บท 86: 86. Intent Sense
As soon as Kotaro pulled the three-section staff back and lifted it, Obanai got a bad feeling. The white serpent on his neck—Kaburamaru—hissed in agreement. Something bad was about to happen.
And then…
Three Staff Technique: Downpour!
Before he knew it, Kotaro's hands moved swiftly, and the single three-section staff above him seemed to multiply, falling upon him like rain.
Kotaro wielded the staff as though it were a whip, treating Obanai like an animal in a circus needing discipline. But…
Sssshh…
Obanai unwrapped his bandages, revealing his scarred, slit mouth to the open air. It was grotesque, like the Mouth-Slit Woman of traditional folklore, making him appear quite hideous. He took a deep breath, strong and sharp, resonating like a serpent's hiss in Kotaro's ears.
And then…
Serpent Breathing!
In an instant, Obanai's movements resembled that of a serpent, slipping through the gaps between the relentless downpour of attacks. Not a single strike touched him because he knew: if even one landed, the consequences would be dire.
A good fighter knows his strengths and weaknesses, and Obanai was no exception. Speed and technique were his greatest weapons. Raw strength? Not so much.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kotaro's attacks continued to pound the dojo floor, but Obanai dodged them all. Watching his slippery, evasive figure, a smirk crept onto Kotaro's face.
Damn! He sure is nimble!
If this had been the Kotaro Kenshin from before his battle with Kamanue, he might have been at a disadvantage. But now… he could feel it. The fighting intent radiating from Obanai, the energy in the air, the sound of determination—all of it screamed that Obanai wanted to beat him.
Is this something special to me?
In Demon Slayer, some characters possess unique abilities. Tanjiro and his teacher, Urokodaki, had a heightened sense of smell—far beyond normal. Tanjiro could even smell emotions and locate the "lines" that revealed a path to victory. Mitsuri, too, had unique abilities tied to her abnormal constitution.
It made Kotaro wonder if his ability to sense intent was special as well. Whether it was or not, one thing was clear: it helped him immensely.
As Kotaro's continuous strikes sent dust flying from the shattered dojo floor, a cloud surrounded the area. In that moment, just as he raised his hand to strike again…
Whoosh!
Obanai, wooden sword in hand, emerged from the dust cloud like a hero and landed behind Kotaro. Without hesitation, he channeled all his strength into an attack, locking his focus on Kotaro's neck.
Serpent Breathing – Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head!
With precision and speed, he swung the wooden sword toward Kotaro's neck. If it had been a real blade, there was no doubt it would have severed Kotaro's neck cleanly.
Kotaro could see it—a faint, serpent-like figure manifesting from Obanai's technique, slithering with fangs bared toward his nape.
But…
Tak!
The sharp clash of wooden weapons echoed through the dust. Obanai's eyes widened in shock.
"What—?!"
Just when Obanai thought he had succeeded, Kotaro stood firm, blocking the strike with one of the three sections of his staff. The lowest segment of the weapon, which he had been holding to unleash the downpour of attacks, now stopped the serpent's fangs mid-strike.
The serpent's jaws were caught on the staff, its fangs unable to pierce through.
Smirking, Kotaro turned his head to meet Obanai's shocked gaze.
"I can see it coming, Obanai!"
The call of the attack—Kotaro heard it loud and clear. During his battle with Kamanue, this ability had awakened as a stroke of luck, helping him secure victory. Now, it had become a part of him.
Still, to think he could sense it so clearly despite never training for it…
What Kotaro didn't realize was how much his training with the Yoriichi Type Zero had honed his perception. Fighting an opponent wielding six blades simultaneously had forced him to read and react to multiple trajectories. That experience had undeniably enhanced his perception.
Combined with his new power—Intent Sense—Kotaro's awareness had reached new heights.
Bam!
A powerful and steady step resounded as Kotaro planted his foot. It was the mark of someone with a solid mastery of the basics. Channeling all his strength from his lower body to his upper body, he gripped the second and third sections of his staff and swung it in a full arc toward Obanai, who stood behind him.
Three Staff Technique: 360 Swing Focus!
Seeing the staff barreling toward him, Obanai instinctively raised his sword to block the blow. But blocking the strike completely?
Kotaro's strength was simply too overwhelming.
The force sent Obanai flying, smashing him into the dojo wall. He collapsed, incapacitated in a single blow.
For a Demon Slayer like Obanai, whose strength lay elsewhere, there was little he could do against such raw power.
"Did I hit too hard?"
Kotaro felt a pang of guilt but quickly scoffed at the thought. That strike was punishment for this "snakey" guy looking at Mitsuri the way he did. Did it make him a bully? Sure.
But who cared?
He'd already bullied a kid once before, so adding more to his "crime portfolio" didn't matter. After all, his whole purpose for starting this spar was to beat Obanai into the ground.
Cough! Cough!
Just as he turned away, the sound of coughing drew his attention.
This guy… Kotaro looked at Obanai, who was still conscious despite the brutal hit.
"You…"
Kotaro watched as Obanai, now bloodied, slowly rose to his feet. Blood dripped from his mouth, the impact likely causing internal injuries. But…
Hiss~
Obanai trembled, took a deep breath, and steadied himself. Using his Breathing Technique, he stopped the bleeding from key areas, regaining control over his body.
Kotaro could only watch, dumbfounded.
This guy… He isn't even a Hashira yet, but his mastery over Breathing Techniques is this advanced?
Obanai's skill was even more refined than Mitsuri's. She hadn't yet achieved this level of mastery.
Seeing Kotaro's stunned expression, Obanai smirked, wiping the remaining blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Kaburamaru moved on his shoulders, enhancing his already imposing aura, despite his hideous appearance.
With a sharp glare, Obanai raised his wooden sword again.
"I haven't lost yet."
"…"
Damn! He looks too cool!
Kotaro's anger flared up another level.
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