitake's brow furrowed slightly. As expected of Third Brother—his martial skill is unmatched!
Akaza gave him no time to think. A second fist came hurtling toward Horitake's temple, a blow that could easily shatter his skull.
Horitake met it head-on, slashing with Radiance. The lightning-wreathed blade collided with Akaza's fist in a blinding clash. Boom! Another explosive impact rang out.
Akaza's punch didn't land, and Horitake's slash didn't cut. Despite the lightning coursing through Radiance, no wound appeared on Akaza's fist.
Horitake glanced at Akaza, understanding dawning. "Your aura… such ferocious aura!"
Akaza's every move was cloaked in surging demonic energy, shielding his fists. Horitake's lightning-charged blade had struck only the aura, not Akaza's flesh. To wound him, Horitake would need to pierce that barrier.
As expected, none of the Upper Ranks were pushovers.
Akaza's battle fervor surged higher, his laughter wild as he unleashed another technique. "Destructive Death: Chaos Form!"
Horitake took a deep breath, his voice steady and resolute. "Thunder Breathing: First Form—Thunderclap One Hundred Eight Flashes!"
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