" Upper Rank Three, huh..."
Gazing at the figure in the distance Teiichi murmured softly.
"Interesting. I didn't expect to run into such a good opponent just because I was bored and went out for a stroll tonight!" Akaza grinned, revealing his sharp teeth.
Snip!
The Nichirin Blade was slowly drawn from behind the waist.
"It's quite a coincidence; I just happened to feel like going out tonight!"
Akaza asked, "You're a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"
Teiichi replied, "It used to be, but it's not anymore!"
Upon hearing Teiichi's words, Akaza laughed dismissively.
"Was it then, but not now? It's clearly just a team of weak insects, yet they're fighting amongst themselves? They can't even keep someone like you around, yet they dare to dream of destroying us ghosts?"
Akaza looked at Teiichi and spoke seriously.
"Your Fighting Spirit is the most dazzling human I've ever seen in my life. You're only a thin membrane away from reaching the highest realm!" Akaza changed the subject.
"However, this very membrane can stifle countless geniuses! You should be able to feel the obvious bottleneck by now, right?"
Upon hearing this, Teiichi frowned slightly.
"I can definitely feel the bottleneck! What? Can you help me break through this barrier?"
Akaza shook her head. "No, I'm stuck on this membrane just like you! Its strength is beyond your imagination! And you!"
At this point, Akaza stared intently at Teiichi, "It's possible that you won't be able to break through this barrier even until you die!"
Teiichi, "So? You're not thinking of inviting me to become a ghost, are you?"
Akaza frowned upon hearing this.
Oh? Has anyone invited you before?
But never mind, I was sincere!
They can put themselves in others' shoes and think from their perspective!
"That's right, once you become a demon, you'll have unlimited time. In this unlimited time, you can think and train to your heart's content, and one day you'll break through to the Supreme Territory!" Akaza nodded.
Teiichi gently shook his head.
Seeing this, Akaza assumed that Teiichi had never seen what the Supreme Territory was like and therefore had no interest, so he began to explain.
" The Supreme Territory is also called the Transparent World!"
When you reach this level, the world will gradually become clear and transparent before you. You will be able to see even the slightest movement of the other person and have complete control over your own body.
As someone who has also cultivated Fighting Spirit to this level, you should be able to understand what I'm saying, right?
You can understand how much this level of attainment can improve our strength, right?
Teiichi nodded and said, "Yes, I understand! This means you can unleash greater power and more easily discover your opponent's weaknesses! The difference between before and after mastering the Transparent World Transparent World like night and day!"
Akaza couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
He knew that someone who could hone their Fighting Spirit to this level would surely understand him.
Akaza raised his hand again, his gaze sincere and full of confidence.
Come on! Let's become ghosts together!
Under Akaza's gaze, Teiichi firmly shook his head again.
Akaza seemed to have seen something unbelievable; his eyes widened, and bloodshot veins appeared in them.
"What? Don't you want to reach the Supreme Territory?"
Teiichi nodded, "If possible, of course I'd like to!"
"Then why do you refuse to become a ghost?"
"Because of this kind of thing!" Teiichi's gaze met Akaza's tightly. "You can succeed if you want, and you can't if you don't. Even if you force it, it's useless!"
Teiichi's words startled Akaza.
"How long have you been stuck in this membrane?" Teiichi asked.
Akaza opened his mouth, wanting to answer the question, but didn't know what to say.
How long ago did I first come to Transparent World?
How long were we stuck before reaching Transparent World?
I can't remember exactly, I just remember that I seemed to have been stuck for a very, very long time.
Seeing that Akaza did not reply, Teiichi asked, "Ten years?"
Akaza shook his head.
"Twenty years?"
Akaza shook his head again.
Fifty years?
"I don't know! I only remember it being stuck for a long time!" Akaza replied.
Teiichi, "Having made no progress for so long, have you ever considered that you might never reach that highest level in your lifetime?"
The blunt words pierced Akaza's heart like a sharp arrow.
Am I destined to never reach the highest level of martial arts?
The denial of Kisei's long-held goal caused Akaza to drift into a daze.
He might not care if someone else had said it.
After all, how could a bunch of worthless scoundrels possibly know the highest realm?
but.
The person in front of him is someone he approves of!
The other person is someone who has cultivated to the same level as me using a human body!
We are all just a hair's breadth away from the highest realm!
Aside from the other party, probably only Kokushibo would believe what he says.
Others.
Even if it were Lord Muzan and Doma, I wouldn't believe them.
Because they are not practitioners of martial arts.
That's why.
The other party's words became more forceful.
If what the other party is saying is true.
Is it really possible that I will never reach the highest level of cultivation in my entire life?
So what exactly is it that I've been pursuing all this time?
Akaza's mind was in complete chaos.
In his chaotic mind, Akaza kept searching for the meaning of his existence.
The obsession deeply ingrained in my mind became increasingly clear.
No matter what others say!
I must become stronger! I must become stronger!
Become stronger than anyone else in the world!
In the distance, Teiichi sighed as he watched Akaza's resolve harden.
He tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade, preparing for battle.
Across from him, Akaza had completely regained his senses, his gaze fixed firmly on the Demon Slayer before him.
"I don't know if I'll ever reach the Supreme Territory. But I do know one thing: if I give up cultivating, I'll never reach the Supreme Territory in my entire life!"
Teiichi nodded, "Well said!"
Akaza, "What's your name?"
Teiichi looked up at Akaza and replied, " Kato Teiichi!"
Akaza nodded and gave his name.
"My name is Akaza! Remember that! That's the name of the demon that will kill you tonight!"
The Nichirin Blade rotated slightly.
"Who will kill whom tonight is still uncertain!"
Akaza couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.
This is the kind of battle of the strong that he's been waiting for!
" Technique Development!"