What Title?

The dust and smoke gradually cleared.

Rokuya still stood where he was, holding his follow-through stance. Not a speck of dust had touched him, as though the violent explosion had been no more than a breeze brushing his face. He held the three-hundred-jin giant blade in one hand, the end of its sheath pointing straight at Tengen Uzui.

"You're pretty quick on your feet," Rokuya remarked mildly, his tone free of mockery, carrying only the calm of stating a fact.

Tengen Uzui grinned, revealing a fervent smile. Reaching behind him, he drew the two massive cleavers linked by a chain from his back, their blades gleaming dangerously in the sunlight.

"Kid, I take back what I said. You don't just have brute strength-even your reaction speed is spectacularly flashy! But now that you've bared your fangs, it would be downright disrespectful for me to keep fighting barehanded!"

"Now that's more like it."

Rokuya's gaze gradually grew heated. Ever since coming to this world, he had been killing to survive. Faced with those disgusting, hideous demons, he had felt nothing but pure killing intent. Now, facing this formidable Sound Hashira, he felt the thrill of battle for the first time in a long while.

"Again!"

This time, Rokuya launched the attack.

Bang!

The flagstones beneath his feet shattered with a crash. Like a cannonball fired from its barrel, Rokuya charged toward Tengen Uzui atop the rockery, dragging his three-hundred-jin giant blade with thunderous force.

There were no flashy sword techniques, no complicated footwork-only the purest combination of speed and strength.

"Bring it on! Sound Breathing, Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes!"

Tengen Uzui refused to back down. He swung his twin blades, their chain clinking sharply. Combined with his specially made explosives, they wove an impenetrable net of explosions and blades directly in front of him.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Unceasing explosions rang out through the courtyard, and the entire Ubuyashiki Estate shook violently.

Rokuya charged fearlessly into that realm of death woven from explosions and flashing blades.

If Tengen Uzui's swordsmanship was a dazzling display of fireworks, then Rokuya's was a towering, unshakable mountain.

The three-hundred-jin Shura seemed weightless in Rokuya's hands as he whirled it like a great windmill. Every slash brought a suffocating blast of air. The explosive charges capable of blowing ordinary swordsmen to pieces were smashed out by that terrifying brute strength the instant they touched Shura's sheath!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Dull metallic crashes rang out without end.

The longer Tengen Uzui fought, the more alarmed he became. He found that every collision between his twin blades and that pitch-black sheath sent back such terrifying force that he could barely keep his grip. What was more, his prized Musical Score Technique-the combat skill that analyzed an enemy's attack rhythm through sound to find openings-had completely failed against Rokuya!

Because Rokuya's attacks had no rhythm to speak of!

Every swing used his full strength, and every slash carried immense power and weight. Before absolute strength, all technique and rhythm became a joke!

Was this kid really human?! Tengen Uzui gritted his teeth, the webs between his thumbs and forefingers already bleeding from the impacts.

The fierce battle reached its peak.

The two fought from the rockery to the pond, then from the pond back to the center of the courtyard. Wherever they passed, rockeries collapsed and pond water surged backward. The once elegant, exquisite courtyard was now a scene of devastation.

Gyomei Himejima stood in the corridor with his palms pressed together. More and more tears flowed from his eyes, yet a gratified smile had unwittingly appeared on his lips.

"Amitabha... Such pure, fierce strength, yet he hasn't lost his senses in battle. Every move avoided Tengen's vital points... This child's character is even more steadfast than I imagined. Rather than succumbing to slaughter, he has mastered this power perfectly."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki also smiled and nodded. "Yes. He is like an indestructible shield, and also a sword that can cut through anything. For the Demon Slayer Corps to gain such a swordsman is truly a blessing from heaven."

Bang!

Just then, a deafening thud came from the battlefield.

Everyone looked closely and saw Rokuya's sheath held steady less than an inch from Tengen Uzui's forehead. The terrifying gust carried by the sheath tore the ornate, jewel-studded head wrap on Tengen Uzui's head to pieces, leaving his silver hair flying wildly in the wind.

As for Tengen Uzui's twin blades, Rokuya's other hand had clamped firmly around the junction of their chains, leaving them unable to move.

The battle came to an abrupt halt.

Rokuya panted slightly, his chest rising and falling steadily. Continuously swinging a three-hundred-jin weight at such intensity had left even his physique feeling a trace of fatigue. Yet his obsidian eyes remained bright and sharp.

"You lost," Rokuya said mildly.

Tengen Uzui stared blankly at the sheath stopped before his forehead. Feeling the terrifying power that could have burst his head open had it landed squarely, he could not help a bead of cold sweat sliding down his forehead.

Only after a long moment did he snap back to his senses.

"Hahahahaha!"

To everyone's surprise, Tengen Uzui was not dejected by his defeat. Instead, he burst into utterly exhilarated laughter.

He released his twin blades, letting them fall to the ground, then yanked off his ruined head wrap and wiped the sweat from his face.

"Flashy! So fucking flashy!" Tengen Uzui exclaimed in praise. There was no longer any doubt in the way he looked at Rokuya, only pure approval and mutual appreciation.

"Kid, I admit it-I take back everything I said before! Your strength is even more ridiculous than a demon's, and your reactions are as sharp as a monster's! You were right. In this damned world, any blade that can cut off a demon's head is a good blade! You don't need any of that bullshit seasoning. Your strength right now absolutely deserves the title of Hashira!"

Tengen Uzui strode forward and patted Rokuya's shoulder without reservation. "Still, isn't that pig-sticker of yours a little too lacking in style? Next time we go on a mission, I'll take you to the Yoshiwara Entertainment District to broaden your horizons and pick out some flashy jewelry for you. I guarantee you'll become the most dazzling star in the Demon Slayer Corps!"

Rokuya brushed Tengen Uzui's hand away without changing his expression and hoisted Shura back onto his shoulder, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

"No thanks. I'm not interested in all that gaudy stuff."

"What a kid. No appreciation for life's pleasures." Tengen Uzui curled his lip, but the smile in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Gyomei Himejima also slowly descended from the corridor and came before Rokuya. His towering, iron-tower-like frame exuded a presence as steady as a mountain.

"Namu Amida Butsu. Takanashi Rokuno, I have seen both your strength and your character. You have an unbreakable heart. I hope that on the road ahead, you will use this strength to save more lost souls. I, Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima, acknowledge you as one of us."

With the two foremost Hashira having stated their positions, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard vanished completely, replaced by a solemn, warm sense of comradeship.

Supported by his two daughters, Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly rose to his feet. He looked gently at Rokuya in the center of the courtyard. Though his voice was quiet, it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"Thank you, Tengen, Gyomei, and Rokuya. You are all swordsmen I take the greatest pride in. Since everyone has reached an agreement, then, Takanashi Rokuno."

"Yes." Rokuya turned to face Kagaya Ubuyashiki and lowered his head slightly in respect. Although he was a modern man at heart and had little interest in feudal etiquette, Rokuya felt genuine admiration for this man, who continued to quietly support the entire Demon Slayer Corps despite his ravaged, sickly body and had devoted everything to destroying Muzan.

"Every swordsman promoted to Hashira must establish a Hashira name of his own, usually named after the Breathing Style he uses," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a smile. "Although you use a variant of Thunder Breathing, your fighting style is quite unique. What sort of title would you like?"