The battleerupted into chaos. The manifestations choosed their opponents and changed the rooms.

Obanai vs. Sekido

The Infinity Castlerumbledwith raw energy, the air thick withcharged electricity. Obanai Igurostood firm, his sharp mismatched eyes locked ontoSekido, the manifestation ofpure rage.

"Tch... a Hashira, huh?"Sekido scoffed, hiscrimson eyes burningwith contempt. Hisbody crackled with lightning, arcs of electricitydancing along his veins."I hate weaklings. You better not disappoint me!"

Obanaitightened his gripon hisserpent-shaped blade, his white-and-green Nichirin Sword gleaming under the dim glow of the castle.

"Talk too much, and you’ll get bitten."Hisvoice was calm, but hisstance was deadly.

Without warning—

BOOM!

Sekidovanished in a flash, the sound ofthunder explodingas he reappeared above Obanai.

"DIE!"

Heswung his lightning-charged fist, aiming for Obanai’sskull.

"Serpent Breathing: First Form – Snake Bite!"

Obanaitwisted his blade upwards, strikinglightning-fast,parrying Sekido’s attack mid-air. Sparks flew assteel met raw electricity, sending ashockwave rippling through the battlefield.

"Not bad, Snake Boy."Sekidogrinned, stepping back.

Obanai didn’t waste a second.

"Serpent Breathing: Second Form – Snake Fang!"

Helunged forward, hisblade carving an unpredictable X-shaped slash, forcing Sekido toretreat mid-air.

"Grrrrr! You annoying little worm!"Sekido snarled, summoning awhirlwind of electric tendrils, aiming totrap and electrocutethe Serpent Hashira.

Obanaismirked, already predicting his next move.

"Serpent Breathing: Fifth Form – Slithering Serpent!"

Obanaislid low to the ground,his movement fluid like a snake,dodging every tendril of lightningthatcrashedinto the floor behind him.

"HOLD STILL!"Sekidohowled, sending amassive bolt of lightningin all directions.

Obanaijumped, using the force of the blast topropel himself forward, spinning in mid-air—

"Serpent Breathing: Fourth Form – White Snake Tail!"

Hisblade curved unpredictably,slicing through Sekido’s arm, leaving adeep gash.

"ARGHH!"Sekido roared in agony,stumbling backas hisflesh sizzledfrom the cut.

Obanai landed gracefully, unfazed.

"For a manifestation of anger, you sure are slow."Hetaunted, flicking blood off his blade.

Sekido’seyes burned brighter, his ragepeaking.

"I’LL KILL YOU!"

The airshookasSekido unleashed his most devastating attack.

"BLOOD DEMON ART: THUNDERCLAP AND FLASH – DEVASTATION!"

Astorm of lightning boltsrained from above,crackling with destruction,splitting the castle floor apart.

Obanaitook a deep breath, hisDemon Slayer Mark igniting on his skin.

"Serpent Breathing: Seventh Form – Dual Snake Strike!"

His sword blurred.

Two simultaneous slashes—

One aimed atSekido’s head.

The other aimed athis heart.

"WHAT?!"Sekido barely had time to react—

SLASH!

Blood sprayed.

Hishead separated from his body, hiseyes wide with disbelief.

"I... I lost...?"Sekido whispered before his bodydisintegrated into ashes.

Obanaiexhaled, sheathing his blade.

"Anger makes you reckless. That’s why you lost."

Tanjiro vs. Aizetsu & Karaku

The two of Hantengu’sstrongest manifestationsstood before Tanjiro. Thegale-force windsof Karaku’s fan clashed against theoppressive aura of despairradiating from Aizetsu.

Karakugrinned, swinging his massiveleaf-shaped fanlazily over his shoulder.

"Ahhh, what a pain... I just wanna have some fun."He smirked, hissharp teeth glinting."But I guess I’ll crush you first."

Aizetsu, hissomber eyes filled with sorrow, sighed.

"This is pointless... you’re going to lose. Why resist fate?"Hisspear pulsedwith dark energy.

Tanjiro tightened his grip on hisSun Breathing-infused blade, hisred Nichirin sword blazing.

"I don’t have time for your games! You demons hurt so many innocent people. I’ll stop you here!"

BOOM!

Karakuswung his fan, unleashing atornado of razor-sharp wind blades. The entire castle floortrembled, wallscrackingfrom the sheer force.

Tanjiroflipped mid-air, dodging thewhirlwind attack.

"Sun Breathing: Fire Wheel!"

Hisblade ignited, spinning like aflaming saw, cuttingthrough the windstormand nearly slicing into Karaku’s shoulder.

"Whoa! Fiery little guy, aren’t ya?"Karakulaughed, leaping back.

Before Tanjiro could react,Aizetsu appeared from behind—

"Crying and Wailing: Piercing Despair!"

Aspear of condensed sorrowshot forward, slicing toward Tanjiro’s chest.

"Sun Breathing: Clear Blue Sky!"

Tanjirospun mid-air, hisblade creating a blazing 360° arc, deflecting the attack. But the moment his feet touched the ground—

BOOM!

Karaku’sfan slammed down, sending ashockwave of airthat blasted Tanjiro backward.

"Gah!"Tanjiro gritted his teeth as he skidded across the floor.

Aizetsurushed in, thrusting his spear relentlessly.

"Sun Breathing: Raging Sun!"

Tanjiro’sblade moved in rapid succession, interceptingAizetsu’s relentless attacks. The sheerforce of the blows cracked the groundbeneath them.

"Persistent, aren’t you?"Aizetsu muttered, leaping back.

"Sun Breathing: Setting Sun Transformation!"

Tanjiroflipped backward, dodging anotherwind gustfrom Karaku, andslashed downward, leaving ascorching arcin the air.

Karakublockedwith his fan but wasforced back, his grinfaltering.

"Oh man, that actually stings."

Aizetsu’smelancholic expression darkened.

"Enough games. Crying and Wailing: Eternal Grief!"

Awave of despairflooded the battlefield. Tanjiro’svision blurred, hisbody felt sluggish.

"Not... this time!"

"Sun Breathing: Fake Rainbow!"

Hisbody flickered, leavingafterimagesas heevaded the emotional attack.

Before Aizetsu could react—

"Sun Breathing: Dragon Sun Halo Head!"

Tanjiro’sblade became a serpent of flames,ripping through Aizetsu’s chest.

"GAAAHHH!"Aizetsustaggered, coughing black blood.

Karaku, now furious,roared.

"I was having fun, but you RUINED it!"

Heswung his fanwithfull force, sending atornado strong enough to tear through steel.

"Sun Breathing: Thirteenth Form!"

Tanjirounleashed a flurry of attacks,slicing through the stormandcharging straight at Karaku.

With a finalburning slash—

SHLNK!

Karaku’shead flew off, his bodycrumbling into ashes.

Aizetsu,weakened, tried to escape, but—

"Sun Breathing: Beneficent Radiance!"

Tanjiro’sblazing slash cut through Aizetsu’s neck, ending the battle.

Tengen vs. Urogi

Tengen Uzui, the self-proclaimedGod of Flashiness, stood face to face withUrogi, the wingedManifestation of Joy.

"AHAHAAHAHA! What a thrilling turn of events! I get to fight a Hashira!"Urogi flapped his massiverazor-sharp wings, hisgolden eyes gleamingwith excitement.

Tengen spun hismassive dual Nichirin Cleavers, hisgrin unwavering.

"Tch, a bird-brained demon? Please. I’ve fought demons ten times scarier than you, and they didn’t squawk as much."

Urogi’sbeak curled into a wicked grin.

"Oh, I’ll make you eat those words, shinobi!"

The moment he finished speaking, Urogilaunched forward at breakneck speed, hisclawed feet slashing toward Tengen’s throat!

Tengen barely tilted his head as the clawswhizzed past, grazing his cheek.

"Fast. But not fast enough."

Tengenjumped back, slamming his swords into the floor.

"Sound Breathing: First Form – Roar!"

Hebrought downhis cleavers in adevastating arc, creating ashockwave of pure sound. The forceripped through the air, sendingUrogi spiraling backward, his wings flapping wildly.

"AHAHAHA! That was LOUD!"Urogi cackled midair before twisting, stopping himself.

"Yeah? Well, let’s see how you handle this!"

Urogiopened his mouth wide—

"BLOOD DEMON ART: SONIC SCREECH!"

Adeafening sonic waveburst from Urogi’s throat, the soundwavesdistorting the air,shattering the castle walls, and sendingTengen sliding back.

The Hashiragritted his teeth,ears ringing, but his shinobi instincts kicked in.

"Hah! You think you’re the only one with sound attacks? Try this!"

Tengengripped his cleavers tightly, spinning like ahuman tornado.

"Sound Breathing: Fourth Form – Constant Resounding Slashes!"

Hisblades cut through the air in rapid succession, creatingcrescendoing sonic boomsthatclashed against Urogi’s screech.

Theair crackedfrom the sheer force, and in an instant—

BOOM!

Urogi wasblasted into the castle walls, debrisraining downaround him.

"Whew! That was flashy, even for me,"Tengen smirked, dusting himself off.

"HAHAHAHA!"Urogiburst from the rubble,blood tricklingfrom his beak but his excitementnever fading.

"You’re FUN! But let’s see you handle this!"

Urogisoared into the air,spinning mid-flight, and unleashed—

"BLOOD DEMON ART: WINGED TEMPEST!"

Ahurricane of razor-sharp wind bladesshot down at Tengen,tearing through stone and steel like paper.

But the Hashira didn’t flinch. Instead, heleaped forward, meeting the storm head-on.

"Sound Breathing: Fifth Form – String Performance!"

Tengen’stwin cleavers spun violently, slicingthrough every wind blade, reducing them to harmless gusts.

Before Urogi could react—

"Sound Breathing: Fifth Form – Bursting Bloom!"

Tengenunleashed a flurry of slashes, embeddingexplosive beadsinto Urogi’schest and wings.

KA-BOOM!

Thedemon exploded mid-air,feathers and blood raining downas hescreamed in agony.

Tengenlanded gracefully, flipping his swords.

"Looks like you’re all out of tricks, bird-brain."

Urogigasped, hiswings shredded, hisbody barely holding together.

"H-How...?"

Tengengrinned, cracking his knuckles.

"I told you. I’m the God of Flashiness. And you? You’re just a feathered punching bag."

With a finallightning-fast swing—

"Sound Breathing: Rising Kick!"

Tengenkicked Urogi’s head clean off, sending itflying across the battlefield.

The demon’sbody crumbled into ash, hismaniacal laughter fadinginto the void.

Tengentwirled his swords, flashing his signaturecocky grin.

"Well, that was fun. Who’s next?"

Shinobu vs. Chitose

The air inside theRoombecamethick and suffocatingas achilling presencesettled over the battlefield. The shadows twisted unnaturally, and an eerie whisper slithered through the air, creeping intoShinobu Kocho’s ears like a venomous serpent.

"Oh dear... what is this unsettling feeling?"Shinobu muttered, twirling herlavender-blue Nichirin katanabetween her fingers.

From the depths of the darkness,Chitose, theManifestation of Fear, emerged. Herghastly form wavered, herblack, mist-like aura writhingaround her like living tendrils. Herblood-red eyes gleamedas she smirked.

"You are afraid, aren’t you?" Chitose whispered, her voicea chilling echothat sent shivers through the walls.

Shinobu’s breath hitchedfor just a fraction of a secondbefore she chuckled.

"Afraid? Me? My dear, I work with poisons. Fear is just another toxin the body needs to purge."

Chitose’stwisted grin widened.

"Then let’s see how long you last."

Suddenly, awave of pure terrorblasted outward, theShroud of Fearwarping reality itself. Thewalls of the castle stretched and pulsed, anddark figuresformed around Shinobu, whispering in distorted voices.

"You’re too weak... you’ll never win..."

"Your sister is gone... just like you will be..."

"Give up... you’re already dead..."

For the first time in years,Shinobu’s fingers trembled. Herheart pounded violentlyagainst her ribs.

But then—

She smiled.

"Oh my, you’re quite theatrical!"she chirped, her voice lighthearted as ever."Are you trying to make me feel despair? That’s adorable."

With a single step,she vanished.

Chitose’s eyes widened.

"Wha—"

Shinobu reappeared above her, her bladeglowing under the eerie light.

"Insect Breathing: Butterfly Dance – Caprice!"

Shespun mid-air,stabbing downward in a flurry of needle-like strikes. Therapid stingsfound their mark, injectingWisteria poisoninto Chitose’s form.

Thefear demon screamed, her body convulsing as the poison burned through her veins.

"Tch! That won’t work on me!"Chitose hissed, hermist-like form twisting violently.

Shevanished into the shadows, only to reappearright behind Shinobu.

"FEAR WAVE!"

Ashockwave of paralyzing fearrippled through the air, slamming into Shinobu’s back.

Hermuscles stiffened, her breath hitched, and for just asplit second, she saw thephantom of her dead sister, Kanae, standing before her.

"Shinobu... you can’t win this one... let go..."

But instead of despair,Shinobu giggled.

"Oh, silly me. I almost fell for that."

Chitose’seyes widened.

"Why... why doesn’t my power work on you?!"

Shinobuvanished once again, zigzagging toward Chitose withinhuman speed.

"Insect Breathing: Dance of the Bee Sting – True Flutter!"

Shestruck forward in a single, lightning-fast thrust, herkatana piercing straight through Chitose’s chest.

Thedemon convulsed, choking on her ownshadowy mist.

"T-this isn’t possible... I am FEAR itself!"

Shinobuleaned in, whispering into Chitose’s ear.

"No, dear. You’re just another insect for me to squash."

Shetwisted her blade, injectingan even deadlier doseof poison.

Chitosescreamed, her bodymelting into a black puddle.

As the last of her formdissolved into nothingness, Shinobu sheathed her sword, sighing.

"What a troublesome little bug... Well, time to check on the others."

Kanao vs. Zohakuten

TheRoomquivered asblood-red treeserupted from the floor, their grotesque limbs twisting unnaturally. The air was thick with the scent ofiron and decay, the oppressive weight ofpure hatredpressing against Kanao like an unseen force.

From the shadows,Zohakuten, theManifestation of Hatred, sneered. His darkened form, grotesque and wreathed in an aura of fury, radiated an unnatural malice.

"Your existence disgusts me."His voicerumbled like distant thunder, hisblood-red tendrils snaking across the battlefield.

Kanaogripped her katana, hercalm lavender eyes unwavering.

"Your emotions are suffocating. I think it’s time for a little fresh air."

Zohakuten’ssnarl deepened, his blood treesexploding outwardin an attempt toimpale her instantly.

ButKanao was already gone.

A blur ofpink and whitedanced through the crimson forest.

"Flower Breathing: Second Form – Honorable Shadow Plum!"

Herrotating slashescarved effortlessly through thewrithing branches,deflecting each attack with deadly precision.

Zohakuten’sbloodshot eyes widenedasKanao burst through his defenses, launching a spiraling slash at his chest. He barely dodged, but not before athin red lineappeared on his torso.

"Tch... Insolent insect!"Heslammed his hand into the ground, causingmassive tree trunks to surge upward, attempting totrap her in a wooden prison.

Kanao simplysmiledandleapt high into the air.

"Flower Breathing: Fourth Form – Crimson Hanagoromo!"

Her katanacurved in a graceful arc,slicing clean through the towering treesas shelanded softly atop one of the broken trunks.

"Is that all?"she asked playfully.

Zohakutenroared, hishatred manifesting as a whirlwind of blood and wood.

"You will be crushed beneath my hatred!"

Hisrage-fueled assaultcame in the form ofmassive roots,coiling like monstrous serpents, lunging at Kanao withdeadly precision.

Kanaoexhaled calmly.

"Flower Breathing: Fifth Form – Peonies of Futility!"

Herblade dancedthrough the air, unleashingnine consecutive strikesin the blink of an eye.

Each strikesevered a root, reducing them to nothing more thanshredded wood and blood mist.

Zohakutengritted his teeth, his formtrembling with fury.

"Stop—MOVING!"

Hishatred surged, hisform warpingasthe blood trees mergedinto amonstrous entity, swinging down with anunstoppable force.

Kanaoclosed her eyes for a momentbefore snapping them open—her visionsharp and absolute.

"Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye!"

The worldslowed to a crawl.

Zohakuten’s movements becamepredictable,every muscle shift,every fiber of his being exposedto Kanao’sheightened perception.

Shesidestepped effortlessly, herkatana flashing like a petal caught in the wind.

"Flower Breathing: Sixth Form – Whirling Peach!"

Using themomentum of her evasive maneuver, Kanaospun gracefully, herstrike severingZohakuten’sleft arm in a single motion.

Thedemon howled, hisrage boiling over.

"HOW?! YOU ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME!"

Kanao’ssoft voice cut through his fury like a whispering breeze.

"Hatred clouds judgment. And that’s why you’ve already lost."

Zohakuten’seyes widened in horrorasKanao lunged forward, herkatana aimed for his throat.

Tanjiro vs. Hantengu

Amidst the chaos,Tanjiro sensed it—

The real Hantengu.

"THERE!"Hedashed forward, ignoring the destruction behind him.

Thefrail, cowering form of Hantengutrembled in fear.

"NOOO! DON’T KILL MEEE!"

Tanjiroignored his pleas.

"Sun Breathing: Thirteenth Form!"

Hisblade burned like the sun,his movements a blur of divine fire.

Hantenguscreeched, trying torun—

But Tanjirowas faster.

With onefinal, explosive slash—

Hantengu’s head flew through the air, his body bursting into flames.

The demonlet out a final, pitiful wail—before crumbling toash.

The battle was over.

TheManifestations dissolved, their existence erased.

The Infinity Castlegrew silent.

Tanjiroexhaled deeply, his handstrembling.

Tengenwhistled, swinging his cleaver over his shoulder."Damn, kid. That was flashy."

Zenitsucollapsed face-first into the floor."I THINK I PEED MY PANTS!"

Shinobuwiped her blade."A satisfying experiment."

Kanaosmiled softly.

Obanainodded, sheathing his blade."One down. More to go."

Tanjirogrinned, despite his exhaustion.

The war wasn’t over yet.

But today, they had won.

TO BE CONTINUED...🔥

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com