The arrival of the Upper Moons shattered the battlefield, splintering the focused siege against Muzan into a series of brutal, one-on-one deathmatches.
Each side now represented the absolute pinnacle of their respective camps.
Once this battle began, it could only end with the utter annihilation of one or the other.
The very air over the ruined Moriki Manor crackled with the collision of immense power.
Gyomei Himejima stood tall, blood trickling from his mouth from the force of Muzan's earlier blow.
But as the Stone Hashira, such an injury could not shake his resolve.
Beside him, a human whirlwind of pure rage stood, Sanemi Shinazugawa.
The two of them, one a mountain of calm resolve and the other a blade of violent fury, stood together.
Their opponent: the strongest of the Upper Moons, Kokushibo.
Kokushibo's six crimson eyes ignored the other battles, focusing solely on Gyomei and Sanemi.
Centuries of swordsmanship had given him an unerring eye for true strength, and he had to admit, of all the slayers he had faced, these two were undoubtedly the strongest masters of their respective styles.
As a sign of respect, he slowly drew his unique, fleshy katana from his waist.
With no word or warning, he attacked.
A crescent-shaped blade of condensed, dark-red energy tore through the night, silent and impossibly fast.
"Stone Breathing, Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice!" Gyomei roared, slamming his colossal flail into the ground with the force of a landslide, raising a thick earthen barrier.
"Breath of the Wind, Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash!" Sanemi transformed into a spiraling drill of green wind, flanking Kokushibo while he was engaged.
The dark-red energy slash carved through the stone wall like it was tofu, but Gyomei had succeeded in deflecting its trajectory.
In that same instant, Sanemi's attack was upon Kokushibo.
The demon merely tilted his body, his blade a blur as it unleashed a series of fine, moon-shaped arcs.
"Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flowers Moongazing!"
The attack perfectly parried Sanemi's assault and sent him reeling back.
The air filled with the shriek of colliding steel as the three masters of combat began their deadly dance.
....
On the southern front, Kanae Kocho's Flower Breathing was a storm of cherry-red petals, constantly clashing with the beautiful but deadly ice lotuses spawned by Douma.
Beside her, Kanroji Mitsuri's Breath of Love was a flexible, powerful whip of pink light, her unique ribbon-like blade trying to create an opening for Kanae.
"Ah, the breaths of you two ladies are truly beautiful!" Douma chirped, his movements graceful and composed.
With a single wave of his golden fans, he unleashed a freezing current that frosted the ground.
"Such a shame. Even the most beautiful flowers must wither at absolute zero."
His Blood Demon Art had a vast range, the freezing air stinging Kanae's lungs and frost beginning to creep up Mitsuri's arms.
....
In the west, Kyojuro Rengoku's Flame breathing was an inextinguishable blaze, his golden-red slashes hammering down on Akaza.
At his side, Giyu Tomioka's Breath of Water was a relentless tide, calmly and precisely filling every gap in the fiery assault.
Fire and water, hard and soft, they worked in perfect harmony.
"Wonderful! This is it! The fighting spirit between you two is magnificent!" Akaza laughed, his body radiating pure joy as he activated his Technique Development: Compass Needle.
His fists and feet flew like cannonballs, precisely countering their every move.
The snowflake pattern under his feet expanded, enhancing his power and perception with every passing second.
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"
The flame tiger and water dragon crashed against Akaza's martial arts, and the battlefield shook with the force of their collision.
BOOM!
.....
Uzui Tengen's Sound Breathing was as flamboyant as he was, his twin blades creating a symphony of explosions as he threw a volley of gunpowder bombs at Maito, Upper Moon Four.
Through the fire, Iguro Obanai's coiling blade struck like a viper, aiming for the joints in the brute's armor.
But Maito's fighting style was simple and terrifyingly effective: brute force.
He ignored their attacks, his blood-red armor absorbing the blows as he swung his own massive blades, forcing the two Hashira into a desperate, bitter struggle.
...
The most bizarre battle took place in the shadows.
The demonic Shinobu moved with incredible speed, her body exuding a cold, poisonous wisteria mist.
But her opponent, the ghostly Lee, was her equal, her own gray, toxic mist clashing with hers in a silent, deadly duel.
.....
And as the war raged, in a small, unassuming wooden cabin hidden away from the fighting, a new command center was born.
In the center sat an eight-year-old boy in the formal attire of the Demon Slayer Corps' master: Kiriya Ubuyashiki.
Though his face was pale, his gaze was remarkably steady.
Before him lay a massive battlefield map, constantly being updated by Kakushi members.
"Stone and Wind Hashira have engaged Upper Moon One. The situation is difficult."
"Flower and Love Hashira are being suppressed by Upper Moon Two's ice."
"Upper Moon Three is holding off both the Flame and Water Hashira."
Reports flooded in.
Kiriya's hands trembled slightly, but his voice was clear as he gave his orders.
"Have the support teams assist the Hashira! Medical teams, prepare to treat the seriously wounded! Notify all perimeter units to follow Plan A and eliminate any lesser demons!"
Though young, he had prepared his entire life for this moment, to shoulder the impossible burden his father had left him.
Just then, a Kakushi burst into the room, his voice filled with a new, desperate hope.
"Kiriya-sama! They've arrived! The Forest Hashira's team is here!"
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