When Akaza rushed toward Rengoku Kyojuro, Aoyamadidn't hesitate for even a moment. His body flashed forward.
Total Concentration!
Light Breathing!
First Form: Flash.
Just as Aoyama 's blade was about to cut down on Akaza, the demon sensed the danger and instantly shifted away, widening the distance between them. The attack failed to reach him.
Aoyama frowned slightly.
Behind him, Rengoku burst forward like an erupting flame.
"Total Concentration! Flame Breathing! First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
With explosive momentum, he launched his attack toward Akaza.
Inosuke, holding his twin blades, looked eager to join the fight, but he held himself back.
The speed of the battle between the three was far beyond what his eyes could follow. There was no way he could intervene.
His instincts screamed danger.
If he charged in recklessly, the result would only be one thing—
Death.
Seeing Tanjiro about to rush forward, Inosuke grabbed him and forced him back.
"Hey! Listen to your boss! Don't go up there!"
Zenitsu, trembling with fear, grabbed Tanjiro's clothes and shook his head desperately.
"Don't go! That's an Upper Rank demon! You can't fight that!"
Tanjiro stared at the battlefield ahead.
Being unable to help made him feel painfully aware of his own weakness.
Meanwhile, Akaza flipped through the air, evading Rengoku's strike, excitement burning in his eyes.
"Haha! Of all the Hashira I've killed, I've never fought a Flame Hashira before!"
He dove down toward Rengoku with terrifying speed.
Aoyama launched himself upward, intercepting Akaza's descending attack in midair.
Sensing danger, Akaza twisted his body downward and raised his arm to block Aoyama 's strike.
When he landed, he slid backward across the ground before lifting his head with a slight smile.
"Blood Demon Art—Destructive Death: Air Type!"
A barrage of high-speed strikes exploded outward from a single point.
Aoyama and Rengoku swung their Nichirin Blades, cutting through the incoming attacks. Even after being split by the blades, the lingering shockwaves still carried destructive force.
"Rengoku!"
Aoyama shouted.
Without hesitation, he rushed forward with his blade.
Rengoku immediately understood the meaning behind Aoyama 's call.
Akaza's Blood Demon Art was preventing them from getting close.
Without closing the distance, they couldn't cut off his head.
Aoyama 's shout meant one thing—
Rengoku would restrain the Upper Rank demon from a distance, while Aoyama would rush in to create an opening and strike at the neck.
Rengoku nodded.
"Total Concentration! Flame Breathing! Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
As Aoyama approached the edge of Akaza's attack range, he leapt into the air and descended from above.
Total Concentration!
Light Breathing!
First Form—Modified: Horizontal Flash.
Akaza's eyes widened slightly.
"Blood Demon Art—Destructive Death: Air Type!"
His fists struck the air six times in rapid succession, forming a barrier of shockwaves to block Aoyama 's advance.
Slash—
Blood burst from Akaza's body.
Even after using his Blood Demon Art and retreating quickly, Aoyama 's blade still carved a deep wound across his abdomen.
Blood poured from the cut.
"Cough… cough…"
Aoyama landed firmly, but Akaza's attack had also struck him during the exchange.
His chest burned with pain.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at Akaza.
"Aoyama ! Are you alright?"
Rengoku had clearly seen Aoyama pause during the attack—a sign that he had been hit.
Aoyama nodded slightly.
"I'm fine."
Fortunately, his body had been strengthened repeatedly by the system. Otherwise, that punch would have shattered his ribs.
Behind them, Zenitsu trembled violently.
He had never seen Aoyama injured before.
Grabbing Tanjiro's clothes tightly, he stammered.
"H-Hey… Tanjiro… Aoyama -senpai… he got hurt… right?"
"Zenitsu!"
Tanjiro snapped sharply, stopping him from talking further.
Akaza lowered the hand that had been covering his abdomen.
The wound had already healed completely.
He smirked.
"Become a demon. Look—your attack just now barely counted as a scratch to me."
Aoyama responded with a cold smile.
"I'm not interested."
Akaza continued persuasively.
"You and I are both strong. Only the strong are worthy of becoming demons."
"If you do, we can fight forever. We can keep getting stronger together. Isn't that wonderful?"
The longer he fought Aoyama , the more excited he became.
Finding such a powerful human opponent was rare.
If Aoyama became a demon, his strength would multiply.
Akaza's gaze then shifted to Rengoku.
His fighting spirit had been refined to an incredible level, close to the highest realm.
Another excellent opponent.
Meeting Akaza's gaze, Rengoku surged forward again.
"Total Concentration! Flame Breathing! Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
Akaza clenched his teeth as he blocked the strike, impressed by Rengoku's explosive power and masterful swordsmanship.
But the thought that such a powerful warrior would one day grow old and weak filled him with regret.
"Rengoku… you refuse to become a demon as well?"
"In that case, I'll kill you while you're still young and strong!"
"Blood Demon Art—Destructive Death: Disorder!"
Akaza unleashed a devastating barrage of attacks.
Rengoku immediately responded.
"Flame Breathing! Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Aoyama 's heart tightened.
Something felt wrong.
"Total Concentration! Light Breathing! Fifth Form: Light Slash!"
A massive blade of light erupted from his Nichirin Blade as he leapt into the air and brought it crashing down.
Boom—
A thunderous explosion shook the battlefield.
Dust and debris surged into the air, completely engulfing everyone within it.
"Aoyama -senpai! Rengoku-san!"
Tanjiro instinctively stepped forward, panic on his face.
Everything had happened too suddenly.
Their scents were still there…
They should be alright.
As the dust slowly settled, all eyes focused on the center of the battlefield.
Aoyamastood there—
Supporting the severely injured Rengoku.
During their clash, Akaza's Blood Demon Art had suppressed Rengoku's Flame Tiger. Just as the demon was about to finish him off—
Aoyama had stepped in and blocked the fatal strike.
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