Faced with this, Tomioka Giyu remained calm. Waves surged around him, then the water droplets fell.
"Water Breathing: Eleventh Form – Dead Calm."
Boom—!!
The house where Tomioka Giyu had been staying was instantly reduced to rubble by the overwhelming force of Daki and Gyutaro's combined attacks!
But then—from the ruins—an eruption. Exploding debris and several massive water columns shot skyward!
In the next instant, they charged at Daki and Gyutaro.
"Water Breathing, Twelfth Form: Wave of Suppression!!"
***
A few minutes earlier, on the other side—
Uzui Tengen burst through the ground with a dramatic, sparkling entrance.
Inosuke spun around and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! You flashy bastard!!"
"The earthworm belts all ran outta the hole!!"
Uzui's face twisted in irritation. "Stop shouting so much! Just rescue the hostages!"
Inosuke stiffened in fright. "Y-Yes, Lord Tengen!!"
"Alright, you loud idiots! I'm going on ahead—follow me!"
Bang— Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Before Uzui could finish his orders, a chain of thunderous explosions shook the district.
His expression darkened slightly. He knew.
Tomioka Giyu had already begun fighting.
"Hurry up—move!"
***
Meanwhile, Tomioka Giyu emerged from the rubble, rolling his neck with one hand. Then, in a blur, he raced toward the next ruin.
Because just moments ago, the building where Daki and Gyutaro were hiding had been completely annihilated by Giyu's power.
As the dust cleared, Gyutaro's dual sickles whirled through the air, flying out first.
"Still relying on these cheap tricks?"
Giyu didn't back down. He lunged forward.
"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"
He leapt up, using the force of the Second Form to slide cleanly through the arc of the blood sickles, charging straight at Gyutaro.
As for Daki—she was nowhere in sight. She'd been blown apart by Giyu's Twelfth Form just earlier.
Though she was regenerating, it would take her some time.
Landing with a splash, Giyu didn't slow down—his footfalls sprayed water with each step.
"Ninth Form: Water Stream Barrage!!"
Seeing Giyu's rapid approach, Gyutaro leapt back and let out a spinning blood-red whirlwind.
"Blood Demon Art: Circular Slash – Blood Scythe!"
"Tch." Giyu's expression sharpened. This one's instincts are insane.
If he hadn't jumped back… I could've taken his head off right there. I would've taken a hit from the slash, sure—but it'd be worth it.
Even now, he could feel Daki's belt coiling, but he wasn't concerned.
With his new Nichirin blade and increased strength, he was no longer the swordsman he had been before.
As afterimages of his motion overlapped, Giyu danced through the whirlwind of slashes, feinting toward Gyutaro.
Gyutaro snarled and retreated again, leaping onto an intact rooftop.
"Blood Demon Art: Eightfold Slash!"
From behind, Daki's belts rushed in to form a net of death.
Giyu didn't hesitate. He launched himself into the air—straight at Gyutaro.
He wanted his opponent to spot the fake-out. The most dangerous attack… is the one you can't afford to ignore.
When a strike seems real, you have to dodge—even if it's not. Because if you guess wrong… it's already over.
That's exactly what Gyutaro was doing now. Controlling his blood sickles and Daki's belts with frantic precision as both targeted Giyu from every angle.
He'd finally stopped holding back.
Being chased down like this—by a human—was humiliating. Not only would Lord Muzan punish him for failure, he himself couldn't stand it.
What kind of Upper Rank demon can't deal with this?!
Gyutaro gritted his teeth and relied on pure instinct.
From a distance, Daki panicked. "Onii-chan!! What are you doing?!"
Giyu's eyes narrowed. He didn't hesitate. His sword arced down toward Gyutaro's neck.
But his blade… stopped just shy of the skin.
Gyutaro sneered. "Go ahead, brat. Chop it off—if you've got the guts!"
Giyu's figure flickered. He hadn't cut—not because he was scared, but because a sickle was aimed directly at his heart.
If he took Gyutaro's head now, the demon wouldn't die unless Daki was beheaded at the same time.
And Giyu… would certainly die.
"As you wish."
He pulled his arm back, eyes cold as steel, and stabbed forward without restraint.
Gyutaro couldn't tell if it was real or not—but he had no time to second-guess.
The pressure Giyu exuded was overwhelming. Last time, Gyutaro had underestimated him and barely survived.
This time, he could feel it—Giyu had grown even stronger.
If his head was severed and he paused for even a moment, Giyu might reach Daki before she could react.
In desperation, Gyutaro raised one sickle to block the thrust, while the other came in low, trying to hook Giyu's chin.
But Giyu smirked. At the last second, he twisted, dodging the upward slash.
The afterimage vanished. His blade swept horizontally—aimed straight for Gyutaro's neck.
But Gyutaro didn't dodge.
He took the blade with his collarbone—on purpose.
Giyu's eyes widened. He's trying to slow my attack down… by letting it hit him?!
Realizing this, Giyu immediately tried to raise the blade for another strike—but it was too late.
Gyutaro was already moving.
Without a full read on his intent, Giyu would always be one step behind.
Clang!
Gyutaro drove his arm directly into the blade, halting it with brute force.
"Die, brat!!"
Giyu's heart sank. He could feel it—dozens of Daki's pink belts closing in, not just behind him, but from all sides.
There were only two options. But only one real answer.
Take the hit from the belts… or give up the strike and leap away.
He chose the second.
Just as he was about to let go and leap—
A blaze of fire burst across the sky, hot and radiant like the rising sun.
"Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky!!"
***
The belt near Tomioka Giyuu's back was cut off by Tanjiro's attack.
After hearing the sound, Tomioka Giyuu did not miss this perfect opportunity.
He gripped his sword with both hands and slashed horizontally, not only pulling the blade free but also slicing open Gyutaro's chest!
After doing this, Tomioka immediately jumped off the roof and landed beside Tanjiro.
It wasn't that he didn't want to keep attacking, but the other belts controlled by Daki also surged forward.
There was no point in trading injuries; it was better to preserve his strength and wait until everyone was ready.
Why fight alone when they could fight as a team?
As for why he went all out earlier—it was to test the results of his training.
The results? His strength had indeed increased—but not by much.
He was still missing three key components that would greatly aid him.
"Giyuu! Are you okay?!" Tanjiro looked him over anxiously, scanning for any signs of injury.
Tomioka gave him a reassuring glance.
"I'm fine. But you have to keep pushing forward. I'll leave Daki to you for now."
"I think it won't be long before Tengen and the others—"
Before Tomioka could finish, a sudden whoosh kicked up dust into the air.
Their flamboyant and dazzling Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen, had arrived on the battlefield.
"Tomioka, you're really strong. Thanks for your help!" Tengen said solemnly.
Tomioka stretched his shoulders and replied casually, "No, it's my duty."
In his mind, though, he added, 'There's no way I'll let you retire like this.
The final battle at the Infinity Castle… we'll need everyone giving it their all.'
Uzui Tengen looked up at the brother and sister duo on the rooftop, now seemingly recovered, and said gravely:
"That skinny one—he's the real Upper Rank Six, right?"
"Tomioka and I will take him. Daki is yours, Tanjiro."
"Zenitsu and Inosuke should be here soon. Let's go, Tomioka! Let's make this flashy!"
Tomioka didn't say a word. He tried to stop Uzui as he rushed forward, but the Sound Hashira was already gone.
"Hey—!!"
Though confused, Tanjiro also charged forward.
If Giyuu and Uzui both entrusted Daki to him, then fighting her must be the right move.
Tomioka sighed inwardly but didn't hesitate. A water dragon surged from his blade.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"
What he'd really wanted was to lead the offensive, with Tengen supporting from the flank while executing his rhythm technique.
Now things had completely gone off-script.
He must be too excited after rescuing his wives, Tomioka thought bitterly.
Bang! Bang!
Two sharp sounds rang out almost at once.
First, Tomioka knocked Gyutaro back several steps and sent him falling off the rooftop.
Next, Tanjiro was sent flying into the room by Daki's belt, looking completely stunned.
Tanjiro now truly understood just how powerful Tomioka was—and how overwhelming a Hashira could be.
From the rooftop, Tomioka saw a scratch on Uzui's arm. His heart sank.
Noticing his gaze, Tengen said nonchalantly,
"Don't worry. Even if it's deadly poison, I've built up resistance."
"It's impossible to fight an Upper Rank without getting hurt. I'm not like you—I don't have your talent."
"Let me take the lead. You stay on the flank and finish the score!"
Just as Tengen was about to leap, Tomioka grabbed him, leveraging the motion to dive down with his sword.
'No way I'm letting you retire, Tengen.'
Blocking a flying sickle mid-air, Tomioka landed solidly—but immediately got caught by a spiraling slash from behind.
Upper Rank Six—truly worthy of that title—had used the instant after Tomioka landed to strike his back.
But he forgot: Uzui Tengen was still on the roof.
"Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar!"
BOOM!
Dust exploded into the air. The shockwave neutralized the spiral attack—
—but another cut appeared on Tengen's forehead.
Tomioka didn't waste the opportunity. He surged forward through the haze and closed the gap with Gyutaro.
Without hesitation, he unleashed a flurry of slashes, pressing Gyutaro back!
Though Gyutaro appeared to dodge, each of his counterattacks was swift and lethal!
Slash, slash, slash—!
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
SPLASH—!!
The fierce exchange lasted five minutes. The two pulled back again—still giving no room for Tengen to intervene.
"Tomioka!!"
Uzui Tengen rushed to Giyuu's side, watching Gyutaro closely.
"Yeah, haha!" Gyutaro grinned wickedly, pulling at the skin on his face.
"That slash didn't hurt at all! I saw through your attack, brat!"
Tomioka frowned. Blood seeped from a gash in his abdomen.
Had he been careless? No—Gyutaro had capitalized on the tiny window after Striking Tide ended.
BOOM!
A flash of thunder lit up the sky—Zenitsu and Inosuke had arrived.
One rescued Nezuko, the other helped Tanjiro back to his feet.
Seeing Tomioka's blood-stained stomach, Tanjiro cried out,
"Giyuu!!"
"Tomioka-salmon!!"
Tomioka caught his breath, removed his haori, tied it around his abdomen, and smiled.
"I'm not dead yet. Since the three of you are here, Daki's all yours. Alright?"
"Same plan—let's go, Tengen!"
"Blood Demon Art: Eightfold Slash!!"
Daki's large-scale technique split the battlefield.
Tomioka and Uzui leapt into the street to flank Gyutaro.
Tanjiro and the others jumped onto the rooftop toward Daki.
"Tomioka, I'll take point from here. If your wound worsens, we're in trouble," Uzui said seriously.
Tomioka rejected it without hesitation.
"No. You can't afford distractions or another injury. When your musical score is complete, we win."
"As for me—don't worry. I'm used to this."
"I'm not just trying to comfort you—I've built up resistance too. Last time I was poisoned, Aoi pumped me full of random medicines."
"Careful. It's coming!"
Tomioka suddenly stilled as a wave of tension built in the air.
"Water Breathing: Eleventh Form – Dead Calm."
In the next instant, the spiraling attacks were completely nullified.
"Still able to use forms? You're really something. Truly!"
"I can't wait to devour you!"