48. Sudden Change

Leo was giving his all to fight against Muzan. He kept changing his stance to try and get the drop on him. However Muzan truly was a monster, he wasn't even fazed against Leo's attacks.

The flesh tubes acted like whips and danced around Muzan. Even with Leo's skills he found it hard to dodge all of them, moreover each time he dodged those mouths on the whip seems to be trying to draw him in. This effectively made him lose balance a few times.

Their battle was in a stalemate, though Muzan was dominating Leo he wasn't able to finish him off. And Leo couldn't close the gap between them to land an attack.

Just as the battle was getting heated three more figures arrived. Sabito and the rest heard the battle way before they arrived and when they finally saw what was happening their blood ran cold.

The three of them stared at Muzan, their blades were drawn out without them knowing. An intense murderous intent spewed out of their bodies.

Kill!!!

Without a word they attacked.

Water Breathing Technique Eleventh Form, Flood Dragon!

From Sabito's blade a flood dragon emerged, it's scales shimmered with coldness and it plunged towards Muzan.

Seeing three more join the fray Muzan widened his attacks and drew them in. The flood dragon coiled around the whips and shredded a few flesh tubes into pieces before dispersing.

Sabito was now wide open. Muzan shot a glance at him, the tubes on his body seemed to be alive as it opened it's mouth wide and took a bite at him.

Water Breathing Technique Eleventh Form, Dead Calm!

Just before it could reach Sabito a figure flashed before him. A surging tide swept through the attack and came to a halt like still water. However that calmness was destroyed a second later.

Giyu spewed out blood. He slightly bent his back and retreated. The tubes followed him like a snake, unwilling to give up on it's prey.

Water Breathing Technique Eleventh Form, Tidal Wave!

Makomo stepped forward just in time. A large wave of water emerged from her sword. Like the tides on a violent sea it drowned Muzan's attack. After getting blocked two times the whips lost it's initial momentum but not before inflicting damage on Makomo.

"I understand. You are those four pests."

Muzan finally came to realise who they were, his eyes that had indifference upto this point suddenly radiated with intense murderous intent.

Sabito and the rest stood beside Leo. Their eyes were trained on Muzan and refused to speak.

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Sixth Form, Azure Dragon Roams The Heavens!

Among Leo's forms this one boasted high flexibility and nimbleness. He rushed head first into the barrage of attacks, like a dragon hovering above the heavens he danced through the hail of attacks.

Water Breathing Technique Third Form Flowing Dance!

Sabito joined him. Like a surge of water he twisted and turned among the attacks. Though he wasn't as fast or as nimble as Leo he was still able to divert a part of Muzan's attention.

Giyu and Makomo also joined the fray. Since Leo and Sabito took up a major part of Muzan's attention, their job was to make sure Muzan doesn't kill them.

Slowly the battle spread to its surroundings. The temple was gone, reduced to dust. The forest behind the temple was being destroyed by their battle, trees were uprooted and broken. The earth was blown away and turned over, it was devastating.

They didn't know how long they have battled, Leo and the rest were finding it hard to breathe. Their body were starting to slow down, their vision was starting to blur, sweat and blood soaked their clothes.

Muzan was also vexed, he grinded his teeth in anger, it sounded horrible to listen to. Never had he come across such persistent pests, he could overpower them but couldn't kill them. This angered him beyond his limits.

Moreover he gazed into the horizon, the sky was started to brighten. In a few more minutes the sun would come up.

"I will deal with you in the future."

The flesh tubes suddenly detached from his body and spun around Sabito and the rest and formed a ring that bound them. Muzan took one last look at them and walked away.

Sabito and the rest had bloodshot eyes. They struggled to break free from these damned flesh tubes however it seemed futile. Every cut they did only seemed to heal faster.

Leo stared at Muzan's back, his blue eyes seemed deep like and cold like an icy hell.

No... no...

Blood thread covered his eyes, veins popped on his forehead.

Aaaahhhh!!!

Leo howled in anger.

Dragon-Tiger Breathing First Form, White Tiger Awakening!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Second Form, White Tiger Descends!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Third Form, White Tiger Assault!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Fourth Form, White Tiger Dominion!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Fifth Form, Azure Dragon Ascension!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Sixth Form, Azure Dragon Roams The Heavens!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Seventh Form, Azure Dragon Descends!

Dragon-Tiger Breathing Eight Form, Azure Dragon Majesty!

In his desperation Leo performed all eight forms. As he watched Muzan's fading shadow his blood ran faster, his breathing got stronger, his forms started to close in on perfection.

"KIBUTSUJI!! MUZAAAANNN!!!"

He burst out from the rings with blood all over his face. Coldness flickered in his eyes as he shot at Muzan like a madman.

"Leo!"

"Shit! Get out of our way!!"

"Damn!"

Sabito and the rest tried their best to break out but couldn't. They watched as Leo got closer to Muzan.

A door appeared out of nowhere infront of Muzan, he was about to step in when he heard a roar from behind, he turned around to see the young man plunge at him, a sneer climbed onto his face.

"Seems like you are destined to die today."

Muzan stretched out his hand, flesh tubes burst out of his arm and rushed towards Leo.

Seeing the incoming attack Leo didn't dodge. Under extreme hate and anger his mind went into daze, all he wanted right now was to cut down Muzan. He wanted the fastest and most efficient way to kill him.

Everything around him started to disappear from his sight, only Muzan's figure remained. One by one each form of Dragon-Tiger Breathing flashed through his mind. His brain spun at incredible speed, analysing every form over and over again to try and come up with a way to kill Muzan.

Unknowingly all forms started to change, the first four forms linked together as did the other four. They formed into two entirely different forms, filled with endless variations. But that wasn't the end, though these two forms were different and had there own meaning, a faint connection existed between them.

Leo was in a marvelous state right now, he realised what was happening, the link between these new forms acted as a bridge, a bridge towards another form. A form that was far far stronger than all the others.

While Leo was relishing in that feeling Sabito and the rest finally broke out but they were far away from Leo and Muzan, moreover they were tired. When the rush of battle toned down their bodies finally felt the fatigue set in.

They could only watch helplessly as Muzan's attack reach Leo.