The power of Kokushibo's attack was so great that Giyu Tomioka couldn't resist it at all.
He was blown away and fell heavily to the ground!
Blood flowed from the corner of Giyu Tomioka's mouth, but he had no time to adjust, as Kokushibo's attack came again!
"Breathing of the Moon, Ninth Form: Fallen Moon!"
Looking at the sky full of moon blades, Giyu knew he had to use his final, life-saving sword skill.
The afterimages overlapped. Giyu completely ignored the falling moon blades from above and charged straight toward Kokushibo!
Even though the chances were slim, if he could just take Kokushibo's head, there was still hope of ending it all here!
If looking into the mirror of the past couldn't help, then maybe words could.
He refused to believe he couldn't summon the memory of Yoriichi.
"Breathing of the Moon, Tenth Form: Piercing Face – The Moon Between the Leaves!"
Giyu still didn't dodge. He knew this strategy would be exposed in the transparent world.
If he hesitated for even a moment and gave Kokushibo the opening, it would be over in an instant.
But still, as Giyu forced his way through the rotating moon blades, a dozen deep gashes tore across his body, and blood gushed out!
This was Kokushibo. His timing was flawless. Giyu, without any openings to give, had flaws forced out of him.
Yet even so, Giyu achieved his aim.
He was in striking range of Kokushibo.
But Kokushibo had anticipated this.
As Giyu's offensive ended, Kokushibo's grotesque, mutated blade was already swinging toward his neck—just centimeters away!
In that instant, Giyu twisted his body.
Puff—
A piercing pain exploded through him. He rolled backward, barely gaining some distance.
Giyu stopped, gritting his teeth, and used his torn haori to bind his shoulder.
Yes. To protect his neck, Giyu had allowed the blade to pierce straight through his shoulder.
He stood again, desolate inside.
In the transparent world, all his efforts and feints seemed laughable.
Giyu panted hard, trying to suppress the bleeding and recover some strength.
At this rate, if he didn't stop the blood loss—
He'd bleed out before Kokushibo even touched him again.
(Wording bro 😭)
"Last chance, Tomioka Giyu."
"Become a demon and serve the master… or die here!"
Giyu gripped his sword tightly with one hand, forcing himself to stay calm.
'It's okay. If I can just land a hit… there's still a chance.
I'll make sure he can't predict where I'm going to strike. I'll confuse his transparent world!'
Kokushibo, seeing Giyu remain silent, thought he was ready to surrender.
But Giyu suddenly lunged forward again!
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
"Still so stubborn," Kokushibo muttered, swinging his sword down mercilessly.
Giyu gritted his teeth, positioning his sword vertically. He used the fluidity of water breathing to parry the first strike.
He didnt plan to engage head-on—just to deflect the initial blow.
Then—suddenly—he released his grip!
His Nichirin blade fell.
Lowering his center of gravity, Giyu caught the falling blade and swept it up in one seamless motion!
Kokushibo was caught off-guard, but didn't panic.
He raised an arm to block and simultaneously swung his sword with the other.
Puff—
As expected, the arm that blocked Giyu's blade was severed!
But Kokushibo had forgotten—
A longer blade becomes a liability at close range.
It couldn't hit Giyu from that angle.
Which gave Giyu the perfect chance to thrust!
"Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
However—Kokushibo sensed the tension in Giyu's muscles.
Bang—!
Just as the tip of Giyu's blade neared Kokushibo's neck, it was knocked aside by the base of Kokushibo's hilt.
"What?!"
Giyu's heart sank. He had intended to cut through with brute force…
But Kokushibo had read his intent and blocked him at the last moment!
Before he could recover—
Kokushibo's leg whipped out, kicking Giyu away like a ragdoll.
Then Kokushibo followed, blade raised.
"Breathing of the Moon, Eighth Form: Moon Dragon Tail!"
Even though Giyu tried to draw his sword mid-air—
It was far too rushed.
Puff—Bang—
Giyu crashed hard into the ground.
This time, the damage was far worse.
From his collarbone to his lower abdomen, a brutal slash ripped his torso open.
Kokushibo's sword nearly split him in two.
If not for the mark—he would have died then and there.
Clutching his chest with one hand and leaning on his sword with the other, Giyu stood again, staggering.
Kokushibo didn't rush to finish him.
Instead, he walked slowly toward him, voice tinged with regret.
"That sword saved your life. I wanted to split you in half with it."
"But this time, there won't be a miracle."
He raised his sword—
Hiss… huuuu…
Suddenly, Kokushibo froze.
The atmosphere grew dense.
Moisture gathered in the air, all of it drawn toward Giyu.
Kokushibo paused and stared.
His eyes widened slightly as he lowered his sword.
Giyu stood there, gripping the blade with both hands.
Despite his grievous injuries… he smiled.
Light blue mist began to swirl around him. It didn't drift—it surged into the blade.
"I've never succeeded with this technique."
"I always knew I couldn't without the mark… but today, today is different."
"Kokushibo… this is my final trump card. If I don't succeed —I'll die."
As his words echoed, the world changed.
Gravity shifted within a hundred meters.
An overwhelming pressure filled the air, stunning even Kokushibo.
As he looked at Giyu—
He didn't see just Giyu.
He saw the man he had chased his entire life.
Yoriichi.
In the next breath, the ground and sky were like an ocean.
Torrents of blue water surged into Giyu, forming a massive vortex.
"Water Breathing: Fourteenth Form…"
And in an instant—
The water vanished.
Giyu's blade gleamed a deep, unnatural blue, shining like the ocean's abyss.
"Abyssal: Sea!!!"