Horitake and Akaza, both brimming with exhilaration, unleashed their ultimate techniques against each other!
Destructive Death: Chaos Form, cloaked in roaring blue aura, surged toward Horitake with relentless speed, a barrage of strikes that seemed intent on pulverizing him into mincemeat!
Thunderclap One Hundred Eight Flashes, wreathed in flickering purple lightning, struck at Akaza with blistering frequency, an impenetrable storm of slashes that threatened to carve him into a pile of shredded flesh!
When both sides struck, neither yielded an inch—each blow was a merciless vow to bring the other to their knees!
This was the kind of life-or-death duel that set blood ablaze! Terrifying, gripping, and impossible to look away from!
Countless aura-charged punches and lightning-infused slashes collided between Akaza and Horitake, each fist meeting each blade in a nullifying clash, every burst of aura crashing against every bolt of lightning.
Amid the deafening roars, their clashing techniques struck nearly a hundred times in an instant! The sheer force of their onslaught triggered violent shockwaves and tremors that shook the earth.
The house around them crumbled under the ferocity of their collision, collapsing in a cascade of explosions.
The commotion drew the attention of everyone—human and demon alike—on the battlefield nearby.
As the shattered remains of the house scattered, the onlookers caught a clear glimpse of Horitake and Akaza's clash.
Their exchange was relentless, dazzling, overwhelming—a heart-pounding spectacle that left all who witnessed it in awe! Anyone who saw their terrifying combat couldn't help but feel a twinge of inferiority.
The swordsmen, inspired by Horitake's valor, gripped their Nichirin Blades tighter and fought with renewed ferocity.
Muichiro Tokito paid little heed to the spectacle, his focus razor-sharp on slaying his own foe.
Tengen Uzui, stunned by the sheer magnitude of the battle, let out a boisterous laugh. "That's Horitake for you!" he roared, diving into his own fight with even greater vigor.
Meanwhile, Horitake and Akaza continued their relentless clash.
Thunderclap One Hundred Eight Flashes had already been unleashed in a single breath, but Horitake wasn't done. He seamlessly transitioned into Thunderclap Three Hundred Sixty-Five Flashes, then Thunderclap One Thousand One Flashes, ensuring Akaza, his "client," was thoroughly satisfied!
And Akaza was satisfied! To think someone could match him blow for blow without faltering!
How long had it been since he'd faced such an opponent? Akaza's blood boiled with exhilaration.
Pounding forward with Chaos Form, he shouted, "This is amazing! Absolutely amazing! This straightforward, all-out battle is perfection! You, warrior—tell me your name! I, Akaza, don't kill nameless foes!"
Horitake drew back his blade, poised for action. "Listen well, Akaza! I am Horitake, Heavenly Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps! Gale Swordsmanship: Steel-Cutting Flash!"
The purple lightning dissipated, replaced by a howling gale that surged with ferocious intensity!
Seizing the moment, Horitake unleashed the razor-sharp Steel-Cutting Flash, aiming straight for Akaza's neck! The strike was too swift, too fierce—no ordinary demon could hope to block it.
But Akaza was no ordinary demon. From the outset, he had activated his Blood Demon Art, Destructive Death: Compass Needle.
This was the core of Akaza's technique, allowing him to sense his opponent's aura like a compass, making his attacks and evasions as precise as if drawn by a magnet.
Thus, he detected Horitake's Steel-Cutting Flash.
Shocked by the move's lethal speed, Akaza instinctively ducked and retreated, narrowly dodging the strike at the last possible moment.
But he didn't escape entirely unscathed—Horitake's Radiance grazed Akaza's neck, leaving a shallow cut.
Unfortunately, Horitake had switched to Gale Swordsmanship, which lacked the lightning of Thunder Breathing. Without the lightning's suppressing effect, the wound offered no lasting damage.
Akaza laughed heartily, wiping the cut on his neck, which healed instantly. "Hahaha! Well done, Horitake! Let's keep going—today, it's you or me!"
"Likewise, Third Brother," Horitake replied coolly. "I intend to grant you release!"
Akaza charged forward with a wild laugh, his fist, brimming with blue aura, hurtling toward Horitake once more.
Horitake calmly raised his blade, shimmering with purple lightning, and parried the punch with Radiance's flat! But what happened next caught Akaza off guard.
Using the recoil from Akaza's punch, Horitake, arcs of purple electricity crackling around him, glided backward with uncanny grace, swiftly putting distance between them.
Akaza's brow furrowed in frustration. "Don't run!"
No sooner had he spoken than he unleashed Destructive Death: Chaos Form again, this time as a ranged assault. A barrage of blue aura blasted toward Horitake from afar, relentless and unyielding.
Horitake, anticipating this, swung his blade forward with Thunderclap Three Hundred Sixty-Five Flashes.
This time, he too fought from a distance, each swing unleashing a razor-sharp bolt of lightning!
In the past, Horitake couldn't have managed such precision—the control required over lightning was too immense. But now, his mastery was flawless, allowing him to effortlessly launch ranged lightning attacks.
Lightning and aura collided in a cataclysmic explosion, the shockwaves and roars filling the air with smoke and dust.
"Thunder Breathing: Second Form—Chidori!"
A fierce shout cut through the chaos. Purple lightning flared brilliantly, shrieking like a thousand birds in a piercing cacophony!
Akaza, startled by the sound, saw Horitake burst through the dust, his blade charged with crackling, explosive purple lightning!
Radiance, imbued with Chidori, surged forward in a devastating thrust, Horitake's eyes blazing with intent as he aimed straight for Akaza's throat!
Akaza sensed the lethal danger of the strike. He knew he couldn't let it hit his throat.
The distance between them was mere inches.
Time for Akaza to react was running out.
His face hardened, and he retreated swiftly, his aura-wreathed hands roaring as they reached to seize the oncoming Chidori! Horitake pressed his advantage, thrusting forward with relentless force!
As Akaza backpedaled, his hands strained to clamp down on Chidori, using his aura to suppress the assault!
Thus, Akaza retreated, and Horitake advanced, their clash demolishing everything in their path—a house reduced to rubble, a tree toppled, a boulder shattered. Wherever they went, destruction followed.
I can't keep retreating like this! Akaza thought, gritting his teeth in frustration.
His aura-clad hands gripped Chidori tightly. With a thunderous roar, he twisted and hurled Chidori, Radiance, and Horitake himself aside!
The force was immense, sending Horitake spinning through the air!
Mid-flight, Horitake adjusted his stance with practiced ease, landing steadily on his feet.
But in doing so, he landed with his back to Akaza.
Akaza seized the opportunity. "Destructive Death: Air Form!"
With a bellow, Akaza unleashed a flurry of six punches into the air, so fast they were nearly invisible, each strike aimed directly at Horitake's vulnerable back!
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