Kokushibo believed that no matter how strong his opponent was, his expression would not falter.
However, when he saw the Red Nichirin Sword and felt its scorching temperature, his facial expression still trembled uncontrollably. What a familiar scene, what a distant memory, what an unforgettable pain.
Muzan, observing all of this from Kokushibo's perspective within the Infinity Castle, had an incredibly distorted expression on his face, and his fingers trembled slightly.
"Kill him! Kokushibo, Gyokko, kill him for me!"
Muzan's furious voice echoed in the minds of Kokushibo and Gyokko.
The water droplets on Seiichi's body had already evaporated. He could feel his body temperature gradually rising, but he would not activate the Demon Slayer Mark. Firstly, he had no intention of doing so, and secondly, there was no need.
He had absolute control over his body. If he didn't want to activate it, his body wouldn't.
The rise in body temperature was for the convenience of his combat, for faster speed, greater strength, and more flexible muscle control.
In terms of the Type-Moon World, to put it simply:
Strength: B → A
In the faint red glow, Seiichi's crystal blue eyes were vaguely visible. The rustling wind, common in the forest at night, stirred the light dust on the ground.
Bang! Clang!
Intense sparks erupted from Kokushibo and Seiichi's swords. Kokushibo could feel his sword sizzling, which was the mournful cry of his own flesh and bone.
One strike, two strikes, three, four, a hundred, two hundred—they had exchanged countless blows.
Undoubtedly, Kokushibo was also a master swordsman. In this world, there were perhaps only two master swordsmen: one was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and the other was Kokushibo. This pair of brothers dominated this world.
However, there was still a gap between Kokushibo and Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Yoriichi Tsugikuni had already become a master swordsman while he was alive, while Kokushibo became a master swordsman only after Yoriichi Tsugikuni's death, after hundreds of years of training.
Even if his swordsmanship was not a significant advantage, the Red Nichirin Sword had powerful lethality against demons.
"Clink!"
With a soft sound, Kokushibo's sword directly broke, and he couldn't immediately restore it.
Kokushibo's expression changed, and he quickly retreated.
But how could Seiichi let him have his way? He quickly followed up.
Unexpectedly, Kokushibo, despite being pursued, stopped directly and swung his broken sword at the charging Seiichi.
No, he isn't using the sword.
"Moon Breathing—Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!"
This was the only sword technique Kokushibo could use without swinging his sword, so he chose this method to ambush Seiichi. In a head-on confrontation, he wasn't confident he could kill Seiichi.
A wide-ranging slash formed a huge circular vortex around Kokushibo, with sword energy overflowing. Everything within this circular range was cut in half. And Seiichi was within this range.
Can't dodge! Then don't dodge!
"Sun Breathing—Revolving Heaven!"
Seiichi swung his sword at high speed, forming a network of sealed sword energy around himself. Finally, the gradually rotating network formed a large red sphere, enveloping Seiichi. The red circle gradually expanded, repelling or tearing apart everything it touched.
With the sphere as the center, all the surrounding ruins or objects were attracted to it, forming a huge tornado.
Unlike Tanjiro, the Revolving Heaven unleashed by Seiichi was far more powerful, and the tornado was clearly visible even to people several kilometers away.
Kokushibo's slash directly collided with the red circle, producing a violent sonic boom. The tornado immediately dissipated, but Kokushibo was also directly sent flying backward.
It's no wonder Kokushibo reacted that way. Such a powerful defensive sword technique had probably never appeared in this world.
Seiichi, having dispelled Revolving Heaven, looked in the direction Kokushibo was sent flying. Behind him, a sticky hand silently reached for his back.
This was their true killing move!
Gyokko's hand, which he called the Hand of God, was his core Blood Demon Art, capable of transforming anything it touched into fish. Kokushibo engaged in a frontal confrontation, while he took the opportunity to touch Seiichi.
"I've been waiting for you, Gyokko!"
After Seiichi's Raging Sun ended, he didn't release his strength but instead accumulated another move.
Ever since Gyokko disappeared, he had been constantly paying attention to Gyokko. Until he clearly saw Gyokko's traces, he decided to play along. If Gyokko wanted to unleash a killing move, he would have to shed his skin, reveal his true form, and be unable to use his instantaneous movement within the pot.
At this moment, Gyokko was exactly as Seiichi had expected. His upper body was still the same as before, but his lower body had transformed into a mermaid-like tail, and his hands were no longer in the shape of an infant's but had become thick and robust.
Clean and decisive, he turned!
"Sun Breathing—Phantom Draw!"
A bloodline appeared on Gyokko's head, from the top of his head to the bottom of his tail. His entire body was directly cut down the midline, and blood gushed out.
Looking at the immobile Gyokko, Seiichi naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to finish the fight. He swung his sword horizontally, aiming directly at Gyokko's now split neck. He had to decapitate him.
Kokushibo, who was flying in, raised his broken sword to block, rescuing Gyokko. Injuries like Gyokko's would take a considerable amount of time to recover. If he had to constantly worry about protecting him during that time, Kokushibo would inevitably be constrained.
While exchanging blows with Seiichi, his mind raced at light speed, and Kokushibo instantly made up his mind, choosing to abandon Gyokko!
Instead of protecting Gyokko, he would use Gyokko as bait. If Seiichi chose to attack the injured Gyokko, he would attack Seiichi from the side and kill him.
Parrying Seiichi's Red Nichirin Sword, Kokushibo retreated several steps, maintaining a distance from which he could seize a favorable moment in battle.
Seiichi felt a bit tricky. Kokushibo was very rational and extremely experienced in combat. Dealing with him was much harder than dealing with five Gyokkos, and his strength was not much different from his own. He was only slightly superior, so there was almost no possibility of killing Kokushibo for now.
The best option would be to kill Upper Moon Five Gyokko, allowing him to fight Kokushibo without restrictions and drag him until dawn, at which point the opponent would flee.
But in that situation, Tanjiro's side might be completely wiped out.
Moreover, Kokushibo was now using Gyokko as bait, clearly to lure him into revealing a weakness.
What to do?
Should I use more Sun Breathing Style techniques? If I use them, it might be possible to kill one of them here.
But the most crucial part is that Muzan might not show his face for the next few hundred years. He can create as many Upper Moons as he wants, and the current state of the Demon Slayer Corps will not change at all! I can't stay here for that long either!
The two sides confronted each other, Seiichi's cold gaze clashing with Kokushibo's solemn six eyes.
"Kokushibo, retreat!"
Muzan's voice echoed in Kokushibo's mind. Muzan was a little scared...
"Muzan-sama, why..."
"I command you to retreat!"
"Yes, Muzan-sama. What about Gyokko..."
At this moment, Gyokko was his bait. If he had to go save Gyokko, then Gyokko would become Seiichi's bait.
"Abandon him."
"Yes."
Kokushibo still faced Seiichi, but his footsteps slowly retreated backward. After reaching a relatively safe distance, he turned and quickly departed, heading in a direction away from the Swordsmith Village.
Seiichi watched the opponent leave, but he still made no move, still gripping his sword with both hands, and continuously observing his surroundings to ensure there were no issues.
He quickly cut off Gyokko's still struggling head and then swiftly advanced towards the Swordsmith Village.
Upper Moon Five Gyokko, dead!