Chapter 87: Battle Against Akaza Once More

Flame Breathing. First Form. Shiranui!

Rengoku Kyojuro struck first, swinging his Crimson Blade and unleashing a fiery high-speed charge, darting swiftly to Akaza's front with the target being Akaza's neck.

Akaza was unruffled and unhurried; the compass needles beneath his feet precisely predicted Rengoku Kyojuro's attack angle, and with a thrust from his legs he leapt into midair, dodging the strike.

Destructive Kill: Air Style!

In midair, Akaza used a long-range technique, continuously swinging his fists toward Rengoku Kyojuro.

Seeing this, Rengoku Kyojuro did not panic; instead, he centered on himself and swung his Crimson Blade to execute a defensive combat art.

Flame Breathing. Fourth Form. Blazing Maelstrom!

The vortex-shaped fiery slash blocked every one of Akaza's long-range attacks in an instant.

The reason Rengoku Kyojuro knew Akaza would use this move was entirely thanks to the intelligence on all the Upper Rank demons that Zero had gathered back then.

After Akaza landed, he looked at Rengoku Kyojuro, unable to understand why he knew his techniques.

But when he saw Zero, he had probably already figured out what was going on.

"I suppose Zero has already told you everything about the techniques of us Twelve Demon Moons' Upper Rank demons! Hahahaha! How interesting, truly too interesting! I must turn the two of you into demons and have you fight alongside me forever!"

Rengoku Kyojuro did not reply; at a speed the naked eye could barely detect, he charged to Akaza's front and continued his attack!

Flame Breathing. Third Form. Flame of Ten Thousand Phenomena!

An extremely fast downward slash, accompanied by an arc of raging flame, in a flash tore open a gash on Akaza from his shoulder down to his chest.

Seeing this, Akaza was filled with admiration for Rengoku Kyojuro, and the fighting spirit in his eyes burned even stronger.

"What splendid swordsmanship and speed — you really should become a demon after all, hahahaha!"

But Rengoku Kyojuro's attack had not yet ended.

Flame Breathing. Second Form. Rising Flame!

In the instant that the wound on Akaza's body healed faster than a blink, another slash was unleashed from below upward, its might even fiercer than before!

As if to split Akaza clean in two!

After learning all the intelligence on the Upper Rank demons and witnessing their strength, every Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps intensified their own training, and Rengoku Kyojuro was no exception.

All so that they could fight the Upper Rank demons — even if they could not kill them, they would absolutely drag the battle until dawn!

Destructive Kill: Leg Style. Crown Splitter!

Akaza met Rengoku Kyojuro's slash with a bare-handed disarm, caught the blade, then his body suddenly bent downward and, with a thrust from his legs, kicked backward!

Feeling the force of that kick, Rengoku Kyojuro twisted his Crimson Blade, broke free of Akaza's grip, and immediately retreated backward!

"So this is the strength of an Upper Rank demon?! Truly not to be underestimated! But I will absolutely not give up!" Rengoku Kyojuro's heart was unshakably firm.

Then, he took the initiative to attack once more!

Akaza was no less unyielding, meeting Rengoku Kyojuro's Crimson Blade head-on with his own pair of fists.

The Crimson Blade erupted with the force of flame, clashing against Akaza's fists with unstoppable momentum!

Yet Akaza's fists, as if feeling no pain, kept swinging back in counterattack.

The scene shifted once again, entering a white-hot stage.

Both sides' attacks grew ever more intense; from time to time sonic booms erupted in the field and clouds of dust swirled up.

All that could be seen in the not-far distance were two red-and-blue figures moving at great speed within the dust.

Even the air seemed about to be torn apart!

"Among the Pillars I have killed before, I have never encountered the Flame Pillar, nor that Zero Pillar behind you. But likewise, they never accepted the invitation I offered."

Akaza spoke to himself as he fought Rengoku Kyojuro.

"We are both pursuing the highest realm of the martial path, yet I truly cannot understand why. So… go ahead and die, Rengoku Kyojuro!"

Rengoku Kyojuro swung his Crimson Blade to block Akaza's attack, slashing into his wrist, and replied: "Anyone would be the same! So long as one is human, this is only natural!"

Tanjiro's face was filled with disbelief — just what level had such strength reached?!

"I can't see it, I can't see it at all… their speed…"

Inosuke, who had also arrived, though wearing his boar head, was his gaze any different?!

"No openings, their movements are so fast I can't see them! The space around those two is another dimension!"

Inosuke knew very well that this kind of battle was something he could not intervene in at all.

Once he charged in, he would only be delivering himself as a meal — death would be absolutely certain!

Even if he tried to help, he would only make things worse!

Zero, with his back to Tanjiro and Inosuke behind him, spoke: "Tanjiro, Inosuke, watch carefully — this is the battle between a Pillar-class swordsman and an Upper Rank demon! I hope it will be of help to you in the future."

Boom!

Rengoku Kyojuro swung his Crimson Blade, and the tremendous force sent Akaza flying back into a grove of trees nearby.

He then entered the grove as well, searching for Akaza's figure.

But the next instant, Akaza appeared right before him.

"What splendid reflexes and speed!"

A kick came flying out; Rengoku Kyojuro raised his blade to block.

But the force was so great that it sent Rengoku Kyojuro flying, crashing into the earthen wall and sinking into a deep crater.

Akaza walked out of the small grove and said: "Become a demon, Kyojuro — that way you can keep fighting alongside me forever!"

Rengoku Kyojuro planted his Crimson Blade into the ground, used it to prop himself up, and replied: "I refuse! I'll say it again — I detest you! I will absolutely never become a demon!"

Flame Breathing. Fifth Form. Flame Tiger!

Rengoku Kyojuro's body erupted with power once more; like a burning fierce tiger he charged forward at high speed and unleashed a massive slash.

Destructive Kill: Disorder Style!

Fists moving at extreme speed erupted with ferocious force, colliding with Rengoku Kyojuro's Flame Tiger.

The two collided, and the force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling out to the surroundings.

Both sides plunged back into combat.

Every strike was aimed at the other's vital points.

However, Rengoku Kyojurō was at a disadvantage.

Faintly, one could see that Rengoku Kyojurō was clearly running out of stamina.

This was obvious — for a human body, prolonged combat inevitably drains one's stamina.

Let alone fighting an Upper Rank of the Twelve Demon Moons; stamina would drain at a geometrically accelerating rate!

Boom!

Suddenly, not far ahead, a violent surge of power erupted.

Even the ground cracked like a spider's web, fissures spreading outward in every direction.

The one responsible was, naturally, Akaza.

Destructive Kill: Shatter Style — Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow!

The fierce punch slammed into the ground, its shockwave shattering the earth like leaf veins.

Rengoku Kyojurō was caught in the blast of that strike; his footing faltered, and Akaza seized the opening.

He swung both fists and slammed them toward him!

Destructive Kill: Demon Core Eightfold!

Eight scattered strikes converging from every direction, delivering a devastating barrage upon Rengoku Kyojurō.

Seeing this, Rengoku Kyojurō once again deployed a defensive sword technique to block.

Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blazing Maelstrom!

All of Akaza's attacks were blocked — but this time the force was even fiercer than during their earlier exchange, driving him back!

The Crimson Blade was already struggling to endure; upon closer inspection, one would notice cracks forming along the blade, and those cracks were still spreading.

Destructive Kill: Void Style!

Akaza unleashed another ranged attack, throwing punches in relentless succession; Rengoku Kyojurō continued to deploy the Fourth Form to parry!

Ping!

Crack…

In the end, the Crimson Blade could bear no more and snapped clean in two.

At that very moment, Akaza's final strike landed squarely on Rengoku Kyojurō.

Zero saw what happened and immediately rushed forward to support him.

"Cough, cough… So this is… the true strength of an Upper Rank demon… It's truly formidable…"

Though Rengoku Kyojurō's words carried a hint of disbelief, there was not a trace of discouragement in them.

Instead, he grew even more resolute — determined to become stronger!

It was a pity that the Crimson Blade, which had accompanied him for so long, was now broken.

"Kyojurō, you rest well. From here on… leave it to me."

"Mmm, I'm counting on you, Zero. Thank you!"

Supporting Rengoku Kyojurō over to Inosuke, he said: "Look after him, understood?"

"R-right… understood…" Inosuke still hadn't recovered from the battle scene he had just witnessed.

Upon seeing Zero, Akaza grew even more excited than before!

"At last I get to fight you again, Zero! Hahahaha!"

"Akaza, before that, I have a few things I want to ask you. I wonder if you'd answer them?"

"Oh? Is that so? Go ahead and ask."

For a strong one, Akaza still had enough patience, so he did not refuse him.

Zero took a deep breath and asked: "Why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger? And why do you despise the weak?"

"Hahahaha! Does that even need asking?! Of course it's to pursue the supreme realm of martial arts! Just as you have stepped into that supreme realm!

As for the weak — heh, in this world where the strong devour the weak, what right do the weak have to survive?"

Hearing Akaza's answer, Zero wasn't all that surprised; his face remained as calm as still water.

He then continued: "One last question — you grow stronger to pursue the supreme realm of martial arts, but once you've grown stronger, what can you actually do?"

"Of course it's to protect…" Akaza said, then suddenly paused.

It was as if he had forgotten something.

Something very important — but he couldn't recall what it was.

'Don't compare yourself to others. The opponent you fight is always yourself. What matters is becoming stronger than who you were yesterday…'

Akaza heard someone speaking in his ear — a voice that felt very familiar.

He also seemed to feel someone reaching out to rest a hand on his shoulder, then throwing a punch behind him.

But when he turned around, there was nothing there.

Every person present saw this action.

"There's clearly nothing behind him — why is he throwing a punch?!" Tanjiro was deeply puzzled…

And Zero became all the more certain that, deep within Akaza, his own consciousness still remained.

It was just that, for some unknown reason, he had lost his memories, leaving only the obsession to grow stronger.

"Akaza…"

Hearing Zero call him, Akaza turned his head to look at him.

"Akaza, I don't know what you've been through, but I will defeat you fair and square!"

【Dark Alloy Battle Armor, equip!】

Clack! Clack!

The battle armor appeared once more, arming Zero from head to toe, as he took out the Sun Wheel Scythe from his 【Nano Space】.

"Let's settle this. 【They】 have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Them? Who are they? What on earth are you talking about!?" Akaza roared.

But the only response Akaza got was Zero's attack!

Whoosh!

Zero teleported in an instant, swinging the Sun Wheel Scythe to tear through the air, slashing straight toward Akaza!

Akaza's hair stood on end; the cells in his body seemed to be issuing him a warning—he had to finish Zero off immediately!

He immediately leaped backward away from his original spot.

Destructive Kill: Void Style!

Immediately following up with a long-range technique, he swung his fists in rapid succession, launching a continuous barrage of attacks at Zero!

Zero, meanwhile, spun his scythe at high speed, blocking every single attack, then counterattacked!

Seeing that his techniques hadn't dealt any substantial damage to Zero, Akaza dared not let his guard down for even a moment and fought with everything he had!

Moreover, he clearly sensed that Zero was holding back.

That crimson fighting spirit had been radiating from Zero's body the entire time—completely different from last time, not restrained in the slightest.

"Why aren't you using your Supreme Domain?! Are you looking down on me?"

Akaza felt insulted.

"I told you—I will defeat you fair and square!"

The battle between the two sides grew extremely intense; the surrounding air was torn apart, faintly showing signs of shattering.

Not only that, the other-dimensional space itself erupted with a piercing roar.

Rengoku Kyojurou also felt it clearly this time, and understood one thing as well.

Just now, when Akaza had fought him, Akaza had been holding back.

Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels!

Bewildering, unpredictable trajectories—like wandering meteors—wrapped in turbulent currents as they kicked rapidly toward Zero.

Zero raised the Sun Wheel Scythe to block in front of him, then with a sudden swing, severed Akaza's leg.

Then he delivered another kick straight to Akaza's chest, sending him flying into the forest.

Pressing the advantage, Zero gripped the Sun Wheel Scythe and likewise charged into the forest, continuing to fight Akaza.

"You've only grown stronger and stronger—I absolutely must turn you into a demon, hahahahaha!" From within the forest came the sound of Akaza's crazed laughter.

Destructive Kill: Final Style: Blue Silver Chaotic Residual Light!

This was Akaza's ultimate technique—gathering his compass needles, with himself as the center, firing hundreds of blue missiles outward in an instant.

This move was not only extremely fast, but devastatingly powerful.

The blue missiles struck Zero's battle armor, causing not the slightest damage—leaving only a few faint scratches.

The remaining blue missiles destroyed all the surrounding trees, which collapsed with a thunderous rumble, one after another producing tremendous crashes.

Rengoku Kyojurou and the others outside the forest, seeing this situation, were extremely worried.

Boom!

A figure flew out from the forest, crashing into the exact same spot Rengoku Kyojurou had hit earlier.

Even his chest had several gaping wounds, with fresh blood gushing out.

In just a few breaths' time, regeneration was already complete.

However, it wasn't over yet.

Suddenly, a rapidly spinning Sun Wheel Scythe shot out from the forest—like a meat grinder, intent on slicing apart everything in its path!

Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Flowing Flash Cluster Light!

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Akaza used a single leg to deliver several fierce rapid kicks against the Sun Wheel Scythe flying toward him, like bursting flashes of light.

Bang!

The Sun Wheel Scythe was kicked flying into midair.

Swish!

Zero's figure shot out from the forest once more, leaping into midair to grab the tail end of the Sun Wheel Scythe's handle, and with the speed of a sudden thunderbolt, swung it down toward Akaza!

Squelch!

Akaza, who hadn't had time to react, could only barely dodge, but half of his shoulder was still split open.

Destructive Kill: Leg Style: Crown First Slice!

Somewhat unwilling to accept it, Akaza violently kicked upward from below toward his rear, aiming a powerful kick at the head of Zero's battle armor.

However, Zero merely bent his body back slightly and dodged the strike.

Immediately, he twisted his torso, raised his leg, and delivered a spinning kick—planting it right on Akaza's face; his neck, under the tremendous force, spun a full 360 degrees.

Combined with the effect of inertia, Akaza's entire body flew sideways and crashed to the ground.

All of this happened in just a few breaths' time.

"It ends here!"

Tightening his grip, he activated Crimson Blade.

The blade of the Sun Wheel Scythe radiated a scorching heat like that of the sun.

Finally, he rushed forward at top speed and swung the Sun Wheel Scythe, severing Akaza's head!

Before Akaza could even react, his head had already been separated from his body—and the severed spot still burned with a searing heat!

"Success!" Tanjiro cried out inwardly.

Akaza's head fell to the ground and crumbled into ash.

Yet his body remained standing rigidly in place, not collapsing or vanishing from the loss of his head…

"This is…" Rengoku Kyojuro sensed something was off!

【No… I haven't lost yet… I still have to pursue the supreme realm of the martial path… I cannot lose!】

【So what if my neck was severed? I can still fight! I can still grow stronger! I must keep my promise…】

Boom!

Technique deployed — Destructive Kill: Luo Zhen Needle!

Akaza's headless body sealed the wound and deployed his technique once more!

Seeing this, Zero understood one thing: Akaza had already overcome decapitation!

Overcome decapitation through sheer, overwhelming obsession!