"Fighting Spirit—that is the core of the problem."
Yamada snapped his fingers, following Kyojuro's words to get to the main point. "As Hashira, through years of life-and-death combat, every breath and every swing of your blade is accompanied by intense killing intent and Fighting Spirit. But in front of Akaza, your Fighting Spirit is a death warrant."
"What do you mean?" Obanai's brow furrowed tightly.
"His Blood Demon Art is called 'Destructive Death: Compass Needle.' It's a sensory domain like radar." Yamada pointed to his head.
"Within this domain, he can precisely sense the trajectory, speed, and even blind spots of an attack based on the Fighting Spirit emitted by his opponent. The stronger your killing intent and the more intense your Fighting Spirit, the clearer your movements are in his eyes."
"It's like you're holding a torch in the dark to assassinate an archer with excellent vision. No matter how exquisite your sword forms are, he can use the guidance of the Compass Needle to make the most perfect dodge and counterattack the moment you make a move."
Once this analysis came out, the entire area fell into a deathly silence.
Sanemi's knuckles turned white from gripping his sword hilt too hard.
As the Wind Hashira, his swordsmanship had always been known for its violence and ferocity. If it was truly as Yamada said, then his style of attack was nothing more than slow-motion moves full of openings in front of Akaza.
"Not only that, the recovery power of the Upper Ranks is not something the small fry you usually cut down can compare to."
Yamada held up a finger, continuing to drive the point home. "If you cut off one of his arms, he can grow a new one in half a second. And you? As humans, once your internal organs are crushed or your bones are broken, your combat power will plummet. In a war of attrition, physical stamina is humanity's greatest weakness."
"Then is there really no way to defeat him?" The stagnant-water-like eyes of Giyu finally showed a ripple.
"There is."
Yamada jumped down from the rock and clapped his hands.
"The first method is to use absolute power and speed to forcibly destroy the upper limit of his Compass Needle. As long as your fist is faster than his perception—so fast that his brain reacts but his body can't keep up—then he can only take the beating obediently."
The corners of everyone's lips twitched.
Saying this method was the same as saying nothing at all.
In the whole world, probably only this monster in front of them, who could activate Susanoo and use his bare hands to treat an Upper Rank like a punching bag, could do it.
"The second method is to transcend your current limits and reach a realm called Transparent World."
Yamada glanced at the group. "Completely restrain all your killing intent, Fighting Spirit, and even emotional fluctuations. Let your heartbeat and blood flow slow to a minimum. In your opponent's perception, you will be like a lifeless stone. Only by entering this state without Fighting Spirit will his Compass Needle completely lose its effect."
"A state without Fighting Spirit..." Kyojuro murmured to himself, seemingly simulating the possibility of that realm in his mind.
"Don't think it's that simple."
Yamada ruthlessly interrupted his contemplation. "The prerequisite for reaching Transparent World is that you must first awaken the 'Demon Slayer Mark.' That is a mark that only emerges in a near-death limit state where your body temperature exceeds thirty-nine degrees and your heart rate breaks two hundred beats per minute. Before then, if you're unlucky enough to run into the top three Upper Ranks while out on patrol..."
Yamada paused, a cold smile hooking the corner of his lips.
"Don't hesitate, immediately send a signal to call for backup. Stalling until I can get there is the only way you'll survive."
These words analyzed the terrifying pressure of the Upper Ranks to the fullest and also completely crushed the pride of these usually haughty Hashira.
But it was precisely because of this ruthless truth that the blood in their bones was stirred instead.
"Transparent World, Demon Slayer Mark..." Sanemi loosened his grip on his sword hilt and took a deep breath.
The ferocity on his face receded slightly, replaced by a resolve to burn his bridges. "Thanks for the info. I won't die for nothing. Before I tear that bastard Muzan into ten thousand pieces, I'm keeping this life."
"Well then, I wish you success on your trip to the Yoshiwara Red-Light District." Obanai leaped down from the tree.
"Since Uzui was sent there, it means things aren't simple. If you encounter an Upper Rank, don't let them get away."
"Don't worry. As long as they dare to show their head, there will be no outcome other than turning into ash." Yamada waved his hand, indicating they didn't need to fret.
Right in this slightly heavy but fighting-spirit-filled atmosphere...
"Sorry to keep you all waiting! Next, let me show you the most flamboyant Yoshiwara Oiran personally crafted by this god!"
Tengen's extremely flashy voice came from around the corner of the corridor.
Accompanied by a series of slightly heavy footsteps, the four Hashira and Yamada all turned their heads at the same time, looking in the direction of the sound.
In the next second, the air in the entire courtyard seemed to freeze.
Tengen was seen walking in front with his head held high, and behind him followed three "creatures" wearing gaudy, low-quality kimonos, with thick white powder on their faces and rouge smeared like monkey butts.
Tanjiro had two ridiculous buns tied in his hair, and the scar on his face was covered by white powder, making it look extremely out of place as he awkwardly tugged at the hem of his kimono.
Zenitsu was even worse. His yellow hair had been forcibly pinned up, his lips were painted with a bloody-maw-like lipstick, and two lines of clear tears washed two gullies through the thick white powder, his face full of despair.
As for Inosuke...
Although his face was painted into a mess, his thick neck and the chest muscles faintly visible under the kimono, paired with that ferocious gaze, made him look like a cross-dressing brute who had just run out of the mountains to eat people.
After a brief moment of dead silence.
"Pfft! Cough, cough!" Kyojuro turned his head, covering his mouth tightly as his shoulders shook violently.
Sanemi's eyes twitched wildly, and he turned his back to them, squeezing a word out from between his teeth, "Indecent."
Obanai even reached out to cover the eyes of the white snake around his neck, seemingly afraid of dirtying his companion's eyes.
Yamada looked at this scene of extreme visual impact and couldn't help rubbing his brow, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing.
"Tengen, I take back what I said before." Yamada sighed.
"Not only is your aesthetic a disaster, but your infiltration plan is a joke. These three monsters wouldn't even get through the back door of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District before being beaten out by the madam as beggars."
"Ha? What do you know? This is a flamboyant look I spent a lot of effort designing. With just a little packaging, they can definitely fetch a good price." Tengen retorted indignantly.
"Forget it, just let it be destroyed. Let's go quickly. I'm afraid if I look one more time, I'll have nightmares tonight."
Yamada couldn't bear to look at these three freaks and walked past them, striding out of the Butterfly Mansion's main gate.