Kokushibo just cut Genya's left arm off. Before the poor slayer could even feel the pain, the Upper Rank also cut the other arm, leaving Genya without a single arm. And then, he cut Genya in half.
"You're not dead, even if I cut you in half... Maybe that's because you eat demons. Three hundred years ago, I met another swordsman like you, who ate demons. But he died when I sliced him in half. But in your case, do I have to sever your head?" asked Kokushibo. "There's no reason why a fake demon like you should keep living."
I have to reattach my arm! thought Genya, moving his body how he could, trying to reach for his arm.
Fortunately, before the boy could get even more injured, someone else arrived. "Wind Breathing: Fourth Form -- Rising Dust Storm!"
Sanemi had arrived, forcing Kokushibo to jump away from Genya.
"The Wind Hashira?" wondered Kokushibo.
"That's right," said Sanemi. "And this wind is going to sever your head, asshole!"
"Aniki..." muttered Genya. "You're really useless, little brother," said Sanemi. "Why do you think I killed our mother that day? To protect you. You could have found a house for yourself, had a family, and gotten old. To fix the things we couldn't do for our mother and our siblings..."
"Aniki... I'm sorry," said Sanemi.
"Brothers and Demon Slayers..." muttered Kokushibo. "This brings back so many memories..."
"HOW DARE YOU CUT MY LITTLE BROTHER? I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, NEVER!" shouted Sanemi, sprinting forward in Kokushibo's direction. However, Kokushibo attacked too, launching little moons at Sanemi, but the Wind Hashira lowered himself and slipped under Kokushibo's legs.
The Wind Hashira released wind, and Kokushibo jumped. "First Form -- Dust Whirlwind Cutter!" exclaimed Sanemi, destroying a few pillars.
To counter, Kokushibo extracted his katana once again, blocking Sanemi's blade. "Moon Breathing: Fifth Form -- Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy."
Sanemi jumped just in time, right before being sliced by Kokushibo's sharp moons. "You keep repeating those blows without even swinging your sword!"
Kokushibo dashed forward, but Sanemi wasn't unprepared.
"Wind Breathing: Third Form -- Clear Storm Wind Tree!" he exclaimed, countering Kokushibo's blows.
"Very well," said Kokushibo. "Your physical skills reached their peak."
I keep having goosebumps... Those guy's techniques are incredible... thought Sanemi. "Interesting! You're a demon worth living!"
"Wind Breathing: Second Form -- Claws-Purifying Wind!" exclaimed the Wind Hashira, attacking Kokushibo. The demon's katana got hit. Then, Sanemi appeared from behind, but Kokushibo managed to turn in time and block the Wind Hashira's sword with his own.
Sanemi tried to stab Kokushibo's chin, but the demon noticed and dodged. But the sword Sanemi tried to stab Kokushibo with wasn't his. It was Genya's sword, which he was holding in his right foot.
My sword! thought Genya, realizing.
He continues to keep up with my techniques... He may not be my nephew, but this sensation is so nostalgic it makes me want to try harder! thought Kokushibo. "Moon Breathing: Sixth Form -- Perpetual Light, Lonely Moon, Incessant."
In the blink of an eye, everything in the room was destroyed, and of course, Sanemi got hit.
What's happening? I can't see a thing, pillars are blocking my sight, thought Genya.
"You resisted for a long time, but it's over for you now," said Kokushibo. "If you move, your guts will spill out."
Strangely, Sanemi smiled. "Catnip for cats, rare blood for demons."
Sanemi attacked again. "What's up, man? I see you're a bit staggering! The scent of my blood intoxicates demons, and this blood is the rarest of rarest; it's a once-in-a-lifetime, goddammit!"
"Wind Breathing: Sixth Form -- Black Wind Mountain Mist!" exclaimed Sanemi, as Kokushibo barely dodged.
That guy... Despite his injuries, he can still move. Compared to the other Hashiras I've met, this duel would have already ended with the others, thought Kokushibo. "How much time since I last felt this intoxicating sensation? After all, it's rare blood..."
Elsewhere...
As the fight went on, Goku was running as fast as he could to reach Kokushibo. Behind him, Giyuu and Shinobu.
"Hey, slow down a bit, Goku!" exclaimed Giyuu.
"Hell nah! Muichiro and the others are risking their lives against my uncle; I have to hurry!" replied Goku. "You're not forced to follow me. When we're there, I'll fight Kokushibo alone."
"Alone? Do you have any idea how strong that guy is?" demanded Shinobu.
"I do. I know what you're thinking: 'You barely defeated Akaza, how do you hope to beat that guy?', that's what you're thinking," said Goku, still running, "But I don't know why, I feel like I haven't reached my full potential yet... Something's still sleeping inside me. Maybe the demon form I unlocked earlier is not the only thing I can still achieve."
Back on the battlefield...
Just when Sanemi was about to succumb to Kokushibo, two other allies arrived.
"You've done great, Shinazugawa, but now we'll handle this guy!"
They were Rengoku and Gyomei.
"I encountered Rengoku on the way here, and since he wasn't fighting any important enemy, I decided to bring him with me," said Gyomei. "Shinazugawa... stitch your stomach wound. We'll fight this guy in the meantime."
"Okay... thanks," muttered Sanemi.
"It's been a long time since I fought such a strong opponent, I almost forgot how it feels fighting one of the Twelve Kizuki..." said Rengoku. "And now I'm standing in front of the strongest of them all, it's a real honor!"
"You're the one who trained my nephew, right?" asked Kokushibo. "You're the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku..."
"Yes, I am!" exclaimed Rengoku. "Do you want to see something really cool?"
Slowly, on his neck, a flame-like mark appeared.
He... awakened the mark, too? wondered Kokushibo.
"Let's go, Himejima!" exclaimed the Flame Hashira as he dashed forward in Kokushibo's direction.
"Bring it on!" exclaimed Kokushibo.
Without hesitation, Gyomei swung his spiked flail towards Kokushibo, and the demon dodged.
"Flame Breathing: Third Form -- Blazing Universe!" exclaimed Rengoku, getting incredibly close to beheading Kokushibo. "Ha! I almost got you! Your turn, Himejima!"
"Stone Breathing: Second Form -- Upper Smash!" exclaimed Gyomei. His spiked flail was thrown right in front of Kokushibo, who dodged. But then, the chain of the spiked flail wrapped around the demon's neck.
I can't cut this chain! He thought.
"Flame Breathing: First Form -- Unknowing Fire!" exclaimed Rengoku. Unfortunately, Kokushibo managed to slip away from Gyomei's chain and dodge, jumping backwards.
We have to resist until Goku-kun gets here... I know he'll come... thought Rengoku. Kokushibo dashed forward, aiming for Gyomei's neck. But the result was the demon cutting some pillars. The Stone Hashira had jumped, and now he was ready to strike again. He attacked Kokushibo with both his axe and his spiked flail, but as usual, Upper Rank One dodged.
"My turn!" exclaimed Rengoku, jumping in Kokushibo's direction.
"Flame Breathing: Ninth Form -- Rengoku!"
"Moon Breathing: Second Form -- Pearl Flower Moongazing."
The two of them clashed. Kokushibo's sword broke.
I made it... I broke his sword... thought the Flame Hashira, sweating and panting. But then, Kokushibo's katana regenerated.
"Even if damaged, this katana can regenerate," said Kokushibo. "Attacks are useless, you pathetic human,"
Rengoku, who had a cut on his face and on his left arm, smiled. "Proud to be a useless human, like you say."
"I thought it wouldn't be necessary..." muttered Gyomei. "I wanted to keep it for Muzan, but since the situation is getting bad, I have to use it now!"
Suddenly, on the Stone Hashira's forearms, a black pattern appeared. In that moment, Gyomei showed everyone his mark.
"I didn't know you had a mark too, Himejima!" exclaimed Rengoku. My legs are shaking, and my condition is bad... Please, Goku-kun, don't be late.
Elsewhere in the room, after a lot of attempts, Muichiro finally managed to pull Kokushibo's sword out of his body. The boy fell on the ground, but without the sword anymore.
"Anf... anf... Himejima, Rengoku, I'm coming..." he muttered, standing up.
"Hey, Tokito-san..." muttered a voice. Muichiro turned and saw Genya.
"Genya, you're alive!" he exclaimed.
"I'm sorry to ask you this, but... could you please reattach my body? And also, could you bring that lock of hair over there and make me eat it?" asked Genya. "I want to fight until the end. I want to protect aniki..."
Muichiro nodded. "Got it. Let's fight together until the end."
"So you have the mark too..." muttered Kokushibo. "I feel sorry for you. Whoever unlocks the mark will die at twenty-five, without exception. At least you're not born with that mark."
"So, Goku-kun, who's born with the mark, won't die at twenty-five, right?" asked Rengoku.
"That's right," said Kokushibo. "Also, because he has demonic cells inside him, of course."
Speaking of Goku...
Our little hero arrived in front of the door of the room.
"Open, you fucking door!" he exclaimed, kicking the door. From the inside, Rengoku felt Goku's kick.
He's here...
Please, whoever is fighting inside this room... Hold on a little while, just for me to open this door. I'm coming to save you!
Chapter 62 - End