"Moon Breathing, Ninth Form: Waning Moons—Linked Slashes!"
Kokushibo swung his evolved demonic blade, unleashing an erratic, overlapping storm of invisible slashes in the air. Countless intersecting blade winds and crescent-shaped arcs of light hurtled toward Koyuki and Umi.
"Blood Demon Art: Barrier—Snowflake Frost Array!"
At Koyuki's feet, a pattern of snowflakes unfolded—resembling Hakuji's Compass Technique. Within the array, countless pure white snowflakes whirled in midair.
The instant the snowflakes touched the blade winds and crescent blades, violent bursts of frost erupted, canceling out Kokushibo's attack.
It seemed as though Koyuki had easily repelled his strike, but in truth, she was struggling immensely. To neutralize Kokushibo's power, the ice explosions had to match his attacks in force.
Her energy consumption was enormous—if not for the strengthening she had received from Yosuke's blood, her array would have collapsed the moment it made contact with Kokushibo's onslaught.
Umi, knowing full well how difficult it was for Koyuki to maintain her defense, poured all her strength into her own Blood Demon Art.
"Blood Demon Art: Crimson Sash Slash!"
Countless ribbons extended from Umi's body, coated in fresh blood, stretching across the mirrored prison. The razor-sharp ribbons lashed at Kokushibo and Hantō relentlessly.
"Is this all you've got? I had expected something more entertaining. How dull."
Within Umi's range of attack, Kokushibo had already opened the Transparent World. Every one of her strikes was predicted and evaded with ease. He strolled leisurely through the barrage, untouched by a single blow.
"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Calamitous Transformation—Heavenly Full Moon!"
A multitude of massive crescent-shaped blade winds and enormous moon discs erupted, obliterating Koyuki's snowflake array. Komei's ribbons were shredded to pieces, and deep gashes—bone-deep—opened across her body.
Hovering above them, Kokushibo looked down upon the bloodied and fallen Koyuki and Umi with utter contempt.
"You are nothing more than lucky weaklings who happened to gain a fragment of power. Even as demons, you've not escaped mediocrity. So this is the true extent of Yosuke Ubuyashiki's vaunted 'talent'? Pathetic."
Furious at the insult to Yosuke, Umi drove her blood-soaked ribbons toward Kokushibo once more.
Kokushibo stepped on one of the ribbons, pinning it to the ground, and raised his demonic blade to behead her.
Suddenly, a massive surge of energy tore through Mandō's mirrored prison—
The entire space shattered into fragments.
Yosuke's figure appeared before Koyuki and Umi, his arrival marked by a violent kick that sent Kokushibo flying.
"Yosuke-sama?! You're here?!" the two called out in shock and relief.
"I was alerted by the Crow Demon. When it died, its final memories were sent directly into my mind. I saw you were in danger—so I came immediately."
Yosuke's gaze fell on Kokushibo's face, those six eyes gleaming with a grotesque light. His expression was one of scorn.
"How repulsive. Kokushibo, it seems you've completely abandoned the will and honor of the Tsugikuni clan."
Kokushibo snorted coldly. "I have no regrets. I became a demon to gain infinite years—years to perfect my swordsmanship."
Yosuke let out a quiet laugh. "Perfect your swordsmanship? Is that what you tell yourself?"
Kokushibo frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
"That talk of 'mastery' is nothing but an excuse. The truth is, you were jealous. You envied Yoriichi—his genius, his strength. He surpassed you in everything."
"Yoriichi is long dead. No matter how powerful you've become, it changes nothing. You will never surpass him. Remember that—never."
Kokushibo lowered his head, unable to deny Yosuke's words. It was true—he had become a demon to surpass Yoriichi, only to realize, too late, that Yoriichi's death meant he would never have the chance to do so. He would forever stand in Yoriichi's shadow.
Lifting his gaze again, Kokushibo's eyes hardened. "I will never lose to anyone again!"
Yosuke sneered. "Don't you hear the contradiction in your words?"
Kokushibo's six eyes widened in confusion.
"You talk about never losing again—yet against Muzan Kibutsuji, what chance do you have? Against me? Muzan can snuff out your existence on a whim. 'Never lose again'? What a pitiful delusion to comfort yourself with."
Rendered speechless, Kokushibo chose to answer with his blade.
But then, Mando tugged at his sleeve, her voice dull and distant. "No… enemy… gone…"
Her words struck directly at Kokushibo's fragile pride.
"I will not run away! Even if it kills me!"
"Moon Breathing, Sixteenth Form: Lunar Rainbow—Solitary Moon!"
Consumed by rage, Kokushibo swung his evolved demon blade. Gigantic blade winds crashed down from above, splitting the earth, accompanied by a downpour of countless moon blades.
Yosuke raised his hand, and a towering wall of blood erupted from the ground, blocking every blade that fell.
No matter how violently Kokushibo attacked, Yosuke parried with ease.
"So weak. After centuries of training, is this all you've learned? You cast aside your humanity for power—but what did it bring you? Even if you became the strongest, unmatched by any living being—what's left of you now? All you possess is that grotesque shell of a body."
Hatred and humiliation surged within Kokushibo. His sword swings grew erratic.
"The day you last saw Yoriichi, he was still thinking of you," Yosuke continued coldly. "He treasured the flute you gave him more than anything. But the bond between you two—your brotherhood—was severed by that towering wall of jealousy in your heart. How pitiful. Tell me, Kokushibo—do you even remember the name you had as a human?"
"…Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
Kokushibo's movements faltered for an instant.
In that moment, Yosuke's blood-forged spikes pierced through his body.
Severely wounded, Kokushibo collapsed to the ground as Yosuke continued to mock him.
"How truly pitiful. The Tsugikuni bloodline, descended from Kaori, now shamed by your existence. What a disgrace."
Just as Yosuke was about to finish him, Mandō unleashed her Blood Demon Art.
"Blood Demon Art: Mirror Concealment."
A mirror materialized, pulling Kokushibo inside and whisking him away into its mirrored space—just barely evading Yosuke's killing blow.
Yosuke cast her a cold, sidelong glance.
Feeling his gaze, Mandō instinctively stepped back and tried to use her Blood Demon Art again.
Another mirror appeared—but before she could enter it, the mirror shattered violently.
"An interesting ability," Yosuke remarked indifferently. "You can create your own pocket space—but your weakness is obvious. If your mirror is struck by a force exceeding your own power, it breaks. And once it breaks… your Blood Demon Art becomes useless."
Mandō's blank expression twisted into one of pure terror.
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