Upper Rank Three—Akaza.
His golden eyes looked toward the young man who had just injured him. With a mocking smile, he spoke slowly.
"Heh… nice blade you've got there."
"I think so too. My sword is excellent at killing demons."
Aoyamastared calmly at Akaza. The situation he had been worried about had finally arrived. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Rengoku Kyojuro standing two steps behind him.
Rengoku stepped forward and examined the demon before him carefully.
An Upper Rank demon truly was different.
The regeneration speed alone was astonishing, and the pressure it radiated was overwhelming.
But what angered Rengoku the most was Akaza's earlier attack.
It had clearly been aimed at Zenitsu—someone who had been shouting in fear and appeared weak.
Zenitsu, who had nearly been struck, trembled uncontrollably. Hiding behind Tanjiro, he stuck his head out and shouted nervously.
"W-Why did you attack me?!"
Akaza found the question amusing.
Spreading his arms, he answered casually.
"Because you're unpleasant to look at. Someone as weak as you shouldn't even be alive."
Zenitsu froze in terror.
Since when had weakness become a crime?
He had trained hard. He had tried desperately to grow stronger.
Yet being weak meant he deserved to die?
His hands tightened around Tanjiro's clothes.
"Tanjiro… you have to protect me too!"
Seeing Zenitsu beg for protection only made Akaza want to kill him even more.
He despised the weak.
When Akaza attacked again, Aoyamareacted instantly, stepping forward to intercept.
At the same time, Rengoku dashed in to assist.
Under their combined assault, Akaza was forced to retreat a short distance.
His arm was sliced open again by their Nichirin Blades.
"Heh."
Akaza extended his tongue and licked the blood from his skin.
The wound had already regenerated.
"Hey… how about this? Let me kill the ones behind you, and the three of us can have a nice conversation."
Zenitsu's eyes widened in shock.
First he wanted to kill him.
Now Tanjiro and Inosuke too?
What kind of arrogant demon was this?!
"What's there to talk about?" Rengoku said coldly. "Even though this is our first meeting, I already dislike you."
After saying that, he glanced at Aoyama .
"Aoyama , you feel the same way, don't you?"
Aoyama nodded slightly.
"Of course. What could we possibly have to talk about with a demon?"
Akaza didn't seem angry at their dismissive attitude.
He despised the weak.
But strong opponents… he admired them.
From their earlier exchange, he had already determined that these two were the strongest among the group. Their fighting spirit was incredibly powerful.
"You two are strong," Akaza said. "You're both Hashira, aren't you?"
Aoyama raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Rengoku, however, nodded honestly.
"Yes! I am the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Rengoku Kyojuro!"
Then he gestured toward Aoyama beside him.
"And this is Aoyama Ren A true warrior."
"I am Akaza. So you are Nagasawa Aoyama ? I've heard you're strong."
There was genuine excitement in Akaza's voice.
Though they had never met before, he had heard the name once.
Aoyama 's lips curved slightly upward.
"Not 'heard I'm strong.' I am strong."
There was no need to be humble in front of a demon.
Even before Muzan himself, he would say the same.
Akaza seemed even more pleased by his confidence.
"Since you're strong… would you like to become even stronger?"
He raised a finger and pointed toward Rengoku and Aoyama .
"As humans, your growth has limits. You will age. You will die."
"But if you become demons, everything changes."
"How about it? Think it over."
"Pursue greater strength."
Akaza continued trying to tempt them.
Behind them, Tanjiro clenched his teeth, staring at Akaza.
His sensitive nose detected the overwhelming scent of Muzan Kibutsuji emanating from him.
So much Muzan blood…
The thought of his murdered family ignited Tanjiro's fury.
His grip on his sword tightened.
"Shut up!" Tanjiro shouted. "Aoyama -senpai and Rengoku-san would never listen to you!"
Akaza frowned slightly.
He hated being interrupted—especially by someone he considered weak.
His eyes fell on Tanjiro's earrings.
A smile appeared.
Today might truly be his lucky day.
A Hashira.
Aoyama Ren
And the boy with the Hanafuda earrings.
All three targets gathered together.
"You're weak. It's not your place to speak," Akaza said coldly. "When I take your head later, I'll allow you one last sentence."
Rengoku, who had been thinking quietly, finally lifted his head.
"I refuse."
"Growing old… and dying… those are the beautiful traits of short-lived humans."
"Because life is brief, we cherish it. That is what makes it precious."
"The strength you speak of—I cannot accept it."
"And Kamado boy is not weak. Do not insult him."
Rengoku gripped his sword tightly, already preparing for battle.
"And you?"
After being rejected by Rengoku, Akaza looked toward Aoyama .
Aoyama swung his blade lightly.
"No matter the circumstances, I have zero interest in becoming a demon."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Aoyama 's body flashed forward, launching his attack.
Akaza leapt into the air, evading the strike.
The smile on his face grew colder.
He had already given them a chance.
If they died now, it was their own choice.
He had offered them a path to survive.
"Blood Demon Art—Destructive Death: Compass Needle."
A snowflake-shaped twelve-point formation appeared beneath his feet.
Like a compass sensing fighting spirit, the technique allowed Akaza's attacks and movements to become perfectly accurate.
The battle had truly begun.
Akaza would now carry out Muzan Kibutsuji's orders.
Kill the Hashira.
Take the heads of Nagasawa Aoyama and Tanjiro Kamado.
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