Before either side could exchange another word, Sanemi suddenly sprang to his feet and unleashed one of the fastest techniques in his arsenal.
Wind Breathing, Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind!
The attack possessed almost no wind-up, its execution so swift that it seemed to appear the instant the thought crossed his mind. It was Sanemi's signature surprise strike, a technique that relied on overwhelming speed rather than elaborate motion.
Normally, that single slash was enough to decide a battle.
But Hera was not an ordinary opponent.
She reacted at the last possible instant, crossing her mantis-like scythes to intercept the strike.
"So fast…"
Although it lacked the explosive burst of Thunder Breathing, its speed still ranked among the finest sword techniques within the Demon Slayer Corps.
The instant his attack was stopped, Sanemi shifted his footing without hesitation.
Wind Breathing, Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist!
His blade deflected Hera's scythe arm while the compressed wind generated by the slash carved across her face, leaving a deep wound.
Sanemi intended to continue the assault before she could recover.
But Meng Xiyu, who had remained momentarily inactive, suddenly rushed in and caught Sanemi's Nichirin Blade with both hands.
Catching a sword barehanded.
With his body already battered from earlier exchanges, Sanemi no longer possessed enough strength to wrench the blade free.
Hera immediately took advantage of the opening. One scythe slashed across Sanemi's chest before Meng Xiyu followed with a crushing kick that launched the Wind Hashira backward, smashing him into a nearby tree.
Yoshio froze in terror, completely at a loss.
He was only an eight-year-old child.
Yet after seeing Sanemi and Obanai risk their lives to protect him, especially the scarred man who had just saved him moments earlier, he could no longer remain still.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Yoshio ran in front of the wounded Hashira, spreading both arms wide to shield them.
Meng Xiyu paused.
He glanced toward Hera, silently asking for her decision. The child clearly meant something to her.
Unexpectedly, Hera stepped forward without hesitation.
Her scythe-like forearm pierced straight through Yoshio's shoulder.
"Aahhh!"
The boy screamed in agony.
Hera's expression remained completely emotionless as she stared into his frightened eyes.
"You kept chasing after me."
"You wanted to follow me so badly."
"Then I'll grant your wish."
With one effortless motion, she lifted Yoshio into the air.
His cries echoed throughout the mountain.
Sanemi and Obanai heard every scream, but both were too badly injured to move.
"Damn you…!"
"I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!"
Sanemi's eyes burned with murderous fury as he struggled to stand, his muscles trembling from exhaustion.
The wound across Hera's face remained unhealed.
She no longer cared about maintaining the disguise of a human girl.
Slowly, her body expanded.
Her limbs lengthened.
Her elegant appearance disappeared as she reverted to her true monstrous form a gigantic mantis-like creature, its serrated forearms gleaming beneath the moonlight.
Her compound eyes locked onto Yoshio.
Her terrifying mandibles slowly opened.
Only inches remained.
Bang!
A gunshot shattered the silence.
Hera's arm holding Yoshio was blown clean off.
At the same instant
Love Breathing, Second Form: Love Pangs!
Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!
Two graceful figures flashed across the battlefield.
The severed arm fell to the ground as Yoshio was rescued before he could be devoured.
Reinforcements had arrived.
The newcomers were none other than the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, and the former Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho.
By now, such perfectly timed arrivals had almost become routine.
Meanwhile, back at the site of the Mugen Train derailment
Akaza and Mokō had completely lost themselves in battle.
Neither cared about anything beyond the opponent standing before them.
Each exchange shook the surrounding forest.
Each collision produced a deafening shockwave.
Compared to that brutal clash, Barons' battle against Kyojuro was considerably more one-sided.
Not because Barons was stronger.
But because he could fly.
He repeatedly remained airborne, forcing Kyojuro to attack only during brief moments when Barons descended to strike.
The Flame Hashira excelled in power, speed, and swordsmanship not aerial combat.
Even while fighting under such unfavorable conditions, however, Kyojuro never complained.
He patiently waited.
Every slash.
Every dodge.
Every descent.
He was waiting for a single decisive opening.
Tanjiro and the others desperately wanted to assist him.
Unfortunately, they were still trapped by Kokushibo.
The Upper Rank One continued gripping Nezuko by the throat with astonishing ease.
His composure never wavered.
Even after such a prolonged battle, his arm had not shown the slightest sign of fatigue.
Since Kyojuro's life was not yet in immediate danger, Kokushibo continued occupying Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko.
If they joined the battle now, they would only be throwing away their lives.
Once again, Kokushibo effortlessly neutralized the combined attacks of the three young Demon Slayers.
That was when Nezuko acted.
Without hesitation…
She tore off her own arm.
Blood burst into the air.
Even Kokushibo's expression changed.
Realizing her intention immediately, he released her and leaped backward.
Blood Demon Art: Exploding Blood!
Nezuko clenched her fist.
The blood suspended in midair erupted into brilliant crimson flames.
Although those flames would not necessarily kill Kokushibo, he had no intention of testing them.
Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!
A massive vortex of crescent moon blades burst outward.
The swirling slashes dispersed Nezuko's flames before they could engulf him.
Meanwhile, Zenitsu and Inosuke rushed forward to catch the falling Nezuko.
Instead, all three crashed into the ground together.
Tanjiro instantly seized the opening.
Leaping high into the air, he gripped his Nichirin Blade with both hands.
Hinokami Kagura, Second Form: Clear Blue Sky!
For the briefest instant…
Kokushibo's six eyes reflected another figure.
Not Tanjiro.
But Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
His body instinctively froze.
Centuries of terror resurfaced in a single heartbeat.
Fortunately for him, reason returned just before the blade connected.
He swung upward.
Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!
Countless crescent moon blades exploded outward.
Tanjiro's blazing crimson slash collided head-on with Kokushibo's moonlit technique.
Flames and crescent blades intertwined.
The clash resembled the sun and moon colliding beneath the night sky.
For one breathtaking moment…
Neither yielded.
Yet courage alone could not erase the enormous difference in strength.
Even with unwavering resolve…
Even with the will inherited from his ancestors…
Tanjiro was still far too weak.
Kokushibo ultimately overwhelmed him.
The young swordsman crashed heavily onto the ground, gasping for breath.
But as Kokushibo looked down upon Tanjiro…
An unfamiliar emotion welled inside him.
Excitement.
His instinctive fear of the Sun Breathing swordsman had lessened.
The terror that had haunted him since the Sengoku Era no longer completely controlled his heart.
Yes.
The Breath of the Sun was the origin of all Breathing Styles.
It illuminated the world.
But one truth remained unchanged.
The moon was not merely a reflection.
It possessed beauty that belonged only to itself.
It ruled the night.
It was indispensable.
As that realization settled within him, Kokushibo felt as though invisible shackles wrapped around his soul had finally loosened.
Behind the fallen Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke struggled to their feet despite their wounds.
They stood shoulder to shoulder.
Their eyes still burned with unwavering determination.
Kokushibo watched them silently.
Then, without another word, he sheathed his Nichirin Blade.
His attention shifted toward the distant battlefield where Kyojuro continued fighting.
He resumed watching.
As though he were merely an observer.
By now, blood from the earlier explosions stained Kyojuro's face and uniform.
Barons had proven to be an exceptionally troublesome opponent.
Finally noticing Kyojuro's movements slowing ever so slightly, Barons grinned.
"This ends now!"
His clawed hands shot forward like twin projectiles, aiming directly for Kyojuro's eyes.
There was no time to evade completely.
Kyojuro tilted his head at the final instant.
The claws narrowly missed his eyes, grazing his left temple and right forehead, drawing streams of blood.
Had the Flame Hashira been cornered?
No.
This was precisely the opening he had been waiting for.
Flames erupted around his legs.
His breathing deepened.
His grip tightened around his Nichirin Blade.
Then he launched himself skyward.
Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!
Like a roaring tiger engulfed in blazing fire, Kyojuro soared directly toward the airborne Barons.
The flames surged violently, threatening to consume everything before them.
Watching from afar, Kokushibo allowed the faintest smile to appear.
"Go, Kyojuro."
"Show them the true strength of the Flame Hashira."
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