Chapter 856: The First Victor
Chapter 856: The First Victor
Tobiume's fingers gently grazed the sword's blade, a gift from Fengye. As his disciple, she would not tarnish his name and would not lose to Kokushibo.
Clang! Clang!
Tobiume and Kokushibo clashed once more in fierce battle.
Unbeknownst to them, in a spot not far away, Fengye, Kanroji Mitsuri, and the others appeared without a sound.
"Will Tobiume win?"
Kanroji Mitsuri, tilting her head, asked as she watched the battlefield.
"She will," Fengye replied simply.
Tobiume's breathing technique, honed to a high level under Fengye's tutelage, coupled with his swordplay teachings, had brought her overall strength to a level comparable to Kokushibo's. Without the sword he had given her, she might have been suppressed by Kokushibo, but with it, victory was inevitable, though not without a struggle.
As Fengye had predicted, Tobiume and Kokushibo fought fiercely. Her sword technique and breathing style completely overwhelmed Kokushibo, who had also unleashed his Blood Demon Art early on. Blades protruded from his body as he continuously unleashed wide-range Moon Breathing and invisible slashes, disrupting Tobiume's movements.
The battle raged on for hundreds of exchanges.
Until...
Tobiume unleashed a relentless attack! This strike held no regard for defense, abandoning all caution. With a resolute determination to die if necessary, she could not afford to lose here. Death was preferable to defeat.
"It's over," Fengye murmured, even before Tobiume's strike landed. "Kokushibo, having lived as a demon for hundreds of years, has honed his abilities to their peak. Yet, he has lost the fearless will to fight without hesitation."
"If he, too, had abandoned all defense and faced Tobiume's decisive strike, the outcome might have been uncertain, perhaps ending in mutual destruction. But he lacks that resolve, so it is finished."
As his words trailed off,
Fengye turned away.
And in that moment of his turning, the figures of Tobiume and Kokushibo crossed paths.
Shwish!
A burst of blood splattered from Tobiume's body as wounds appeared on her lower back, upper arm, forehead, and left leg, some deep enough to expose bone. The injury on her lower back even revealed her internal organs.
Though grievous, the wounds were not fatal.
Behind Tobiume, Kokushibo stood frozen.
He turned his head with difficulty, glancing at Tobiume before looking up blankly at the sky.
Pfft!
A line of blood trickled down from his forehead, and his body split down the middle, collapsing into a lifeless heap.
Everything in his vision plunged into darkness.
When he could see again, he beheld a dim world. In the distant left, faint flames flickered, and to the distant right, there was a feeble glow.
"Is this the world of the dead?"
Kokushibo shook his head, scanning his surroundings but finding no trace of Kukoku Gyokko. "I suppose I won't see you here. You probably won't go to hell."
Kokushibo dragged his feet forward until two figures appeared before him.
"It's been a long time, Lord Kokushibo. You've arrived here as well," Gyuutarou said, a hint of surprise in his voice as he sat on an empty cushion, but he quickly waved and smiled. "Come, come, let's share a drink."
"Gyuutarou?"
Though Gyuutarou no longer appeared as a demon, Kokushibo recognized him instantly. After a brief pause, he continued forward, saying, "You seem different now."
Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, paused momentarily but did not show much surprise.
If there was an afterlife, then there must be true deities in this world; he had simply not encountered them before.
"So it seems," Hantengu said calmly, without a hint of fear. "I assume I'm bound for hell."
Giyu nodded. "Indeed. In your case, I think we can forgo the usual judgment process. Is there anything else you would like to say?"
Hantengu took the flask and drank from it. After a moment's pause, he asked, "I wish to inquire of the deity... What was the purpose of my existence in that world?"
Giyu smiled faintly. "The deity is very busy and won't be coming here. You can only wait in hell, and perhaps one day, that exalted one may answer your question."
"If you're here, then what of Muzan?"
Kocho Shinobu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
In the past, as a demon, she had admired and been loyal to Muzan Kibutsuji. But after her death, all of that became a thing of the past. She had repaid her debt to Muzan for allowing her to live, and now, after a hundred years, she felt no obligation to him. The only person she revered now was Feng Ye, who had given her a second chance at life.
Hantengu did not take offense at the lack of respect in Kocho's tone. After all, they were all dead now, and Giyu calling Muzan "that exalted one" was merely out of habit from the past.
"The outcome is still uncertain, but I expect more will arrive soon."
"Is that so?"
Giyu's expression turned pensive.
Meanwhile, Kocho took the opportunity to ask more questions, as the only thing she still cared about in the mortal world was the conflict between Muzan and the Demon Slayer Corps.
...
As Kocho, Giyu, and Hantengu conversed in hell, Feng Ye had already led Kanroji Mitsuri and the others toward another battlefield.
Among the many battles that took place, the first to conclude was between Upper Moon Three, Akaza, and Lower Moon Five, Shinobu Kocho, which ended with Akaza's death and Kocho severely injured.
Thanks to the special healing medicine provided by Tsuyuri Kanao, Kocho quickly recovered from her injuries and made her way to where Kanao, Muzan, and the others were located.
The next battle to reach its climax was between Upper Moon Five, Gyutaro, and the duo of Iguro Obanai and Kamado Nezuko.
Obanai's strength was already considerable among the Pillars, and his talent was exceptional. During this battle, pushed to the brink, he unleashed the power of his Cursed Blood Art, causing his strength to explode and directly crush Upper Moon Five.
Following this, Upper Moon Four, Hantengu, was defeated by Tokito Muichirou and Agatsuma Zenitsu.
Soon after, Upper Moon Six, Daki, who had been controlled and corrupted by Uzui Tengen, was remotely eliminated by Muzan.
Four of the six Upper Moons had now fallen.
The focus then shifted to Upper Moon Three, Nakime, who faced off against Feng Ye and Kanroji Mitsuri.
(End of Chapter)
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