(Extra chapte)
I was supposed to release it after reaching 500 energy stones, but I'm making concessions for your sake. Please let's get to the next bonus chapter soon.
600 Energy Stones - extra Chapter
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Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but coverher forehead.
He really went through with it!
She truly hadn't expected that telling Kiyokawa Izumi the address of Mr. Rengoku's house would cause such a huge incident... She couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
"Why did you fight Mr. Shinjuro?"
Kochou Shinobu, who remained calm, asked seriously.
"It was caused by a moment of emotional impulsiveness. That person was quite decadent, saying that Flame Breathing was trash, a poor imitation."
"And then, I took advantage of his distraction..."
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't trying to explain anything; instead, he vividly described the mutual beating process.
First, I punched him, then I punched him again.
His description was rather dry.
But what everyone cared about was clearly not the process of the fight.
Kanzaki Aoi clearly hoped Kiyokawa Izumi would apologize voluntarily—after all, he was the Flame Hashira's father.
"Apply the medicine first!"
Kochou Shinobu said with slight helplessness, her tone still gentle... The next morning,
The sun had just risen when a cheerful laugh rang out, "Haha, Kochou, is that boy named Kiyokawa Izumi staying with you?"
"He's really amazing. He almost convinced my father. When I returned, I saw Father hesitating about whether to pick up his nichirin blade."
(He might not have convinced him, but made him want to grab his sword and cut someone.)
The newcomer was wearing the Demon Slayer Corps uniform and a haori that was mainly white with red and orange accents.
He had dazzling yellow medium-length hair, the tips of which were the color of burning flames.
The same thick eyebrows, the same spirited eyes.
No wonder Inosuke called him Big Eyeballs—Kyoujurou's eyes are truly large.
To be honest, everyone in the Rengoku Family looks similar.
You can recognize them instantly!
"Is that so?"
Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly.
"Where is that boy? He wasn't seriously hurt, was he? Regardless, my father went way too far!"
A Swordsman as passionate as Kyoujurou naturally wouldn't come looking for trouble first thing in the morning.
From his perspective, the one who went too far was his own father—he was the Former Flame Hashira, after all, how could he raise a hand against a young boy?
There was a misunderstanding involved.
Given Shinjuro's pride, he naturally disdained explaining himself to his son.
He certainly wouldn't complain to him about how hard a certain bastard hit him.
As for Senjuro?
He fairly recounted what happened yesterday, including the words Kiyokawa Izumi had spoken.
Given the Flame Hashira's personality, after hearing those words, he naturally greatly admired Kiyokawa Izumi, whom he had never met.
There were three reasons why he came to the Butterfly Mansion today.
An excellent young man wanted to ask him about Flame Breathing; he wanted to apologize for his father; and he had time to guide a Successor since he didn't have missions for a while.
With these three reasons combined, it was perfectly reasonable for him to come in person.
If Kiyokawa Izumi truly impressed him, taking him as a Successor would also be a viable option.
"He's over there!"
Kochou Shinobu raised her hand and pointed toward the distance.
Kiyokawa Izumi, having finished his five-kilometer run, was concentrating fully on practicing his sword swings, completely unaware of what was happening here.
Seeing the young man's diligence, Big Brother's gaze grew even more appreciative... "Hoo—"
Kiyokawa Izumi, having finished his training and just sheathed his nichirin blade, heard a loud voice ring out beside him.
"Young man, I apologize to you on behalf of my father!"
"!!"
Kiyokawa Izumi turned his head and was surprised by the newcomer.
He was the type of person who responded well to kindness but poorly to force, and besides, he had been the one to instigate the trouble yesterday.
Facing such a polite and enthusiastic Big Brother, he bowed repeatedly and said.
"Yesterday was my fault; I was overly emotional and rude. Your father probably doesn't want to see me again. Please, Flame Hashira, help me relay my apology."
He looked up, meeting a pair of extremely large eyes.
"Hahaha! Young man, you are truly diligent! Your swordsmanship is also quite good. Do you want to become my Successor?"
Kyoujurou's personality was this straightforward; right after meeting him, he asked very directly.
"It is an honor to receive your recognition."
"Mr. Rengoku, are you trying to steal my Successor?"
Kochou Shinobu suddenly spoke up from the side.
Hearing this, Kyoujurou was also surprised, "Kochou, is this young man your Successor?"
"?
Kiyokawa Izumi, the person involved, couldn't help but have a huge question mark pop up above his head—Huh? When did I become your Successor?
Last time I asked if you would take me, didn't you say no?
Are women really that fickle?
Although Kochou Shinobu didn't reply, Mr. Rengoku seemed to understand, and he laughed, saying, "Kochou seems to think highly of you too. Tell me, what do you want to ask me about?"
"I want to challenge the current Flame Hashira!"
Kiyokawa Izumi said seriously.
He naturally wouldn't let go of such a rare opportunity.
He hadn't truly fought the Flame Hashira yet—Big Brother's strength was undoubtedly immense, but Big Brother also had a fatal flaw.
He didn't learn everything!
Every generation of Flame Hashira came from the Rengoku Family, meaning the elder was the teacher.
But what if he encountered an irresponsible elder?
Shinjuro Rengoku was both Kyoujurou's father and his instructor—after his wife passed away, and due to certain reasons, he began to degenerate, abandoning his guidance of Kyoujurou.
Under these circumstances, Big Brother relied on the three volumes of the ancestral Flame Breathing Guidebook, along with his own effort and rigorous training, to become a Hashira.
It was precisely because Kiyokawa Izumi knew this that he lost control of his emotions yesterday—you only woke up after your son died, but your son was the Flame Hashira! Before he died, did you never consider that he might encounter a powerful Demon?
Instead of waking up after his death, why didn't you teach him everything he needed earlier?
If he had learned everything, could he have changed his fate?
Unfortunately, hypotheses are always just hypotheses, and reality has no "what ifs."
"You want to challenge me? Very well, I accept your challenge!"
Kyoujurou didn't hesitate or decline; he accepted readily.
"..."
Kochou Shinobu silently shook her head. She knew it would turn out this way... Kiyokawa Izumi's body trembled slightly, not from fear or dread, but from excitement.
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't afraid to lose; as long as he didn't lose to a Demon, he wouldn't die.
He just wanted to experience near-Peak Battle Qi and incredibly refined swordsmanship.
Among the strength of the Nine Hashira, the Flame Hashira, who was the first to fall offline, was definitely stronger than Sister Shinobu.
'Dark Breathing: Total Concentration State!'
Looking across, Kyoujurou gripped his sword hilt with one hand, seemingly waiting for him to make the first move.
'First Form: Night Crows Shadow!'
Without testing the waters, Kiyokawa Izumi immediately used his ultimate skill.
The muscles in his legs suddenly burst with power, and he approached Rengoku Kyojuro at an extremely high speed.
The dark silver blade shimmered coldly under the sunlight, and a sword strike was delivered silently.
The sound of metal clashing followed immediately.
"That was a very fast strike!"
Rengoku Kyojuro said seriously.
'It really didn't work...'
Even though he had guessed the outcome, Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
His swift strike was blocked, but feeling the power transmitted through the blade, Kiyokawa Izumi did not give up.
'Multi-stage Continuous Slash!'
Their figures intertwined in close proximity, and Kiyokawa Izumi swung his blade repeatedly, but every single one was blocked without exception.
The terrifying strength was difficult to break through, and Big Brother's speed wasn't slow either, though it wasn't as astonishing as Sister Shinobu's thrust.
'You call this having no talent?'
'Shinjuro, are you serious?'
Kiyokawa Izumi only regretted not hitting him harder back then.
This is what he called having no talent?
Cultivating to this extent relying only on an Incomplete Manual—it's unimaginable how strong this person would become if he hadn't died and mastered Transparent World or the Demon Slayer Mark!
He was suppressed immediately upon engaging in combat, falling into a clear disadvantage.
His strength was inferior,
his speed was inferior,
his combat experience was inferior,
and even his mastery of the Breathing Technique was far inferior!