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After landing their combined blow, the swordsmen leaped back in unison, catching their breath while observing cautiously.
"Everyone, the night is still long. Conserve your stamina."
Gyomei's towering figure remained at the forefront, gripping his massive axe in one hand and the chained flail in the other.
"Remember, that man cannot be killed easily!"
At that moment, the flames at the estate's center gradually died down.
Muzan emerged unscathed.
Rengoku's eyes widened. "I'm certain my blade struck him! But his regeneration is insanely fast!!"
"Even a three-person combined attack couldn't inflict real damage?" Tanjuro frowned slightly.
"Damn it!" Sanemi gnashed his teeth. "Our attacks are too weak against him!"
"No, I must praise you."
The thorn-whips had reverted to arms; nine blood-whips from his back twisted and lashed relentlessly.
"That attack actually caused me pain!" His face twisted into a sinister grin. "Especially you, charcoal seller!"
He glared at Tanjuro with murderous intent.
"Sun Breathing, left by that bastard—though nowhere near his level, still…"
The blood-whips behind him suddenly lashed like lightning, streaking toward the group.
Two targeted Tanjuro specifically, clamping from both sides.
"As payment for wounding me, you'll die first!"
"So fast!"
"Careful! Mr. Kamado!!"
The swordsmen swung their blades to barely parry the incoming whips, eyes flicking worriedly toward Kamado Tanjuro.
"Sun Breathing – Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow!"
Tanjuro's body spun in a rapid twist, escaping the pincer.
Gyomei arrived at his side.
The two began cooperating to fend off three blood-whips.
The other swordsmen consciously drew closer, relying on teamwork to block the eye-blurring lashes.
"Still not coming out, onmyōji!" Muzan looked skyward.
"How long do you think these mortals' flesh can hold?!"
Kaito did not respond.
"Fine—watch them die and regret it!" Muzan declared loudly, smirking unnaturally.
In that instant, more blood-whips burst from his legs, slicing air at speeds far exceeding those from his back.
'Bad!'
Tanjuro and Gyomei's faces changed drastically.
With Transparent World, both detected the surprise attack.
But their bodies couldn't react in time.
Even the slightly faster Kamado Tanjuro was strained.
"Protect!"
Kaito's voice rang out just in time.
Dense paper talismans flew from the swordsmen's bodies, orbiting rapidly.
A massive hemispherical barrier enveloping everyone formed just as the whips arrived.
Almost simultaneously, the whips struck silently.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier with audible snaps; only then did the sonic booms reach their ears.
BOOM!!!
Whips sliding off the barrier slammed the ground, deafening.
The earth shook; the courtyard cracked open, stones flying like bullets.
"My apologies—I was a bit late."
Kaito's figure rose from the intact ground within the barrier, standing at the front.
"Thankfully, no one is gravely injured." He turned to the swordsmen. "Truly impressive."
"Hey! Can't tell if that's praise or sarcasm!" Sanemi scowled. "And how much stuff did you hide on us?!"
"It's genuine praise. You're all remarkable." Kaito smiled. "I originally thought holding out this long might come with casualties."
Tengen grimaced. "Hey! Your words are pissing me off more, Mr. Uchiha!"
"Ah, sorry—though it's the truth." Kaito eyed Muzan outside the barrier. "Resisting Muzan this long with ordinary human flesh is already extraordinary."
"Onmyōji!"
Muzan's blood-whips pounded the barrier relentlessly.
"Hiding in your turtle shell—out of those sunlight-burst talismans?!"
"Yes, all used up." Kaito tossed talismans to mend the barrier casually.
"Expended forcing you back inside to activate the outer barrier in time."
"Then how will you kill me?" Muzan mocked.
"With this flimsy shell?"
"Exactly! I'll keep repairing it." Kaito sat cross-legged leisurely. "And wait comfortably for tomorrow's sunrise."
He waved to the swordsmen. "Everyone, sit and rest. As I said, we just wait for dawn."
He smiled. "As long as Muzan can't breach it, victory is assured."
"Delusional!"
Muzan snarled, but his expression shifted.
He leaped toward the courtyard wall; all nine back whips plus eight from his legs lashed the Nichirin blade lattice.
"Useless."
Kaito watched smiling.
On impact, blades in the struck zone rotated, edges inward; shimenawa, talismans, and gohei glowed gold, tinting the blades.
Sizzle!
Whips melted like touching sunlight.
"AAAAAHHH…"
Muzan howled, severing the whips and retreating.
He glared coldly at Kaito.
"Feel it, Muzan—you can't escape my barrier." Kaito said lightly. "The moment you entered, the outcome was sealed."
"Is that so?" Muzan laughed maniacally. "What about those outside? The Corps members guarding the barrier—don't care if they all die?"
"What are you planning!?"
Rengoku shouted.
"Nakime!" Muzan commanded. "Throw every Corps member outside into the Infinity Castle!"
Biwa strums sounded; screams echoed from beyond.
"Can you ignore your teammates forced into a manipulable space, fighting countless demons?"
Muzan smiled blissfully at the cries.
"Only two Upper Ranks left, but I prepared five hundred demons in the Infinity Castle—Lower Rank equivalents."
His smile widened.
"All Hashira are here—sure the trash outside can handle it?"