Slaying a Lower Rank

Tsugikuni Kuuga had no choice but to forcefully pry open Kamuna's pincer, then backflipped to dodge the scorpion tail's strike.

"Nice one, trying to play dirty with me, huh!" Kuuga grumbled.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you're not cutting it, kid!"

"Tch!"

Kuuga charged in again, and Kamuna kept spewing centipedes, but Kuuga swiftly cut them all down.

Their attacks were evenly matched. With Kamuna's indiscriminate sensing, the whole cave trembled. Suddenly, Kamuna leaped up and crashed down fast.

Kamuna's pitch-black body slammed toward Kuuga like a meteor, but Kuuga didn't meet it head-on—he nimbly dodged.

The ground caved into a big crater where Kamuna landed, and it vanished. Only vibrations rumbled from below, but soon even those stopped.

The cave fell silent, so quiet you could hear dripping water. No doubt about it—Kamuna's Blood Demon Art included Earth Burrowing.

Underground, Kamuna watched Kuuga standing frozen, a smug grin curling its lips. Didn't see that coming, did you? I can burrow too.

But it didn't expect Kuuga to just close his eyes. How dare you look down on me like that? Die, you bastard!

Kamuna silently crept up behind Kuuga, then burst out from the ground, pincer snapping at him.

Its pincer shot straight for Kuuga's fragile neck like scissors, but something unexpected happened—Kuuga bent low and dodged.

At the same time, he spun around and slashed at Kamuna, lopping off half its left pincer. Ignoring the pain, Kamuna burrowed back underground.

Kuuga smirked. Trying to ambush me with Tai Chi Sense? Not a chance. The moment you surfaced, I already felt you.

"Hey! You're a Lower Rank at least—can you stop acting like a turtle hiding in its shell? Makes it real hard for me to kill you!" Kuuga taunted.

Underground, Kamuna's veins bulged. This was outright humiliation. Die, you damn human.

Then Kamuna burst out from Kuuga's right side again, figuring the last dodge was just luck.

This time, Kuuga's head was right in its strike zone—one good squeeze and it'd pop.

But just as Kamuna was about to clamp down, Kuuga ducked. Kamuna froze. It had him! Why?!

Then Kuuga sprang up like a coil, thrusting a blade wreathed in ringed flames straight at Kamuna's head—Sun-Breathing: Seventh Form, Sun Blossom Thrust.

Kuuga's Nichirin Blade pierced straight through Kamuna's left eye. A screech like a stuck pig echoed through the cave.

But Kuuga shifted his blade horizontal and swept toward Kamuna's neck. Kamuna hastily spat out centipedes, forcing Kuuga to pull back, though he still carved off half of Kamuna's skull.

As Kamuna burrowed back, that half-skull crumbled to ash. The cave went dead silent. Kuuga stayed on high alert, but Kamuna refused to come out.

Kuuga realized this skill was perfect for survival—no wonder Kamuna had lasted so long.

But if it dragged till nightfall, the villagers were doomed. He could handle Kamuna's attacks, but ordinary folks couldn't—especially with Kamuna underground. If it reached the village, disaster was certain.

Who knew what a desperate Lower Rank might do? Time ticked by, but Kamuna didn't strike again. If not for daylight, Kuuga would've thought it had fled.

Suddenly, Kuuga slashed his left hand with his Nichirin Blade, then clenched his fist. Drops of blood fell to the ground, soon forming a small puddle.

No demon could resist the allure of Rare Blood—like a drunkard hooked on liquor. The scent seeped through the earth straight to Kamuna's nose.

Kamuna's eyes went wide with shock. This guy had Rare Blood! Eating him was worth a hundred people. Its desire reignited. It could regenerate anyway—it'd just wear him down.

So Kamuna felt confident again. Taking down Kuuga was a sure thing. Who cared if he was a Hashira? He was still human. How could he outlast me, Lower Rank Six?

Sure, his sword techniques were weird—its left pincer still hadn't healed, and even its face burned after regenerating.

But Kamuna figured it could go another round. No hesitation—it burst out from the front.

Kuuga sidestepped the attack, then flicked his left hand hard, flinging blood straight at Kamuna.

Kamuna was stunned by the move. Freebies? Instinctively, it opened its mouth. Rare Blood was something else.

But in that instant, Kuuga also tossed a paper packet, which went into Kamuna's mouth along with the blood.

Inside wasn't incense—it was poison Shinobu Kocho had given Kuuga for killing demons. Kuuga had no idea about dosage, so he just chucked the whole lot.

Tasting the reward, Kamuna didn't even bother burrowing again. It stared greedily at Kuuga, licking its lips now and then.

"Hey! Don't look at me like some creep, alright!"

"I can't be bothered arguing with food. You should be honored to become my strength!" Kamuna cackled.

"I don't think you'll get to eat me!" Kuuga shot back.

Kamuna didn't waste more words and started trading blows again, but its body felt heavier, its mind foggier.

Seeing Kamuna slow down, Kuuga knew the poison was working. Even if a powerful demon like the Twelve Kizuki could break down toxins, slowed speed was still a fatal weakness.

Kuuga first used Sun-Breathing: Eighth Form, Flying Wheel Sun Haze, creating the illusion his blade was shorter. Kamuna fell for it, thinking the sword was still far from its neck.

It boldly swung its giant pincer at Kuuga's head, but somehow, the Fire Dragon's head was already pressed against its throat.

"Sun-Breathing: Eleventh Form, Halo Dragon: Head Dance. Rest in peace!"

With Kuuga's roar, Kamuna's head flew off, its pincer stopping just before Kuuga's forehead.

"No, impossible!" Kamuna stared in disbelief at its dissolving body.

"Nothing's impossible. Next life, don't be so greedy."

Kuuga sheathed his Nichirin Blade and left the cave. Mission complete!