Chapter 236: Explosion

Meanwhile, deep within the Underground Palace.

"So this is Dio's hiding place?" Tanjiro took a Deep Breath, his nose twitching rapidly.

As they went deeper, the rotten stench grew increasingly thick.

In the spacious Space of the Underground Palace, a figure was sitting lazily on the High Platform, Dio raising a wine glass.

"You've finally come."

Dio took a light sip of red wine, "I imagine it must be quite lively outside? Too bad, you won't get to see the best part."

Tanjiro looked up; dense Corpse Puppets occupied the Ceiling and the surrounding Walls, hanging upside down like bats.

Their eyes glowed with an eerie red light, yet they didn't move an inch.

Sanemi Shinazugawa shouted angrily: "Cut the crap!" He stomped hard on the Ground, and the Ground instantly cracked open.

"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Slash!"

His whole body shot forth like a fired Shell, the blade carrying fierce wind pressure straight for Dio's throat.

Dio didn't even raise his eyes, merely waving his right hand lightly; the wine in the red wine glass suddenly turned into a blood-colored streak, lashing out at Sanemi Shinazugawa like a long whip.

The red wine exploded instantly. Blood Mist filled the air, obscuring his vision.

Sanemi Shinazugawa's sight was filled with blood red; he lost his visual Lock on Dio. At This Moment, a chill suddenly struck from the side. He Subconsciously crossed his blade to block.

"Clang!"

Sparks flew amid the metal collision. Tremendous force traveled through the blade, numbing his tiger's mouth. Sanemi Shinazugawa's feet slid two deep grooves on the ground, retreating a full seven or eight steps before barely steadying himself.

"This power!" Sanemi Shinazugawa's arm trembled, cold sweat flowing down his forehead.

"Too slow."

A cold voice rang beside his ear; Sanemi Shinazugawa's Pupil Shrink, his peripheral vision catching that Dio had Unknown When flashed to his right side.

"What?!" Sanemi Shinazugawa's pupils contracted sharply.

"Too slow." The cold voice came from the side. Dio had Unknown When closed in before him, his right fist wrapped in terrifying momentum smashing toward Sanemi Shinazugawa's abdomen.

The fist wind howled; Sanemi Shinazugawa wanted to retreat but it was already too late.

"Bang!"

The fist solidly struck the abdomen.

Sanemi Shinazugawa only felt an unimaginable giant force transmit from his abdomen, his whole body flying backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a stone pillar over ten meters away.

"Cough!" He spat a mouthful of fresh blood; spider-web-like cracks appeared on the stone pillar.

"How is this possible?" Sanemi Shinazugawa knelt on one knee, fresh blood sliding from the corner of his mouth. A single punch had injured him this severely.

How could the opponent's strength have grown so terrifying?

Dio's nose twitched lightly; Sanemi Shinazugawa's blood emitted a special fragrance, causing his pupils to contract slightly.

"Interesting."

At This Moment, a figure silently Appeared at Dio's side.

Obanai Iguro's body assumed a bizarre twisted posture, like a venomous snake exiting its den.

"Serpent Breathing, Second Form: Narrow-Headed Venomous Fangs!"

The Nichirin Blade's edge tore through the air, aiming straight for Dio's carotid artery.

Dio's right hand shot out like Lightning, five fingers directly pinching the blade. "Interesting swordsmanship." The corner of his mouth curled slightly, "But too slow."

At This Moment, a scorching presence struck from the front. Tanjiro had already rushed close, the flame-like pattern on his forehead clearly visible.

"Senior Iguro!"

Tanjiro shouted loudly, his left hand suddenly shooting out. Obanai Iguro immediately understood, twisting his body in midair at an impossible angle, his right hand accurately grabbing Tanjiro's arm.

"Hah!"

Tanjiro stomped hard on the Ground, using the rotational force to fling Obanai Iguro toward the other side.

Obanai Iguro adjusted his posture in midair, kicked off the Wall, and launched out again.

By this time Tanjiro had also killed his way close. The two, one above one below, formed a perfect pincer attack.

"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Solar Flare Mirror!"

"Serpent Breathing, Fifth Form: Winding Long Snake!"

Two streaks of Blade Light, one up one down, Sealed off all escape routes.

Just as the blade edges were about to touch, Dio's arms suddenly burst, pale Bone Blades ejecting from his forearms.

"Clang! Clang!"

The Bone Blades precisely parried the two Nichirin Blades. Amid violent collision sounds, sparks flew everywhere.

"Is that all?" The corner of Dio's mouth curled slightly.

The blood vessels on his arms suddenly bulged, shooting out like living things. Thick blood vessels split in midair, forming countless fine branches, sweeping toward the two.

"Bad!"

Obanai Iguro tried to twist his body to break free, but the blood vessels' grip tightened more and more; the blood vessels suddenly became scorching hot, emitting sizzling sounds.

However, right at this Critical Moment, Tanjiro's pupils suddenly contracted.

The world's colors gradually faded in his eyes, replaced by an unprecedented clarity.

The flow of time seemed infinitely prolonged; he could clearly see the trajectories of the wriggling blood vessels, even predict the Locations they would Entangle next.

"Transparent World."

Tanjiro stomped hard, using the recoil to lean backward. The blood vessels barely grazed past his face, bringing a chill.

"Sun Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Sun Rainbow Mirror!"

Tanjiro gripped the blade with both hands, his figure rotating; Blade Light precisely severed the blood vessels Entangling Obanai Iguro in midair.

Before the blood vessels could retract, Tanjiro stomped hard, his whole body instantly Appearing before Dio, the blade edge aiming straight for the throat.

"This speed!"

Even Dio couldn't help but have his pupils shrink. He hastily raised his right palm to block, but it was already too late; Tanjiro's blade edge precisely cleaved into his palm.

"Pfft!"

Fresh blood splattered; Dio's right palm was neatly sliced in half.

He tapped his feet three times in succession, borrowing force to violently retreat backward.

"Wind Breathing, Third Form, Clear Storm Wind Tree!"

A loud shout came from the side. Sanemi Shinazugawa had unknown when circled around to Dio's left side.

He gripped his sword with both hands, his whole body's muscles tensed, the breath within his body condensing to its peak at this moment.

The Nichirin Blade drew a silver arc in the air, carrying fierce wind pressure as it chopped down head-on. The wind pressure tore the air, emitting a piercing whistle.

Dio abruptly took a step back, extending both hands forward, his wrists suddenly rotating at high speed.

"Hum!"

Two completely different air currents violently collided in mid-air. Sanemi Shinazugawa's wind pressure was instantly torn apart, turning into countless fine air currents spreading in all directions.

"What?!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa's attack disintegrated the moment it touched the air wall, his whole person blown back flying by the recoil.

He adjusted his posture in mid-air, his feet sliding out two deep gullies on the ground before barely steadying himself.

At this moment, Dio's figure suddenly turned blurry, as if merging into the air.

"Disappeared?!"

Tanjiro's pupils shrank. Even in the Transparent World state, he could only capture some faint, elusive Body Flickers.

"Bang!"

Obanai Iguro's chest suddenly took a heavy blow, his whole person flying out like a kite with its string cut, heavily crashing into the wall.

Before Tanjiro could react, a tremendous force had already blasted into his abdomen.

"Cough!" Tanjiro spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body bending uncontrollably.

Immediately after, severe pain came from the back of his neck, his whole person directly slapped into the ground, the floor instantly shattering, dust flying up.

"Get out here!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa roared, raising his sword to slash at Dio's last appeared Location. The blade tore through the air, yet only slashed emptiness.

The next instant, severe pain came from his back, his whole person directly kicked flying out.

"Bang!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa heavily fell to the ground, not yet waiting for him to roll over, a hand had already clamped onto his throat. Dio's five fingers were like steel pincers, lifting his whole person up.

"Pfft!"

Dio's fingers suddenly turned sharp, directly piercing into Sanemi Shinazugawa's neck. Warm fresh blood flowed down along his fingers; a trace of fanaticism flashed in Dio's eyes.

"This blood, truly a wonderful taste!" Dio's face showed an intoxicated Expression.

Sanemi Shinazugawa's hands desperately pried at Dio's wrist, but that hand didn't move a bit. His complexion gradually turned pale, his vision beginning to darken.

"Let him go!"

Obanai Iguro and Tanjiro shouted simultaneously. In an instant, snake-scale-like blue-green Demon Slayer Marks emerged on Obanai Iguro's forehead, his whole person's aura suddenly changing.

At this time, Obanai Iguro's forehead Similarly appeared Demon Slayer Marks.

His figure vanished from the spot, appearing behind Dio as if instant movement. The Nichirin Blade's surface rippled with an eerie blue-green light, the blade tip pointing straight at Dio's back heart.

"Serpent Breathing, Fourth Form, Twin-Headed Snake!"

Obanai Iguro's figure twisted in mid-air, Entangling toward Dio like a venomous snake. The Nichirin Blade drew an eerie arc in the air, sealing off Dio's retreat.

At the same time, Tanjiro had already rushed close: "Sun Breathing, Sixth Form, Fire Dance!"

The flames Entangling the blade suddenly became even more fierce, drawing streaks of crimson trajectories in the air.

"Now this is more like it!" Dio laughed loudly, "But still not enough!"

Dio tapped his feet on the ground, his upper body suddenly rotating at high speed. His arms at this moment turned into countless Body Flickers, bone blades and blood vessels weaving into an airtight large net.

"Boom!"

The air was torn by the high-speed rotation, emitting a piercing whistle. A powerful air current expanded outward with Dio as the Center, forming a small tornado.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three dull impact sounds rang out almost simultaneously. The air-current-formed tornado abruptly contracted; the tremendous force sent the three swordsmen flying simultaneously.

They drew three arcs in mid-air, heavily crashing into the surrounding walls. The wall bodies instantly Collapsed, rubble and debris falling down.

"Get up!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa gritted his teeth and climbed up from the rubble pile, fresh blood flowing down his forehead. He propped himself on the ground with both hands, knees trembling slightly, but his gaze remained fierce.

At this moment, the dense Corpse Puppets on the Ceiling suddenly rioted. They opened their bloody mouths, emitting piercing Screams, pouncing outward like bats.

"What?!" Tanjiro looked up, his pupils violently shrinking.

The corner of Dio's mouth hooked a smile: "It seems the guests have arrived."

"Boom!"

A huge crescent-moon-like Sword Qi suddenly swept across from the Doorway. Where the Sword Qi passed, the air was torn, emitting a sharp whistle.

The pouncing Corpse Puppets were instantly sliced in two, severed limbs flying in the air. Amidst the Blood Mist, a tall figure walked over slowly.

"This aura is..." Obanai Iguro's pupils shrank.

In the smoke and dust, Kokushibo's figure gradually became clear. He stood nearly two meters tall, six eyes flashing with eerie Golden Light, countless eyeballs on the Great Sword in his hand slowly opening.

"Upper Rank One..." Tanjiro's pupils sharply contracted, his heart almost stopping beating.

Merely the Oppressive Feeling the opponent exuded made him have difficulty breathing.

"How would a bastard like you be here!" Sanemi Shinazugawa staggered to his feet, "What about the people outside?! How are they?!"

Kokushibo didn't even glance at him.

"Wind Breathing, Fifth Form, Cold Autumn Mountain Wind!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa gripped his blade with both hands and stomped hard beneath his feet. The ground shattered, stone fragments flew, and his whole body shot toward Kokushibo like a shell from a cannon.

The moment metal struck metal, Sanemi felt an unmatched force travel through the blade. His web of thumb and finger burst instantly, and his whole body was shaken backward, flying out.

Kokushibo raised his right hand slightly, and the Hollow Crying God Gone Blade traced a shallow arc.

"Clang!"

The moment metal struck metal, Sanemi felt an unmatched force travel through the blade. His web of thumb and finger burst instantly, and his whole body was shaken backward, flying out.

"Bang!"

Sanemi crashed heavily into the wall, a deep blade mark on his chest oozing blood.

"With you, you dare challenge Adult Muzan?" Kokushibo's voice was low and cold, his fingers lightly stroking the blade of the Hollow Crying God Gone Blade: "It ends here."

"Oh?" Dio raised his eyebrows, "Then let's give it a try."

Before his voice fell, Dio's figure had already vanished from the spot.

Kokushibo's six eyes narrowed simultaneously, the eyeballs on his blade spinning wildly: "Sixth Form · Eternal Night Lone Moon · Hell!"

He gripped his blade with both hands, the blade tracing a perfect arc in the air. Countless crescent-like Sword Qi burst instantly, covering half of the Space.

"Not good!"

Tanjiro gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly with both hands, stepping back with three quick taps of his feet. Obanai Iguro's figure twisted, dodging like a poisonous snake. Sanemi barely rolled over, raising his blade to block.

"Clang!"

The Bone Blade shooting from Dio's arm blocked the densest Sword Qi head-on. Sparks flew in the metal collision, but his figure was thus revealed.

Kokushibo's six eyes lit up simultaneously, his whole body turning into a Body Flicker. His speed reached the extreme, the air torn apart emitting a sharp whistle.

"Second Form · Pearl Flower Moon Play!"

The Hollow Crying God Gone Blade traced a perfect arc in the air. The eyeballs on the blade all opened, releasing an eerie light. Sword Qi poured down like moonlight.

"Bang!"

The Bone Blade in Dio's arm was cut more than half. He was just about to retreat when Kokushibo's second strike had already arrived.

"Clang clang clang!"

Amidst the dense metal collision sounds, Dio was forced to retreat again and again.

His Bone Blade was constantly cut and constantly regenerated, but Kokushibo's offensive grew increasingly fierce. Every strike was faster and heavier than the last.

"It's over."

A hint of coldness flashed in Kokushibo's eyes, the Great Sword in his hand suddenly accelerating. The blade edge almost turned into a silver light, directly piercing Dio's chest.

"You're right." Dio looked down at the blade in his chest, suddenly revealing a strange smile, "Indeed, it's over."

Kokushibo's six eyes contracted simultaneously, an ominous premonition surged in his heart, wanting to draw back the Great Sword, but it was already too late.

"Vaporization Freezing Technique!"

At the wound on Dio's chest, piercing Cold Air suddenly burst forth.

In the blink of an eye, a thick layer of ice crystals spread outward from the wound as the Center, instantly covering Kokushibo's Great Sword.

At This Moment, Tanjiro's Pupils contracted sharply. His nose twitched quickly, a pungent smell drilling into his nasal cavity.

"This is the smell of gunpowder?!"

The rotting stench of the Corpse Puppet had covered this smell before. Now with the air flow, the smell of gunpowder grew stronger and stronger.

"Not good!"

Tanjiro's face changed greatly

He grabbed Obanai Iguro's arm with his left hand, yanked Sanemi Shinazugawa's collar with his right hand, his whole body bursting out the last of his strength, running madly toward the Exit.

"Boom!!"

The huge explosion sound echoed through the Underground Palace. The Air Wave flung the three people flying, the scorching flames instantly Devouring the entire Space. The Underground Palace's stone walls cracked bit by bit under this terrifying impact.

"Bang!"

Sanemi braced both hands, flipping up to his feet, he almost instinctively lunged toward Tanjiro, using his own body to shield him underneath.

(Chapter End)