The shockwaves from the aftermath completely prevented Inosuke and Tanjiro, who were further away, from opening their eyes.
Once the impact subsided, Tanjiro urgently called out, "Senior Brother Giyu!!"
"Tomioka!"
Rengoku Kyojuro, who was closer, was also anxious, but just as he was about to act, Tomioka Giyu flew out from the dust!
Immediately after, Akaza also flew out, or more accurately, he charged straight at Tomioka Giyu!
Bang—bang bang bang bang————
The man and the demon clashed again, neither showing any intention of backing down.
Akaza didn't speak this time, but instead furiously punched with disbelief.
Tomioka Giyu's current state was very interesting to him, but it still wasn't enough.
"Destructive Kill: Demon Core Yae Core!"
Bang bang bang bang——————
Although Tomioka Giyu had entered the state preceding the demon slayer mark,
the high-intensity attacks, coupled with the scattered eight-hit barrage, still broke through his defense!
Tomioka Giyu retreated several meters, barely steadying himself by leaning on his nichirin blade; he sensed that at least four or five ribs were broken.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, he dodged a bit, otherwise, injuring his lungs would have been truly terrible.
Tomioka Giyu continuously adjusted his breathing, temporarily stopping the bleeding, and was about to get up when Rengoku Kyojuro stopped him.
"Tomioka, this was my mission from the start. If someone must be sacrificed tonight, then please let it be me!"
Tomioka Giyu frowned, placed a hand on Rengoku Kyojuro's shoulder, and forced a smile, saying,
"No one will be sacrificed tonight. Not you, and not me!"
"Let's go together. I'll figure out a way to cooperate with you!"
"Alright!"
Rengoku Kyojuro nodded, erupting with power, layers of fiery Qi rising behind him.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!!"
"Changing opponents?" Akaza didn't care at all, swinging his fist upwards.
Bang————
Rengoku Kyojuro, whose attack was blocked, quickly retreated a step, simultaneously adjusting the angle of his blade.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
Rengoku Kyojuro had intended to slice directly up Akaza's arm to his head,
but Akaza's reaction speed was still astonishingly fast. While retreating, he immediately lowered his stance and attacked Rengoku Kyojuro's abdomen!
Fortunately, Rengoku Kyojuro retracted his blade and leaped back in time, but Akaza's ability to adapt on the fly was equally powerful.
Seeing that his fist couldn't reach Rengoku Kyojuro, he didn't pursue but instead punched even faster!
"Destructive Kill: Air Type!"
Bang————
This blow sent Rengoku Kyojuro flying several meters away.
Pfft————
Just then, the arm Akaza used to punch also broke!
"Water Breathing, Ninth Form: Water Surface Slash!"
Akaza, whose arm was cut off, turned his head to look at Tomioka Giyu, who was kneeling, and said with a smile,
"Hmph, still want to fight? You've broken several ribs, you know."
"Ultimately, this is all because you are human. If you were a demon, those would just be superficial wounds..."
Suddenly, Akaza sensed something was wrong. The intense pain from his arm just now, he hadn't paid attention to it initially.
But now he realized that his arm wasn't healing.
That's right, Tomioka Giyu had fully activated a Red Blade for a few seconds, which was enough.
He had actually wanted to activate it earlier, but he certainly couldn't do it in front of Akaza.
Akaza wasn't a fool; once he discovered the Red Blade was activated, there would likely only be one outcome: being torn to death.
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!!"
Akaza's eyes gleamed with cold light. He had intended to kill Tomioka Giyu immediately, but he could only raise his leg to block Rengoku Kyojuro's attack.
"Destructive Kill: Leg Type: Flashing Light Barrage!"
With a "boom," Rengoku Kyojuro was forced back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"The power... has increased?!"
While Rengoku Kyojuro was shocked internally, Akaza had already leaped high into the air and brought down a punch!
"Destructive Kill: Crushing Type: Myriad Leaf Flashing Willow!!"
Akaza was completely intent on killing. If that destructive punch connected, Rengoku Kyojuro wouldn't even have a complete corpse.
At the critical moment, Rengoku Kyojuro, in a flash of inspiration, used the Fourth Form while leaping back, blocking some of the aftershocks.
Alas, that was all he could do.
The next second, Rengoku Kyojuro fell heavily to the ground, rolling several times before stopping.
On the side, Tomioka Giyu, seeing this scene, gritted his teeth, stumbled to his feet, and roared,
"Akaza!!"
Tomioka Giyu gripped his nichirin blade tightly, but the strength in his wrist was simply insufficient to activate the Red Blade again.
There was no choice; even if he couldn't activate the Red Blade, he had to go, otherwise, what was the meaning of him being here?
He used to be an observer, but now that he could personally change everything, how could he stand by and do nothing!
Whether to make up for past regrets or for the decisive battle in Infinity Castle.
"I have reasons that compel me to go!"
Tomioka Giyu took a deep breath, leaned forward, and held his blade horizontally behind him with both hands.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!!"
A brilliant blue Water Dragon roared out from his blade!
The next second, the ground beneath his feet shattered, and Tomioka Giyu charged forward with an unreserved burst of power!
Akaza's lips curved upwards. With his only remaining hand clenched into a fist, he spread his legs front and back.
"Destructive Kill: Annihilation Type!!"
In just an instant, two incredibly powerful Moves violently collided!
The ground also shattered over a large area at that moment, and dust flew everywhere.
But it wasn't over yet. After the man and the demon, at the center of the storm, exchanged a blow, Tomioka Giyu took the initiative, directly swinging his blade at Akaza's head!
But even under these circumstances, Akaza's other arm regenerated!
Tomioka Giyu's pupils constricted, but it was too late to retract his blade.
Akaza struck Tomioka Giyu's blade with his wrist, and in the next second of contact,
he flicked his hand upwards, directly breaking Tomioka Giyu's nichirin blade from the side!
"What a pity, farewell!"
"Am I... going to die?" Staring at the fist swinging towards his heart, Tomioka Giyu's pupils contracted, and he gritted his teeth.
"It won't end like this!"
Shadows overlapped. Tomioka Giyu took a step back, and Akaza's fist passed directly through his body.
Yes, at this moment of life and death, Tomioka Giyu's potential was forcefully unleashed.
With his stamina almost completely depleted, he actually used the Thirteenth Form!
It was only for an instant, but it allowed Tomioka Giyu to dodge the fatal blow.
A hint of surprise flashed in Akaza's eyes, but his movements didn't pause at all. He kicked towards Tomioka Giyu's head!
This time, Tomioka Giyu could only use his broken blade to protect his head; he was no longer able to continue fighting.
Bang————
Without any surprise, Tomioka Giyu was kicked several meters away by Akaza's blow!
Rengoku Kyojuro quickly caught Tomioka Giyu, preventing him from hitting the ground and worsening his injuries.
Akaza looked at the two men at their wits' end and said in a deep voice, "You will die, you will die!"
--------
Guys if you want to support me and read some chapters in advance please do check out Pitreon.com/AnonymousWriter6