[Rely on yourself...]
Time returned to the Infinity Castle. After his head was severed, Akaza's body remained standing in place.
At this moment, he suddenly recalled the teaching Mitsuba had given him hundreds of years ago.
He possessed the talent to reach the supreme realm, yet his own Blood Demon Art had hindered him, leaving him wandering outside this domain for centuries without entry.
Until now, he had finally suffered greatly because of his Blood Demon Art—even his head had been cut off by a Demon Slayer.
A supreme humiliation!
Deeply ashamed in his heart, yet at this moment, Akaza felt no anger.
On the contrary, he even felt some joy.
For centuries past, aside from Mitsuba and her elder brother, Akaza had never seen anyone else capable of stepping into that supreme realm.
He had even once believed this domain to be an unattainable peak for mortals, a legendary realm reachable only by those with exceptional talent like Mitsuba.
But now, this perception of his was completely shattered.
Because Kyojuro had entered it.
This Demon Slayer before his eyes had entered this supreme realm.
Was Kyojuro strong?
No, this Demon Slayer was far inferior to him.
In martial arts, he understood the philosophies of various schools, far surpassing this boy who only knew Breathing Techniques.
In actual combat, he had spent centuries already integrating his battle skills, with combat experience far exceeding that of humans.
So where exactly was he lacking?
Yes—it was will.
An unwavering will that knows of the Transparent World's existence and firmly believes one can surely step into it! Nothing more!
Then let it be at this moment!
Feeling the cells within his body showing signs of collapse, Akaza's determination reached its peak at this instant!
Either achieve enlightenment at this moment, truly enter that legendary supreme realm, and step onto a new peak!
Or die in humiliation, lose Koyuki, lose all important people around him, and fall into Avici Hell!
"Kyojuro! How are you feeling?"
Not noticing Akaza's headless body standing nearby, the three Hashira hurried forward, wanting to support the dying Kyojuro.
"Kanae, he..."
"Impossible."
Before Sabito could finish, Kanae shook her head. Looking at the two bloody holes in Kyojuro's chest and abdomen, she said in a heavy voice:
"This injury cannot be saved."
This was no lie. Akaza's previous attack had shattered Kyojuro's internal organs into pieces. That he could still breathe at this moment was already a miracle.
"No... need... to worry..."
Shaking his head gently, blood continuously overflowing from his mouth, supported by his comrades, Kyojuro only turned his gaze toward Mitsuba standing quietly opposite them.
"Upper Rank One... why... haven't you left yet... the agreement between us... don't you..."
"Little one, I told you, I am a demon who keeps her word."
Smiling at Kyojuro, Mitsuba simply spoke softly:
"But right now, the battle has not ended. You are still alive, and that child, he has not yet lost."
What?!
As if waking from a dream, Kyojuro slowly turned his head, looking toward Akaza who should have been killed by his strike just now.
Its head had already dissipated, its body was slowly collapsing, the Compass Needle beneath its feet had completely disappeared, and even that terrifying, powerful fighting spirit was gradually weakening.
From any perspective, Akaza had already entered an irreversible death process...
"No..."
Finally realizing something was wrong, Kyojuro's pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly said:
"He's not dead... he's entering... that realm... stop him... cough cough!"
"Die!"
Sanemi was the first to react, immediately stepping forward and swinging his blade at Akaza!
Facing his surprise attack, Akaza's headless body simply raised one hand slowly.
His movement was light, slow, yet incredibly precise, catching the trajectory of Sanemi's descending blade.
Clang!
In the next instant, with a crisp sound of metal shattering, Akaza's hand moved at a speed the others couldn't capture at all, directly breaking Sanemi's Nichirin Blade in two!
What...
Before Sanemi could react, he saw Akaza's raised hand transform from palm to fist, pushing forward and slamming heavily into his chest!
"Guh!"
"Sanemi?!"
Sending Sanemi flying more than ten meters with a single move, the collapsing trend on Akaza's headless body completely stopped at this moment.
The disintegrating cells began regenerating rapidly, and a brand new head quickly formed from the severed neck!
Upper Rank Three: Akaza, relying on his obsession powerful to the extreme, became the only existence in thousands of years, aside from the progenitor Muzan, to overcome the natural weakness of demons!
From now on, his neck would no longer be a weakness, but like other parts of his body, capable of regenerating freely!
"Three hundred years of bitter cultivation, finally bearing true fruit today."
His fighting spirit completely converged at this moment. Akaza simply stood there, closed his eyes, and slowly assumed his stance.
"Come."
His movements were so light and simple—just a raised hand, a horse stance. Clearly like an ordinary person with no fighting spirit whatsoever, yet he gave the people before him a terrifying pressure like mountains and seas crashing down!
What words could be used to describe this demon before them?
At this moment, the same word simultaneously appeared in everyone's minds—
A Grandmaster of the Generation!
Their bodies stiffened uncontrollably.
At this moment, all the Demon Slayers present stood frozen in place, with no one daring to step forward and attack.
"Heh..."
Akaza suddenly smiled.
He slowly lowered his hand and opened his eyes.
"Then tonight, let us end here."
His gaze turned to the disbelieving Kyojuro, and he said with a soft smile:
"Kyojuro, thank you. You are an excellent opponent.
For the rest of my life, I think I may never forget this battle with you tonight. Farewell."
With that, Akaza simply turned around and walked away directly.
"I'm leaving first. I'll leave everything that follows to you."
When passing by Mitsuba's side, he spoke in a low voice.
"Okay~"
Mitsuba waved with a smile, watching Akaza enter the Infinity Castle.
Akaza had indeed fought to his heart's content tonight, but she couldn't leave yet, because she still had some loose ends to tie up.
"What a thrilling night, don't you agree, little one?"
Stepping forward slowly, completely unconcerned with the gazes of the surrounding Demon Slayers, Mitsuba squatted down before Kyojuro, looking at him with a smile.
"Starting from Ubume and Enmu, watching reinforcements from both sides arrive one after another, then watching both sides break through their limits one by one, raising the stakes again and again, constantly escalating the confrontation...
Undoubtedly, you have all made splendid performances beyond my original expectations.
Such a brilliant and dramatic battle is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence in my more than four hundred years of long life.
It's just, young one of the Rengoku family..."
Raising her hand to prop up her chin, looking at the dying yet still breathing Kyojuro before her, Mitsuba asked with a smile:
"Tell me, do you regret it now?"