Gyomei hurled the Meteor Hammer and Broad Axe together, closing in on Kokushibo from both sides, while Kanzaki Kumo charged straight at Kokushibo between them.
Although the two launched their attacks almost simultaneously, Kanzaki Kumo's blade reached Kokushibo first.
"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Eternal Night, Solitary Moon • Eternal!"
The mutated long blade, together with the sharp blades sprouting all over his body, unleashed countless vertical crescent slashes, attempting to block Kanzaki Kumo's and Gyomei's attacks at once.
But the result did not meet Kokushibo's expectations.
"Thunder Breathing, Eighth Form: Storm of Blossoms!"
Just as he was about to strike, Kanzaki Kumo abruptly halted his high-speed charge, smoothly turning his slash into thrusts that precisely intercepted most of the crescent blades. The few that slipped through could do nothing to stop the Meteor Hammer and Broad Axe from closing in.
Left with no choice, Kokushibo leaped backward, evading the Meteor Hammer and Broad Axe converging on him.
For the first time since Kanzaki Kumo had begun fighting Kokushibo, he had been forced back.
But his leap into the air was not merely a retreat.
"Moon Breathing, Sixteenth Form: Moonbow • Crescent Moon!"
With his several-meter-long mutated blade, Kokushibo could still attack everyone on the ground even while airborne.
This time, however, he no longer launched the wide-ranging attacks he had used before. Though those attacks covered a broad area, each individual strike lacked power, which had given Kanzaki Kumo and Gyomei the opportunity to drive him back.
Six precise slashes descended over their heads in an instant.
Gyomei swung out the Meteor Hammer to absorb part of the force of the attack aimed at Giyu, while meeting the crescent slash coming toward himself with the Broad Axe in his hand.
Kanae and Sabito each used a technique to block. Though