Demon Slayer: Strength Gained with Every Swing of the Sword

Under the night sky, the faint blue eyes quietly gazed at the fallen Xiao Bai, who was groaning in pain. Akaza smirked and said, "I thought you'd keep me entertained a little longer!"

Bang!

Akaza descended from the sky, landing beside Xiao Bai.

He then grabbed one of Xiao Bai's tails and yanked it with force.

Rip!

Xiao Bai's tail snapped, torn off by Akaza's sheer strength.

"Ah!"

The intense pain made Xiao Bai cry out.

Watching Xiao Bai's energy wane, Akaza chuckled and said, "Looks like your tail is the source of your strength!"

"For centuries, I've never seen a creature like you..."

"A fox with three tails... a freely changing size, and that strange phantom..."

"If I hand you over to Muzan-sama, I'm sure he'll be very pleased!"

Akaza reached for Xiao Bai's other tail, but suddenly—

Akaza swiftly leapt backward, retreating to a distant spot!

Bang!

A blood-red Sword flew from the sky, severing the hand that Akaza had extended!

"It's you!"

Akaza's pupils contracted, his face lighting up with excitement.

A figure in a death mask—Feng Yu—slowly descended from the sky, landing beside Xiao Bai. He pulled out a healing pill and fed it to Xiao Bai.

In no time, Xiao Bai's wounds began to heal visibly, the broken tail slowly regenerating, growing new flesh and transforming back into a tail.

Though Xiao Bai was still covered in dirt and blood, the weakness from before had vanished.

"Xiao Bai, take Giyu Tomioka and get out of here. Stay far away from the battle!"

Feng Yu commanded, his gaze fixed on Akaza. The aura around Akaza was now much stronger than before, at least twice as powerful.

Feng Yu understood—this was going to be a major battle, and Xiao Bai and Giyu would only be a burden if they stayed. He needed them out of the way to avoid distractions.

Xiao Bai understood the meaning behind Feng Yu's words. He took the healing pill, grabbed Giyu Tomioka, and quickly sprinted away.

Akaza smiled as he watched them flee, calling out, "What did you just feed that fox? The effect was even comparable to our demons' regeneration!"

Akaza was curious, but also slightly startled by the healing pill's impressive effect.

He couldn't help but think—if healing pills could be mass-produced, then their advantages as demons would be nullified…

Feng Yu remained silent, his expression cold as he pulled Onikiri from the ground. He looked at Akaza, and behind him, the ghostly figure of the death god, with its crimson eyes, loomed.

Akaza suddenly felt as though he were being watched by a ferocious beast. His heart raced with danger as it pounded in his chest.

Yet, he began to tremble, a wild laugh escaping him.

"Yes… this is it! This pressure… I love it!"

Akaza's faint blue eyes glowed with intensity.

"Come on, let me kill you, and let me step fully into the highest realm!"

"Technique Unleashed: Destruction Kill: Ro Needle!"

Akaza's body shot forward in a blur, his terrifying fist aimed at Feng Yu, followed by a swift kick…

Akaza unleashed his martial techniques, attacking relentlessly.

Feng Yu's expression didn't change. He kept his cold gaze on Akaza, every one of Akaza's moves slowing down in his eyes as if they were in slow motion.

Effortlessly, Feng Yu blocked each attack.

"Honestly, I admire you," Feng Yu said with a faint smile. "You're solely after the pinnacle of martial arts… you don't kill women, you don't consume them!"

"Unfortunately, you're a demon, and I'm human. We are destined to be opposites!"

"Total Concentration: Water Breathing, Fifth Form: Whirlpool!"

Blue-white waves of water appeared from the tip of Feng Yu's Sword, spinning into a water vortex as he spun his body. The whirlpool sped toward Akaza.

The moment the water dragon struck Akaza, it sliced his body open, a gash appearing where it touched.

The blood that poured out was quickly absorbed by Onikiri, causing the Sword to glow with a crimson light. Black mist poured out from it, swirling around and gathering toward the ghostly figure of the death god.

As the black mist intensified, the figure of the death god became clearer. Its fangs began to show, no longer as hazy as before.

"What's this?"

Feng Yu could feel the growing excitement and hunger in Onikiri, as if the Sword was craving Akaza's blood.

"See that? My sword seems to really like your blood!"

Feng Yu raised the blood-red Onikiri and pointed it at Akaza.

Akaza stepped back. The wound on his chest had already healed.

"That sword of yours… it's not a Nichirin Sword!"

Akaza's eyes widened in shock, his fear growing as his voice stuttered.

Feng Yu knew it was the spiritual shock from the death god's mask at work.

"Total Concentration: Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"

Feng Yu moved with the elegance of flowing water, charging toward Akaza.

For a moment, Akaza froze, then quickly recovered and blocked Feng Yu's attack.

"Destruction Kill: Final Form: Blue Eye Splatter!"

Countless needles shot out from Akaza, all aimed at Feng Yu to repel his assault.

But in the transparent world, these needles posed no threat to Feng Yu at all.

In no time, Feng Yu dodged all the needles and closed the distance, slowly speaking, "It's time to end this."

"Total Concentration: Water Breathing, Twelfth Form: Oceanic Torrent!"

In an instant, Akaza felt as though his body had been frozen. He saw a terrifying tidal wave rushing toward him.

Akaza sensed the threat to his life, but he was helpless. All he could do was watch as the massive wave engulfed him!

Though Akaza, on the cusp of the transparent world, was strong, he was no match for Feng Yu, who had fully mastered it. With a single strike, Feng Yu severed Akaza's head.

In the real world, Feng Yu simply walked past Akaza's body, and Akaza's head fell to the ground.

Akaza's body remained upright, not yet collapsing. His Upper Rank regeneration kicked in, and the speed at which his body turned to ash was on par with his ability to regenerate.

Akaza's body continued to heal and dissipate, while his severed head stared with wide eyes.

"I… my head… was chopped off?"

Akaza couldn't believe he had been decapitated. He had thought Feng Yu was only partially in the transparent world, never imagining that he had mastered it completely…

"I… I lost to a human? I had just reached the threshold of the highest realm, and I'm not yet the strongest… How can I die like this?!"

"No! I refuse to die! I will become the strongest!"

Akaza shouted desperately.

At that moment…

Akaza's headless, disintegrating body suddenly regained its missing arm in an instant.

Feng Yu frowned.

The worst-case scenario had come to pass.

Akaza's unyielding will was breaking through the boundaries of a demon…