[Hint: "Life Energy" +41...]
[Hint: "Life Energy" +37...]
[Evil Ghost "Nightmare" gifted Blood Demon Art is extracted... "Nenryoku Property Change" +10...]
["Nenryoku Property Change": [Shadow Escape] has been activated]
[First Talent: "Dream Parasite." Note: The host can convert "Telekinesis" into "Drowsiness" and use "Gaze" or "Whisper" to forcibly hypnotize others, dragging them into a dream they create...]
[Second Talent: "Dream Realm" ...detected to have certain correlations with the "Gate of Cognition," beginning upgrade...]
[Hint: Upgrade complete...]
[Second Talent: "Gate of Broad Dreams." Note: The host can randomly open a door through "Dreams," pulling people in. The door's target has a certain randomness and is beyond the host's control...]
[Hint: Evil Ghost "Rui" gifted Blood Demon Art is extracted... "Nenryoku Form Change" +20...]
[Talent: [Silk Steelification]. Note: Since it has some overlap with [Ken]... [Ken] +20...]
The notification sound dripped continuously like rain hitting banana leaves...
Rui's head was flung far, looking at Roy in disbelief mid-air...
The young man held a sword, turned red, ignited, and two fiery dragons surged forth, rising high... Akaza's pupils contracted, his fists withdrew, instantly raising his alertness to the maximum!
"So hot...." In a corner of the carriage, the Eye Demon blinked, trembling as it tried to sneak away... before the thought could fully form, it was mercilessly suppressed by Muzan, sulking in the corner, watching the battlefield!
Red Blade... Flames... is it "Flame" or "Sun"?
Kibutsuji Muzan's face was somber as he stared at Roy on the screen,
Nightmare is dead, Rui is dead... that doesn't matter, the key is Akaza!
"Iwakatsu, does Akaza stand a chance?"
Kokushibo pressed his hand on "Void Cry God Vanish," squinting at the screen, the image of the youth with fiery red hair billowing in the wind, whose memory instantly returned him to that time, the first discovery of his brother Yoriichi's gifted talent in swordsmanship.
The same youthfulness, the same hair color, the same earrings, the same unparalleled presence, confident and spirited, the difference being one being self-aware, the other not, but both leaving everyone far behind despite giving their all, left in despair, and that... is the world of geniuses!
"Lord, why ask me?" Kokushibo's gaze was deep: "When you asked that question, you already had the answer in your heart, didn't you?"
Kokushibo profoundly said:
"Kojou... will not be his match."
"Run!" Muzan succinctly commanded through [Reading] to Akaza.
The Lower Moons can die, he has plenty of Ghost Blood to reconstruct them, but... each Upper Moon, in life, was a rare talent, cultivated with his centuries of effort, his cherished 'treasures,' and not one has died till now, which says a lot.
But... Lord still doesn't fully understand Akaza...
Kokushibo watched the screen, the red-browed, gold-eyed youth, plainly dressed and bare-handed, an excitement burying his head, a subtle tremor in his body, squinted as he said: "He won't run, he will choose to die fighting."
If, among the Upper Moons, Iwakatsu most appreciates anyone, it would be Akaza, who, like him, pursues the ultimate in Martial Arts!
They are companions, more so fellow travelers chasing the same dream... unlike Douma, Half-Demon Dog, who pursue strength just to toy with people's hearts, they are undoubtedly purer!
The fact proves Kokushibo was correct...
The body pushed down, fiercely stomping the floor, causing the racing train to seemingly pause for a moment under the pressure...
Akaza looked up, excitedly gazing at Roy, squatting into a horse stance, left hand in front open palm, right hand clenched in a fist behind, deeply inhaling as he said: "You are strong, I am delighted... disgusting trash is gone, Sa... come, let's fight to our hearts' content!"
[Technique Unfolding · Luo Needle · Destructive Kill!]
Battle aura spread from Akaza like snowflakes, sweeping towards all directions, instantly enveloping Roy within.
Luo Needle, as the name implies, is a compass... upon activating this move, Akaza will capture the enemy's position, movements, breathing, and rhythm, like a compass needle under an invisible magnetic force, ultimately finding weaknesses for a fatal strike.
To some extent it's similar to [En], but... upon seeing that snowflake-shaped 'Compass'...
Roy sensed a touch of sorrow, a sorrow hidden within someone's heart, treated as 'memory' and forgotten, yet instinctively unwilling to completely let go....
"What kind of look is that? Are you pitying me?"
The young man remained silent.
Akaza could clearly see a trace of sympathy in those pitch-black eyes, like the strong looking at the weak... stirring a deep humiliation, and an out-of-control rage!
"Please don't compare me with those disgusting trash!"
"Destructive Kill·Empty Style!"
Fists struck the air, forming waves of impact suddenly crashing towards Roy.
The teenager stepped forward, neither hurried nor slow, weaving through the wind of fists, like a ghostly shadow always evading Akaza's battle aura punches at the right moment, either sidestepping or leaning back... advancing slowly towards Akaza....
In the corner, witnessing all this via Eye Demon, Kibutsuji Muzan's face twisted with rage, hand extending as nails lengthened suddenly, murderous intent rising!
"He actually dares to defy my order!"
"Akaza, don't force me to kill you!"
"Zheng..." The resonance of a biwa string plucked by Nakime rang out....
Kokushibo sat silently, hand on the long sword.
Is it "defiance" or "excitement," or perhaps... seeking death, fulfilling loyalty... "Lord, let him be."