(Tanjiro's POV)
Rengoku-san? The dust slowly settle down, I widen my eyes in shocked and terror. Rengoku-san is injured heavily!
The Upper Moon Three just stares at him blankly, "Don't die on me Kyoujurou. You looked very pathetic now."
(Kyoujurou's POV)
Hah... Hah... Hah... I'm going to faint at this rate. I had never pushed myself this hard in my life. But still... I have to keep pushing forward. My whole body is in great pain and ache. I don't know how long I will last...
(Inosuke's POV)
There's no opening. I can't jump in. I can't follow the speed of their movements. Those two are on a different dimension. If I jump into the match, I'd feel nothing but 'death' on my skin. I can't move because I know I'd be nothing but a hindrance if I jump in to help.
(Akaza's POV)
Pathetic... pathetic... pathetic! He goes down so easily and I haven't go all out!
I clench my fist and say, "Even if you fight with the intention to sacrifice your body, it's all pointless Kyoujurou. The wonderful slashes which you attacked me with have already completely healed. But how about you? Your left eye is smashed, your ribs are broken and your organs are wounded. You can't recover from this anymore. If you were a demon, you would be cured in the blink of an eye. If you were a demon, this would be just a scratch. No matter how much you struggle, humans can't beat demons..."
(Tanjiro's POV)
I have to help... my body isn't listening to me... I have to help now... I have to neutralize the pain...
(Kyoujurou's POV)
I slowly inhale as much as I can until my lungs are packed full. A flaming aura begin to surround me making the surrounding temperature higher. Even Kamado and Hashibira felt the heat.
I place my katana on my shoulder getting into a high sword stance while yelling with determination, "I will fulfill my duties! I won't let anybody here die!" Suddenly a flaming mark manifested on my neck spreading to my chin. All the feelings of pain and ache disappear magically.
Akaza just stands still and yells in excitement, "What wonderful fighting spirit! You have so many wounds. Yet your drive, your fortitude and you stance has no openings. You really should become a demon, Kyoujurou!"
I stare at him with fierce eyes and release a sword technique, [ Full Focus Breath Breath Of Flames Third Style Land Of Blazes! ] My blade started to burn brightly. I swing my blade onto the ground creating a long thick line of fire speeding toward Akaza while leaving a long straight lined crater.
He immediately widens his eyes in surprise and try to block my attack. He was blown back very far when my attack reached him. His lower part of his body also got destroyed in the process.
(Akaza's POV)
My body quickly regenerates and I jump back a great distance. His strength and speed increased dramatically! A mark has manifested on him... I see... he received a demon slayer mark... It has been a while that I face a marked demon slayer pillar. I have to go all out now! I almost got my neck cut off since the last battle with a marked demon slayer.
[ Destructive Kill: Dual Layered Demon Wick ] I punch rapidly with both of my arms at once each producing a powerful shockwaves.
(Kyoujurou's POV)
I immediately dash to the side avoiding the shockwaves and get into a low sword stance, [ Sixth Style Fiery Dragon! ] Swiftly picking up speed, my blade burns fiercely leaving a flaming dragon tail trail. Each steps I take, small craters will be created. When I'm near him, I pump some air into one of my leg making me launch toward him in a burst of speed. He was caught off guard due to my sudden increase of speed. I bring down my blade onto his neck ultimately chopping off his head.
His body immediately reacts and grabs his head backfliping a good distance. He holds his head onto his neck quickly regenerates it in place. He moves his head around checking for any abnormalities. Suddenly a dark aura started to storm all over the place.
Veins started to be visible on Akaza's face.
He stares at me with a killer eyes, "You are the first demon slayer who cut off my head and I praise you for that... but I'm very annoyed with you right now..." I blinked my eyes once and he already dissapeared instantly. Suddenly, I was pushed back very very far hitting the deformed train on impact. I cough out blood and my stomach hurts a lot. My kouhais just look at me in worry and fear. I gather all my strength within my stamina reserves once again standing up straight.
I slowly walk in front of my kouhais and put my hand out, "Don't worry about me... I will finish this demon... Just stay behind me" I really have to do this. I don't care about my life right now. My top priority is to protect everyone in this area. All of the sudden, a loud boom occurs in front of me. Akaza is back for round 2.
He yells, "You'll die! You'll gonna die, Kyoujurou! Be a demon! Tell me that you're gonna be a demon! You are one of the strong ones who got chosen!" I widen my eyes when I heard his words.
Flashback...
"Kyoujurou..." a soft and gentle voice travels to my ears.
I look up at a beautiful woman and reply, "Yes, kaa-san!"
She smiles and pats my head, "Think really hard about what your kaa-san will ask you now. Do you know why you were born stronger than other people?"
I become silent for a while and answer, "... I don't know!"
"To save the weak. People who were born and blessed with greater abilities than others, have to use their power for the world, for the people. Hurting others with your power which was gifted from the heavens and soiling your clothes is unforgivable. It is obligation of those born strong to save the weak. Your mission requires you to fulfill your duty properly. Don't ever forget that."
I stare at her with resolution, "Okay!"
She make a gesture to come toward her and then she hugs me with her gentle arms, "I will not be alive for much longer. It was a blessing to become the mother of such a strong, gentle child. Now I beg you, don't go down the path of darkness. When you are vulnerable, seek others to help you. Also, please protect your younger brother and father when I'm not around anymore..." with a trail of tear leaking down her face.
Flashback End...
Right, how could I forget... Thank you, kaa-san... I strengthen my sword grip and take in a deep breath. Flame particles starts to surround me forming a shape of a sea of fire burning everything in sight. I take a high sword and suddenly my flaming aura increases in size. I turn my body to the back gathering all the heat in my body transfering all of them to my blade. My blade starts to turn really red releasing a ton of fire.
When I exhale all the air, I shouted my final and ultimate technique, [ Full Focus Breath Breath Of Flames Ninth Style Purgatory! ]
Akaza begin to smile sadistically, "Great, Kyoujurou! That's the fighting spirit that I seek in my opponent! You make me very excited! Even your battle spirit become more stronger! [ Technique Deployment Destructive Kill: Obliteration Style ]"
(Tanjiro's POV)
Not good... not good... not good! If their attacks clash, Rengoku-san will surely... No time for thinking, Tanjiro! I take a deep breath and enter the see-through world. I can only maintain it for 10 minutes. I can't combine this technique with my demon slayer mark for a long period of time. Without any moments of hesitation, I quickly blur into flames.
(Kyoujurou's POV)
I immediately set my foot off the ground. I was launched forward in a form of a devastating dashing slash that created an image of a large straight fire beam. I was so fast that I had enough power to crave a deep impression in the ground where I used to be. My techniques and Akaza's quickly clashes with each other. An large size explosion occurs and debris start to fly all over the battlefield. Flames also appear on the damaged battlefield. When the smoke subsided, Akaza's arm is on my body. The pain im feeling right now is fuck hella hurt. suddenly akaza's arm got cut off while stuck ib my stomach.
(Akaza's POV)
What the?! When did my arm got cut off? I'm sure he didn't cut my arm off... Huh? The boy... Isn't he injured? Why can he still move? This is illogical... His battle spirit is gone! This is so weird!
(Tanjiro's POV)
Hah... Hah... I did it. I stop the demon's attack and managed to save Rengoku-san. I have to get him out of here, he's injured heavily. 20 minutes until sunrise, I have to stall the battle.
I shouted, "Rengoku-san! Stand back now! You had enough! Is my turn to protect you!" suddenly i saw akaza's arm inisde his stomach. i just cut the arm but the hand is still inside.
(Kyoujurou's POV)
I widen my eyes in surprised, "My boy! You shouldn't be moving right now! You wound will open! You won't survive against The Upper Moon" with a worried tone.
He then replies back, "Don't worry about me! I can do the impossible and I also sealed my wound with my breathing! Just stand back and trust me!" Suddenly my kaa-san's image appear beside him.
She smiles and says, "Enough already, Kyoujurou. You fulfill your duty... I'm proud of you... Didn't I say seek help when you are in a vulnerable state?"
I gapped for a second and clench my teeth, "Don't die on me my boy! I want to see you in one piece! I trust your ability to win this battle! I will be ashamed as a pillar if I let a fellow demon slayer die on my watch!" with a serious face. He nodded and I quickly retreat to the back.
(Tanjiro's POV)
The Akaza Demon leap back a good distance and stares at me in hesitation. I stand in front of him and raise my blade toward him.
I say, "Akaza... Tell your other Upper Moons and Muzan that I will destroy them all if you every escape me alive... Especially tell Muzan that I will seek him out and slay him until he returns to hell..." with a calm tone. My crimson red eyes just stare right into his soul.
(Akaza's POV)
I begin to sweat a lot. The boy in front of me is not even a creature but something unknown. I had never met this kind of demon hunter that have this kind of vibe that make my every cells in my body yell this guy is dangerous. I tense my whole body and exhale slowly to calm myself down. Why didn't this boy fight me when he is this strong. Is he underestimating me? The boy's eyes is looking at me with pity... Only weakling can be pity and I'm not a weakling!
I take a kata stance and I reply, "You hanafuda earrings boy, I will have your head right here right now. I really detest your very existence... You make me sick!"
15 minutes until sunrise...
End