Anos Vs Kokushibo!

(4000 Words! Woohoo!)

Kokushibo: "Very well then Anos Voldigoad. You claim you are the only one worthy of bearing the title of the Demon King, and that you have no equal? Then I Kokushibo Upper Moon One and the right hand man to the Demon King Kibutsuji Muzan shall put your claims to the test!"

-------(Scene Break!)-------------

The Upper Moon Demon Kokushibo disappeared from where he was last standing with a speed that would outclass almost all the pillars. Appearing next to Anos, he swung his blade aiming to decapitate him. Anos saw the attack and simply created a normal blade and struck Kokushibo's blade.

Sparks flew as the two blades collided. But they didn't stop their attacks, instead their attacks became more ferocious.

(Clang! Clang! Clang!)

Their swords struck each other in a beautiful dance as sparks flew in every direction when their blades met. Kokushibo ducked under Anos's blade as he aimed to cut Anos's legs. But Anos didn't allow that as he reversed his grip on the blade in his hand and stabbed it into the ground blocking Kokushibo's blade. Anos kicked the upper moon demon back as he took the blade out from the ground.

When Kokushibo was kicked away, he did a backflip and landed on the ground gracefully. He eyed his opponent with curiosity and caution. He who has achieved the ability of the Transparent World, allowing him to read his opponents moves by noticing the movement of their muscles, the way their blood flows, and the way they breathe. And yet this self proclaimed Demon King could still keep up with him seemingly with no effort.

Kokushibo: "I must admit this is a rather refreshing feeling. To be able to fight against a swordsman of such skill. If you do not mind me asking, who taught you the art of the sword?"

Anos: "I am self taught. My skills were enhanced and polished through billions of years of training and fighting."

Kokushibo's eyes narrowed at Anos's words. He didn't want to believe his words yet he knew for a fact that the Demon Before him was honest. He was surprised by how easily he accepted that fact but he simply guessed it must have been because he could tell through their brief exchange that Anos was telling the truth.

Kokushibo: 'His stance is wide open and carefree yet I must be very cautious when trying to attack him. And even with the transparent world, he is still blocking all of my attacks without even a sign of strain.

So Kokushibo decided to get serious. Taking a deep breath, he raised the blade in his hands as he used his blood demon art.

Anos looked fascinated at what he saw. The blade in Kokushibo's hand became longer with smaller crescent shaped blades growing out of multiple parts of the blade.

Kokushibo: "Anos Voldigoad. If you truly are better than me in the art of the blade, then I shall use you to improve my art. Be prepared for now I will do all that I can to kill yo-"

That was all Kokushibo could say as his head was sliced cleanly off his body. His six eyes widening in shock at what happened. However, he noticed how he didn't lose the connection with his body meaning he wasn't killed with a Nichirin blade. He heard Anos speak.

Anos: "You talk to much you know that? If you truly want to talk, then let our blades do the talking. You wish to use me to hone your techniques even further then go ahead. Now show me your not all just talk Kokushibo."

Kokushibo's head frowned as he didn't even see Anos move before he was decapitated. But he still had his body pick up his head as he reattached it before taking a deep breath and started using his breathing techniques.

Kokushibo: 'Moon Breathing: Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains"

Kokushibo swings his sword rapidly in two gigantic crescent slashes, from which a storm of smaller crescents spread, causing huge destruction in a small area.

Anos didn't even use any breathing techniques as he nullified all the crescent slashes that was aimed him. Kokushibo once more appeared before Anos as he returned the blade in his sheath before using another technique.

Kokushibo: 'First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace'

Kokushibo quickly draws his sword and slashes swiftly in a singular horizontal motion in a crescent shape, creating numerous chaotic crescent blades. This technique is extremely reminiscent of Iaijutsu.

Anos blocked the attack using the hilt of the blade shocking Kokushibo who immediately used another technique.

Kokushibo: 'Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy'

Kokushibo makes multiple curved slashes layered over one another, creating a rising vortex of sword slashes nd crescent moon blades.

Anos surprised Kokushibo by using the exact same technique but instead of cancelling each other out, Anos's use of the technique overpowered Kokushibo's forcing him to use another technique to defend himself.

Kokushibo: 'Second Form: Pearl Flower Moon gazing!'

Kokushibo performs several crescent-shaped slashes that defend him from incoming attacks, sending a barrage of crescent blades.

Kokushibo jumped away as his defensive technique was still overpowered. After dodging the attack, he jumped towards Anos as the two continued to hack, slash, and dodge each other as the sounds of steel colliding with each other was the only thing that one could hear in this forest.

(Meanwhile at the Demon Slayer Headquarters.)

Tonight was a rather peaceful night as the Hashira's and their Tsugokus were resting to prepare themselves for any missions they may receive. That was until they heard the frantic yelling of one of the crows who semmingly rushed to the headquarters to report an emergency.

The current leader of the Demon Slayers Kagaya Ubyashiki frowned as he heard the crow that was following Anos tell.

Anos Crow: "Caw! Caw! The individual Anos Voldigoad is fighting Upper Moon 1! Caw! Caw! I repeat Anos is fighting Upper Moon 1 near the village of Okurama!"

The Hashira's who heard this were all shocked as they rushed to prepare themselves. They didn't care much about the safety of Anos as they knew he should be safe because he was able to single handedly beat all the Hashira's at once without even breaking a sweat.

What they were worried about was the upper moon 1 demon. If they could atleast see how the demon looks like and what their blood demon art is, then they could most likely find away to kill them.

So the Hashira's all gathered before their leader as he spoke.

Kagaya Ubyashiki: "Please my children, do your best to survive the encounter or at the very least kill off the upper moon 1."

All the Hashira's bowed their head as they spoke.

Hashira's: "Yes Oyakata-Sama!"

Leaving those words, they all vanished into the forest praying that they will be able to kill the upper moon 1 demon.

(With Anos and Kokushibo)

In the Darkness of night, two figures could be seen fighting against each other with the sounds of Steel colliding as both their blades clashed at a speed far beyond human as their clashes caused sparks to fly all around them.

Kokushibo: 'Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Incessant'

Kokushibo releases a wild barrage of crescent-shaped slashes several meters in front of him. The surrounding area around them was sliced apart as Anos deflected the attack. He disappeared from where he stood as used Another technique he copied.

Anos: 'Water breathing Fourth Form: Striking Tide, Turbulent'

An improved version of the Fourth Form: Striking Tide. Anos increases the quantity of consecutive strikes and slashes along with improving its accuracy in order to contact a specific target during a chaotic situation.

As Kokushibo saw Anos using water breathing as well, he wondered if Anos had fought against the current water pillar as he remembered how he didn't seem that surprised when talking about the pillars.

But his thoughts were cut short as he had to duck in order to dodge Anos's blade. Kokushibo sent a knee strike to Anos who blocked it with his hand. Anos who had a grip on Kokushibo dragged him forward causing him to slip and lose his footing.

Anos used that slip to swing Kokushibo front and back slamming him into the ground before kicking him through a bunch of trees.

(Boom! Bang!)

Kokushibo who was thrown right through a bunch of trees adjusted himself to land upon the ground ato stop his momentum his blade became gigantic as he used another technique combined with the momentum gained from forcibly stopping himself to keep Anos at bay.

Kokushibo: 'Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe, Tenman Crescent Moon'

Kokushibo uses the gigantic version of his sword and creates a chaotic vortex of powerful extremely long-ranged omni-directional slashes that destroys whatever is caught up within its attack radius.

Anos smiled as he took a more defensive approach to Kokushibo's attack.

Anos: 'Eleventh Form: Dead Calm. Sixth form Whirlpool Flow, Third Form: Stone Skin, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation'

The combination of all these techniques were more than enough to block and deflect Kokushibo's attack. Kokushibo looked at Anos incredulously as he paused his attack and spoke.

Kokushibo: "Water, Stone, Flame, and even my Moon Breathing. What kind of monster are you to be able to use so many different breathing forms without any signs of exhaustion?"

Anos: "You call my ability to use multiple breathing techniques rediculous when you demons basically have infinite stamina and are immortal. Anyone of you demons should be able to use them proficiently enough if you spent all your time training the techniques."

Kokushibo shook his head as he replied.

Kokushibo: "Even with our seemingly endless stamina and our immortality, it doesn't mean we are unable to get mentally fatigued or stressed out. Even if we wanted to train forever, we still need to devour humans to get stronger."

Anos: "So your biggest weakness is the requirement of sustenance? Has your master not try to make an army of demons that do not require sustenance to survive? I mean you try imagine if you didn't need to worry about hunger and thirst, you could train endlessly without worry. But because you demons still require sustenance to continue getting stronger and living, it will simply be a burden to you."

Kokushibo looked thoughtful of what Anos said as he spoke.

Kokushibo: "I don't think we have the ability to build an army that doesn't require any sustenance. To build strength and muscle one needs their proper nutrients to help the body grow. To us human flesh is basically our nutritional meal that helps us grow stronger than before. But I'm more curious why would you suggest something like this? You claim not to be a Demon created by my master, yet you offer advice to make him stronger. Why is that?"

Anos shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

Anos: "Why does anyone do anything? Sheer Absolute Boredom. I've lived for billions of years becoming so strong that no one can bring harm to me meaning my life is filled with nothing but boredom. Even right now as we speak, I'm only in this world because I saw something that attracted my curiosity."

Kokushibo dashed forward as he attacked Anos and continued speaking.

(Clang!)

Kokushibo: "You say this world as if there is more than just this world that exists?"

Anos nodded his head as he threw Kokushibo away and appearing above him, as he slashed at Kokushibo from above. His blade smashing atop Kokushibo's who created a bunch of smaller blades that protruded from all over his body as they all used his moon Breathing techniques to try and get Anos away.

But Anos simply copied Kokushibo's techniques and nullified all of them as he continued speaking.

Anos: "You'd be pleasently surprised with how many worlds exist you know? Some worlds beings like Demons and Demon Slayers don't exist, some worlds there are weak supernatural creatures, and some worlds that are filled with rediculous peoples and creatures that warps reality just by their existence. In fact, all the different world's has an infinite number of different time lines where many events that could have happend has happend."

Kokushibo who decided to abandon using breathing techniques and just fight with his swordsmanship skills spoke up.

Kokushibo: "What sort of events exactly?"

Anos who slid his blade on Kokushibo's aiming to slice his torso in half smiled as Kokushibo allowed the blade to cut him in half as he took the opportunity to try and slice Anos in half only for Anos to dodge by spinning himself before he sliced of Kokushibo's head once more and continued speaking.

Anos: "Such as a version of yourself that teaches human children in a school various subjects."

Kokushibo became shocked hearing that. But he still didn't stop his attack. He was about to strike once more but paused when he sensed several very strong presences approaching. He knows that even if he fought all of them together, he would still come out on top. What worries him is the demon standing before him.

Kokushibo decide to tactically retreat for now as he needed to avoid fighting but Anos didn't let him. He spoke 1 sentence and Kokushibo was forced to obey.

Anos: "Who gave you permission to leave?"

(Dadum! Boom!)

Kokushibo's eyes widened in horror as an unknown pressure descended upon him. The worst part was that the Upper Moon Demon realised that his body wasn't moving! Heck he couldn't even force himself to return to the infinity castle.

Anos smiled as he saw this as he nonchalantly spoke.

Anos: "Don't worry so much Kokushibo. I am merely making you stay put because I want to show you. No, I want to show all of you what it means to stand before the True Demon King."

Anos saw the confusion in Kokushibo's eyes. But Anos said nothing as he caught an axe aimed for Kokushibo's head as the person who threw it frowned seeing Anos's action. Anos raised and wagged hiss index finger as he spoke.

Anos: "Ah, ah, ah. I never gave any of you permission to kill this demon now did I?"

The stone pillar Gyomei frowned as the other Hashiras and their tsugokus arrived and he spoke.

Gyomei: "Anos Voldigoad. That demon behind you is our enemy. Do you really want to save him? I thought you didn't care about the demons and even felt offended they dared to call themselves one?"

Anos smiled as he replied.

Anos: "Just because I don't like them doesn't mean I hate them."

Everyone: "Huh?"

Anos: "This young man told me he would use me to hone his skill with the blade. I'm not going to allow any harm to come to him until I feel satisfied with his improvement."

Everyone felt speechless at this declaration. They wanted to attack but Shinjuro and Gyomei stopped them. They shook their head telling the other slayers it isn't worth it to antagonise someone like Anos.

But only a couple of the Hashiras understood what the two oldest pillars were thinking about. Let them fight and we simply collect information on the enemy.

Anos: "Now then young man, come face me until I'm satisfied with your improvement. Otherwise you aren't going to be allowed to return."

Kokushibo: "You ally yourself with humans? I thought as a demon you wouldn't stoop so low as to be a soldier for some weaklings."

Anos smiled became strained as he sighed before he gripped the blade in his hand and slowly inhale as he spoke.

Anos: "All of you watch carefully as I show you all what awaits those who reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship. The realm of Emptiness."

Everyone looked confused. Realm of Emptiness?

However Kokushibo looked horrified at Anos for some strange reason.

Kokushibo: "This feeling! This is the exact same feeling as Yoriichi!"

The Hashira's became slightly surprised hearing the anger and fear in the voice of the Upper Moon Demon. But Anos didn't care as he spoke.

Anos: "Emptiness is the highest order a swordsman can attain. The ultimate mental state. It corresponds to the concept of Suigetsu of the Yagyū Shinkage. One is nothing, thus invincible. Only a swordsman who has reached the infinite mental state can perceive this. And I want you to understand Michikatsu, this level of swordsmanship has been reached by a select few humans. The very same creatures you claim as weaklings."

Kokushibo lost all his composer not just at the horrifying feeling surrounding Anos, but also because he knew his human name. And as he tried drawing his blade hoping to strike him down, the surroundings turned silent as everyone looked on disbelief as the demon before them was quite litteraly sliced into chunks that were so thin that you would think they were paper.

Kokushibo regenerated himself almost instantly as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. He knows attacking Anos recklessly is not beneficial so after calming himself down, he aimed his blade at Anos as he adjusted his stance and dashed forward changing his footwork to increase his movement speed to confuse Anos as his blade clashed with the blade of the Demon who stood before him.

Anos: "Now you see, I truly have no equal. Be it in terms of combat or any other skills, I stand above all."

Kokushibo ignored Anos's words. He needs to improve himself as fast as he can to escape the grasp of this Demon. Kokushibo's eyes twitch in annoyance at that thought, but he ignored it all in favour of striking at Anos with everything he has and running away.

The Hashira's all watch in awe at the battle between the two Demons. It had been several hours since they arrived and the two continued to clash their blades without stopping to rest. They all saw how the upper moon demon's sword techniques were improving at an incredible speed. But what truly surprised the Hashira's was how even through all this Anos has always held the upper hand.

Not once throughout their fight did Anos lose the upper hand. He kept true to his words in helping the upper moon demon improve his skills. They could tell that by now the upper moon 1 is completely focused on their fight as he doesn't even seem to notice the rising sun. He kept slashing at Anos, his footwork improved by leaps and bounds, his sword swings more graceful, his techniques sharper and more deadlier.

But what truly shocked them was how even when the sun had risen, the upper moon demon had not burnt to ash. Sanemi was the first to speak, his gaze never leaving the two.

Sanemi: "What the fuck is this?! The sun has already risen, yet that Upper Moon Demon is still alive?! How?!"

And the answer came in the form of Anos who replied calmly while blocking and countering all of Kokushibo's attacks.

Anos: "Did you think I'd allow something as insignificant and weak as the sun to burn this mighty warrior? And... Who gave you permission to try and take him away?"

Crimson plum eye's that spoke of a leader to a terrifying legion of unkillable demons, glared with murderous intent as it met Crimson eye's that brought destruction come all who dare challenge them. And just as fast as the two demons of different origin meet face to face for the first time, it ended just as quickly as Anos ignored him and focused on Kokushibo as within the infinity castle before the horrified eye of the only other demon within the fortress Nakime, her leaders blood stained the castle crimson with the stench of iron permeating it's halls.

The Hashira's became confused and speechless at this declaration. Calling the sun weak and even preventing a demon from dying to it is something unheard of. And they didn't understand what Anos meant by permission to take him away?

Tengen's eyes widened as he spoke.

Tengen: "Hold on! Maybe! Just maybe the person Anos was talking to was Kibutsuji Muzan! Muzan most likely realised that Upper Moon 1 had become immune to sunlight and possibly wanted to force him to return in order to grant himself immunity to it as well!"

Tengen's words shocked everyone as they realised what has almost happened. The progenitor of Demons had almost become completely immortal. But, before they could continue with their thoughts, their attention was drawn back to the fight. They all saw Kokushibo had retreated as his stance had changed. His six eyes serene as he took a deep breath, swung his blade and uttered.

Kokushibo: "You want satisfactory results? Very well then, perish under my new technique. Moon Breathing Seventeenth Form: Moon Palace Collapse"

With a single swing of his blade, a giant 360 degree slash in the form of a full moon was released at a speed none of the Hashira's could even see or react to it struck Anos who did nothing but took the attack head on.

However, all the Hashira's had to scatter as even after the attack struck Anos, their instincts warned them of danger. They then saw it, how the the sheer wind pressure of the attack cut off more than a kilometres worth of trees all around them as well as scaring the ground with many small crescent moon shaped slashes.

The Hashira's all shuddered at the scene of that last attack. They were all sure if they took on that attack that they'd die no matter what they did. They then heard Anos laugh as he spoke.

Anos: "Not bad young man, that attack just now is a guarantee kill for any who stand before you that are weak. Congratulations, I believe that should be a decent increase to your skills."

Kokushibo just sighed as even the new technique he made couldn't even scratch this demon standing before him. But he still did something unexpected that shocked the Hashira's. The Hashira's all saw the strongest Upper Moon Demon bowing his head in respect and thanks as he spoke.

Kokushibo: "I thank you for the help in improving my techniques. Although my lord will be angry, I hope that my increase in strength will be enough to appease his anger."

Anos nodded his head as he replied.

Anos: "Truly a pity that I cannot get you to serve me. Your loyalty is astounding considering how much that man fears death."

Kokushibo: "But I want to ask something of you. How did you prevent me from dying to the sun?"

Anos: "I simply temporarily destroyed your weakness to it. When you return this effect is dissipated and you will once more be capable of dying to the sun. After all, if I had allowed you to return with invincibility towards the sun, no doubt your 'Lord' would betray you and devour you thinking it will grant him immunity to the sun."

Kokushibo said nothing as the sound of a biwa being strung was heard before he disappeared and returned towards the infinity castle. Turning his head to the Hashiras, Anos spoke.

Anos: "Is there anything else you would like from me?"

The Hashiras stayed quiet as they shook their heads before Shinjuro spoke.

Shinjuro: "Anos Voldigoad, for what reason did you help that demon?"

Anos: "As is the reason I'm helping you all. Boredom, and because you are all incredibly skilled combatants, and I would like to have you all serve me."

Shinjuro was going to reply when Anos cut him off and replied.

Anos: "I know that you will refuse my offer right now, but that doesn't mean you can't decide after a bit more time. After you defeat this Kibutsuji Muzan, I will get your answers weather you live or die."

Shinjuro sighed in defeat. The fact that this Demon says he will get his answer even if they died means that he obviously has some way to resurrect them should they die.

Anos merely smirked in amusement as his eyes stared in a certain dimension where the self proclaimed demon king hid. His gaze focused on the Hashira's as well as the tsugokus as he spoke.

Anos: "If there's nothing else, I will continue on with my journey."

{Next Chapter: "Kibutsuji Muzan's Fury!}