Boom!!!
Crackle!
A series of sounds and a cloud of dust rose up.
Kokushibo smashed through nearly twenty walls before finally rolling to a stop in front of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Nearby, countless windows opened rapidly, and many people briefly peeked out to take a look.
But after only a couple of glances, those heads quickly retracted and then disappeared completely, never to be seen again.
In the darkness, hundreds of figures moved at the same time, grabbing their most valuable possessions and hastily fleeing into the distance.
For ordinary people, since those violent noises were not an inescapable siege or massacre, they naturally wanted to get away from the battle that could smash through dozens of walls and leave a long trail of deep marks on the ground.
It's not that no one wants to watch the spectacle, it's just that people aren't stupid.
The previous battle between Gawain and Yoriichi Tsugikuni took place outside the city, where the terrain was open and the view was wide.
People feel more at ease when they gather around to watch.
Now that this is in the city, with buildings standing side by side, people naturally won't be crowding around like they would in an open space.
Everyone has a threshold for what feels safe.
To explain, it means...
Imagine you're walking down the street and you see two people wrestling and tumbling together.
You would probably stand six or seven meters away from those two people, or even just two or three meters away, and watch.
But if two people start fighting in a restaurant, the enclosed environment will likely mean there's no one else within a ten-meter radius of them.
If it were a hot pot restaurant, well, most people would probably run outside, afraid of being accidentally injured.
Although people do not know Kokushibo's identity, the destruction he caused is too terrible.
The people in this area certainly had a great time running around.
Listening to the noisy footsteps, Kokushibo sighed, then turned and stood up.
"Oh."
With his head raised and his knees supporting him, Kokushibo stared intently at Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"You... you always have such good luck!"
At this point, Kokushibo stood up straight, tensed all his muscles, and his Blood Demon Art began to stir.
Blood Demon Arts are special abilities gained by ordinary people after they transform into vengeful ghosts. Each ghost's Blood Demon Arts are different, belonging to their individual superpowers.
In addition to his fully prepared Blood Demon Art, Kokushibo, as a former member of the Demon Slayer Corps, had also learned the Breathing Techniques taught by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
However, Yoriichi Tsugikuni taught the Sun Breathing.
However, the breathing technique that Kokushibo learned evolved into the Moon Breathing, which corresponds to the Sun Breathing technique.
Holding his long sword and practicing his breathing technique, Kokushibo pointed the Yoriichi Tsugikuni of his sword at Yoriichi and continued speaking.
Whether you were a child or now, you will always meet people who appreciate you more!
I never imagined that someone as capable as you, who could hold Muzan back for so long, would actually meet someone qualified to teach you!
So, that person is the one who defeated you the other day?
"Beat?"
Hearing Kokushibo's words, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's pupils showed a slight sense of melancholy.
Brother, it's been ten years since we last met. Even if you've become a ghost, I still long to hear a few words of greeting from you.
Tamayo has proven that even demons turned by Muzan don't necessarily have to obey Muzan.
Although it's just wishful thinking, in my dreams, how much I wish you, my brother, could become a demon like Tamayo, someone who regains his heart!
Even those sins that cannot erase your past.
But at least... at least that way, I could still find my last remaining family member...
A hint of pain flickered in Yoriichi Tsugikuni's eyes. Tormented by agony, he raised his head and silently drew his sword.
Buzzing!!!
The Nichirin Sword in his hand gradually heated up, then radiated the color of the great sun.
Wisps of steam swirled around the blade, tinging the surrounding night with a hazy glow and making the already indistinct darkness even more dreamlike.
Just as the tip of the Nichirin Sword was pointing directly at Kokushibo, Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"Brother."
He said in a low voice.
"Ten years have passed, and I only have one question for you."
Do you regret it?
"Regret?"
Upon hearing Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words, Kokushibo was first taken aback, then suddenly grinned widely.
"What do you think I should regret? Is it because I escaped my fate of dying under the mark, or because I killed that Ubuyashiki Family who was always talking big but could never help me?"
In other words, it's about Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Do you really think I need to regret my current existence?
Our primary purpose in life is survival; survival is life's only and ultimate instinct!
Everything I've done has always been for survival.
So I won't regret it!
With a roar, Kokushibo stepped forward, raised his sword, and unleashed the strongest move of the Moon Breathing, which he had honed over the past ten years.
In a nameless cave far away, after sensing Kokushibo's actions through Kokushibo's perspective.
He cursed and swore in Muzan.
"Why did you go up so fast? Why?!"
That damn bastard, get some information out of that guy!
Who exactly is that person? Where did he come from? And where is he going?
What are his abilities, and what is his purpose?
Damn it, Yoriichi Tsugikuni isn't the most terrifying enemy anymore. I'd better get some information about you!
A new enemy has appeared, are you just going to...?!
A moment later, Muzan stared in Muzan, his eyes widening. He could no longer see the world through Kokushibo's eyes.
As for why, he knew the reason.
Because in the very last instant he saw it, a burst of sunlight, illuminating the moonlight, obscured Muzan's entire vision...
Meanwhile, between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Muzan.
As they passed each other, their backs turned, they did not look at each other.
Suddenly Kokushibo looked up at the moonlight and remained silent.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni took a deep breath and then let out an indescribable sigh.
After a long sigh, Yoriichi Tsugikuni sheathed his sword and then stood up straight.
With his back to his brother, he lowered his head and looked at the ground before finally speaking.
"This was the sword I intended to leave for Muzan."
Back then, his body exploded into a full 1,800 pieces, leaving me no time to look around, which is how I finally survived.
That was my... final regret in life, so I practiced swordsmanship diligently. Even though I knew I might never meet Muzan again, I had to hone my swordsmanship so that I would never miss another opportunity.
Please forgive me for no longer being able to call you brother, Kokushibo.
Looking at you, who have committed countless sins yet feel no remorse whatsoever.
My regret grew ever stronger.
I should have severed our past long ago. After all, without my brother's heart, all that's left is a ghost's shell.
I made a mistake, a mistake for ten years, or perhaps... a mistake for my entire life.
But I think killing you would be a good thing.
So goodbye, Kokushibo..."
At this point, Yoriichi Tsugikuni and pressed his hand against the scabbard, looking towards Gawain's direction in the distance.
Behind him, after a brief pause, Kokushibo suddenly exhaled a breath of stale air.
A stench of decaying blood, belonging to demons, emanated from Kokushibo's mouth.
After many years, Kokushibo finally experienced the feeling of impending death once again.
Ah, so death... isn't necessarily all painful.
Aside from the lingering resentment that has persisted since then.
A slight sense of relief welled up within me.
A moment later, Kokushibo closed his eyes, and cracks slowly appeared on the surface of his body.
His body gradually became covered with cracks, like a broken piece of porcelain.
However, Kokushibo did not feel pain. Instead, in his gradually closing eyes, he saw... a long-lost happiness.
What year was that?
Yes, it's been a long time.
Kokushibo... No!
It is Michikatsu Tsugikuni.
At that moment, Michikatsu Tsugikuni looked at his small body and arms, then forgot everything and threw himself into life with his father, mother, and childhood friends.
First, she played freely like a child, and then she learned during the play that she had a younger brother.
But my poor little brother.
He had no tatami mat to sleep on in his house, nor any servants to help take care of him.
My father was always very strict with my younger brother, so strict that he was even unwilling to look at him.
At that moment, little Michikatsu Tsugikuni hid behind the wall, watching Yoriichi Tsugikuni, dressed in tattered clothes, happily feeding the horses and herding the cattle.
For the first time, Michikatsu Tsugikuni realized that his younger brother was actually such a... happy person.
Even if you have nothing, cherish everything around you that doesn't belong to you.
Is this my younger brother?
From that day on, Michikatsu Tsugikuni would occasionally look for Yoriichi Tsugikuni and bring his younger brother some snacks that he had secretly hidden away.
My younger brother is so pitiful, I have to help him.
This was the only purpose of the young Michikatsu Tsugikuni.
Sometimes, Michikatsu Tsugikuni would wonder if he were to live Yoriichi Tsugikuni's life, would he be as happy and content as Yoriichi Tsugikuni?
I think so.
It definitely will!!!
However, Michikatsu Tsugikuni never imagined that he would actually live that kind of life...
On his tenth birthday, Yoriichi Tsugikuni touched a sword for the first time and defeated his father in an instant.
Less than two days later, Michikatsu Tsugikuni lost his gorgeous clothes, fine food, and lodging.
Michikatsu Tsugikuni realized that his and Yoriichi Tsugikuni's lives had been turned upside down.
In his gradually shattering pupils, Michikatsu Tsugikuni seemed to see his former self.
Was life without a father's attention happy?
I'm so happy because my brother's life has improved!
My little brother can be happier now!
But why, why is it that even though it was Father's decision, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, your eyes are filled with apology when you look at me?
Your happiness has vanished along with your current life.
Was my past life really so unworthy of your happiness?
You haven't done anything wrong to me!
I don't need your sympathy!
I don't need it!!!
Especially...
I don't need it, and I certainly don't want to inherit what you despise!
At the age of thirteen, after three years of exhausting and chaotic living, Michikatsu Tsugikuni learned for the first time what hatred felt like.
That year, Yoriichi Tsugikuni ran away. He gave up his status as the family heir, giving away what his father and he cherished most as if it were trash to him!
Only trash needs to be given charity!
I shouldn't be Yoriichi Tsugikuni trash by Yoruichi, no!!!
Year after year, Michikatsu Tsugikuni recalled many years in pain. He became the head of the family as he wished, but lost his father.
He finally met his younger brother, whom he had run away from for many years, but lost his family.
He successfully caught up with his younger brother, following in his footsteps and learning breathing techniques, the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, and various other powers.
Result...
Death...
What I want to give my younger brother is a lifetime of following and helping him, and also a lifelong pursuit.
But it was my younger brother who brought it to me.
Only the trash that my brother disdains, and death...
With this thought in mind, Kokushibo made one last effort to turn his head.
As he turned his head, the cracks near his neck spread rapidly.
When he turned his head completely...
His deformed head had already slid off his neck and crashed to the ground.
But Kokushibo didn't feel anything was wrong. Even when the perspective suddenly dropped many times over, he just let out a leisurely breath.
He moved his lips Kokushibo.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni ..."
Upon hearing this voice, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was walking into the distance, suddenly stopped.
There's no turning back, and I can't listen to a single word that guy says anymore!
Kill my lord and surrender to Muzan!
They have abandoned their human identity and have absolutely no sense of shame!
Such a person... such a person...!
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, I've never felt... that I'm not doing as well as you."
It's precisely you... who have always felt... that I'm not as good as you!
Do you remember the way you looked at me? Even just now, you... pitied me.
Why is there always a sense of guilt and regret in your eyes when you look at me?
I... I'm starting to hate you.
I understand you now, haha.
With that, Kokushibo closed his eyes with a smile, and his body and head were evenly divided into three thousand six hundred pieces in the air!
In that brief moment of collision, Yoriichi, who had already mastered the Rokushiki Yoriichi Tsugikuni, unleashed a strike that Muzan Muzan's original attack!
Yoriichi Tsugikuni felt no sense of accomplishment, but rather shock and pain, and turned around as quickly as possible!
On the ground, Kokushibo had already shed his demon form.
Utter death led to the end of humanity.
Seeing the head disappearing into the distance on the ground, Yoriichi paused for Yoriichi Tsugikuni immediately rushed towards it.
That head wasn't some kind of Kokushibo.
The final image of that head was clearly that of his elder brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni!
When Gawain walked against the line of guards and came up Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni knelt on the ground, his right hand gripping the knife and resting it on the ground, remaining silent for a long time.
I thought I had nothing left to lose.
My mother died eighteen years ago, my wife and children died thirteen years ago, my family members died twelve years ago, and my brother... died ten years ago!
But he only found out today.
It turns out that the brother's heart, which should have been lost, had always been hidden in the death of a ghost.
Now, he truly has nothing left...
Looking at Yoriichi Tsugikuni's tired back, Gawain shook his head, came up Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Let me teach you another lesson: as a man, never regret anything you've ever done."
Michikatsu Tsugikuni... he's not exactly a good person.
Traitors, in any environment, do not deserve the vast majority of positive evaluations.
But when it comes to men, well...
He is indeed far superior to you.
Whether they are genuine villains or hypocrites.
As long as there are no regrets.
That shows they have quite a lot of magnanimity.
At this point, Gawain casually picked up Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, after a brief silence, stood up using Gawain's strength.
With his arm Yoriichi Tsugikuni's shoulder, Gawain turned to the soldiers around him who were on guard but dared not approach.
"I need to rest now, you all should leave."
By the way, tell your chieftain to inform your lord, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
"Have him come to my resting place to pay his respects."