Chapter 221

"Mr. Rengoku." Tanjiro's throat tightened.

"It's perfect!" Shinoda Shun trembled all over with excitement, a fanatical smile on his face, "Dio-sama's blood can bring the dead back to life! This is power that transcends humanity!"

As he spoke, he pulled out the short knife he carried with him and without hesitation slit his own wrist. Fresh blood flowed down his arm, gleaming with an eerie luster under the moonlight.

"Please drink my blood, Rengoku-sama!" Shinoda Shun held up his bleeding wrist, a manic smile on his face, "Let Dio-sama's will flow through your entire body!"

"Crack!"

Rengoku Kyojuro did not look at the wrist, but directly grabbed Shinoda Shun's neck and lifted him high into the air.

"Ugh!" Shinoda Shun was lifted up, but his face showed no expression of pain; instead, a hint of a fanatical smile appeared, "To offer my everything to Dio-sama... is the greatest honor."

"Gurgle gurgle"

The sound rang out, and Shinoda Shun's blood was continuously sucked into Rengoku Kyojuro's body.

Rengoku Kyojuro's rotting skin began to heal, maggots fell off one by one, and that face so familiar to Tanjiro was gradually reappearing.

With a "bang," Shinoda Shun's body was casually thrown onto the ground.

Rengoku Kyojuro bent down to pick up Shinoda Shun's Nichirin Blade, slowly raised his head, and drew a strange smile at the corner of his mouth: "Tanjiro, long time no see."

"Mr. Rengoku, do you remember me."

"I remember everything," Rengoku Kyojuro gently stroked the blade, "including what I did when I was the Flame Hashira. Thinking about it now, it was truly foolish."

Tanjiro's pupils shrank: "What?"

"Think about it, we risked our lives hunting demons, why?" Rengoku Kyojuro shook his head, his voice laced with irony, "Just because they killed a few people? Truly laughable, how laughable. The weak are dominated by the strong!"

He raised his hand, looking at his palm restored to its original state: "Back on the Infinity Train, Upper Rank Three appreciated my talent and invited me to become a demon. I foolishly refused. Thinking about it now, it was truly a wrong decision."

"Now I feel so wonderful, power surging within me, eternal life flowing through my veins..."

"Mr. Rengoku! Pull yourself together!" Tanjiro shouted, "This isn't what you want! It's Dio, that monster, controlling you!"

"Controlling?" Rengoku Kyojuro laughed loudly, "No, Tanjiro, I am now clearer than ever!"

Tanjiro stared fixedly at the person before him; that face was still as he remembered, but the madness and distortion in those eyes filled him with endless chill.

He took a deep breath, gripped the hilt, and assumed the starting stance of Sun Breathing, the blade pointing straight at Rengoku Kyojuro.

Rengoku Kyojuro looked at Tanjiro's movements with interest: "Oh? You want to fight me?"

"You are just a monster wearing Mr. Rengoku's skin." Tanjiro took a deep breath, his eyes becoming determined, "Mr. Rengoku surely wouldn't want to see himself become like this!"

"As a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps" he stomped his right foot on the ground, his body slightly crouching: "I absolutely cannot let you continue like this."

Tanjiro's entire aura suddenly changed; a scorching aura surged from within him, his breathing gradually stabilized, and his heartbeat and breathing perfectly matched.

"Total Concentration: Fire God Kagura, Seventh Form" Tanjiro gripped his blade with both hands, his body like a compressed spring, "Solar Halo Dragon Dance!"

His figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving only a deep footprint on the ground.

A sharp whistle sounded in the air; Tanjiro's entire body turned into a crimson bolt of lightning, thrusting straight at Rengoku Kyojuro's heart, this strike pushing speed to its limit.

"Hah. Compared to Flame Breathing, Sun Breathing is indeed more fierce." Rengoku Kyojuro curled the corner of his mouth, "But..."

"The me now has already transcended humanity!"

He stomped his right foot hard on the ground; the ground instantly shattered, and his body shot forward, simultaneously unleashing a grand flame slash.

"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknown Fire!"

With a resounding "clang," sparks flew, two utterly different flame powers collided in the air, and scorching air waves spread outward.

"Ugh!"

Tanjiro only felt his arm go numb; his entire body was shaken back several steps by the immense force, and the blue stone slabs on the ground were crushed into powder by his footsteps.

Rengoku Kyojuro stood motionless in place, faint firelight still lingering on the blade in his hand: "How is it, did you feel it? This is the power bestowed upon me by Dio-sama!"

"So strong!" Tanjiro's hand gripping the blade trembled slightly. The force of that strike far exceeded the level of Rengoku Kyojuro in his memory; the current Rengoku Kyojuro was stronger than when he was alive. But... "Mr. Rengoku, your Flame Breathing has changed flavor."

"Changed flavor?"

"Yes." Tanjiro stared straight into those eyes glowing with red light, "Your sword has lost the will to protect others. The current Flame Breathing has only flames of destruction and slaughter left."

"Is that so?" The red light in Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes blazed brightly, "The me now no longer needs to rely on breathing techniques! The power brought by this Undying Body is far stronger than any breathing technique!"

"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"

Rengoku Kyojuro raised his Nichirin Blade high, crimson flames coiling around the blade. He gripped the blade with both hands and suddenly slashed down from above; the fierce fire wave poured down like a waterfall.

Tanjiro's pupils shrank, and his legs suddenly exerted force. His entire body leaped into the air, using the upward momentum to dodge this fatal strike.

"Fire God Kagura, Ninth Form: Setting Sun Transformation!" Tanjiro in mid-air spun his body, the Nichirin Blade in his hand drawing an arc, slashing toward Rengoku Kyojuro's neck.

"Too naive!"

Rengoku Kyojuro did not retreat but advanced; he stomped his foot, and his entire body shot up into the sky like a shell from a cannon.

"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"

The blade in his hand traced an upward trajectory, aiming straight for Tanjiro's chin.

"Clang"

With a resounding crash, the two blades collided in mid-air, sparks flying. The immense impact directly sent Tanjiro flying backward.

Tanjiro adjusted his posture in mid-air; just as his feet touched the ground, he heard Rengoku Kyojuro's voice coming from above his head.

"Too slow!"

Unknown when, he had already leaped into the air, the blade in his hand wrapped in scorching flames, slashing down from above.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sounds of metal colliding rang out continuously, sparks flying. The two figures moved swiftly under the moonlight, each clash erupting with astonishing air waves.

After a heavy blow, their blades pressed against each other again. Cold sweat beaded on Tanjiro's forehead, his arms trembling slightly under the immense pressure. He could feel the force transmitted from the opponent's blade was stronger than before.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred! "Pfft!"

Rengoku Kyojuro's hair suddenly stretched like a living thing, transforming into countless blood-red tentacles that attacked Tanjiro.

"What?!" Tanjiro was caught off guard, his right arm wrapped by a tentacle.

He tried to break free, but felt a burst of severe pain. Those fangs had already pierced deep into his flesh and began frantically sucking his blood.

"Fire God Kagura·First Form·Round Dance!"

Tanjiro endured the severe pain and abruptly retreated, his wrist rotating rapidly, the blade drawing a perfect arc in the air, cold light flashing, those eerie hair strands severing in response.

However, in that very opening, Rengoku Kyojuro's blade had already sliced across his chest. Fresh blood splattered, a wound appearing.

"Ugh"

Tanjiro staggered back, panting heavily. Sweat and blood mixed together, dripping from his chin, the continuous high-intensity battle making his heart pound like a drum, his body temperature rising rapidly.

He raised his head, and at this moment, he noticed a detail — several nicks had appeared on Rengoku Kyojuro's blade.

"I see." A glint flashed in Tanjiro's eyes.

That was an ordinary corps member's standard-issue blade, simply unable to withstand such fierce collisions. And every clash of Breathing Techniques would leave new damage on the blade.

Yet Rengoku Kyojuro was completely unaware; at this moment he had already completely lost the ability to resonate with the Nichirin Blade.

"The chance is right now!" Tanjiro suddenly stood up, gripping the hilt with both hands. His gaze locked onto the nick on Rengoku Kyojuro's blade, his whole body shooting out like an arrow leaving the bow.

"Clang!"

The two blades collided again, Tanjiro's blade edge precisely striking that nick, a piercing metal grinding sound ringing out, sparks flying as the nick further widened. Just as the two were fighting fiercely, Shinoda Shun's forehead, lying on the distant ground, suddenly began to writhe.

Shinoda Shun's body began to twist and deform, something surging frantically under his skin. Moments later, he had completely turned into a Corpse Puppet, a strange light flickering in his hollow eyes.

"Complete Dio-sama's task..."

He mechanically stood up, picking up the Wooden Box that had fallen on the ground, those glass bottles containing Dio's blood glowing with an eerie red light in the moonlight.

On the other side, the battle between Tanjiro and Rengoku Kyojuro grew increasingly fierce.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

With every collision of blade edges, the nick on that standard-issue blade widened a fraction.

Suddenly, the earth began to tremble.

"Crack. Crack"

Strange sounds suddenly came from the surrounding cemetery, as if something was struggling to break out of the soil.

"What?!" Tanjiro's face changed drastically.

Countless pale arms stretched out from the mud, followed by twisted figures. They clambered out of the graves swaying, then quickly scattered in all directions.

"This is...!" Tanjiro's heart sank; if these Corpse Puppets rushed into the town... they must be stopped!

"Where do you think you're going?" Rengoku Kyojuro's voice rang by his ear. A fierce blade light swept horizontally, forcing Tanjiro to retreat.

"Clang!"

Tanjiro anxiously watched those Corpse Puppets gradually disappear into the night, they were moving toward the town's direction! "Get out of the way!" Tanjiro roared urgently, if they were allowed to rush into the town, the consequences would be unthinkable!

"Heh," Rengoku Kyojuro's mouth curled into a mocking arc, "Why care about the life and death of the weak? Survival of the fittest, that is the world's truth!"

"Mr. Rengoku!" Tanjiro's voice carried a choke, "I know you're still in that body! You once said you would protect the weak. How can the current you watch these monsters harm innocent people!"

"Everything in the past has already ended! The current me is loyal only to Dio-sama." Rengoku Kyojuro sneered, "Come! Let me see your resolve!"

Sporadic screams already came from the distance, Tanjiro's heart raced wildly, every second of delay might mean more innocent deaths.

"Damn it. Damn it!" His breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently, "Can't go on like this..."

"Flame Breathing·Sixth Form·Rengoku!"

At this moment, Rengoku Kyojuro roared, propping the blade on his shoulder, his whole body charging out like a fired Shell.

The ground cracked inch by inch beneath his feet, flames Entangling the blade, as if to ignite the very air.

A touch of gravity flashed in Tanjiro's eyes. He took a Deep Breath, his right foot stomping hard on the ground: "Fire God Kagura·Yang Shadow!"

His figure continuously Shone in the moonlight, every Location leaving a clear shadow, as if a dozen Tanjiros Appeared simultaneously.

"Phantom?" Rengoku Kyojuro's Pupil Shrunk.

Next Second, Rengoku Kyojuro suddenly tilted his head back, his throat convulsed, a mouthful of fresh blood spraying out. The blood turned into fine Blood Mist in the air, his eyes deadlocked on the Blood Mist's flow.

"There!" A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, the blade slicing through the Blood Mist, striking straight at one of the figures.

But it was empty air.

"What?!" Rengoku Kyojuro's Pupil Shrunk.

At this moment, he felt a chill at his back, abruptly turning, blade chopping out.

"Flame Breathing·Flame Tiger!"

A giant tiger condensed from flames roared as it pounced at Tanjiro. Scorching Air Waves rushed over, the air distorting under the high temperature.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Tanjiro's heartbeat thundered in his ears, as if to burst from his chest. Every beat made his blood more searing, as if about to ignite.

"Ah!"

A low roar surged from deep in his throat, red patterns suddenly emerging on his forehead, burning like flames.

"Fire God Kagura·Mikazuki no Mai!"

Tanjiro's figure instantly split into three Body Flickers, dodging the fire tiger's pounce.

Simultaneously, Tanjiro's feet explosively exerted force, his whole body like an arrow leaving the bow, the blade drawing a perfect arc, slashing upward from below at Rengoku Kyojuro.

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the standard-issue blade in Rengoku Kyojuro's hand finally could not withstand the massive impact, the blade shattering inch by inch.

"What?!" Rengoku Kyojuro's pupils contracted sharply.

Before he could react, a second slash had already torn through the air, aiming straight for his right arm. The blade edge Fly Past, fresh blood splattering, the entire arm falling to the ground in response.

Tanjiro did not pause in the slightest, the slash chopping straight down at Rengoku Kyojuro's Skull. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, in the moonlight, the blade's cold light Shone.

"Goodbye, Mr. Rengoku." Tanjiro silently recited in his heart, a touch of pain flashing in his eyes.

But just as the blade edge was about to hit, Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes suddenly erupted with manic red light. He opened his mouth, revealing a mouthful of sharp Teeth.

"I... won't... die!"

Accompanied by a roar, Rengoku Kyojuro directly bit down on the incoming blade with his teeth. The blade edge cut open his mouth corner, his teeth shattered under the huge impact, and fresh blood flowed down along the blade.

But he seemed to feel no pain, biting down tightly without letting go.

"How... how is this possible!" Tanjiro's pupils contracted sharply, watching the scene before him in disbelief.

Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes flashed with a mad light, and a beast-like growl came from deep in his throat. Fresh blood dripped down his chin, but turned into steam before touching the ground.

Just as Tanjiro was shocked, Rengoku Kyojuro's right leg suddenly kicked up. His knee, like a shell leaving the barrel, slammed into Tanjiro's abdomen, and the air let out a sharp whistle under this blow.

"Bang!"

Amidst the dull impact sound, a huge force transmitted through flesh and bone. Tanjiro only felt his five viscera and six bowels shifting under this blow, and uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Tanjiro's two legs carved two deep grooves on the ground, but he gritted his teeth tightly and forcibly steadied his figure.

"This is the power bestowed upon me by Dio-sama!" Rengoku Kyojuro laughed ferociously unclearly, "Even if my body is chopped into pieces, I can continue to fight! This is the body of immortality!"

He raised his newly regrown right arm, but those black patterns suddenly began to fade, and the newly grown flesh and blood rapidly withered.

"What?" Rengoku Kyojuro's smile froze.

Rengoku Kyojuro lowered his head to look at his wound, his expression gloomy, "Is the absorbed blood not enough?"

Tanjiro took a deep breath; this was an excellent opportunity. He slightly bent his legs, preparing to initiate an attack.

"Boom!"

A deafening bombardment sound suddenly came from afar, and the earth shook violently.

Firelight bloomed in the night sky, illuminating half of the horizon, smoke rose, mixed with the smell of gunpowder.

Rengoku Kyojuro hooked the corner of his mouth into a cold smile: "It seems you have to make a choice." He took a step back, his voice carrying mockery, "To chase and kill me, or to go save those ants?"

After finishing speaking, Rengoku Kyojuro turned around and disappeared into the night.

"Wait!" Tanjiro was about to chase after him, but his footsteps stopped.

If he continued to pursue Rengoku Kyojuro, those who needed protection would... "Damn it!" Tanjiro clenched his fist, his nails deeply digging into his palm.

He took one last look at the direction Rengoku Kyojuro disappeared in, turned around, and ran toward the direction of the garrison.

(Chapter End)