Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 106 You Are My Pride

puff--!

That head, with an expression of disbelief and terror, flew high into the air.

"Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire and Thunder God—!!"

"How could this be! This move... why have I never seen it before?!"

"As expected, that old man really did teach you his secret technique! That bastard!!"

As Kaigaku's head plummeted into the abyss, he watched the golden figure standing atop the ruins, still wielding his sword. His jealousy reached its peak, and he continued to curse.

Having unleashed this move, Zenitsu was completely exhausted and swayed precariously, about to fall off the edge of the platform: "You're wrong... Big brother..."

"This isn't something my grandfather taught me; it's my own style..."

"

"I really want to use this move... to fight alongside you..."

"

Kaigaku's head was burning rapidly; his life was coming to an end.

"How is that possible! A piece of trash like you could create your own sword shape? Don't make me laugh!"

"Cough—!!"

Zenitsu suddenly trembled violently, and large mouthfuls of blood gushed from his mouth.

Fire and Thunder God is the ultimate of Thunder Breathing, and its burden on the body exceeds the limits of humankind.

Adding to the unbearable pain he felt from repeatedly forcibly using Thunder Flash during the battle, his body was now writhing in agony.

The muscles ruptured, and the bones in his lower leg shattered into pieces.

He couldn't hold on any longer.

"It's over... Grandpa..."

""

Zenitsu's vision began to blur, and he felt his body leaning backward.

The section of corridor he was in had completely collapsed, below which lay the unfathomable abyss of the Infinite City, leading to nothingness.

Because he had lost feeling in both legs, he was unable to make any adjustments.

Zenitsu thought of his master, the old man with a cane, a stern face, who would give him rice balls when he cried.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa... I'm still... so useless."

"Haha! So what if you created your own? At this height, you'll die with me!"

"In the end, the old man's Thunder Breathing still has to be cut off! Serves him right!"

...It won't end, child.

Just as Kaigaku was cursing incessantly, a figure he could hardly imagine shot up like lightning and steadily caught Zenitsu who was falling.

"This...this is impossible...."

'

Kaigaku's voice vanished completely into the ashes, leaving no trace of his existence.

"who....

'

Zenitsu opened his eyes with difficulty.

Through a blurry, tear-filled gaze, he saw a figure that was both illusory and clear.

It was an old man wearing a tan kimono, with a stern face that radiated boundless love.

Kuwashima Jigoro.

His strong, calloused hands, hardened from years of wielding a sword, were now firmly supporting Zenitsu's shoulders, providing the last vestige of support for his swaying body.

"grandfather....?"

Zenitsu was stunned.

He knew his grandfather was dead, having died alone in that painful act of seppuku.

But now, that warmth from the palm of my hand...

That familiar scent, with a faint tobacco aroma, felt so real.

"...Well done, Zenitsu."

The old man's steady voice rang out in front of Zenitsu.

"You are not a waste! You are the disciple I am most proud of in my entire life!"

Those strong hands gently patted Zenitsu's head.

Just like under that huge peach tree, when he was encouraged to persevere countless times.

"Waaaaaaahhhhhh!"

On this brutal battlefield, on the edge of this collapsing Infinite City.

The newly promoted powerhouse who had killed the Upper Moon demon was now clinging to the old man like a three-year-old child, letting out a heart-wrenching wail.

Let's rewind to a few days ago.

When Kuwashima Jigoro made up his mind to commit seppuku, he asked Asuka, "...Storm Pillar, may you second me?"

What does "kaishakunin" mean?

"Seppuku is extremely painful, and even someone as hard-hearted as me would feel fear... I'm worried I won't be able to do it, so please, after I've plunged myself into my abdomen, cut off my head... Give me a quick death!"

"6

"...I don't want to." Asuka calmly rejected the proposal: "I made a promise that my sword will not kill humans."

"...Is that so? I'm sorry you heard something awkward."

Kuwashima Jigoro no longer pressed the issue; he had made his final decision.

Whoosh!

This fatal blow was swift and ruthless; he was confident it would pierce his abdomen, leaving him no chance of surviving!

But the excruciating pain did not come; the sword tip only pierced the skin of his abdomen.

Kuwajima Jigoro looked at the blade in shock and discovered that Asuka was incredibly fast, managing to grab the blade the instant he was about to stab her!

Blood dripped continuously from Asuka's palm, quickly staining the ground in front of Kuwajima Jigoro red.

He was both shocked and furious, his face darkening as he looked at Asuka: "...Storm Pillar, what are you doing! Are you insulting me?!"

"Old man, I really don't understand what you're doing."

Asuka's hand was very strong, and no matter how hard Kuwajima tried, he could not break free of the knife from his grasp.

"Death is the easiest thing; living is the real hell."

"That's right, your disciple has become a demon, and the lightning swordsmen you painstakingly trained have become the Demon Slayer Corps' nightmare. So, are you planning to end it all and escape this situation?"

"To disgrace the Breath of Thunder, so you must atone with your death? Don't make yourself a laughingstock, old man. The dead have no right to define these things; only the living can comment on them."

Seeing that Kuwashima Jigoro's eyes began to flicker, Asuka used force to snatch his sword away.

"Perhaps your lord will regret your death, perhaps your colleagues will admire your fierce spirit, but those Demon Slayer Corps peripheral members who don't know you well will only treat this as a passing cloud, and no one will care about the glory of Thunder Breathing."

"And Zenitsu? You've simply left, but he'll remember this for the rest of his life, suffering immense pain every time he thinks about it. Is this the outcome you wanted?"

"How could I possibly mean that!" Upon hearing Asuka's words and recalling Zenitsu's tearful appearance, Kuwajima Jigoro's expression darkened, and he quickly tried to explain.

Asuka tossed the knife aside and wrapped the wound on her palm with a strip of torn cloth: "But the outcome isn't decided by a dead man like you."

"Instead of thinking about escaping and dying, you should fulfill your responsibility as the Pillar and fight Muzan Kibutsuji with your life on the line!"

"Life is only given to you once; don't let it pass away meaninglessly!"

That night, Asuka said a lot of things; he never expected that he could say so many profound truths.

But upon closer reflection, these were merely his genuine thoughts as he witnessed Kuwashima Jigoro not cherishing his precious life.

The two had a long talk, and he eventually persuaded Sangdao to give up his idea of ​​suicide.

But he made a suggestion.

"Zenitsu has great potential, but he has never had the will to fight. I think we can push him a bit."

In Asuka's plan, Kuwashima Jigoro would inform the Lord that he had faked his death, and the Lord would then announce his death to Zenitsu.

With such a huge stimulus, whether Zenitsu will succumb to despair or be reborn is something Jigoro Kuwashima will be watching from the shadows.

If Zenitsu really can't take the blow, he will show up at the right time to explain everything. At worst, the two of them will fight to the death and die in the Infinity Castle!

But now, looking at Zenitsu Agatsuma, who was covered in wounds and had just defeated the Upper Moon demon, Jigoro Kuwajima couldn't help but shed tears.

"It's over... My child! You are my pride!"

Meanwhile, outside the Infinite City.

Former Flame Pillar Rengoku Juro, along with Uzui Tengen, who has recovered from the deadly poison but has lost an eye, guard the door of the new lord, Ubuyashiki Teriyaki.

"Did we succeed! We've killed another Upper Moon!"

The excited voice of Kiriya came from inside the house, which also caught the attention of Usui Tengen.

"Ah... this batch of Upper Moons seemed easy to kill... how come two of them died so quickly? I really want to make a grand entrance into the battle..."

He turned his head to look at the silent and neatly dressed Juro: "Guess which Upper Moon it is? Upper Moon Five just died, so could this one be a bit higher?"

Before Juro could reply, the Hidden Force members inside the house released crows to warn the surrounding team members, "Zenitsu Agatsuma! Upper Moon Sixth Moon! Defeat!!"

Who? Yu Suitian felt a sense of unreality.