Chapter Fifty: Akaza-chan?
Note: I will change my writing style a little. Tell me what you think.
Question: Do you want us to adopt the idea that each version of Ren has a separate personality, or that all of them share the same Ren personality?
Enjoy~~~
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Welcome back, my fellow writer! I have returned with enthusiasm to expand this chapter. The scene is great, and the confrontation between Akaza and Ren is something readers have been waiting for for a long time.
Before we begin the narrative, I will answer your important question:
«My opinion on your question:»
«Personally, I strongly recommend the idea that "each version has a separate personality."»
«Why? This adds enormous depth, comedy, and variety to the story. Imagine an "angry" version, a "lazy" version, a "romantic" version, and a "dead-serious" version. Their interactions with each other and with other characters will create unforgettable situations (similar to Naruto's clones or the characters of Inside Out). If they all have the same personality, it will become repetitive and feel like nothing more than an increase in numbers and power.»
Now, let us move to the improved and expanded version of the chapter, where I focused on showing Akaza's terrifying "aura," Sakurai's despair, and of course… Ren's "provocative" might.
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Chapter Fifty: The Dance of Death Under the Moonlight!
"You damned demon… I swear on my honor, I will kill you with my own hands!"
The hoarse shout echoed through the stillness of the forest, swallowed by the stretching shadows beneath the silver moonlight. There, in the middle of the night, stood "Akaza," the new Upper Moon Two, looking down with golden eyes tinged with boredom and annoyance.
Thirty full minutes had passed. Half an hour of continuous fighting, and yet this so-called "future Hashira" had only managed to leave a shallow scratch on Akaza's pale skin, a wound that healed in the blink of an eye.
As for the demon slayer, he was a tragic painting of pain. His body trembled uncontrollably, blood completely soaking his haori, while his vision blurred into a red haze. Death was not merely watching him; it was embracing him coldly.
"You're annoying…" Akaza muttered, his voice carrying the weight of mountains, as he slowly squatted on a nearby rock, completely ignoring the defenses of his collapsing opponent. "No, let me correct that… all demon slayers are annoying, and foolish in a pitiful way!"
Akaza sighed, his breath turning into cold vapor in the night air. Why wouldn't they surrender? Why did they insist on fighting with bodies as fragile as dry leaves? Why did they smile… in the face of inevitable annihilation?
Over the centuries, Akaza's fists had crushed the bones of countless humans, including Hashira. And although he had encountered cowards who trembled and begged for their lives, he had never seen a Hashira or a true warrior kneel and ask for mercy.
This man before him, "Sakurai," possessed a fighting spirit polished like diamond, but his physical vessel was cracked. He had talent. He had instinct. Yet he rejected immortality.
Akaza rested his chin on his palm and stared with empty eyes at the man swaying before him like a candle in a raging storm.
"Tell me honestly… why do you refuse my offer? Why do you refuse to become a demon and choose death as a weak human?"
Sakurai coughed up black blood, but the corner of his mouth rose into a broken yet defiant smile.
"Hah… haha… what a stupid question." He spat the words mixed with blood, looking at Akaza with eyes that held no fear, only pure contempt.
"I feel sorry for you, Akaza… You think you're strong, but you're just an obedient dog, a bloodthirsty animal trained to serve that man in the shadows."
Akaza's expression changed slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"Hmmm… trying to boast and provoke me before your death to hasten the end? How foolish… sigh."
Akaza slowly stood up, and in that moment, it felt as if the entire forest was holding its breath. His eyes gleamed with a savage crimson light, and the blue lines across his body formed tattoos of impending death. He walked calmly, yet every step planted terror into the earth itself.
"Ever since I knew myself, I have been a demon seeking absolute strength. Perhaps I lost my memories as a human, and that does not matter…" Akaza spoke in a calm yet terrifying tone, his fighting aura beginning to suffocate the air around Sakurai.
"As a warrior, I have always refused to eat women or children. I only eat the strong, men worthy of becoming part of my power… These fists of mine have pierced the chests of hundreds and turned them into a light meal. You will join them."
"Oh, what a noble demon. Should I applaud you?" Sakurai replied with sharp sarcasm, even as blood now flowed heavily from the open wounds in his chest.
Akaza stopped directly in front of him, his cold breath brushing against the young swordsman's face.
"I will give you one last chance, in appreciation of your fighting spirit… Abandon your fleeting humanity, accept my lord's blood, and become a de—"
"Shut up! Don't even try!" Sakurai interrupted sharply, lifting his head with pride. "I won't abandon my legendary handsomeness to become an ugly blue monster like you! I'd rather die and be remembered as a handsome corpse than live forever as something ugly hiding from the sun!"
Silence fell for a few seconds.
Akaza blinked in astonishment.
"…"
The demon examined the man's face, smeared with blood and bruises. Regardless of Akaza's lack of interest in human standards of beauty, he was absolutely certain that this man… was very ordinary, and not handsome by any measure.
"Whatever… a trivial reason for a trivial death. Go to hell, you… what was your name again?"
Akaza slowly raised his fist, preparing his middle finger to release a shockwave capable of exploding a skull. For Akaza's level of power, this move was more than enough to erase Sakurai's existence completely.
Sakurai closed his eyes, surrendering to the end, and muttered softly with deep regret:
"A bad way to die… My name is Sakurai, the most handsome demon slayer, and the creator of Sakura Breathing… I was going to become a great Hashira, just like that boy who saved me two years ago…"
Akaza's hand stopped midair for a moment. Curiosity halted him.
Sakurai looked at the moon sadly. "If only I were stronger… If only that boy hadn't died. I'm sure that if he were alive, he would have wiped the floor with you."
Akaza smiled widely, revealing his fangs.
"Oh… Are you talking about Yukihara Ren? The boy who killed the previous Upper Moon? Well, you'll be joining him in nothingness soon, so don't worry."
Akaza's tone suddenly shifted into something resembling genuine sorrow. "Honestly, I wish that boy hadn't died. Fighting him would have been fun… the ultimate pleasure."
"…"
Sakurai opened his one remaining good eye and looked at Akaza with pity. How could he explain to this idiot now that Yukihara Ren had not died, but had returned and become the legendary Sun Hashira who terrified demons? Sakurai thought with one last bitter smile.
"Well then… goodbye." Akaza moved his hand to finish it.
"Don't worry, Akaza. You don't need to wish…"
Time stopped.
A cold, calm voice carrying absolute authority pierced Akaza's ears from behind.
Sakurai felt goosebumps not from fear, but from awe, when he glimpsed the long shadow of a boy in a black kimono fluttering behind the demon.
"What is this feeling?!" Akaza's pupils shrank. It felt as if a mountain had fallen onto his shoulders. "This aura… this isn't an ordinary Hashira… It surpasses anything I've ever faced!"
Akaza's instincts moved before his mind.
"Demon Blood Art: Compass!"
At a speed beyond sound, Akaza's body spun, launching a devastating kick capable of cleaving steel toward the intruder's head.
BOOOOM!
A windstorm exploded, uprooting trees around them and sending dust flying, blocking out the moonlight.
But… there was no sound of bones breaking.
When the dust cleared, Sakurai froze in place.
Akaza's terrifying foot had stopped… at the palm of the boy's hand, which was gripping the demon's ankle calmly. A mocking smile rested on his face, while his long black hair danced in the wind of the attack.
"No need to feel regret, Akaza… You should feel overwhelming happiness."
Ren squeezed Akaza's ankle slightly, making the demon's bones scream.
"Because your wish has come true, and you will die tonight by my hand."
Akaza's body trembled. Was it fear?
"No! Don't make me laugh!" his mind screamed. "This is the person I wanted to fight! This is the peak!"
Akaza leapt backward, creating a safe distance, a mad grin splitting his face from ear to ear.
"Yukihara Ren!! You're really alive! At last, I'll have a fight worthy of my effort!"
But Ren was not even looking at him.
The "legendary Hashira" had turned his back to the demon and sat beside the stunned Sakurai.
"You're ignoring me?!" Akaza shouted, anger mixed with excitement.
Ren looked at Sakurai with a raised eyebrow. "Surviving against Upper Moon Two for half an hour? You must be strong… or extremely lucky and stupid. Either way, open your mouth."
"Huh?" Before Sakurai could react, Ren poured a dose of red liquid into his mouth.
Within moments, Sakurai felt a gentle warmth flowing through his veins. His wounds closed, and the pain vanished as if it had never existed.
"Yu—Yukihara-sama!" Sakurai cried with tears in his eyes, touching his "handsome" face that had returned to normal.
"Why do you all love shouting? My eardrums aren't toys." Ren sighed in annoyance as he brushed dust off his clothes, then slowly turned toward Akaza, who was trembling with impatience.
"Sorry for the delay, my dear demon… I was busy saving fans." Ren said with a provocative smile as he slipped his hands into the wide sleeves of his kimono. "Alright, I won't keep you waiting any longer… let's dance."
Sakurai quickly stood and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Yukihara-sama! My presence here will only hinder you, so I'll withdraw immediately!"
He didn't wait for a reply. He kicked off the ground and ran at full speed, leaving the battlefield to the monsters.
In that moment, Akaza vanished.
It wasn't movement, but instantaneous displacement born of pure speed. He appeared before Ren, his fist aimed at his heart.
CRAAASH!
The forces collided, and the ground cracked beneath their feet for ten meters.
Akaza was sent backward, his eyes fixed on Ren, who hadn't moved a single inch from his spot.
"Where is your sword?" Akaza asked sharply, noticing that Ren still had his hands inside his sleeves. "Are you looking down on me?!"
Ren chuckled lightly, a laugh filled with excessive confidence.
"If I used my sword, this fight would end before it even begins, and that would be boring, wouldn't it?"
Ren tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
"Don't worry, I'm not using my full physical strength… 4% will be enough to play with you."
Rage ignited in Akaza's veins, the veins on his forehead bulging.
"I'll make you regret this arrogance and beg me to kill you!"
Akaza turned into a blue flash, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks beyond human perception. Each strike was capable of destroying a building.
But Ren moved like a ghost. Leaning left and right, dodging attacks by mere millimeters, his hands still resting inside the kimono, the mocking smile never leaving his face.
"Come on… Akaza-chan!" Ren whispered as he evaded a kick that would have torn his head off. "I thought you wanted to dance? Is this all your speed?"
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End of Chapter 50.
I honestly enjoyed writing this chapter. Sorry for the delay!