Chapter: Battle Beyond Sight
Coulson could feel the weight of the Demon Slayer Corps' legacy in every word Kyojuro spoke. It made him realize just how futile his recruitment pitch really was.
After all, why would someone join an organization they'd never heard of when they already belonged to something with centuries of proven success?
Truth be told, Coulson hadn't actually wanted to recruit Kyojuro in the first place.
As a seasoned agent, he wasn't naive enough to trust someone he'd just met—even if that person had just saved their lives. There was always the possibility this was some elaborate manipulation, a calculated move to gain their trust.
But regardless of his suspicions, Kyojuro's power was undeniably real.
And more importantly, this wasn't some mutation or result of genetic tampering. This was power that could be learned through training alone. That kind of knowledge was an irresistible prize for any person or organization with ambition.
Once word got out that "the wandering warrior Kyojuro Rengoku has mastered a technique that grants superhuman abilities through training alone," every military force on the planet would turn their attention to him.
Underground criminal syndicates. Terrorist cells. Governments. All of them.
Sure, Kyojuro's incredible strength might let him fend off direct attacks. But as the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, harder to avoid a knife in the dark.
At the end of the day, Kyojuro was still human. No matter how powerful he was, he still needed to eat, drink, sleep, and yes, use the bathroom.
And as long as he remained human, there were countless vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
He was just one man. Unless his personal strength somehow exceeded the resources of entire organizations, the attempts to capture or kill him would never stop.
Human greed doesn't retreat in the face of power—it intensifies. Like a starving wolf spotting fresh meat.
Coulson was worried. Worried that this method of gaining extraordinary power would fall into the hands of people who'd use it for selfish, destructive purposes. And he didn't want this righteous man, someone who'd dedicated his life to destroying evil, to suffer because of it.
That's why he'd extended the invitation for Kyojuro to join S.H.I.E.L.D.
The organization could offer him protection and resources to achieve his goals. In return, Kyojuro's expertise would be invaluable to their mission.
Whether you looked at it from a professional or personal perspective, Coulson genuinely believed S.H.I.E.L.D. was the best place for someone like Kyojuro.
So even though his chances of success seemed slim, he wasn't ready to give up just yet.
Coulson took a deep breath and met the Flame Hashira's gaze with complete sincerity. "Mr. Kyojuro, let me be direct. Your status as a dimensional traveler hasn't gone unnoticed by world governments.
Your incredible power combined with your complete lack of any documented history makes you, by definition, a potential security risk. S.H.I.E.L.D. has an obligation to monitor individuals who fit that profile.
Beyond that, if you're serious about establishing a private military force... Well, setting aside the political nightmare of getting local government approval, maintaining an armed organization requires substantial funding.
From what I understand, while Quinn has decent resources, they're nowhere near sufficient for something like this. And he certainly doesn't have the connections needed to navigate the political side of things."
"I can help with that."
Tony's sudden interjection caught everyone off guard.
All heads turned toward him in surprise.
Coulson felt his frustration spike. Are you kidding me right now? My odds were already terrible, and now you're sabotaging me? Come on!
Tony just shrugged, completely unbothered. "What? He saved my life. I'm returning the favor. If he needs help, this is barely an inconvenience for me."
Of course, the truth wasn't quite that simple.
While Tony was genuinely grateful, gratitude alone wouldn't normally push him to make an offer this significant.
The real reason he wanted to help was because he'd come to believe the world needed an organization exactly like the Demon Slayer Corps.
During his investigation into demons, he'd uncovered countless disturbing truths lurking beneath the world's surface.
Vampire empires. The Hand. Spirits of Vengeance. Hell's denizens.
The threats to humanity weren't just terrorists and power-hungry politicians. There were supernatural creatures hiding in the shadows, and the world needed an armed force capable of fighting them—a force that belonged to humanity and fought only for humanity's interests.
Of course, that all hinged on whether this Demon Slayer Corps was truly as noble as Tamayo and Kyojuro had described.
If he did end up funding Kyojuro to establish a new chapter of the Demon Slayer Corps in this world, Tony would definitely be involved. He'd make damn sure every member was thoroughly vetted, that the organization's principles remained intact, and that it never became a tool for someone's personal ambitions.
"I appreciate the offer, but let's not get ahead of ourselves," Kyojuro said with a slight smile. "Establishing a Demon Slayer Corps here is just an idea that popped into my head. I haven't really thought through the pros and cons, or whether it's even feasible. I need to discuss it with Mr. Quinn first and hear his thoughts."
After addressing Tony's offer, Kyojuro turned back to Coulson, his expression becoming serious once more. "I understand your position regarding me, and I don't fault you for it. But I won't stop doing what needs to be done just because it makes you uncomfortable. I have a duty—"
Suddenly, a figure plummeted from the sky like a missile, slamming into the ground some distance away. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, the sound like thunder.
Everyone's attention snapped toward the disturbance. They saw a man with short pink hair, golden eyes, and unnaturally pale skin covered in dark blue tattoos that looked almost like criminal markings.
The man moved with such terrifying speed that he was barely more than a blur.
His objective was crystal clear—he was heading straight for Tamayo. His eyes held nothing but single-minded focus on his target. In the blink of an eye, he'd closed the distance and was reaching for her with a hand tipped with bright red nails.
Everyone else seemed frozen, as if waking from a dream, unable to react in time.
Just as the attacker was about to succeed, the man who burned like the sun stepped forward.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
Kyojuro moved faster than thought, positioning himself between Tamayo and the attacker. His blade swept upward from low to high in a devastating arc. The strike was so fierce it distorted the air itself, as if the burning sun was rising in the night sky.
Shlick!
The attacker's fist split down the middle, then his entire arm.
The surprise assault had been completely blocked.
The man didn't press his attack. Instead, he touched down lightly and leaped backward, putting a dozen meters between them.
"Who the hell—!"
That's when everyone finally snapped out of their daze, weapons raised and aimed at the sudden intruder.
Then they saw the kanji inscribed in his golden eyes—Upper Rank Three.
An Upper Rank demon!
Fear rippled through the group. They'd nearly been wiped out fighting Lower Rank Five earlier, and now here was Upper Rank Three. How could they possibly survive this?
Thud!
Kyojuro strode forward and positioned himself in front of everyone.
They all stared at his broad back, and somehow, inexplicably, their panic subsided.
What were they afraid of?
They had a top-tier demon slayer right here, didn't they?
This Upper Rank Three had been cut the moment he appeared. Even if he was stronger than the previous Lower Rank demon, there had to be a limit. He definitely wouldn't be a match for Mr. Kyojuro.
They just needed to provide covering fire and support him during the fight.
The Upper Rank Three's left arm had been completely severed from shoulder to fingertip, but he didn't even glance at it. His eyes remained locked on Kyojuro, like a master martial artist who hadn't faced a worthy opponent in ages suddenly finding someone who could actually fight back. His excitement was palpable.
"That's a good blade!"
The demon's voice carried a note of genuine enthusiasm.
At the same time, he casually shook his left arm. The two severed pieces came together and healed instantly. The regeneration was leagues beyond what they'd seen from Coulson, whose scattered body parts had taken considerable time to reconnect.
The sight sent a wave of dread through everyone who'd just started to calm down.
This demon... he had to be some kind of super-powerful boss!
"Don't be afraid! I'll protect you!"
Kyojuro's voice rang out confidently, without a trace of hesitation, once again steadying everyone's nerves.
"I have to admit, that guy's pretty damn impressive," Tony muttered reluctantly.
Coulson was practically beaming, looking at the figure in front of him like he was watching his idol in action. Most of the surviving special forces members, after the initial relief, found themselves looking at Kyojuro's back with a different kind of emotion—respect, admiration, hope.
Only Tamayo and Yushiro still looked grim.
The Demon Slayer Corps had existed for nearly a thousand years. While battles between Hashira and the Twelve Kizuki weren't common, they'd happened enough times to establish a pattern. The fights with Lower Ranks could go either way—sometimes the Hashira won, sometimes they didn't.
But against Upper Ranks? The Hashira had never won. Not once.
Even though this Flame Hashira seemed stronger than his predecessors, it was hard to be optimistic about his chances against an Upper Rank demon who'd never been defeated.
"You're strong!"
Compared to everyone else's tension, the Upper Rank demon looked completely relaxed and unconcerned.
He placed his left hand on his waist and extended his right hand forward. "I hate weaklings. Seeing weak people makes me sick to my stomach. But you're different. I can tell at a glance—the aura surrounding you comes from thousands of battles and trials. You've nearly reached the supreme realm. You're a Hashira!"
"I am the Flame Hashira of the Nine Pillars, Kyojuro Rengoku!"
"Flame Hashira... I am Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki—Akaza!"
After their introductions, Akaza continued, "I don't understand. You clearly possess such incredible strength—why do you protect these weaklings?
If you're strong, you should be able to sense my power too!
Do you really think you can beat me while dragging around all this dead weight?
Or am I wrong? Are you actually too weak to notice the gap between us?"
"Isn't it natural for the strong to protect the weak? You and I simply don't share the same values. That's all there is to it."
Kyojuro gripped his Nichirin blade and said seriously, "That's just how it is."
The smile on Akaza's face grew wider. He seemed to like this man even more.
"It would be such a waste for someone like you to die here. I have a proposal: have you considered becoming a demon and joining us?"
The question sent chills down everyone's spines.
Demons possessed powerful bodies and immortality. Even if Kyojuro didn't care about strength, immortality was something countless people dreamed of. Could he resist such temptation?
If he couldn't, their already dire situation would become utterly hopeless.
But before that thought could fully form in their minds, Kyojuro's righteous refusal reached their ears.
He hadn't hesitated for even a second. His rejection was immediate and absolute. Everyone felt relief wash over them, and their admiration for him grew even stronger.
Even Tony had to admit that this Flame Hashira truly was as principled and noble as Tamayo had described to him.
"Don't be so quick to refuse."
Akaza didn't look surprised—he'd clearly expected this answer. "Do you know why you haven't been able to reach the supreme realm?
Because you're human.
You age. You get sick. You get injured. You die.
But if you become a demon, all those limitations disappear. Whether it takes a hundred years or two hundred, you can continue training and growing stronger forever."
"Decline, aging, sickness, death—these are the beauty of being human with our short lives!"
Kyojuro remained unmoved by the temptation. His voice was firm. "It's precisely because humans age and die that life is so precious and dear.
True strength isn't just a description of physical power.
These people shoulder the responsibility for humanity's future. They're willing to risk their lives fighting enemies far stronger than themselves... They're not weak at all, and I won't allow you to insult them.
I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it: you and I have completely different values. No matter what reasons you give me, I will never become a demon."
His words touched everyone present.
They'd all dedicated themselves to protecting humanity's future, but no one had ever respected them quite like this. Oh, sure, people respected them—but not like this.
At least, no one had ever cared what they thought about it.
"I see!"
Akaza sighed softly, his tone filled with regret.
Then he stomped his right foot, and twelve snowflake patterns rose from the ground around him.
"Technique Deployment: Destructive Death—Compass Needle!"
Akaza stood with his legs in a figure-eight stance, knees slightly bent. His left fist clenched at his waist while his right hand extended forward in an open palm. His target—Tamayo!
"Lady Tamayo!"
Yushiro shouted worriedly and instinctively rushed forward to shield Tamayo.
But someone moved faster.
Kyojuro took a deep breath and exhaled. Steam rose from his body like flames, and the surrounding air twisted and warped. He positioned himself completely between Akaza and Tamayo.
There wasn't actual fire or extreme heat—but Kyojuro's absolute determination to protect Tamayo made his spirit and willpower so intense that it created the illusion of protective flames surrounding them.
Despite this display, Akaza still looked relaxed.
"Don't be so tense!"
Akaza said with a smile. "My master ordered me to bring that woman back as my priority. But honestly, I really hate dealing with women. So here's the deal—just have that woman promise not to run away while I fight you, and I won't go after her first."
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Tamayo.
Tamayo's expression remained unchanged, as if this had nothing to do with her. She said calmly, "I trust Mr. Kyojuro."
In truth, it didn't matter whether she agreed or not.
If she refused, Akaza would attack her first, forcing the Flame Hashira to divide his attention protecting her while fighting, making an already difficult battle nearly impossible to win.
"I will never betray Miss Tamayo's trust."
Kyojuro's voice was vigorous and confident.
"If that's settled, then there's nothing left to worry about!"
After Akaza finished speaking, he kicked off the ground. His figure became an afterimage as he charged toward Kyojuro.
His speed was so incredible that even the afterimage was distorted and stretched. This was nothing like the previous Lower Rank Five.
BOOM!
Before anyone could react, Akaza had already appeared in front of Kyojuro and engaged him.
He wielded no weapon—only his fists colliding with the blade, producing violent metallic clangs.
"Not bad!"
Akaza's thirst for fighting a strong opponent was being satisfied. He swung his fists with increasing excitement, constantly clashing with the flaming blade. Shockwaves rippled outward, sparks flew, and the sound of metal on metal rang out continuously.
The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant. Fist shadows filled the air like a storm, and sword energy streaked like lightning.
Within their fighting range, it was like another dimension entirely. Any creature that tried to enter would be instantly pulverized.
CLANG CLANG CLANG...
The two fighters moved with reckless abandon, deploying exquisite boxing techniques and swordsmanship one after another. They ranged across hundreds of meters of debris, generating sparks and heat waves wherever they went.
So fast... so incredibly fast...
The surviving special forces members had planned to provide covering fire, but when they raised their weapons and tried to aim, they realized they couldn't track the fighters at all.
No, it wasn't just that they couldn't track them—they could barely even see blurred shadows.
The sounds of violent impacts were constant, but all they could see were sparks and shockwaves flashing everywhere.
They could only hear the battle, not see it.
Even Coulson, who'd been transformed into a demon with greatly enhanced neural response and vision far surpassing normal humans, was shocked to discover he couldn't follow the fight at all.
What the hell?
Hadn't he become extraordinary?
Why did he feel like he wasn't even at the level of an ordinary person compared to these two fighters?
Coulson wasn't the only one questioning reality—Tony was also starting to doubt life itself.
His physical abilities were just those of a regular person. Hell, he probably couldn't even match a trained soldier in a straight fight.
But his brain was unparalleled. His thinking speed and computational power had allowed him to conquer cold fusion technology overnight and miniaturize it to the size of a goose egg.
With that brain and Jarvis's assistance, he could handle supersonic aerial combat without any discomfort.
From the moment the battle started, he'd been constantly calculating Akaza's positions and aiming.
But he was stunned to discover that even when he could predict the demon's next move—hell, even his next three or five moves—and locked on and aimed, he still couldn't hit him accurately.
Because they were too damn fast.
It wasn't that they were faster than bullets, but they'd reached the point where they could dodge after the bullet was fired.
His laser that had cut off the tired demon's head before could probably hit them.
But that was Tony's trump card—and the energy reactor could only use it once.
He'd already used it. He didn't have that option anymore.
"Sir, if you want to help, close combat is your only option. But I need to remind you—the opponent's punch force has reached the upper limit of your armor's defensive capabilities. The same area cannot withstand more than three direct hits."
"Well, that sucks!"
Hearing Jarvis's report, Tony felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
His previous enemies had been ordinary terrorists, fighter jets, attack helicopters, or the Iron Monger... Among those enemies, supersonic jets were incredibly fast—much faster than these two fighters, actually.
But bulky machines couldn't be as agile as human bodies.
A fighter jet needed to fly a certain distance before it could turn to avoid an attack. A person only needed to step back or tilt their body.
Supersonic aerial combat and supersonic hand-to-hand combat between people were two completely different concepts.
And right now, Tony was witnessing a battle that transcended normal human perception—a fight beyond the line of sight.
Character Notes:
Akaza (Upper Rank Three) - From: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) - Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki. Master martial artist specializing in unarmed combat. Despises weakness and respects strength. Vastly more powerful than Lower Rank demons.