Just as the battles began, over on Ye Xiao's side.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zhu Shi."
"Hello, Kagaya Ubuyashiki."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Zhu Shi sat chatting, this being their first true meeting.
Yushiro sat obediently beside them, silent.
After all, he had been pinned down and beaten by Erica and Liliana for being disrespectful to Ye Xiao, and since he was a demon, they hadn't held back.
As Zhu Shi and Kagaya Ubuyashiki chatted, their gazes turned towards Kibutsuji Muzan nearby.
Zhu Shi's eyes revealed hatred, as if she wished to devour his flesh and sleep on his skin, while Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes showed a look of finally being finished.
"Done."
Ye Xiao clapped his hands, and seven screens appeared before him.
These showed the situation of everyone in their respective battle zones.
"It's truly amazing."
"Indeed, I hope my children don't get hurt."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Zhu Shi looked at the screens, sighing with emotion.
Ye Xiao, meanwhile, pulled out a gourmet tablecloth and began watching the live broadcast.
Comfortable.
Meanwhile, in the seventh battle zone.
"Kaigaku! You've truly sided with demons!"
"You used to make deals with demons and harm your comrades! Now, to survive, you've shamelessly become a demon. You don't deserve to be in the Demon Slayer Corps! You don't deserve to live!"
Gyomei Himejima spoke, then swung his flail and charged towards Kaigaku.
Looking at the Stone Hashira charging at him, cold sweat broke out on Kaigaku's forehead.
The pressure was too intense.
The man who used to pound demons bare-handed until dawn now came for revenge with the dead.
However...
"Hahaha! What did I do wrong! You were the ones who abandoned me first! I just want to live, just like now!"
Kaigaku trembled but continued to speak, holding the blade made from his own flesh and staring intently at the armed helicopter charging towards him.
"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
Kaigaku, gripping his blade, erupted with lightning throughout his body and swung a slash towards Gyomei Himejima, who was charging at him.
Although he couldn't see, the sensation was still there.
"Stone Breathing, Third Form: Stone Skin!"
Gyomei swung his flail, forming a defense, and pushed through Kaigaku's slash.
Just a little more.
Then, a sudden stop, and then...
"Stone Breathing, Second Form: Heaven-Shattering Crush!"
He stepped on the chain, and the flail flew from his hand, flung towards Kaigaku.
Watching the flail grow larger, Kaigaku's eyes were filled with terror.
Move!
Move, body!
Kaigaku shifted slightly to the side, and his entire right shoulder was smashed through.
"Run! I must run!"
Kaigaku gritted his teeth, his face contorted in a grimace, wanting to escape but enveloped by a shadow.
He looked up to see Gyomei Himejima appear before him.
He held a broad axe in his right hand, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
"No! Don't! I..."
Before Kaigaku could speak, the axe in Gyomei's hand directly struck Kaigaku's neck.
At this moment, a broken Wolong emerged!
Kaigaku's head flew into the air, his body remaining standing.
Then, he knelt straight down.
The head in the sky was filled with disbelief, then turned to ash.
"Phew~"
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
Gyomei Himejima clasped his hands together and uttered this phrase.
Then, his feet found no purchase, and he fell down again, then landed steadily.
Sensing another demon, Gyomei prepared for battle.
But then he heard his Master's voice.
"Gyomei, you've worked hard."
"Mas... Master?"
First battle zone.
Kokushibo stared intently at Yoriichi Tsugikuni before him.
"Clearly! Clearly, you were already dead, killed by my own hands, why did you appear! Why did you come back!"
Facing the somewhat agitated Kokushibo, Yoriichi Tsugikuni slowly extended his hand towards him.
"Brother, could you give me another flute?"
Kokushibo was clearly stunned by these words. Indeed, he still couldn't forget the man before him.
He remembered the past.
He remembered all of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words.
"I will cherish the flute Brother gave me as if it were Brother himself."
"Brother's dream is to become the greatest warrior in this country. I want to follow Brother and become the second greatest."
"..."
Kokushibo slowly took out the flute he had hidden in his heart, gripping it tightly.
"Yoriichi!"
"Brother!"
"I envy you! I envy your talent! I envy everything about you!"
Kokushibo looked at his younger Brother before him, gritting his teeth as he spoke, "But... I seem to have been wrong."
Kokushibo relaxed, slowly drew his sword, and looked at his reflection in the blade.
He had already strayed from the path of a warrior.
"Come, let's have a battle between the greatest warrior and the second greatest."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni smiled. He knew that his beloved Brother had returned.
Then, Brother, after this battle.
Let's go to the underworld together.
Looking at Kokushibo before him, Yoriichi Tsugikuni also slowly drew his sword, the candlelight spilling onto the blade, casting a cool light.
The two stood in confrontation, their auras strangely intertwining at this moment.
Kokushibo moved first, rushing towards Yoriichi like a ghost, his sword shadow like moonlight in the dark night, inspiring a sense of beauty.
Yoriichi, unhurried, parried with fluid movements, his blade like the newborn sun.
The clash of blades.
The convergence of sun and moon.
That year, if Michikatsu Tsugikuni hadn't been so consumed by jealousy, would there have been a scene of sun and moon shining together?
The surrounding air vibrated violently from their battle. Kokushibo's techniques became increasingly fierce, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni met each of his Brother's attacks, filled with love.
In the fierce exchange, Kokushibo transitioned from his initial malevolence to a state of release.
He looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni, "Yoriichi, one last move!"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded, his melancholic eyes becoming firm and gentle.
Kokushibo unleashed all his strength, pouring all his emotions into this final strike. The sword light was as sharp as a crescent moon, carrying his lifelong obsession and his current liberation.
Yoriichi also met him with full force, the blade in his hand like a scorching sun, colliding fiercely with Kokushibo's sword.
In an instant, light burst forth, as if the sun and moon truly converged at that moment.
The immense impact made everything around them tremble, and their figures flickered in and out of sight within the light.
As the light gradually dissipated, Kokushibo and Yoriichi stood opposite each other, Kokushibo's sword shattered.
A relieved smile appeared on Kokushibo's lips, his body began to crumble and slowly dissipate.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni quickly stepped forward and embraced Kokushibo... no, it should be Michikatsu Tsugikuni.
"Brother, welcome back, let's... go together."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni whispered, then nodded in a certain direction.
Ye Xiao, watching the live broadcast, understood the legendary man's intentions.
"So be it."
He said, snapping his fingers.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's body slowly became transparent, and Michikatsu Tsugikuni's body also slowly dissipated.
At this moment, the souls of the two Brothers finally achieved true reconciliation, dissipating together on this battlefield filled with memories and battles.
(Damn, writing this gave me a headache.)