Giyu Tomioka's and Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes narrowed sharply at Akaza's blindingly fast, ferocious technique.
Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm!
Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blazing Universe!
Both unleashed defensive Breathing Style techniques at once, and Akaza's attack arrived just as they did.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!!!
Hundreds of projectiles struck at once. Under that ferocious barrage, Kyojuro Rengoku's and Giyu Tomioka's defenses canceled out only a portion before shattering, and the brutal attack sent them flying backward.
"Even Dead Calm couldn't block all of it..." Giyu Tomioka forced his badly wounded body upright and focused on Akaza a short distance ahead. Then, suddenly remembering something, he turned toward Kyojuro Rengoku.
Water Breathing already excelled at defense, and his Dead Calm was an exceptionally powerful defensive technique. But Kyojuro Rengoku was different-defense wasn't his specialty!
Following his gaze, Kyojuro Rengoku was now almost covered in blood, panting heavily as fresh blood dripped from his mouth. Yet his gaze remained resolute, and his grip on his Nichirin Blade never loosened in the slightest.
"That's why I told you not to bother with those weaklings..."
Akaza walked toward them as he spoke. "You're already injured, and your stamina is almost spent. But me? All this fighting has barely affected my condition, and my wounds will soon heal completely..."
"That's the power of a demon. You two, become demons. If you don't, death is your only option."
"I am the Flame Hashira! Kyojuro Rengoku!!"
Kyojuro Rengoku abruptly stepped forward, flames rising from his raised Nichirin Blade as he roared, "I will not become a demon! Do not insult me!!"
"I am the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka."
Perhaps stirred by the Flame Hashira, Giyu Tomioka announced his own name for once and also stepped forward, making his stance clear.
"Is that so? Then die while