After switching the Nichirin Blade into sword form, the weapon's center of gravity and the way force was applied both changed dramatically.
Compared with the powerful, sweeping axe techniques paired with Sun Breathing.
The combination of Sun Breathing and sword form.
Seemed to completely unleash the speed hidden within Tanjuro's body.
His speed instantly increased by several more tenths.
The paths of his charges and slashes took on the blazing intensity and swiftness of a scorching sun searing the sky.
The result was...
Nakime utterly failed to react to his sudden surge in speed.
The Nichirin Blade pierced her body.
Driving her before him, Tanjuro flew out of the theater and past the city's edge.
After smashing through several houses and trees in succession...
The human and demon crashed heavily into the forest.
As the dust settled slightly, Tanjuro pulled out and put away the miniature blood sampler he had secretly inserted into Nakime's body.
At the same time, he swung the Nichirin Blade again, slashing toward her slender neck.
This is bad!
This man really is one of the Nine Hashira!
And one of the very strongest!
In her panic, Nakime plucked her biwa strings again without hesitation.
And this time.
The target of the spatial exchange was not Tanjuro.
It was herself.
Almost the instant the sound rang out, Nakime, who had been within arm's reach, appeared dozens of meters away.
And her single eye, hidden beneath her bangs, was finally exposed in the moonlight.
That somewhat eerie face stared at Tanjuro.
For the first time, she fixed her gaze on Tanjuro with bewilderment and gravity.
"Who... exactly are you?"
Long hair tinged with red.
A faint scar at the corner of his forehead.
White mist constantly escaping between his lips.
And...
She finally noticed the Nichirin Flower