บท 25: Tempest of Light: The Last Dawn

The Arrival of Shadows

The night was silent, thick with the eerie stillness that settled over battlefields left abandoned, littered with the remains of wars long past. Here, where the echoes of history lingered in the mists, Tanjiro Kamado and Rudra would confront Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons. The two swordsmen had forged an alliance born of desperation and hope, united against this dark nemesis.

Muzan awaited them with a smirk, crimson eyes aglow with a mixture of curiosity and contempt. "The last of the Sun Breathing and a Tempest warrior? You mortals cling to old hopes like broken glass," he sneered. "Your fates are sealed."

Tanjiro stood resolute, his heart pounding with the weight of his family's legacy. "Your evil ends here, Muzan. The suffering you've caused…it's over."

Beside him, Rudra adjusted his grip on his single, striking sword, which shone in the pale moonlight. Its pitch-black blade bore intricate golden thunder markings, which shimmered like trapped lightning, while the hilt—a blend of black and gold—seemed to pulse in his hand, as if alive with barely-contained power.

Rudra's eyes narrowed as he took a confident step forward. "Tonight, the storm and the sun will bring you down," he declared, his voice low but unyielding. His sword seemed to resonate with his words, as the markings on it flared, casting a strange glow across the darkened field.

And so, the battle began.

The Tempest Unleashed

Muzan wasted no time, hurling himself toward them with impossible speed, leaving a streak of shadows in his wake. "Blood Demon Art: Shadow Claws!" he roared, his form blurring as dozens of dark tendrils sprang forth, slicing through the air.

"Be careful!" Tanjiro shouted, stepping up with "Sun Breathing, First Form: Thrusting Sun!" His blade cut through Muzan's shadows, the fiery energy dispelling the darkness with each swing. But the force of Muzan's power was overwhelming, pressing Tanjiro to his limits with each strike.

Rudra's eyes gleamed with intensity as he advanced. He swung his blade with a practiced, deadly grace, calling out, "Tempest Breathing, First Form: Typhoon Slash!" His sword whirled, creating a spiraling cyclone that shredded Muzan's shadows into wisps of darkness. The sheer force of the tempest roared, shaking the ground and causing Muzan to falter momentarily.

"So, you're more than just wind," Muzan sneered, irritation flickering across his face as he called forth his next assault. "Blood Demon Art: Thousand Blades!" With a sweep of his hand, a flurry of crimson blades materialized, flying toward the pair in an unrelenting barrage.

"Tempest Breathing, Second Form: Firestorm Rage!" Rudra countered, his sword bursting into a fiery tempest that met Muzan's blades in midair, incinerating each one as they collided. The air was filled with the crackling of flames, heat radiating outward in waves as Rudra's blade continued to blaze with a violent, fiery energy.

"Rudra, now!" Tanjiro called, using the distraction to launch his own attack, "Sun Breathing, Second Form: Rising Sun!" He dashed forward, each strike an arc of light that illuminated the battlefield, pushing Muzan further back with each blow. The ground trembled beneath the combined power of the sun and storm, their relentless onslaught causing even Muzan to momentarily falter.

An Unyielding Assault

Muzan's sneer twisted into a snarl. "You're persistent, but that won't save you!" His crimson eyes flared, and he activated a new technique. "Blood Demon Art: Blood Scythes!" Dark, crescent-shaped blades materialized, hurtling toward Tanjiro and Rudra with deadly precision.

"Stay sharp!" Rudra shouted, stepping between Muzan and Tanjiro. "Tempest Breathing, Third Form: Thunderclap Tempest!" Lightning arced from his blade, bolts of electricity striking out in rapid succession, clashing with Muzan's blood scythes in a storm of electricity and shadow. The battlefield was bathed in a flickering light, each clash of lightning and darkness crackling ominously in the night air.

"You're tenacious, I'll give you that," Muzan spat, unleashing another brutal attack. "Blood Demon Art: Darkness Descent!" From the ground beneath them, shadowy tendrils erupted, reaching up to ensnare them both in a prison of darkness.

"Keep moving!" Rudra yelled, summoning "Tempest Breathing, Fourth Form: Raging Flood!" With a downward swing of his sword, he conjured a deluge of water, creating a tidal wave that swept away Muzan's shadows, dispersing them into mist. The wave crashed down, dampening the earth, which trembled beneath the power of his technique.

Tanjiro seized the opening, his focus unbroken as he advanced with "Sun Breathing, Third Form: Burning Sun!" His blade ignited with a fierce energy, the flames warding off the shadows as he struck at Muzan with unrelenting force. Muzan hissed in frustration, recoiling from the intensity of Tanjiro's attack.

The Fury of the Tempest

But Muzan was far from finished. He snarled, his features twisting in fury. "Blood Demon Art: Blood Moons!" Dozens of crimson, crescent-shaped blades spun into the air, hurtling toward them from all directions.

"Tempest Breathing, Fifth Form: Cyclone Shield!" Rudra swung his blade in a wide arc, creating a whirlwind barrier that deflected Muzan's deadly crescents. Each blade was caught in the tempest, whirling away harmlessly, while Rudra's stance remained firm, eyes locked on Muzan.

"Impressive, but you're still just mortals!" Muzan taunted as he summoned "Blood Demon Art: Nightfall," a rain of shadowed projectiles that darkened the sky as they plummeted toward Rudra and Tanjiro.

"Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Solar Flare!" Tanjiro countered, unleashing a brilliant flash of light that burned through the darkness, disintegrating Muzan's projectiles before they could touch them. The searing heat from his blade created a temporary reprieve as the shadows melted away.

Rudra's gaze sharpened. He moved fluidly, switching into "Tempest Breathing, Sixth Form: Blazing Mist Shroud!" His sword emitted a dense mist that cloaked his form, concealing him from Muzan's view while the heat of the shroud seared the surrounding air. Hidden from sight, Rudra struck with "Tempest Breathing, Seventh Form: Serpent Gale Strike!" His blade twisted and coiled like a serpent, his movements unpredictable as he tore through Muzan's defenses, creating a deadly dance that threw Muzan off balance.

The Battle's Crescendo

Infuriated, Muzan unleashed a monstrous roar. His form began to shift, his body twisting into something grotesque, as he activated his ultimate technique. "Blood Demon Art: Abyssal Grasp!" Shadows erupted in waves from beneath, attempting to ensnare the pair in a darkness so dense it threatened to smother them.

"Rudra, we're running out of time!" Tanjiro shouted, cutting through the dark tendrils with "Sun Breathing, Fifth Form: Blazing Sun!" His sword burned brighter than ever, each strike reducing Muzan's shadows to ash, but the strain was evident.

Rudra nodded, his resolve hardening. "Tempest Breathing, Eighth Form: Thunderous Maelstrom!" he called, swinging his sword down with all his might. A swirling vortex of thunder and lightning erupted from his blade, ripping through the air and shattering Muzan's shadow constructs in a blinding storm of light and sound. The tempest raged, driving Muzan to his knees as the force of Rudra's attack shattered his control over the shadows.

Breathing heavily, Rudra met Tanjiro's eyes. "We need to strike together!"

Tanjiro nodded, determination flaring in his gaze. They charged forward, their movements perfectly synchronized as they unleashed a deadly combination of their respective techniques. "Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Inferno Dance!" Tanjiro's blade blazed with intensity, each movement a fluid and lethal arc that left trails of fire in its wake.

"Tempest Breathing, Ninth Form: Echoing Avalanche Roar!" Rudra's blade struck the ground with such force that the earth trembled, sending shockwaves that destabilized Muzan's footing. The combined force of their attacks created a wall of fire and lightning that engulfed Muzan, driving him further back with every strike.

The Final Gambit

"You think you can defeat me?!" Muzan bellowed, his voice a guttural snarl as he unleashed "Blood Demon Art: Blood Storm!" A deadly whirlwind of blood and darkness spiraled outward, threatening to consume them both.

"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Flare of Dawn!" Tanjiro's blade shone with an almost blinding light as he charged, his strike breaking through Muzan's blood storm with sheer, unrelenting force. The light pierced through the darkness, momentarily stunning Muzan.

Rudra saw his chance. He raised his sword high, the markings glowing with golden light as he summoned the pinnacle of his power. "Tempest Breathing, Eleventh Form: Rudra Tandav!" Every element he commanded—wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning—merged as his blade became a storm incarnate, with sun breathing as base this move casting a radiant aura that enveloped him.

The battlefield lit up as Rudra unleashed the full might of his tempest, each strike hitting with seismic force, shattering Muzan's defenses and reducing his shadows to nothing. Muzan staggered, struggling to hold his form as Rudra's final blow struck with the weight of a hurricane, sending him reeling.

Tanjiro joined the assault, his blade ignited in perfect harmony with Rudra's storm. "Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form: Flame Dance!" Together, they executed a furious, final sequence of strikes, their blades becoming a storm of light and fire that drove into Muzan's heart of darkness.

With a deafening explosion, Muzan's form shattered, his scream fading into silence as the remnants of his darkness were swept away in the radiant tempest.

Epilogue: Dawn of a New Era

As the first rays of dawn broke over the battlefield, Rudra and Tanjiro stood victorious, watching as the light illuminated the ruins around them. Exhausted yet at peace, they knew that the reign of terror was finally over.

Rudra glanced down at his sword, its golden thunder markings dimmed, yet still radiating a quiet strength. "We did it," he murmured, his voice filled with gratitude and exhaustion.

Tanjiro, battered but smiling, reached out, placing a hand on Rudra's shoulder. "Yes…we did." And as the sun rose higher, they stood side by side, silent witnesses to the dawn of a new era.

"Tempest Breathing Forms"

First Form: Typhoon Slash

A rapid spinning attack that combines wind and sound, creating a vortex that slashes everything in its path. The move generates a deafening roar as it strikes, disorienting foes and overwhelming them with relentless pressure.

Second Form: Firestorm Rage

A destructive burst of fire and wind, igniting everything within the radius with the force of a hurricane. The swirling flames are fed by the wind, turning the battlefield into a fiery tempest that incinerates enemies in its path.

Third Form: Thunderclap Tempest

A fusion of thunder and wind, striking with lightning-fast precision and explosive power. The attack hits multiple targets in quick succession, each blow accompanied by a flash of lightning and the roar of thunder.

Fourth Form: Raging Flood

Combining water and wind to unleash a powerful torrent that drowns and sweeps away enemies. The swirling waters gain momentum from the wind, creating an unstoppable flood that washes over the battlefield and engulfs foes.

Fifth Form: Quaking Storm

A powerful ground-shattering move that combines earth and wind. The user slams their sword into the ground, causing tremors and sending shockwaves of wind that shatter the earth beneath, disorienting enemies and destroying the terrain.

Sixth Form: Blazing Mist Shroud

A combination of fire breathing and mist breathing, this form creates a veil of searing mist that obscures the user's movements while scalding the enemy. The mist is imbued with intense heat, and the user's attacks seem to materialize from the fog, making it nearly impossible for enemies to predict their strikes until it's too late.

Seventh Form: Serpent Gale Strike

Fusing wind breathing with serpent breathing, this form allows the user to move like a coiling snake within a storm. The user unleashes swift, twisting strikes that cut through the air, mimicking a serpent's fluid and elusive movements. The wind enhances the attack's speed and reach, making it difficult to counter or block.

Eighth Form: Thunderclap of Passion

This form combines the emotional energy of love breathing with the raw force of thunder breathing. The user channels their passion into every strike, releasing explosive bursts of lightning that grow more powerful with each strike, reflecting the user's rising emotions. The intensity of the love and thunder fusion amplifies the damage, delivering unpredictable and electrifying strikes.

Ninth Form: Echoing Avalanche Roar

A combination of earth breathing and sound breathing, this form releases powerful shockwaves that echo through the battlefield like a rumbling avalanche. The user's strikes send out tremors that disorient and destabilize the enemy, while the vibrations amplify the force of every blow, causing the ground to crack and the air to vibrate with intense sonic energy.

Tenth Form: Beastly Tempest Maelstrom

Fusing the wild ferocity of beast breathing with the unpredictability of water breathing, this form unleashes a torrent of powerful, beast-like slashes combined with fluid, unpredictable movements. The user attacks with savage, animalistic intensity, while moving with the smoothness of water, making their strikes both ferocious and graceful. The maelstrom of strikes disorients and overwhelms enemies, striking from every direction like a raging beast in a storm.

Eleventh Form: Rudra Tandav

The ultimate form, combining all breathing styles—fire, water, wind, earth, thunder, sound, mist, love, serpent, beast—and Sun Breathing. The user channels every element and style into a single, overwhelming dance of destruction. With each movement, they unleash a sequence of strikes that incorporate the strength, speed, and essence of every breathing form, culminating in a radiant and unstoppable flurry that devastates everything in its path, embodying the wrath and protection of the tempest dragon.