After killing Gyokko, James sprinted toward the swordsmith village.
Using his Transparent World, he could faintly sense intense battle fluctuations in the distance. The chaotic rhythm of clashing auras confirmed one thing: there was still life, still resistance.
That realization gave him a brief wave of relief.
If everything had gone quiet—if there was no movement at all—it would have meant the worst. Everyone there might already be dead.
---
Meanwhile, Tanjirou was barely holding on.
He, Kanroji, Muichirou, Nezuko, and Genya—who had temporarily gained demon-like powers after absorbing some of Akaza's flesh and blood—were fighting with everything they had.
The five of them coordinated as best they could, each filling in gaps, covering weaknesses, and attacking in bursts. Their singular focus was to avoid losing anyone—and, if possible, to find even the smallest opening to turn the tide.
But realistically, their best chance was waiting for daybreak.
Dawn was still some time away, but when the sunlight came, it would force Akaza to retreat. That would be their salvation.
They hated the thought of letting their enemies escape, but in truth, they had no way to stop them. Trying to do so recklessly would likely lead to heavy casualties with no gain.
Akaza unleashed a brutal flurry—punching and kicking Nezuko, sending her flying. Tanjirou caught her mid-air, only for both of them to charge again. Nezuko launched another kick while Tanjirou followed up with Hinokami Kagura.
A brilliant blaze lit up the night.
But Akaza evaded with perfect footwork, then counterattacked—his right hand flying forward in a deadly arc.
Before he could strike Tanjirou, however, a green Nichirin Blade cut off his entire arm, continuing upward in a fluid motion toward his neck.
Akaza tilted his head just in time. The green blade sliced his cheek, drawing blood, but the wound sealed instantly. A pink blade light followed, aiming to strangle his neck with a spiral motion.
"Enough!" Akaza roared.
He bit down on Kanroji's blade, flinging it aside. Then, with a sudden surge of force, he kneed Tanjirou into the air, followed by a vicious kick that sent Genya flying in the opposite direction.
He snapped his head forward, aiming to smash it into Muichirou, who barely dodged the strike. Akaza responded by slamming into him with an Iron Mountain shoulder tackle, launching him away.
With blood-red eyes and heaving breath, Akaza grabbed Nezuko with his remaining hand and smashed her down toward the ground.
Then, he shifted into a familiar stance.
"Destruction Kill – Final Style: Blue and Silver Chaos Remnant Light!"
In a flash, a massive compass appeared beneath Akaza. In the next second, hundreds of chi-like missiles shot out from his body in all directions, forming a deadly barrage that annihilated everything in its path.
Buildings exploded into dust on impact.
Everyone's expressions changed. It was a full-scale slaughter move.
Tanjirou took a deep breath, channeling the Breath of the Sun into his lungs. Warmth surged through him.
"Breath of the Sun – Revolving Heaven!"
A rapidly spinning circle of flame enveloped his body, acting as both shield and blade. Though it deflected most of the incoming strikes, the shockwaves still numbed his arms.
"What a ridiculous technique…" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Akaza, however, was frowning.
Despite the onslaught, something darker and more ominous was rising—a malevolent aura, reeking of hatred and chaos.
It was Zohakuten, reformed once again.
"So unpleasant! So unpleasant!"
The grotesque child walked forward slowly, rhythmically beating a taiko drum on his back.
Each beat summoned monstrous skinks from the earth. Over a dozen burst out, their massive reptilian forms cracking the land and tearing up stone as they emerged.
Without speaking, each skink began to charge up different elemental attacks: lightning, sound, wind, and more gathered in their maws.
It was clear—once those attacks were unleashed, the entire battlefield would be annihilated.
Kanroji and Muichirou didn't hesitate. They bolted toward the skinks.
They had to stop them before they finished charging. Even Revolving Heaven wouldn't withstand so many simultaneous shockwaves.
But before they could get far—
A figure dropped in front of them, smirking.
Akaza.
Big trouble.
With him blocking the path, it was nearly impossible to reach Zohakuten's skinks in time. One was a melee expert; the other, a devastating ranged attacker. Their combination was devastating.
Tanjirou inhaled again, slowly, calmly.
He continued his Yang Breathing—a form focused not just on battle enhancement, but on sustained performance and gradual healing.
It might not amplify strength or speed like other forms, but its balance and regenerative support were ideal for prolonged combat.
His mind drifted back to a conversation he'd had with James, alongside Inosuke and Zenitsu.
---
"What do you do if you encounter a ranged-type demon?" James had asked.
Inosuke snorted. "Just charge in and slice them!"
Zenitsu followed with his usual theatrics: "We should run away! Or maybe scream until someone helps…"
James smiled, then turned to Tanjirou. "You tell me."
"Eh… me?" Tanjirou scratched the back of his head. "I think… we should learn how to attack from a distance too."
James nodded. "Well said. The key to dealing with ranged enemies is offense. If you can't close the gap, then you need to pressure them so much they're afraid to attack."
He'd paused before delivering the real strategy:
**"Either get completely out of their range… or get close—**uncomfortably close—with your allies around you. Especially if the enemy's status is lower than their teammates. They'll panic."
---
Tanjirou's eyes snapped open. His breathing was steady.
He turned to the others.
"Everyone, get as close to Upper Three as possible. The closer the better—but only if you can do it safely."
It only took a moment for Muichirou and Kanroji to understand the strategy. They both nodded.
"Tanjirou-kun, you're so smart!" Kanroji beamed.
Tanjirou smiled awkwardly, blushing slightly at the compliment.
Akaza, standing in the distance, watched all of this silently.
They were chatting… in the middle of a fight?
He didn't interrupt. He didn't need to. In his mind, he and Zohakuten had already won.
Not even four Hashira could stand against two Upper Moons, let alone this ragtag group.
But then, something unexpected happened.
All five of them—Tanjirou, Nezuko, Kanroji, Muichirou, and Genya—charged forward.
Straight at him.
Akaza's brow furrowed. What were they doing?
He braced himself for a joint assault—but instead of overwhelming him with sharp, aggressive strikes, they just… surrounded him. Their attacks were half-hearted. Defensive.
"What are you playing at?" he muttered.
Far behind them, Zohakuten was ready. The skinks' mouths glowed ominously.
But his face twisted with frustration.
Akaza was too close to the group. If the shockwaves launched now, the explosion would engulf him as well.
Zohakuten could afford to die—he was only a clone—but Akaza? Hantengu's main body would never forgive that loss.
The skinks began to twitch. The buildup was nearing critical mass.
Zohakuten clicked his tongue, then slapped his drum.
The skinks, unable to hold their attacks any longer, turned their heads skyward.
Twelve devastating shockwaves launched upward.
First came a tiny glimmer, then a blinding flash too bright to look at. A thunderous roar shook the heavens as a massive mushroom cloud exploded high above the battlefield.
The shockwaves were so powerful, even Upper Moons and the Demon Slayers felt the ground quake beneath them.
---
Far away, nearing the village outskirts, James froze in place.
He stared at the rising column of smoke, his heart skipping a beat.
"…Did the United States drop another atomic bomb on Japan?" he muttered under his breath.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)