Tsugikuni Kuuga's Kasugai Crow flew over forests and steep mountains, delivering news of his slaying a Lower Rank to headquarters at the earliest opportunity. Many people, including Oyakata-sama, were greatly shocked. This was his first mission, wasn't it?
Ubuyashiki Estate.
Oyakata-sama sat at the entrance, gazing into the distance as he murmured to himself, "It seems there will be another Hashira. Kuuga, Kyojuro, Mitsuri, Shinobu Kocho... It looks like it is time to hold a Hashira Promotion Meeting."
Oyakata-sama smiled happily. After all, the number of Hashira in this generation had already surpassed that recorded during the Sengoku era. As expected, all grudges would come to an end here.
At that moment, Tsugikuni Kuuga was on his way back to headquarters. His mission was complete, so he did not travel day and night, instead finding a place to rest.
Since he had been in too much of a hurry during the day, he was still quite far from the nearest town. As usual, Tsugikuni Kuuga found a thick branch and lay down on it.
With the sky as his blanket and the tree as his bed, it did not seem so bad. Tsugikuni Kuuga looked up at the tranquil night sky, feeling quite pleased. It seemed the Lower Ranks were not as powerful as he had imagined.
But those Upper Moons that had lived for centuries were another matter. Every one of them could take on multiple Hashira alone. This was really hard for him!
His goal of becoming a Hashira had been achieved. Next, he needed to prepare to deal with that dead pervert, Upper Rank Two. Douma was truly not easy to fight. He really did not know whether his current strength was enough to take on an Upper Moon.
Thinking about all this made Tsugikuni Kuuga's head ache. Forget it, he would take things one step at a time. He had to protect the Butterfly Sisters. He would even chop Muzan down for them to see.
While he was lost in thought, Tsugikuni Kuuga noticed a petite figure dart swiftly through the woods, heading toward the distant town.
Tsugikuni Kuuga raised a hand and rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he suspected he had seen wrong, because he would recognize that figure even if she were burned to ashes. Wasn't that Lower Rank Four, Zero Yu Zi?
Who knew whether this was enemies meeting on a narrow road or fate at work? Since righteous me had seen her, I could not just stand by. It looked like I was about to set a record by slaying two Lower Ranks in a row.
Tsugikuni Kuuga leaped down from the tree in a few quick movements, then accelerated after her. It seemed he would have to work overtime tonight.
Zero Yu Zi was not moving very fast. Perhaps she was not in much of a hurry, so Tsugikuni Kuuga had already closed to within three meters of her, practically taking a step and hiding with every step.
Suddenly, Zero Yu Zi stopped and glanced behind her several times. Only after confirming that no one was there did she stop again. She had only just received the news herself.
Lower Rank Six, Kamuna, had been killed. This put all of them Lower Ranks in quite a difficult position. After all, Lord Muzan was going to be angry again. Recently, it seemed more than one Lower Rank had been killed.
At that thought, Zero Yu Zi sped up again. She had no idea why Lord Muzan had summoned the Twelve Kizuki. Even the Upper Moons had been called over.
Just as Zero Yu Zi was considering how to deal with it, someone suddenly rushed out from the side. A bright flame swept toward her neck.
Without a second thought, Zero Yu Zi immediately turned her neck to mist. Otherwise, she would have become the third Lower Rank to die. Having dodged the attack, she retreated five meters at once.
Only after putting her head back on did she recognize the person before her. Her expression was absolutely spectacular.
"How is it you?!" Zero Yu Zi looked at Tsugikuni Kuuga with utter disgust.
"What? It's only been a few days. Didn't you miss me?" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a grin.
"I am busy today, so I don't feel like killing you. Get lost!" Zero Yu Zi shot Tsugikuni Kuuga a glare.
"Does Auntie Zero Yu Zi really not miss me?" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a cheeky smile.
"You humans are really strange. You even flirt with demons. What a freak!" Zero Yu Zi truly wanted to chop Tsugikuni Kuuga into eight pieces, but the boss's summons was right here.
Not only did she need to hurry on her way, she also had to shake off this troublesome fellow.
"Oh, right. If I kill you, that means I will have killed two Lower Ranks today!" Tsugikuni Kuuga reminded her.
"You killed Kamuna?" Zero Yu Zi was clearly shocked. She had thought it was some Hashira.
"What, do I look weak?"
"I am not that idiot Kamuna! Get out of my way!"
"Can't Rare Blood tempt you anymore?" As Tsugikuni Kuuga spoke, he lightly patted his own face.
"You are courting death!"
"Blood Demon Art, Mist Manipulation Art: Harden!"
Zero Yu Zi's right arm rapidly swelled, quickly growing several meters long and much thicker. Yet its texture remained as insubstantial as mist.
Zero Yu Zi raised her right fist and smashed it at Tsugikuni Kuuga. He twisted aside to evade it, but the force of the punch still grazed his face, tearing a small cut.
Lower Rank Four's speed and strength were far greater than Kamuna's. It seemed Zero Yu Zi had not gone all out in their last fight.
Tsugikuni Kuuga raised his sword and slashed at Zero Yu Zi's neck, but her left arm instantly expanded as well, transforming into a claw that knocked his blade aside with a single swipe.
Then a pair of wings formed from mist sprouted from Zero Yu Zi's back, while armor made of mist enveloped her entire body. She rose into the air.
"Blood Demon Art, Mist Manipulation: Full-Body Armament!"
"You brat can die today. I am not a useless fool like Kamuna!"
"You're mad, huh? Getting mad turns you into an old auntie! Nyah, nyah, nyah!"
"In a moment, I will tear your tongue out first!"
As soon as Zero Yu Zi finished speaking, she charged directly at Tsugikuni Kuuga. Her fierce attacks rained down upon him like a storm, and he retreated while warding them off.
Zero Yu Zi began to laugh. It seemed this guy had only killed Kamuna through luck. If he had not encountered the Former Water Hashira back then, she would have slaughtered Tsugikuni Kuuga long ago.
"Hahaha! Why aren't you talking now? If the Water Hashira hadn't stood in front of you back then, did you think you could have survived?"
"You only killed Kamuna through luck too. That trick won't work against me!" Zero Yu Zi mocked.
"Then you have misunderstood. How can I break through without putting myself under some pressure?"
"Sun-Breathing First Form: Vortex Waltz!"
"Sun-Breathing Second Form: Azure Sky!"
"Sun-Breathing Twelfth Form: Flame Dance!"
Tsugikuni Kuuga shouted as he unleashed all Twelve Forms of Sun-Breathing. Zero Yu Zi's attacks visibly slowed.
The moment the Twelfth Form was unleashed, Tsugikuni Kuuga immediately followed it with the First Form. He smiled. He had finally linked them together. Today was a day worth celebrating.
Sure enough, only a stronger opponent could draw out one's fighting potential. Flames now swirled around Tsugikuni Kuuga, making him shine as brilliantly as the sun.
Another barrage of attacks followed. Cracks had already spread across Zero Yu Zi's Mist Armor, and she herself was steadily being forced back.
Finally, when Tsugikuni Kuuga unleashed the Sun-Breathing Thirteenth Form for the third time, Zero Yu Zi's mist armor shattered amid her cry of shock.
Before you continue