Mugen Train Arc (Part 3 [Finale])

(Akaza POV)

"Growing old and dying is what gives meaning, and beauty, to the fleeting span of a human life. It's precisely because we age, and die, that our lives have value and nobility. Strength is not a word meant only to be used about the flesh. These boys are not weak. Do not insult them. I'll say it again, we have different moral values. I won't become a demon, no matter what."

Unpleased by his answer, I squint at him. "Is that so?"

Turning my hand into a claw, I stamp my foot into the ground, causing it to fracture and crumble.

Glowing an ominous purple, I use 'Technique Development. Destructive Death: Compass Needle.'

"If you don't want to be a demon, I'll kill you."

Having my technique finish, I sprint forward, immediately engaging in a fist vs. sword matchup.

The smile on my face grows as Kyojuro actively defends against my technique and even lands a few counterattacks against me.

"Of all the Hashira I've killed, there was no Flame Hashira. They also all refused my proposal." I reveal.

Landing a twin kick upon his sword, I go to do an uppercut, but it's deflected and Kyojuro plants his sword in my arm.

"Why? As someone who's also mastered the oath of physical combat, I can't understand. Especially when only the chosen ones can become demons."

Going to strike at Kyojuro's head, he tears his blade free and completely removes my right hand. Suddenly regrowing my removed arm, I punch forward with it, straight into Kyojuro's blade.

"For one with such great talent, to waste away in an unsightly manner… I can't bear to see that!" Just die, Kyojuro. While you're still young and strong!"

Slashing at me with his flaming katana, I do a backflip, and, in the air, I use 'Destructive Death: Air Type.'

Blocking the very first shockwave that I've sent out, I send out two more, delighted by the strain of Kyojuro as he defends. Continuing my onslaught from afar, Kyojuro alters his stance then uses a technique that blocks each of my oncoming shockwaves. Creating a flurry of blue hitting red, yellow, and orange.

Landing back on my feet, I wait in apprehension for Kyojuro's next move.

Changing the placement of his feet, Kyojuro disappears from where he was standing and appears below my head. Internally shocked by his increased speed, I instantly recover and dodge the slash towards my neck.

"What incredible reaction speed!" I praise.

Defending against his flurry of attacks with my shockwaves, blood continues to fly from my arms.

"This wonderful technique will be gone too, Kyojuro! Aren't you sad?"

"It's a fact of life." Kyojuro responds. "A natural consequence of being human!" Kyojuro then yells to the weakling behind him. "Don't move! If you interfere, you will die! Stand back! That's an order!"

Aggravated by the weaklings, I express it.

"Ignore the weakling, Kyojuro! Unleash your full power! Focus on me."

Being knocked away by one of his attacks, Kyojuro sprints forward and commits to a horizontal slash. Rolling under it, Kyojuro turns and makes a powerful enough attack to knock me straight into the forest. Having him come in after me, I smile in delight and appear before him.

"Nice move."

Returning the favor while having one of my arms cut off, I kick Kyojuro hard enough so that he lands back in the opening. Finding him engraved near the train tracks, I continue my bargaining.

"Become a demon, Kyojuro. The fight me forever and let us spur each other on."

Laughing heartily, I then turn my head slightly upwards which results in sweat immediately streming down my face. The feeling of absolute fear spreads over me and my breathing becomes rough.

"I refuse."

Brought back to life by Kyojuro's voice, I return my attention to him.

"I'll say it once more, I hate you. I won't become a demon."

Looking back at the tracks, the aura that made me feel so much fear had disappeared. Finding that Kyojuro was approaching me, I regain the smile on my face, thinking that I had simply imagined it. Dodging to the side of Kyojuro's technique, I bash my way into Kyojuro who manages to negate the force.

"Destructive Death: Air Type."

Knocking Kyojuro even further into the air, he quickly regains his senses and goes back to trying to kill me. Letting Rengoku freely injure me without a care in the world, we once again enter a stale mate with one another.

"You still don't understand, do you? By continuing to attack me, you're choosing death, Kyojuro!"

Responding to my words by continuing the fight, I graze my fist past Kyojuro's head, causing a slight flesh wound that begins to bleed. Losing both my forearms the technique he executes after his injury; I regenerate them and continue to attack.

"It's such a shame to have to kill you here. You still haven't reached your physical peak."

Breaking past his defense, I punch Kyojuro in the stomach, breaking multiple of his ribs.

"In a year or two, your technique would be more refined. Your accuracy would improve, too!"

As my fist is about to break past Kyojuro's defense once again and make it to where I would remove one of his eyes, a feeling of dread overwhelms me and I jump backwards hurriedly, finding someone standing right next to Kyojuro.

Feeling as my body starts to shake, I stare at the pitch-black aura that surrounded this new individual. Amongst this aura, there were light specks of rising blue that soon disappeared amongst the void. Feeling threatened by this very existence, I immediately use 'Destructive Death: Compass Needle' for him.

"You've definitely reached supreme realm… who are you?"

Completely ignoring my question, he proceeds to speak with Kyojuro. Angered, I stamp my foot into the ground and use 'Destructive Death: Disorder', sending a chaotic wave of shockwaves towards this unknown individual.

However, the technique is blown away by Kyojuro himself whose entire fighting aura became perfected. Swapping attention between Kyojuro and the unknown variable, my attention is forced back to Kyojuro when his aura explodes outwards, causing my entire body to shudder.

"I will fulfill my duty! I won't let anyone here die!"

Fighting between enjoying Kyojuro's fighting spirit or worrying over the black aura next to him, Rengoku destroys the ground around him and flashes towards me, a ginormous dragonic fire god tailing directly behind his blade.

Quickly getting into stance, I use 'Destructive Death: Annihilation Type'.

Dashing to Kyojuro, my shockwave meets with his fire god and create a huge explosion. However, Kyojuro's technique wasn't finished, and he cleanly sliced through my arm before trying to go for my neck. Striking the blade down, it engraves itself into my body, but Kyojuro twists the blade around in my body and slices upwards.

Feeling as this technique burns through me, I go to plunge my hand through his solar plexus, but the pitch-black aura suddenly appears next to me, his blade quickly approaching towards my neck, forcing me to hurl myself backwards.

Having my head vertically cut through by Kyojuro, I quickly regrow it and then cough a mouthful of blood. Looking to the duo, Kyojuro is on his knees while the unknown stands over him with a relieved expression.

Turning his head towards me, I find myself staring at the one who forced Kibutsuji into such a poor state and caused everyone to become hectic. The one I originally thanked for giving me an opportunity to freely kill the weak, I now shuddered at in person.

---

(Shiro POV)

Contrary to what I had expected from Akaza, he didn't look the least bit pleased to be facing me. I knew I was a strong opponent, but the aura that Akaza could see seemed to send him into panic. Bowing my head down to Akaza, I introduce myself.

"I am Shiro Urokodaki, the Kōri to Kokū Hashira."

Locking his two eyes with mine, Akaza seems to fumble before speaking.

"Alright, Shiro, since you've reached the supreme realm within the time of your mortal life, you should become a demon alongside Kyojuro and then we can fight one another."

"Oh, I thought you knew," I gasp. "Didn't Child Muzan tell you that I am already a Demon."

"He's not a child." Akaza snarls. "And even if he did tell me, your aura is only like that of a human. You're a chosen one, so if you became a demon now, you'd be stronger than even Kokushibo and you'd live forever, letting you get strong enough so that no one has a chance to kill you. You're wasting your talent by remaining in that mortal shell."

"It's only sane of me to better my mortal form rather than my demonic one, so I shall reject your proposal, slave Akaza."

This exhibits a reaction from Akaza as his eyes flare to life.

"Even if I don't wish to fight someone like yourself, I know if I run away, I'd be disgracing myself."

Flattening the ground with his foot, Akaza uses 'Destructive Death: Disorder', sending a wave of shockwaves towards me. Spinning around rapidly, the air around me picks up rapidly and forms a crystally barrier, the creation of 'Ice Breathing Third Form: Blizzard'.

Taking a step towards Akaza while still using my technique, I cancel it and use 'Ice Breathing Second Form: Frostbite'.

Flipping backwards, the tip of my blade extends fast enough to remove one of Akaza's feet. Scraping his one foot against the ground as he lands, Akaza looks down at his non-healing leg.

"What did you do?" Akaza asks as his foot finally regrows itself, shattering the ice which had covered his wound. "This technique is not one I've encountered before."

"And you've lived for how long?" I ask while winking. "Who would've guessed that you can still learn new things even this late into life."

Backing away from me even further, Akaza's eyes continue to dart to the forest that lay behind him.

"Now, now, the two of us really don't have a reason to fight, do we? You have no way to improve me while I have to way to improve you, our fight would be pointless."

"But wouldn't it determine who's stronger?" I kindly ask.

Gulping hard, Akaza finally stills his troubled emotions and locks eyes with me.

"If I go back now, I'll be looked down upon by all of them. But if I fight and die here, I will have died a noble warrior death. And there's always the possibility I win." Hearing Akaza's mumblings, the air around him changes and his aura overflows, creating a near demonic figure.

Punching the air in front of him eight times in light-speed succession, the air ripples dangerously and hyper-strong shockwaves make their way towards me.

Thrusting my sword upwards, I use 'Ice Breathing Sixth Form: Frozen Tomb', creating a barrier between myself and Akaza's punches. Hearing as my ice wall consistently shatters, the moment I notice the eighth shockwave hit, I jump from behind the ice wall and use 'Ice Breathing First Form: Frost Fang'.

Almost like he expected me to do exactly that, Akaza rushes forward and uses 'Destructive Death: Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow'.

Executing a downward punch, I halt my movement and watch as Akaza's fist punches into the ground, creating a massive crater that I also get caught in. In the moment I tumble, Akaza uses 'Destructive Death: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels', making it seem as if he freezes in air and beginning to kick me with both legs, starting from my own.

However, Akaza's growing technique is quickly halted by my downward swinging blade that cuts his legs which were a nanometer away from hitting me. Using his arms, Akaza uses the sloped crater to push himself away from me and tear both his legs from his body so that they'll heal instantly rather than at such a slow pace. Akaza's smile had long since faded as this battle was no longer for his enjoyment but for his own survival.

Twirling my blade around in my hand, I use 'Ice Breathing Fifth Form: Aisubān' causing the already illuminated blade to become a darker hue of blue that made me feel a chill upon my hand.

"Nice blade."

Finding Akaza's eyes locked upon the blade, I lower my stance then use 'Ice Breathing Fourth Form: Piasuaisu'. Appearing below Akaza before he even has a moment to react, I plunge my katana into his chest.

Being combined with my fifth form, the area the ice covers is much larger and encapsulates Akaza's entire torso. Pulling myself forward into the blade, I ram my head into Akaza's fragile chest.

However, Akaza seemed to have realized the danger and ripped his own head from his body, throwing it far away.

Reforming his entire body from the thrown head, Akaza coughs up even more blood.

Scraping his hand against the rocky ground, Akaza's previously overwhelming aura goes quiet. The silence envelops the entire area as the groans of the injured passengers are muted.

"You have my respects Shiro. I honestly didn't believe that I'd fight anyone on my level, but you've proven me wrong. As a warrior of lesser strength than you, I think it only right that I go all out."

Following his words, the area around him suddenly cracks and he sends a flurry of fists forward, aiming towards absolutely nothing. As I continue to watch his strange ritual, Akaza doesn't slow in the slightest and sweat begins to fly from his body.

Wanting to ask what he was doing, I suddenly place the mune of my blade in front of me and watch as a thin, sharp shockwave reverberates off. Whipping my head around, more of these shockwaves appear from out of nowhere and try to slice through me.

Blocking each strike with my blade with ever great difficulty, my arms begin to shake under the strain. Raking my feet in whatever direction that the omnidirectional strikes come from, I'm shot up into the air as one comes from below me.

Twisting my body as quickly as possible, it finally becomes too much, and wounds begin to show on my skin. After defending against such a technique for a seemingly endless amount of time, I find my feet planted against the ground. Staggering slightly, multiple globs of blood drop to the ground, making the grey turn a slight red.

Tilting my head upwards, I find a sweat covered Akaza looking at the horizon that lies over the train tracks. Looking to me then back at the sun, Akaza seems to make his ultimatum decision and starts to back away towards the forest.

"As much as I would like to continue this fight Shiro, it seems my time has come, so I'll be seeing you in the future."

Smiling at his statement, the sclera of my eye changes color and I flash towards Akaza. The surprise on his face becomes as clear as the blooming of a Wisteria Tree and a resounding boom is heard.

Faltering, Akaza looks at his chest to find my fist hovering over an area of open space. Moving his leg, Akaza tries to execute an axe kick, but I block the downward strike with my forearm, receiving barely an injury.

Recovering his chest wound over my own hand, Akaza gargles the blood that starts to fill his mouth. As I'm hold him, the sunrise starts to color the sky. Upon seeing this, Akaza directly punches my face, yet in return for his troubles, I don't even flinch.

"I won't let you go!"

His face turns manic and swaps his gaze between me and the approaching of dawn. Screaming out in incredible anguish, Akaza demands, "Move!"

Having spat blood saying that, Akaza starts to tear at my skin. Peeling away the first layer, it regrows the moment his fingers let go, leading for him for continue his scramble. However, Akaza's feet hit the ground for a moment, and he instantly exerts all his strength to run away. Removing his stomach, Akaza flips into the air, yet I decide to end it all.

"Ice Breathing First Form: Frost Fang"

Muttering such, I travel at subsonic speeds in which Akaza has no time to react. Separating his head from his neck, Akaza's eyes flicker in disbelief. Falling with an audible thud, Akaza continues his silent weeping.

"It can't end here. I will get stronger. I must become stronger than everyone else. Stronger…"

As Akaza's head begins to crumble into dust, I stare with concern at the silent body that remains. Standing without purpose, the body then raises its foot and stamps it into the ground, creating another compass.

Bursting forward, Akaza appears in front of me and slashes his hand forward, before heading into a flurry of punches and kicks which I aptly block with my blade. Looking at his neck wound, I can see that it had clenched inward, stopping his death if even for a short time.

Slashing completely through him once with my blade, it slowly starts to split apart but at the last moment, heals itself to completion.

Tumbling forward, Akaza's arm is then held behind him, and his movements come to a complete stop. Turning his "head" to look at the thing that was holding him back, Akaza remembers his past.

After waiting for him to make any kind of movement, Akaza's head begins to regrow. Wanting to take a step to attack him again, I halt myself when I notice his anger and killing intent no longer directed at me, but at himself. Along with such, I could feel the emotions of regret and realization emanate from him.

Casting a Destructive Death skill, Akaza punches himself, leaving him a muddled pile of bone, organs, and remnants of skin. But Akaza underestimated the regenerating power of a demon and regrows himself a new body almost immediately.

Falling to his knees, I feel the inner turmoil of Akaza and the control of Muzan reach over him, yet eventually, his body starts to fade to dust.

Falling to one knee, I bow my head to the last bits of Akaza, thanking him mentally for fighting Rengoku and fighting me. Having the sun finally peak, I turn my head to find Tanjiro relievedly crying.

Cracking a smile, it became news to everyone soon after that another Upper Kizuki had been killed.