Rengoku was not someone who would gamble with his companions' lives, but he understood this was the only way.
The moment Mitsuba and Akaza appeared simultaneously, he understood he likely wouldn't be returning tonight.
If he was facing one Upper Rank demon, he might still have some chance of victory. But facing two Upper Rank demons simultaneously—this was an absolute death scenario.
He would surely die here tonight, but there was nothing to despair about. Life always had its end. As the only Hashira present, he absolutely could not flee.
The only thing he could do now was try every method to let the companions behind him escape as many as possible, even at the cost of sacrificing himself...
"Of course, little one of the Rengoku family."
Mitsuba lightly nodded, her tone somewhat gentle.
"I am very trustworthy. This point, I believe, was already proven at Mount Fujikasane."
"Very well, I believe you."
Without saying anything more, Rengoku adjusted his breathing and slowly raised the Nichirin Blade in his hand.
The method to awaken the Mark—Mitsuba had revealed it to Tanjiro at Mount Fujikasane.
Theoretically, as long as one stayed beside the first Mark awakener, and both body temperature and heartbeat reached the standard simultaneously, one could successfully awaken.
But regrettably, no matter what methods Tanjiro and Genya used previously, Zenitsu couldn't awaken his Mark.
Rengoku felt the problem likely wasn't with Zenitsu, but rather that Tanjiro and the others had been ignoring a hidden requirement—
Willpower!
Besides the physical requirements, the Mark's awakening very likely also needed that intense willpower that could only be stimulated in battle!
Rengoku didn't have one hundred percent certainty this was the correct answer, but at present, he could only try this way!
"Finally finished discussing?"
Seeing that both sides were no longer speaking, Akaza beside them finally asked.
"Yes, I'll leave everything to you next. Don't let this game end too quickly."
Mitsuba lightly nodded, actively retreating to the rear, handing the following stage over to Akaza.
"Rest assured, it's rare to have a chance to fight with full strength. I'll accompany them in playing for a while longer."
As the words fell, Akaza's right foot stomped fiercely. Accompanied by the cracking of stone tiles beneath his feet, his figure instantly shot out like a cannonball, charging straight toward Rengoku!
[He's coming! I can see him!]
His eyes barely able to capture Akaza's high-speed moving figure, Rengoku similarly faced Akaza head-on, swinging the Nichirin Blade in his hand.
Boom!
Within the blood-red mandala domain, two figures collided fiercely. The collision sound between fist and blade was deafening. Both sides instantly exchanged dozens of moves each, their speed so fast they almost created afterimages!
However, in this seemingly evenly matched fierce battle, almost all of it was Akaza attacking while Rengoku defended.
From the very moment they exchanged blows, Rengoku had already fallen into a disadvantage!
Akaza's fist speed was too fast, his strength too great. Rengoku could barely even see clearly, let alone make any response.
He could almost only rely on that sharp intuition cultivated from past battles to barely keep up with Akaza's fist speed.
[No good, continuing like this I'll quickly be defeated. I must think of a way...]
"What's wrong, Kyojuro? Could this be your limit?!"
Another fist blasted out, keenly detecting that instant of sluggishness in Rengoku's battle, Akaza immediately shouted excitedly.
"Not enough, not enough! Your strength absolutely doesn't stop here! Next I'm going to get slightly serious!"
[What?!]
Before the words finished, Akaza suddenly retreated several meters with a speed Rengoku couldn't capture at all. Simultaneously his arms swung at extreme speed, layer upon layer accumulating that fierce fist wind, blasting a large-scale shockwave toward Rengoku!
"Destructive Death: Chaotic Type!"
Akaza finally used his first Blood Demon Art technique.
[Such powerful force... could this be his Blood Demon Art?]
The floor tiles beneath his feet were lifted layer by layer, dirt flying everywhere. Facing this shockwave Akaza swung out, with the stunned swordsmen behind him, Rengoku didn't dodge but chose to face it head-on!
"Flame Breathing: Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Exhaling a breath of orange-red air, Rengoku clenched his teeth and used all his strength, swinging a fierce slash shaped like a tiger toward the shockwave before him!
Boom!
The collision between fist wind and flames created a violent explosion in the field, stirring up dust everywhere!
"Lord Flame Hashira!!"
"Huff... huff..."
When the dust settled, Rengoku had not fallen!
Fresh blood slowly dripped from his forehead—that was from being injured by flying stone tile fragments.
His breathing was rapid, his chest heaving violently, sweat pouring like rain, even his hands trembling from exhaustion!
But he indeed had not fallen!
He withstood it. Upper Rank Three's terrifying strike—he had withstood it...
"Excellent! Continue!"
Very satisfied with Rengoku's reaction, Akaza charged forward again with wild laughter!
This time, his speed was much faster than before!
Rengoku subconsciously wanted to make a response, but he had just raised his hand when he felt piercing pain coming from various parts of his body!
[Damn it, body exhausted, breathing can't adjust...]
"What's wrong, Kyojuro?! Could it be at just this level you're already about to give out?!"
In the next instant, Akaza's figure charged before Rengoku.
This time, he didn't use any Blood Demon Art technique. He merely kicked out with an ordinary motion, sending Rengoku—whose body was stiff and unable to react in time—sliding a full dozen meters away!
"Cough!"
"Rengoku-senpai?!"
Watching from afar at Rengoku half-kneeling on the ground, spitting fresh blood, Tanjiro subconsciously wanted to charge forward.
But his foot had just stepped out one step when he seemed to suddenly remember something, subconsciously turning his head to look at Mitsuba smiling and standing in the distance.
"All attacking together is also fine, I don't mind."
Seemingly understanding what Tanjiro was worrying about in his heart, Akaza suddenly turned to look at him, speaking calmly:
"Just, fists and feet have no eyes. Life and death are your own responsibility."
"Take this! Sun Breathing: Eleventh Form: Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance!"
The blade body igniting with dragon-shaped flames, Tanjiro roared, his figure like a dancing fire dragon stepping on that winding, zigzagging footwork, rapidly approaching Akaza!
"Kid, your Breathing technique... seems somewhat different from other Breathing techniques?"
Keenly sensing the special nature of Tanjiro's Sun Breathing, Akaza curiously opened his mouth.
He didn't use his Blood Demon Art. Facing Tanjiro's rapidly approaching attack, he merely stood in place, his right foot stepping slightly backward.
Then, just as Tanjiro's blade was about to touch his neck!
Akaza rapidly raised his hand, one hand gripping Tanjiro's wrist holding the blade, one hand wrapping around his waist side. Simultaneously using his own right foot as support, his waist and abdomen driving both arms to suddenly exert force, following Tanjiro's charging momentum, flinging his entire person dozens of meters away!
"Uwaaah!"
Boom!
From the distant tree grove came the sound of a heavy object landing.
Easily taking down Tanjiro, Akaza still stood in place, his arms slowly retracting, shoulders sinking and elbows dropping, waist relaxing and hips contracting, then grinning.
"The Tai Chi technique of 'using four ounces to move a thousand pounds'—never seen it before, young man?"
...
(The battle has just begun meow, the Demon Slayer Corps still has a few people who haven't gathered yet meow~)