Lin Yoriichi: Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you want to play?

"Mr. Yoriichi, we..."

Kyojuro Rengoku urgently addressed Lin Yoriichi beside him.

He did not understand why this Upper Rank demon, who had been brimming with fighting spirit just moments earlier, had suddenly resorted to such a sneaky way of fleeing.

But Kyojuro Rengoku at least understood that it was all because of Mr. Yoriichi beside him!

The thought that even a demon of this caliber feared Mr. Yoriichi so deeply immediately filled Kyojuro Rengoku's heart with hope.

With Mr. Yoriichi here, the Demon Slayer Corps would surely change its nearly hundred-year history of failing to slay an Upper Rank demon!

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yoriichi declared firmly:

"After him!"

This was a train station. Even at night, quite a few people were still moving about.

If this really were Akaza himself, Lin Yoriichi might not have needed to worry so much.

After all, Akaza did not readily attack ordinary humans, so Lin Yoriichi would not need to divert more of his attention to preventing Akaza from harming civilians.

But if the one controlling Akaza was Muzan Kibutsuji...

Lin Yoriichi did not doubt for a second that the bastard would resort to every kind of despicable trick!

And besides...

As Lin Yoriichi pursued at high speed, he turned to look at Kyojuro Rengoku beside him.

For once, Rengoku had actually hesitated for a moment when speaking just now, as though he had failed to put an exclamation mark at the end of his sentence.

Lin Yoriichi knew that although Kyojuro Rengoku said nothing, he was probably blaming himself inside.

Blaming himself for acting rashly-not only failing to achieve anything, but letting the enemy use his attack to escape, and even indirectly hindering Lin Yoriichi's pursuit.

If they failed to kill Akaza outright tonight, Lin Yoriichi had no doubt that Kyojuro Rengoku would not get a good night's sleep anytime soon!

Kyojuro Rengoku suddenly shouted:

"Mr. Yoriichi, let's try this!"

Before he had finished speaking, Kyojuro Rengoku once again assumed the opening stance for Flame Breathing.

Lin Yoriichi instantly understood what he meant.

The next instant, Kyojuro Rengoku drew his sword again, but this time he pulled out its sheath along with it:

[Flame Breathing · Fifth Form · Flame Tiger: Modified]

In Kyojuro Rengoku's hands, the still-sheathed Nichirin Blade did not slash forward. Instead, he "pushed" it forward.

Lin Yoriichi leaped, landing with both feet squarely on Kyojuro Rengoku's sheath.

Propelled by Rengoku's astonishing strength, Lin Yoriichi instantly became a cannonball fired from its barrel, hurtling straight toward Akaza!

In an instant, Lin Yoriichi closed the distance between himself and Akaza.

[Sun Breathing · Seventh Form · Sunflower Thrust]

But just then, something unexpected happened!

A sudden blast of lightning erupted behind Akaza!

At the sight of the intertwined red and blue lightning that suddenly appeared before him, Lin Yoriichi sharply pivoted.

The sword technique already taking shape in his hands twisted with him, trailing a ribbon of solar flame through the night as it slashed at an odd angle toward the demon that had abruptly appeared.

The demon had horns on his head, crimson eyes, and a ringed staff in his hand.

Seeing Lin Yoriichi coming at him, the demon immediately opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something.

The moment he opened his mouth, Lin Yoriichi clearly saw the character for "anger" engraved on his tongue.

[Upper Rank Four · Hantengu · Sekido]

Before Hantengu-Sekido could make a sound, Lin Yoriichi severed his neck and the ringed staff in his hand in a single stroke!

The next instant, a Japanese Cross Spear abruptly pierced Lin Yoriichi's chest.

Yet Hantengu-Aizetsu, who had launched the attack, looked puzzled.

His eyes clearly saw the Cross Spear pierce Lin Yoriichi's chest, but the sensation in his hands told him that his thrust had struck empty air!

Hantengu-Aizetsu suddenly felt an itch at his neck, and then his vision began to tilt.

As his head hit the ground, Hantengu-Aizetsu discovered that the "Lin Yoriichi" he had just pierced had actually dissipated like a soap bubble.

[Sun Breathing · Fourth Form · Mirage Sun Rainbow]

At the same time, before Hantengu-Karaku, who had just been about to wave his fan, could react, he saw two successive bursts of brilliant solar flame bloom before his eyes!

[Sun Breathing · Third Form · Blazing Sun Red Mirror]

In the blink of an eye, he had cut down three Upper Rank demons in succession.

Yet Lin Yoriichi's expression only grew graver.

The moment he recognized Upper Rank Four-Hantengu, Lin Yoriichi knew he had encountered a demon even more troublesome than Enmu.

The three Hantengus he had just killed were merely three clones of the original.

Unless he directly slew Hantengu-the Coward Demon, who was only the size of a mouse, he would not have truly killed him.

And Lin Yoriichi knew that his opponent had sent out these three clones only to buy time!

Sure enough, just as Lin Yoriichi killed the three demons, another Hantengu swooped down from the sky, his birdlike talons grabbing Akaza, who was still fleeing.

The next instant, Akaza soared into the sky along with Hantengu-Urogi, who could fly at high speed!

At the sight, Lin Yoriichi immediately thought of that enduring joke-

Didn't expect that, did you? I can fly!

At that moment, Lin Yoriichi truly felt so angry he could laugh.

But that was not the end of it. The faint sound of a biwa actually rang through the air:

Twang!

A strange passage instantly appeared out of thin air before Hantengu-Urogi and Akaza.

Fine, fine, fine!

So that's how you want to play!

The moment Enmu was slain, you called Upper Rank Three-Akaza over to investigate.

After seeing that I was right there, you immediately logged in remotely, took over his account, then controlled Akaza to turn around and run.

While fleeing, you even remembered to arrange for three clones of Upper Rank Four-Hantengu to ambush me and buy time to escape.

Then you had Hantengu-Urogi, who could fly at high speed, provide aerial support and carry Akaza away.

All I can say is, as expected of Muzan Kibutsuji. You always come up with some new trick for me!

Lin Yoriichi had no doubt that Upper Rank Five-Gyokko might very well be on his way too.

If he kept pursuing, Kyojuro Rengoku would come under attack from Gyokko!

Lin Yoriichi took a deep breath.

Now he understood. The moment Muzan Kibutsuji remotely logged in to Akaza, the nature of the situation had changed.

Akaza had become the bargaining chip he and Muzan Kibutsuji were fighting over.

What he wanted was to kill Akaza and eliminate this demon.

What Muzan Kibutsuji wanted, however, was to keep Akaza alive in front of "Yoriichi Tsugikuni" and use the opportunity to rebuild his confidence.

Seeing that Hantengu-Urogi and Akaza were about to enter the passage and escape into the Infinity Castle...

Lin Yoriichi revealed a strange smile.

This time, Muzan Kibutsuji had gained something of an advantage.

But what Muzan Kibutsuji did not know was that doing this had also given Lin Yoriichi a chance to turn his plan against him.

Lin Yoriichi drew the small knife used for taking blood and hurled it straight at Akaza in the air.

Twang!

The faint sound of a biwa rang through the air.

Akaza vanished into the Infinity Castle, taking the small knife with him...