The True Pillar

Taking a deep breath, Kujo Tachibana adjusted his breathing state, raised the Nichirin Sword in his hand, and charged at Kokushibo!

The two long blades collided once again in an instant!

"Thunder Breathing - Fourth Form - Distant Thunder Modified - Striking Lightning Racing Star!"

The moment the blades clashed, surging electrical currents raced along Kujo Tachibana's Nichirin Sword toward the Hollow Cry Divine Departure in Kokushibo's hand!

The sudden sensation of electric shock caused Kokushibo's pupils to constrict, his body stiffening for a fleeting moment!

Kujo Tachibana did not attempt to swing his blade at Kokushibo's neck.

For a demon of Kokushibo's caliber, the crowd-control effect of this sword form was not that strong; at most, it would only slow his speed slightly.

Furthermore, a demon's neck possessed the highest level of protection.

Kujo Tachibana was not confident he could sever Kokushibo's neck in such a short window of time.

However, this was merely the opening move of Kujo Tachibana's combo.

He held the Nichirin Sword in his right hand, parrying Kokushibo's long blade, Hollow Cry Divine Departure.

With a backhand motion, he drew the other blade at his waist—the one left to him by his father, Evil Slayer.

Surging electrical energy instantly flooded the weapon until the entire blade was covered in fine, blue lightning!

"Thunder Breathing - Eighth Form - Flying Thunder God!"

The electric blade Evil Slayer, crackling with blue lightning, was driven fiercely into Kokushibo's chest by Kujo Tachibana!

It pierced through Kokushibo's lungs entirely, the tip of the blade emerging from his back.

More powerful currents spread from Kokushibo's lungs throughout his entire body.

Having just shaken off the previous negative effect, Kokushibo was struck once again.

Kokushibo's gaze turned incredibly grim!

This long blade filled with electricity not only stiffened his movements, but more importantly!

Because of this blade, it was continuously discharging electricity directly into Kokushibo's lungs!

This rendered Kokushibo completely unable to use Moon Breathing for the time being!

And this was Kujo Tachibana's ultimate goal!

Kokushibo tried to pull the long blade from his chest, but his movements were now far less agile than Kujo Tachibana's.

Kujo Tachibana did not give Kokushibo a chance to catch his breath!

Sword form after sword form, like a violent storm, rained down upon Kokushibo!

"Thunder Breathing - Sixth Form - Thunderclap Roar Modified - Violent Thunder Flash!"

Kujo Tachibana brandished his Nichirin Sword like a raging thunderbolt, shattering the Hollow Cry Divine Departure that Kokushibo had held up to block!

In an instant, Kokushibo's defenses were wide open!

"Inhale..."

Kujo Tachibana took a massive breath, his lungs expanding instantly!

He sheathed and drew his Nichirin Sword in one motion, sweeping a backhand strike toward Kokushibo's neck!

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

"Got you!"

At that very moment, the previously grim-faced Kokushibo wore a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

Simultaneously, the electric blade Evil Slayer, still embedded in Kokushibo's chest, suddenly shattered into several pieces and ejected from his torso!

Kujo Tachibana's eyes narrowed instantly!

He dodged the flying blade fragments, but the Nichirin Sword in his hand continued its trajectory, slashing toward Kokushibo's neck!

In a flash, the grotesque long blade Hollow Cry Divine Departure, which had just been shattered by Kujo Tachibana, appeared once again in Kokushibo's hand!

"Moon Breathing - Sixteenth Form - Moonbow - Half Moon!"

Ignoring the vital point at his neck, Kokushibo simply raised his grotesque long blade.

As if intending to trade his demon life for a human one, he swung upward at Kujo Tachibana standing before him!

Watching Kokushibo, who seemed to have no regard for his own life, Kujo Tachibana sighed inwardly.

This guy's blade regenerated far too quickly!

Moreover, Kokushibo's body was much tougher than his own; Kujo Tachibana felt that with his current strength, it was impossible to sever Kokushibo's neck in a single instant!

Even if he wanted to trade life for life, he could no longer do it.

Helpless, Kujo Tachibana retracted his blade, struggling to parry Kokushibo's long blade, Hollow Cry Divine Departure!

With a thunderous "bang," Kujo Tachibana was sent flying by Kokushibo.

A horrifying wound had been carved into his abdomen by the deformed blade, Hollow Cry Divine Departure!

Kujo Tachibana had thought it was an opening, but he hadn't anticipated that even though Kokushibo could not utilize a Breathing Style, his bizarre Blood Demon Art could shake off the effects of the Flying Thunder God.

He had seized that very moment to land a devastating blow!

"Haa... haa..."

Kujo Tachibana gasped for air, and even the lightning-bolt Demon Slayer Mark in his eyes began to dim.

He controlled the muscles around the wound to prevent his intestines from spilling out.

He compressed the wound and the surrounding blood vessels to avoid fainting from excessive blood loss.

With a calm expression, Kujo Tachibana raised his Nichirin Sword and faced Kokushibo.

Watching Kujo Tachibana in his miserable state, Kokushibo was in no rush to attack.

"In over three hundred years, you are the first person to force me to use my full strength."

"Swordsman, for this alone, you should be proud!"

Having said this, Kokushibo raised his blade and swung with extreme speed.

"Moon Breathing - First Form - Dark Moon - Evening Palace!"

"Moon Breathing - Third Form - Loathsome Moon - Chains!"

"Moon Breathing - Tenth Form - Drilling Slashes - Moon Through Bamboo Leaves!"

"Moon Breathing - Fourteenth Form - Catastrophe - Tenman Crescent Moon!"

The deformed blade in Kokushibo's hand instantly became a blur, creating a massive vortex of blades that slammed violently toward Kujo Tachibana.

"Hoo... haa..."

Kujo Tachibana channeled Thunder Breathing, fighting with all his might to parry Kokushibo's strikes.

However, as his stamina drained and the massive wound in his abdomen took its toll, Kujo Tachibana's speed began to slow down more and more.

Kokushibo's deformed blade, along with the crescent blades born from his Blood Demon Art, began to leave a trail of wounds, both large and small, all over Kujo Tachibana's body!

Kujo Tachibana maintained his breathing, calmly watching the vortex of blades that was gradually about to swallow him whole.

It seems I shall lose my life here tonight.

I wonder if there is any chance of reincarnation...

At this moment, Kujo recalled every little detail of his time in this world.

I have changed so much; I wonder if it will ultimately affect the trajectory of this world...

It is just a pity that I seem to have no way left to change anything...

At this moment, Kujo thought of many things, so very many.

Why was it that humans in this world, who were far inferior to demons in strength, speed, regenerative ability, and even lifespan, were ultimately able to defeat them?

It wasn't until he thought of the demon-slaying swordsmen and the Hashira of this world that Kujo Tachibana felt he might have found the answer.

The battle between demons and humans was more like the ultimate clash between flesh and will.

Even if humans were at a disadvantage for a time, the human will remained eternal and inextinguishable.

Just like the swordsmen of this world—even with severed limbs, grievous wounds, or hanging by a thread, they never hesitated to slay demons.

So why should he hesitate?

Fatigue and pain were simply the norm for the demon slayers of this world.

As the strongest Rumble Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, what right did he have to give up!

He was not dead yet, so why should he think he would lose?

"Thunder Breathing - Third Form - Gathering Mosquitoes Thunder Modified - Roaring Thunder and Lightning!"

Following the rhythm of his breathing, explosive lightning swept forth once again.