Chapter 14: Introduction |
"Destructive Death: War Style!"
With a roar from Akaza, whose face was covered in intricate blue lines, a massive volume of air compressed violently before him. It surged forward in a shockwave of terrifying power.
Makomo calmly gripped her sword's hilt with both hands. She raised the blade high above her head and brought it down in a sharp, decisive arc.
"Autumn Whirlwind!"
A translucent blue light erupted, swirling like a fierce tornado. It collided head-on with the Upper Rank's shockwave, causing the surrounding earth to shatter into tiny fragments as violent tremors radiated in every direction.
In truth, Akaza's raw power hadn't reached a significantly higher level after breaking through his limits as a demon. The change was simpler: his neck was no longer a fatal weakness. The third Upper Rank no longer feared being decapitated by a Nichirin Sword, a blow that would normally spell the end for any demon. Now, nothing posed a true threat to his life—except for the impending sunrise.
Because of this, the battle had shifted from Makomo completely suppressing him to a nearly equal struggle, with Akaza pitted against the combined efforts of Kanae and Makomo.
However, "combined" was perhaps too strong a word. As a Hashira who had not yet unlocked her mark, Kanae played only a minor role in the clash.
In fact, rather than providing significant aid, Kanae would have likely become a liability to Makomo if not for her phenomenal speed, which allowed her to evade the majority of Akaza's lethal strikes.
"Your swordsmanship is truly incredible! Even now, after I've transcended my demonic limits, I still can't overcome you!" Akaza's voice boomed through the relentless roar of the battle.
"Tell me, how much longer can you last? One mistake is all it takes, and you'll be gravely wounded or dead. But for me, fatal wounds no longer exist! I can even regenerate my head!"
"You could possess an immortal body too, if only you became a demon!"
Akaza refused to stop his attempts to persuade Makomo.
The girl's mastery of the blade continued to set his blood on fire. He dreamed of enjoying their battle for eternity. But even if Makomo survived this fight, she would eventually grow old and die in a few decades, and her perfect art would vanish with her.
"No, you're wrong," the swordswoman replied, a confident smile touching her lips. "I may indeed die one day, but you have a limit too!"
Kanae couldn't perceive Akaza's state through mere presence, but Makomo could feel the rhythm of every single one of his cells. They whispered of a gradual, mounting exhaustion deep within his body.
Akaza's stamina was immense—even his fight from late evening until dawn against Kyojuro Rengoku hadn't shown such clear signs of severe depletion.
However...
Makomo was far more powerful than the Flame Hashira!
Akaza had played around for most of his fight against Kyojuro, never needing his true strength and taking far fewer hits than he had tonight. In this battle against Makomo, he was pushed to the edge.
It was no exaggeration to say she had wounded the Upper Rank dozens of times more than usual, forcing him to regenerate ten times as often. This, in turn, had led to a tenfold increase in his physical exhaustion.
It was fair to say the battle was heading toward a stalemate, despite the inherent advantages of a demon's constitution.
As the fight dragged on, Makomo would gradually lose her strength and weaken, but Akaza would also find it increasingly difficult to use his Blood Demon Art and regenerate from particularly heavy wounds.
But it wouldn't come to that.
Dawn was fast approaching.
Akaza might have overcome the weakness of his neck, but his intolerance for sunlight remained. It was a curse that even Muzan himself had failed to conquer.
"It's useless to try and convince you, isn't it?" Akaza remarked with a touch of regret. He glanced toward the east and added, "Ah, I didn't even notice the sun rising... It's a pity, but I must go. We'll call it a draw for today!"
"Don't let him escape! Demons die instantly when exposed to sunlight!" Kanae urged, noticing Akaza's intention to retreat.
Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, and her hands trembled slightly—a sign of her extreme exhaustion.
Suddenly, Akaza's figure blurred. With a thunderous roar, the demon lunged toward the weakened Kanae.
Whish!
Makomo reacted instantly, her sword flashing in a sharp counter-strike.
But Akaza didn't hesitate. He allowed the swordswoman's attack to cleave through him, losing the entire lower half of his body in an instant, yet he still threw himself at the Demon Slayer!
Kanae flinched, attempting to dodge, but her reaction was sluggish due to her fatigue. She had no choice but to try and parry the third Upper Rank's attack with her Nichirin Sword.
Akaza slammed his fist forward.
Clang!
The sound of shattering metal rang out.
The Nichirin Sword snapped under the demon's strike!
Kanae was sent flying backward by the force of the impact.
"Wake up!"
"If I had truly wanted to, you would already be dead."
Akaza regenerated mid-air and, after a final glance at the defenseless Kanae, sprinted away, vanishing into the distance.
Makomo didn't pursue him. Instead, she rushed to Kanae's side. "Are you alright?"
"Kch... leave me... don't let him get away..." the girl gasped, watching Akaza disappear as blood trickled down her chin.
Makomo simply shook her head. "I can't. If I tried to force him to stay, he might have killed you or destroyed the entire village and everyone in it."
"Ah..." Kanae sighed helplessly. She had no argument for that. Had it been only her own life on the line, the Flower Hashira would have sacrificed it without hesitation to take down an Upper Rank.
But there was an entire settlement at stake.
Makomo could have forced the demon to keep fighting, but after Akaza had broken his limits, his situation wasn't quite so desperate. If he were pushed, he could have leveled everything around them.
It wasn't worth the risk.
Realizing the logic of the situation, Kanae pushed aside her disappointment and looked at Makomo with newfound respect. "I never would have imagined such a powerful swordswoman could exist without knowing a breathing technique."
"I have only inherited a fraction of my teacher's skill," the swordswoman replied humbly.
'She became a truly great swordswoman at such a young age, yet she still sincerely admires and respects her teacher. What striking humility...' Kanae thought in awe.
Given that flawless display of swordsmanship, she must have surpassed her teacher long ago...
Kind, gentle, modest, and immensely respectful of her master... the more they spoke, the more Kanae admired Makomo.
"May I ask who your teacher is? And is it possible to meet him?" the Demon Slayer inquired.
Makomo's sword skills had left Kanae in a state of shock. She couldn't help but think that such techniques could make the Demon Slayers even stronger. She was eager to learn more about this teacher and experience a different path of the sword.
But the swordswoman only shook her head. "I rarely see my teacher. I don't know where he lives, and I'm not sure I could even find him..."
Kanae couldn't hide her disappointment at the vague answer, and she turned her gaze back to Makomo.
But the girl smiled and spoke before the Flower Hashira could find the words. "You intend to invite me to join the Demon Slayer Corps, don't you? I accept... demons have no place in this world!"
"That... yes, you're right. I officially invite you on behalf of the Demon Slayer Corps," Kanae nodded warmly, slightly taken aback.
Normally, one would have to pass the Final Selection to become a Demon Slayer, but after what had happened tonight, Makomo's strength needed no further evaluation. Her character was equally beyond reproach.
The addition of such a powerful swordswoman, one who could bring an entirely new perspective to the organization, was undoubtedly something all Demon Slayers would celebrate.