Chapter 224: Upper Rank Six

"Boom!"

The shell whistled out, tearing through the air.

Amid the deafening explosion, the entire top floor shattered apart in the firelight. Timber and rubble poured down like a violent rain, crashing onto the street with dense impacts.

"Reload!" the officer ordered again.

Just then, a woman's voice full of anger rang out from the smoke: "You... dare"

The words had barely fallen when the smoke suddenly churned violently. Over a dozen sashes shot out like venomous snakes released from a cage. The foremost sash went straight for a cannon, wrapping around the barrel.

"Crack!"

The metal groaned under the unbearable strain, and the cannon was instantly twisted into fragments. Shattered metal chunks sprayed in all directions, piercing through the bodies of surrounding soldiers.

The remaining cannons fared no better; metal fragments flew everywhere, flames soared skyward. Fleeing civilians were caught in the blast, severed limbs scattered across the ground.

The thick smoke dispersed, and a bewitching figure walked out slowly. White long hair fluttered in the night wind; her face bore pink tattoos, and the characters Upper Rank and Six were carved into her left and right eyes respectively.

"Fi-fire! Fire!" the general's voice trembled slightly. "Shoot it dead for me!"

Dense gunfire rang out; countless bullets whistled in.

"Eightfold Sash Slash!"

Dozens of sashes interwove into a net in midair, sweeping outward in all directions. Bullets striking the sashes let out crisp sounds.

The soldiers didn't even have time to scream before the sashes cut them to pieces. Blood flowed across the street, dyeing the flagstones a deep crimson.

"I originally wanted to let you die quickly." She raised her hand, and more sashes extended from her body, gleaming coldly in the moonlight. "Now, I'll tear you apart one by one!"

Dio stood at a distance, watching this scene, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly: "Interesting. Worthy of an Upper Rank."

The soldiers looked at their comrades' severed limbs on the ground and finally could hold out no longer; firearms dropped to the ground, and they scattered in flight.

"Ants are ants." Daki waved her arm contemptuously; a few sashes flicked out casually, slicing the fleeing soldiers to pieces.

Just then, she noticed a group of people standing in the distance, led by a blond man. Facing the bloody scene before them, they were surprisingly completely unmoved.

"Huh?" Daki lightly licked her lips, her gaze lingering on Dio. "This human... is rather different."

That handsome face, elegant bearing, and those golden pupils — every part attracted her. Daki hadn't seen such an outstanding man in a long time, and couldn't help but feel her appetite surge.

"With such a perfect appearance," a flash of greed crossed her eyes, "the blood must be especially delicious, right?"

Dozens of sashes instantly broke through the air, like arrows loosed from a bow, aiming straight for Dio's vitals. Every sash gleamed with cold light, enough to instantly tear an ordinary person to shreds.

"Master, watch out!"

A Corpse Puppet suddenly flashed forward, the blade in its hand sweeping a half-circle. Cold light flashed, and the sashes snapped in response.

Daki's pupils shrank slightly; the smile on her face vanished instantly: "What?!"

These sashes could easily tear even steel, yet they were severed by a single slash? Not only that, the one who wielded the blade emitted a bizarre aura.

"Interesting." Dio chuckled lightly, turning his head to look at the cloaked figure beside him. "Rengoku, go meet her."

Dio's voice had just fallen when a low reply came from under the cloak; the next instant, a powerful aura erupted.

"Boom!"

The ground suddenly caved in; the flagstones beneath Rengoku Kyojuro's feet instantly turned to dust. His whole body shot forth like a cannonball, drawing a body flicker in the moonlight, heading straight for Daki.

"What?!" Daki's pupils contracted sharply, her heart pounding wildly. This speed — she couldn't even capture the opponent's movement trajectory!

"Die!" She waved her hand, and dozens of sashes whistled out, stabbing at that rushing figure from all directions.

"Clang!"

A blade light flashed, and the sashes snapped in response. The person's movements were flowing like clouds and water, as if their speed hadn't decreased at all.

Daki gritted her teeth and slammed both hands downward.

Rumble! The ground of the entire street suddenly exploded; countless sashes, like venomous snakes drilling up from underground, stabbed densely toward Rengoku.

Every sash gleamed with cold light, enough to tear anything to shreds.

Yet Rengoku still maintained his charging posture, as if he completely hadn't noticed these fatal attacks.

"Hit!" A flash of delight crossed Daki's eyes. At this distance, even an Upper Rank Demon couldn't possibly dodge completely!

Just as the sashes were about to connect, several cold lights suddenly flared in the moonlight.

"Clang-clang-clang-clang!"

Crisp metal collision sounds linked into a continuous stream. The cloak was torn to shreds in the violent airflow.

"What?!" Daki's pupils contracted violently.

Six arms — a full six arms! Each arm gripped a long sword gleaming with cold light; the blades shimmered with a dark blue metallic luster.

These swords were forged day and night by the Shogunate's top smiths; each one could be called a work of art.

Rengoku Kyojuro's six arms moved with mechanical precision; the blade edges interwove, weaving a net of death.

"Flame Breathing, Eighth Form: Scattering Blossoms!"

Boom! Six swords simultaneously erupted with fierce firelight; flames interwove into a net in midair, severing every last sash.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Sash fragments turned to ash in the flames, fluttering down.

The air drifted with scorched sash fragments; Daki had yet to recover from her shock when a figure already appeared before her.

"When...!"

Six long swords swung simultaneously; cold light flickered.

Daki subconsciously raised both hands to guard her face; her features twisted, eyes full of panic: "No... impossible!"

"Flame Breathing, Sixth Form: Rainbow Solar Wheel!"

Six swords drew perfect arcs in the air; fierce flames instantly reduced the sashes to ash. The blades' residual momentum undiminished, the fifth and sixth swords crossed, directly severing Daki at the waist.

"Ah!" A shrill scream tore through the night sky. Daki's upper body flipped in midair; she looked at her own lower half falling to the ground with disbelief.

"How... possible... I am Upper Rank Six..." Her voice carried unwillingness. "A mere ugly monster..."

"Brother, brother! Someone's bullying me!"

Daki's weak voice carried a hint of sobbing. The once-proud Upper Rank Demon now called out to her elder brother like a wounded little girl.

A bizarre aura surged from within Daki's body. Her back began to writhe violently, flesh and skin rolling as if something were about to burst forth.

"Boom!"

Rengoku Kyojuro did not hesitate in the slightest. All six arms erupted simultaneously, his whole body shooting forth like a cannon shell. Right at this critical moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out: "Dare to bully my little sister."

Voice not yet fallen, Daki's back suddenly split open, and a figure emerged from within — a man with a bare upper body, red-and-black striped sashes wrapped around his arms.

"Blood Demon Art·Blood Scythe!"

"Boom!"

In an instant, hundreds of crimson slashes whistled out, carrying ear-piercing breaking-sky sounds as they attacked Rengoku Kyojuro. Each slash contained power enough to tear an ordinary person to shreds.

Rengoku Kyojuro instantly adjusted his posture, all six arms moving simultaneously, six great swords weaving an airtight defensive net in the air.

"Clang clang clang clang!"

Dense impact sounds rang out, sparks scattering in all directions. The crimson slashes were blocked one by one, yet still surged forth unceasingly.

In the distance, Daki's back had already split completely open, a figure slowly walking out from within.

It was an ugly-faced man, his body emaciated like bamboo. He held a crimson scythe in each hand, madness shining in his eyes.

He bent down, picked up Daki's scattered lower half, and joined them together.

"Brother." Daki's voice carried a coquettish tone. "They bullied me."

Gyutaro gently stroked Daki's hair, his voice hoarse: "Don't be afraid, little sister. With big brother here, no one can hurt you."

He slowly stood up. In the moonlight, his ugly face twisted into a ferocious grin.

The blood scythe in his hand scraped against the ground, emitting a teeth-grating sound: "Let me see who is so bold as to dare bully my little sister."

His gaze fell on Rengoku Kyojuro, eyes narrowing slightly. Six arms, ugly ferocious modification traces, just like his own ugliness.

Gyutaro subconsciously scratched at his cheek: "You're an ugly monster too."

Gyutaro's gaze shifted from Rengoku Kyojuro and landed on Dio. That perfect face made his pupils shrink violently, every muscle in his body trembling.

"Again like this." His teeth chattered. "Again this kind of guy with a pretty face."

Daki sensed her brother's abnormality, worry in her voice: "Brother?"

"Why." Gyutaro's voice grew ever more hoarse. "Why does this world always favor those pretty people."

He abruptly lifted his head, gaze fixed dead on Dio: "I'll tear that face of yours to shreds!"

"Heh." Dio's light laughter came from afar. "A mere ugly rat, also fit to judge this world?"

"Shut up!" Gyutaro flew into a rage. "I'll carve your flesh piece by piece! I'll make you taste what pain is!"

"Boom!"

The stone slabs beneath Gyutaro's feet suddenly exploded. His whole body shot forth like a cannon shell. The blood scythes in his hands traced a crimson arc in the moonlight.

Rengoku Kyojuro instantly moved in front of Dio, two great swords braced before him.

"Clang!"

Sparks scattered. The moment blood scythe collided with great sword, a tremendous force transmitted from the blade. Gyutaro's pupils shrank — this power was even stronger than he imagined!

He looked up. The other four great swords in Rengoku's hands had already slashed down from different angles.

Gyutaro pivoted on his foot, trying to retreat, but Rengoku's offensive surged like a tide. Great swords crossed in the air, blade light weaving a net that sealed off all his escape routes.

"Blood Demon Art·Arcing Leap!"

Gyutaro roared, crimson light erupting from his whole body. Countless blood blades spiraled around him, forming a crimson barrier.

The six great swords were blocked by the blood blades, emitting ear-piercing metal collision sounds.

But Rengoku's offensive did not diminish. All six arms exerted force simultaneously, flames coiling around the blades. "Flame Breathing·Sixth Form·Flame Tiger!"

Six flames intertwined in the air. The crimson barrier was instantly broken through under this terrifying attack.

"What?!"

Gyutaro's pupils violently shrank. In haste he only managed to turn sideways. The fire tiger brushed past, the scorching blade carving a bone-deep wound on his shoulder. Flesh instantly charred black under the high temperature.

"Brother!" Daki shrieked. Dozens of sashes shot out like venomous snakes. "Eightfold Sash Slash!"

"Intercept her." Dio spoke indifferently.

Voice not yet fallen, over a dozen Corpse Demon Swordsmen instantly flashed out. Blade light flashing, they severed every sash. Daki was forced to deal with these formidable swordsmen, unable to aid her brother for the moment.

"Little sister, focus on your opponents!" Gyutaro bellowed, simultaneously gripping his blood scythes tight, poison mist coiling around the blades. "I'll handle him!"

He stomped hard on the ground, his whole body shooting forth like a cannon shell. The two blood scythes crossed in the air.

"Fourth Form·Rising Scorching Sun!" Rengoku's six arms moved simultaneously, great swords crossing before him.

"Clang clang clang!" Dense metal collision sounds rang out, sparks scattering. Gyutaro's continuous attacks were resolved one by one.

"Blood Demon Art·Flying Blood Scythe!"

Gyutaro suddenly leapt back, both hands raising. Crimson slashes shot out like arrows.

Rengoku neither dodged nor evaded. Four great swords crossed to block before him, the other two already slashing out from the sides.

"Flame Breathing·Seventh Form·Flame Dance!"

Gyutaro tried to raise his scythe to block, but Rengoku's attack speed was astonishingly fast. "Puchi!" Blood sprayed. A great sword had already pierced through his abdomen.

"Ugh."

Gyutaro groaned dully, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth. But a ferocious grin surfaced on his face, as if everything was within expectation.

"Right now! Blood Demon Art·Circular Slash Rotation·Flying Blood Scythe!"

He suddenly shouted violently, death-gripping the great sword piercing his abdomen. Countless blood blades condensed on his arm, sweeping out like a violent storm, dyeing the surrounding air blood-red.

Rengoku sensed danger, tried to pull back the great sword and retreat, but Gyutaro death-gripped the blade, letting the sharp edge cut into his palm, blood flowing down the blade.

Rengoku's remaining four great swords swung simultaneously, flames flaring violently.

"Clang clang clang!" The dense sound of metal striking metal rang out as flames and blood blades collided, bursting into dazzling sparks.

Most of the blood blades were blocked, turning into crimson mist and dissipating, but several blood blades still broke through the defense, slashing across Rengoku's arms and chest, leaving several shallow wounds.

Gyutaro quickly released his blade and pulled back to open distance, the wound on his abdomen already beginning to heal. A smile of certain victory on his face: "How is it? My poison has already seeped into your body, soon you will..."

Before he finished speaking, Rengoku suddenly surged forward, six Great Swords drawing trails of firelight in the air. His speed not only did not slow, but was even faster than before!

"What!" Gyutaro's Pupils suddenly contracted, watching Rengoku in Disbelief, "Why... why isn't the poison working?"

Dio stood in the distance, his eyes flashing with a hint of mockery; although the Corpse Puppet's body was moving, it was essentially just a mobile corpse, and ordinary poison could not affect it at all.

(Chapter End)