On another battlefield within the Infinity Castle, Akaza's duel against three Hashira was far fiercer.
"Destructive Death: Foot Style: Flowing Flash Barrage!"
Akaza's kicks came at astonishing speed, each strike so fast it gave the illusion of a flashing light.
Unlike Doma, who outranked him, Akaza was a demon of battle. In both will to fight and combat craft, he far surpassed the latter.
That was the root of his strength, a strength built on bedrock. You could see it in his Blood Demon Art as well.
The stronger a foe's fighting spirit, the more violently his art responded. In other words, he was the type who grew stronger the stronger his opponent.
This time, though, he wasn't getting any easy gains, because his enemies were also top-tier swordsmen—and there were three of them.
"What a flashy move, but compared to flashiness, I'm the strongest of all!"
Tengen Uzui failed to notice Giyu Tomioka already wearing a face that said, "What is this guy even talking about," while Kyojuro Rengoku looked downright invigorated.
"It's wonderful to see such spirit. I too have long looked forward to fighting an Upper Rank!"
Rengoku didn't move as quickly as Uzui in the end; Uzui was already surging into Akaza's attack.
"Sound Breathing: Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes!"
Uzui's Nichirin blades were unusual in form—not standard katana, but two oversized cleavers chained at the hilts.
His way of using them was equally distinctive, not unlike wielding a pair of nunchaku—moves as flamboyant as they came.
Most importantly, hidden mechanisms within the blades could trigger explosions mid-fight.
So whenever he unleashed a form, the spectacle was tremendous, slashes and explosions layered together, knocking aside all of Akaza's kicks.
Akaza also noticed the distinctive striping on Uzui's face.
He didn't know what it was, but it reminded him of the markings on Upper Rank One's face.
That only excited him more, because Upper Rank One had long been the opponent he wished to challenge.
As his assault checked, Rengoku and Tomioka rushed in from left and right.
"Flame Breathing: Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
"Water Breathing: Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
Marks shaped like flames and rippling water spread across their faces as fire and ukiyo-e waves surged toward Akaza.
Veins stood out on Akaza's fists as he punched straight into them.
Somehow, fists and blades clashing together rang like hammer on steel.
Even as an Upper Rank, Akaza's flesh wasn't hard enough to take Hashira blades head-on.
He batted aside the two Hashira's cuts with the force carried by his punches—but both his forearms were split, flayed into four bloody flaps.
Akaza had underestimated the power of Marked swordsmen. Before his arms could heal, Uzui seized the opening.
"Sound Breathing: First Form: Roar!"
The dual blades loomed large in the kanji-carved pupils of Akaza's eyes. A lesser demon might have failed to react and let his neck be cut.
But Akaza's Destructive Death: Compass Needle was active at all times, and under the three men's surging auras, both its strength and sensitivity had been pushed to the limit.
"Destructive Death: Foot Style: Crown-Forward Slash!"
The blast thundered; both men recoiled.
The jewel on Uzui's headpiece split and fell, and a line of blood traced near his brow.
Akaza's severed leg had regrown, and his expression had grown even wilder.
"Destructive Death: Smash!"
He chose the most direct tactic—leaping high and smashing a fist down from above.
The three had to scatter to avoid the crushing blow as Akaza drove into the pocket between them, fist slamming into the floor.
Cracks spidwebbed instantly, floorboards heaving and flipping as the shockwave blasted all three Hashira back.
Even Akaza knew he couldn't weather the three together.
Though his Blood Demon Art gave him extraordinary reaction speed, he had limits. The three in their Marked states had clearly surpassed them.
So he had to make opportunities to defeat them one by one. The instant they split, he shattered the floor and rushed Giyu Tomioka.
"Destructive Death: Eightfold Core!"
Eight attack trajectories traced in at once, twisting toward Tomioka from all sides.
Tomioka's seemingly blank eyes showed no panic. He simply set his feet and brought his blade down.
"Water Breathing: Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
A sheet of water spread from under Tomioka's feet. The ripples swelled once and vanished; the surface stilled like a mirror.
When Akaza's attack struck, the chaotic traces of his blows disappeared, leaving nothing but Akaza himself.
He had only enough time to cross his forearms and catch Tomioka's cut; it still chopped him bodily away.
Akaza licked the wound on his arm. Though hurt, he held no resentment—if anything, admiration tinged his voice. "I've fought many swordsmen who use Water Breathing, but I've never seen that form."
No surprise. It was a form Tomioka had created himself. For a Water Breathing swordsman to fight at full power, his heart had to remain like still water.
Tomioka excelled at that, and from it he shaped a form even Charles found singular.
It could be called a kind of simplified domain. Within reach of his blade, natural energy was stirred completely, and any outside attack that entered was erased.
Such were the pillars of this generation of the Corps—nearly each possessed a rare gift. It was as if they had gathered in the same era for the sole purpose of ending Muzan.
No one bothered to explain that to Akaza. Tomioka's nature was what it was—he rarely spoke even to allies. Why would he chat with an enemy?
Akaza took no offense and smiled. "So you're the taciturn type. I quite like talking with the strong."
Uzui and Rengoku closed in, but did not strike.
Uzui slung his blade up onto his shoulder. "Then you truly haven't seen the truly strong. He's a brilliance far beyond ours."
Tomioka and Rengoku both nodded. They had seen with their own eyes that man move with ease while nine Hashira closed in on him.
Interest flickered across Akaza's face. "There's someone like that? Then I must see him with my own eyes."
"Sorry, but you won't," Rengoku boomed as always. "We're going to cut you down here!"
Akaza laughed. "Strong as you are, you can't beat me. Why? Because you are human and I am a demon.
I don't tire and I don't stay hurt. That's a strength humans can't reach."
"You're wrong!" Rengoku said. "Humans are indeed fragile. But because of that, we know where strength should be used—so we become stronger than before!"
Akaza blinked. In blurry memories, he'd heard words much like those.
Then he saw something unexpected.
His Blood Demon Art suddenly failed. If his eyes hadn't still functioned, he'd have thought the three had vanished.
"What is…?"
Shock crossed his face. Every living thing—down to a newborn infant—had at least a faint aura.
For that aura to disappear entirely meant only one thing: the legendary Selfless State, the supreme realm he had pursued.
"And that is how we've come this far," Rengoku finished.
Veins corded Akaza's brow; the smile on his face twisted. "Then let me see the power of the supreme realm!"
He surged forward—and the three met him blade for blade.
The thunder of explosions and clashing blows ran on and on, and at last quiet returned.
Rengoku clutched a wound at his belly. Blood glazed one of Uzui's eyes. Tomioka's blade had snapped.
Between them, Akaza knelt—half a torso and one leg all that remained.
This time, Akaza hadn't self-destructed. He had fought on with tenacity to the very end. Even Decapitated, his attacks raved on, and even with all three in the Transparent World, victory came hard.
Upper Rank Three, the demon of battle: Akaza. The three Hashira would not forget this foe.
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