Shinobu used her sword to slow down the momentum by piercing the ground underneath.
Kai didn't let himself fall behind, and instead back flipped using his tail, while calling back the Murasame through Telekinesis.
Pop!
By the time both of them regained their bearings, Akaza was already standing between them, grinning ear to ear.
Kai and Shinobu were facing each other, but the Demon was standing sideways with his shoulders pointed at them.
Akaza crouched, his fisted arms at his waist, and then exploded with power.
Technique…
Kai and Shinobu both had scarcely raised their swords for defense when Akaza struck at the air towards them with his open palms.
… Annihilation Type!
Cough!
Kai and Shinobu coughed out a mouthful of blood, their figures becoming one with hail as they got thrown back.
Kai somehow used his swords and tail to get a balanced footing, his entire figure shaking like a lead.
It was then his instincts went wild.
The image of a kick, splitting the air, appeared in his mind.
Almost simultaneously, Akaza appeared in front of Kai and kicked at his chin.
Too fast!
Even with Kai's Agility, Telekinesis, and abnormal instinct, there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Akaza was too fast, even considering a Hashira's standards.
Technique - Leg Type…
The kick landed on Kai's chin, creating a shockwave on the impact.
… Crown Splitter!
Kai's head got thrown back, his eyes rolling back into his head.
However, before he could fall back, Akaza attacked with a flashing flurry of powerful straight kicks so fast that they created afterimages.
Technique - Leg Type…
The kicks landed at Kai's chest, shoulders, waist, and stomach, creating tremendous blue-colored shockwaves.
… Explosive Flurry!
Kai flew back like a banner in a storm, but before he could go out of Akaza's reach, he clutched Kai's ankle and pulled him back.
Technique…
Akaza grinned crazily, and before Kai's feet could touch the ground again, he unleashed eight powerful punches, each strike creating large and strong shockwaves.
… Eight-Layered Demon Core!
Three combinations of techniques, yet only a few moments had passed since the first.
Kai's knee struck the ground, his entire body numb, and his swords missing.
The silvery armor on his body was cracked in several places, and blood was seeping out of his nose, eyes, and ears.
Yet, at this moment, when none would have expected any movement from him, Kai grinned.
Swish!
Afro's Tachi came at Akaza's neck like a bullet from a blind spot.
The demon narrowed his eyes and moved just by the slightest to dodge the attack.
Suddenly, from this new blind spot, Murasame hacked at his neck. Even with Akaza's speed, it didn't seem he could dodge this attack.
Well, he didn't.
Under Kai's widened eyes, Akaza grabbed Murasame, his hand covered in a blue shine.
"Weak!" the demon spat, throwing the sword. He made a fist, bones making a crunching sound.
Rain, hail, and even wind exploded out, leaving Kai and Akaza at that spot.
Technique- Crushing Typ …
And then Akaza punched.
… Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow!
If this punch landed, Kai's head would burst apart into a thousand pieces. No doubt.
The cicadas cried now, more enchanting than ever.
Insect Breathing - Butterfly Dance…
Shinobu fell from the sky like a lone gust of wind, stinging the fist that was approaching Kai's head with meticulous precision.
… Caprice!
Akaza pulled back his bleeding hand and jumped to his right, creating some distance.
Shinobu huffed and puffed as she turned around to give Kai a delicate smile.
Her forehead was covered with blood, and blood was seeping out from the corners of her mouth. Yet, the single purple butterfly tattoo on her right cheek could be seen distinctly even then.
"You are incredibly fast, Hashira!" Akaza praised. "But you will die defending this weakling. A waste!"
"Ara!" Shinobu forced out a giggle, looking at the demon. "We have very different definitions for Weakling."
Then Shinobu and Akaza both vanished.
The entire surroundings got covered with distinct purple and blue blows striking at each other and their blurs.
One moment they were at Kai's left, and at the other, they were at Kai's right.
Cicadas kept crying and powerful shockwaves kept burying their noises under the might of a razing storm.
Kai looked at this sight like a mere side character, his ribs broken, and his entire body aching from toe to head.
Afro's Tachi and Murasame crawled towards him, their hilts putting themselves in his grasp with the help of Telekinesis.
The next time Shinobu appeared on stage, her left hand was hanging low lifelessly, blood dripping down her fingers.
Somehow, two more butterfly tattoos had appeared on her other cheek, bringing the total to three.
Akaza landed some distance away from her and he was missing his hands from elbows.
With a heart-wrenching pop, Akaza's hands regenerated, and he laughed.
"Enough playing around, Hashira!" he shouted, throwing his hands back. "Show it to me! Bring it out or die! You know what I am talking about, don't you? Let it explode…
"… Show me your Bankai!"
Shinobu gasped for breath, turned her head to look at Kai, and then straightened her spine.
The three butterflies on her face flashed rhythmically, giving an impression as though they were fluttering with sheer joy.
The Insect Hashira lifted her sword arm and pointed it at Akaza.
"Very well," she said solemnly. "Try not to die, then."
She spun her sword in the air, grabbed it, and then slashed the empty air to the right as if flicking the blood and rain off it.
"Ban…kai!!!"
A gigantic burst of purple Reiatsu exploded out of her, covering everything within hundreds of meters.
But, though equally magnanimous, this Reiatsu differed from the Flame Hashira.
Kai felt Shinobu's Reiatsu and compared it with that of the Rengoku's.
His was fire, scorching everything in its path, and weighted a mountain. The Reiatsu released by the Insect Hashira was like stingers, stinging each cell and blood vessel.
When the stinging pressure receded, Shinobu's figure appeared in Kai's eyes.
She looked taller than before, somehow.
Shinobu was wearing a black, sleeveless, and backless kimono, and on her right hand was a black and purple gauntlet with spiral decorations.
Attached to the gauntlet was a stinger-like purple blade, extending over Shinobu's middle finger.
"Haha!" Akaza laughed maniacally. "This is it. This is…"
His words got caught in his mouth.
Shinobu, who had been standing far away from him, was now crouching in front of Akaza.
Her purple stinger was embedded deep into the demon's chest, creating a giant butterfly pattern over his body.
"Cry!" Shinobu whispered. "Koduko Higurashi!!"
**************
AN:
— Shinobu's Bankai looks like Sui-Feng's Shikai from Bleach
— Koduko Higurashi - lit. Cursed Poison Evening Cicada
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