The battle erupted in an instant.
Daki leaped high, kicking off Gyutaro's body. Rather than attacking Haruto, she gave him a complicated look, then faced Shinobu Kocho with a scowl.
"You bastard! How dare you smash my head! I'll teach you a lesson!"
A skyful of sashes crashed toward Shinobu Kocho. Haruto's brows shot up. "Shinobu?!"
"You should worry about yourself..."
Gyutaro remained hunched over, but his speed was breathtaking.
Blood gathered before him in thin, blade-like strands, then swept toward Haruto with the swing of his arms.
Blood Demon Art: Flying Blood Scythes!
These blood-red scythes had no solid form and could spin and fly however their wielder wished.
Haruto remembered that Gyutaro was an expert with poison and dared not meet him head-on.
Clang, clang! With several ringing impacts, Haruto blocked the flying Blood Scythes with his Nichirin Blade.
His thickened blade served better as a defensive weapon, though its increased weight had given him plenty of trouble after he recovered from his injuries.
"You're fast, and your swordsmanship is good. You're nothing like the Hashira I've killed...
"Nothing like your grandfather, either. Let me think... was he a Swordsman who used Thunder Breathing? Anyway, he was fast, but nowhere near as crafty and unpredictable as you..."
Gyutaro chuckled under his breath, but his blood scythes showed no interest in reminiscing, spinning at his fingertips like a pair of whirling tops.
"You're a lot like the demons I've killed, though. You all talk too much!"
Haruto's pupils trembled slightly as he forced himself into the Transparent World while fighting.
He was forcing his way into the Transparent World without anyone covering him, without anyone standing between him and the demon!
"Such a sharp tongue. You're different from that Takanashi...
"He was terrible with words, always getting everything muddled.