I'll Be More Assertive Next Time

In but a moment.

Inosuke collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.

Having finished all that, Sanemi Shinazugawa turned to Tanjiro once more and coldly reminded him, "You're the only one left. Give it everything you've got from here on out!

"Don't hold anything back. I permit you to use that blade's power!"

"Really?"

Tanjiro had just been about to ask, but when he saw that the Wind Hashira's gaze had not changed, he too steeled himself.

"Ashura Kannon, lend me your power!"

Hearing that, Ashura Kannon within the blade responded as well. "As it happens, I recovered some more power and abilities during the battle at Mount Natagumo. I'll give them all to you now!"

As he spoke.

He activated Borrowed Power.

Tanjiro could then sense that he was able to draw upon Demon Power from him, though it still required his approval.

After activating Borrowed Power.

Tanjiro also felt that it was different from before. In the past, Demon Power filling his body had merely strengthened his physique, but this time, he felt that he could control that Demon Power as he pleased.

He could even draw out the Demon Power within the blade. Beyond that, memories of how to use Demon Power had appeared in his mind.

"These are..."

Tanjiro was dazed for a moment, but quickly came back to his senses. Facing Sanemi Shinazugawa, who stood before him poised to strike, he spoke respectfully.

"I'm ready!"

The moment he finished speaking.

The two moved almost simultaneously.

Sanemi Shinazugawa gripped his Nichirin Blade and lunged forward, his speed far beyond anything he had displayed before.

"Let me see just how strong you are with Ashura Kannon!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa could no longer wait to witness firsthand just how much Ashura Kannon could elevate Kamado Tanjiro's strength!

But at that moment.

Tanjiro stood where he was, holding his sword in both hands as he warned him.

"Be careful, Mr. Sanemi!"

With that, black smoke bloomed from the blade. As he swung, the smoke instantly condensed into a crescent slash that came hurtling toward him.

"What?"

Seeing the crescent slash speeding toward him, Sanemi Shinazugawa had no time to think. He immediately stopped and unleashed a sword technique on the spot.

"Wind Breathing—Fourth Form—Rising Dust Storm!"

Lowering his stance, he rapidly swung his Nichirin Blade upward from below. The green hurricane blooming from the blade formed a protective barrier of Wind Blades around him.

When the black slash arrived.

It collided with the Wind Blades, instantly tearing through two of them before dispersing into nothingness.

Tanjiro could not help but marvel from where he stood.

"As expected of a Hashira. You're incredibly strong!"

After taking that attack, Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately unleashed the First Form of Wind Breathing again.

His blade spun as a hurricane gathered around it.

It became a horizontal Tornado that rushed straight at Tanjiro.

The distance between them rapidly closed.

Tanjiro was also adapting to the power Ashura Kannon had granted him this time. He swung his blade once more.

"Ashura Kannon—Three Blades!"

Demonic energy condensed before him into three sharp blades glowing red, which shot forth like arrows.

They ripped through the air.

They pierced directly through the hurricane, but Sanemi Shinazugawa managed to block them with his spinning Nichirin Blade. He was even more astonished within.

It can directly break through the hurricane of my First Form? But it seems to require preparation time. I really do need to fight at close range...

His steps did not stop as he continued his charge.

Within only a few breaths, he had arrived before Tanjiro.

Tanjiro simultaneously released the power within the blade. An enormous amount of black smoke poured outward from his body, forming a massive circular slash. The smoke was like countless tiny blades.

Even though Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately leaped backward with all his strength to escape its range, several short, shallow cuts were still torn across his left hand.

Yet despite how small those wounds were, the blood simply would not stop flowing, continuously spilling out.

That reminded him of the ability that had been mentioned that day. As long as one was cut, the wound could not heal and the bleeding could not be stopped.

Now, it seemed that was indeed the case.

After only a few brief exchanges.

Sanemi Shinazugawa had personally experienced Ashura Kannon's power. It was utterly absurd!

He began considering how to break the deadlock.

Tanjiro, standing opposite him, also felt that the previous move had consumed an enormous amount of Demon Power. Remembering that Ashura Kannon did not possess much power to begin with.

He apologized without hesitation.

"Sorry, I didn't expect that move to consume so much of your power, Ashura Kannon."

"Hmph! Can't you show a little more backbone as my wielder?!"

Next time, I'll be more assertive

Ashura Kannon snapped back at him, somewhat exasperated.

After being scolded, Tanjiro could tell that he was not actually angry, so he replied softly, "Sorry. I'll be more assertive next time."

Well.

That was indeed a little difficult.

Ashura Kannon covered his forehead with one hand inside the blade, looking utterly defeated. Then he came back to himself and asked seriously.

"How well have you adapted to controlling Demon Power now?"

"It feels very smooth to use!"

Tanjiro immediately answered.

That sounded a little strange, but Ashura Kannon did not dwell on it and continued reminding him.

"Then don't use any abilities for the time being. If you want to improve your strength now, your Breathing techniques are still the most important thing. Take this excellent opportunity to hone your Dance of the Fire God!"

"I understand."

After responding, Tanjiro immediately looked toward Sanemi Shinazugawa, who stood ahead with his blade at the ready, and earnestly told him.

"Mr. Sanemi, I won't use Ashura Kannon's abilities any longer. Please help hone my swordsmanship!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa had still been considering how to fight, and had not expected Tanjiro to make such a request.

After all, he had been targeting Tanjiro and his sister the whole time. Rather than taking the chance to retaliate, Tanjiro was setting aside past grievances and choosing to trust him?

Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Tanjiro's innocent yet resolute face and saw his sincerity in his eyes, but he still put on a vicious expression as he said.

"If you choose this, then be prepared for me to seriously injure you!"

His words were harsh, but Tanjiro felt that he had already seen through the kind of person he was. He was clearly all bark and no bite.

Just like Ashura Kannon, he always thought of others while acting fierce. But that did not stop Tanjiro from smiling.

"It would be my honor to receive your guidance!"

Hearing that.

Sanemi Shinazugawa finally felt the gentleness that belonged to Tanjiro. Who could possibly bring themselves to dislike someone like that?

Yet he still appeared fierce and stern on the surface.

Tanjiro no longer delayed. Holding his blade in one hand, he pushed off the ground and charged forward. The checkered haori on his back fluttered in the wind resistance.

Tanjiro's heavy breathing accompanied his sprint, to the point that flames even surged from the corners of his mouth!

"So this is the legendary Sun Breathing?"

Upon seeing those flames, Sanemi Shinazugawa observed them with interest. Then he advanced to meet him as well. "Wind Breathing—Second Form—Claw Claw: Koto Wind!"

He swung his blade rapidly forward, instantly unleashing four Wind Blades like the claw marks of a savage beast!

Tanjiro had already closed in. He stepped forward, leaped into the air, and swung Ashura Kannon in his hand. "Dance of the Fire God—Dance Flash!"

Flames bloomed across the blade, scorching and warm like sunlight. As the burning blade came slashing down.

The four Wind Blades were completely incinerated by the flames!

More precisely, they touched the blade but could not break through its defense.

Faced with that scorching slash.

Sanemi Shinazugawa had no choice but to take a step back. His feet shattered the ground as he twisted his body and fiercely slashed upward from below at an angle.

"Wind Breathing—Sixth Form—Black Wind Smoke Haze!" The Nichirin Blade he swung upward carved out a spinning hurricane.

Tanjiro's flaming slash had also arrived.

The moment the two clashed.

Tanjiro's body was uncontrollably carried upward by the hurricane, and his strength was weakened as well.

Even so, Sanemi Shinazugawa below could still feel both his hands going slightly numb.

That alone was enough to show just how powerful Tanjiro was!

Carried upward, Tanjiro gripped his blade with both hands in midair. The flames on the blade had not gone out. "Dance of the Fire God—Clear Blue Sky!"

With one slash, the flames drew a beautiful arc through the air.

Sanemi Shinazugawa below seemed to have anticipated it. He immediately unleashed a sword technique as well, rapidly closing in and launching a series of slashes as they passed each other.

"Wind Breathing—Eighth Form—First Gale Slash!"

The slashes swirled around Tanjiro like a hurricane, perfectly countering his move. Several sword wounds then appeared across his body.

In an instant.

Blood flowed freely, though fortunately they were only ordinary flesh wounds and did not affect him much.

But after Sanemi Shinazugawa landed, he immediately turned around and stared with his fierce gaze. Only after seeing the wounds heal on their own did he relax.

Though all he showed was still ferocity.

"Your sword techniques are far too careless!"

Faced with the criticism, Tanjiro readily accepted it. "I'll be more careful next time!"

That humble attitude pleased Sanemi Shinazugawa greatly, and even his fierce gaze softened somewhat.

But remembering his master's instructions, he said coldly, "Activate Demonification now. Let me see how strong you are after becoming a demon!"

"Okay!"

Tanjiro answered seriously, then thought to himself.

Please, Ashura Kannon!

Perhaps this was the most assertive he would ever be. Ashura Kannon smiled helplessly. "Then unleash your desires to your heart's content, and let him experience what Demonification truly is!"

The moment he finished speaking.

A vast amount of Demon Power surged into his body. Since Tanjiro's physique had been greatly strengthened, the amount of time he could endure it had also risen dramatically.

Just as before.