𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟 [𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣]

(Chapter 41) Ubuyashiki's Nightmare

The headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corp was shattered in the blink of an eye.
And there in the middle of the ruins and blood stood a demon.
He was a very tall man of muscular stature and pale skin complexion. He possessed long, spiky black hair with red tips that he kept in a ponytail.
His most notable feature is the three sets of eyes on his face with yellow-orange irises and red flesh sclera that have black straight lines diverging from each iris.
The demon wore a purple-and-black hexagonal patterned nagagi kimono and carried a fleshy katana at his hands that had eyes in the space between the tsuka ito wrapping of the handle of his sword.
The demon stood there quietly, analysing the place.

Not far away from there...
Tadao was carrying on his back Takeo and was leading a group of Demon Slayer away from the headquarters.
As soon as he heard the explosion, he stopped a bit and looked back.
"I expected their move,but it's still shocking how fast they made it ."

Tadao looked around and analysed the area.
There were many people who were innocent, and they were all following him.
(Damn it!
Without another Hashira, this is quite difficult, but they are on missions, so I couldn't bother them as long as I got things under control. )

Tadao approached another man and gave him Takeo.
"Take care of this boy and send him somewhere safe."

The man looked worried.
"But what about you, Soragoi-sama?"

"The risk is too high, so I should go back and fight the demon.
He destroyed the headquarters in seconds, so he is not joking around. "

The man still hesitated to leave him alone.
"But?"

Tadao shouted in a serious tone.
"GO!
The demon is coming right here as we speak!"

The man started to run away with others, and Tadao went back in order to stop the demon and buy time for others to flee.

The demon was running and looking at every inch of the area for survivors.
"To think that he predicted our approach.
Ubuyashiki, you cunning bastard!"

"Breath of Water!
First Form: Water Surface Slash."

"Breath of Moon!
First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace."

After noticing each other in an instant, both swordsmen released singular powerful slashes that echoed through the area when they clashed.
"It's been decades since a human attacked at me head on.
Judging from that, you must be a Hashira. The Water one on top of it."
The demon looked suspiciously at Tadao, who just smirked.

Tadao analysed everything on the demon.
(He uses a powerful Breathing Style and blends it with a Demon Technique that creates crescent blades.)
"Well, blame my luck!
To think that I would witness with my own eyes, the so-called Upper Moon One is quite shocking.
And yes, I am The Water Hashira."

The demon smirked, too.
"Showing no sign of fear, huh?
I think I should state my name in front of a brave man.

Kokushibou it is."

Tadao got in a stance .
"Tadao Soragoi here.
I am looking forward to tonight!"

Kokushibo didn't get in a stance.
"Bold of you to assume that you would survive that long."

Kokushibo moved so fast that it felt he teleported right behind Tadao.
While releasing a strong pressure of bloodlust, Kokushibo made his every move a fearful one.
"Breath of Moon!
Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains!"
Kokushibo swung his sword rapidly in two gigantic crescent slashes, from which a storm of smaller crescents spread, causing huge destruction in a small area.

Tadao analysed his attacks coming and countered it.
"Breath of Water!
Fourth Form: Striking Tide."

Tadao performed a multitude of slashes in a
flowing fashion to release multiple
consecutive slashes blocking the smaller crescents.

Tadao jumped in front of Kokushibo and attacked him.
"Breath of Water!
Second Form: Water Wheel."

Tadao relased a vertical slash in a circular motion .
Kokushibo parried his attack and moved right behind him in an instant.
"Performing a all round attack after knowing that your opponent is fast.
Good, but that's nowhere where you can defeat me."

Tadao was shocked to see his attack parried that easily, and then he realised that Kokushibo was behind him.
"So this is the second strongest for you!"

Tadao turned his sword on reverse grip and thrusted it at the demon without looking back.
"Breath of Water!
Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust, Reverse."

Kokushibo was surprised but managed to block it.
"You are a cunning one.
I've fought other Water Hashiras and killed them all, and one thing is certain that each new generation of yours manages to surpass the older one."

He then noticed that Tadao let loose his sword.
(Did he surrender?)

Suddenly, Tadao turned around at the demon and tried to punch him as hard as he could.
Kokushibo didn't expect this but immediately caught his punch with his other hand, making a few steps because of its power.
"A powerful punch comparable to a certain demon I fought a while ago.
You surely know how to entertain someone!"

Tadao jumped away and looked at the demon.
Tadao was controlling his breathing and analysing the situation.
(His six eyes are no fakes.
He truly can see through my every movement. )

Tadao calmed himself and took a big momentum before throwing his sword at the demon.
Kokushibo looked at this as a foolish way to fight and did not take any stance, underestimating Tadao.

Before the sword could go near him, Tadao appeared behind him and was ready to attack him with a sword on his hand.

"Breath of Water!
Sixth Form: Whirlpool."

Kokushibo was caught off guard because he thought that Tadao was unarmed.
(I thought he threw his sword at me.)

Then, with the corner of his eye, he noticed that the thing coming at him was just the sheath.
"Vile!
But to think that he was fast enough to catch me by surprise is interesting."

Tadao twisted his body, using his blade
to perform a fierce whirling motion, which
generated a whirlpool of air that shredded
apart anything that got caught within its current like a giant sharp blade.

Kokushibo countered in mere seconds that.
"Breath of Moon!
Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing."

Kokushibo performed several crescent-shaped slashes that defended him from incoming attacks, sending a barrage of crescent blades at Tadao who was blocking them simultaneously.

Suddenly, something really heavy crashed in Kokushibo's head, making his vision a bit blurry.
(What was that ?
Tadao is in front of me, and I sense no other.)

Then he noticed Tadao smirking.
When he looked at what that was, Kokushibo was pissed off.
"The damn sheath!"

On mere seconds, Tadao was able to share blows with Kokushibo while his sheath was still thrown on the air.

Tadao blocked the crescent blades and charged toward the demon.
"Breath of Water!
Tenth Form: Constant Flux."

Kokushibo was angry, and even though he didn't see well, he attacked Tadao.
"Breath of Moon!
Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy.

This night is too short to waste it, so I shall be serious from now on.
Be prepared for your true camalitie, SORAGOI!"

Tadao shared his fierce look with the demon.
"Don't you dare look down on us!
Or that will be the end of you, KOKUSHIBO."

The battle of two powerful warriors of both sides had emerged.

Taisho Secrets & Rumours:
*A Demon Blood Battle is a battle between two demons who are part of the Twelve Kizuki in order to swap ranks.
*The winner gets the highest rank between the two while the loser takes the lowest or is even disposed of.
*Kokushibo fought many battles like this because he held the highest rank and never lost, plus he always absorbed his opponents with Muzan's permission.
*The only exception is when he fought a certain demon who used hand to hand combat type (Akaza) because he found him interesting and liked his spirit.
*Something similar is happening with Tadao as Kokushibo found him interesting, too.