Kokushibo turned around, his gaze swept over Shinjuro Rengoku, Obanai Iguro the corner of the courtyard. The killing intent resurfaced in his six eyes.
"Lord Muzan's order: Demon Slayers, exterminate them all!"
His voice was exceptionally clear in the morning stillness as he walked step by step toward the corner of the courtyard, knife in hand.
"You... count too."
As the aura of death descended, Shinjuro Rengoku Obanai behind him, gripping his Nichirin Blade tightly with both hands. He ignited his Flame Breathing, and scorching waves of heat rose from his body.
Even if it meant death, he wanted to protect those behind him and not let down the time that Giyu had bought with his life!
"Mr. Rengoku..." Obanai's voice trembled.
"Watch." Shinjuro Rengoku didn't turn his head, his voice hoarse but firm, "This is the Pillar's last lesson. Even if you die, die standing!"
He took a step forward, and golden flames burned on the blade.
Kokushibo walked three zhang away, stopped, and slowly raised the Kokyū Shinku.
Just as he was about to swing his knife -
-Whoosh!!
A moon-white blade of light swept across the ground, its width exceeding ten meters! Where the blade passed, it plowed a trench more than half a meter deep into the bluestone ground!
The blade flashed too fast and too suddenly; Kokushibo's blade came to an abrupt halt, and he and Shinjuro Rengoku were both startled and retreated.
The two of them turned their heads sharply, and then they saw the most unbelievable scene of their lives!
Giyu Tomioka stood there.
Standing in the small puddle of his own blood, the gruesome gash in his abdomen was healing at an uncanny speed! Flesh and blood writhed wildly, bones pieced back together, skin covered... In just a few seconds, that deadly wound was gone!
The severed left arm is now regrowing from the cut at the shoulder, with muscles, blood vessels, bones, and skin gradually taking shape.
The wind blew through the courtyard, ruffling Giyu's newly grown black hair.
He raised his head, and a faint, moon-white gleam flashed deep within his icy blue eyes, eerily calm.
Kokushibo's six eyes widened simultaneously, and his hand gripping the sword trembled uncontrollably.
That was the shock of having my entire worldview shattered, the fear of facing the unknown!
"Impossible..." His voice was as dry as sandpaper, "This regeneration speed... and that blade of light just now... Moon Breathing?! What are you?!"
Giyu did not answer.
The suppleness of Water Breathing and the sharpness of a newborn power merged perfectly within his body. He instinctively assumed the starting stance, left hand in front, right hand behind, Nichirin Blade pointing diagonally at the ground.
A completely new and unique swordsmanship stance!
Kokushibo's pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints!
You'll get it after just one look!
Learn it once, and you'll surpass it!
This talent... is exactly the same as Yoriichi Tsugikuni's from four hundred years ago!
The sun in the east had risen fully, and its golden light illuminated the entire earth.
We can't stay here any longer!
Without a Kokushibo thought, Kokushibo turned into a streak of light and dashed desperately towards the outside of the courtyard.
"Current Water Hashira... I will find out your name! I will be back!!"
"Want to leave?"
Giyu's voice was calm, yet it carried a domineering air of "you don't have the final say."
He took a step forward, and the bluestone slab beneath his feet shattered into dust with a "boom"!
He gripped the Nichirin Blade tightly in his right hand. On the blade, azure and moon-white halos began to intertwine and merge, bursting forth with a dazzling azure light!
"You can't just leave whenever you want."
"Water Breathing ★ Twelfth Form ★ Storm!!"
That shout almost shook the heavens!
A pale blue blade of light shot into the sky, carrying a terrifying aura capable of tearing everything apart, and chased after Kokushibo!
Where the blade flashed, the air was drawn into a vacuum, emitting a piercing shriek!
Feeling the deadly threat behind him, Kokushibo turned around abruptly and unleashed six crescent-shaped slashes with all his might!
"Moon Breathing - Sixteenth Form - Moonbow - Lone Moon!"
However... it didn't work!!
The azure blade light, like a road roller, easily crushed the six crescent-shaped slashes, its speed increasing rather than decreasing!
"What?!"
Kokushibo's face turned pale. He could only grit his teeth, pour all his Demon Aura into the blade, and parry with all his might!
"Clang-!"
Amidst the deafening roar, the Kokyū Shinku let out a mournful cry of unbearable strain, its blade cracking all over! Kokushibo felt an immense force that was impossible to withstand; his tiger's mouth split open, and the bones in his arms felt like they were about to shatter. He was blasted away like a cannonball, disappearing into the distant mountains and forests!
Deep in the mountains, Kokushibo lay in the crater he had created, half his body buried under rubble, his bones shattered, barely clinging to life.
He struggled to peer through the gaps in the forest, taking one last look in the direction of the courtyard.
In the sunlight, the boy stood tall and straight, his newly grown left arm intact, as if he were born unafraid of the sun.
"Not a ghost... but not a person either..."
"Water and moon... mist..."
I will find out your name!
This memory, filled with fear, jealousy, and shame, will become a nightmare he can't shake off for centuries to come.
The courtyard was eerily quiet.
A feeling of extreme weakness, as if he were about to die, suddenly overwhelmed Giyu Tomioka; it was the aftereffect of continuously regenerating his body and overdrawing his strength.
The azure aura completely disappeared from the blade, and the world before his eyes began to spin.
"Tomioka!"
Shinjuro Rengoku rushed forward and caught his swaying body, which was about to collapse.
Giyu's body went limp, and he fainted. In the last moment before the screen went completely black, he only managed to utter a few words.
"Contact my Oyakata-sama... I... may no longer be human."
"Tomioka!"
"Lord Water Hashira!"
The gasps of surprise from Shinjuro Rengoku and Obanai Iguro echoed in the quiet courtyard.