Mōmenbō shrieked, his withered hands suddenly splayed open towards the bottom of the pit.
"I originally wanted to take my time..."
"But now, as long as I absorb all these reserves in the pit! My power will instantly skyrocket!"
"By then, I'll turn both of you into the most agonizing clay figures! To torment you day after day!!!"
As his voice fell, a suction force far more powerful than before erupted from Mōmenbō's hands.
All the clay figures at the bottom of the pit let out painful roars, and dense, blood-red streams of energy wafted from their bodies, surging madly towards him like a hundred rivers returning to the sea!
Mōmenbō's body rapidly swelled, and the demonic energy around him climbed at an astonishing speed!
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Ryosuke and Uzui Tengen's expressions changed drastically.
"This is bad! We must stop him!"
Ryosuke said urgently.
Once this demon completes the absorption, his strength will likely skyrocket to an incredibly terrifying level!
By then, not only will both of them be in danger, but the villagers in the pit will also be completely transformed into his nourishment, with no chance of recovery!
Uzui Tengen wiped away the blood from the corner of his lips, which had trickled out from the overloaded attack, and gripped his twin blades tightly again.
"It seems! This great master needs to bring out his more flamboyant true abilities!"
The two exchanged glances and charged simultaneously.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold!"
Without any reservation, Ryosuke transformed into a lightning flash, striking with extreme speed that was impossible for the naked eye to catch!
Shing!
Mōmenbō's arms were severed, and his Blood Demon Art was forcibly interrupted!
"Damn Demon Slayers!"
Mōmenbō roared with all his might, just as Uzui Tengen's slash arrived!
Boom!
Mōmenbō's hastily formed clay shield was violently shattered, sending him staggering back several steps.
Without giving him any chance to catch his breath, Ryosuke's second slash arrived!
Mōmenbō desperately blocked, his body sent flying several meters by the immense force.
With his Blood Demon Art interrupted, Mōmenbō's swollen body shriveled like a deflating balloon, and the power he had just absorbed began to rapidly dissipate!
In an instant, Ryosuke's third slash swooped down, cutting across his neck!
Shing!
Clean and precise, without any obstruction.
Mōmenbō's head flew high, his face still frozen in extreme terror and disbelief.
I'm, dead?
Killed, by these two Demon Slayers... decapitated... [Killed Final Stage Evil Demon Mōmenbō, gained 5 years of lifespan, current remaining lifespan: 5 years 294 days.]
The system's prompt sounded in Ryosuke's mind.
The headless body staggered a few steps and fell heavily to the ground, then began to dissipate along with its head.
A white light appeared before Mōmenbō's eyes, and countless memories from his life flashed by.
"Clay... so beautiful... smooth... eternal..."
"Why... why did they all laugh at me! Why did they smash my painstaking work! I just wanted to create the most perfect masterpiece..."
"Those eyes... red... like a god... That Lord gave me power... Yes! Eternity! Sealing life in the most beautiful clay is eternity!"
"That's right! Hahahahaha..."
"Even if I start over a hundred times! A thousand times! I will still obtain this power and turn all of you into my collection! Giggles..."
As the ashes scattered, the distorted and obsessive whispers also faded with the wind.
"Hmph..."
Uzui Tengen looked at the dissipating ashes, his voice cold and contemptuous.
"Utterly selfish, incorrigible scum! Your existence is only to harm others! Your death is not to be regretted!"
"Indeed."
Ryosuke sheathed his sword, responding in a low voice.
He completely agreed with Uzui Tengen's words.
No matter what past one had, when one chose to devour others to satisfy selfish desires, there was only one path left: destruction.
With Mōmenbō's death, the surfaces of all the clay figures at the bottom of the pit began to crack and peel away, revealing the unconscious villagers inside.
They were extremely weak, their life force faint, but they had ultimately survived, no longer having their lives continuously drained by that evil Blood Demon Art.
Ryosuke and Uzui Tengen watched this scene in silence, not stepping forward.
The subsequent rescue and handling would be taken care of by the Kakushi.
Their appearance, covered in blood and radiating killing intent, would only cause panic.
The two tacitly turned and, dragging their tired and injured bodies, left the battlefield.
After walking a distance, Ryosuke recalled Uzui Tengen's blow that broke through Mōmenbō's shell, and slowly spoke.
"Hey, Tengen, that strike where you shattered his turtle shell was pretty fierce! And in that instant, your Breathing Technique seemed to have completely changed."
Uzui Tengen stroked his chin, seemingly savoring the feeling of that moment as well.
"Hmm! You noticed it too?"
"At that time, this great master felt like something had clicked! The flow of breath and power was smoother than ever before, as if they were meant to roar like that! Yes! It was a roar!"
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, grabbing Ryosuke's arm and dragging him into a secluded grove.
"Come on, come on! Ryosuke! Help me find that feeling again! That must be the door to even more flamboyant power!"
What the—
Ryosuke's face was filled with horror, the fear of being dominated by a fellow man resurfacing.
No!
Is it right for us two men to go into a small grove!!!
"Tengen, calm down! Calm down!"
However, Ryosuke's protests were completely ineffective.
This guy is strong!
Uzui Tengen didn't listen, carrying Ryosuke deeper into the grove.
Ryosuke lowered his head and sighed.
Who understands, my family!
Escaped Shinjuro, couldn't escape Uzui Tengen!
...The two returned to Peach Mountain three days later.
Uzui Tengen, due to the strength and potential he displayed in this mission, was recommended by Jigoro and was exceptionally promoted to become an official member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
In the following days, Uzui Tengen devoted himself wholeheartedly to honing his Breathing Technique.
The flash of inspiration from that battle was constantly captured, amplified, and refined by him.
He began to combine it with his own body, guiding his breath to produce special vibrating resonances within.
On the training ground, booming sounds different from Thunder Breathing began to frequently echo.
Although the system was not yet fully mature, the prototype of Sound Breathing was gradually taking shape in his hands.
Jigoro watched Uzui Tengen wield his twin blades and slowly nodded.
"Fierce and unmatched, with a roar like thunder, this path suits you very well."
Uzui Tengen did not reply, continuing his almost obsessive training.
Time passed quietly.
The peach blossoms on Peach Mountain bloomed and withered, cyclically.
Ryosuke calculated with his fingers; he had been struggling to survive in this world for almost two years now.
And that little tag-along who always chattered behind him was also nearing the end of her training period.
Another year's Fujikasane Mountain Final Selection was approaching.
"Wow!"
Looking at the bright haori, Rika exclaimed, "Thank you, Grandpa."
Jigoro said nothing more, patting Rika's shoulder just as he had done with Ryosuke and Shota back then.
"Girl, come back alive."
"Mhm!"
Rika nodded heavily, then glanced at Ryosuke, who was in meditation.
Ryosuke's hair stood on end.
Oh no! Not good!
Rika leaned closer, blinking at him.
"Hehe ~ Ryosuke geigei ~"
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