Given that bastard Muzan's personality, if he ever discovered that I possessed the orthodox Sun Breathing, there would only be two possibilities.
First, Muzan would decide I was too dangerous, leading him to hide with all his demons inside the Infinity Castle for a hundred years until I died of old age.
Second, both Muzan and Kokushibo would go into a frenzy trying to find me, determined to snuff me out before I could truly grow.
This wasn't Kiyowa maliciously speculating about Muzan or overestimating his own importance. It was a matter of historical record. After the death of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Muzan and Kokushibo had worked together to systematically slaughter every single person who even had a passing knowledge of Sun Breathing.
Even though Kokushibo knew better than anyone that Yoriichi was the only one capable of using Sun Breathing in its true form—and that no one else could ever truly learn it—it didn't matter. Merely having seen it, or even just having heard of it, was enough to warrant a death sentence.
Both of them shared an obsession with Yoriichi Tsugikuni that bordered on the pathological.
Furthermore, the words Douma had just uttered were worth careful scrutiny.
What did he mean by being "rushed over here by Lord Muzan"? What exactly had Muzan seen that prompted him to send Douma in such a hurry? Was I already being watched?
A flood of questions converged in Kiyowa's mind, sparking a flicker of irritation.
But the current situation left him with no room for choice or hesitation. He took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts. As the Sun Breathing circulated through his system, the aura radiating from his body underwent a cataclysmic transformation.
The fundamental reason Sun Breathing reigns supreme over all other Breathing Styles is that it allows for the perfect coordination of every single muscle in the body. Whether it is the ceaseless flow of Water Breathing, the instantaneous explosive power of Thunder Breathing, or the agile ferocity of Wind Breathing, they all rely on the specialized use and reinforcement of specific muscle groups.
Sun Breathing, however, can perfectly replicate these specialized advantages while simultaneously maintaining the strengths of every other style.
As the Sun Breathing surged, Kiyowa's frame—which had been trembling slightly from exhaustion—suddenly snapped upright. His Nichirin Sword ignited with a blinding golden-red luster. While it hadn't yet reached the state of a "Bright Red Blade," it glowed with enough intensity to look as if it were searing a hole right through the fabric of the night.
As the breath flowed, the scent of Wisteria in the air seemed to be pushed back by an invisible heat wave. Dust in front of the wooden hut swirled and scattered under the sheer pressure of Kiyowa's aura.
Watching him, Douma's fan-flicking motion paused. For the first time, a trace of genuine surprise flickered within his rainbow-colored eyes.
"Oh? This feeling... it's quite strange, isn't it? I can feel it—my body seems to be afraid. It's actually refusing to fight you. How odd! This is the first time I've encountered something like this since I became a demon."
"Hey, hey, hey! Could you tell me what's going on? My body is actually trembling right now. Is this what they call fear?"
Kiyowa didn't acknowledge Douma. His concentration had reached its absolute zenith.
Total Concentration Breathing: Constant!
Although he had only seen glimpses of this technique in his memories of the series, the theoretical knowledge provided by the complete Sun Breathing was more than enough for him to utilize the move now.
Since there was no longer any path of retreat, let this brilliant, blazing sun—the one that had once agonizingly scorched Muzan—shine before him once more!
Staring at Douma, Kiyowa rapidly mapped out a battle plan.
First: The current Douma was not as powerful as he would eventually become; he was currently only Upper Rank Six.
Second: Even a century from now, close-quarters combat would remain his relative weakness. Historically, there were moments when he couldn't keep up with the reactions of either Shinobu Kocho or Kanae Kocho.
Third: With his knowledge of the original story, Kiyowa had a complete intelligence breakdown of Douma's combat abilities. He wouldn't be caught off-guard and killed instantly by the Ice Mist or other traps upon first encounter.
Fourth: There were still Wisteria fires burning nearby. As long as he utilized the environment to its fullest, this wasn't an impossible fight.
Summarizing these conditions, his only path to defeating Douma was to launch a relentless, high-speed, and seamless barrage of attacks. He had to keep Douma so pinned down that the demon wouldn't even have the breathing room to activate his Blood Demon Art!
In the next instant, Kiyowa vanished.
He kicked off the ground with explosive force, causing the soil to erupt in a ring of dust. He transformed into a streak of flowing fire, his Nichirin Sword drawing a searing, dark-red arc through the air as it aimed straight for Douma's throat!
The strike was devoid of any ornamental flair, carrying only the solar intensity of absolute purity.
Douma's rainbow pupils constricted as he lowered his golden fans to parry.
Clang!
An ear-splitting screech of metal on metal rang out, vibrating with enough force to make one's teeth ache. Whatever material Douma's fans were made of, they held firm against the Nichirin Sword, sending a shower of sparks flying into the air.
"Ah~ what an impatient child. What a sharp swordsmanship style! If Lord Muzan weren't so desperate for your head, I would certainly play with you longer. But I'm afraid I really don't want to be scolded by him, after all..."
Douma instinctively began to retreat, intending to open up the distance so he could unleash his Blood Demon Art. He didn't forget to keep chattering as he moved, but before he could finish his sentence, Kiyowa's silhouette was already pressing in on him again.
Looking at Kiyowa, who had closed the gap instantly, the easy, composed smile finally vanished from Douma's face. Why was this Demon Slayer boy able to keep pace with him?
One had to understand that Douma's previous movement had been an unconventional shift executed at the cost of damaging his own ankles. This type of "reckless" movement was exclusive to demons; most humans could never predict it because, for someone without regenerative abilities, such a move was essentially suicidal.
Douma had killed countless Demon Slayers with that trick, yet Kiyowa had read it perfectly. This sparked a sense of curiosity in Douma, but it also stirred a feeling he couldn't quite name.
It wasn't his own emotion—it was the very blood within his body, reacting with primal terror and loathing.
"What an... unpleasant sense of familiarity."
At that very moment, within the Infinity Castle, Kibutsuji Muzan's hand—currently holding a glass beaker—trembled violently.
Crash!
The glass hit the floor and shattered, sending shards flying and spilling precious medicinal ingredients everywhere. But Muzan was oblivious to the mess. He could only clutch his body as a sudden, agonizing pain tore through him.
Through Douma's vision, he saw that golden-red flash of a blade with terrifying clarity. It was a light he knew all too well.
"Impossible..."
For the first time in centuries, Muzan's voice shook. The nightmare of hundreds of years ago came flooding back like a tidal wave.
That man. That flash of the blade. The despair of being hacked into over one thousand seven hundred pieces...
He instinctively touched the scars across his body—scars that had never truly healed. They were currently throbbing with a searing, burning pain.
"Sun Breathing... why does it still exist in this world?!"
"Get Kokushibo here! NOW!"
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Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki(103 Chapter- Ongoing)
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