The next second, Sukuna's blade-wielding body collided with the ferocious fire dragon engulfing Rengoku in a booming impact.
The clashing blades produced a deafening roar. The powerful air currents generated by their collision even caused the surrounding raging flames to freeze momentarily.
A severed crimson blade spun through the air and embedded itself deeply in the ground nearby. The outcome of the battle was already clear.
The fire dragon had been decapitated by Sukuna. Along with it, the Nichirin Blade in his hand was also cut clean through. Ninth Form: Rengoku was completely shattered.
But what was severed was not only the blade. Sukuna's slash left a wound on his chest so deep that bone was visible, and it also tore off his right arm.
Kyojuro's face was filled with disbelief. Truly, deep down, he had not been completely confident that his ultimate technique could defeat Sukuna. He simply had not expected to lose so one-sidedly.
He was a man who would never despair, no matter how dire the danger.
But facing this being, only a few words came to mind: Not possible to defeat.
This was not cowardice or despair. He was merely stating an undeniable fact. Even knowing the gap between them, if given another chance, he would still fight. It was just that there was no such if now.
He gradually regained his sense of cold, feeling his life slipping away.
Sukuna looked down at the fallen swordsman and asked.
"If you had this kind of power, why didn't you use it from the start?"
"....."
He wanted to say something, but his body could no longer support him. He did not even have the strength to open his mouth.
Sukuna naturally saw his condition. He picked him up with one hand and, without stinting on cursed energy, directly used Reverse Cursed Technique on him.
The positive energy acted like a strong stimulant, forcefully driving itself into the injured body.
It was a strange sensation, unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.
Within just a few breaths, his body was mostly restored. Sukuna let go.
Kyojuro knelt on the ground, staring in disbelief at his regrown right arm. Looking down, he could still see his original severed arm on the ground.
"This is..."
He was stunned by this miracle. It completely overturned his understanding of power.
Sukuna ignored him and simply tossed the Nichirin Blade in front of him, then spoke.
"You're healed, right? Pick it up and use that slash again."
"..."
But now reborn, he did not move. It was not that he could not use this blade to repeat the attack.
If he did it again, he was confident he could perform even better than before.
But even if he surpassed himself, what difference would it make?
He had experienced Sukuna's power firsthand. Even if his next slash was faster and stronger, it could no longer bridge the gap between them.
Seeing him hesitate, Sukuna spoke with a slightly cold tone.
"Hey brat, did you hear what I said?"
Kyojuro recalled what Sukuna had said earlier.
"Kill when I want to kill. Entertain myself when I feel like it. There's no grand reason. I just live as I please."
In the end, he picked up the Nichirin Blade from the ground—the one that had originally belonged to Urokodaki Sakonji.
"That's more like it." Sukuna praised him with satisfaction.
Kyojuro took a deep breath and resumed his fighting stance. But then he spoke.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead. But I might not be interested in answering." Sukuna replied arrogantly.
"The gap in strength between us is enormous. Why go through the trouble to make me repeat the same attack? Is it because you're interested in the power of Breathing Techniques?"
Having moved through anger at Sukuna's deeds, to recognition of the gap, to experiencing the wonder of Reverse Cursed Technique, he was calm when he spoke.
He was ready to die nobly at any moment for the greater cause. But he did not want his death to be meaningless.
He hoped to find a way to resolve the crisis that Sukuna represented.
Because he understood clearly: if he did nothing, even if other Hashira came after his death, the outcome would not change much.
Reaching this conclusion did not mean he was arrogant enough to casually judge the other Hashira's abilities. It was a certainty he had reached after seriously experiencing Sukuna's power.
Hearing this, Sukuna showed a hint of surprise in his eyes, which then turned into appreciation.
"Compared to that brat who only knows how to fight, and that other one who only schemes, you're actually interesting. Go on, tell me your reasoning."
Having finally found someone he could communicate with normally, Sukuna did not mind exchanging a few words.
On his side, Kyojuro felt no relief at having guessed correctly. On the contrary, he was even more tense now. What he was about to do was far more important. His heart was pounding even harder than during the battle.
"Because earlier, you were guiding my attacks. Not to mention healing me and demanding I use Ninth Form again. And the fact that you voluntarily mimicked Water Breathing's Tenth Form is also proof."
As he spoke, he kept watching Sukuna's expression.
Sukuna only asked flatly.
"You still have something you want to say, don't you?"
"If all you want is to understand Breathing Techniques, I can provide that. And in exchange, you stop killing Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen. We can tell you where to find even stronger enemies!"
He called out to Sukuna seriously.
He could foresee that he would likely die today. He could not find a way to kill Sukuna.
But he wanted to gamble. Gamble that for Sukuna, humans and demons made no real difference—both were just sources of entertainment.
Sukuna laughed upon hearing this.
"Heh. Pretty bold, brat. Trying to order me around? Then prove it to me. Prove that the Breathing Technique you speak of has that kind of value to me."
Kyojuro heard Sukuna's words and pushed his focus to its absolute limit. Flame Breathing cycled at maximum output. The flame-like flickering marks surged across his body in great numbers.
"I will then!"
"Flame Breathing."
"Ninth Form."
"Rengoku!"
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