To The Stars | Tokito Muichiro x OC

81 • Steadfast Pillars

"That's one ugly ass sword!" Sanemi cackled as their blades clashed. He jumped back as Kokushibo's sword suddenly released a vortex of crescent moon-shaped slashes, skidding to a stop a distance away from the demon. "You keep repeating those slashes without even swinging your blade! No wonder the brat could make an obstacle course out of it!"

Moon Breathing: Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy

Wind Breathing: Third Form: Clean Storm Wind Tree

Kokushibo hummed as their swords clashed again. "Not bad," he praised. "I see that your physical body and techniques are at their peaks. Impressive."

I can't fucking stop getting goosebumps when seeing this bastard's skill. Sanemi couldn't even blink lest he wanted to get cut. Every one of his slashes is surrounded by these little chaotic crescent moons. There's no set form, it's always changing in length and size. I'm not surprised Tokito and Hoshizora lost.

He clicked his tongue. Hoshizora. Sanemi saw the unconscious girl when he first came into the room, but decided not to do anything yet. She doesn't emit a demonic presence. The crows said she had a precaution ready, so I damn well hope whatever precaution she did work.

Sanemi chased after the demon, releasing slash after slash. This fucking bastard is using breaths. Inori did say it was very possible for breathing styles to be infused with blood demon arts. A demon with naturally high regenerative ability and physical prowess is using breaths.

"Fun! This is so much fun! A demon worth killing!"

Wind Breathing: Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind

His slashes managed to snap the demon's sword into pieces, but it easily regenerated. Sanemi's sword clashed against Kokushibo's again. But Sanemi didn't stop there. Using his leg, which had Genya's sword pinched between his toes, he tried to pierce the demon from below.

"The second time...a swordsman uses their legs," Kokushibo mumbled. And he's keeping up with my techniques. What a nostalgic feeling. How uplifting. The Wind Pillar in front of him continued to swing his sword, blocking each and every one of his slashes. A few managed to connect with him, but nothing vital.

"Back in the Sengoku era, this was how the Wind Pillar and I...improved our swordsmanship."

Moon Breathing: Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon-Incessant

Sanemi hacked out the blood clogging his throat. His blood flowed onto the floor like a leaking tap. But despite the severe cuts on his torso, he cackled, because he knew from Kokushibo's expression that his blood worked. "Rare blood for demons...is like silvervine for cats."

He swung his sword again, cackling even louder when Kokushibo staggered. "Whoa there, buddy! What's the problem? You're off your feet there!" He continued to swing his sword, weaving through the openings the slightly drunken state of the demon brought him. "Looks like my goddamn blood works on the upper moons too! Demons get drunk over a whiff of my blood! It's the rarest of the rare, once-in-a-lifetime kind of shit!" Blood got spat out of his mouth as he cackled louder than ever.

"Now have a fucking feast!"

"You and that girl...have a lot in common...did she mimic you?" Kokushibo commented, noticing the similarity between his current match and the one he had against Inori. He had cut both of them, yet they managed to manipulate their bodies using their breaths beyond what was humanly possible. "Either way, it really is amusing."

Moreover, the Wind Pillar in front of him was doing it more naturally than Inori had done. Kokushibo could tell just who had taught who. It may have been Inori who taught Sanemi how to use his legs to wield weapons, but it was Sanemi who taught Inori how to manipulate her body with her breathing.