Chapter 26 Don't think that a light word like genius can summarize everything about me!
"Fuu~"
A faint hum was exceptionally clear in the silence.
Inside the empty dojo, Arthur gently pinched his fingers, pressing the restless Fou-Fou back into his collar.
He raised his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze penetrating the half-open wooden door, landing precisely on the uninvited figure.
"Finally here."
The newcomer wore a high-grade purple snake-patterned long coat, and his dark red high ponytail was meticulously tied.
He had six eyes, glinting with an inhuman, eerie light, and the katana at his waist, adorned with eyeballs, exuded a sinister aura.
Arthur hadn't initially cared which '雜魚' was blocking his way, but the moment he clearly saw the person's appearance, his eyes dangerously narrowed.
"This appearance—are you Kokushibo?"
Arthur's voice was not loud, but it carried a hint of certainty.
He had once glimpsed the legendary Yoriichi Tsugikuni in the secret records of the Ubuyashiki Clan.
Naturally, he had also heard of this twin brother, whose fate was intertwined with Yoriichi, and who later became Kokushibo.
He created Moon Breathing, awakened his Mark, then betrayed his master out of fear of death, killed his benefactor with his own hands, invited demons into the house, and finally transformed into a demon, holding the position of Upper Rank One for hundreds of years.
On the other side.
Kokushibo heard that almost forgotten name, and a subtle, imperceptible ripple passed through his six eyes, instantly returning to the still, dead calm of an ancient well.
He slowly walked to the center of the dojo and stopped.
"After such a long time, someone still remembers that name; even I myself have almost forgotten it."
His voice was deep and devoid of any emotion.
Arthur's lips curved into a cold, mocking arc.
"The past of betraying your master for glory probably isn't worth reminiscing about, is it?"
Before his words finished, killing intent arrived!
Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon-Spirit Calamity!
Kokushibo's body didn't move, his sword remained sheathed, yet crescent moon sword energy exploded from thin air, erupting suddenly with him at the center!
Arthur did not retreat but advanced, his sword momentum like a raging sea!
Water Breathing, Form of Fury: Raging Scales!
The sky full of moonlight crashed into the boundless deep sea, stirring up towering waves, and the chilling sword light rolled back!
With one strike proving fruitless, a cold glint flashed in Kokushibo's six eyes, and he drew his sword with lightning speed.
The sword light was like a black silk ribbon, using the First Form to precisely block all counterattacking sword light.
Arthur used the momentum to press forward, his platinum longsword and the eyeball-covered Crying God-Slayer clashing fiercely, sparking blinding fireworks, and the clang of metal was deafening!
"So that's it, this is Moon Breathing, and you've also opened the Transparent World, right?"
Arthur's tone carried a hint of understanding.
Kokushibo remained silent, only feeling the force on his arm growing heavier with each wave, as weighty as a mountain.
He immediately pushed off the ground, retreated rapidly, and at the same time, twisted his wrist, raising his sword to counterattack!
Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moon-Gazing!
In an instant, countless high-speed slashes tore through the air, bringing with them more chilling moon blades, fanning out and shooting towards Arthur like a torrential downpour!
Relying on his extraordinary perception and swift movements, Arthur weaved and dodged through the impenetrable gaps of the moon blades, his figure elusive.
The ground beneath his feet, however, was torn apart by the invisible blade wind, leaving deep, bone-visible furrows.
It must be said that Kokushibo's sword technique, infused with his Blood Demon Art, was far more unpredictable and difficult to guard against than ordinary swordsmanship.
Arthur not only had to be wary of the main body of the Crying God-Slayer swung by the opponent but also had to constantly pay attention to the chaotic moon blades that accompanied the slashes, with their erratic trajectories.
Kokushibo himself, on the other hand, had no such concerns.
Even if his body was occasionally cut by the moon blades, revealing crimson flesh, it regenerated instantly.
"Although it's not the first time I've seen it, I still want to say—"
Arthur suddenly stopped, his inverted platinum longsword humming.
He suddenly exerted force with his feet, and the hard ground cracked in response, his entire being transforming into a white lightning bolt, shooting forward!
"The regeneration abilities of you demon things are too cheap!"
A powerful slash, carrying the might of ten thousand thunders, struck with the force of a giant beast swinging its tail!
The Crying God-Slayer in Kokushibo's hand instantly proliferated more twisted blades, counterattacking with full force!
Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moon Dragon Wheel-Tail!
Boom—!
The two peerless fierce weapons collided with a roar, and a terrifying shockwave spread wildly with the two as its center.
The surrounding moon blades were all scattered, and at the same time, startling, spiderweb-like cracks were pressed into the ground!
The strong wind howled, making their clothes flap noisily.
Kokushibo's six eyes stared intently at the human opposite him, a cold light in them.
Honestly, before this, he hadn't truly taken Arthur seriously, even knowing that the latter had slain Akaza and Gyokko.
After all, he had awakened the Transparent World, possessed a Mark, and was further enhanced by the demon's powerful physique, far surpassing that of a human.
How could he have anticipated that he would fight to a draw with a mere human?
…
Just as Kokushibo's mind was shaken and he was secretly filled with doubt.
Arthur took a deep breath, carefully recalling each of the opponent's previous attacks.
The aura around him, his breathing frequency, began to undergo subtle and profound changes.
Dragon Breathing, Moon Form: Dark Claw!
In a daze, five extremely condensed, incomparably sharp, jet-black claw shadows appeared in Kokushibo's vision.
They tore through the sky, descending from above, like a giant dragon extending its claw, intent on crushing the ant beneath its feet into dust!
He was horrified, raising the Crying God-Slayer with all his might to block, yet—
Crack!
Both man and sword shattered in response!
"Simulated Celestial Body: Black Hole."
Before Kokushibo's shattered flesh could regenerate, a terrifying suction force, which made him tremble with fear, descended.
A dark spell had already formed in Arthur's palm, instantly pressing him firmly to the ground!
"How is it? Are you satisfied with the feeling of losing to a style you yourself created?"
Arthur looked down from above, his voice cold.
Kokushibo, struggling to writhe on the ground, his six demon eyes contracting violently from extreme pain and unwillingness.
The look in his eyes towards Arthur finally contained genuine jealousy and hatred.
"To specifically replicate an enemy's moves to defeat them, what arrogance!"
He roared, his voice twisted and sharp.
"You too! He too! All of you so-called geniuses!"
"You, who have never truly worked hard! How could you possibly understand! How could you possibly understand the powerlessness and despair of never being able to reach your goal, no matter how desperately you train!"
"Genius? Never worked hard?"
Arthur let out a low laugh, mixed with ice crystals, carrying endless mockery.
Deep in his eyes, countless scenes soaked in blood and despair flashed—
Icy, piercing gazes, endless experiments, blood-stained metal tables, and day after day, combat tests where he struggled on the brink of life and death…
"Don't think that a flimsy word like 'genius' can encompass everything about me!"
The moment his words fell, he raised his hand to dispel the spell binding Kokushibo, and his body sank slightly.
An indescribable, heart-palpitating, scorching energy began to wildly permeate the dojo.
"Nani!?"
Kokushibo, who had just regenerated and struggled to get up, his face suddenly changed, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks!
At this moment, the unforgettable figure was reflected in his eyes, and a wave of fear drowned him.
The biological younger brother he had spent his entire life trying to catch up to, yet couldn't even match a fraction of!
"You… who exactly are you…?"
Dragon Breathing, Sun Form: Crimson Dragon!
A ferocious giant dragon, constructed purely from flames, roared out, its mouth wide open, instantly devouring and chewing up the terrified Kokushibo!
The massive dragon body tumbled wildly in mid-air, baring its fangs and claws, flapping its wings and wagging its tail, its roar shaking the heavens!
The surrounding temperature climbed steadily, and the wooden structures and furnishings within the dojo spontaneously combusted without fire, flames spreading, and in a blink, it turned into a raging inferno.
The giant dragon vibrated all over, its light dissipated, revealing Arthur's figure, his clothes fluttering, like a deity.
"To let you, the traitor who killed his master, die by Yoriichi Tsugikuni's style, can be considered putting an end to the centuries-long entanglement between you two brothers."
…
Just as Arthur continued to advance deeper into the Infinity Castle.
The Kasugai Crows, who had been lurking in various parts of the battlefield, secretly observing all the battles, as if receiving a unified command, all flapped their wings and soared high, their hoarse cries piercing the sky.
"Good news! Good news!"
"Commander-in-Chief has slain Upper Rank One!"
"Commander-in-Chief has slain Upper Rank One!"
The joyful news of the first victory spread like wildfire, instantly reaching the ears of the Demon Slayer Corps members still fighting valiantly.
A gap was torn in the despairing gloom, and the light of hope illuminated their tired but resolute faces!
Morale soared!
One by one, the swordsmen's fighting spirit reignited, and they engaged the demons before them with greater caution and focus.
Even the most troublesome Upper Rank One had already been slain by the Commander; they were only responsible for '雜魚', so how could they not even manage to delay for a short time!?
They absolutely could not lose!
They absolutely could not die here!
They must give their all and persevere!
As long as they could hold on until the Commander's final confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji, it would be—
A complete victory for their Demon Slayer Corps, for all their sacrificed comrades!
However, at the same time the good news spread across the battlefield.
In the deepest part of the Infinity Castle.
The crimson eyes that overlooked everything showed no ripples, only a chilling calm, and a hint of… amusement?
"Oh? Kokushibo… also died? How… boring and useless."
A halting yet magnetic, deep voice echoed faintly in the empty, silent darkness, carrying a hint of imperceptible… anticipation?
"Then… it's time for the 'real game'… to begin."