"Total Concentration: Wind Breathing...."
Taka didn't want to waste words. He let the Breathing Style surge through his body, making his blood scorching hot, and concentrated all his focus on the twin blades in his hands.
He could already feel the dense demonic aura emanating from within, even more ferocious and terrifying than the demon, Akanuma he had encountered before.
He shook both blades and resolutely stepped into the shrine's mountain gate.
However, contrary to his expectations, he didn't have to spend much effort searching for his target.
Because the demon in the dark-patterned kimono was sitting boldly in the center of the courtyard.
"Oh, you're here."
In front of the shrine's main hall, everything was already in a shambles.
Blood meandered and flowed, soaking the ancient stone bricks within the grounds. The air was thick with the lingering warmth of despair.
At the demon's feet lay several badly mutilated human corpses scattered haphazardly. One of the victims seemed to have been disemboweled recently, his abdominal cavity empty, his organs missing.
Surveying the murderous Taka, the demon's eyes rolled, revealing the numbers within.
Lower Rank Two - Rokuro.
'Strong.'
Taka immediately sensed the oppressive pressure emanating from the other party. His hand gripping the sword tightened.
Around it, the air seemed to stagnate, becoming thick and viscous.
Seeing Taka silent, Rokuro paused in his chewing.
He leisurely tossed aside the half-used arm in his hand into the pool of blood, extended his scarlet long tongue, and lingeringly licked his fingers, covered in blood and gore.
"I originally thought it was a Hashira, nearly scared me to death, but—"
"....Whirlwind Cutter!!"
Before Rokuro could even finish his words, Taka had already transformed into a tearing, emerald-green blur!
Both blades swung out together. Azure wind blades howled and spun, nearly tearing even the dense demonic aura apart!
However.
"When adults are speaking, children shouldn't interrupt!"
Faced with this slash, enough to shred ordinary demons, Rokuro raised an eyebrow, seemingly displeased.
The instant Taka attacked, his figure strangely blurred, like smoke scattered by the wind.
Then, the mountain-splitting, rock-tearing slash actually passed through his form, heavily cleaving into the vermilion-lacquered shrine pillar behind, sending wood chips flying!
"Your sword momentum is too straightforward, boy." Rokuro's voice sounded almost directly in Taka's ear, tinged with mockery.
His blood-stained palm suddenly slapped towards Taka's back, his movement swift, carrying a gloomy and fierce oppressive force.
Taka immediately twisted to defend, blocking the Nichirin Sword in front of his chest!
Clang—!!
Rokuro's demon hand struck the blade of the Nichirin Sword, actually producing a deafening sound of metal striking metal!
Taka only felt an unbearable immense force transmitted to his arms. He had to immediately use the momentum to deflect the force, avoiding a direct clash with Rokuro, while again mobilizing Wind Breathing to attempt a counterattack!
With a backward leap, Rokuro didn't engage Taka's sword strike. He lightly landed back at the starting position where Taka had just begun his charge.
"Wind? Ah... you're that person from back then..."
Rokuro seemed to recall something, appraising Taka with interest.
"That woman with the high ponytail, what was her name.... Suzune? Can't quite remember... Her sword techniques were like yours. Was she your teacher?"
"A truly foolish woman. She was this close to killing me, but showed an opening to save someone.... Served her right to be killed!"
'Sensei's daughter?!?!'
'This bastard did it?!'
Taka's breathing grew heavy. The killing intent in his eyes slowly began to rise.
"Come to think of it, you Wind swordsmen are really annoying... I think Ubume-senpai was killed by a coalition of Wind swordsmen, right? Though they killed one of them too, but can't you just—"
"Shut—up!!"
This was the first time Taka's emotions had fluctuated so intensely.
He felt his body tremble, blood uncontrollably rushing to his brain, the veins on his forehead throbbing violently!
Over the two-plus years at Hayama Training Ground, he had changed a lot. Most importantly, he had felt for the first time what it was like to have family and friends.
His mind flashed with images of Tetsushin sometimes staring blankly into his empty room, his turbid eyes full of recollection, and Rika's silent tears in front of the graves of Masachika and Suzune.
Tetsushin, Rika, Kenichi, Shinsuke... and the people they cherished, Taka would also care about.
And now, the demon across from him was insulting his family.
"Don't use your filthy mouth to speak their names again!"
"Wind Breathing: Eighth Form - Primary Gale Slash!"
The colorless Nichirin Sword in Taka's hand, under his extreme rage, trembled and turned black-red!
He shot out again. Where his blade passed, it was filled with furious slashes, poured out with everything he had, intent on completely shattering the demon!
High-speed rotating cross-shaped wind blades emitted a terrifying shriek that crushed the air, plowing through the ground, savagely biting towards the demonic figure in the center of the courtyard!
Hard stone bricks cracked inch by inch. The momentum was so strong that even Rokuro opposite him was somewhat surprised.
'This kid... is a bit off....'
Rokuro had survived from the Bakumatsu era to the present day, not through powerful martial prowess or an exceptional mind.
It relied entirely on two words: cautious and timid.
He had clearly judged from the feedback after his Blood Demon Art was destroyed that the opponent certainly wasn't a Hashira-level swordsman.
A swordsman this powerful yet still within his control would be most nourishing to eat. Otherwise, he would have run long ago!
But now, the ultimate sword momentum erupting from Taka condensed his killing intent and rage. At least regarding this strike, it still posed a certain threat to him.
Boom—!!
Two devastating wind blades slashed fiercely into the spot where Rokuro stood. Crumbled floor tiles mixed with dust exploded violently. The entire main shrine building shook violently!
But Rokuro himself was unharmed, or rather, he had neutralized the attack.
His figure, like the faceless shadow figures he created, suddenly became blurred and distorted, then dissipated on the spot… like a wisp of blue smoke scattered by the fierce wind.
A moment later, a grim-faced Rokuro reappeared, already several body lengths away from Taka.
"Blood Demon Art - Mirage.... Kid, you're quite skilled. How about just letting me go?"
He had already received part of his payment. There was no need to clash head-on with this unfathomable demon-hunting kid here.
He was Lower Rank Two, after all. The opponent should retreat in the face of difficulty, right?
Live and let live. Wouldn't it be good for everyone to survive? Worst case, if they met again and there was truly no other option, then they'd deal with it.
But Rokuro's goodwill fell on deaf ears for Taka. It was like a spark landing on a pile of kindling.
"Go?"
Taka shook the still-humming Nichirin Sword, his gaze locked onto Rokuro's yellow pupils.
He gripped the Nichirin Sword tighter, his knuckles turning white.
"Demon Slayer Corps' orders: Subjugate the demon in the Sendai region. That's you, right?"
"Adding the grudge of Hayama, you're not going anywhere."
The fake smile on Rokuro's face froze for a moment. He patted the dust off his dark-patterned kimono and looked at Taka with incomprehension:
"Youngster, don't be so stubborn. We're both working for our masters. Why fight to the death?"
"Survival of the fittest is only natural.... Those workers, or that female swordsman you care about, they only died because they weren't strong enough. Not like you and me."
"I can see you're a promising kid! Look at me, I'm a Lower Rank! Fighting to the death, is it really worth it?"
"How about we part ways here? You can go back and say you repelled a Lower Rank! As for me... I'll find another place to enjoy myself. Win-win, right?"
Although this utterly shameless rhetoric couldn't move Taka-
After two exchanges, he already knew the gap in strength between himself and the opponent. Even if the opponent stood there and let him cut, his Wind Breathing couldn't hit that elusive, illusory body.
"A Blood Demon Art, huh..."
Taka murmured. The Nichirin Sword in his hand gradually lost its color, and he sheathed it.
To Rokuro, this seemed like a signal of compromise. He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, already starting to think about which city to go to next.
But the next second, Rokuro's expression froze.
Because the aura of the kid across from him had changed.
It has become more dangerous than before!
The battered long sword in his hand was emitting a terrifying hum!