Hakuji's arrival lifted a heavy burden off Kyojuro Rengoku's shoulders—now he no longer had to worry about Tanjiro and the others being ambushed.
Though it was their first meeting, Akaza and Rengoku fought with seamless coordination. Together, they battled against five illusions, each possessing the full power of their originals, without yielding an inch.
The ferocity of the clash left Inosuke dumbstruck, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"There's no opening… I can't even step in. I can't follow their speed. Around Rengoku-san and that newcomer—it's like the battlefield itself has become another dimension. My skin can feel it—if I step into their range, I'll be torn apart instantly. Damn it… I want to help, but I'd only get in the way…"
Hakuji, being a demon, had no fear of trading blows with illusions. He deliberately drew Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke's illusions away from Rengoku to ease his load.
"Martial Arts Technique: Destructive Death – Demon Core, Eightfold Strike!"
From all directions, Hakuji unleashed a flurry of eight bone-crushing blows against the illusions of Tanjiro's group.
In an instant, their illusions were scattered, leaving only Hakuji's and Rengoku's doubles still standing.
But the battle stalled again. Neither Hakuji nor Rengoku could fully destroy their own illusions. On top of that, they had to guard against sudden ambushes from the Tsukumogami. And soon, the illusions of Tanjiro's group began to regenerate.
By now, Rengoku was breathing heavily, blood running down from his forehead into his eyes.
Seizing the chance while Rengoku's vision was obscured, his illusion launched an attack.
"Flame Breathing, Seventh Form: Blazing Tiger!"
Flames erupted around the illusion, surging like a tsunami to engulf Rengoku.
Rengoku countered with Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation, warding off the torrent.
But as the flames died down, Rengoku let out a muffled groan—Tsukumogami had appeared suddenly, his hand blade piercing straight through Rengoku's left shoulder. Blood gushed from the wound.
Hakuji quickly broke free from his illusion, rushing in front of Rengoku and kicking the Tsukumogami away before he could strike again.
"Oi, Rengoku—you alright?!"
Clenching his teeth, Rengoku burned the wound with flames to cauterize it, staving off blood loss.
"I'm fine," he answered through the pain.
Hakuji tossed him a vial.
"Rengoku—coat your blade with this! If these illusions are physical constructs created by Blood Demon Art, then they must contain demon cells. This medicine might work on them!"
Rengoku immediately shattered the vial, letting the liquid soak into his Nichirin Blade.
To further reduce Rengoku's burden, Hakuji drew his own illusion and Rengoku's illusion together, facing them both at once.
"It seems I'm being looked after… how shameful! No—I must set an example for Kamado and the others!"
He leveled his sword before his chest.
"Flame Breathing, Eighth Form: Purgatory Dragon Flame!"
A blazing dragon coiled around him, roaring across the battlefield as he slashed toward the illusions of Tanjiro and his companions.
In a flash of fire, their illusions were decapitated. As their heads began to regenerate, the medicine on Rengoku's blade activated, suppressing the restoration. Unable to recover, the illusions dissolved into nothing.
The sight ignited Rengoku's morale, and even Tanjiro's group watching from the sidelines burst into cheers.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Rengoku pressed forward, his blade erupting in an explosive surge as he charged the Tsukumogami directly.
The demon raised his arm to block, Rengoku's sword cleaving into it and splitting the flesh. Yet the Tsukumogami sneered.
"So you destroyed three brats' illusions—what of it? Yours and Akaza's doubles still remain. The scales of victory are still tipped toward me!"
His arm instantly regenerated, and with a single punch, he sent Rengoku flying.
Rengoku's illusion surged forward, slashing with Flame Whirling Inferno.
Rengoku parried the strike, then called out—
"Hakuji!"
"You're thinking the same as me, huh?! I got it!"
Though they had just met, Akaza understood immediately.
Back-to-back, Rengoku and Hakuji braced against their respective illusions.
As the doubles lunged at them, the two suddenly switched places, each unleashing their ultimate techniques.
"Flame Breathing, Esoteric Art, Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
"Martial Arts Technique: Destructive Death – Final Form: Azure Silver Splintering Light!"
Rengoku's ultimate form cleaved into Hakuji's illusion with hellfire force, gouging deep, grievous wounds.
At the same time, Hakuji finishing move unleashed hundreds of azure projectiles outward from his core, bombarding Rengoku's illusion.
Fire and blue light engulfed the battlefield. The devastating assault obliterated both illusions at once.
Thanks to the medicine's effect, the doubles were suppressed and could no longer regenerate.
Side by side, Rengoku and Hakuji now faced the Tsukumogami, whose expression twisted in disbelief at the loss of all his illusions.
Hakuji taunted him.
"Your Blood Demon Art has been unraveled. You've run out of tricks."
The Tsukumogami scoffed.
"Don't get cocky. The rest of your allies are all gravely wounded. Do you think you alone can stop me?"
Rengoku was already at his limit, standing only by sheer willpower. His pierced shoulder, though cauterized, was worsening by the moment.
Hakuji frowned, glancing at his comrade's injury.
"I can still fight," Rengoku insisted, his expression steady despite the sweat dripping down his brow.
"I believe you…" Hakuji replied—then suddenly snatched Rengoku's Nichirin Blade and flung him toward Tanjiro's group.
"…but the rest of this fight is mine."
Rengoku struggled to rise, but Hakuji held him back.
"Rest, Rengoku. I won't lose a worthy rival here. Your will to fight—I'll carry it in your stead."
Turning to face the Tsukumogami, Hakuji's eyes burned with battle spirit.
Gripping Rengoku's Nichirin Blade in his left hand and raising his right into the Martial Arts stance, he beckoned with a provocative gesture.
"Come. Our battle… starts now."
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