Chapter 12: Deadly Battle |
"As you wish!" Kanae nodded without hesitation.
Right now, the most important thing was to kill the Upper Rank; exactly how it happened didn't matter in the slightest!
"You... should learn to hold your tongues!" Akaza's fanaticism was instantly replaced by a bone-chilling cold. Judging by their words, they thought killing him would be child's play.
Such a condescending, almost contemptuous attitude naturally stung the Upper Rank Three, who had been seeking worthy opponents ever since he became a demon.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Akaza lunged forward. However, his target wasn't Makomo, but Kanae standing nearby—or more precisely, her slender hand gripping the Nichirin Sword!
Akaza had lost all memories of his human life when he transformed into a demon. Over the centuries, he had taken countless lives, yet he had never consumed a single woman.
This was because Akaza, even with his memory gone and his humanity discarded, instinctively adhered to his final and unbreakable principle from his time as a human.
That was why Makomo hadn't felt any genuine killing intent from him throughout their battle.
But.
The task proved difficult.
Not only was Makomo stronger than Akaza, but Kanae was no mere bystander—she was the Flower Hashira!
Swoosh!
Makomo swung her lazurite sword, unleashing a razor-sharp blue radiance upon Akaza and cutting off his assault on Kanae.
Unfortunately, it was only a temporary measure, as the demon regenerated his severed limb in the blink of an eye.
But that brief pause was enough...
Silently.
Pink petals began to drift.
Kanae rushed toward Akaza, her Nichirin Sword raised high, resembling a beautiful fairy surrounded by dancing petals.
The experienced Flower Hashira, who had survived many battles and slain countless demons, naturally didn't fixate on the agreement to "give up her Nichirin Sword to kill the Upper Rank." Without a moment's hesitation, she seized the fleeting opening created by Makomo's long-range strike.
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!" Kanae's Nichirin Sword swept in two full circles, striking precisely at Akaza's neck and torso, leaving a beautiful trail of petals in its wake.
Makomo tilted her head slightly in surprise as she watched the scene unfold.
'It turns out this sister is strong too!' she thought.
"Destructive Death: War Style!" In response, Akaza delivered a lightning-fast punch, sending a powerful shockwave toward Kanae. The demon had sensed danger the moment the Hashira launched her sudden attack, but he remained perfectly calm and focused.
Although Akaza attacked with all his might, the strike lacked its usual force due to Makomo's interference and the haste of his counterattack.
Even so, the attack instantly swept away the Flower Breathing petals and slammed into Kanae, forcing her to beat a hasty retreat.
'So this is it... the power of an Upper Rank!' The Flower Hashira cast a shocked glance at the demon as she landed gracefully nearby.
Kanae had felt Akaza's terrifying power while watching the battle from the sidelines, but since he had been utterly suppressed by Makomo, he simply hadn't been able to demonstrate his full strength.
But now, she truly understood the might of an Upper Rank.
The Flower Hashira hadn't been able to withstand even a rushed counterattack from an Akaza who was currently being harried by Makomo!
She had been forced to back off...
It was fair to say that Kanae lacked a bit of strength, but the main reason for this outcome was Akaza's overwhelming power!
This realization shook Kanae to her core.
'Even three Hashira wouldn't be enough... at best, they might barely hold the demon back. Yet this girl, her own peer, was completely suppressing him using only her own strength and an ordinary sword! Where had she learned such a staggering sword style, and how had she reached such a high level of mastery?'
However, the current situation left no room for idle chatter.
The demon lunged back into the offensive.
Whoosh!
Makomo swung her lazurite sword again, trying to prevent a direct clash between Kanae and Akaza.
The Flower Hashira, realizing the vast gulf between them, didn't intend to charge the demon head-on. Instead, she tried to find an opening created by Makomo's strikes.
Makomo was capable of suppressing Akaza alone, so the demon's position became precarious once Kanae—who possessed excellent speed even by Hashira standards—joined the fray.
'This is troublesome...'
'The new woman isn't weak. She’s likely one of the Hashira. I won't be able to destroy her blade while this swordswoman keeps interfering...' The Upper Rank took a defensive stance and concentrated, realizing that throwing out random attacks was useless here.
His Blood Demon Art, Compass Needle, greatly enhanced his perception, allowing him to predict his opponent's attacks.
The Upper Rank became like a motionless, unassailable mountain when he combined this ability with his superb martial arts skills!
Yet Makomo's deadly strikes could not be fully parried, even with a defensive stance.
Furthermore, there was the "cunning" Kanae, whom he tried to lure into a trap, but she remained composed and refused to rush in recklessly.
"Ah, such a magnificent breathing technique and refined swordsmanship... You must have poured unimaginable effort into reaching such heights! Why not become a demon and preserve—no, multiply—the strength you have worked so hard to gain forever?" Akaza offered, having already recognized the Flower Hashira's prowess.
To which Kanae only smiled gently. "Thank you for the offer, but I must refuse. Regardless of the reasons, I cannot allow myself to become a demon."
'Even now, this sister is so kind and gentle...' Makomo couldn't help but think.
What must this gentle girl have gone through to fight a demon face-to-face without a shred of fear?
At that thought, the desire to exterminate demons grew stronger within her.
Then Makomo, taking a step back, sheathed her lazurite sword and gripped the hilt tightly. In the next instant, she lunged forward, drawing her blade with blinding speed.
"Dance of Ice and Snow..."
Makomo's mastery of the blade had reached such heights that she could see the essence of natural phenomena and, drawing inspiration, create new sword skills based on them.
Since she hadn't left the canyon throughout her training, her own sword skills had become a natural extension of the seasons, having observed their full cycle six times.
Akaza's eyes narrowed sharply.
Danger!
In that same instant, his hair stood on end, a chill ran down his spine, and his instincts screamed of the impending threat.
Over the past few centuries, the Upper Rank Three had forgotten the last time he felt anything like this...
Without the slightest hesitation, Akaza stepped forward and, maintaining a perfect stance, delivered an incredibly fast palm strike.
"Final Form..."
"Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow!"