Akaza frowned.
Something was… off.
He could feel his movements growing sluggish.
Ryuya only smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
He had zero intention of revealing the secret behind his Glacier Amplification talent—
Not to Akaza. And especially not to a potential enemy.
"Heh… Brother Ryuya, your attacks are really interesting. Is it because of those Moon Blades? I can feel the cold starting from my legs and spreading through my whole body!"
Akaza analyzed the sensation quickly.
Instead of backing away, he charged forward, becoming even more excited.
The stronger the opponent, the more fired up he became.
"Destructive Kill — Empty Style!"
Akaza unleashed a barrage of punches into the air.
Ryuya could feel the pressure of each punch clearly—
The benefit of his still-developing Transparent World.
His crimson eyes glowed.
He swung his nichirin blade, Moon Blades slicing apart the incoming punch aura as he closed in rapidly.
"Your swordsmanship is excellent. Your perception is top-notch.
Then—try this!"
"Destructive Kill — Leg Style: Flying Meteor Myriad Wheels!"
Akaza shot forward like a streaking comet.
His kicks blurred, leaving behind blue-silver afterimages.
The leg aura concentrated into a sharp point, aiming to snap Ryuya's blade.
"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Eternal Night — Solitary Moon!"
The moment Ryuya unleashed the Moon Blade, Akaza shifted tactics.
He slammed his hardened fist into the ground—
"Destructive Kill — Shatter Style: Myriad Leaves Flashing Willow!"
The floor erupted violently.
Cracks spiderwebbed in all directions.
The shockwave trembled the dojo.
Ryuya's footing slipped—just slightly.
Akaza seized that single opening.
"Destructive Kill — Demon Core Eightfold Heart!"
Countless fist shadows descended like a collapsing storm.
Ryuya inhaled deeply—
The nichirin blade extended.
"Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moon-Dragon's Tail!"
A colossal dark-purple Moon Blade swept out.
Dozens of smaller ethereal blue Moon Blades shredded all the fist shadows.
The main blade roared straight toward Akaza's neck.
"What a powerful attack—magnificent!"
A snowflake pattern lit beneath Akaza's feet.
"Destructive Kill — Final Style: Azure Silver Chaotic Remnant Light!"
Compass Needle activated.
His aura skyrocketed.
Hundreds of azure punch aura missiles erupted outward, tearing through the air, obliterating the practice dummies.
Ryuya's expression sharpened. He did not take the attack lightly.
He exhaled slowly—
And swung his blade.
Countless massive dark-purple Moon Blades erupted—
An overwhelming storm, like an army marching across a battlefield.
"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Violent Transformation — Heavenly Palace Slender Moon!"
The collision was apocalyptic.
Punch aura and Moon Blades detonated against each other, annihilating in flurries of light.
Akaza stared, mesmerized by the beauty of the destruction.
Then—
A Moon Blade slipped through the chaos.
His pupils contracted.
The icy venom spreading through his body slowed him—
He couldn't dodge.
SHING!
Blood splattered.
Akaza's right arm was severed cleanly, spinning into the air.
Ryuya stepped forward confidently, enveloped by swirling Moon Blades.
His eyes flicked toward the fallen arm.
Perfect timing.
A grin formed at the corner of his mouth as he pulled out a test tube, collecting Akaza's blood.
"Brother Ryuya, I'm convinced. I lost."
Akaza paused, "But… what are you doing?"
Ryuya smiled slyly, "Brother Akaza, this is my trophy of victory."
Akaza immediately accepted it, grinning proudly.
"Then next time I win, I want a trophy too!"
"No problem."
Ryuya sealed the test tube.
By chance, he had acquired the blood of Upper Rank Three.
His promise to Lady Tamayo finally had a breakthrough.
"Brother Ryuya, that was a fun battle. Let's do it again sometime."
Akaza's arm had already regenerated—demon bodies were monstrous in their recovery.
"There will definitely be a next time. Speaking of which, Brother Akaza… your Compass Needle and the names of your attacks—do they have any special meaning? They're very beautiful. I admire them."
"Special meaning?" Akaza blinked.
"I'm not sure. I just had a faint instinct… so I named them that way."
"I see…"
Ryuya smiled faintly.
So Akaza truly remembered nothing from his human life as Hakuji.
He no longer knew that the snowflake pattern belonged to Koyuki's hairpin—
Nor that the names of his techniques were inspired by the fireworks he once watched with her.
Were those forgotten memories a treasure?
Or a wound better left closed?
Ryuya couldn't answer.
He put the thought away and finally revealed his true reason for visiting.
"Brother Akaza, to be honest… I came to ask for your help."
"Oh? What kind of help?"
"It's related to the Demon Slayer Corps."
"The Demon Slayer Corps?" Akaza's smile brightened.
"Are we killing a Hashira?"
"Close. He's the younger brother of a Hashira—Genya Shinazugawa. I don't think he's joined the Corps yet. I want you to find him."
"Oh? Shinazugawa Genya? Understood. So once I find him—shall I kill him?"
"No. Tie him up. Use him to lure out the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. This is a personal grudge."
Ryuya's aura turned frigid.
Hurting his disciple…
Sanemi Shinazugawa would pay for that.
He would taste the same bitterness.
"Maybe you'll even get to spar with that Hashira."
"That sounds great!"
Akaza immediately agreed, excitement blazing.
Oh dear, oh dear…
Which unfortunate Hashira dared provoke Young Master Ryuya?
Truly tragic.
Beyond tragic.
Pitiful!
From inside his pot, Gyokko wriggled gleefully.
Maybe he'd even turn a Hashira into a decorative teapot afterward.
What a masterpiece that would be!
...
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