People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

The tsukumogami looked at Nezuko with a gloomy expression: "So that's how it is. You used Blood Demon Art to break my Blood Demon Art. Really, did you think you could defeat me by breaking my Blood Demon Art?"

What exactly are you underestimating me about? Since I became the Upper Moon, I have killed dozens of Pillars. Do you know what kind of expressions they had before they died?

Their dying expressions were all twisted with despair; I can't wait to see how you all die.

"Blood Demon Art? Twin Killing!"

Before Kyojuro Rengoku, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko, an identical illusion appeared.

Inosuke thought it was another illusion without a physical form, so he swung his sword to strike.

"Beast Breathing? Fang of Fury? Shattering Slash!"

Multiple slashes attacked Inosuke's illusion.

However, the illusion, just like Inosuke, also unleashed multiple slashes, neutralizing Inosuke's attack.

Even hidden inside the boar's head mask, Inosuke's shock was undeniable: "This guy... he can also use my Beast Breathing?!"

Tanjiro and Zenitsu launched their attacks at the same time, but the illusion in front of them launched the same attack as Tanjiro and Zenitsu, which canceled each other out.

The tsukumogami grinned maliciously, "These are not illusions, but real entities with the same power as you. They can do everything you can, and they will not tire over time. Despair, I am eagerly anticipating your deaths!"

Tanjiro and his two companions' illusions launched an attack simultaneously. Having already gone through a major battle, Tanjiro and his companions were already exhausted. Fortunately, Nezuko was there to support them, which allowed them to barely hold off the illusions' attack.

Kyojuro Rengoku wanted to help Tanjiro and the others, but he was entangled in his own illusions.

"Breath of Flames? Third Form? Blazing Flames!" Kyojuro's illusion slashed downwards, accompanied by a wide range of intense flames, sweeping towards Kyojuro Rengoku.

"Breath of Flames? Raging Form? The Winding Stream of Blazing Flames!"

Kyojuro Rengoku unleashed a vortex of flames centered on himself, deflecting the wide-ranging flames that were sweeping towards him.

Kyojuro Rengoku and the illusion continued their battle, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

Even if Kyojuro Rengoku manages to strike the illusion by trading blows for damage, the illusion will revert to its original state the next second and continue its attack.

The battle is at a stalemate, and no breakthrough can be made in the current predicament.

Chapter 76 Fighting Together

Tanjiro's side gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, and the illusion in front of them could not be eliminated at all.

While fighting, Rengoku Kyojuro observed the tsukumogami watching from the sidelines, hoping that if he could defeat it, the illusion would disappear.

"Breath of Flames? Land Form? Blazing Flames!"

Kyojuro Rengoku brandished his Nichirin Blade, creating a fiery tornado around himself as he charged toward the tsukumogami.

However, just as Rengoku Kyojuro charged towards the tsukumogami, a phantom of Kyojuro suddenly appeared and blocked his attack with his Nichirin Blade.

The tsukumogami smiled sinisterly: "Not a bad idea. As long as you deal with me, you can break the physical illusion. But... can you do it?"

Kyojuro's illusion also used blazing flames to send Kyojuro flying.

Time passed by, second by second.

Tanjiro's abdominal wound reopened during the battle. Even though he had been given medicine in time, it still needed time to heal. The constant tearing of the wound caused Tanjiro unbearable pain.

Inosuke's left arm was completely broken. Already exhausted, Inosuke made a mistake and was slashed on the left arm by the illusion. Fortunately, it was the back of the blade and his arm was not severed.

Zenitsu and his illusion used Thunderclap Flash repeatedly. Zenitsu, whose speed gradually slowed down, was stabbed in the calf by the illusion and fell to the ground. The intense pain woke Zenitsu from his slumber, and he kept howling in pain.

Kyojuro Rengoku was engaged in a fierce battle with the illusion and had no time to attend to Tanjiro and the others. As time went on, Kyojuro Rengoku's wounds gradually increased.

The battle had become one-sided, and if it continued, Tanjiro's side would definitely lose.

Kyojuro Rengoku seized the opportunity to kick the illusion away, arriving beside Tanjiro and the others, and slashing away their illusions.

"Kamado boy, get moving! Take your sister, Zenitsu boy, and boar-headed boy and escape from here!"

"Mr. Purgatory, what about you?"

"I'll stay here! I'll protect the passengers of the Mugen Train until dawn." Even in the face of such a difficult battle, Kyojuro Rengoku still wanted to protect those defenseless humans.

Tanjiro shook his head frantically: "How can that be! I can still protect the passengers!"

Inosuke also refused, saying, "I won't run away! I can still fight!"

"If you die here, then I've lost!" Kyojuro Rengoku gave a cheerful smile and reassured everyone, "Don't worry about me. As a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, this is my duty! The battle will be over as soon as it gets light!"

"Mr. Rengoku..." Tanjiro still wanted to try to persuade him.

"Alright, let's get moving!"

With his back to Tanjiro and the others, Rengoku Kyojuro single-handedly stopped the four illusory entities and the tsukumogami.

“Mr. Rengoku…” The three of them looked at each other with resentment, but they knew in their hearts that staying here would only be a hindrance to Rengoku Kyojuro.

Nezuko helped Tanjiro up, Inosuke lifted Zenitsu with his right shoulder, and then turned and ran away.

"You think you can just run away? Have you forgotten about me?" The figure of the tsukumogami suddenly appeared in front of Tanjiro and the others, looking at them mockingly.

Kyojuro Rengoku felt a pang of anxiety and wanted to help Tanjiro and the others, but the illusion in front of him stopped him.

Nezuko released Tanjiro and swung her leg at the tsukumogami, but the tsukumogami grabbed her foot and lifted her up.

"How could we possibly let those two brats wearing sun-shaped earrings just go, considering they're the adults' targets?"

Inosuke released Zenitsu from his carrying and swung his Nichirin Blade at the hand of the tsukumogami that was holding Nezuko.

The tsukumogami neither dodged nor avoided the Nichirin Blade's slashes on its arm, yet not even a tiny wound appeared.

"You guys are really too weak!" The tsukumogami squeezed hard, and Nezuko groaned as her leg bone broke under the immense grip.

"Nezuko!" Enraged, Tanjiro endured the pain and swung his Nichirin Blade, only to have his neck grabbed by a tsukumogami.

"You two can't die yet, but the other two brats are completely useless, so you can die."

Just as Inosuke and Zenitsu were about to meet their doom, a figure suddenly descended from the sky.

The head of the tsukumogami was instantly pressed into the ground, and its body was dragged along the ground for a hundred meters before being smashed into the ground, leaving the tsukumogami's body a bloody mess.

"What great luck! I've finally found you! Upper Moon Three Tsukumogami! Our last battle isn't over yet!"

Tanjiro and Nezuko regained their freedom. The three of them looked at the figure that had suddenly appeared in front of them and wondered who it was.

The tsukumogami rose from the ground, glaring at the figure before it with hatred: "...Heal!"

Osamu ignored the tsukumogami and instead looked at Tanjiro and Nezuko.

"The same sun-shaped earrings as Yosuke-sama... Are you Tanjiro and Nezuko?"

Tanjiro's mind was a complete blank at that moment, and he couldn't understand what had happened. He nodded subconsciously.

Osamu looked at Tanjiro's abdominal wound and frowned: "Your injury is quite serious. Don't move anymore. If you die, I won't be able to explain to Lord Yosuke!"

Upon hearing Yosuke's name, Tanjiro eagerly asked, "Mr. Yosuke? Does that mean Mr. Yosuke is here too?"

"Lord Yosuke didn't come. I was tracking the demons of the Twelve Demon Moons and just happened to come here."

Tanjiro's expression immediately turned somewhat disappointed.

Osamu's forehead bulged with a vein: "Hey, you don't actually think I can't beat an Upper Moon demon, do you?! It's just an Upper Moon, there's no need for Lord Yosuke to personally take action, do you understand?!"

Tanjiro was startled and quickly replied obediently, "Yes!"

Zhi adopted the starting stance of the Su-ryu technique: "Watch closely... my power! Technique unfolds! Destruction Kill? Compass!"

A twelve-pointed snowflake array appeared beneath Zhi's feet.

"Plain Flow Technique? Destructive Kill? Void Style!"

Osamu swung his fist and unleashed a six-hit combo at an incredible speed, aimed at the location of the tsukumogami.

Dust billowed up where the tsukumogami had been, but when the dust settled, the tsukumogami had vanished.

Osamu looked in one direction and sneered, "Still the same old tricks? You haven't improved at all, Tsukumogami. Under my battle aura, no illusion is effective!"

The figure of the tsukumogami appeared, its expression full of anger: "You didn't win the last battle, Blood Demon Art? Twin Kill!"

As the illusion of Osamu appeared, Tanjiro hurriedly warned, "Be careful! That illusion is real!"

"No need to remind me, I know its moves perfectly! Destructive Shot? Kick Style? Flowing Light!"

With a single, explosive kick, he launched several rapid and powerful strikes at the illusion.

Osamu's illusion retaliated with the same move, and both were forced back a few steps by the force of the recoil.

Kyojuro Rengoku was attacked by four illusions at the same time and was forced back to Osamu's side.

"Hey, owl, your strength is not bad. Your battle aura has been refined and is close to the supreme realm," Zhi praised.

Kyojuro Rengoku slashed away the illusions of Tanjiro and the others with a single stroke, then replied, "I'm not called Owl, I'm the Flame Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku! I like you too!"

Upon receiving a response, Osamu laughed heartily: "Hahaha, is that so? My name is Osamu. Well then, Kyojuro, let's have a spar after the battle here is over!"

“No problem!” Rengoku Kyojuro replied cheerfully with a smile.

Osamu and Kyojuro Rengoku stood back to back, simultaneously launching attacks on their respective illusions.

Chapter 77 Fighting Side by Side

Ji's arrival greatly relieved Kyojuro Rengoku of much of the pressure, and he no longer had to worry about Tanjiro and the others being ambushed.

Despite it being their first meeting, Osamu and Kyojuro Rengoku cooperated perfectly, fighting against the five illusions that possessed the full power of their original bodies, and holding their own against each other.

The intense battle left Inosuke dumbfounded, his whole body trembling uncontrollably: "I can't find an opening, I can't intervene, I can't keep up with their speed. Mr. Rengoku and that guy who suddenly appeared, the area around them is already another dimension. I can feel it on my skin; entering their attack range will instantly kill me... Although I really want to help, I'll only be in the way..."

As a demon, Osamu wasn't afraid of exchanging injuries with illusions and took the initiative to share the illusions of Tanjiro and the others with Kyojuro Rengoku.

"Plain Flow Technique? Destructive Kill? Demon Core Eightfold Core!"

Osamu launched a series of eight attacks from all directions at the illusions of Tanjiro and the other two.

In an instant, the illusions of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were blasted away, leaving only the illusions of Osamu and Kyojuro Rengoku on the field.

However, the situation reached a stalemate again, as Osamu and Kyojuro Rengoku were unable to completely destroy their respective illusory clones.

They also had to be on guard against sneak attacks from the tsukumogami from time to time, and the illusionary clones of Tanjiro and the other two that had been scattered had been restored.

At this moment, Kyojuro Rengoku was already panting heavily, and blood was flowing from his forehead into his eyes.

Taking advantage of Rengoku Kyojuro's vision being obscured by blood, the illusionary clone immediately launched an attack.