Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

But tonight, encountering Chiba Yo gave it another chance. The thought of dying at the hands of someone as powerful as Yoriichi made Kokushibo accept it.

A hint of composure appeared in Kokushibo's eyes. At the same time, after Chiba Yo slashed the Nichirin Blade into its neck, countless blades covered with eyes surged from its entire body.

"The Fifth Form of Lunar Breathing: Meteorite Moon Burial".

As Kokushibo's voice faded, its head was also severed by Chiba Yo.

But in the next instant, the demon blades that extended from Kokushibo's entire body shone with a moon-like brilliance, followed by the release of countless crescent blades, as if to shatter everything around them.

Can we perish together with him...?

The severed head stared at Chiba Yo. Because it regarded Chiba Yo as someone like Yoriichi, Kokushibo no longer cared about its obsession with never losing to anyone again. In its eyes, Yoriichi was the one who killed it.

Faced with the imminent attack, Chiba Yo had anticipated it and had already devised a solution when he chose to continue beheading Kokushibo instead of retreating.

"Sun Breathing, Type 9, Wheel of Sunlight".

The color of Chiba Yo's Nichirin Blade deepened again, turning into a deep golden-red like the sun.

The next instant, flames erupted from the blade, even obscuring Chiba Yang's entire figure. Then, Chiba Yang swung the blade horizontally forward.

The semi-circular flame slash engulfed the moon blades that were on their trajectory, and then the slash suddenly erupted, releasing countless dense arc-shaped flame slashes vertically.

A sun seemed to form in front of Chiba Yo, completely engulfing the crescent blades released by Kokushibo's entire body, and swallowing the moonlight with the sun's radiance.

Seeing the situation before him, Kokushibo felt somewhat relieved. Even though its attack, which came at the cost of its own decapitation, was easily neutralized by its opponent, it realized that it had no chance of defeating its opponent at all.

Until the very end... it didn't manage to harm you in the slightest...

His body had begun to dissipate, and Kokushibo actually felt a little relieved at this moment.

Yoriichi's image reappeared in Kokushibo's mind. Even though he had long forgotten the appearance of his parents, wife, and children, Yoriichi's face remained in his mind. Even in the last moment of his life, he was still thinking of Yoriichi.

In the end… everything you said was proven true… everything about you was passed down… your name was remembered by the world… but I… left nothing behind…

“Brother, you think too highly of us. We are just two passersby in the long history of mankind. There may be babies with talents far superior to ours being born somewhere in the world right now. They will probably eventually reach the same level as us.”

You once said that those who pursue perfection will eventually reach the same destination... but I failed to do so... In the end, I never saw the world you envisioned...

Chapter 128 Goodbye

After your death... that person and I clearly slaughtered all the swordsmen who knew the Breath of the Sun... why has your breath continued to this day...?

Why did I leave nothing behind...? Why couldn't I become anyone...? Why are we so different...? What was I even born for...?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Kokushibo's mind, but what appeared in his mind at this moment was Yoriichi's image and his past with him.

"Is your dream, elder brother, to become the strongest warrior in this country?"

I really want to become as strong as my older brother... Then I'll... become the second strongest samurai in this country..."

"I will cherish this flute as if it were an elder brother. Even if we are separated by thousands of miles, I will take it out every day and practice diligently. I will never be discouraged by loneliness."

"I'm so sorry, brother, I'm late..."

"There's no need to worry. We just need to let things take their course and wait for the day when life comes to an end."

Don't you think this is a very pleasant thing, brother?

The children who come into this world in the future will surely surpass us brothers and strive for even greater heights.

"How tragic, brother..."

The scene freezes on the night of Yoriichi's final encounter. After Yoriichi slashes and dies of old age, Kokushibo, in a fit of rage, cuts Yoriichi's body in two, and the broken piccolo falls from Yoriichi's arms.

The words Yoriichi spoke before he left echoed in its ears.

"Shut up, stop talking... I hate you..."

For some unknown reason, tears streamed from its six eyes, and for some unknown reason, it picked up the broken flute and tucked it into its bosom...

You are like a unique sun... and those around you... despite being scorched by your heat, still struggle to reach out their hands to you...

After all, they had no other choice...

Until finally turning into charcoal and vanishing into nothingness...

Actually... all I wanted was to become you...

Did I do everything wrong...?

Can you answer me... Yoriichi...?

As all thoughts dissipated, Yoriichi's figure gradually disappeared from his mind. Kokushibo's body and head had turned to ashes, leaving only a samurai outfit lying quietly on the ground, from which a short flute broken in two pieces was revealed.

Watching Kokushibo completely dissipate, Chiba Yo sheathed his Nichirin Blade. His gaze swept over the clothes on the ground, and the broken flute caught his attention.

Chiba Yo picked up the broken flute, a strange feeling creeping over him...

“My brother is also a unique person in this world; he doesn’t need to become anyone else…”

A familiar voice rang in his ears, and he regained consciousness, opening his eyes.

Surrounded by darkness, yet illuminated by a dazzling light, a figure emerged from the light, revealing a familiar smiling face.

Kokushibo looked at the person who lingered in his mind, but at this moment his heart was much calmer than before.

Kokushibo lowered its head in silence, not looking at Yoriichi. It didn't know what it was feeling—anger? Guilt? Joy? It didn't know itself.

Looking at Kokushibo before him, Yoriichi, who appeared to be a young man, also fell silent for a while. He had originally come here with many things he wanted to say to his older brother, but after meeting him, he found himself unable to speak.

After his death, he also understood many things, such as why his brother had become the way he was now.

In the end, Yoriichi didn't say much; he only uttered one sentence.

"In the future... I still want to be brothers with you, brother, but next time, let me take care of and protect our family."

Upon hearing these words, a ray of light flashed across Kokushibo's face, dispelling the fog and clearing his mind.

Yes, I want to be you because you did what I should have done.

As your older brother, I am not as sensible as you, I am not as strong as you, and I need your protection and guidance...

As the elder brother, I have not acted like one at all. Even my status as a samurai and the position of heir to the family were bestowed upon me by you...

My pride... has been completely shattered in front of you...

The order... is out of control...

I chased after you desperately, thinking that as long as I surpassed you, I could restore this order and protect and take care of you as your older brother...

But in the end it was all in vain... Your strength and character are like the sun, something I admire but can never reach. I can never be a brother to you...

Why were you born so exceptional... Yoriichi... If only you were dull-witted... How wonderful it would be if I could protect and care for you... Just like before we discovered your talent...

Kokushibo instantly understood many things, but it was all just a hypothetical. Their journey as brothers had ended, and everything was irreversible and could not be as Kokushibo had imagined.

Everything has come to an end. After figuring things out, Kokushibo no longer resists Yoriichi as before, since both of them are already dead.

Yan Sheng raised his head and answered. He longed for that kind of situation.

Yoriichi smiled when he heard Kokushi's answer. To him, Kokushi would always be his older brother. When everyone was young and no one dared to look at him and his mother, it was Kokushi who always came to play with him despite his father's prohibition. He even made a flute for him because he was afraid that he would be bored. Even after his father found out and beat him, he would still go to that little room to find him.

"The flute... is broken..."

Yan Sheng spoke up.

That flute was one he had made for Yoriichi himself. That period was the only time Iwakatsu acted like Yoriichi's older brother, and the piccolo was proof of that. However, he broke it with his own hands.

After a moment of silence, Yan Sheng continued:

"If it can be done, I will make another one..."

When Iwakatsu said "if it can be realized," he was referring to what Yoriichi had said.

"If you encounter any danger, just blow this flute, and your brother will come to protect you when he hears it."

The scene of Iwakatsu handing him the flute flashed through Yoriichi's mind. He still remembered what Iwakatsu said at that time, but he never had the chance to use that flute.

"Yes, I will definitely play the flute then..."

Yoriichi smiled and nodded.

He no longer felt the same way about the smiling face he used to hate. He looked forward to the day when he could hear the sound of the flute guiding him to protect his weak younger brother.

"Well... goodbye then..."

After a moment of silence, Iwakatsu said that he knew what he had done and that with these sins, he would never end up like Yoriichi.

Chapter 129 A Thousand Lifetimes

"Yes, take care, elder brother..."

Yoriichi looked at Iwakatsu and spoke. Behind him was a woman with deep, obsidian-like eyes, holding a baby in her arms. The woman was looking at him with gentle eyes.

In order to resolve his brother's inner conflict, Yoriichi waited patiently, and his wife, Uta, accompanied him throughout, even waiting with their children before he arrived, all for the day they could be reunited.

Yoriichi turned around and looked at Shi, who smiled at him.

Goodbye, brother. I hope we will meet again in the future.

After turning back to say goodbye to Iwakatsu, Yoriichi ran to Shi's side.

"Have you said everything you needed to say?"

Shi smiled and asked Yuan Yi.

“Okay, let’s go,” Yuan nodded and said.

The three then slowly walked towards the light.

Do you think we'll meet and get to know each other again in our next life?

"I definitely will. Even if I am reincarnated a thousand times, I will find you in the crowd and go home with you just like I did back then."

In my next life, I want to be an ordinary person, doing an ordinary job, and always staying by your side.

The girl released the tadpoles back into their home, and on that day she also gained her own family.

Looking at the two happy figures ahead, Yan Sheng was somewhat moved.

He tried to recall his wife and children, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember what they looked like, and he had even forgotten their names.

He looked around but didn't see anyone else.

Not everyone can forgive your mistakes. Back then, when almost all of his accompanying samurai were wiped out, Iwakatsu abandoned his wife and children and left. The power struggle within the family was something that he and his mother could not bear. But even so, Iwakatsu's descendants still survived.

That's right... It was my own choice...

Yan Sheng didn't see any figures resembling his wife and children, and he felt relieved. It was his own choice, and this outcome was only natural.

Suddenly, Yan Sheng felt something in his hand. Looking down, he saw a piccolo lying quietly in his hand. The piccolo had become whole and its surface was somewhat shiny, the result of long-term polishing.

Looking at the flute in his hand, Iwakatsu was filled with emotion. Yoriichi's figure was still not far away. If he called out now, he could still hand the flute to Yoriichi.

But he didn't do that. After playing with the flute for a moment, he put it in his pocket and then turned around and walked calmly in the opposite direction from Yoriichi.

Before him lay endless flames...

After we meet next time, I'll make you a new one... And then... I hope it will be me protecting you...

And so, Yan Sheng stepped into the flames, one step at a time...

The piccolo that had just been discovered had already turned to ashes, and Chiba Yo turned and left.

That piccolo must have been something important to it...

Although Chiba Yo is not as gentle as Tanjiro, he will do whatever it takes to help. The fact that Upper Moon One kept the piccolo he just found suggests that it may still have some attachment to its human past. So Chiba Yo burned the piccolo, thinking that it would have something to remember it by in hell.

The moon was about to set, but it was still quite dark. Chiba Yang walked along the road and decided to have a meal on the street. In order to catch up with the Upper Moon he had received earlier, Chiba Yang had barely rested for the past two days. Although he had eaten two rice balls, it was still not enough.

In addition, he had engaged in a rather intense battle last night, and now he felt like he was starving.

After walking for about half an hour, Chiba Yo arrived at a town.

"This seems to be Yoshiwara territory already..."

After taking out the map and looking at it, Chiba Yang realized that he had indeed run quite far this time, and had even entered the Tianyuan warning zone.

Speaking of which, after Tengen was seriously injured last time, he seemed to have the intention of retiring to the second line. However, after discovering that his injuries had healed very well, he stopped mentioning it. Also, because he had awakened his mark, he was examined by Shinobu Kocho afterward.

According to Shinobu Kocho, she has already made some progress on how to eliminate the drawbacks of the Demon Slayer Mark, but it still needs to be implemented step by step.

Perhaps this opportunity to collaborate with Tamayo will help her overcome this problem, and then Chiba Yo will feel better.