Killers are constantly killed.
Since Muzan Kibutsuji had the intent to kill, and had struck the first blow, he couldn't blame Roy for striking back. It was only right to slaughter him and return a peaceful night to the world.
The Hashira meeting concluded with Roy accepting the "Mugen Train" mission alone.
The Hashira dispersed in twos and threes, each leaving to attend to their own duties... Giyu Tomioka came to Roy's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing. Yet, he seemed to have said everything. Carrying a heart full of relief and expectation, wearing his haori of clashing red, yellow, and white patterns, he departed.
In the blink of an eye, outside the courtyard gate, the young boy stopped amidst the wisteria forest, smiled, and said to Giyu Tomioka beside him, "Goodbye, Senior Brother."
Giyu turned his head to glance at Roy, his gaze passing over Roy's shoulder to look at Rengoku Kyojuro, who was catching up at a leisurely pace. Thoughtful, Giyu nodded slightly to him, then his figure flashed and vanished.
"Kamado Eiichiro, please wait."
In the wisteria forest that covered the mountains and plains, one in white clothes with red hair, and one in a brown uniform with yellow hair ending in red tips, met under a wisteria tree so thick that three people couldn't wrap their arms around it.
Rengoku Kyojuro called out to Roy. Cheerful as fire, he got straight to the point: "I have a few sword techniques; I ask for your guidance."
As the "Flame Hashira" spoke, he bowed deeply... Like fire, he was urgent and impatient, yet he never lost his manners, making it impossible for anyone to dislike him.
In the original story, Rengoku Kyojuro was one of the few among the "Hashira," aside from the Master, who was deeply loved by all the other Hashira. He was crowned with the title of "Big Brother"... Even the always irritable Sanemi Shinazugawa and the Obanai Iguro, who would sinisterly spit out "poisonous tongue" remarks from time to time, could not say a bad word about him. This alone showed... just how upright and good Rengoku Kyojuro was.
It was precisely for this reason that Roy actively took on the "Mugen Train" mission, to prevent this man from meeting a tragic end where his body died and his path vanished.
"I wouldn't dare presume to guide you. Please, go ahead."
"Good."
Rengoku Kyojuro lived up to his reputation as a decisive man. Without wasting words, he drew his blade. Under the tall wisteria tree, he began to demonstrate "Flame Breathing."
From "First Form: Unknowing Fire" to "Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun" and "Third Form: Blazing Universe"... The blade light rolled up roaring flames. Rengoku Kyojuro was like a fire spirit dancing with a blade in front of Roy.
Roy activated [En] and watched quietly, listening. He learned faster than when he studied [Wind]. As Rengoku Kyojuro executed the final strike... "Ninth Form: Rengoku," transforming into a fire dragon roaring toward the distance and burning a long scorched trail on the ground, Roy instantly comprehended the rhythm and technique of "Flame Breathing."
It could only be said that it wasn't without reason that "Flame Breathing" was considered a lower-tier substitute for "Sun Breathing."
"Phew~" After performing the set of "Flame Breathing," Rengoku Kyojuro, draped in a white haori embellished with flame patterns at the hem, looked seriously at the boy... Roy didn't rush to speak. Instead, he reached out and gently patted Rengoku Kyojuro's shoulder, transferring a layer of Nen infused with [Scorching True Intent] to him.
"Fwoosh~" The outer flame was red, the inner flame was white... The flame cloak wrapped in Nen enveloped Rengoku Kyojuro completely. This eldest son of the Rengoku family, who was determined to inherit the title of "Flame Hashira," had managed to learn "Flame Breathing" and develop his own unique sword techniques purely through his own hard work and talent by reading three guidebooks, even when his father Shinjuro was depressed and unwilling to guide him or his younger brother Senjuro. But... as he looked, touched, and slowly experienced this "Flame Cloak" briefly gifted to him by Roy...
Rengoku Kyojuro became bewildered...
This fire was not that fire. Rengoku Kyojuro could clearly feel that compared to this "Flame Cloak" where the inner flame presented a terrifying white, the fire dragon roared out by his final strike "Rengoku" was completely a "Pseudo-Fire Dragon," or even... a "Paper Dragon" that possessed only imposing manner but lacked a core!
'Where exactly is the problem?'
Having previously witnessed Roy's hundred-meter-long blade wrapped in flames, and now personally experiencing the Flame Cloak attached with [Scorching True Intent]... Rengoku Kyojuro stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly. After a moment, he came back to his senses, looked at Roy with burning eyes, and asked, "Why is the temperature of your fire higher than mine?"
Applying a certain fruit farmer's understanding of "Nen abilities," personality affects Nen, and also determines the Nen category and path. Rengoku Kyojuro's personality was like fire, fitting the element even more than Roy. But... unfortunately, he was not a Nen user. And this regret determined him, determined Gyomei Himejima, determined Sanemi Shinazugawa... Obanai Iguro, and all the Hashira including his senior brother Giyu Tomioka; their upper limits were locked within the category of [Human].
"Whoosh~" The wind blew and wisteria flowers fell... The moment they touched Rengoku Kyojuro, they were burned to ash by the flame cloak wrapped around him...
Roy remained silent, looking up at the sky. Rengoku Kyojuro followed his gaze upward. The afternoon sunlight was just right; although not as intense as noon, in this early spring which was still cold despite the warming weather, the few rays of light filtering through the wisteria forest felt warm, lazy, and incredibly comfortable on the body.
"What do you see?" the boy suddenly asked.
Rengoku Kyojuro's gaze pierced through the white clouds, skimmed over the flying birds, and went straight into the blue sky. High above, at the very end, he saw a great sun recklessly splashing sunlight. He said in a deep voice, "It is the Sun."
"Correct, it is the Sun." Roy raised his hand and beckoned. The flame cloak attached with [Scorching True Intent] moved according to his will, withdrawing from Rengoku Kyojuro's body and returning to Roy's side, transforming into a wisp of flame on his fingertip, burning quietly...
In Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes... as the boy watched the dancing flame, a trace of divinity was added to his handsome face: "I assume you already have the answer."
"Your fire is just fire, while mine..."
"Fwoosh~" Deep pupils suddenly ignited with two great suns. Roy tilted his head and quietly looked at Rengoku Kyojuro, saying, "While mine, is the Sun!"
"Fireflies cannot compare to the Sun; it is only right."
"Pff~" The flame on the fingertip extinguished, instantly sinking into Roy's body and vanishing.
Rengoku Kyojuro fell silent for a moment, then smiled freely and said, "As expected of a user of 'Sun Breathing,' this level of insight is indeed something I cannot compare to."
Praise when due, scold when due. Rengoku Kyojuro had never been the type of person with dirty thoughts who envied the capable. Just as his mother, Ruka Rengoku, told him when he was young... those born strong are born with the responsibility to protect the weak; one cannot use the talent given by the heavens to hurt others or line one's own pockets.
Similarly, as the weaker party, Rengoku Kyojuro bravely admitted that he was not as good as Roy, yet he had no thoughts of seeking "Sun Breathing." Although he had realized... that his fire couldn't compare to the other's was a "hard fact," he therefore did not spawn any covetous heart.
Instead, he happily patted Roy on the shoulder and said, "Senior Urokodaki once said that if we discuss who can kill Muzan Kibutsuji, it will inevitably be you... At first I didn't believe it, but looking at it now..."
Rengoku Kyojuro said with incomparable seriousness, "I also believe, it will inevitably be you."
"No, it is everyone." Roy's pair of black pupils seemed to look into Rengoku Kyojuro's heart: "I can be the Sun, you can be too, he can be too... everyone can be... And for this, perhaps each person only needs to take a small step forward..."
"How to take it?"
"Praise the Sun."
"Pray devoutly to the Sun, beg it to gift [Divine Power], to dispel the darkness and save all living beings..."
Roy gazed at Rengoku Kyojuro: "And you, my friend, are you willing to take this small step?"
"Can I really?"
"I can, so you can too."
"How do I do it?"
"Look at me, kneel."
The [Eye of Delusion Breaking] was like two great suns deeply branded into Rengoku Kyojuro's fiery red pupils. The boy said, "I will walk the world representing the Sun, and bestow blessings upon you."
The faint words, strengthened by "Nen," formed a "Telepathic Voice" that penetrated further into the depths of Rengoku Kyojuro's heart...
His body suddenly shook, as if seeing the sun rise in the east, sprinkling the sky with morning glow, and as if seeing the sun set in the west, reflecting the redness of the horizon. Immediately after... a "Dong~" sound rang in his ears, a bell tolling like a grand bell that made his scalp numb. His right knee went soft, he knelt on one knee, bowed at Roy's feet, and said, "I am willing."
[Hint: Host "Preaching" successful]
[Sect: Sun Cult]
[Detected one "Believer", please Host immediately arrange "Investiture" ceremony, to bring him under command]
[Believer: Rengoku Kyojuro]
[Constitution: 17 (Ordinary person is 1, under Breathing Style boost, can multiply ten times to 170)]
[Manifested Aura Output: None (Awaiting development)]
[Potential Aura Quantity: None (Awaiting development)]
[Loyalty: 51/100 (Note: Loyalty increases gradually as the "Believer's" faith in the Sun deepens. Currently, the Host is already viewed by Rengoku Kyojuro as a companion he can entrust his back to)]
"Very good." Roy's mind moved, and his right hand emitted specks of light spots. Like a "Divine Envoy" in a storybook, showing a small trick was a "Miracle." He lightly tapped Rengoku Kyojuro's left and right shoulders, smiled at him, and said, "Congratulations on becoming a 'Sun'."
[Hint: "Investiture" ceremony completed.]
[Believer "Rengoku Kyojuro" has been bound.]
[Faith Power +1]
Is it over just like that?
Rengoku Kyojuro stood up suspiciously, just as a palm from Roy, wrapped in Nen, struck his chest with lightning speed...
Rengoku Kyojuro's yellow hair with red tips swung with the palm wind, dancing upside down. In an instant, he felt... his whole person floating up. Just as he was about to angrily question Roy why he would betray him when they were fellow believers?
He suddenly heard the boy shout at him: "Do not be distracted, quickly lock the 'Divine Power' into your body!"
Only then did Rengoku Kyojuro notice that, unbeknownst to him, his entire person was wrapped in a milky white "Energy." Calming his mind to sense it carefully... all shackles on his body were gone, as if a sick tree had suddenly been revitalized, gushing with powerful strength from the inside out... This must be the "Divine Power" Eiichiro spoke of!
'The Sun is real... [Divine Power] is also real... Kamado Eiichiro, this guy... no, it is Lord "Divine Envoy" who did not lie to me... I too can become a Sun...'
Avoiding the will of heaven, avoiding karma, various shackles trap the true self. Obeying the will of heaven, accepting karma, today I finally know that I am me... Once enlightened to see the true self, why fear the old shackles of the past? The shackles of the world are originally dreams, formless, phaseless, and self-less...
Rengoku Kyojuro pressed his palms together and said devoutly: "Praise the Sun."
Following Roy's reminder, he began trying to "lock" the Qi escaping from his body surface into his body...
As expected of a genius capable of becoming a "Hashira," although not as fast as "Killua" or "Gon," he inherited the excellent bloodline of generations of "Flame Hashira" of the Rengoku family... Rengoku Kyojuro still slowly mastered [Ten] under Roy's slow guidance.
[Hint: "Believer" Rengoku Kyojuro's micropores have opened.]
[Officially became a Nen User...]
Between one thought, the difference of heaven and earth... Stepping from a mortal across to the world of "Nen" in one step, Rengoku Kyojuro silently felt the "Divine Power" that cycled endlessly and flowed slowly within his body. He bent his right knee, knelt on one knee again facing Roy, performed a grand salute solemnly, and said, "Thank you, 'Divine Envoy,' for enlightening me."
"Praise the Sun." Roy smiled gently, held his arms to help him up, and said with expectation, "I can feel the Sun's joy. It says you are a devout believer harboring 'Justice' and 'Light,' and instructed me to bestow upon you the cultivation method of 'Divine Power'."
"Listen closely..."
[Ten]... [Zetsu]... [Ren]... [Hatsu]... The Four Major Principles, taught without reservation...
Rengoku Kyojuro listened with full concentration, not daring to make the slightest mistake. Gradually, from Roy's few words, he perceived the greatness of "Divine Power"!
For example, [Ten]: Once learned, it could not only make the body stronger and keep one youthful, but also focus the mind and allow one to gaze at the self. Maintain a calm mood, undisturbed by other things. When attached to an object, such as a Nichirin Sword, it could instantly amplify the sword's strength, unleashing sword techniques unknown times superior to before, just as... Eiichiro had displayed in the Master's mansion just now, possessing all sorts of inconceivable power.
And [Zetsu]: It could actually retract "presence," lowering one's own existence, and even... quietly turn "invisible" in front of demons with a sense of smell more sensitive than a dog, bypassing their smell to strike up close. It was truly... inconceivable...
As for the subsequent [Ren] and [Hatsu], Lord Eiichiro didn't say much, only instructing him to first learn [Ten], use "Divine Power" to temper his body, then combine it with [Zetsu] to increase "combat readiness" for the upcoming mission. Afterwards... learn slowly...
Rengoku Kyojuro bowed and agreed to everything. A fiery heart burned like a raging fire. Palms pressed together, as devout as Gyomei Himejima was to [Buddha], he looked up at the sun in the sky and said solemnly, "Praise the Sun, I will definitely not disappoint the Sun and the Divine Envoy."
Roy pointed two fingers at his brow and smiled gently: "Remember, the Sun will always be watching you, awaiting your progress."
"Yes." Rengoku Kyojuro took a deep breath. With another glance, after Roy dropped this sentence, a swamp appeared beneath his feet. In an instant, he sank underground and disappeared into the wisteria forest, leaving only Rengoku Kyojuro...
Staring blankly at the great sun falling toward the western horizon...
A moment later, he whispered softly, "Father, you were wrong. You said no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change the status quo."
"Now..."
Rengoku Kyojuro drew his sword. A casual slash wrapped in "Nen" cut out a "Flying Flame Slash," which was even more turbulent and fierce than the "Rengoku" he had swung with all his might...
Turning around, his white haori with flame patterns on the hem swaying in the wind...
With a determined gaze, he walked toward home!
"Father, it's different... Please take a good look, your son is not who he was in the past!"
Tap... tap...
Rengoku Kyojuro walked hurriedly. Following after Roy, he flashed away. Never had there been a moment like this, where he looked forward to returning home so much!