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The final battle erupted—swift as the wind.
Two previous clashes with the Upper Moons: one victory, one defeat.
No time to rest. No chance to breathe.
The third death match between demon slayers and Upper Moons had already begun.
This time, the combatants were—Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka and Tanjiro Kamado versus Upper Rank Three: Akaza!
Thump.
Thump.
A sharp hiss filled the air.
Akaza, Tanjiro's old enemy, dropped down from the sky and landed before him. All across the myriad worlds watching, countless throats tightened, countless gasps echoed.
"What a coincidence—or maybe not. Upper Rank Three, Akaza. Talk about fated enemies, huh? Point meets edge," muttered Reborn in the Hitman Reborn! world, pacifier swinging.
"Akaza—the one who killed Rengoku. Back then, Tanjiro wasn't strong enough. But now… now he's grown. He's fought in two Upper Moon battles already. Things may be different this time," said Kirito, fists clenched, eyes locked on the glowing screen.
"Do it, Tanjiro!"
"You have to win!"
"For Rengoku!"
From Kazuma in Konosuba to Gon in Hunter x Hunter to Naruto in the shinobi world, cheers erupted in unison.
The dazzling clash was about to ignite.
Water Breathing—
Flowing Dance!
Calm Surface Slash!
Water Wheel!
Hinokami Kagura—
Burning Sun!
Rainbow!
Giyu and Tanjiro unleashed their techniques together, blades flashing against Akaza's overwhelming force.
But Akaza never flinched. He welcomed their assault, fists brimming with destructive intent.
"Destructive Death—Compass Needle: Foot Style—Glorious Scattering Light!"
BOOM!
Crash!
Giyu was kicked aside in a thunderous blast. In the next instant, Akaza's follow-up shot straight for Tanjiro.
Hinokami Kagura—Blazing Sun Thrust!
Tanjiro's sword flared with roaring flames, barely holding back Akaza's strike.
"Not bad," Akaza said casually. "To think you could refine your moves this much in such a short time. I'll give you some credit."
Unlike Gyutaro or Gyokko, Akaza wasn't obsessed with bragging—but he did like to talk.
"Rengoku's death that night was a blessing. If he'd lived, he never would've grown stronger. He would've stayed human, chained down by those pitiful, sentimental values—such pointless weakness."
"Shut your mouth! Don't you dare speak about Rengoku!" Tanjiro's voice cut cold, fury burning behind it.
"I'm praising you both," Akaza said flatly. "The only thing I hate is weakness."
"You're wrong, Akaza—completely wrong!" Tanjiro roared. "Even if you don't remember, you were once a baby. You lived because someone protected you, because someone helped you. The strong are meant to protect the weak, and the weak, once they grow, protect those weaker than them. That's the natural order of things!"
Two clashing beliefs.
Two existences that could never coexist.
Only one outcome—battle to the death.
Crash!
The ground split beneath Akaza's fists. His ferocity left Tanjiro struggling, his body riddled with cuts. Even predicting the moves wasn't enough—he couldn't escape injury.
Worse, Akaza's grip locked down Tanjiro's blade. Neither headbutts nor kicks could force him to release it.
Just as Akaza was about to wrench the Nichirin blade from his hands, Giyu rejoined the fray, slicing through Akaza's arms.
Under the crushing pressure of the Upper Rank demon, Giyu's body burned. His pulse surged, his temperature spiked—and a water-blue mark flared across his face.
"The Mark! The Water Hashira has awakened the Demon Slayer Mark! The scales of battle are shifting!" exclaimed Red-Haired Shanks in the One Piece world, eyes gleaming at the spectacle.
With the Mark's power, Giyu's strength soared. For a moment, he fought Akaza evenly, matching blow for blow.
But still—time wasn't on their side.
In a battle of attrition, humans would always lose. Demons didn't tire. And Muzan still awaited them.
Tanjiro knew this better than anyone.
While Giyu held Akaza at bay, Tanjiro's mind spun. He analyzed the demon's technique—his uncanny ability to sense fighting spirit. How to bypass it?
Memories surfaced: a conversation with Inosuke… then the vision of his frail father cleaving down a man-eating bear with a single strike.
That memory unlocked something inside him.
Tanjiro awakened to the Clear World.
And when Akaza lunged to drive his fist through Giyu's gut—Tanjiro struck. He sealed Akaza's combat sense and severed his arm in one clean motion.
"Rrrghhhhhh!"
Across the watching worlds, people erupted:
"He's grown again—unbelievable!"
"That stance, that aura—it's like Yoriichi himself has returned!"
"Akaza looks rattled… he's finally pulling out his ultimate technique!"
Destructive Death—Final Form: Annihilation Type—Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow!!!
Akaza unleashed his strongest move. Even Giyu's ultimate defense with the Mark barely held.
And Tanjiro? Akaza didn't even glance at him, certain he could never withstand it.
But Tanjiro had already stepped beyond. In the Clear World, he slipped past the deadly strike, emerging right behind Akaza.
The crowd held their breath, thinking he'd end it in silence.
Instead—
"Akaza!" Tanjiro roared with raw honesty. "I'm going to cut off your head!!!"
Blade raised high, he launched forward.
Hinokami Kagura—Solar Halo Dragon Dance!!!
Crack!
Akaza's neck split beneath the flaming Nichirin steel.
Upper Rank Three—beheaded.
"..."
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