Chapter 13: jurgen of niflheim

As Ayano and I left for the front gate a member of the Kakushi gave me a letter and said, "the master wishes for you to stay in the area but continue your training."

I nodded my head and said, "very well I was hoping to head back to the bronze pavilion and train there but certainly there are some demons in these mountains worthy of our time!" before rushing off with Ayano to the forests.

And I was right as there were some lesser demons around the area giving us almost a weeks worth of training while always returning to the swordsmith village for rest and relaxation till finally Tanjiro and I got to train.

"its been 6 months since we actually trained young Tanjiro! Lets see how far you have come along!" I laughed taking up a phalanx stance.

Tanjiro looked more determined then before as he took up his stance saying, "I won't lose to you lord Nikolaos, I swear by the gods you worship and the god I worship that I will not loose so easily!" before rushing me with blinding speed.

This caught me offguard at first but I slammed my shield into his face trying to break his focus but he wasn't unphased but still staggered back before doing a flip.

"HINOKAMI KAGURA! CLEAR BLUE SKY!" Tanjiro shouted at me as he tried to

"Pantheon breathing 3rd form Hades rage!" I shouted, allowing my spear to burn with lava as I lunged forward with it swinging it in a wide arc slamming it into Tanjiro's side sending him flying into a tree where I gave him no time to think and rushed him switching to the Nodachi.

"flame breathing 3rd form blazing universe!" I shouted as the nodachi turned almost into fire as I slashed downward at Tanjiro.

Tanjiro surprised me by lunging forward at me closing the distance between and slamming right into my chest stopping me from using the third form and causing me to stagger back.

I felt excited, yes beyond excited at this! The boy had become a man and more importantly had become someone worthy of being my tsuguko.

However, he would still be no match as I lunged forward again and this time flipped my spear using the spear butt to slam right into his jaw knocking him unconscious.

Ayano who had been watching us spar looked at us laughing and said, "just like 6 months ago the boy still has trouble dealing with your spartan might."

Pounding my chest I laughed and said, "fwehahahahaha the might of sparta is something no one is able to beat!" before picking up the young boy and heading back to his room where I laid him down to rest while Ayano and I talked with one of the swordsmiths, a young boy named Kotetsu, about what exactly has Tanjiro been doing.

Leaning back and eating a rice cracker I said, "so that's what the hinokami Kagura really is…sun breathing the first form of swordsmanship…"

Ayano looked at me and said, "you look like you have heard of it"

I shook my head and said, "my pappoús was our villages historian and he used to tell me stories of my ancestor who was said to wield a sword that when swung correctly could burn with the might of the sun god Helios, I wonder if that was the Greek equivalent of sun breathing, its not to hard to connect the dots but I don't think there was any historical proof that Greece ever had contact with Japan…if only harangel or horoko were here they could confirm it" before biting into another rice cracker.

Ayano looked a bit interested saying, "so you mean to tell me you found a sword from the Sengoku era in that thing!"

Kotetsu laughed behind his mask saying, "yep and boy was Mr. Hagenezuka happy about it I mean steel from the Sengoku era! That's beyond rare!"

Confused I said, "I don't understand whats so good about this steel?"

Ayano looked at me and said, "you might not realize it but steel from the Sengoku era was made with more scarlet crimson iron sand and scarlet ore than any modern nichirin blade! It is 100% pure scarlet which means it holds more of the sun in it which gives it the raw power and even more strength against demons! Most of them were destroyed with Nobunaga from what heard…"

Leaning back I said, "and young Tanjiro will be getting that blade polished for himself, have to admit there is no one finer to give a blade like that too"

Ayano chuckled and said, "what do you see in that boy anyways? I mean you sped him through the Agoge you trained him in horsemanship, archery, pankration style boxing, hell you even showed him how to use a spear and shield like a true spartan! You didn't do that for your clone, I mean Inosuke or Zenitsu, what do you see in that boy?"

Looking up I said, "when I was his age I nearly lost my father to smallpox, he was too weak to work and as such it was up to me to make ends meet for the family…that included my fathers debt to the local crime family…they wanted my father dead but I wouldn't let them kill him I did everything I could till my father was better, and when Tanjiro first came to the master's mansion bound…his facial expression when he defended his sister….it reminded me of myself and I swore I would aid him"

Ayano leaned her head on my shoulder and said, "that explains a lot dear"

Kotetsu looked a bit disgusted saying, "gorss I'm gonna go and check up on Mr. Hagenezuka and I'll leave you two lovebirds alone!" before running out.

Ayano started to blush and tried to convince Kotetsu that it wasn't what he thought but I stopped her and kissed her on the lips causing her to embrace me.

Ayano blushed and stuttered saying, "boy I need a bath I think I'll go and have myself a dip in the hot spring before dinner! B- bye baby I'll see you in a bit" before rushing out.

I chuckled a bit and pulled out my notebook from my haori and did a bit of writing. I knew I would probably die one day and decided to start writing my biography, the truth about my life…the war crimes I committed that led to me leaving the military the reasons I pushed myself into learning about the honor of the noble spartans of old.

As I wrote I remembers parts of my life I had put deep into my memory to never see the light of day. More importantly the PTSD I had ignored from my time in the balkin wars…the men I lost that day. The men I led into battle and lost. I had watched as my fellow comrades had fell by the hands of machine gun fire in an attempt to take Thessaloniki. There were some days I could still hear their screams. My hand quivered a bit as I wrote but soon the door opened and instead of Ayano I saw Muichiro Tokito standing there.

"ahh Muichiro I had no idea you were in the village as well, I assume you are waiting for a new sword?" I asked putting away my notebook.

Tokito nodded and said, "yes I am looking for Mr. Kanamori have you seen him"

I tapped my chin and said, "if I remember correctly young kotetsu said he was mr hagenezuka so if that's the case I'd suggest finding Tanjiro and talking to him"

Tokito nodded and said, "that demon who travels with you, Ayano Kibutsuji are you sure she is not a threat I can take her out now if you'd like."

Coldly I said, "Tokito I swear to the gods I worship if you touch her I don't care if you are a hashira I will break both of your arms, the master made it perfectly clear during the banquet she is to be trusted and not hurt"

Tokito nodded and left and soon the door opened again this time with Ayano dressed in her kimono rather seductively as she came over to me and sat in my lap taking off my helmet and unstrapping my armor, kissing my neck as she did so.

We made love that night embracing each other not just as lovers but soon to be wedded. I felt at my happiest moment till all of a sudden, we heard a loud explosion and looking outside I looked in horror as I saw Muichiro Tokita getting blasted out of a nearby building by a blast of wind.

Ayano turned pale as she rushed to get ready as she said, "I might not have interacted with the upper moons all the time, but I know only one upper moon capable of that kind of blast!"

I raised my eyebrow and said, "gods! Who is capable of such powerful winds!"

Ayano then sheathed her katana and said, "Hantengu upper moon four! If he's here Muzan wouldn't send him alone I bet you if anything he sent gyokko with him!"

Rushing to put on my armor I said, "how shall I go about taking them down?"

Ayano threw me my nodachi and said, "with gyokko his weakness is his neck but only in his true form, Hantengu is the same, but he splits into his emotions, aim for the one with the kanji for fear on his tongue"

I gave her a blank stare and she looked at me and said, "wait….do you not know kanji!"

I looked at her and said, "oi you rengoku sensei and shinbou sensei only ever taught me katakana and hiragana! You guys never taught me kanji!"

Ayano smacked her forehead and picked up a brush and ink and put the symbol on my arm and said, "kill the demon with this mark! Now come on if Tanjiro is going up against them he stands no chance alone"

As we rushed out of the room and towards the building tanjiro was fighting in I said, "Ayano we witnessed Muichiro being blasted out of a window, do you think we should go and see if he's okay and then go after Tanjiro!"

Ayano laughed and said, "nah not really I don't really care for that seaweed haired dumbass sooo yeah let him get his butt handed to him by whoever is out there!"

I then felt a strange aura and instinctively I grabbed Ayano by her collar and pulled her back as a giant fish demon rushed passed us.

"what the hell!" I shouted, taking up a phalanx stance.

Ayano raised her eyebrows and said, "that vase…that's one of gyokko's! aim for the vase Nikolaos the whole thing will die if you destroy the vase!"

I nodded and allowed the fish demon to punch my shield over and over again till I shouted, "pantheon breathing 12th form bountiful counter of demeter!" pushing the fish demon back and swinging my spear in a wide arc holding it by the spear butt and cutting off the vase easily.

I laughed and watched as more fish demon rushed us and I said, "hold the line Ayano we must keep them from entering the village by any means necessary!".

Ayano nodded and we kept fighting till a pink streak passed us cutting the other demons.

Smiling I looked at to where the streak ended and saw Mitsuri rushing past us.

"keep up the good work lady Kanroji we'll handle this area go and save the village chief!" I shouted, rushing forward to fight more of the fish demons.

Strangely enough though the fish demon seemed afraid of something, but it wasn't us…they ran away from us in fact.

"it seems we pushed them back! Guess Gyokko's fish demons aren't as dumb as they seem" Ayano laughed.

I nodded and we continued to rush toward the sight of the battle where Tanjiro Nezuko and a boy with black and blonde hair were facing off against five demons. One of them was dressed in a maroon vest with baggy pants, and the other four looked like clones of each other but armed with a fan, a spear, a staff or wings.

Looking at Ayano she said, "upper moons three and four, Akaza and Hantengu….Nikolaos be careful with Hantengu each of his emotions have different fighting styles"

I nodded but rushed in just as one of the demon's with a spear was about to stab Tanjiro in the back.

Smirking I looked down at the demon and said, "so you too wield a spear, good very good indeed! Hahahaha I am going to enjoy this" before pulling his spear out of his hands and impaling him on his own spear before throwing him a logn distance by his sash.

Tanjiro looked at us and said, "Lord Nikolaos, Lady Ayano! Thank goodness you are here! These demons are stronger than the others we have faced! I mean they aren't like the Aztec, but they are certainly strong"

Smiling fiercely, I said, "then this fight should go down in the history books as the day the greeks and Japanese fought the strongest demons!"

Tanjiro then smirked and said, "oh by the way" before pointing to the pale demon.

Tanjiro said, "that's the one that killed Rengoku!"

Instantly the whole world became colder and darker as the demon with wings said, "umm wait what just happened? Why does it feel so cold? Guys why am I feeling fear this shouldn't be possible…. Karaku, Sekido…Lord Akaza what- what is this feeling?"

Shinobu's pov:

Somewhere in the world I suddenly felt like the world got even colder like death itself had entered the world.

Looking up to the sky I could see it darkening and a dead wind flowing by somberly I said, "Nikolaos…I know it is you…please be safe…and don't let your anger fuel you"

My young tsuguko and sister Kanao looked at me and said, "sister this aura of death I feel…is this….is this the wrath of Nikolaos…"

I nodded and said, "yes it is and I fear it is rage well deserved…"

Muzan:

Strange my memories soon melded with that of Akaza's it seems like he's experience a truamtic event like I did with Yoriichi…poor thing.

Douma:

I had no reason to explain it but as I embraced my subordinate I felt a cold wind of death enter my sanctum. I knew exactly who it was from.

Chuckling I said, "boy someone must have really pissed off lord Nikolaos…I feel bad for the demon responsible for that"

The master:

As I slept under my futon I could feel it, Death itself but it was a special kind of death, it was a Greek death.

"Nikolaos my boy…who has you angered this much to fill you with this aura of death" I muttered somberly.

Tanjiro's pov:

I knew lord Nikolaos would be the angriest finding out this was the demon responsible for Rengoku's death but this, this aura of death! I could see a black and violet aura surrounding him and his will of fire was burning even brighter than before his burning heart, it burned with malice yes but it also burned with love, he wasn't just angry about this demon but he was also ready to avenge his sensei without any envy or murderous intent.

Nikolaos's pov:

Sekido seemed to stagger back and looked at me and could see no malice no hatred but just the visage of death as he said, "I think it would be wise Urogi if we didn't get in his way…Lord Akaza I think he's gunning for you."

Karaku gulped loudly and started to tremble as he said, "this aura of death I have only ever felt it once and it's not something I like- is the fear Hantengu feels all the time!"

Calmly I picked up my spear and aimed it at Akaza and said, "pantheon breathing, 5th form Burning chariot of apollo!" giving Akaza no time to react as I put the fear of god into him with one movement bashing his face in with my shield and spearing him to the ground as Urogi came in to try and use his talons on me.

They scrapped harmlessly against my armor, and I threw down my shield and unsheathed my kopis slashing off his legs and grabbing him by his balls crushing them in my hands and throwing him into the other demons.

Roaring in anger I said, "stay out of my way!" before rushing back to deal with Akaza.

The three demons started to argue as the winged demon shouted, "oi watch it Sekido!"

Sekido managed to yell out, "oh why should I watch it huh Urogi its not like you could fly out of the way or anything you bastard!"

Urogi yelled in anger saying, "oh gee I mean I could have except my fucking nuts are destroyed! Gee can you have some level of pity for me! Also, where the hell is Aizetsu he'd be more suited for dealing with the Greek!"

I felt it in my gut all of a sudden and turned around in time to block Aizetsu's Yari with my shield.

Aizetsu looked at me with a dejected look saying, "how sad I thought you would allow me to get in a swift kill…it would have been swift and painless too but now I have to end you"

Grinning evilly, I said, "bud you must be really stupid to think you stand a chance"

Aizetsu leapt back and took up a stance saying, "oh and why do you say that?"

Rushing him I said, "cause us greeks are trained to deal with spear combat! We know every form and how to beat it!" before throwing down my shield, grabbing his spear and pulling it out of his hands and snapping it before unsheathing my kopis and slamming the pommel into his face multiple times.

Throwing it to the side again I rushed Aizetsu again this time using Pankration to spar against him grabbing him and throwing him out of the way.

However, I was more surprised about Nezuko rushing Aizetsu with her own shield and sword bitch slapping Aizetsu and laughing like me as we practically bullied Aizetsu till finally Tanjiro called Nezuko over to him to help Genya.

Smirking I said, "go Nezuko! I can handle this on my own!"

Akaza managed to pull himself off my spear and tried to land a punch on me only for me to turn around and grab his hand and twist it as I brought him to his knees.

Stuttering Akaza looked up trying to punch me with his good hand but I didn't feel any pain.

In fact with his fist still in my face I turned back and looked at him and with a grin I said, "thank you sir may I have another?" followed by another punch and another.

Akaza looked at me with a confused face but with a hint of the fear of god as he said, "what the- what the fuck is wrong with you! no one is strong enough to withstand a punch from me! What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck!" continuing to punch me in the face denting my helmet little by little.

While this was going on Tanjiro shuttered and said, "I had a feeling he would be pissed but this is….rather excessive even for Nikolaos"

Ayano bapped him on the head saying, "did you expect something different! Rengoku was the reason Nikolaos found his was to Japan in the first place and trained him! As Nikolaos put it he was like Nikolaos's second father!"

Sekido looked at Tanjiro and said, "so you're the reason the air feels like death!"

Karaku muttered, "gonna be honest I do feel bad for Lord Akaza"

I just clenched my fist cracking each of my knuckles and knocked him out cold with a single punch to the jaw. Turning to the other demons I said, "you got five seconds to run" but they didn't run instead they fought with Tanjiro trying to avoid me as I looked back to see Akaza try and run away.

Tanjiro then shouted, "go! Lord Nikolaos, Lady Ayano! You two are our best hope and defeating the upper third demon! Avenge Rengoku sensei!"

Looking at Ayano I said, "oh we are not letting him get away lets go!"

As we ran I looked back at Tanjiro, Genya and Nezuko I shouted, "thank you! fight hard and well I know you can do it!" and followed after him.

As we ran I looked at Ayano and said, "Ayano…what was up with genya….he looked like a demon"

Ayano looked away and said, "I was afraid the rumors were true but its a lot sicker than you think….he ate the flesh of demons..."

Confused I said, "people do that?"

Ayano nodded and said, "yeah its taboo from what other slayers have told me but it's a risk as it could become permanent."

Shuttering I said, "also about his gun"

Ayano looked at me and said, "Nikolaos no, you do not need a gun like that"

Laughing I said, "I know but its still pretty cool though huh?"

Ayano nodded and soon we cornered Akaza.

Roaring loudly, I said, "bear witness to me for I am your death! I am the only known tsuguko of Kyojuro Rengoku I am the great lion of Greece the last true spartan!" before slamming my foot into the ground and shattering the earth below me as I said, "Nikolaos Aristokles!" before taking up a phalanx again.

The demon laughed and brought up his fist saying, "so Rengoku did have a student worthy of him good very good indeed! I can sense your resolve and fire its almost like his fire! Lets see if your will of fire is anything like his! I am known as the upper third moon Akaza!" before rushing me.

The fool kept trying to slam his fists at me but every attempt was blocked by my shield and I followed every attempt by bitch slapping him with the shield sending him flying back. For an upper moon he had the weakest fighting style…no it wasn't that it was weak he was just at a major disadvantage against my shield. No surprise most fist fighters have hard times getting around Aspis shields.

"Ayano!" I shouted.

Ayano nodded and zoomed around me with a cold glare saying, "demon blood breath 9th form dancing Kappa!" before turning into a stream of water and lunging at Akaza.

Akaza dodged out of the way but still received some major bruises from the attack.

"Nikolaos push forward!" Ayano shouted.

I nodded and shouted, "Pantheon breathing 6th form Artemis moonlit arrow!" before throwing the spear at him piercing him through the chest allowing my spear to return to me in the process.

Akaza laughed and said, "yes! You do have his fire! I can sense it through our combat, but I can also sense your rage and your hatred! You want me dead! Hahahahah try and kill me I am excited for this fight! Blood demon art disorder!"

I watched as Akaza sent forth a bunch of shockwaves in an attempt to kill me but my rage boiled over and I shouted, "pantheon breathing 8th form iron guard of Hephaestus!" blocking every single of his attacks.

As he attacked me, however I felt his reasons for fighting, his memory was clouded by his demonic blood, he knew he had to fight but he couldn't remember why. It was quite sad, but I could feel it, he too mourned for rengoku seeing him as a perfect opponent and someone he wanted to fight for eternity. I felt nothing but sorrow for him but at the same time I felt hatred for him as he was still the death of my sensei.

Akaza tried again this time rushing me and saying, "technique deployment annihilation type! Die just like your master! Die Nikolaos aristokles! Die!" before rushing at me.

"beat with the drums of war mighty heart of Greece! Let them roar let them keen let them shout!" I shouted as I took up a phalanx stance and defended myself against Akaza's attacks till finally I had my opening and roared spearing him in the mouth with my spear throwing him back a bit as I pulled my spear out of his mouth and using the mace head to make his neck snap a full 360 degrees.

I thought I had him but he didn't die! He just grabbed his head before it could fall off and his cells regenerated his muscles.

I snapped and unsheathed my nodachi and rushed forward ready to decapitate him but as I rushed forward a loud and low booming voice said, "I told you to let Hantengu and Gyokko do the fighting Akaza why must we always clean up your stupid mistakes you damn idiot! blood demon art: frost of the ancient winter" followed by a blast of ice so powerful I had to stop my attack and hide Ayano behind me as the trees ground and even the air turned cold this was unlike anything I had ever faced before this cold was like death itself!

Ayano turned pale as she said, "no, no it can't be him! Why is he here of all the eclipses why him! Nikolaos please I beg you just run!"

It was him…eclipse number 2 the nord