Xia Xi's earlier arrogant words had driven into Kokushibo's heart like a thorn.
And what they had intruded upon...
Was the most sensitive forbidden ground of all, the one he least wanted anyone to know about.
It instantly sent him, already unleashing the full power of his second stage, into an uncontrollable rage.
The flashes of his blade grew even fiercer.
Even the other Upper Rank Demons probably could not have withstood such a frenzied assault head-on.
Yet although Xia Xi was in a sorry state before him.
He still barely managed to fend it off.
Relying on his almost miraculous [Force Dissipation] technique and [Beggar's Transparent World] predictions.
He tumbled through the devastation.
And went crashing all the way onto another mountain.
And those Blood Demon Art slashes that split mountains and shattered stone, while sending the Dawn Hashira flying.
Also pried open memories Kokushibo had kept sealed away for so long.
Why exactly had he, once the head of a powerful family, wanted to become a swordsman?
Why had he trained with everything he had until he was covered in wounds and utterly exhausted.
Yet still refused to put down his sword?
Because he wanted to catch up to his younger brother.
That being named Yoriichi Tsugikuni...
In the era when he was born.
Twins were considered an ill omen of a struggle over inheritance.
His father had once wanted to kill his newborn younger brother.
Only his mother and those around her had fought desperately to protect his brother and preserve his life.
But even so...
The brothers' circumstances during childhood were worlds apart.
As the eldest son, he enjoyed all the splendor and wealth of the illustrious Tsugikuni family.
But his younger brother, Yoriichi.
Was not only destined to be sent away to a temple to