Rengoku lay on the ground, a flicker of pain crossing his face—
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! How interesting! So that's another way to use swordsmanship!"
There was no embarrassment. No anger.
Only excitement.
Aoyama replied bluntly, "That's called flexible application."
Rengoku raised a finger.
"If you withstand one more attack from me, I'll acknowledge them. I'll raise both hands in acknowledgment."
"I'll make sure you raise both willingly," Aoyama answered calmly.
Giyu watched silently, eyes unreadable.
Though blind, Kagaya Ubuyashiki could already tell from the sounds alone—
This young man was no ordinary swordsman.
Rengoku rolled his shoulders, blade resting against them.
"Ready?"
"Come."
"Total Concentration! Flame Breathing!"
"Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
A surge of scorching air erupted outward.
His blade roared forward like a blazing tiger.
Aoyama planted his feet.
"Total Concentration! Light Breathing!"
"Fifth Form: Radiant Slash!"
The strongest cutting technique in Light Breathing.
Explosive.
Overwhelming.
When their blades met—
BOOM!
White light swallowed the courtyard.
For a moment, no one could see.
When the light faded—
Only one figure remained standing.
Aoyama.
Rengoku had been blasted backward, crashing into the courtyard wall.
He coughed, blood at the corner of his lips.
Shinobu rushed forward, slipping medicine into his mouth.
Rengoku stood with his sword as support.
"You win!"
He raised both hands.
"Next time, we must duel again!"
"Anytime."
Uzui gave a dramatic thumbs-up.
"Magnificent! Truly magnificent!"
Even he no longer objected.
Gyomei murmured tearfully, "Must we truly accept this child…"
Sanemi's heart still refused.
Demon Slayers did not coexist with demons.
Never.
His eyes locked onto Tanjiro holding the box.
He lunged.
One slash—
That was all he needed.
Aoyama's heart tightened.
Tanjiro instinctively turned his body, shielding the box.
He had no time for anything else.
If necessary, he would take the blade himself.
Sanemi's sword was inches away—
Clang!
Giyu appeared.
His blade deflected the strike.
"Don't be despicable," he said flatly.
"Giyu Tomioka! You protect demons!"
"Yes."
No extra words.
Aoyama's anger exploded.
Sanemi had crossed the line.
He grabbed Sanemi's silver hair and slammed him down.
When Sanemi swung—
Aoyama disarmed him and tossed the blade to Giyu.
Pinning him to the ground—
"You've truly angered me."
His fist came down—
BOOM!
It cratered the ground.
Blood beaded on Aoyama's knuckles.
Sanemi had barely dodged.
"You still dodge?"
Sanemi broke free and stood, teeth clenched.
Mitsuri frowned.
"Sanemi… that was too much."
Aoyama rose slowly.
He glanced at the blood on his hand and smirked.
"Looks like I went too easy on you before."
"Sanemi Shinazugawa. I'm borrowing you for a while."
Before anyone could react—
Aoyama grabbed his collar and leapt over the wall.
They vanished.
Tanjiro tried to follow.
Giyu stopped him.
"Wait."
From beyond the wall—
Crashing.
Shouting.
Then silence.
When Aoyama returned—
Sanemi followed from another entrance.
Bruised.
Swollen.
Silent.
He knelt.
"Master."
.
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