"Pure power..."
"Kokushibo murmured."
There were no Demon Slayer Mark, no Transparent World, and no Red Nichirin Blade.
Is it possible to contend with Akaza, who has broken through the limits of demons and Akaza the Transparent World, simply by relying on basic Breathing Style and physical abilities?
This is something I couldn't have done even when I was human, right?
In other words, the humans in front of us.
Is their talent even better than mine?
They're even more talented than me...
As he thought about it, a figure that looked similar to himself seemed to overlap with the Demon Slayer in front of him.
Kokushibo shook his head.
No!
Unlike Yoriichi, who was born extraordinary, the Demon Slayer before them had reached his current level through arduous and extraordinary efforts.
The two are not really comparable.
If I had to say they resemble each other...
Perhaps... he's more like myself?
"It's better that you don't have them. Demon Slayer Mark are believed to shorten lifespans. It would be a real shame if someone with your skills didn't live to be 25!"
"Kokushibo said, then turned and continued walking forward.
Teiichi followed silently behind, not taking Kokushibo's words seriously.
It's a pity that someone who came to kill you tells you your life is short!
It's ridiculous no matter how you look at it, isn't it?
" Tsugikuni Michikatsu..."
Kokushibo's words came again from ahead.
"Um?"
Teiichi was puzzled; why was he suddenly telling him his name?
However, Kokushibo, believing that Teiichi didn't understand what it meant, began to explain.
"This is the name I used when I was still human!"
"Oh!"
Teiichi responded calmly.
There's nothing surprising about something we already knew.
Besides himself, Muzan, and Muzan, the only other person in this world who knows Kokushibo's true identity is probably himself.
Even the Ubuyashiki Family didn't know.
Although Kokushibo was once a registered member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, he couldn't possibly discuss his decision to become a demon with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Furthermore, when Kokushibo was still human, he was already at the peak of the Demon Slayer Corps ' fighting strength.
After becoming a demon, his strength will only increase.
If you encounter his Demon Slayer Corps members, there is only one path left: defeat and death.
Therefore, the Demon Slayer Corps is still unaware of the bombshell news that Upper Rank One will use Breathing Style.
"When I was still human, I was born into a samurai family during the Warring States period, as the eldest son. From a young age, I was raised to be the family's heir..."
Seeing his own reflection in the Demon Slayer before him, Kokushibo, who was usually not talkative, unusually felt the urge to communicate.
They proactively recounted their experiences from when they were still human.
Teiichi followed silently behind Kokushibo, making no attempt to interrupt Kokushibo.
Firstly, this would allow them to buy more time;
Secondly, it would allow us to get further away from towns;
Thirdly, it can also help me recall the plot.
but.
Unlike actual history.
When Kokushibo was telling his story, he intentionally omitted the existence of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Teiichi could understand this.
After all, Yoriichi was practically a lifelong nightmare for him.
That was something he had exhausted his entire life's energy to achieve, something he could never catch up to even after becoming a ghost...
nightmare!!
As Kokushibo continued to recount his story, the two arrived at the site of the battle the previous night.
The two sides stood in the woods, their eyes meeting from afar.
Kokushibo then began to recount the events of his final days as a human.
"And so, I became the strongest swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps."
However, at this point, I encountered a problem!
"What's the problem?" Teiichi asked at the opportune moment.
"Without exception, not a single member of the Demon Slayer Corps who awakened their Demon Slayer Mark lived past the age of 25!"
Teiichi, "So, you were afraid of dying, so you ultimately chose to become a ghost?"
"No, I'm not afraid of death! If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have chosen to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps!" Kokushibo shook his head.
"What I fear is that even though I've seen the summit, I'll never be able to reach it..."
At this point, Kokushibo raised his head and looked directly into Teiichi's eyes.
"This feeling... can you understand?"
Teiichi nodded slightly, "I think I understand some of it!"
It was clearly a statement of approval, but upon hearing it, Kokushibo became somewhat deranged.
No! You don't understand!
There are no mountain peaks to see in this day and age!
How can you know what it's like to be at the summit if you've never seen it?!
You're talking about Yoriichi Tsugikuni, right?
A familiar name was heard, and a look of astonishment appeared on Kokushibo's face.
"You... have heard of his name?"
"It's recorded in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps! After all, as the earliest swordsmen of Breathing Style, it's hard not to be valued, right?" Teiichi story off the cuff.
He wouldn't dare reveal information he knew when facing the Demon Slayer Corps, but he had no problem at all when facing Kokushibo.
It's a life-or-death situation between the two sides. If you're so capable, go and check your statements with the Demon Slayer Corps!
"I see..." Kokushibo nodded as if in sudden realization, muttering to himself.
"Yes... As the original creator of the Breathing Style, how could he not be recorded in the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"He's always like this..."
"Even after death, they can easily do things that others cannot..."
Teiichi looked at the somewhat neurotic Kokushibo in front of him and said:
"It's not Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
Yours, the original swordsman's, and every swordsman who has passed down this tradition for hundreds of years.
Even if they aren't Pillars, the Demon Slayer Corps still preserves the names and life stories of every single member!
"That's... exactly the kind of trick the Ubuyashiki Family would pull!" Kokushibo nodded.
Teiichi replied, "Whether it's genuine or not, at least the Ubuyashiki Family has always done it this way, and I think that's still worthy of respect!"
At least this way, every member of the Demon Slayer Corps died a meaningful death!
Kokushibo remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, offering no comment, but instead asked, "How... is my name recorded in the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Teiichi recounted the general information about Kokushibo that he still remembered.
" Tsugikuni Michikatsu, the first swordsman of the Breathing Style, the founder and user of the Moon Breathing."
This is because the Moon Breathing is too powerful, putting too much strain on the body.
Like the Sun Breathing, the Moon Breathing can only be used by the founder himself, hence its lineage was cut off.
While in the team, I completed many missions and killed many ghosts.
Later, for unknown reasons, he killed the Oyakata-sama of the Demon Slayer Corps at the time, and then disappeared without a trace.
"Oh..."
Kokushibo gave a faint, cold laugh.
"Unknown... whereabouts? Didn't you ever consider that I defected from the Demon Slayer Corps and became a demon?"