The tense atmosphere was about to erupt. Upper Rank Three, his entire body wreathed in black smoke, widened his eyes. With a thunderous boom, he was already before Rengoku.
The speed was so swift that even Rengoku Kyojuro had nearly failed to react. However, Rengoku Kyojuro had undergone special training. The opponent was still somewhat slower than the Old Heavenly Master or Wind Sickle. After adapting for a while, he should be able to keep up with the opponent's attack rhythm!
Upper Rank Three's black-smoke-wreathed fist slammed fiercely into Rengoku's Sunwheel Blade. The tremendous force traveled through the blade into Kyojuro's body, sending him flying more than ten meters away.
"Is this the strength of an Upper Rank? Sure enough, they're on an entirely different level from the Lower Ranks! But I, Rengoku Kyojuro, will not admit defeat so easily!"
Rengoku Kyojuro, having been forced back, did not fall into a negative mood. He remained full of confidence in himself.
"Oh? Interesting. You actually managed to block that punch of mine. Impressive. Some of the Pillars I encountered before would suffer varying degrees of injury after taking that move. You're the first Pillar to emerge completely unscathed!"
A look of considerable appreciation appeared in Upper Rank Three's demon eyes as he extended an invitation to Rengoku Kyojuro. "You're quite strong. How about joining us? It would be a worthwhile deal for you as well!"
Faced with Upper Rank Three's proposal, Rengoku Kyojuro did not hesitate in the slightest and decisively refused.
"My apologies, but I can never become a demon! No matter how many times you ask, my answer will remain the same!"
Rengoku Kyojuro's heart was incomparably resolute. The words of a mere Evil Spirit could not tempt him in the slightest.
"Is that so... Then there is nothing