Tomioka Giyu stood coldly, observing Akaza and Gyokko without a flicker of emotion on his face. He slowly raised his sword, assuming an attacking stance.
"As expected, none of you Demon Slayers accepted my invitation," Akaza said with a smile. "Since you refuse to become noble demons and prefer to remain as lowly humans, then die!"
He issued a command to Gyokko beside him.
"Do not harm the girl without my permission!"
Gyokko frowned upon Akaza's dismissive tone, clearly irritated by the way Akaza was ordering him around. "Don't forget, this is our mission!" he retorted.
"Hmph, don't teach me how to do things," Akaza sneered. "The demons who grow stronger by eating women are the ones I despise the most."
"Fine," Gyokko said, spinning his asymmetrical eyes. "If something goes wrong, if the mission fails, you'll have to take the responsibility with Muzan-sama."
Akaza dismissed him with a flick of his hand. Turning to Giyu, he asked, "So, could this unknown Hashira tell me your name?"
Akaza extended his hand with another invitation. "I can tell you have exceptional swordsmanship. Come, join us as a demon!"
"Giyu Tomioka," Giyu replied quietly.
"Excellent. Then, Mr. Giyu, please die!"
Akaza attacked with a sudden, ferocious strike.
Destruction Kill: Leg Style—Flash of Many Lights!
Akaza launched a series of rapid, devastating kicks toward Giyu.
Giyu took a deep breath and calmly declared, "Total Concentration: Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
Blue-white ripples appeared along the edge of his blade, blocking Akaza's attack. Explosive flashes erupted beside him.
The surrounding earth flew into the air, dust rising in thick clouds.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
Giyu skillfully dodged and attacked, closing the distance toward Akaza.
"Ha-ha-ha, come on! Delight me to the fullest!" Akaza laughed, preparing to strike.
Destruction Kill: Chaos Style!
Akaza vanished in an instant, charging directly at Giyu.
Boom!
The two collided with an immense burst of energy, creating a shockwave.
Boom-boom-boom!
Their speeds were so fast, it seemed like a flash of lightning, blurring their movements.
Giyu wielded his sword, while Akaza threw punches. Their attacks were equally matched, but Akaza's ease made Giyu realize he was no match.
"Remarkable swordsmanship. Very impressive," Akaza praised, before delivering another powerful punch.
Giyu's expression remained unchanged, his cold demeanor unshaken.
Destruction Kill: Leg Style—Crown Cutting First!
A powerful downward kick came crashing toward Giyu.
"Total Concentration: Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Vortex Swirl, Flowing Dance!"
Giyu twisted his upper and lower body, using the force to unleash sharp slashes.
Blue-white whirlpools appeared, each turn delivering a lethal strike!
Meanwhile, the Third Form: Flowing Dance allowed Giyu to dodge Akaza's attack and strike at his neck.
Akaza jumped back effortlessly, smirking as he said, "You're no match for me. You're much weaker than that Nakagawa Feng Yu. Well, the warm-up's over. Now I'm going to get serious!"
Destruction Kill: Final Form—Blue-Eyed Shattered Light!
Massive blue snowflake-like symbols appeared beneath Akaza's feet. Blue needles began to spin around him, their energy swirling through the air.
Swish!
The needles shot out at Giyu with overwhelming force.
Giyu was forced to take a defensive stance.
"Total Concentration: Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Calm!"
A blue, horizontal plane of energy expanded from Giyu's body.
As the blue needles made contact with the barrier, they were repelled, but the force of their impact created violent sounds, shaking the ground and surrounding air.
More and more needles came, and Giyu realized his barrier was beginning to crack, as fragile as a candle in the wind.
Crack!
His weakest defense shattered, and countless needles screamed toward him.
Bang!
Giyu was sent flying.
Cough!
Blood spilled from his mouth, staining his chest. His body felt like it was falling apart, broken bones and ruptured veins overwhelming him...
"Am I... going to die?"
"I really am so weak..."
A look of resignation appeared on Giyu's face as he closed his eyes, memories flashing before him.
"Giyu, Giyu, wake up, wake up!"
He heard someone calling his name. Slowly, he opened his eyes. In front of him was the sister he had always longed for—Fuyuko Tomioka!
"Sister!"
Giyu embraced her, tears streaming down his face.
"Sister... I miss you so much... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I should have been the one to die back then..."
In front of his sister, Giyu looked like a child, perhaps revealing the emotions and pain he had buried deep inside.
"It's okay, it's okay. My little Giyu is the strongest, the most amazing," Fuyuko whispered softly as she stroked his head.
"Sister knows you're tired, but you can't give up yet. There are still so many people in this world who need you. So, Giyu, please, pull yourself together."
"That's right, Giyu. Makomo and I have always been watching over you. You must keep going, be brave, and live on for the future your sister entrusted to you!"
As the mist cleared, Sabito and Makomo appeared, both wearing fox masks, standing in front of Giyu and waving at him.
Giyu reached out, but despite their proximity, it was as though an invisible barrier kept him from touching them.
"Sabito... Makomo..."
Giyu stared at them in confusion.
"Giyu, you must always remember what I told you. You must get up, be brave, and live! You must live on!"
As Sabito and Makomo's figures faded, Giyu scrambled to catch them, but his hands grasped only air.
His sister, Fuyuko, was also slowly disappearing.
"Giyu... I'll always be with you... You must live... Live on..."
Fuyuko's form vanished, and Giyu cried out, "No!"
"Sister!"
Back in the real world, Akaza looked down at the lifeless body of Giyu, grinning.
"It seems he's dead. Muzan-sama should be pleased—another Hashira down."
From a distance, Gyokko watched Akaza's swift defeat of Giyu, hurriedly rolling toward him.
"Akaza-sama, I didn't expect your power to have increased so rapidly. You're almost on par with Kokushibo-sama!"
Akaza remained silent, his gaze fixed on Gyokko, who began to feel uneasy under the weight of his stare.
With a nervous chuckle, Gyokko said, "Since the Hashira is already dead, please, Akaza-sama, enjoy your meal."
Gyokko cautiously retreated, eager to complete Muzan's mission and return to his quiet life of brewing jars.
Akaza nodded, watching him go, before slowly walking toward Giyu's lifeless body.
"No... No!"
"Please, please spare us!"
Meixiu's father, seeing Gyokko approaching, quickly dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.
Ke ke ke "Blame yourselves for being connected to that Demon Slayer. You angered Muzan-sama, so prepare for death!"
Gyokko flicked his hand, and a pool of blood appeared on the wall.
Meixiu's father's head rolled to the floor, and blood poured out, staining the floor red.
"No! Father! Father!"
Meixiu's eyes widened in disbelief. Her beloved father, now separated from his body, lay dead before her.
She collapsed to the ground, her legs too weak to support her. Tears poured from her eyes like a downpour as she gasped for air, longing to embrace her father.
She crawled toward him, whispering, "Father... Mother..."
"Ke ke ke, how pathetic. Only humans have such disgusting, ugly emotions!" Gyokko sneered, watching Meixiu crawl toward her father.
"Enough. It's time to take you back and report to Muzan-sama."
Gyokko reached out with his fish-scaled hand to grab Meixiu.
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared, and Meixiu vanished before his eyes. Gyokko's arm dropped to the ground, blood spurting from the severed limb.
"Who's there!"
Gyokko shouted in surprise.
"Sorry... I'm late!"
...