'Storm?'
Akaza's brow twitched slightly. He had assumed Taka was the Wind Hashira, but it turned out he was a Hashira he hadn't killed before.
This was the breathing rhythm Taka had figured out for himself during this period, by observing Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura breathing and feeling Kyojuro's Flame Breathing in battle.
Compared to Wind Breathing, it was more violent and surging, more angry and fierce!
More importantly, within this breathing of his own, Taka had fused his own Reishi power, allowing this breathing to stimulate his internal organs to a greater degree, enabling every ounce of strength to be exerted exponentially!
Although there weren't many improvements in sword forms yet, this one sweeping slash was enough to make Akaza feel a sense of crisis!
"Excellent blade!" He roared, quickly changing his stance to meet Taka's form!
Shrrk! Shrrk!
Although Akaza's reaction was extremely fast, Taka's Storm Breathing still tore quite a few wounds on his body!
Some of these wounds cut deep into flesh and blood, others merely grazed the skin, but without exception, they all made Akaza feel very displeased!
Every time he made contact with Taka's Nichirin Sword, Akaza felt a portion of his demonic power being torn away.
Though minute, this feeling was accumulating, like a bone-deep maggot burrowing into his body. Power was constantly draining away.
He could sense that the sluggishness of his wound recovery was related to the black fighting spirit adhering to his wounds.
Akaza's prized speed and power were being temporarily suppressed!
What the hell was this thing? He didn't understand.
The glow of his tattoos grew brighter. The wild laughter on his face faded, replaced by a seriousness kindled by anger.
"Become a demon, human!" Akaza growled, his golden pupils emitting unprecedented fighting spirit.
Shing—!
His figure blurred, and he directly attacked the slowly descending Taka!
With the enhancement of his Compass Domain, his movements surpassed the limits of vision, nearly transforming into a pink afterimage!
"Destructive Death · Random Style!"
"First Form: Sky Rend!!"
The two clashed again, fist and blade. The sound of metal striking metal shook the entire open field!
"I can feel it! Your blade yearns to grow stronger! You and I are the same!"
"Become a demon! Your worth is far greater than this!"
Boom… Crack!!
Akaza's fist parried Taka's blade and struck heavily on his shoulder. The sound of bone cracking came:
"Human flesh is so fragile! Why don't you understand!"
These words were not without effect on Taka.
'Demons were strong, Upper Moons were strong. Was Kibutsuji Muzan even stronger?'
'Rengoku-san had said that even Upper Moon Kizuki alone could kill multiple Hashira-level swordsmen....'
'If I became like Kibutsuji Muzan, could I defeat Aizen?'
Taka's face was ashen. Enduring the pain in his shoulder, he swung his blade: "Pack Howl!!"
A terrifying Reiatsu Slash directly severed Akaza's right arm. Tonan's nature made it difficult for him to regenerate quickly.
Seeing this, Akaza's grin nearly stretched to the corners of his mouth:
"See? You're different from these people! You have the potential to surpass all Upper Moons! Don't die here!!"
Under the influence of Akaza's words and the pain, Taka's movements showed an instant, obvious hesitation!
'Humans have limits...' he suddenly thought....
"TAKA BOY—!!"
Kyojuro's roar exploded like a thunderclap, booming in Taka's ears!
"Don't be fooled by the demon's lies! Your power exists to protect those behind you who need your protection! Do not waver!"
"Let your heart burn! Let it guide your blade!"
His voice transformed into a scorching torrent, assaulting the wavering thoughts in Taka's heart.
Akaza's seduction, in the face of Kyojuro's pure, bright, sun-like burning conviction, was like decayed cobwebs, instantly dissipating.
"How obstinate!" Akaza was getting a bit angry. He simply gave up entangled combat with Taka and flashed before Kyojuro!
"Destructive Death - Leg Type: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels!!"
"Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!!"
Kyojuro would naturally not sit idly by. The moment Akaza appeared, he launched a counterattack!
He roared, swinging his Nichirin Sword into an impenetrable wall of fire, head-on meeting Akaza's terrifying kick!
Clang Clang Clang!!
Dense explosions, like blacksmithing, erupted!
Although Kyojuro defended against most of them, each impact numbed his arms. His body was also kicked with internal injuries under the other's assault.
Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth. His movements distorted.
The ground beneath his feet continuously shattered. The gap in power was beginning to show!
Shrrk—!
Even though he severed Akaza's ankle with a slash, the other was a demon, unafraid of such trade-offs!
His right foot rapidly regenerated and directly kicked Kyojuro in the chest!
PFFT!!
Kyojuro spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body flew backward.
But he dared not fall. He adjusted his posture in mid-air and landed awkwardly on his feet, blood continuously dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't give up, Taka boy—! Let your heart burn!!"
Even so, he still worried about Taka and shouted loudly to him!
For whom did the angry fist clench?
Taka remembered a power heavier than revenge.
It was the worry in the old man's eyes as he fed him, the gentle gaze of Tetsushin as he brushed the snow from his shoulder, the tears of Rika at the grave.
He also thought of Tanjiro, the trusting gaze between him and his sister, of Kagaya, who even in such despair, never gave up his unyielding will to fight evil.
And also....
[We made a promise]
Seeing Taka standing still, Akaza was overjoyed, thinking his words had worked. He quickly spoke:
"If you just nod, I can have that lord—"
"SHUT UP—!!"
Taka roared. The corner of his eye, injured by Akaza, began to spread a ferocious scar, like interlocking canine teeth.
As this scar spread, Tonan also began to emit unprecedented light. Its brilliance startled even Akaza, locked in combat.
The Nichirin Sword was rapidly heating up. The blade forged from Scarlet Ore became as dazzling as flames... no, as the sun!
Whoosh—!!
'So fast!'
Akaza was startled. His Compass hadn't detected Taka's movements at all before he was already before him!
Taka's eyes blazed with anger. The Nichirin Sword in his hand emanated scorching high temperature. The red-black serrated patterns seemed to come alive, emitting a piercing shriek!
"Storm Breathing: Second Form: North Wind!!"
A golden-red light shone from within, as if magma flowed within the steel. The scorching heat distorted the air!
This was a swift and violent rapid-slash sword form, like the north wind passing through, cold and merciless.
Akaza's golden pupils suddenly contracted. His expression no longer carried that previous mockery and ease. A strong sense of warning was pounding in his heart!
Shrrk—!!
The moment his newly grown right hand touched this sword form, it was severed again!
The sound of flesh tearing and bones snapping echoed across the battlefield. The intense pain made even Upper Rank Three's expression change!
Akaza quickly tore off the severed arm to prevent further erosion by Taka's Nichirin Sword.
He continuously dodged Taka's slashes, while constantly unleashing Leg Style kicks to wear down Taka's stamina.
He admitted Taka was very strong in this state, but it certainly wasn't limitless!
Akaza could hear the lament of his heart within his chest, could feel his breathing growing heavier.
The ice-blue fighting spirit and Taka's blade wind twisted fiercely together. The energy turbulence wildly poured out in all directions like an uncontrolled flood.
'If I just held on a little longer, this boy would exhaust himself!'
At this moment, watching this fierce battle, Inosuke's entire body was stiff, his skin tingling with tension....
'So this is Torataro's strength?... It's another dimension entirely... If I got involved, I'd definitely die!'