Inosuke and Kanao had defeated Douma, Upper Rank Two. Elsewhere, in a messy and half-destroyed room, Goku finally woke up. He had been asleep since Akaza was defeated, but now he was refreshed and ready to fight again.
"Ugh..." he grunted, sitting up. As he clutched his eyepatch, Goku saw Shinobu tending to Giyuu's wounds.
"Oh, you're awake, Goku..." muttered the Water Hashira.
"Yes, I am," said Goku. "How much time has passed since we defeated Akaza?"
"I have no idea," said Giyuu. "Kocho has been tending to our wounds for the entire time, so you must thank her."
"Thanks, Shinobu-chan..." said Goku.
"Don't worry, I had to," said Shinobu.
Suddenly, Rin arrived flying. "Caw! Kanao and Inosuke defeated Upper Rank Two! Caw!"
"This means the only demons that remain are Muzan and Upper Rank One..." Goku supposed, fully getting up.
"Yeah, you're right," said Shinobu. "Speaking of Upper Rank One, I've heard he's your uncle."
Goku tilted his head and then scratched it. "Huh? Upper Rank One is my uncle?"
"Yes," said Shinobu. "From what I know, Upper Rank One was the twin brother of your father, so even if he's a demon, he's still your uncle."
"Fine, then I want to fight him!" exclaimed Goku, grabbing his swords.
"Normally, I'll tell you you stand no chance against him," said Giyuu, clutching his bandaged arm. "But even if I do, you won't listen, right?"
"You're right," said Goku. "Once you're ready to go, we'll reach Upper Rank One!"
Meanwhile, Gyomei and Muichiro were still running.
"Muzan is nearby, don't lower your guard!" said the Stone Hashira.
"Okay, got it!" said Muichiro. Suddenly, a wall moved, and Tokito got pushed away.
"Tokito!" exclaimed Gyomei, but Muichiro was already gone. The boy found himself in a room, completely alone. Then, he heard a voice.
"You're here, demon slayer... You look familiar, but you clearly aren't my nephew..."
It was Kokushibo, Upper Rank One.
Upper Moon... One? wondered Muichiro, with a bit of fear in his voice. Then, Kokushibo saw through Muichiro's body, observing his organs and muscles. But how could he?
"I knew it..." he muttered.
He's Upper Rank One; he can't be compared to any other Upper Moon, thought Muichiro. And his sword... It's deformed, but it's a katana. He said, 'You're not my nephew,' so he was searching for Goku-kun?
Then, Kokushibo slowly placed his hand on the grip of his sword, and the entire room started shaking.
I can't stop shaking! My body doesn't want to fight! thought the Mist Hashira.
"You... what's your name?" asked Kokushibo.
"Muichiro... Tokito," answered Muichiro.
"I see," said Kokushibo. "So the Tsugikuni name must have been extinguished now... You probably already know, but my human name was Michikatsu Tsugikuni, and Goku Tsugikuni, who you should know, is my nephew, and you are my descendant.
"Huh? So... You and I are... related?" asked Muichiro.
"Yes, we are. So are you and my nephew. We seldom call my nephew by his name, as Muzan-sama despises it, but... sometimes, it slips through my lips," said Kokushibo. "I was hoping to fight him. I really wanted to know how strong he became, and if he's worthy of being my niece."
Muichiro's grip on his katana tightened.
"Wow, your fighting spirit is incredible," said Kokushibo, rubbing his chin. "In the blink of an eye, you managed to push your agitation away."
Muichiro rushed towards the Upper Rank. "Mist Breathing: Second Form -- Eight-Layered Mist!"
Kokushibo just disappeared from view.
"Nice move," said the Upper Rank, reappearing behind him. "Mist... I see. How interesting..."
"Fifth Form -- Sea of Clouds and Haze!" exclaimed Muichiro, attacking Kokushibo once again. But Kokushibo dodged as easily as a drop of dew falls from a leaf.
"Muichiro... are you fourteen or older? For someone so young, such a technique is amazing. Even though you were shaking, you were able to push it away and attack me," said the six-eyed demon. "After all, you have the same blood as my nephew and me. Even if our blood extinguished, my cells kept multiplying."
"Don't make me laugh! Descendant or not, I have nothing to deal with you!" exclaimed Muichiro, activating his mark.
The mark... it appeared. I guess Goku also has his own mark... thought Kokushibo.
"Mist Breathing: Seventh Form -- Obscuring Clouds!" exclaimed the Mist Hashira.
I've never seen a technique like that. The other Mist Breathing users never used it... thought Upper Rank One. Muichiro aimed for Kokushibo's neck, but the demon disappeared in a fraction of a second.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but there's only one slayer who can beat me. And you already know who I'm talking about," said Kokushibo. "But... your skills and technique really intrigue me. It'd be pretty rude if I don't sheathe my sword too."
Quickly, Kokushibo extracted his katana and immediately used his own Breathing Style. "Moon Breathing: First Form -- Dark Moon, Evening Palace."
A bunch of little moons materialized in front of Muichiro, cutting his left hand.
Moon... Breathing? So it's possible to use Breathing Styles after becoming a demon... thought the Hashira, bandaging his wound with a piece of his clothes.
Incredible! He lost his hand, but he stopped the bleeding and is even going to attack me again! thought Kokushibo.
"Mist Breathing: Fourth Form -- Shifting Flow Slash!" exclaimed Muichiro, attacking the Upper Moon again. But then, as if it ain't nothing, Kokushibo stopped the Hashira's blade with one hand, and with his own katana, he stabbed Muichiro in the right part of the chest, impaling him on a pillar.
"My descendant... I will have his lordship use you as a demon."
"The fact that you are my descendant is surprising. And also very touching for me," said Kokushibo. "But unfortunately, as I said before, you're not the slayer I'm searching for. As for your arm, if you become a demon, another one will grow. I'm the last Upper Moon able to fight, and I'm sure Muzan-sama will accept you as a demon."
Suddenly, someone else arrived to save Tokito: Genya. Without hesitation, he shot with his gun right at Kokushibo, but the demon suddenly appeared behind him. "Don't you agree?"
All of a sudden, Genya's left arm--the one he was holding the gun with--fell on the ground, detached.
"Genya!" screamed Muichiro.
The situation was undeniably getting bad.
Chapter 61 - End