Almost at the same moment as Tetsu no Sosuke, the others turned toward the road they had come down. A figure was gradually emerging from the darkness.
An expectant smile appeared on his face, and there was something hard to read in his eyes.
"Long time... no see!"
The figure spoke slowly. "I knew ordinary Demon Hunters couldn't keep me chasing for so long. Only a Pillar could move that fast. The longer I chased without catching up, the more I looked forward to the fight waiting for me. And when I saw it was you, I was even happier..."
Moonlight fell across him, revealing the strange tattoos that covered his body.
He clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. Every muscle in his body seemed eager for what came next.
"Akaza!"
Tetsu no Sosuke let out a slow breath. "At least one thing is clear now... You really did cross that threshold."
"Oh? You know even more than I thought." Akaza's lips curled. "More than that lord does, even. He was furious tonight."
"Was he?" Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. His tense body suddenly relaxed, and he rolled his neck. "Shall we get straight to it, or go through the formalities first?"
"Formalities?" Akaza looked puzzled.
"Talk for a bit," Tetsu no Sosuke said. "Get to know each other. It might make the fight more enjoyable."
"You're trying to recover your strength, aren't you?" Akaza shook his head. "That's fine. I'll give you time. Human bodies are so inconvenient. Why cling to them? With your abilities, you could have a place among the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Demon Moons. You'd gain a body that never dies and a future with limitless possibilities. Why insist on remaining human?"
"You make a good point," Tetsu no Sosuke said. "Humans suffer. They're