Furious Activation of the Demon Slayer Mark!

Feeling the immense power of that flying slash, Kujo Tachibana stroked his chin and nodded in satisfaction.

Using a Nichirin Sword to unleash a flying slash has both advantages and disadvantages compared to using one's fists.

The advantage is that the blade's edge has a smaller surface area than a fist, allowing force to be more concentrated, which naturally results in much greater power.

As for the disadvantage, a sword is not a part of your body like a fist is; controlling a blade to execute a flying slash is far more complex than controlling a punch.

This is the reason Kujo Tachibana has a noticeable wind-up for his skills, unlike Akaza, whose "Void Style" punches are essentially instantaneous.

For a true master, an attack with an obvious wind-up is very difficult to land on an opponent.

Take Kokushibo, who was standing to the side, for example!

Furthermore, for demons, unless a Nichirin Sword actually severs their neck, it cannot truly kill them.

In truth, Kokushibo was also shocked when he saw this imaginative strike!

He was not surprised by the power of this attack method, but rather by Kujo Tachibana's terrifying talent for learning!

He had also mastered the Transparent World, yet he had never been able to do what Kujo Tachibana had done.

In such a short amount of time, simply by observing an opponent, he had learned such a complex method of attack!

At this moment, Kokushibo's killing intent toward Kujo Tachibana grew even more intense.

Although he admired Kujo Tachibana's spirit as a swordsman, he wanted even less to see such a gifted individual eventually surpass him!

In Kujo Tachibana, Kokushibo saw a shadow of Yoriichi, even though there was still a vast gap in their current power!

But this talent that defied common sense was simply too similar to his younger brother, Yoriichi!

Even if Muzan were to arrive today and want to turn Kujo Tachibana into a demon, Kokushibo would not agree!

This human swordsman was dead today! That was Kokushibo's decree!

Whoever dared to stand in his way, he would cut them down!

After Yoriichi's death, the thought in Kokushibo's heart that he could not lose to anyone had transformed into an obsession!

He did not allow himself a single failure!

To prevent this from happening, Kokushibo could cast everything aside!

Just as he had done over three hundred years ago in order to defeat Yoriichi!

His human identity, the honor of a samurai, family ties, kinship, friendship, and even love!

All of these things, Kokushibo could discard them all!

Feeling Kokushibo's killing intent, which surged like a volcanic eruption!

Kujo Tachibana raised an eyebrow, then relaxed his expression.

Here and now, there was no use in overthinking.

Watching Akaza, who was nearly recovered, Kujo Tachibana began to get serious!

Sheathing his Nichirin Sword, Kujo Tachibana held the scabbard horizontally with his left hand, but his right hand did not grip the hilt in the usual manner.

At this moment, Kujo Tachibana's grip on the sword was somewhat similar to how one would hold a dagger.

His right hand held the hilt in a reverse grip!

"Hoo... ha..."

Golden light flowed quietly to his feet, following Kujo Tachibana's breathing, and blue-yellow lightning suddenly erupted!

Kujo Tachibana flashed forward at a speed Akaza could not possibly react to!

"Thunder Breathing - Fifth Form - Heat Lightning Modified!"

"Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap and Flash Modified - Swallow Reversal!"

This combo skill, which transcended the limits of speed, was a draw-slash—Swallow Reversal!

The moment Kujo Tachibana drew the Nichirin Sword with his reverse grip.

Before the blade had even fully cleared the scabbard, it had already turned crimson in an instant!

The crimson Red Blade, wreathed in lightning, moved at a speed that brought Akaza's thoughts to a standstill!

It slashed toward his neck!

The Red Blade, moving at extreme speed, entered his body like a hot knife through butter, slicing through Akaza's spine without the slightest resistance.

Only then did Akaza's mind catch up, feeling the long blade that was about to completely sever his neck!

Yet, Akaza's body had no time to react!

Deep within his heart, a strong sense of unwillingness surged up in Akaza!

He screamed with all his might:

"No!"

"I have not yet stepped into the Supreme Territory!"

"I cannot die, I must become stronger!! Stronger!!!"

This intense unwillingness drove Akaza's body to gradually undergo an unprecedented transformation...

Just then, after a deafening "BOOM!!!"

The change occurring within Akaza's body was forcibly interrupted.

A long, red blade covered in eyeballs was seen firmly blocking Kujo Tachibana's strike!

It was so close, just a hair's breadth away!

Akaza's neck was about to be completely severed by Kujo Tachibana... Akaza would have been able to complete his metamorphosis...

Unfortunately, the dishonorable Kokushibo still chose to intervene in this battle!

Kujo Tachibana sighed softly; he was still not fast enough!

Before swinging this blade, he had already anticipated that Kokushibo would not watch idly as he killed Akaza.

Even if the relationship between the two demons was not exactly harmonious.

Kujo Tachibana had simply wanted to try it once.

If he had succeeded, he might have had a chance to hold his own against Kokushibo for the night in his current state.

If he could not kill Akaza, he would have absolutely no chance in a two-on-one fight.

Although, given Akaza's personality, he likely would not have done something so dishonorable.

But Kujo Tachibana could not pin his hopes on a demon!

Feeling the immense pressure transmitted through his Nichirin Sword, Kujo Tachibana felt somewhat frustrated.

Kujo Tachibana then gripped the hilt with his left hand as well, exerting all his strength to engage in a contest of power with Kokushibo right at Akaza's neck!

The glowing red Red Blade, wreathed in flickering lightning, scorched Akaza—who could finally feel temperature—to the point of agony, his eyes gradually rolling back...

While Kokushibo continued to apply pressure with his blade, he looked at Kujo Tachibana's crimson Red Blade and praised:

"Human swordsman, your Red Blade is good, very good!"

Even though Kokushibo's red blade, covered in eyeballs, had been deeply notched by Kujo Tachibana's Red Blade, it still pushed back slowly and firmly, forcing Kujo Tachibana's sword away from the wound it had created.

Until Kujo Tachibana's Nichirin Sword was completely dislodged from Akaza's neck!

"Sigh..."

Kujo Tachibana sighed softly, using the thrust from Kokushibo's blade to leap backward, temporarily exiting Kokushibo's attack range.

He looked at Kokushibo with utter helplessness and said:

"Sigh, why must you force my hand! Isn't living well enough?"

Having said this, Kujo Tachibana could no longer suppress the rage in his heart!

He glared at Kokushibo and roared:

"There is something even better, do you want to see it!!"

"Demon Slayer Mark, open!!"

The thumping sound of his heartbeat grew faster and faster!

It became so loud that even a normal person standing nearby could hear it clearly.

Steaming vapor radiated from Kujo Tachibana's body, and his temperature instantly broke through the human threshold!

"Thump-thump..."

"Thump-thump-thump-thump..."

"Hoo... hah..."

Executing the Thunder Breathing that had long since become instinct, Kujo Tachibana drew a deep breath into his lungs with all his might!

In an instant, lightning was born from his lungs, traveling along his blood vessels, muscles, and skin toward Kujo Tachibana's face...

The next second, dense, irregular web-like lightning patterns were deeply etched onto Kujo Tachibana's forehead and around his eyes!

Although he felt that his current look was quite cool.

Kujo Tachibana could not bring himself to be happy at all!

Cool?

This was bought with decades of his lifespan!!

Kujo Tachibana truly had no desire to activate the Demon Slayer Mark!

Isn't living a long and healthy life a good thing?

In his previous life, he only made it to twenty-seven!

Is he destined to die young again in this life?

But if he doesn't activate the Demon Slayer Mark, he has absolutely no chance of winning against Kokushibo.

He is human; if he gets hit by Kokushibo's attack even once!

He will most likely die!

Since it's inevitable...

Then he might as well activate it early. He can't just wait until he's wounded and on the verge of death, right?

Kujo Tachibana glared with eyes bright as lanterns, looking at Kokushibo with fury!

Within his bright eyes, flashes of lightning sputtered out from time to time.

(Is it cool? A Demon Slayer Mark with special effects!)

Seeing that Kujo Tachibana had successfully activated the Demon Slayer Mark, Kokushibo let out a series of neurotic laughs, which was highly unusual!

"Hahahaha..."

"I can see that you are very angry!"

"It seems you know everything now—that those who activate the Demon Slayer Mark cannot live past twenty-five."

"Then you should understand me, right? If you were given the choice, you would also become a demon, wouldn't you!"

Kujo Tachibana let out a roar, too lazy to listen to any more of Kokushibo's nonsense. He gripped his Nichirin Sword and charged at Kokushibo, cursing as he went!

"I'm your father!"

"I understand your ass!"

Demon Slayer Mark + Transparent World + Red Blade... plus the protagonist's cheat and plot armor—can the protagonist win?