Kyoujurou's desire to win this competition wasn't very strong to begin with. He had participated with a mindset of learning and improving. Winning would be great, but it didn't really matter if he didn't.
However, Kyoujurou didn't agree at all with what Shinazugawa had just said.
Su Chen had said they were allowed to interfere with each other, but Kyoujurou hadn't planned on actually doing it. He wanted a fair fight. Now, though, it seemed Shinazugawa was getting restless. He knew that if he didn't act soon, he wouldn't have a chance to win.
Kyoujurou was almost glad that Shinazugawa had come for him first. This way, Kyoujurou could stop the Wind Hashira right here and make sure the competition stayed fair for everyone.
Kyoujurou gripped the wooden sword Shinazugawa had tossed him. His clear, booming voice echoed in the now-empty Training Grounds. "Hahaha! Shinazugawa! I'm truly sorry about this, but as long as I, Kyojuro Rengoku, am standing here, you won't take another step!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Shinazugawa sneered, his own fighting spirit igniting. "Then let's just see about that!"
In a flash, Shinazugawa attacked—but not at Kyoujurou. He sent his Wind Breathing sword technique flying directly toward Su Chen's side of the room. He had already achieved his goal of distracting Kyoujurou; now it was time to deal with Su Chen, too!
But just as Shinazugawa's wind-slash was about to hit its target, Kyoujurou's figure exploded into motion. Though he started later, he arrived first, a fiery silhouette streaking across the air.
At the same time, the sound of his technique rang out: "Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Whoosh!
A beautiful, fiery red vortex of actual, physical flame streaked across the sky. Kyoujurou successfully blocked Shinazugawa's attack in mid-air, the two forces colliding with a concussive blast.
"How is that possible?" Shinazugawa's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
That last slash was meant to be too fast to stop. He had used a zero-frame startup, increasing his wind speed while reducing the raw power. Logically, from that distance, Kyoujurou shouldn't have been able to interrupt his attack.
But Kyoujurou did it. And it looked like he used a Breathing Technique that Shinazugawa had never seen before. This technique... it actually produced real flames!
Shinazugawa immediately understood. The new move that the Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai, had mentioned... this had to be it.
"Not bad, Rengoku!" Shinazugawa grinned wildly. "But can you block this move?"
He struck again, sending another hurricane-like slash at his opponent. Kyoujurou met it head-on, unleashing his Flame Breathing. His sword moves were so fast they were just a dazzling blur.
Their Breathing Techniques shone brightly, wind and fire clashing. The Demon Slayer Corps members still watching from the side all widened their eyes. Encounters between two Hashira were incredibly rare; this was a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
However, their speed was simply too fast. No one present could clearly see what was happening.
Their figures intertwined in the air, colliding with countless sword techniques in a single instant. Gales of wind and waves of intense heat swept out from their clash. Suddenly, the entire venue felt like a sauna. The temperature just kept rising as the two Hashira-level fighters clashed again and again!
"I can't take it anymore, I have to get out!" "It's so hot! Shinazugawa-sama is going wild! He just picked up his real Nichirin blade and is fighting Rengoku-sama!" "I can't bear it, I can't bear it! I have to go out for some air!"
One by one, the Demon Slayer Corps members scrambled for the exit, hurriedly fleeing the room. Kanao, who had been standing quietly by the door, thoughtfully opened it for them, her face calm as ever. At the same time, the young girl's gaze turned towards Su Chen's side of the room.
Over there, the patients Su Chen was training were also being awakened by the oppressive heat. One by one, all of them—except for Kocho Shinobu, who remained in deep meditation—opened their eyes in a panic.
"Holy crap, it's so hot!" "What's going on? Why is no one else in the venue?"
The patients all opened their eyes and then saw the Wind Hashira and Flame Hashira fighting fiercely not far away. Suddenly, the two fighters flashed again, moving faster than sight. They had clearly started to fight seriously.
It happened in an instant. One careless move, and a powerful aftershock from Shinazugawa's attack leaked out. The blade of wind shot directly toward the area where Su Chen and his group were!
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!"
Several arcing sword trails, like a feathered robe, suddenly struck out from the doorway. Kanao's timely intervention calmly resolved the attack, neutralizing the wind blade before it could hit the patients.
"Shinobu-sama's side, too!"
The moment Kanao landed, one of the patients beside her let out another cry of alarm. Kanao whipped her head around and saw another, more powerful slash flying straight toward her master's direction.
Kocho Shinobu still had her eyes closed. She was clearly deep in her meditative state, completely unaware of the attack that was about to hit her.
"Master!" Kanao cried out anxiously.
She pushed off the ground, but it would take time for her to rush over. In that split second, the distance felt as vast as a chasm. Kanao knew, with dawning horror, that she simply couldn't make it in time.
Just then, a figure moved. A magnificent form suddenly blocked Kocho Shinobu's path.
It was Su Chen. He had broken his meditation.
He was seen rapidly moving his arms, his hands empty, but his movements were identical to the way Shinazugawa had first generated wind with his body. Accompanied by the faint sound of a sharp exhale, a profound, formless technique blossomed from Su Chen's bare hands.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
Clang!
It wasn't the sound of metal, but of a massive collision of air. A large amount of superheated air generated by Su Chen collided with the aftershock of the wind blade. A moment later, the attack was resolved, the wind blade dissolving.
But the cost was high. All the scorching, leftover wind and kinetic energy blew back onto Su Chen's body. His face instantly flushed red. Without a Nichirin blade to channel the Breathing Technique, resisting a Hashira's stray slash, even an accidental one, was extremely difficult.
The backlash was immediate. He had interrupted his deep state of enlightenment prematurely, and his mind felt like it had been torn in two. He had engaged in high-energy activity when his body had not fully recovered its vitality.
His body suffered a terrible backlash. Blood rushed upwards, and he felt a crushing burden on his blood vessels. His brain felt severely congested, and a wave of intense dizziness washed over him. His lungs burned, and he tasted the slightly sweet tang of iron. He was bleeding.
A thin trace of blood slipped from the corner of Su Chen's lips.
At the same time, the dizziness became overwhelming. Su Chen stumbled, his legs giving out, almost falling because he couldn't stand steadily.
Kanao, who had been running over, saw this. Her usually calm expression drastically changed. She gritted her teeth, dropped her Nichirin blade with a clatter, and immediately got behind Su Chen. She tightly hugged him to support him, only to realize he had already gone limp. He had fainted.
"Mister Su Chen! What happened to you?!"
Kanao's voice cried out, but another voice rang out at the exact same time.
"Kanao, what's going on?"
The commotion had finally broken her concentration. At this moment, Kocho Shinobu also woke up.
When she saw Su Chen collapsed in Kanao's arms, a trickle of blood on his chin, Shinobu's face drastically changed. An indescribable sense of pure panic immediately filled her heart.
"Mister Su Chen... he got injured and fainted while protecting Master just now!" Kanao's tone was filled with grievance and self-blame, her voice cracking. "It's all my fault! I couldn't defend against the Hashira's attack in time!"
"Protect... me?" Kocho Shinobu was stunned.
She suddenly looked up, her gaze snapping toward the Wind Hashira and Flame Hashira on the other side of the dojo. Shinazugawa and Rengoku were still fighting fiercely, completely lost in their battle. As they clashed, more aftershocks of their attacks leaked out.
Where the wind blades sliced, even parts of the Butterfly Mansion's walls were being damaged. They were destroying her home.
"Mister Su Chen is bleeding!" Kanao's voice rang out again, filled with panic.
Clang.
The sound was soft but sharp. Under the indoor lights, the young woman drew the special, thin Nichirin blade from her waist.
Kocho Shinobu's hair was damp with sweat from the sauna-like heat. Wet strands covered parts of her face, making her expression impossible to read. But her voice was not calm. It was not polite.
The young woman's tone was exceptionally cold.
"Kanao. Take Mister Su Chen to rest well."