Chapitre 270: The Cry of Cicadas - Kai's Gamble! (I)
The world blazed under the fiery wrath of Rengoku's Bankai.
There was such heat that the entire region around Kai, from the hut to the river, rippled like the space over the fire.
Kai's tattered robes disintegrated, becoming ash. His entire body became dry instantly, his webbed hands and feet longing for the lost moistness.
The Golduck-Kai had finally shown its weakness.
With the use of the Forbidden Technique, Kai had already lost the use of his bodily functions.
Not to mention, the Skill, Little War Horn, had gone to Cooldown, taking away 3 points from his actual Active Attributes, other than Correspondence and Breath, for full 60 minutes!
At this point, Kai was the weakest he had ever been after arriving here.
Forget defending; it would be a miracle if he were to just stand up and move.
Yet, Kai wasn't a pathetic fool or weak-willed being. He wouldn't face such an absurdity as Demon Slayers using Bankai while kneeling and looking over his shoulder.
No. He must see in the eyes of his corrupted Unique Random World. He must get up!
Miracles often needed a spark of unyielding will to be born.
Thus, a miracle did happen, sparked by Kai's thoughts.
Held by his monstrous will, Kai stood up and turned around, his body trembling like dry, rotten leaves.
What's going on?! He thought, seeing the giant flames engulfing the Flame Hashira's body. Why is a Character from this world using a move that is characteristic of Bleach Random World? If this Flame Hashira was a Contestant, I could've made my peace with it. However, he is a Character and a major main storyline Character at that.
What the hell is wrong with this world?!
The spiritual flames surrounding the Flame Hashira gradually lessened and gathered towards a point, entering a dark, red silhouette.
From the lingering heat and rippling space, a figure walked out with a bare chest and baggy pants, a red cloak tied at the waist, reaching its ankles and flapping without wind.
The figure had a red mask covering its nose and mouth, its eyes blazing in the open like two beads of molten fire, and its hair was yellow and red, looking like flaming threads.
In the figure's right hand, and resting over its right shoulder, was a scimitar-shaped sword. The sword's edge was red, not because it was colored so, but because it was blazing hot; so hot that Kai could see the occasional explosions of tongues of fire bursting out of it.
Of course, this figure belonged to the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro.
But he seemed to have undergone a definite, qualitative change and had become much more powerful.
So powerful, in fact, that even with the option of using Titan's Buff, Selene, and the Rare-Grade HP capsule, Kai's instincts screamed that he wouldn't survive.
Not against this man, standing tall, with his fiery gaze planted on Kai's broken figure.
The only thing he could do now was to turn around and run.
Only there lay a chance to live for another day.
This thought amused Kai so much that the corners of his lips lifted, becoming a crazed grin.
"Hahaha!" The laugh came naturally to Red.
"And here I thought you had danced enough, Hashira," Kai shouted, blood seeping out of his mouth, nose, and eyes. "Show me, then. Show me the true power of this world…
"… RENGOKU KYOJURO!!!"
The Flame Hashira said nothing.
Yet, the faintest nod of acknowledgment could still be perceived by the audience.
Rengoku lifted his sword and slashed down, a brilliant red-white-yellow stroke of the brush against the black, rippling space.
ROAR!
A gigantic, over 100 ft long fire dragon burst out from the sword.
No. It felt as though the sword itself had come alive, materializing as a dragon.
The dragon was made entirely of blazing fire, had a thick, snake-like body, and had two hands and two legs with four claws each.
The dragon's head had two horns; coiling pillars of fire jutting out of the dragon head like two thorns. It had several thin whiskers; stray tongues of fire.
And when it opened its mouth, letting out a majestic roar, one could see the sharp teeth in its mouth; all fangs made of fire as well.
It flew towards Kai, burning, destroying everything in its wake.
Kai smiled, his skin getting charred by the heat. He licked his lips, sending an intention to the Ghost Basilisk — Selene.
The white serpent entered the ground through his feet, and with a speed surpassing that of the dragon, rushed towards the Hashira.
Kai had finally decided to kill the Flame Hashira.
Fuck Dimensional Leader!
Fuck Heart Rhythm!!
Fuck everything!!!
For now, he would rather see Rengoku's soul getting frozen, the light in his eyes fading with Selene's presence within him.
This was how he had killed Blooded Yautja in the last stage, by letting Selene enter its giant body through the shared branch over which Kai and the Yautja were standing.
No wonder none could figure out how the Blooded Yautja had died, its death remaining a mystery.
With Selene's using Soul Chill at 100%, there was hardly anyone below the 3rd Set who could survive her wrath.
The dragon and Selene crossed each other, one over the ground and the other several feet under; fire and ice, separated by thick sheet of graveled earth.
It was then a new sound enlivened Kai's surroundings.
A buzz of thousands of insects took over the silence of the forest, and the most beautiful butterfly landed in front of Kai.
Or so was the illusion she created.
The Insect Hashira had finally decided to act.
"Cry," she whispered. "Higurashi!"
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-rkt!
Kai's face looked extremely dumbfounded, with a shadow of disbelief on his face.
However, inwardly, he was roaring with laughter, calling back Selene before she could ruin the game using the connection he shared with her.
The gamble paid off, it seemed to Kai.
It paid off wonderfully!
Before coming out of the hut, Kai had flicked an HP capsule towards Shinobu as a precautionary measure.
Besides, he had also deliberately told her to take it the next day to make her believe he had no other motive for giving it to her.
It was a risk, the likes of which had made his heart pound with excitement.
The Insect Hashira could have sided with the Flame Hashira, or she could've ambushed him, preventing him from running away.
Yet, all risks were bound to have solid reasonings.
The reasoning behind this risk was the two resonances, Shinobu's past, and the false tale Kai had fed her during the last three days.
He didn't believe in resonances, others' pasts, and tales, but he did believe in himself.
It was all hoping that the Insect Hashira would take the capsule, gaining some strength.
Then, if needed, she could aid him against another Hashira, preventing Kai from taking the last measure —
— running away and letting the Heart Rhythm come to an early end.
The results of the gamble were there for all to see.
***************
Higurashi - Evening Cicada
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