"YORIIICHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII—!!"
At that moment, Kokushibo saw Tanjiro—his markings uncannily resembling those of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The exact same earrings, the identical Nichirin Blade...
And Kokushibo knew—Tanjiro had inherited Hinokami Kagura, the Breath of the Sun passed down by Yoriichi himself.
Logically, Kokushibo understood that Tanjiro was not Yoriichi.
But the moment he saw him, that deep emotion erupted like an unsealed geyser—an uncontrollable surge that overwhelmed him.
Am I really this emotional of a creature?
He thought he had long since buried such feelings across these centuries, but today—again and again—they were provoked.
Despite having been nearly bisected and on the verge of collapse, upon seeing Tanjiro, Kokushibo forcibly generated blades from his flesh—piercing his own body to hold himself upright through sheer will.
Now, protruding from his massive body were numerous blades:
Some conjured by Blood Demon Art—
Others stabbed through himself, anchoring him in place so he wouldn't fall.
"!"
The moment Tanjiro stepped onto the battlefield, he was struck by Kokushibo's terrifying pressure.
From Kazuma's back, his expression twisted in horror as he shouted:
"HEY!!!! Why the hell does Kokushibo look even scarier than before?!?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"
Kairo Retsu, just having returned his Great Sword to its sheath after an elegant Iai slash, responded with a handsome grin and a thumbs-up:
"Of course! Everything went exactly according to plan!"
"And also…" he spread his arms wide, "Tanjiro! It's your job to sever the head of Upper Rank One!!"
"Eh… Me?"
Tanjiro widened his eyes at the terrifying aura radiating from Kokushibo.
But in the next second, his gaze hardened with resolve: "I understand."
He gently lowered Kazuma from his back and drew his Nichirin Blade.
"I'll do my best to cut off his head!"
"You, boy… you really are likable…" Kairo chuckled happily.
"I like people like you—decisive at critical moments, never hesitating, and always willing to trust your allies."
"Don't worry."
He turned to Kokushibo—now visibly slower in regenerating due to the toll of battle.
"You go all out. Joseph Joestar and I—two Hunters, along with the four Hashira and Genya Shinazugawa—will support you from the sides."
"It must be you who deals the final blow. That's the death we've chosen for Kokushibo."
Raising his chin, Kairo addressed the towering demon:
"It's also what we believe to be… the most fitting death for Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
"Nonsense!!"
Kokushibo's voice, amplified by his bloated form, was nearing a roar.
"A swordsman who isn't even one of the Hashira…
Even if he's learned Breath of the Sun—so what?!
I will NEVER fall to someone like that!!"
He accelerated his regeneration, forcing his body to ignore the fire damage from Kairo's Flying Wyvern Blade.
Wielding a massive Great Sword forged from flesh and Blood Demon Art, he pointed it at Kairo.
"I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN!! Not to you, not to any of you!!"
"Tanjiro is just some brat who learned Breath of the Sun by coincidence!!
There's no way I'll die to someone like him!!"
Kokushibo roared in indignation.
"Is that so?"
Kairo met his gaze.
"I happen to think… this is the best way for you to die."
"Listen well! Tanjiro, you listen too!!"
Kairo raised his voice:
"Tanjiro! The blade in your hand—it was once Yoriichi's blade."
"Your family's Hinokami Kagura—is the Breath of the Sun Yoriichi passed down."
"Those earrings on your ears—that's the very style Yoriichi wore throughout his life."
As he spoke, Kairo stared directly at Kokushibo.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni—the founder of the Breathing Styles, and the younger brother of the very man before us."
"To be honest, many of us here are capable of landing the finishing blow on Kokushibo."
He spread his arms wide.
"But Tanjiro—it's you who must do it.
Because you landing the final blow… is what gives it true meaning."
"Watch closely. Listen carefully."
Kairo raised a hand and flashed a feral grin toward Kokushibo.
"This Upper Rank One—this twisted, grotesque form—is because of his little brother."
"SHUT UP!!!"
Kokushibo suddenly trembled, his roar laced with fear.
He was afraid—afraid Kairo would keep speaking.
Afraid Kairo would say the things he desperately wanted to deny—but couldn't.
Though he didn't want to believe them, the truth rang too clearly.
Kokushibo lunged at Kairo, trying to silence him—
But after just two steps, Joseph Joestar appeared in front of him.
Kokushibo's blade struck Joseph's shield—
Only to be instantly melted away.
He tried to attack again—
But the others rushed in to block him.
Kairo kept speaking.
"Words carry power. And for you…
Only when these truths are spoken aloud will they have the most impact."
Without pause, Kairo continued:
"Since childhood, you've been chasing your younger brother Yoriichi—
Your decision to become a demon… was born from that pursuit, wasn't it?"
"But have you ever considered—how Yoriichi saw you?"
The words grew cruel.
"To Yoriichi… you were a kind brother."
"Do you remember what you said when you gave him that flute?
You told him:
'If you want to find your brother, just blow this flute—I'll come to you right away.'"
"To him…
You were an incredibly gentle elder brother."
Kairo smiled, pointing directly at him.
Kokushibo was trembling—visibly shaken by the memories.
"Impossible…"
"Why would I lie?" Kairo asked plainly.
"You and Yoriichi… never truly sat down and talked, did you?"
"That's why Muzan had the opportunity—
Using the lure of eternal life to deceive you…
And turned you into a demon."
"You want me to tell you?"
Kairo grinned as he spoke, voice rising:
"Yoriichi believed himself to be a cursed child.
After his mother's death, he left home, fell in love…
But his wife and child were murdered by demons while he was away."
"He failed to kill Muzan.
Then, he learned that the older brother he respected most… had become a demon.
He was expelled from the Corps—"
"In his final years, he tried to kill you himself…
But ran out of time—he died of old age before he could."
"He considered himself… someone who accomplished nothing.
That he failed every duty.
That he had no value."
Kairo's voice lowered.
"Do you… truly know your brother at all, Tsugikuni Michikatsu?"
The only reply from Kokushibo—was a howl of madness.
"I'LL KILL YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU—!!!"