I just found out that Sukuna is based on japanese myths with three different variations existing.
In some where he defied imperial authority and plundered villages and some where he slayed demons and saved villages(it varies by prefecture), In some areas he was believed to be an incarnation of buddha and a buddhist war god.
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Facing Rengoku Kyojuro's thrust, Sukuna simply swung the Nichirin Blade and deflected it easily, nearly knocking Rengoku's sword aside.
Rengoku Kyojuro watched in shock as his own Nichirin Blade was knocked away, and saw the relaxed expression on Sukuna's face. He gained a preliminary understanding of his enemy's strength.
He hadn't been holding back to test the waters. Rengoku had attacked with the intent to kill, but that blow—Fifth Form: Flame Tiger—had been slapped away without effort.
In that second of distraction, Sukuna's left fist nearly drove straight through Rengoku's body.
By the time he felt the impact, he was already flying backward from the punch. Only by stabbing his Nichirin Blade into the ground did he manage to stop himself from collapsing.
His internal organs had taken serious damage. He coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
After that brief exchange, he understood clearly what kind of demon he was fighting.
Even the demon he had killed back when he first became a Hashira—Lower Moon Two, Hairo—could not compare to this demon in the form of a young man.
But Kyojuro also realized that the punch just now had been restrained. If Sukuna had aimed for another area, there would have been no way to react.
In fact, that punch was the best possible outcome given such a massive opening.
Rengoku controlled his breathing to minimize the damage from that single blow. In his mind, he saw Tomioka Giyu's back as he swung his Nichirin Blade at Sukuna.
It was as if the brutality of that battle was playing out before him.
Sukuna did not rush to pursue. Instead, he spoke calmly to Swordman before him.
"Don't bother waiting for sunrise. I'm not a demon. Sunlight does nothing to me. Attack me with everything you have. Let me see your strength."
"..."
Rengoku Kyojuro heard Sukuna's declaration again—that he was not a demon.
Looking at the two pairs of eyes on Sukuna's face, Rengoku chose to believe what Sukuna said. He felt there was no reason for the other to lie.
"I don't understand. If you're not a demon, why did you kill Tomioka?"
"Who is Tomioka?"
Rather than answering Rengoku Kyojuro's question, Sukuna first needed to figure out who he was talking about.N
Rengoku Kyojuro confirmed that Sukuna genuinely did not know, and explained seriously.
"Tomioka Giyu is a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman who wears a haori with two different patterns. He is the same rank as me—"
If Rengoku Kyojuro had given a normal introduction, Sukuna might not have distinguished Tomioka Giyu from Urokodaki Sakonji so quickly, since no age was mentioned.
But hearing about the haori with two different patterns, Sukuna immediately understood. That brat from the very beginning—the one who attacked him directly—must be this Tomioka Giyu.
"I know who you mean. The brat who came at me first."
Having figured that out, Sukuna smiled and asked Rengoku Kyojuro in return.
"Get this straight. That brat attacked me first without reason. If it had been anyone else, he probably would have killed them. So I defended myself. He turned out to be weak, so he died. What's the problem?"
If everything Sukuna said was true—that he was not a demon and Tomioka had attacked first—then he could not argue with that.
Rengoku thought seriously. Although he did not know what had happened when Tomioka Giyu encountered Sukuna, the scene he had just witnessed of Sukuna killing a demon, combined with his clearly inhuman appearance, would have led anyone to assume he was a demon.
Considering Tomioka's fighting style—once he decided his opponent was a demon—he would unquestionably attack immediately.
"What were you doing at the time? He wouldn't have struck without reason."
"I killed one of what you call demons."
"..."
Given the punch just now, and the speed and reaction Sukuna had displayed, Rengoku Kyojuro did not doubt his ability to kill demons.
That made Rengoku Kyojuro seriously consider whether there might truly be some misunderstanding in this matter.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, both before becoming the Flame Hashira and after, he had fought countless demons and even slain members of the Twelve Kizuki. He could clearly identify a demon.
But the enemy before him felt very different. There was a clear distinction from demons.
A demon not fearing sunlight was something he had never heard of. But if this creature that did not fear sunlight was fundamentally not a demon, then that lack of fear made perfect sense.
"I understand what happened with Tomioka. Now I want to know why you killed Urokodaki Sakonji, why you kill demons, and your reason for fighting me."
Though he had formed some theories, he did not let his guard down just because the other party was not a demon.
"Kill when I want to kill. Entertain myself when I feel like it. There's no grand reason. I just live as I please."
"I can't understand that."
"That's is your problem."
Rengoku Kyojuro found it strange. Why had he never heard of similar incidents before? If Sukuna truly acted according to that philosophy, there was no way he would have remained unknown.
Rengoku took a deep breath and gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly.
He had made his decision. Even if the other was not a demon, such a way of acting could not be ignored.
"I am Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyojuro. What is your name?"
"Ryomen Sukuna."
The moment he heard Sukuna's true name, Rengoku Kyojuro froze.
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