MHGA Chapter 15 – The Rhythm of the Sun!!!

"Joseph-san, look out!!"

Elsewhere on the battlefield, Tanjiro was cooperating with Joseph Joestar in a fierce battle against Akaza.

After Akaza blasted Tanjiro away with a punch that cracked the floor beneath him, he immediately turned and lunged toward Joseph with a flurry of attacks.

Joseph had originally intended to dodge per his usual fighting style—but after a moment of thought, he instead chose to meet Akaza head-on.

Akaza's fist smashed into Joseph's shield. The sheer force of the blow shattered the floor beneath Joseph's feet, yet the shield did not break as Akaza had expected.

"Amazing! To think I'd run into a warrior like you who isn't a swordsman!!" Akaza lit up with excitement upon seeing Joseph block the blow. "And… Tanjiro!"

"To see how much you've grown… You're no longer that weak human! I'm willing to show you my respect!"

Ever since they had left Doma's chamber, Akaza had already engaged in several exchanges with the two.

Tanjiro's growth had far exceeded his expectations—but the true surprise for Akaza was Joseph's arrival.

Yet, Akaza couldn't help but feel puzzled—Joseph's fighting spirit felt erratic, surging at times and diminishing at others.

It was as if the man still had some hidden power not yet revealed in this battle.

"And you! What's your name!?"

Akaza stared intently at Joseph, speaking with fervor. "That immense fighting spirit… You must have fought through countless life-or-death struggles! Tell me your name!!"

"You bastard! Don't go around asking people's names in the middle of a fight!"

Joseph barked while fighting. "You guys… You were humans once, weren't you? Do you all turn this twisted after becoming man-eating monsters?"

"I didn't really get it before… but that Guildmaster guy was right," Joseph said, shield forward and sword ready in his rear hand, drawing his battle stance. "This is the fate carved into the bloodline of the Joestar family!"

"Joestar? That's your name?!" Akaza stepped forward with even more excitement. "I'm thrilled! Do you want to become a demon? With enough time, you could reach even greater heights!"

"No thanks!"

Joseph scoffed. "Who the hell wants to live that long? I'm not someone obsessed with clinging to life!"

"Hey! Tanjiro!" Joseph adjusted his breathing, preparing to use Hamon for a surprise kill. "Time to work together! Use your Nichirin Sword… and chop off this guy's head!"

"Hah… You came into this place without even a Nichirin Sword?" Akaza said as he parried another of Joseph's attacks and stepped back. "Still, seeing how much Tanjiro's grown… it truly excites me!"

"Come to think of it… Kyojuro was another one of those people who'd rather die than give up being human."

Akaza smirked. "Dying with his fighting spirit at its peak—that was perfect."

"Don't… don't you dare speak of him like that!" Tanjiro's fury flared at Akaza's words.

"Oi! Don't let his words get to you, you idiot!" Joseph shouted at Tanjiro. "A moment's lapse will get you killed!"

"Akaza! Enough chatter! Bring it on!"

Joseph shouted even louder, cutting through the conversation between Akaza and Tanjiro.

"I'll show you… what makes humanity truly great!"

"Come on, Akaza!!!"

Joseph's provocation successfully redirected Akaza's focus entirely toward the fight in front of him.

"Joestar!! You fascinate me more and more!!!"

"Call me Joseph, you bastard!!!"

In the next instant, Akaza stomped forward violently, activating his Destructive Death: Compass Needle.

A compass-like circle of Blood Demon Art formed at everyone's feet—and Joseph leapt forward, swinging his sword down toward Akaza.

Simultaneously, Tanjiro rushed in from the other side.

From Akaza's perspective, both Joseph and Tanjiro were emanating an extremely intense fighting spirit.

But compared to Tanjiro's refined swordsmanship, Joseph's jump-and-slash from afar appeared… unpolished.

His chest wide open. A clear vulnerability in his form. Akaza could easily smash his abdomen with a single punch—and Joseph didn't even seem to notice as he continued the charge.

That attitude inexplicably irritated Akaza.

Someone with such powerful fighting spirit, yet lacking discipline in his technique?

How had this man acquired the aura of someone who had survived numerous life-or-death battles?

"You bastard! Don't screw with me!!"

Akaza, enraged, lashed out—his devastating fist piercing through Joseph's exposed abdomen.

At the same time, sensing Tanjiro's approach via Compass Needle, Akaza shifted his head slightly and unleashed a backfist in Tanjiro's direction.

Tanjiro hadn't expected Akaza to retaliate so quickly—but dodged as best he could. Still, the residual force of the strike scraped his side and sent him crashing into a nearby wall.

Yet, even as he was flung away—Tanjiro managed to sever Akaza's wrist.

"Is that… all you've got, Tanjiro!?"

Now with his fist through Joseph's abdomen, Akaza roared furiously.

But then… he suddenly sensed a presence—an even stronger, even more lethal fighting spirit—emanating from right beside him.

"If you had attacked any other Demon Slayer before reaching us…"

Joseph's voice echoed in Akaza's ear.

He suddenly realized—his arm, lodged in Joseph's torso, had been pierced by Joseph's sword, trapping it inside him.

Akaza jerked his head around—only to see that Joseph showed no signs of dying.

Even with Akaza's arm embedded in his stomach, Joseph was still radiating intense vitality.

"If you'd spent even a moment talking with Doma before finding us…"

Joseph met Akaza's eyes, staring him down.

"If you didn't believe so completely in human fragility… you would've realized how deadly this attack is!"

At that moment—Joseph finally activated his long-hidden trump card.

"Your next line is—'Why aren't you dead yet?!'"

"Why aren't you dead ye—" Akaza began, only to be cut off—his mind thrown into disarray by Joseph's exact prediction.

In that instant—Joseph's breathing changed.

From deep within his body, a strange power began to resonate.

"This is the Rhythm of the Sun! Take this, Akaza!!!"

A violent, deadly aura burst forth from Joseph's body—

every cell in Akaza's being recoiled in terror at the sensation.

It was the one weakness no demon had ever overcome—

the natural antithesis of their very existence…

"Hamon Overdrive!!!!!!"