Kyojuro Rengoku had sensed it the moment it entered within the vicinity of the rolled over Mugen Train.
His fiery golden eyes had been trained adoringly on Young Kamado and Young Yamato who managed, with the help of the boar-headed lad, to slice clean through Lower Rank 1's spine. They were both injured with Kamado sustaining a stab wound in his gut but he was able to close it using Total Concentration Breathing and his mentorship. He still needed medical attention but Rengoku knew his angel would help heal him without a second thought. As Kamado and his sister grew on Angela, they as well grew on Rengoku.
The two young Demon Slayers looked tiredly but proudly up at him. Their faces held a mixture of expressions between relief, tiredness, pride, and, not strangely, sadness. Not for the demon but for whatever they saw in the dreams that were forced upon them. Rengoku, too, would've been in sadness had he not realized it was merely trickery of the demon, a member of the Twelve Kizuki.
They all believed it was over... until Rengoku sensed it.
He had turned swiftly, hand tightly grasping the hilt of his Demon Slayer sword, the same moment it landed just a few meters away. His feelings for the two Demon Slayers quickly faded into nothing but focus and concentration as a large cloud of dust, dirt, and train residue kicked up into the air sheltering the intruder. Rengoku's eyes never strayed or flickered from whatever threatening presence that swallowed the entire area. Then, as the cloud lifted, the monster within was revealed by a pair of blazing yellow eyes with bright blue sclera.
Kneeling in the ground with a fist against the ground, where it caved and cracked like a spider's web outwards from the harsh impact, was a demon. He didn't look anything special. He took the appearance of the tall and muscular young man it used to be with fair bright green-tinged white skin decorated by thick blue lines Rengoku could only assume were tattoos. Three of the blue lines curved from both sides of his head through each eye then towards the bottom of its ears. Another ran from his hairline to the bridge of his nose, with two more running around his neck and many more. His short, bright pink hair was fluffed out around his head and pink eyelashes decorating his eyes. Rengoku's eyes never strayed from the demon's especially at the kanji inscribed in each eye.
UPPER RANK THREE
Rengoku was vividly aware of Kamado and Yamato behind him. The gasps of fear and terror was choked out of their bodies when they finally realized what was watching them with a small smirk. Even though they trembled with fear, their bodies sustained too much injury and exhaustion to even think of moving. They were immobilized and helpless. When they made noises of confusion, Rengoku made no sound. His entire concentration was on the Twelve Kizuki waiting patiently for him to move. The demon's eyes lifted from Rengoku's and narrowed on someone behind him. Then, he moved with another loud explosion so fast his body looked to have simply disappeared.
For anyone whose eyes haven't been trained to follow every slight and tiniest movement, whose body haven't learned to detect the disruption of the air and wind around them, to feel ki in every living thing in the world, the Kamado boy wouldn't have survived.
The demon had jumped high in the air and reared his fist forward to crush Kamado with one fatal blow. Rengoku had detected the attack using all three elements he learned from his training and let his eyes flicker to the demon. His fist was barely inches away from the boy's head when Rengoku whipped out his blade. Using Rising Scorching Sun, his fiery blade cut deep in between the demon's knuckles and all the way through to his shoulder. He had meant to cut all the way to at least the neck but the demon was fast in retreating.
He flipped and jumped many times away. The smirk never left his face, not even at the two pieces his arm was split into. In a mere moment, the arm was immediately snapped back together with one flex of his muscles. The blood that had spilled from the wound reentered the body in less than a second.
The demon's eyes and smirk didn't waver when meeting Rengoku's. "That's a fine sword," He commented with a lick to his hand.
Rengoku had never fought against an Upper Rank before. Only once before that day of climbing aboard the Mugen Train had he faced a Twelve Kizuki. He had only been Kinoe-ranked when he faced against Lower Rank Two, Hairo. It took everything he had to survive and even more to destroy the demon. Now, many years later, he's a Hashira. He's stronger and faster, but he won't underestimate the new foe challenging him. His speed of regeneration and sheer malice behind the attack was unlike anything he's faced before. That's what it meant to be an Upper Rank demon.
"Why would you go after a wounded person first over me?" Rengoku asked shouting over the long distance. He asked the most obvious question but one still plagued his mind. The demon completely ignored Yamato and opted after Kamado instead. If he so desired, he could've killed both with one single strike.
The demon bared his fangs teasingly. "I thought that he'd get in the way of our little chitchat is all."
"What is it you would like to discuss? While this is our first time meeting, I already dislike you," Rengoku replied unkindly.
The demon didn't seem fazed. "Is that right? Well, I dislike weak human beings. The mere sight of them makes my skin crawl."
Rengoku hated demons above anything else. They pillage, murder, and eat without a care and do not suffer any consequences from it. He admired Angela for believing humans and demons could get along, or at least sympathize with each other, but the Twelve Kizuki standing in front of him affirmed that they never would. "If that is the case, I do not believe we will ever get along," He simply huffed.
"Be that as it may, let me make you an offer," The demon chuckled holding up a hand. "Why don't you become a demon as well?"
Rengoku didn't hesitate to answer, "No, thanks."
That seemed to have gone under the demon's skin. His casual eyes widened slightly at the rejection. "I can tell just by looking at you that you're strong. A Hashira, huh?" He teased with a slight chuckle. "Your fighting spirit has been tempered like quality steel. Your name?"
"I'm the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku," Rengoku answered feeling strange about exchanging pleasantries with a demon.
"I am Akaza," He replied. "Kyojuro, let me tell you why, despite being a Hashira, your strength is not enough. Because you're merely human, destined to grow old and eventually die." Putting out a hand, entire fingers tattooed with one large strip of blue, Akaza chuckled, "Become a demon, Kyojuro. Doing so would allow you to better yourself for another hundred, even 200 years."
It was typical of a demon to believe growing old and passing away was a fatal weakness. Rengoku could never understand why demons loathed the idea but remembered they fueled themselves on pride, greed, and lust for power. Without the ability to surpass human physical limitation and 'weakness', they believed all humans were doomed to fall. Their ideology had become "Why bother to live if you can't have the power to do what you will". Demons could eat it all if they want, if they could, but its swordsmen like Rengoku who will put them back in their place permanently.
"Both growing old and passing away, these are things that make being human beautiful," Rengoku challenged. "Those may seem like weaknesses to you, but our lives are all the more precious and honorable because of them. You see, true strength does not just refer to the physical body. This boy and this girl are not weak. Don't insult them." Rengoku took note of the fallen smirk and the narrowed yellow eyes of the demon. "Let me be clear. The two of us will never see eye to eye. No matter what twisted reasons you give, I will not yield."
Rengoku held himself high and put strength and force into his voice. His face yielded no mercy and no remorse for the demon that will, no doubt, attempt another move on Kamado's life and the innocent civilians fleeing the train.
"I see."
Akaza's right hand flexed and he stomped a foot into the ground. It immediately broke and caved underneath the impact creating a hot pink light from underneath. Dark red light instantly branched outwards from the center creating the engraving of a deadly snowflake. "Technique development. Destructive Death, Compass Needle," Akaza growled pushing out a flat hand into the air letting the crimson red of blood change into that of a turquoise blue.
Overflowing power drained into each needle and branch of the snowflake with the numbers 1 to 12 in each plate. Fog-like power flowed and hummed delicately over the snowflake surrounding and arising to Akaza. The smirk that had fallen from his lips widened once again baring his fangs. "I guess I'll just have to kill you then."
Rengoku's hands tightened around his hilt and he readied himself. He tilted his head forward and his face scrunched together in resoluteness.
Akaza charged for him in what seemed like the speed of light. Rengoku saw the absence of the demon but heard the loud pounding of his feet nearing him. He immediately focused on the ki of the demon and disruption of the wind. He brought his blade up and deflected the punch that aimed for his head. He felt the vibration of the power skyrocketing from Akaza to his arms but threw it right back with a fiery slash to the demon's mid-section. The demon dodged and jumped away only to immediately run right back to him. Rengoku instantly brought his blade down and met the fist that was about to drive inside his chest.
As fist and blade clashed, their faces became within inches of each other. Akaza chuckled mockingly but Rengoku didn't give him the satisfaction of any noise. He let the glare of determination on his face speak for itself.
The colors of turquoise blue and rampaging fiery red clashed together many times over and over again. Hundreds of clouds with a mixture of dirt, dust, and rubble lifted in the air around them. Neither of them paid any attention to it; their entire focus was defeating each other. Quickly, Rengoku was forced on the defensive. He had to dodge every punch that reared for his head and wasn't allowed to slash a single strike. Whenever he did, Akaza would immediately counter with a punch. He gritted his teeth and kept his blade steady in front of his body as it took multiple harsh and powerful punches in a row.
"In all my years, I've never gotten to kill a Flame Hashira! No one has yet to take me up on my offer, either," Akaza laughed with a maniacal smile.
Rengoku growled and pushed energy into the force of driving Akaza off. The demon immediately kicked out with one leg then his second. Rengoku deflected each one and deflected the first punch thrown at him. He had been silently evaluating Akaza's fighting style when he was forced on the defense. The demon used both fists and both legs to fight, going left-right left-right driving for the head then chest. Using quick wit, Rengoku instantly slashed his blade downwards for the second punch. His blazing red blade was caught in the arm of the demon letting blood drip down to the ground in a stream.
Akaza didn't seem bothered. He only chuckled, "Why do you think that is? As a fellow master of the martial arts, I just can't comprehend it. Not when only the chosen ones can become demons!"
Rengoku barely had time to register Akaza's left hand flying straight for his head! He immediately slashed upwards slicing off his arm elbow-down but subsequently freeing his right. As fast as he had sliced it off, the blood-dripping decapitated arm flying in the air, the demon had regenerated a new one.
The demon snarled and drove his fist again at the base of Rengoku's sword. "Watching the hideous decline of someone blessed with your powers, it pains me more than you know!" He screamed using his other fist to clash with the deflection of Rengoku's blade. Their weapons vibrated and recoiled from the harsh impact. They came face to face, smirk to glare, and the demon continued to cackle, "While you're still young and strong... your life should be cut short."
With a vicious yell, Rengoku slashed out his blade dripping with hot flame toward Akaza. The demon jumped in the air and twirled away. "Destructive Death... Air Type!" He spoke with a large grin. His fingers stretched before clenching into a tight fist. It glowed a bright blue and seemed to have been sucking in both air and energy into the blow he threw from high in the sky.
Rengoku's eyes immediately searched the skies for any recognition or disturbance of the power. It was not visible to the naked eye and he could only hold his sword in front of his body protectively.
A painful grunt and gasp choked out of him at the harsh impact. The sword took the full brunt but the shockwave of the empty air was so powerful it vibrated and ricochet throughout his entire body. At the moment of weakness he shamefully showed, Akaza tried to take full advantage of it. Throwing more Air Type punches and slices, all Rengoku do was block the best he could and keep himself from sliding across the ground even further. His strength was beginning to wane and his sword shuddered with each attack. It was the shock-waves that was forcing him to lose concentration. Soften it and it will be nothing but air.
"Flame Breathing technique. Fourth Form, Blooming Flame Undulation!" Rengoku screamed swirling his flaming sword in a circular motion and aiming it into the sky.
A swirl of flame that resembled the petals of a rose hugging the bud of the flower produced from his blade. The barrage of insistent attacks from Akaza was dampened from the flames that spiraled above him. The attack will still reach him if Akaza strikes the air but at least he'll diminish the force of the shock-waves. Not to mention the travel of his strikes were instant. Akaza's next attacks of horizontal air slices reached Rengoku instantly. He barely had time to swirl his blade to the side and create a protective archway of bright flame.
His flames died down and Akaza reached the ground. They stood many meters away staring at one another.
Akaza was skilled in close-quarter and hand-to-hand combat. He forced Rengoku on the defense many times. Even at a distance, the demon's long-range attacks were still powerful and just as deadly. Rengoku can't slice his head off if he keeps fighting him at a distance like that. No matter. He must be the one to be on the offensive.
Very well... Close combat, it is!
Driving the tip of his blade behind his body and pushing off with a powerful step, Rengoku charged for him. A spiral of fire trailed behind his body but disappeared instantly leaving any evidence behind. He was merely inches from Akaza in a split second. Up close, he saw the smirking demon's face instantly fall to one of surprise at the sheer quickness of the Hashira. Rengoku had swiped viciously at the demon's neck but the demon quickly tilted his head back. Only a few strands of pink hair lit ablaze by the flames of Rengoku's sword were cut.
"Those reflexes! Brilliant!" Akaza cackled letting his signature smirk spread back on his lips.
Gritting his teeth hard, his hands tightening around the hilt, a determined yell howling from the depths of his chest, Rengoku made to attack with his own barrage of moves. Trails of hot flame followed every slash, slice, and whip of his blade while deflecting the demon's bright blue moves that manipulated the empty air around them. The entire arena was lit lighting their deadly challenge of humanity vs immortality. It was so fast and so hard to witness Rengoku was acting on pure instinct as well as talent. His blade was cutting deep into the knuckles of the demon, crimson red blood spraying in the air around them, and finally slicing off the demon's arm.
"Those breathtaking sword skills will be lost, too! Doesn't that thought make you sad, Kyojuro?" Akaza growled above the clashing of hardened flesh and steel.
Rengoku continued to move and fight, attacking and deflecting, angling his blade every which way in protection as well as offensive, when he answered, "They are simply aspects of being a human being! Why would it?!" He screamed at the demon. He felt the presence of another and the tiniest movement of two more. "Stay there!" He sternly commanded at the top of his lungs turning his head over his shoulder to see Kamado, Yamato, and the boar-lad attempt to make their way to the pair. "We can't reopen that wound of yours! It'll kill you!"
"Mr. Rengoku!" Yamato screamed with tears in her eyes and her hands shaking violently.
Rengoku immediately turned his attention back on the demon and deflected an attack.
"Don't bother with that weakling!" Akaza cackled whipping up an arm for the steel blade drive into its flesh instead of his neck. "Show me your strength!" He challenged moving his fingers towards Rengoku's eyes! He gasped but immediately ducked his head low. Akaza used the momentum instead to jump high in the air and land a few meters away. Rengoku swirled around on the ground, steadying the balance of his feet, and setting his anger-filled eyes on the taunting demon. "Keep your eyes on me."
Rengoku didn't hesitate to meet him all the way. With a loud yell that vibrated his entire chest, he surged for the demon and swiped at his mid-section once again! Akaza jumped high, avoiding the hit, and tried to land a punch... but Rengoku had expected it. Deflecting it away, he rammed his shoulder as hard as he could into the demon's chest. He flew straight into the trees of the forest that surrounded them and landed with a loud satisfying boom. Even though he finally caught the demon off guard, Rengoku wasn't finished yet. The battle wasn't over until the demon's head was no longer attached to its body!
He charged into the dark forest in search of the demon. It was nearly pitch black and his heart almost lept out of his chest when Akaza was suddenly in his face. Jumping out of the darkness, he had cackled, "Such skilled movement!"
Ducking low beneath another blow, Rengoku slashed his arm off but wasn't quick to react to the devastating powerful kick. He had brought his blade down to unleash another attack but the kick surprised him so much all he could do was dampen it. His body flew for a second but he felt the harsh and violent tug of the wind. The air was almost knocked out of him when he crash landed into the nearby hill outside of the forest, from where their battle had originally began.
"Rengoku!" He heard Kamado gasp.
"Watch out, Bug eyes!" The boar-lad screamed after him.
Rengoku shakily sat up on one knee, his hand never letting go of his sword's hilt, with his eyes staying on the entry of the dark forest. He planted his blade in the ground in front of him, both hands holding steadily to the butt of the hilt, trying to steady his panted breathing. Dirt and dust from his crash had fogged the entire area but he could still clearly make out those blazing yellow eyes.
The demon slowly, mockingly, walked out of the forest with his smirk never fading. "You sure you won't turn into a demon? Think of it this way. If you did, we could spar with each other endlessly. Imagine how much stronger we'd become!" The demon once again insistently proposed regenerating his arm.
Rengoku stilled the shakiness of his hands and clenched them around the hilt. "Never!" He spat, his tone dripped with poison. "Let me make this clear. I do not like you. I will not become a demon!" He exclaimed standing on his feet and readying his blade once again.
He charged for the smirking demon and jumped high in the sky! With his blade arched upwards, nearing Akaza who stood still with a look of intrigue, he screamed, "Flame Breathing. Third Form! Blazing Universe!" His entire blade was enveloped in hot flames, pooling out waves upon waves, and slashed in a downwards arc towards the demon with every bit of force in his body!
Among the crackles and cinders of fire that danced in the sky, Akaza jumped backwards and the bloody slash going down his chest healed instantly. "What a magnificent attack!" The demon gasped. He rushed forward and shoved his fore-arm into Rengoku's chest forcing him to fly backwards. "Destructive Death, Air Type!" He screamed punching another powerful blow through empty air towards the unprotective torso of the Hashira.
With a gasp and grunt, Rengoku forced his blade in front of his body and barely managed to deflect it. His blade danced shakily in the air from the impact. The vibration had ricochet throughout his body and he landed shakily on his feet. He slid backwards against the ground, feeling rocks and pebbles stab painfully into his feet and toes, but he didn't hesitate to charge forward once again! He bellowed out a roar and let his flames dance through the air and bounce off the skin of the demon. Such matter wouldn't hurt him too much but it was all Rengoku could do to keep up. Both of them were quick, fast, and light on their feet. They exchanged blows, deflected, and scratched the other, their grazes lightly puncturing the skin, but the demon healed instantly from each one. Rengoku didn't have the same regeneration as he.
Rengoku's blade was caught in the bone of Akaza and they both applied heavy force. He will not be bested by that demon!
"This struggle is futile!" Akaza screamed angrily at him. "Continuing this meaningless assault will only result in one outcome, your death!"
Rengoku will not bow to any demon! Not one filled with arrogance, pride, and greed like that one. Fighting and destroying that demon will be the closest Rengoku ever will be to Muzan Kibutsuji. Destroying an Upper Rank and going home victorious will send a message to the demon lord that the Demon Slayer Corps will not be underestimated! Not by anyone!
Suddenly, Akaza's fist flew by his head. Even though he barely grazed his skin, feeling the golden fiery hairs on his head twitch at the sudden wind disruption, a groan of pain left his mouth at the horrible torment inflicted on his fore-head. Sticky substance that reeked of iron began to drip down the side of his face but he wouldn't give up! Any injury sustained will be for the good of humanity and all mankind!
"First Form, Unknowing Fire!" He roared twisting his body horizontally with his blade following.
It was wishful thinking to decapitate the demon with one slash. His blade met both arms of the demons and watched the appendages fly into the air. Immediately replacing them were brand new ones.
"Killing you now would be a waste! You haven't reached your peak yet!" Akaza cackled.
Rengoku had been deflecting his blows but couldn't see the sharp twist of one fist. He had been ready for a punch to the head but instead met with agony in his abdomen. His head pounded to the beat of his heart when the driving force of a fist drove right into his chest. He heard, no, he felt, the crack of his ribs from within his body. The pain was so sharp and so sudden he gagged on his own spit. He stumbled backwards, the air getting caught in his throat, but swallowed the pain down.
"Second Form..." He shakily breathed out clutching the hilt with both hands, "Rising Scorching Sun!"
Closing in, he slashed upwards in a high arc fighting back the torture and screams of his body begging him to not move without caution or worry of his broken ribs. Unfortunately, the demon had evaded his move leaving Rengoku weakened and tired. His limbs were beginning to go numb, his throat was burning, and the loss of blood in his head was making his vision hazy. The left side of his vision went dark. His eye was closed shut and throbbed with his erratically beating heart. But he must concentrate! He must keep going!
"In just a few short years, your abilities would be sharpened to an even finer point!" The demon continued to hound him.
Rengoku's arms screamed in exhaustion when he tried to angle his blade to continue deflecting. He forced his muscles into overdrive to continue moving, to continue fighting, for not just his survival but for the others in the vicinity! He tried to push back against the force of a punch against his blade but it slipped through. The punch slammed into the side of his head forcing a grunt of pain to bellow out of his throat at the impact. He stumbled backwards over his own feet, gasping for the air his body was begging for, but moved to surge forward again! He won't hesitate nor falter no matter what!
"Third Form, Blazing Universe!" He screamed moving to slash downwards but Akaza met him halfway with a punch! Immediately diving backwards, he switch hand-grips and swirled his blade, letting the previous momentum build higher and higher, the flames roaring larger and larger, and screamed out instead, "Fourth Form, Blooming Flame Undulation!"
Akaza moved backwards out of range and took another stance for another attack! Rengoku will not let him have the chance!
"Fifth Form, Flame Tiger!"
"Destructive Death, Disorder!"
As Rengoku made a series of powerful complicated slashes, the flames followed each trail and built higher. A loud roar bellowed out from within the rampaging flames that enveloped his entire body. Akaza's power and overwhelming presence doubled. They both immediately charged for the other using every last bit of energy, force, and power that was scrambling throughout their bodies. The flames of red and the powerful colors of blue surged from either side of their make-shift arena and collided. Rengoku ducked beneath a punch and moved to attack with his flame tiger... but could only manage to slash off another arm.
Just as quick as the fight begun, it paused momentarily in silence.
Rengoku's hand shook violently holding the hilt of his sword lazily toward the ground. One half of his face was drenched in blood and the eye swollen closed, a line of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, his chest was caving into pain from the broken ribs, and his legs had grown numb to the touch. His breathing was erratic and his heartbeat was pounding inside his chest. He stared angrily at the demon but couldn't move to do anything else. He was exhausted, drained of almost all energy, and was barely able to stand on both feet, let alone clutch his sword. The demon had long regenerated his limb and stared at Rengoku with boredom and disdain.
It was completely silent between the two but he could still hear the shaky breathing of the three young Demon Slayers far behind him. He knew they had been watching the fight intensely, as best as they could for mere untrained eyes. He wanted to continue fighting, at least for their sake, but how could he when he felt there was nothing left to do? All of his attacks had surmounted to nothing.
"Don't tell me it's over," Akaza quietly but firmly mumbled. "I won't have you die on me."
The cold breeze blew softly through the air and lifted his bloody hair from his shoulders slightly. He did nothing but pant, trying to control his breathing, and regulate the pain that was coursing throughout his entire body.
"Rengoku! Rengoku!" He heard Kamado and Yamato scream in despair from behind.
He didn't pay attention to them. He just kept his only eye trained on the demon.
"Don't you see that fighting to death in that frail human body will never measure up to mine?" The demon spoke contemptibly down at him. "Those impressive attacks you inflicted upon me have already healed completely. You, on the other hand-a smashed left eye, shattered ribs, damage to the internal organs-all irreparable. If you were a demon, you'd heal in the blink of an eye, and those wounds would be but mere scratches. In the end, a human can never surpass a demon."
Rengoku never answered. He only kept breathing.
The demon cocked his head slightly and lifted a finger towards his chest. "That necklace, the one dangling from your neck, I recognize the angelic rune inscribed," He suddenly spoke. "Don't tell me-It was given to you by none other than the Angel Hashira."
He didn't make any movement to show the demon of any recognition. Not even so much as a glance to the shiny silver necklace that laid limp against his chest.
"I've heard of the Demon Slayer chosen to wield the power of the angels. She became a Hashira soon after," Akaza began to speak almost tauntingly. "She holds the same virtues, morals, and ideology of the last one; wishing for peace between demons and humans. It was just sickening. When I heard of such a belief, I knew I had to squander it. The power seem to have found its way to her... and she found her way to you, Kyojuro."
Rengoku held back low growls and swallowed them down his throat.
"You have someone special in your heart, someone you carry with you everywhere you go, and yet you plan on going back to her in that disgusting state of yours?! Broken and weak?!" Akaza suddenly screamed in fury. "Become a demon, Kyojuro! Become a demon and you will never know heartbreak! You will never know defeat! Become a demon and you two will spend eternity together as one! You will show her true strength and power! You will show her what it truly means to be alive!"
Become a demon... and let Angela witness the monster I will become...?
Rengoku closed his mouth and stopped his heavy breathing. He let out a small breath of air through his nose... and awakened the dormant power inside of him.
His body was instantly engulfed in bright flames that awakened and refilled every part of his body, every sense, and every muscles with new energy and power. He felt the heat and force wave all around him like a strong breeze, lifting and playing with his haori and locks of yellow hair. With a new resolve, Rengoku grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands. He aimed it behind his body and widened into a high stance. A determined smile spread across his lips as he loudly and proudly declared, "I will see my duty fulfilled! No matter what it takes, no one shall die here!"
His plan was to inflict as much damage as quickly as possible. He may not make it out alive, he may never gaze upon the beautiful and serene face of his angel again, but it is what he must do to protect everyone!
Flame Breathing. Esoteric Art!
The power burst forth from him like a shock-wave. It overflowed from his body into the ground surrounding the few meters of area around him. He was steadfast in his stance with his eye glaring unwavering at the demon.
"What an impressive fighting spirit!" Akaza gasped. "To press on, despite your bodily injuries! That brilliant strength of mind! And that ironclad stance! Hahaha! Now you have to become a demon! Just imagine it! We'd be able to fight each other for the rest of eternity!"
Set your heart ablaze. Overcome your limits.
The fire of energy that burned through his body lit up in his heart. He felt it course through his chest and to his arms finally ending at his hands. The strength that had nearly flee his body came back to him in full force. His once wavering concentration had been replaced with nothing but vigor and resoluteness. "I am the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku!" He belted out clenching his fist tighter around the hilt. "Ninth Form, Rengoku!"
"Destructive Death, Annihilation Type!" Akaza immediately got ready to counter with a cackle.
Pushing his foot so hard into the ground, it caved in underneath the impact. A fiery spider's web erupted from beneath and he launched himself forward with a loud explosion that resembled the loud rumbles of thunder. He surged forward with a loud scream, a loud roar, that burned his throat but he kept screaming! The faster he moved the more momentum he gathered, and the higher the flames rose the more energy that coursed through his body! A trail of hot flames followed him marking the deep impression that was burnt into the ground.
A large, fiery roaring dragon met that of an immovable wall. They clashed and collided breaking apart the ground all around them pushing shock-wave after shock-wave of harsh, turbulent winds. A circular wall of flame surrounded both he and Akaza in the very center. With a loud determined yell, Rengoku slashed out his sword the same time Akaza pushed out his fist.
Driving all of his energy into the hit, his blade slit clean through his arm. Yanking his blade out, Rengoku lifted it high above his head and slashed diagonally for the neck! Akaza punched his blade and it dove straight into his chest instead... but Rengoku wasn't finished! Akaza's smirk immediately fell at the sudden abruption of the blade twisting sharply in his abdomen. Rengoku bellowed out mighty roar, letting his blade light aflame in bright colors of red and yellow, before driving his blade up towards the demon's head!
The power, the driving force behind the fire tornado that surged around them, exploded outwards in a fiery blaze sweeping through everything within a few meter radius. A fog of dirt clouded everything in his vision but even that couldn't shield the pain that swallowed him up.
His eyes had widened in both surprise and terror staring down shakily at the demon in front of him. His blade had cut through diagonally towards the right shoulder and had been lifted up high in the air for another slash. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't even make a sound, not as he stared down at the terrified demon staring right back up at him. He couldn't feel his legs, arms, nor hands. His teeth that grounded together tightened in pain and he held in what little breath he had left tightly.
Rengoku finally let his eyes fall down to where it had hurt the most. As a pool of blood streamed out of his mouth like a waterfall, dripping to the ground in fast inconsistent drops, his eyes landed on the demon's arm that punched clean through his chest.
A wail of screams and terrified cries suddenly erupted from behind him that forced his heart to tinge.
"MR. RENGOKU! MR. RENGOKU!"