"Stone Breathing, Second Form: Heaven-Surface Shatter!"
Muichiro, Sabito, and Kanae were all sent flying by Kokushibo's counterattack. Seeing this, Gyomei immediately raised his foot and stomped down on the chain connected to his meteor hammer. The hammer, which had been flung high into the air, traced an arc and crashed down toward Kokushibo's head, cutting off his follow-up attack.
Kanzaki Kumo darted behind Kanae and caught her, helping her regain her balance.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Kanzaki-kun."
Kanae shook her head slightly and stepped out of Kanzaki Kumo's embrace.
There was no time for them to get lovey-dovey now.
On the other side, Giyu also caught Sabito in time.
Unfortunately, because Muichiro had chosen to circle behind the enemy at the start, no one present could reach him in time.
As a result, Muichiro's somewhat small body, owing to his age, smacked into a pillar behind him with a splat.
Muichiro: "You guys are absolute bastards!"
Everyone: "Sorryyy~"
Fortunately, Muichiro had attacked from behind and had not taken Kokushibo's powerful slash head-on. He had only been blown away by its shock wave, so he had not suffered any real injuries.
Instead, most of the wounds on Kokushibo's body had come from Muichiro's attack from behind.
Back to Kokushibo.
Earlier, Muzan had met Gyomei's meteor hammer head-on with his flesh-and-blood body. Now, gripping his sword in both hands, Kokushibo slashed with all his might at Gyomei's descending meteor hammer, sending that hammer, which bore down like a mountain or a meteor, flying back into the air.
As for Kokushibo's Flesh-Bone Sword, which had endured such an enormous load, it broke with ease, then grew a new blade.
"I thought Kanzaki Kumo had already honed his body to the pinnacle of mortals. I never expected there to be someone among