He kept shifting his footing and retreating.
"Drip, drip..." Blood poured from his palm onto the floor. His pupils trembled, and Kaigaku looked as though he had seen a ghost, his face full of disbelief.
In just one month, he's become a completely different person. What on earth did this guy go through to improve this much?
With a cold, serious expression, Zenitsu turned to look at him, his right hand resting on his sword hilt, ready to draw again.
A thin, bloody cut opened on his cheek. A wisp of black lightning seeped into the wound, mingling with a scorching heat that made the corner of his mouth twitch in pain.
"I've figured it out!"
Suddenly, Kaigaku burst into laughter. "Cough, cough-hahaha... I was careless just now and almost let you kill me. But you won't get another chance like that."
Zenitsu was about to retort when Kuwajima flashed through the lightning to stand opposite Kaigaku. Eyes blazing, he demanded, "That black, bloodstained blade... It really was you? You killed all sixty-odd villagers and Corps members?"
"Heh, heh..." Kaigaku sneered arrogantly. "They were lucky to become part of my strength. They should feel supremely honored."
Hearing those words, Kuwajima finally came fully to his senses. He roared, "You irredeemable beast! You're no disciple of mine!"
"Perfect!" Kaigaku snickered, following his lead with an indifferent tone. "I don't need a biased master like you either. Whatever bond we had is over. We're done!"
Kuwajima felt his blood surge, a knot of anger choking his chest. Suddenly, his vision went black.
With a splutter, he spat out a great cloud of blood, then crumpled to the floor as though all his strength had left him.
"Gramps!" Zenitsu ran over to catch him.
"Die!" Kaigaku's eyes lit up, and he charged at