"You three… are probably the strongest swordsmen of this era, aren't you?"
Kokushibo's six eyes swept over Rengoku Kyojuro and Shinazugawa Sanemi, finally lingering on Himejima Gyomei.
"Especially you… Possessing a body of such strength—rare even among humans. Though blinded, you chose the weapon best suited for you. You use the sound of your chains to perfectly read your surroundings and my every movement… Impressive."
This bastard, even now he can talk like he has everything under control…
Sanemi was gasping for breath. Maintaining constant high-intensity Breathing was making his lungs feel like they were being ripped apart, and the two missing fingers on his right hand made every slash clumsy and painful.
The man before him was a monster—so this was the strength of Upper Moon One. Even weakened by Sanemi's rare blood, Kokushibo still pressed the three of them to the brink.
No wonder Nightingale had once said, "Even if all the Hashira attack together, they can't slow down Upper Moon One." Kokushibo wasn't even fighting seriously, yet all three of them were already wounded. It was terrifying to imagine his full power.
"But is it really okay for you to just take it easy like this?" Sanemi's lips twisted into a savage grin. "I'd wager your precious Muzan-sama isn't doing so well right now. Shouldn't his most loyal, most powerful attack dog hurry up and finish us off before going to help him?"
"That lord's orders… were to kill all of you Hashira… The other Upper Moons have already been summoned to his side…"
Kokushibo's tone was utterly flat, devoid of any hint of emotion. The aura he radiated was not violently oppressive, but it carried a crushing weight.
"Besides… if I let you reach that lord, he would truly be in danger… I must end you here."
Kokushibo's arrogant confidence, as if a single move could kill them all, made Sanemi's veins bulge with anger.
"If you think you can, then bring it on, you four-eyed bastard!"
In the next instant, spiraling blades of wind tore through the air—Sanemi launched himself into the heart of the storm, charging Kokushibo at blinding speed.
[Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter]
The violent gale whipped through Kokushibo's black hair, but he simply drew his blade with a calm motion, lungs filling with air.
[Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing]
A flash of cold light—a barrage of crescent moon blades crashed down, slicing through the vortex. The two forces collided, shredding and devouring each other in a furious contest of strength.
At the moment their blades met, Sanemi was sent flying, both feet off the ground. The power difference was obvious—he couldn't even process his shock or rage before Kokushibo's deadly intent locked onto him.
[Wind Breathing, Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts]
[Moon Breathing, Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains]
They switched stances at the same instant—tornado-shaped slashes rained down from above like a meteor shower, while countless razor-sharp crescent blades erupted from the ground, tearing the air apart.
The noise of the blades was deafening. In an instant, the black floor shattered into powder, and even the obsidian pillars were sheared clean through by stray sword winds, their edges gleaming like glass.
At that moment, a blaze of heat flickered through the chaos—a flash so intense it warped the very air.
Rengoku Kyojuro, haori and sleeves in tatters, his entire body wreathed in blue wind and red flame, brought his blade down on Kokushibo's neck with thunderous force.
Wind fueled fire, fire fueled wind. The roaring flame condensed into the shape of a ferocious tiger, pouncing after the blade straight toward Kokushibo.
[Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger]
Kokushibo twisted his wrist, preparing to counter—but then, the sound of rushing chains drew ever closer.
Behind Kyojuro, Gyomei's axe and flail—linked by heavy iron chains—swung with crushing force.
[Stone Breathing, Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest]
At the same time, Sanemi, recovering from being blasted back, flickered into Kokushibo's blind spot. Even without seeing, Kokushibo could sense the killing intent.
Blades of wind as sharp as beasts' claws crashed down from above.
[Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claws, Purifying Wind]
Danger.
Three-pronged assault—yet Kokushibo had only one sword.
And yet, not a hint of panic showed on his face.
Just as the three attacks were about to strike, crescent blades exploded outward from Kokushibo's body, a maelstrom swallowing everything nearby.
[Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy]
The swirling sword storm was suddenly tinged red—splattered with Sanemi and Kyojuro's blood.
"Sanemi! Rengoku!" Gyomei's shout was thick with worry. Though blind, he could hear the sound of their flesh being sliced.
"Cough—What the hell was that?" Kyojuro shouted, forcing his muscles to seal the wound with Breathing. "How does he swing his sword to create slashes like that?"
"That multi-eyed bastard… it hurts like hell…" Sanemi growled, face twisted with pain and fury. "How does he do it? I didn't even see him swing, it's like he can attack from every angle at once…"
Kokushibo's power was overwhelming. Even working together, they were being forced back, battered and bloodied.
What was his Blood Demon Art? What kind of swordsmanship was this?
There were too many questions, but the battlefield gave them no time to think.
"Rengoku! Sanemi! Watch out! The next strike's coming!"
Gyomei's thunderous warning carried far, reaching their ears and making them tense up.
Kokushibo gripped his living, eye-covered blade with both hands. As he swung, an unseen pressure exploded outward, deadly moonlight gathering in his wake.
[Moon Breathing, Seventh Form: Mirror of Misfortune, Moonlit]
Kyojuro and Sanemi barely dodged, but both were slashed—one on the back, the other on the shoulder.
"Damn it—how is his range getting even bigger?!" Sanemi howled, forced to flee the storm of sword and wind, frustration mounting.
Kyojuro, battered and bleeding, flashed to Sanemi's side in a swirl of flame.
"Tch, this really is Upper Moon One—the monster Miss Nightingale warned us all the Hashira together couldn't defeat if he got serious!"
"Yeah, well, it pisses me off to admit it, but that crazy woman was right…"
Sanemi, always rough and reckless (and the most frequent patient in Nightingale's infirmary), couldn't stand her smugness. He hadn't forgotten her help—but deep down, he was desperate to prove her wrong. To do something that would make even Nightingale herself stare in awe—like taking down the so-called "invincible" Upper Moon One.
But…
With attacks like this—hell, forget cutting off his head, I can't even get close!
Gyomei tried to swing his chains forward to help, but Kokushibo instantly noticed—the ever-extending sword lashed out like a dragon's tail, leveling everything in its path.
[Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moon-Dragon Ringtail]
So fast… but not just speed—he can read every move, countering our attacks before we even make them… Gyomei's face grew grave.
So this is… the Transparent World Miss Nightingale warned us about…
She had always worried about them using Marks (since it would burn their lives), but she insisted the Hashira at least understand the Transparent World—since Kokushibo had mastered it, not knowing would be fatal.
On the other side, Kokushibo's mind was troubled.
Why… are these three so coordinated…? Why are they so hard to deal with…?
It's like… they're used to fighting like this—used to being outnumbered and still struggling desperately, always on the edge of defeat…
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
At that same moment, Kyojuro, Gyomei, and Sanemi all looked up, as if sensing something.
"Here they come!"
"Namu Amida Butsu…"
"Tch! Took you long enough!"
The Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu. The Insect Hashira, Kochou Shinobu. The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen.
They entered the fray.
"Don't blame us, Shinazugawa-san," Shinobu said, hands on hips, frowning. "This place is a maze—you can't even tell up from down! We almost got completely lost, you know?"
"Is it just you three?" Kyojuro asked, brows furrowed. "Where are Iguro and Tokitou? Didn't they come with you?"
"Don't worry, Rengoku-san," Shinobu replied. "On the way here, we ran into two heavily injured Upper Moons—looked like they were beaten trying to stop Sensei. Iguro-san and Tokitou-san stayed behind to handle them."
Kokushibo glanced over, eyes sweeping across the newcomers.
"Three more… Hashira…?"
Overwhelming, immense, unstoppable.
For Giyuu and the others, it was their first time facing Upper Moon One—but the instant his voice echoed in their ears, they all felt it. This was a foe like no other.
"Pathetic humans, lining up one after another… What good will it do? At least this saves me the trouble of hunting you down…"
Kokushibo's six eyes narrowed, icy killing intent blanketing the battlefield in an instant.
"I'll finish all of you here—at once."
"So, you three have been fighting this monster the whole time? That's one hell of a show!" Tengen's eyes sparkled, right hand spinning his chained Nichirin Blades, his whole body tensed like a spring.
"Tengen! Giyuu! Stay sharp! Don't get too close! Upper Moon One's range and speed are insane!" Gyomei called out. "And don't forget what Miss Nightingale warned us—he can use the Transparent World! He'll see through your attacks before you make them!"
"Got it! Thanks for the flashily helpful reminder! Now, let's win this in style!"
[Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar]
With explosive power, Tengen shot forward like lightning.
Giyuu said nothing, but unsheathed his Nichirin Blade and followed, leaving afterimages behind despite moving with deceptive calm.
Their pressure wasn't quite as overwhelming as the first three Hashira, but with Gyomei's warning and Tengen's unique Sound Breathing (something Kokushibo had never encountered), he couldn't finish them off immediately.
Soon enough, Gyomei, Kyojuro, and Sanemi rejoined the fight. Though still wounded, their condition had visibly improved.
Kokushibo realized the truth:
That woman Hashira…
He was right. During those brief moments, Shinobu had quickly administered painkillers and stopped the bleeding—she couldn't fully heal them, but at least the wounds wouldn't hold them back for now.
Even surrounded by five Hashira, Kokushibo still dominated the battlefield, suppressing them single-handedly.
Just as Kokushibo raised his demonic blade for another technique, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Kokushibo… how many Hashira have you killed so far?"
"Get over here, now—the madwoman is about to catch up to me!"
"All the other Upper Moons are useless trash—can't even stop one person, a bunch of idiots… Don't tell me you're as worthless as they are!"
That voice—Kibutsuji Muzan.
The moment he heard it, Kokushibo felt his blood boil. For a brief instant, his eyes filled with confusion, then rage.
Impossible. So many Upper Moons, and they couldn't even buy Muzan any time? Not a single one could help him escape?
If Muzan died, all demons would die with him—including Kokushibo. He could never allow that to happen.
Even though it lasted only a second, in that instant Kokushibo faltered—his breathing wavered, Muzan's desperation breaking his composure.
And in that fleeting gap, a blade of light flashed before his eyes.
Kochou Shinobu, seizing the moment, darted through the web of sword strikes as if she'd vanished, thrusting her blade forward with incredible speed.
No fancy technique—just a single, lightning-fast, fatal stab, too fast even for an Upper Moon to react.
[Shukuchi]
[Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter]
Too late to dodge. Too late to parry. Kokushibo realized it instantly.
That single second of distraction—by the time he recovered, Shinobu's blade was already inches from his eyes. It would take less than a split second for the poison-laced tip to pierce him.
He recognized that uniquely shaped blade—Shinobu had only recently become a Hashira after killing a Lower Moon, and back then, neither Kokushibo nor Muzan had worried. After all, wisteria poison deadly to Lower Moons couldn't threaten Upper Moons or Muzan himself.
But after seeing what Nightingale's poison had done to Muzan, even Kokushibo had started to fear what might be hidden in Shinobu's blade.
He could not—would not—allow himself to be struck by that sword.