Faced with Kyojuro Rengoku’s commanding order, Tang An lit a cigarette took a deep drag, and maintained a calm expression. He pulled out a kukri and swiftly decapitated Enmu, pinning his head to the table.
“No one can order me!”
In a flash of golden lightning, Tang An appeared instantly before Rengoku, whose serious face turned to shock. The air screeched as Tang An delivered a powerful kick. Rengoku barely managed to raise his Nichirin Blade to block, but the overwhelming force transferred through the blade, striking his chest. With a sound of cracking bones, Rengoku spat blood and was sent flying, smashing through several train cars before landing in the fifth carriage.
Tang An, gripping his cigarette in a backward OK sign, took a deep drag and exhaled smoke while observing Rengoku struggle to his feet at the far end. He then pulled the kukri from Enmu’s head and lifted it.
“The timing should be about right.”
Tang An sensed a presence rapidly approaching the train. It was likely Upper-Rank Three, Akaza. He glanced at Enmu, who trembled in fear upon meeting Tang An’s patterned gaze.
“Cough… cough…”
Rengoku, still coughing up blood, noticed the passengers retreating to the sixth and seventh carriages. He declared, “You have violated the Demon Slayer Corps’ rules by attacking fellow members. If you do not surrender, I will kill you here.”
Rengoku’s righteousness shone through despite his injuries, giving Tang An a chance to surrender.
“Who gave you the courage to say that? A farmer’s punch?” Tang An flicked his cigarette ash nonchalantly.
“Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire.”
Surrounded by golden-red flames, Rengoku’s presence filled the carriage with light and heat. He transformed into a blazing comet, crossing several carriages in an instant and appearing before Tang An. This swift attack was akin to Tang An’s Flash Step but slower.
Tang An, cigarette in mouth and Enmu’s head in his left hand hardened his entire right arm into a crystalline, glowing red form, emitting steam. As Rengoku swung his Nichirin Blade, Tang An stepped forward, aiming a punch at Rengoku’s heart.
“Not good, Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun.”
Rengoku’s combat prowess shone through as he quickly counterattacked. His Nichirin Blade was engulfed in flames, creating a crescent-shaped slash aimed at Tang An’s groin, forcing Tang An to defend himself.
Tang An, eyes cold, changed his attack. He lowered his arm, blocking Rengoku’s attack with his elbow. The explosion shattered the carriage, and Rengoku clung to Tang An, dragging him off the speeding train. They rolled into the wilderness, the impact tearing up the earth.
Though their exchange was brief, the intensity was shocking.
“Cough, cough…” Rengoku spat out dirt, quickly rising to his feet. Tang An stood ten meters away, unscathed, Enmu’s head in one hand, cigarette in the other. Tang An looked past Rengoku, sensing a more substantial presence approaching from the plains. Based on its speed, it would arrive in two minutes.
With that in mind, Tang An decided to finish Rengoku quickly. He casually tossed Enmu’s head to the ground, pinning it with the kukri, and then surrounded himself with golden lightning.
Rengoku felt a blur before seeing a large, steaming red crystalline foot.
“Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation.”
Rengoku maximized his Flame Breathing, unleashing a vortex of fiery slashes around him. Tang An’s red crystalline foot clashed with Rengoku’s Nichirin Blade, creating a spiderweb of cracks on the ground. Tang An’s eyes were icy as he swung his golden Nichirin Blade at Rengoku’s neck.
Rengoku dodged, countering with a flaming kick.
“Crack…”
Moving like lightning, Tang An appeared to Rengoku’s left, delivering a red crystalline kick to Rengoku’s waist.
“Blooming Flame Undulation.”
Rengoku used the same move to block again. The resulting explosion sent Rengoku tumbling, leaving a trench in the ground. Tang An pursued, turning into a golden flash.
“Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku.”
Rengoku, barely able to stand, unleashed his most powerful attack. His entire body was surrounded by scorching flames, launching himself at Tang An like a meteor.
Tang An, surrounded by golden lightning, intensified his power. His right foot, now a red crystalline form, also turned into a meteor.
As they collided, the earth shattered, creating a fifty-meter-wide crater. Lightning and flames clashed at the center, forming a hundred-meter-tall mushroom cloud. The shockwave uprooted the ground, sending debris flying.
Rengoku flew out of the mushroom cloud, bloodied and battered, crashing into the ground and rolling across the landscape. Tang An, floating in the air with his right leg regenerating, descended with a powerful kick to Rengoku’s chest. The impact crushed Rengoku’s bones, causing him to vomit blood and internal fragments.
“Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger.”
Rengoku’s resilience showed as he launched one final attack. A flaming tiger lunged at Tang An, but Tang An, unfazed, extended his hardened fingers through the tiger, grasping Rengoku’s head. The flaming tiger’s bites felt like mere scratches to Tang An.
With a flash, Tang An decapitated Rengoku, holding his head while his body fell to the ground, blood spraying like a fountain.
“Swish…”
From the plains, a figure approached rapidly, landing before Tang An. The dust settled, revealing a man with short peach-colored hair, golden eyes, pale skin, a purple-red shirt, beads on his ankles, and deep blue tattoos representing sins all over his body. His blood-red nails gleamed menacingly.
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
