They're counting on me, I can't fail them!
Goku wiped away blood from his face. I'm getting tired, and that monster is swinging that enormous thing like it ain't nothing... If it even scratches me, I'm done for!
"Let's start with Round Two, Goku," said Kokushibo, dashing forward. Goku barely blocked the attack with both swords. Realizing the situation, the Sun Hashira decided to activate his mark alongside the demon form, which was already activated. Then, the two of them exchanged powerful blows once again.
Not only is this thing hard to block... It's also insanely fast, despite its size! thought the boy. Maybe it's because the user is Upper Moon One...
"Show me your full power, nephew!" exclaimed Kokushibo, almost stabbing Goku in the stomach. Fortunately, the boy dodged and jumped on Kokushibo's blade.
"You're defenseless!" he exclaimed, aiming for Kokushibo's neck. But the demon created another sword with his flesh and blocked. What? He can create other swords?
Goku jumped away.
"Show me your Transparent World, nephew!" exclaimed Kokushibo, throwing his new sword towards Goku.
"Transparent World? What do you mean? I don't have Transparent World!" exclaimed Goku, blocking the flying sword and shattering it. "I only have the mark and the demon form, I don't have any other upgrade!"
"Oh, I see... so this is your maximum..." muttered Kokushibo. "Goodbye, then."
Suddenly, Goku felt something. Kokushibo had cut him on the chest.
N... No... muttered Goku, who began to bleed. "I thought you were interesting... But you were weaker than the demon boy I sliced in half," said Kokushibo.
"N-no, he lost!" said Muichiro, worried.
"If even Tsugikuni failed, this means we have no chance..." said Gyomei.
"I'm gonna exterminate you all," said Kokushibo, preparing a powerful attack.
Meanwhile, Goku was lying on the floor, his only eye blank, a pool of blood created around him. Suddenly, he heard a voice. "Ganbare, Goku!"
Goku slowly opened his eye and saw Tanjiro.
"Ta... Tanjiro-kun..." he muttered. I'm having a vision... Or maybe I'm dead too, and I'm just seeing Tanjiro-kun's spirit...
"You can beat him, Goku," said Tanjiro. "You just have to enter the Transparent World."
"Oh, yeah, Transparent World... you explained to me what it was once..." muttered Goku. As he spoke up, blood kept spilling out of his mouth. "Why... why can't I enter the Transparent World? Why can't I beat Kokushibo?"
"Because you're afraid," said Tanjiro. "Afraid of dying. When I died, do you think I cared about my life or something? I just wanted to win."
"Oh, yeah, you're right..." muttered Goku. "Sorry, Tanjiro-kun... sorry if I let you die that day..."
"It's not your fault," said Tanjiro. "Now, don't be sorry, just think about defeating that monster! You're a Hashira, aren't you?"
"Yes... Yes, I am a Hashira..." said Goku.
"That's right. Enter the Transparent World and defeat him," said Tanjiro. "You can do it, Aniki."
In that moment, Goku heard the voices of his friends calling his name.
"Goku!"
"Tsugikuni!"
"Boss!"
"Goku-kun!"
And in that moment, Goku's eye snapped open.
Goku jerked forward, attacking Kokushibo faster than ever. Kokushibo barely dodged.
"You can still move?" asked the six-eyed demon. Goku turned, and Kokushibo could see him. Goku's eye was wide open and shining, a strange aura engulfing him.
"Is that... Transparent World?" asked Kokushibo. Goku nodded. He managed to enter Transparent World... He's really worthy of being my nephew...
"He's using his demon form, his mark, and now the Transparent World, all at once..." muttered Gyomei.
"He's gonna die from recoil...!" said Muichiro.
"No. We'll heal him right before he dies," said Shinobu. "If he doesn't win, even like this... we're all done for."
"Moon Breathing: Fourteenth Form -- Catastrophe, Tenman Crescent Moon!" exclaimed Kokushibo, swinging his sword and generating lots of crescent moons that destroyed everything in their path. But Goku, who could now see and predict Kokushibo's movements thanks to the Transparent World, used both his swords to send the crescent moons away and, when possible, to even dodge. But still, he remained in the same spot.
He dodged and blocked them all... and he didn't even move away from that spot! thought Kokushibo. Then, the demon rushed forward, attacking Goku directly. "Sixteenth Form -- Moonbow, Half Moon!"
His incredibly big katana swung all over the place, destroying everything. The crescent moons almost eradicated the entire building.
"He's destroying everything..." muttered Rengoku, shielding his eyes. When the dust settled, though, Goku wasn't there.
Where did he go...? Kokushibo wondered.
Suddenly, Goku reappeared behind him. "You're too slow, scum."
"Sun Breathing: Second Form -- Clear Blue Sky."
Goku's left katana moved faster than light. Kokushibo didn't realize how fast the attack was. It was so fast, he didn't even notice it landed at first. Then, all of a sudden, Kokushibo's head fell.
"He did it!" exclaimed Muichiro.
"He beheaded that monster!" exclaimed Rengoku.
"I was right about you, Tsugikuni..." muttered Gyomei. Suddenly, Goku deactivated his triple upgrade and spat a huge amount of blood.
"Oh, crap!" exclaimed Giyuu, rushing to Goku's side.
I... I won... but my body hurts so much... thought Goku, who crumbled on his knees. The boy was dragged away by Giyuu, and he found himself in front of his friends.
"Seems like you've won, Tsugikuni," said Gyomei.
"Yeah, I did..." muttered Goku.
But then, Rengoku pronounced some words that froze Goku's blood. "He's... He's regenerating his head!"
Goku turned and saw Kokushibo still there, with a way uglier face and sharp teeth that could break a tree.
"It's not over yet!" said Goku, jumping towards Kokushibo. But the demon swung his sword and almost impaled Goku. The boy rolled forward and ate a lock of Kokushibo's hair, which he had taken when he rolled. Thus, he activated his demon form. Then, the mark and the Transparent World followed, and the triple upgrade returned. Now, Goku was ready to fight his uncle in the third and last round.
Chapter 65 - End