100. End Battle 6

While the others had finished their battle another one was still on way.

Gyomei's muscular arms pulled violently. His weapon fell down like a meteor crashing down.

Upper Moon One swung his sword. Arcs of light shaped like a half moon crowded in mid air and blocked the attack.

Half of the arcs were destroyed in an instant. Gyomei tightened his grip and stomped his feet.

The axe on one end of the chain gleamed as it struck again. The remaining arcs were crushed by brute force. Gyomei stepped forward and punched.

Boom!

The air trembled when his fist straightened out. The iron ball at the other end followed his movement and blasted towards Upper Moon One.

Accompanying Gyomei's attack was Tokito. His body dispersed into a cloud of mist and concealed the iron ball and himself.

Upper Moon One's three pair of eyes squinted. His sword filled with eyes on it's blade trembled as he swung again.

His swing was stopped midway as another figure clashed towards him.

"Die, shithead!!"

Sanemi had an evil grin on his face as he swung his sword. A whirlwind swept across Upper Moon One. He halted his swing and defended against Sanemi.

However he was slightly slow as Tokito and Gyomei's attack had already reached him.

With his one hand defending against Sanemi, his other hand was raised to defend.

Crack!

Bones cracked as Gyomei's iron ball broke his arm in half and sunk into his chest. Tokito moved like a ghost and pierced his throat.

Upper Moon One shifted his head at the last second.

However it was at this moment a figure flickered in his direction. An overwhelming force was inching close to his head.

Upper Moon One was startled. He. kicked Tokito and pushed away Sanemi before retreating quickly.

That figure sliced where he was a moment ago. A deep gully was formed. Beside it stood Rengoku with his sword poised.

"Dammit! We missed!"

Sanemi cursed. However he was still the first one to follow up on their attack.

A tornado swept around him as he made his way towards Upper Moon One. Rengoku and the others closed him off from other directions.

Upper Moon One squinted his eyes. He was pressured. This was the first time in centuries when he was always on his back foot.

I can't hold back any longer.

Making up his mind Upper Moon One spread out his arms. Rengoku and the rest felt a stifling sensation when they saw this.

They immediately halted their advance and raised their swords in defence.

Upper Moon One's flesh squirmed as swords same as the one he was holding emerged out of his body. Like bullets it shot towards Rengoku and the rest.

"Get behind me!"

Gyomei yelled.

The others immediately followed. Gyomei pulled back his weapon and circled his palm in mid air.

Stone Breathing... Stone Monument!

Four pillers of stone descended around them and closed them inside.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Clouds of dust rose as the swords struck the stone pillers. Upper Moon One frowned when he saw this, he raised his arm and struck down.

Two arcs of half moon was flung forward. It flashed towards the stone pillers, in an instant it was upon the pillers.

Boom!

The ground shook as the piller trembled and cracked. It held out for two seconds before crumbling.

However no one was behind it.

Where!?

Upper Moon One didn't get enough time to guess, a sword was already on it's way to his heart.

Tokito sunk his blade deep into Upper Moon One's chest.

Fury rumbled in Upper Moon One's eyes. He raised his sword and pierced towards Tokito.

However to his surprise Tokito let go of his sword and disappeared into a cloud of mist.

He was stunned.

As he was wondering what was happening his body staggered. A feeling of helplessness took over him.

Poison!

He quickly pulled out the sword and threw it away.

"Haha, too late!"

Sanemi used his moment of weakness to attack. He sliced his sword down, trying to separate his head from his body.

But Upper Moon One was someone with tremendous battle experience. He quickly adjusted his body and dodged, however he was still a step too slow.

Sanemi missed his neck but took his right arm.

Upper Moon One didn't even bat an eye and retreated. A new arm grew out of his shoulder however it's growth was slightly slower.

He was about to catch a breath when Rengoku attacked. Faced with an opponent who was on the verge of breaking through to sword intent Upper Moon One didn't dare let his guard down.

Though still feeling a bit weak Upper Moon One still managed to block his attack. But Rengoku wasn't alone.

Tokito, Sanemi and Gyomei struck simultaneously.

Upper Moon One was blocked in every direction.

He roused his ability and shot out swords in every direction but this time it was slower and weaker.

With their previous experience it was easy for them to dodge. Getting past innumerable blades everyone struck.

Upper Moon One felt his heart tremble for the first time since the battle started. His confidence in his strength was waning, the feeling of death was inching close, he could feel his heart beating violently.

How can this be? Didn't I abandon my humanity to gain strength and immortality? Then why, why am I getting pushed by these weak beings?

Centuries ago he was a skilled swordsmen. But his name was never sung by others, he was always forgotten.

The reason was his brother. Born with herculean strength and astonishing talent his brother was raised by monks. He grew up to be a magnificent swordsman.

Each day he had to live beneath his glory. Demon Slayers looked upto him, made him their goal. As for him, he was forgotten.

He wanted to grow stronger, for this he trained every day and he did grew. However a single demon was enough to show him the disparity between him and his brother.

On the verge of madness Muzan came to him. He offered him immortality and immeasurable strength. He didn't think twice and accepted.

When his mortal body was gone he felt like a god. A single swing of his sword could destroy boulders weighing tons, he could level anything around him.

With this newfound strength he thought he surpassed his brother. However decades later he came across an old man, his brother.

Time has changed him, he looked weak and reeked of death. But it was from this dying old man he felt death.

He was enraged. After all the sacrifice he made he still couldn't measure upto his brother.

Their battle was swift. A single move decided everything.

Even before his death, his brother still stood above him.

A hair away from death, his mind rewinded everything he experienced in his past. He was alive now because of his brother's mercy.

Centuries later, he was still reminded of his weakness. He was again being pushed back by the same race he abandoned.

He could again feel death. It was inching closer and closer.