The Zodiacs × Ginta

Milky-white Nen Qi emanated from his body, forming a "Nen Barrier" that instantly enveloped Rengoku Kyojuro from head to toe. He had not yet mastered "Ren," so he could only attach Nen Qi to his body surface using the "Entangle" method.

Even so... Rengoku Kyojuro stood before everyone, his aura rising steadily. In the eyes of the "Pillars" led by Himejima Gyomei, there was a distinct, indescribable feeling about him.

Once the Aura Nodes open, the distinction between "ordinary" and "thought" becomes clear.

"This is ' Divine Power.'" Kyojuro knew that everyone only saw it as mysterious, but couldn't see the "spirit" clearly. He extended a finger, imbued with [Entanglement], and gently poked a wooden pillar beside him. "Pfft."

The finger pierced the pillar without resistance, leaving a deep hole!

The sight caused everyone's pupils to shrink, and some even exchanged bewildered glances, speechless...

"You used ' Divine Power ' in that last strike too?" Shinazugawa Sanemi glared menacingly. As the most hot-tempered and belligerent of the "Pillars," he had sparred with Rengoku Kyojuro, Uzui Tengen, and others quite often. That last strike was powerful and heavy, yet lightning fast, completely beyond human comprehension. It seemed... it truly could be called "divine"!

Rengoku Kyojuro nodded.

Uzui Tengen leaned against a pillar, gently stroking the hole in his fingertip and sighing, "Your physical abilities are already comparable to those of Demon. No wonder..."

"Amitabha Buddha," a Buddhist chant rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

The towering Stone Hashira, no less imposing than Demon, softly uttered a Buddhist chant, its gaze fixed intently on Rengoku Kyojuro, and said, "Kyojuro, may I experience this more closely?"

Himejima Gyomei beads, then immediately ordered someone to bring a table. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thick forearms, and assumed an arm-wrestling stance... clearly intending to compete with Rengoku Kyojuro!

He is the strongest "Pillar," and also renowned for his immense strength. In the original work, before mastering the Breathing Style, Himejima Gyomei could easily crush Demon to death with his monstrous strength and fists nearly as large as a bowl, demonstrating...

His physical abilities and strength are incredible!

"Gyomei..." The monk waited quietly, and the other pillars watched in silence. Shinazugawa Sanemi sheathed his sword with a "clang" and stepped aside. Soon... the large front hall provided the two with ample space to maneuver.

"My Master." Rengoku Kyojuro glanced at Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who smiled and patted him on the shoulder without saying a word.

Rengoku Kyojuro's gaze swept over everyone, pausing briefly on Giyu Tomioka stood silently with his sword at his side. Then, he lifted his foot, laughed heartily, and strode forward. With a "snap," his right hand met Himejima Gyomei's thick, large hand!

A gust of wind blew by, swirling the Wisteria, causing them to flutter and dance in the air...

The moment he touched Rengoku Kyojuro's right hand, Himejima Gyomei immediately felt a warm current clinging to the other's palm. According to Kyojuro, this must be the "Divine Power" he had mentioned.

Such a gentle power... warm... and righteous... yet it didn't bring any evil, twisted, or insane feeling to Himejima Gyomei...

Himejima Gyomei was immediately somewhat surprised. Those who study Buddhism emphasize "Buddha-mind clarity," also known as "Zen of Clear Insight." It takes "comprehensive observation of the three things of body, breath, and mind" and "thoroughly seeing emptiness" as its core. It advocates achieving a deep and subtle state of concentration by breaking through the five hindrances (greed, anger, etc.) and possessing the potential to trigger the six supernatural powers and three insights.

It is easiest to cultivate a "Buddha-like heart" that allows one to keenly perceive the "good" and "evil" around them, understand the hearts of others, and thus see their true nature.

At this moment, in Himejima Gyomei's eyes, Rengoku Kyojuro was still that "fire" burning others, unchanged in the slightest. The difference was that... he was now burning even more fiercely and intensely, having grown from a small flame into a "campfire"!

And all of this... seems to be related to that Sun-Earring Boy with the mountains, rivers, sun, and moon as his earrings...

"Kyojuro, you are leaving, and I cannot pretend I don't see it." The struggle begins!

The small table placed between the two suddenly sank, and it was clearly visible that Himejima Gyomei's thick forearms were covered with veins that bulged out, looking like small snakes, and you could even see blood flowing beneath them, which was quite terrifying!

"Lord Stone Hashira... you're serious!"

"He used to just play along with Kyojuro and Lord Tengen, never taking it seriously... It seems... Kyojuro really hurt and angered him..."

Under the pine trees in the courtyard, beside the door, by the pillars, and in the corner, members of the "Hidden" team peeked in, peered out, or stood on tiptoe.

After Himejima Gyomei first, Kyojuro, who had been strengthened by "Nen Qi," silently sensed that the older brother in front of him, who had once overwhelmed him with power, seemed... not as strong as he had imagined. Rengoku Kyojuro's right hand remained as still as a rock, and his elbow was like an iron nail, firmly planted on the table. No matter how hard Himejima Gyomei tried, he couldn't budge it an inch.

"I know, I know everything..." Rengoku Kyojuro moved his right hand, gently pressing Himejima Gyomei closer to the table. In Shinazugawa Sanemi's silence... Obanai Iguro's pupils constricted slightly... Tokito Muichiro Kanroji Mitsuri raised her fist in encouragement... Tokito Muichiro broke free of his dazed state, a glint of light appearing on his face... Giyu Tomioka watched silently... Ubuyashiki Kagaya's ears perked up.

With a single exertion, he instantly pressed down on the large hand of the Himejima Gyomei!

Then there was a muffled "thud"...

The small table, unable to bear the weight, shattered, leaving only the large hand of Himejima Gyomei, which had been pressed down, suspended in mid-air... and not lifted again for a long time.

Shizuku is the residence of the Ubuyashiki Clan today.

The group of "Hidden" organization members who were spying stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Several members who frequently accompanied Himejima Gyomei simply couldn't believe that the Stone Hashira, who could smash a Demon's head with a single flail, would be defeated. They then looked at Rengoku Kyojuro with eyes full of awe!

"I lost. Amitabha..." After a long while, Himejima Gyomei regained his senses. He was neither dejected nor frustrated. Instead, he put his hands together, uttered a Buddhist chant, and looked at Rengoku Kyojuro with admiration, saying, "Kyojuro, you are different today than you were yesterday."

The monk praised, "I have never admired anyone before, but you are the second."

"Who was the first one...?" The pillars, as if by unspoken agreement, automatically conjured up the image of Sun-Earring Boy with fiery red hair, casually piercing the entire courtyard with a single slash—a scene that seemed like yesterday.

In a corner of the room, Giyu Tomioka, who had always been alone, wore a red, yellow, and green haori, his hand Nichirin Sword. He silently observed everything, his cold gaze flickering with emotion. He couldn't help but sigh softly to himself, "Even without him, this place... is still stirred up by him, even..."

Legends about him have been passed down...

Giyu Tomioka thought of his master, of the letter he wrote to his Master, and of the words, "If anyone can kill Muzan, it will be my disciple, Kamado Eiichiro."

Amidst the turmoil of my emotions, I heard a series of footsteps, so I looked up...

Ubuyashiki Kagaya, whose eyes were nearly blinded by the Curse Muzan Kibu Muzan, dragged his ailing body to Rengoku Kyojuro, and gently raised his hand. The young man bent down slightly, allowing him to pat his shoulder lightly, and said, "I believe in your judgment, and I believe in Eiichiro, and..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya from the original story who was willing to sacrifice his wife and daughter to drag Muzan Kibutsuji into Hell Muzan, glared at everyone with his blind eyes and said, "Everyone here."

"If possible,"

The man paused, his body too weak to speak, and coughed. Fortunately, Rengoku Kyojuro reacted quickly, offering a hand to support him, allowing him to catch his breath slightly. He smiled and nodded at Rengoku Kyojuro, then addressed the others, "You may all leave!"

"If only,"

"It can make you stronger, kill ghosts, and even..."

"I'd rather give up my position as leader of the Demon Slayer Corps than refuse!"

"My Master!" Himejima Gyomei, Shinazugawa Sanemi, Uzui Tengen... and all the Pillars, including Giyu Tomioka, knelt down in unison...

Ubuyashiki Kagaya listened with a smile. The Pillars revealed their true feelings, having no intention of leaving. Supported by Rengoku Kyojuro, Kagaya could even sense the complex emotions welling up within the Sun-Earring Boy. He gently patted Kyojuro's hand and said, "This is not a discussion, but an order!"

"Giyu."

"Exist."

"I said, you take the pen and write a letter informing Eiichiro that I wish to switch Master him and ask him to return for a discussion."

Giyu Tomioka:

Pillars:

They glanced at each other, staring at each other in silence...

A moment later, only Rengoku Kyojuro, palms pressed together, and devoutly said, "Praise the sun."

A simple murmur, carried away by the wind, with a trace of "piety" and "concern," crossed the boundaries of the world, left the Demon Slayer world, and came to the Hunter world, drifting and Roy Roy's ear.

[Hint: Nine "Potential Believer" have been identified... to be observed...]

[Believer 1, Himejima Gyomei (Note: "Forced Faith", Loyalty needs to be cultivated)]

[Believer 2, Shinazugawa Sanemi (Note: "Forced Faith", loyalty needs to be cultivated)]

[3. Tokito Muichiro...4. Uzui Tengen...5. Obanai Iguro...6. Kochou Shinobu]

7. Kanroji Mitsuri...]

[8. Giyu Tomioka (Note: "Semi-forced Faith", Loyalty: Absolute Loyalty)]

[9. Ubuyashiki Kagaya (Note: "Active Faith", Loyalty: Absolute Loyalty)]

Zoldyck Family headquarters, Kukuroo Mountain, 2 PM.

Roy, carrying Gotoh, had just stepped out of the bedroom when he suddenly heard a continuous, babbling notification sound from the control panel. He immediately checked the panel and stopped in his tracks.

The bedroom door creaked shut.

Gotoh, carrying two suitcases, lagged behind Roy by a step and asked, "Did you forget something, Young Master?"

Roy's expression was strange; instead of "falling," many "things" appeared...

Potential Believer... Ubuyashiki + Nine Pillars... What did Rengoku Kyojuro do?

Roy calmly turned off the panel, suppressing his doubts, intending to deal with it in his dreams that night. He took a step forward. "Let's go."

Gotoh followed with her luggage. The master and servant strolled through the mottled corridor filled with the atmosphere of time, and went straight out of the Ancient Castle's main gate. They came across the garden, where Kikyo, who had just coaxed Kikyo to take a Silva, was returning to his study alone. He glanced at Roy before turning away.

"Master has been acting strangely these past few days. It seems... he's deliberately avoiding the Young Master?" Gotoh bowed respectfully the moment she saw Silva. By the time he looked up again... the man had already hurried through the main gate, leaving only a single sentence echoing in the garden.

"Your mother is about to give birth, come back soon, I want... you by my side..."

"Yes." Roy watched the man leave, then turned and headed down the mountain...

In that dimly lit little room on the first floor... a gaunt old man listened to cartoons, swaying contentedly in his rocking chair, and chuckled, "How wonderful... a family should be together forever..."

At one point, the laughter stopped, turning into a long, drawn-out sigh, as if he had returned to his glorious past, remembering something, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep...

2:30 PM.

On an airship Yorbian the Republic of Padokea.

VIP private room.

The young butler served Roy black tea, and shortly after boarding the plane, he received the information sent by the other party.

"Young Master, the other party has sent a mission summary, saying that... the person we're going to kidnap is accompanied by a security team in addition to the prison guards responsible for escorting him."

"Not surprising." Roy opened his grandfather Jager's notebook, turned to the page on [Hard], and examined it carefully. This advanced application technique, which combines the Four Major Principles of [Entangle], [Absolute], [Refine], and [Send] with the application skill [Condensation], is currently the only problem Roy has yet to solve besides [Flow].

[Hard]: First, use [Concentrate] to concentrate all the energy into a specific part of the body (e. g., the right hand). Then, use [Entangle] to completely envelop the dissipated energy in that area to increase its density. At this point, a small amount of energy will still escape from other parts of the body, so you need to use [Absolute] to eliminate the energy in those other parts. Finally, use [Concentrate] to strengthen the right hand. In this way, the right hand will completely receive 100% of the energy from within the body and be greatly strengthened!

In short, it's about maximizing the utilization rate of certain parts of the body!

"The other party is Razor; ordinary prison guards can't handle him. We'll hire a separate security team. There shouldn't be any problems."

"Is this guy named Razor very strong?"

"Very strong."

Gotoh turned on the computer, browsed through the documents, and then his gaze lingered on a man with squinty eyes. Noticing that he was also Emission, he said in a deep voice, "Young Master... besides him, the other party also told you to pay attention to another person."

"Who?" Roy looked up. Gotoh pushed up his glasses, flipped open his notebook, and a photo immediately appeared on the screen, catching Roy's eye and surprising him.

"So it was him."

The Ginta) Yinda Poacher Hunter, a commando, and a future member of the Zodiacs.

After Netero's death, the Zodiacs explored the Dark Continent, and he was one of the few who was assigned to the biology group.

He is also one of the few men who were scored over 90 points by peak Hisoka!

Even Kanzai, who was assigned to the "defense team," was taller than Saiyu!

Second only to Botobai!