"Total Concentration: Wind Breathing..."
Asuka had no intention of wasting words. He let the breathing technique surge through his body, his blood turning scorching hot as he focused every ounce of his will onto the twin blades in his hands.
He could already feel the dense demonic aura radiating from within—far more savage and terrifying than the Beninuma he had encountered before.
He shook his blades and stepped firmly through the shrine gate.
Contrary to his expectations, he didn't have to spend any time searching for his target.
The demon, dressed in a dark-patterned kimono, sat openly in the center of the courtyard.
"Oh, you're here."
The main hall of the shrine was already in ruins.
Blood snaked across the ancient stone bricks, soaking them through. The air still carried the lingering warmth of despair.
At the demon's feet lay several mangled human corpses, strewn about in twisted angles. One victim had only recently been disemboweled; the abdominal cavity was hollow, the organs completely gone.
The demon's eyes rolled toward Asuka, killing intent pouring off him. The numbers inside his pupils became visible.
Lower Rank Two · Rokuro.
Strong.
Asuka immediately felt the oppressive force emanating from him and tightened his grip on his sword.
The air around the demon felt heavy and viscous.
Seeing Asuka remain silent, Rokuro paused his chewing.
He casually tossed aside the half-eaten arm in his hand into the pool of blood, then extended a crimson tongue to slowly lick the blood and bits of flesh from his fingers.
"I thought it was a Hashira. Almost scared me to death. Didn't expect—"
"...Shredding Slash!!"
Before Rokuro could finish, Asuka had already transformed into a streak of emerald light that tore through the air!
Both blades struck at once. Cyan wind blades howled and spiraled, threatening to rip apart even the thick demonic aura!
However—
"When grown-ups are talking, children shouldn't interrupt!"
Facing a slash powerful enough to shred ordinary demons, Rokuro merely raised a brow in mild displeasure.
The instant Asuka's attack reached him, his figure blurred strangely, like smoke scattered by wind.
The mountain-splitting strike passed straight through his body and slammed into the vermilion shrine pillar behind him, exploding it into flying splinters!
"Your sword intent is too straightforward, kid," Rokuro's voice whispered almost against Asuka's ear, laced with mockery.
His bloodstained palm shot toward Asuka's back, swift and oppressive.
Asuka twisted immediately, bringing his Nichirin Blade up in defense!
Clang!!
Rokuro's demonic hand struck the blade with a metallic roar!
A tremendous force surged through Asuka's arms, nearly unbearable. He immediately yielded and redirected the force rather than clash head-on, summoning Wind Breathing again to counterattack!
With a light backward leap, Rokuro avoided taking the strike and landed where Asuka had begun his charge.
"Wind? Ah… you're that one from back then…"
Rokuro seemed to recall something, studying Asuka with amusement.
"That woman with the high ponytail—what was her name… Suzune? Can't quite remember. Used the same sword style as you. Your master?"
"What a foolish woman. She was just about to kill me, but exposed a flaw to save someone… served her right to die!"
The teacher's daughter?!
This bastard did it?!
Asuka's breathing grew heavy. Murderous intent slowly ignited in his eyes.
"Speaking of which, you Wind swordsmen are really annoying. That senior Ubume was killed by a group of Wind swordsmen too, wasn't she? Though she killed them as well, but you people just can't—"
"Shut up!!"
It was the first time Asuka's emotions had fluctuated so violently.
His body trembled. Blood rushed uncontrollably to his head, veins throbbing at his temples.
During the more than two years at the Arasaki training grounds, he had changed in many ways. Most importantly, he had learned for the first time what it meant to have family and friends.
He saw flashes in his mind—Tetsushin Arisaki staring blankly at an empty room, his clouded eyes filled with remembrance. Rika's silent tears before the graves of Masachika Kumeno and Suzune Arisaki.
Master, Rika, Kenichi, Shinsuke… and the people they cherished—Asuka cherished them too.
And now this demon was insulting his family.
"Don't you dare use that filthy mouth to say their names again!"
"Wind Breathing · Eighth Form — First Gale Slash!"
The colorless Nichirin Blade in Asuka's hand trembled under the extremity of his rage, turning black-red!
He burst forward once more, every swing driven by unrestrained fury meant to tear the demon apart completely!
A rapidly spinning cross-shaped wind blade shrieked as it crushed the air itself, plowing through the ground and devouring the ghostlike figure at the center of the courtyard!
Stone bricks shattered inch by inch. Even Rokuro looked startled at the overwhelming force.
"This brat… something's not right…"
Rokuro had survived from the Bakumatsu era to today not through overwhelming strength or brilliance.
But through two words—extreme caution.
He had confirmed earlier, from the feedback of his Blood Demon Art being disrupted, that the opponent was definitely not a Hashira-level swordsman.
A swordsman this strong yet still within control was the most nourishing prey. Otherwise, he would have fled long ago.
But at this moment, the strongest sword intent Asuka unleashed was infused with killing intent and fury. At least this strike posed some threat.
Boom!!
Two devastating wind blades cleaved into the ground where Rokuro had stood. Shattered stone mixed with dust exploded outward, and the entire shrine hall trembled violently!
Yet Rokuro himself was unharmed—or rather, he had neutralized it.
His body blurred and twisted like the faceless ghostly figures he conjured, then vanished in place like a wisp of smoke scattered by violent wind.
Moments later, Rokuro reappeared several steps away, his expression now serious.
"Blood Demon Art · Mirage… Kid, you're pretty impressive. How about letting me go?"
He had already received part of his reward. There was no need to risk himself against this unpredictable demon slayer.
He was Lower Rank Two, after all. Surely the other side would recognize when to retreat.
You live, I live. Everyone survives. If they met again and had no choice, they could settle it then.
But Rokuro's so-called goodwill only sparked fresh fire in Asuka's ears.
"Leave?"
Asuka shook his still-humming Nichirin Blade, his gaze locking onto Rokuro's yellow pupils.
His grip tightened until his knuckles turned pale.
"The Demon Slayer Corps' order: exterminate the demon in Sendai. That's you, right?"
"And with Hayama's grudge added in, you're not leaving."
The fake smile on Rokuro's face stiffened. He brushed dust from his patterned kimono and looked at Asuka in confusion.
"Young man, don't be so stubborn. You and I both work for our superiors. Why fight to the death?"
"The strong devour the weak. It's natural law. Those workers, that female swordsman you care about—they died because they weren't strong enough. That's different from you and me."
"I can tell you've got potential! Take a good look—I'm Lower Rank! If we fight to the death, what a waste!"
"Why not part ways here? You go back and say you drove off a Lower Rank. As for me… I'll move to another city and live happily. A win-win, isn't it?"
Though the shameless speech could not move Asuka—
After two exchanges, he already understood the gap in strength between them. Even if Rokuro stood still for him to strike, Wind Breathing could not land a hit on that strange phantom body.
"Blood Demon Art…"
Asuka murmured. The color of his blade faded as he sheathed it.
To Rokuro, that looked like a sign of compromise. Relief finally loosened his chest as he began thinking about which city to enjoy next.
But in the next second, his expression froze.
Because the boy before him had changed.
More dangerous than before.
The battered blade in his hand began to emit a terrifying hum.