The strike was weighted with immense force, carrying a scorching, searing heat that surged forward.
Yet, despite Tanjiro's fierce offensive, the move appeared full of openings in Evernight's eyes.
"Your speed isn't bad, and your power is impressive. For someone your age, it's rare to reach such a level!"
"Unfortunately, I am your opponent. Before me, your swordsmanship is as immature and naive as your years!"
Boom—
With those words, Evernight slowly raised his bone blade. The movement was fluid and light, as if he exerted no effort at all, yet he blocked Tanjiro's rage-filled strike with absolute ease.
"What?!"
Tanjiro's expression shifted to shock. Amidst the sickening scent of blood, he caught the distinct scent of disdain and contempt.
Clearly, Evernight didn't take him seriously; that previous move hadn't used his full strength.
After blocking the blow, Evernight leapt back and thrust his blade forward with the force of thunder. The strike was incredibly swift, like a whistling spear that could pierce through anything!
"This is bad..."
"Hinokami Kagura: Illusionary Rainbow!"
Horrified, Tanjiro adjusted his breathing, shifting his body into a light, ethereal form to dodge the strike.
'What a fast technique. I can tell just by the sound—this strike carries immense power.' Tanjiro's mind raced. 'Not just his face is identical to Brother Ren, but his monstrous strength and godlike speed as well.'
"Heh, you're quite fast to have dodged my slash. It seems your Breathing Style is far more powerful than the others in the Demon Slayer Corps."
Evernight curled his lips, his smile warm and gentle, but the killing intent in his eyes remained bone-chilling.
"I wonder if you can block this one? Dark Combat Technique: Night Sky Galaxy!"
Evernight swung his sword in a horizontal arc, unleashing a dense barrage of slashes. Even after two intense battles, his strength showed no sign of waning; instead, it seemed to be climbing steadily.
The sharp slashes formed a storm, sealing off Tanjiro's retreat and threatening to shred him to pieces.
'Brother Ren's Dark Combat Technique? He can even mimic this?'
'No, the range is too wide to dodge. I have to hold my ground. Hinokami Kagura—'
Tanjiro adjusted his breathing, but just as he was about to swing his blade, his eyes widened. A powerful figure stepped in front of him, physically shielding him from the swirling storm of sword ki.
"Brother Ren!"
"Yeah, it's me. I heard you shouting and rushed over. Seems I'm just in time!"
Ren smiled slightly and patted Tanjiro's head. "Go rest. I'll take it from here."
"Brother Ren, be careful!" Tanjiro retreated immediately, fully aware that Evernight was not an opponent he could handle at his current level.
Once Tanjiro was clear, Ren turned his gaze toward Evernight, muttering, "Hmph. So he made a replica of me... That bastard Muzan. If I ever find him, I'll mince him into dog food!"
Upon seeing the Dark Combat Technique, Ren realized that Evernight was a living biological weapon cloned using him as a template, not just a Berserk Demon disguised as him.
A face can be altered or faked, but the Dark Combat Technique wasn't something an average Berserk Demon could perform. Even Kokushibo in his third form might not be able to execute it perfectly.
Yet this guy could use it flawlessly. Though the power didn't compare to Ren's own, it was undeniably the Dark Combat Technique.
Combined with the fact that Muzan had obtained his blood a month ago—and considering Muzan had studied biological medicine for centuries—cloning a replica wouldn't be difficult.
"Hehehe, I didn't expect to run into you here..."
The moment Evernight saw Ren, a frantic and twisted smile spread across his face.
"Hahahaha! If I kill you, I can conquer the sun and know everything! I will surpass you and become the strongest, most perfect ultimate organism in existence!"
"Hmph. You dare use my face to murder? Not only that, you dared to lay a hand on my family. You... what do you think human life is?"
Ren didn't intend to waste words. He simply raised his heavy Nichirin sword, pointing it directly at Evernight's throat.
"This sword hasn't tasted blood since it was forged. You'll be its first victim."
Over the past month, with the joint efforts of the blacksmiths in the Swordsmith Village, his heavy Nichirin sword was finally complete.
It was forged from the finest Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Ore. The blade spanned two meters and weighed a thousand pounds, far heavier than his previous one.
With a simple swing, it possessed enough power to crush boulders into powder. It was a masterpiece of raw force—heavy and blunt!
At the base of the heavy blade, four characters were engraved: DESTROYER OF DEMONS. After all, he was now the Cloud Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Here I come!"
Before his voice faded, Ren struck. He bridged the gap between them in a single stride. Despite its immense weight, the heavy Nichirin sword moved like a natural extension of his arm.
He delivered a crushing overhead strike, the heavy blade hurtling toward Evernight's throat.
Though the edge wasn't razor-sharp, the sheer wind pressure generated by the high-speed swing was enough to slice through iron as if it were clay.
"Bring it on! I will surpass—"
Boom!
Evernight didn't even finish his sentence. Seeing Ren's sword coming, he scrambled to meet the attack.
However, the moment the bone blade collided with the heavy Nichirin sword, Evernight was sent flying like a shell from a cannon. He crashed through several trees before finally managing to stop his momentum.
Simultaneously, under the force of the heavy sword's strike, the bone blade in Evernight's hand shattered completely, turning into bone dust on the ground.
For the first time since his creation, Evernight realized just how vast the gap was between a replica and the original.
"Cough... just a casual strike, and it has this much power..."
"Were you having fun earlier? Then witness my technique. Earth Combat Technique: Annihilation!"
In the blink of an eye, Ren's heavy sword descended like a falling meteor, tearing through everything in its path as it lunged for Evernight's throat.
Terrified, Evernight quickly gathered his strength to activate his Blood Demon Art.
"Blood Demon Art: Dark Space!"
The moment the Blood Demon Art was cast, Ren's sword fell. However, the blade didn't take Evernight's head. To Ren's surprise, the heavy Nichirin sword passed right through Evernight's body as if hitting thin air.
Exploiting Ren's surprise, Evernight leapt backward to create distance.
Ren's eyes widened in a brief moment of confusion. 'What happened? My attack passed through his body? Could it be...'
"Let's try again. Wind Combat Technique: Whirlwind Dance!"
Ren attacked again, faster this time. The heavy Nichirin sword whistled through the air, piercing toward Evernight's chest.
However, Evernight simply sneered. "Blood Demon Art: Dark Space!"
As he activated his art, Ren's attack passed through his body once more, which essentially confirmed Ren's theory about the ability.
'A spatial-type Blood Demon Art. It's similar to the Kamui dimension—he can hide his physical form within a different space...'
'A troublesome ability. I suppose I should expect no less from my own replica.'
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]