Goku and Kokushibo were standing in front of each other, observing themselves. Elsewhere, outside the room, Shinobu was tending to Sanemi's wounds, who was the most injured of them all.
"I wonder what he'll do when he finds out his brother is about to die..." muttered Muichiro.
"Don't worry, nobody else will die," said Giyuu. "Goku will defeat the monster, I'd put my hand in the fire for it,"
"Tsugikuni is our last hope," said Gyomei. "I feel sorry we always have to rely on him, but he's clearly the strongest among us."
"I want to watch him," said Shinobu. "Once our comrades are healed, we'll enter the room again."
"I agree," said Gyomei. "I want to see how Tsugikuni will fight his own uncle."
"You may not know, but during the battle with Akaza, Goku achieved his demon form," said Giyuu. "Something like Genya, but like ten times stronger,"
"This increases my intentions to see him in action even more," said Gyomei.
Goku... please, win for us all, thought Muichiro.
Inside the room, Goku was looking right into Kokushibo's eyes.
"Honestly, I'd never expect my uncle to have six eyes, while I only have one..." he muttered, pointing his eyepatch.
"How did you lose it?" asked Kokushibo.
"During my fight with Daki and Gyutaro. But they were Upper Moon Six. Now I'm standing right in front of Upper Rank One!"
"I want to be honest: I don't hate you. You're my nephew. But you're some kind of fake demon, and I have to kill you. Not that I don't want to, but I would have likely avoided it."
"Don't worry: you won't kill me," said Goku. Then, he showed his sword in his left hand to Kokushibo. "Do you recognize this sword? It belonged to Otosan, a very long time ago."
In that moment, Kokushibo froze.
"You're shaken; this means you know something," said the Sun Hashira. "Tell me, Ojisan: How was Otosan? You knew him, right?"
"I'll tell you, but only if you defeat me," said Kokushibo.
"Deal," said Goku. With his own sword, he cut himself on an arm and then drank his blood, activating his demon form.
"Just what I wanted to see..." muttered Kokushibo.
"Bring it on, Ojisan!"
Without wasting any other time, Goku jumped towards Kokushibo, attacking him with his left sword. Kokushibo blocked with his own sword. Goku made a backflip and landed on the floor. Kokushibo swung his sword towards Goku's shoulder, but the boy blocked with one of his swords.
He has a good reaction time... maybe, he's even stronger than the blind guy... thought Kokushibo, Goku fully got up and attacked again, but Kokushibo blocked with his sword. The two of them were now exchanging powerful blows with their swords.
If I distract, even for a second, I'm done for! Even if I have two swords and he only has one, he's still keeping up with me! thought the Sun Hashira.
"You're strong, nephew," thought Kokushibo while attacking Goku. "Maybe, even stronger than your father..."
"Don't talk nonsense, if I were stronger than my father, you'd already be dead, so would Muzan!" said Goku. "I'm only keeping up with you because I have two swords!"
Jumping, Goku leapt on the ceiling.
"Sun Breathing: Eighth Form -- Sunflower Thrust!" he exclaimed, throwing at Kokushibo.
"Moon Breathing: Second Form -- Pearl Flower Moongazing!" exclaimed Kokushibo. The demon's crescent moons were nullified by Goku, who arrived right in front of Kokushibo and aimed for his neck. Unfortunately, Kokushibo blocked with his sword.
"Third Form -- Loathsome Moon, Chains!" exclaimed the six-eyed demon, attacking Goku. The boy had to use both his sword and jump backwards to avoid being cut in half or losing a limb.
These crescent moons are as sharp as his sword... If one of them touches me, he'll cut me! I guess that's how Muichiro-kun lost his hand... thought Goku while landing on the floor after a jump. I have to close the distance between us if I want to behead him... but at the same time, if I do, I risk dying! Even so, I don't think I have a choice.
"Sun Breathing: Ninth Form -- Sun Halo Dragon Dance!" exclaimed Goku, throwing at Kokushibo.
"Moon Breathing..." muttered Kokushibo, but before he could finish the phrase, Goku arrived, and the demon had to block his slashes with his sword.
He's not giving me enough time to use Moon Breathing... understandable, thought the Upper Rank Demon.
After this, I'll use Perpetual Light... thought Goku, still attacking his uncle without a single second of rest. When the slashes stopped, Goku did as pre-announced.
"Sun Breathing: Thirteenth Form -- Perpetual Light!" exclaimed the Sun Hashira, releasing all the previous twelve forms of Sun Breathing consecutively.
He's stronger than I thought... thought Kokushibo. No, it's me who's holding back... I have to try harder if I want to kill him...!
Meanwhile, inside the room, Shinobu, Rengoku, Giyuu, Gyomei, and Muichiro entered.
"He's fighting alone against that monster... and it looks like he's winning," said Gyomei. We, in five, didn't manage to land a single hit on him... Tsugikuni didn't either, but he apparently has the upper hand, and at this rate, it's only a matter of time before...
"Third Form -- Raging Sun!"
SLASH!
Goku finally managed to land a hit on Kokushibo. A bunch of dust rose, and the Sun Hashira jumped away from it.
"Anf... Anf..." he coughed. I hope my red blades stopped his regeneration...
He suddenly heard a voice. "You've done great, but now I'm getting serious."
As the dust disappeared, Kokushibo showed himself again, his purple kimono destroyed.
"With that weak attack of yours, you only managed to destroy my kimono," he said. In his hand, he was holding a much bigger sword with two extra blades on the main blade. "You'd better pray to Buddha, because I'm not going to show any mercy for you, even if you're my nephew."
"Ha! Me? Praying to Buddha?" Goku said as he regrabbed his two swords. "I'm muslim, dumbass!"
"The blow surely landed, but probably, Kokushibo immediately regenerated..." said Gyomei.
"Didn't Goku-kun's blade stop his regeneration?" asked Muichiro.
"Normally, it would," Gyomei said. "But since Kokushibo is a way stronger demon, probably Tsugikuni will need to land a blow with both his swords simultaneously,"
"Please, Goku-kun, don't die..." prayed Shinobu.
They're counting on me... I can't fail them!
Chapter 64 - End