CHAPTER 23 - The Comeback! Powerful Science & the Nichirin Blade

The night wasn't going as good. Debris all around. The battle against the Lower Demon Moon in the town of Shi-niju turned tables. Not that Uzui hadn't had the better, but it so happened that the losing side got reinforced with a member of the Upper group. Number Four, named Hantengu, and worse, there were two of the same guy.

A clear sky, a wonderful moonlit night, and yet lightning dropped from the heavens. The situation was stormy. Dropped by one of the two Uppers holding out his lightning staff. Hantengu, a fellow possessing the Blood Demon Art of splitting itself into emotional clones. Uzui had no idea.

This isn't looking good. Uzui was pinched. The Uppers needn't the presence of its underling Lower Demon. The latter was dispatched to the Takeshi's Castle. Uzui knew that the deduction of the Lower Moon was of the least benefit to him. The Uppers were indeed formidable. Named Sekido and Karaku, the clones of Hantengu showcased the emotions in the form of Anger and Joy.

Sekido had the ability to throw lightning bolts, shaking the very floor of the southern streets.

Uzui's ability of Echolocation came in lifesaving and handy, predicting the thunderbolts. But there seemed to be no way to slip into the enemy's defence with the perpetual barrage. And to his concern, there was the other one, Karaku who hadn't lifted a finger. What is his ability? He wondered. Unlike the small fries, these Upper Demon Moons lived up to their reputation. The Demon Slayer Uzui must step up his game.

Amongst his many attempts to slash the lightning user, Uzui had been studying Sekido's movements with his Echolocation technique called 'Score', which allowed him to observe the enemy's movements and retort back to his advantage. He saw a rare opening amidst the angry thunderbolts, and planned to attack the enemy's staff. The rod must've worked as the source of the lightning barrage. He had almost made it to the enemy, his twin swords ready to slam.

WHOOSH!

His Echolocation jolted a severe warning that very moment. Uzui had remembered the other guy, parrying at the end moment, dodging a strong gust of air that zoomed past at great speed. Uzui was shocked to find that Sekido's staff arm was cut off as a consequence of the wind attack.

Karaku responsible, was enjoying the moment. Sekido grabbed the falling staff with his other arm and slammed it into Karaku's torso. A melee attack with pure speed and stab. A rift between the clones.

Uzui recorded Sekido's agility and remarked it as bad news. He had to change priorities. There was no way he could've countered Sekido with the presence of Karaku, backing up with the wind attack. The fellow carried a large fan resembling a maple leaf.

Sekido was a bad-tempered demon and seemed to have been bossing around his companion, despite both being part clones of the same Demon. Uzui couldn't understand the relationship but knew that Karaku acted as the support against the dominance of Sekido.

"Very well." Uzui told himself, recollecting Karaku's surprising attack.

The Flying Slash from Karaku's fan had levelled a few houses on its trajectory. Confronting head-on seemed a senseless option, especially with Sekido keeping a hawk's eye, and dropping lightning hate as he saw fit. The squabble between the two Demons gave Uzui enough time for a solution. Karaku and Sekido recovered from their respective injuries inflicted upon each other. They made reconciliations, and were ready for Round 2.

Tengen Uzui was not a graduate of Physics, but had certain conceptual knowledge proving useful to his Sound Breath technique. And amongst them were the properties of electricity, and its discharge through a Lightning Rod. A fellow named Benjamin Franklin from the west was responsible for its study back in the 1750s, which allowed any strong discharge of electricity to disperse into the ground. And it so happened that Shi-niju was one of those towns back in the day that established electric poles, after the ground-breaking energy source was put first to use in the mainland since 1878.

"What's he doing?" Karaku observed, as Uzui diced up a long electric pole. The neighbourhood electricity was down from the destruction thanks to the fight, and there seemed no ire for the locals to complain about the lack of light when they were simply dead scared of the circumstances. That night was a nightmare for the ones who had yet breathed instead of being inside demon bellies.

The pole was heavier than Uzui had expected, but carrying the electric pole on his shoulders seemed a piece of cake.

"He's up to something." Sekido growled.

Uzui moved straight for the lightning demon not deterred the least from the consequences. Karaku enjoyed the curiosity, and watched Sekido pour a harder strike, much to his worsened bad temper. The sky glowed of judgement, as the thunderbolt slammed onto its target.

"Wow!" Karaku was excited. The rumble crackled, calming its thunder and flash, returning back to the darkness, revealing the electric pole dug into the ground. Everything else must've been incinerated in its vicinity, Sekido believed.

As I've said, it was a clear night. The moon cast a shadow upon anything in between itself and the ground. A shadow closed in from behind.

"Breath of Sound - First Form - Roar!" Two swords slammed Karaku from his six o' clock. The latter saw him coming, blocking the dual blow. Karaku's laid back entertainment turned into dire demeanour, realising Uzui was far stronger than he had anticipated. The roof below his foothold cracked from the enormous force, sending the demon crashing six feet under. Explosions roared consequential following the First Form of Sound.

"What the..." Sekido was surprised.

It was said that the Upper Demons kept their ranks and had survived for centuries, especially known for their perpetual carnage all the years, killing Demon Slayer Hashiras like playthings. But that night was turning wrong for the Demon belligerents.

Sekido couldn't understand how Uzui had managed to take advantage. There was no way the latter could've avoided with his current speed. Little did the Demon realise that the electric pole was a genius idea to create a diversion, serving as an electrical grounding. Uzui kept his thoughts to himself.

But that did not keep Sekido from being less pissed off. That fellow was about to burst from impatience for dragging the fight longer than he had anticipated. A Lower Moon and two Uppers were dragged along the ride for almost two hours. Uzui made himself recognised as a formidable opponent, capable of wits and tenacity. He was a distinguished Hashira for a reason.

Sekido was ready for Round 3. Uzui rushed towards the electric post before the bolt could've been dropped. And science worked once again. Sekido's electricity deviated through the metallic terminal into the ground. Time was of the essence. Uzui took advantage of Sekido's shock, ready to deal a retort.

The late-night of Shi-niju was a ground of unnatural things. Uzui was surprised to find Sekido slashed from behind. Someone had beaten him to the retort.

An old man landed next to the Sound Hashira. Two slashes of distinguished techniques, Uzui observed. There was a black-haired fellow glowing under the moon.

"Tomioka!"

"I thought I'd find you here." Tomioka made his surprise entry, "Looks like this town's in danger."

"But how..."

"How did I find you?" Tomioka stated Uzui's question, drawing out a letter.

"That."

"I suppose I came across this before Shinobu had gotten a hold." Tomioka mentioned holding Uzui's letter, "The situation seems self-explanatory out here. But tell me, did Roronoa Zoro show up?"

"He did." Uzui replied.

Tomioka finished the job of slashing Sekido into two. Uzui observed his new formidable strength.

"The head's mine!" Uzui shouted, leaping ahead. He made a clean-cut, ending Sekido, the hot-headed demon.

Karaku got notice of the addition of those two Demon Slayers that aided his former opponent in defeating Sekido. Things were looking bad but he had received far more disturbing news from the Takeshi's Castle. It so happened that there was mayhem in the castle grounds.

A fresh sight to the later-half of the night. Zoro was eager to rush back to Shi-niju. The night was coming to an end, and he wanted a taste of strength against the demons inhabiting the desolated town.

Everyone was either asleep, dead, afraid or a rare few of them, fighting Demons. It was well after midnight. The alliance of the Demon Slayers and Pirate Hunter Zoro had made it back through the town's east entrance.

"Alright, we should better get back to that castle." Zoro reminded.

Kanao nodded. Shinobu and Kanae had heard of their previous attempt to the said castle. It ended in leading Zoro pitting against Hawkins instead. A small world, Shinobu believed.

"This town gives me a dead vibe." she said.

"Well, wish it had been a normal circumstance. The surviving people are scared to death, hoping this night to end." Zoro replied.

"So you believe that castle is the answer?" Kanae asked.

They could find Takeshi's Castle in their view.

"Yeah." Zoro replied from his previous experience.

The band marched. A band of sword wielders ready to sing the night with metal.

"This has been one damn long night." Zoro mentioned, "I have a feeling things will get interesting soon enough."

From Kanao's recount, the bat-demon was dead. Only a fool would let his guard down, Zoro thought. Those Demons would wait with their numbers.

"Kanao, exchange swords!" Zoro said. He exchanged his Kitetsu with Kanao's Nichirin blade.

With no opposition on their way, they found themselves in front of the shaky bridge. Shinobu observed the steep fall and was surprised that Zoro had survived it all.

"Alright, I'll send them all to kingdom come." Zoro mentioned.

He began gaiting ahead along the bridge unaware of the balance that so proved an obstacle the previous time. His concentration was top-notch, much focused as Kanao observed. Shinobu believed no one could've stopped him at that moment. Demons awaited on the other side. More of the bat-kind which took off the moment they had found the Pirate Hunter's presence. Three of them. They hoped to throw the intruder off the bridge. Zoro got ready.

"Trying the same trick, eh?" He grabbed his blades, "Three Sword Style..."

The bat-demons pounced in from three directions.

"Dragon Twister!" Zoro swung around with perfect balance in the middle of the shaky bridge. The bat-demons were ravaged. Their wings shredded, their body sliced.

Zoro crossed to the other side. The others followed his steps. They observed the dying demons perish into dust, drowning into the river.

"I believe this Demon Slayer blade does better work against the Demons." Zoro told the others, "I'll be borrowing this for the night. That okay, Kanao?"

"Of course, Zoro-san." Kanao affirmed.

"Looks like we have company." Shinobu mentioned, observing ahead.

Zoro need not see. A fellow ahead, with a strong Demonic vibe.

"An Upper Demon Moon." Zoro noted. He found a fellow with a spear.

"The Pirate." replied the enemy.

"No. 4." Kanao noted the eyes.

Shinobu and Kanae drew swords.

"My name's Aizetsu and you are the pirate that went against Kokushibo." said the Demon.

"That's right. The name's Roronoa Zoro."

Aizetsu aimed his spear, "Show me what you've got. I can only judge Kokushibo's contender with action."

"Very well." Zoro decided not to take a chance. A test on both sides.

"Nigiri - Flash!" The dual sword projectile gashed in. Aizetsu rushed blocking the Flying Slashes with his spear.

"You are mocking me." the Demon mentioned, sensing the strength, "This is not what Kokushibo had mentioned."

"Most demons would've been dead from that. I don't know why you are complaining."

Aizetsu did not take Zoro's retort well. The Demon charged in to finish the fight. And he fell right into a trap.

Zoro dodged the incoming spear.

"Three Sword Style..." Aizetsu realised that his opponent had trapped him inside his blades.

"Crab Grab!"

The others observed in awe. The Pirate Hunter diced the demon in half, along with its spear. The Nichirin blade imbued with Armament Haki performed much-distinguished damage against the other blades. A Demon's recuperation ability used to make it a formidable opponent, but the combination of Haki on a Nichirin blade seemed to revert that. In a way, a coincidence against Hawkins' Devil Fruit Powers, Shinobu observed.

"That's amazing." Kanao mewed. She had never believed that her blade could do destructive damage.

"A frightening power, Haki." Kanae mentioned. Her time on Moria's ship gave her knowledge of the three Colours of Haki.

"Haki?" Kanao asked.

"That was the Color of Armament, a spiritual skill that can be used as offence as well as defence. And you saw the Observation Haki when Zoro dodged that spear, an ability of foresight."

"There's a third?" Kanao asked.

"I guess there's no one on the mainland that I know of is capable of the Third form." Kanae mentioned.

A Nichirin blade on the hands of the Pirate Hunter proved devastating for an Upper Demon Moon. Zoro observed Kanao's blade under the moonlight.

"This guy's nowhere near that Kokushibo." Zoro mentioned, "It seems this fight hasn't started for real."

The Demon withered away.

"Let's move." Shinobu mentioned, believing in Zoro's anticipation. Someone was simply trying to buy time, she believed. But there was no doubt that a real Upper Demon Moon would be awaiting at the epicentre of their destination.

TO BE CONTINUED...

NEW FANFIC NOTICE!

I have written a side-story named, Nightmares: Gaiden, based on Zoro's disappearance since his imprisonment on the Beast Pirates ship, that took place between Chapters 14-17 of Kaizoku: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Nightmares: Gaiden is a crossover between One Piece & Touhou Project, where Zoro discovers a shrine deciding to rest on his returning journey, only to find himself trapped in the realm of Gensokyo. The Touhou side of the crossover takes place after Episode 7 of the Memories of Phantasm fan-made Touhou anime.

You can check out the side-story in 'My Stories' section of my Fanfiction profile, and I hope you enjoy it.