Within the Hayama dojo, the sound of clashing wooden swords was incessant. Each impact was accompanied by a heavy gasp and a suppressed grunt.
"Hahh—! Beast Breathing: Second Fang: Slice!!"
Inosuke let out a beast-like roar, tearing his two wooden swords through wild trajectories, unleashing his self-created sword form.
However, although his strength was great, his lower body was unsteady. His forward charge was too fierce, leaving his entire center wide open.
"Too much of an opening!" A clear, sweet female voice rang out.
Rika's figure lightly sidestepped. The wooden sword in her hand mercilessly tapped Inosuke's completely undefended ribs.
"Ugh!" The sting instantly distorted Inosuke's movement.
His powerful force, struck at a vital point, dissipated like a punctured balloon.
He stumbled forward awkwardly, nearly falling flat on his face, barely managing to steady his off-balance body by propping himself with his swords.
"Lost again!"
Inosuke scratched his boar mask irritably, his eyes flickering with frustration and impatience.
"Why! I'm clearly stronger and fast enough, but I just can't hit her! It's driving me crazy!"
Rika slowly sheathed her sword, looking at this rough stone full of primitive power but never carefully polished: "Inosuke, your problem isn't lack of strength. Your foundation is too poor."
She pointed at Inosuke's legs: "Every time you exert force, there are unnecessary movements and huge openings. Even a second-rate swordsman like me can easily find your weaknesses."
"Damn it! Damn it!" Although Inosuke was unconvinced in his heart, he knew Rika was right. He sulked to himself.
Seeing Inosuke's frustrated look, Rika smiled and patted his boar mask, comforting him: "Don't be discouraged. Shall we train again? Remember, don't just think about hitting me. First, learn to stand firm, learn to protect yourself from being hit in vital spots during an attack."
Faced with such concern, Inosuke only felt his head spin. He quickly suppressed his anger and forced himself to recall the key points Rika had demonstrated and explained countless times before.
This scene had been repeating for nearly three months on the dojo floor of the Hayama training ground.
Mornings were for boring basic stance and footwork corrections. Afternoons were for Rika's storm-like practical sparring.
Tetsushin would occasionally appear in the corner of the dojo, silently observing, not interfering with Rika's teaching.
In his view, Rika was the next instructor for the training ground. It was good for her to adapt early.
He also knew that this untamable beast, Inosuke, needed Rika's calm and patient instruction, not his own overly rigid style.
To be honest, back when Taka was at the Hayama training ground, he didn't even get this treatment.
He had trained in physical fitness and sword forms in near-isolation for two years before Tetsushin threw him into the Final Selection. As a result, much of his combat experience was only accumulated through fighting demons.
Time passed amidst sweat, bruises, and the continuous sounds of sparring.
Late one night, everything was silent except for the howling mountain wind.
The day's training had long ended. The dojo was empty.
Moonlight cast a cold, clear radiance, illuminating Inosuke, who was staring blankly into the courtyard.
"....Damn it. Today I was this close to beating that woman." He gazed gloomily at the night sky, wondering if his training lately had made him stronger.
Just as he was completely focused on recalling the day's training—
his beastly senses began to warn. A chill shot from his spine through his entire body. Every hair stood on end.
Inosuke's whole body stiffened. This was an ultimate shudder, originating from an instinctive, biological reaction to facing a top predator!
"This feeling... it's like that day's...."
He abruptly drew his Nichirin Sword. His eyes fixedly stared towards the mountain gate!
Almost the moment Inosuke sensed it, the paper doors of two quiet rooms deep within the training ground were also violently slid open.
Tetsushin and Rika rushed over. Their faces, under the moonlight, were tense to the extreme.
Tetsushin tightly gripped his solid, broad Nichirin Sword. Rika silently drew her blade, slender, flowing with an emerald green luster in the moonlight.
"Th-this... what immense demonic aura!" Rika's voice carried undisguised terror. The hand holding her sword trembled slightly from the unprecedented threat she felt: "Is it a Lower Moon... no, an Upper Moon?!"
Tetsushin's gaze was grave. Every muscle in his body was tense.
Decades of experience fighting demons told him that the visitor was no ordinary demon.
"Rika, take the students and flee through the back mountain!"
Although he didn't know how this demon had found the Hayama training ground, against such an existence.... Tetsushin could only do his utmost to preserve the lives of the other students!
"Sensei! I can't—"
"No time! Take them and run!"
However, the visitor gave them no time to regroup or evacuate.
Boom—!!!
The torii gate of the Hayama training ground, along with a section of the stone wall on either side, exploded with an ear-splitting roar!
Rubble and wood chips shot out like a storm. Dust permeated the air.
The commotion instantly echoed throughout Hayama, shattering the dead silence of the night.
The training ground was instantly awakened. Panicked voices rose one after another.
Within the dust, a figure slowly stepped out.
Pink short hair was exceptionally conspicuous under the moonlight. Ferocious tattoos covering his entire body writhed like living things. His golden eyes burned with almost fanatical fighting spirit and undisguised rage.
It was Upper Rank Three… Akaza!
"So this is the home of that unpleasant swordsman? Quite a hunt to find this place...."
Akaza swept his gaze over Tetsushin, Rika, and Inosuke beside them, who were on guard. The corners of his mouth curled into a bloodthirsty smile: "Who is the black-haired swordsman's teacher? Come out and spar with me."
"Demon! This is no place for your mischief!"
The one-armed Tetsushin blocked in front of Rika and the others. His beard and hair bristled. His roar was like a thunderclap.
He knew that against such a terrifying existence, any probing was suicide. He had to go all out!
He stamped his foot fiercely and shot out like a gale, his Nichirin Sword cleaving straight for Akaza's head!
"Wind Breathing: Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash!!"
"Tch... somewhat disappointing."
Faced with Tetsushin's full-powered strike, Akaza's expression showed some impatience.
A huge snowflake formation pattern instantly bloomed beneath his feet. His body slightly shifted as if predicting the future. Tetsushin's violent sword form was completely dodged.
At the same time Tetsushin attacked, Rika's figure also merged into the night wind, slashing a swift Wind Breathing sword form from Akaza's blind side.
Having dodged Tetsushin's attack, Akaza's left hand moved like lightning. His five fingers precisely grasped the tip of Rika's crafty blade!
The blade, sharp enough to cut through iron, was caught with his bare hand!
"Seriously, is this really where the black-haired swordsman trained? You're... far too weak?"
Violent fighting spirit instantly condensed. Akaza impatiently threw a punch!
Clang—!!
Tetsushin felt an immense, irresistible force strike his blade. His Nichirin Sword snapped cleanly!
This punch numbed his arms and churned his blood and energy. His whole body uncontrollably flew backward!
Rika was also struck as if by lightning. The captured blade tip transmitted an irresistible tremendous force, instantly splitting her hand.
She decisively abandoned her sword, pushed off with her toes, and executed a backflip with astonishing flexibility, barely dodging the closely following shockwave.
Even so, the violent air current stung her cheeks. Her clothes rustled loudly.
In a single exchange, the two strongest in the training ground… one injured, one retreated!
"Rika-nee! Iron-block old man!"
'Am I still standing still? Unable to protect anything!!'
Inosuke's eyes widened with fury. Seeing the two who had taught him instantly severely wounded, an unprecedented rage overpowered his instinctive fear.
He summoned his courage, forcibly driving his body to slash two fierce arcs of blade light, aiming to strangle the back of Akaza's neck!
"An ignorant small fry who doesn't know his place."
What Akaza hated most was the weak who couldn't recognize their own strength.
Seeing Inosuke charge, he felt no joy in battle, only annoyance.
'Having to carry out this mission of exterminating the weak... this must be Muzan-sama's punishment for me....'
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Inosuke only saw a blur of legs. The next moment, several heavy blows landed on his body!
He felt at least two of his ribs break. His organs seemed displaced. His whole body was viciously kicked away!
Inosuke's body crashed into a pillar of the dojo, snapping the thick wooden column. His vision went black. His two beast-fang Nichirin Swords flew far from his hands.
"Cough... pfft!" Inosuke spat out a mouthful of blood. He struggled to get up, but the intense pain almost suffocated him.
"Boring, too boring!" Akaza looked at the struggling three, disappointment on his face: "Is this all? You can't even get me warmed up!"
He locked onto Inosuke's boar mask and said dismissively: "You look a bit familiar. I'll start with you."
Before the words faded, Akaza's figure suddenly vanished.
Inosuke only felt a flash of pink. An ice-cold, deathly aura already enveloped him.
Akaza appeared before him, his right fist condensed with terrifying fighting spirit as it plummeted!
"Inosuke! Dodge!!"
Rika mobilized all her strength. In a flash, she drew her spare Nichirin Sword and blocked before Inosuke!
[Stop it, Hakuji!!]
Akaza's fist hesitated. In the end, he didn't throw the punch.
At this moment, his fist was mere inches from Rika's face. The punch wind he unleashed grazed her features. Blood dripped down her cheek.
'Again. Who was speaking?'