Yubi twisted his body mid-air, using reinforced spider silk to narrowly evade Kokushibo's previous strike.
He landed on a high branch, crouching with a distorted grin as he looked down.
"You missed," he mocked.
His voice carried arrogance but also ignorance of what he was truly facing.
Kokushibo did not respond.
He simply adjusted his stance.
In an instant
Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire
A sudden burst of motion cut through the forest.
A figure leapt in from the battlefield's edge, blade blazing with concentrated flame, striking Yubi from behind.
The attack connected cleanly.
But the result was underwhelming.
Yubi's hardened exoskeletal body absorbed most of the impact, the damage shallow and fragmented.
He clicked his tongue.
"Annoying insects…"
At that moment, the battlefield expanded further as Demon Slayer Corps reinforcements fully arrived.
The scale of the confrontation became clear.
Upper Rank One Kokushibo was present.
So were multiple Hashira.
And a mutated spider demon cluster.
The pressure of the situation instantly shifted the atmosphere.
Even seasoned Hashira stiffened.
Kokushibo observed silently.
"…So many assembled at once."
Not fear.
Assessment.
Efficiency calculation.
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku stepped forward immediately upon seeing Kokushibo.
"Father… you are here as well!"
The words caused a brief silence across the battlefield.
Confusion spread among the Corps members.
But Kyojuro's expression remained firm.
To him, Kokushibo was not merely an Upper Moon.
He was something more complicated.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, however, reacted with immediate hostility.
"You bastard !"
His eyes locked onto Kokushibo.
"You're the one who turned Kanae Kocho into a demon!"
Without hesitation
Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter
He launched forward at explosive speed.
Kokushibo raised his blade casually.
Steel met steel.
Sanemi was deflected effortlessly.
He twisted mid-air and followed up
Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claw-Purifying Gale
A barrage of slicing arcs rushed forward.
Kokushibo responded calmly.
Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Lunar Eclipse Vortex
A rotating crescent slash dispersed the attack and threw Sanemi backward.
"You've chosen hostility," Kokushibo said quietly. "Then I will respond accordingly."
Sanemi steadied himself mid-air, exposed.
"Sanemi!"
A flame erupted across the battlefield.
Kyojuro intercepted instantly.
Clang!
Their blades collided, shockwaves rippling outward.
Kyojuro's voice was steady.
"I cannot allow you to harm my comrades!"
Kokushibo studied him.
"…You have grown."
Then
Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger
A blazing strike surged forward.
Kokushibo met it instantly.
Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moon
The collision of flame and crescent pressure shook the battlefield, forcing nearby fighters to brace themselves.
"This is… Upper Rank One's strength…" someone muttered.
Kyojuro held his ground but only barely.
His arms trembled.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the battlefield
Tanjiro Kamado immediately turned toward Rui.
His instincts told him clearly: the spider demon was the core threat in that area.
Sanemi attempted to disengage, but Yubi intercepted him.
"Delicious… delicious…"
The spider demon lunged again.
Its movements were erratic but dangerous.
Gyomei Himejima stepped in without hesitation.
His chain and flail swung downward with overwhelming force.
BOOM!
A massive tree was obliterated in a single strike.
Yubi narrowly avoided the impact.
"Danger… danger…" it muttered repeatedly.
Obanai Iguro also moved to assist, preparing a precise strike.
But the battlefield split further.
Tanjiro was suddenly pulled back mid-movement by Rui's threads.
At the same time, Nezuko stepped forward instinctively.
Zenitsu and Inosuke reacted immediately.
The battle fragmented into multiple simultaneous engagements.
Kokushibo's voice cut through the chaos.
"Rui. Retreat is not permitted. Capture the girl intact if possible."
Even while engaging multiple Hashira, his awareness remained absolute.
Rui stiffened.
"Understood…"
Obanai launched a sudden attack.
Snake Breathing, Fourth Form: Coil Strike
A twisting thrust aimed directly at Kokushibo's neck.
However
Kokushibo's eyes narrowed.
For a brief moment
The world slowed.
Transparent World.
He saw muscle tension, joint rotation, intent direction.
Everything.
He tilted his blade and caught the strike cleanly.
"…What?" Obanai muttered.
The battlefield froze for an instant.
Kokushibo applied pressure and began to counter.
But Kyojuro intervened again, blocking the follow-up strike.
Sanemi re-entered immediately.
Wind Breathing, Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind
A precise slash cut across Kokushibo's neck.
A faint impact sound rang out.
The blade passed but only shallowly.
No fatal damage.
Kokushibo stepped back, creating distance.
"…Impressive coordination."
For the first time, Kokushibo's tone shifted slightly.
Not anger.
Interest.
He extended his blade.
It elongated unnaturally, crescent edges multiplying along its surface.
"Then I will adjust accordingly."
His stance changed.
Serious now.
Not struggling.
Simply acknowledging that efficiency required escalation.
Elsewhere
Tanjiro struggled against Rui's silk manipulation.
His blade strikes were intercepted effortlessly.
Rui did not even fully engage Nezuko, dismissing her movements as low-threat interference.
"Do I really need to fight you directly?" Rui said coldly.
Advanced are Available on Patreon!
We are currently at Chapter 110 on Patreon!
Join now:
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD