After confirming that Kamado Tanjuro had not yet reached the level of Yoriichi Tsugikuni and that using the Sun Breathing technique would inflict damage equivalent to sunlight on him, Kibutsuji Muzan grew noticeably bolder.
He continuously swung his huge fists toward Kamado Tanjuro, forcing Tanjuro to keep moving constantly to avoid them, exhausting his stamina.
Since Muzan stood too far away, Tanjuro couldn't get close to him at all.
For a moment, the situation seemed like Muzan was suppressing Tanjuro.
However, just as Muzan was gleefully driving Tanjuro to dodge everywhere, a spirit flow struck him from the side.
Though the spirit flow didn't achieve any direct hit, it disrupted Muzan's attack rhythm.
Seizing the opportunity, Kamado Tanjuro, working together with Hikigaya Hachiman, charged at Muzan.
"You damn bastard…" Muzan's blood-red eyes locked onto Hikigaya Hachiman, completely ignoring Tanjuro rushing at him.
It was this damned human who disturbed his mood.
He was determined to turn this human into a demon and bind him atop the mountain to be roasted alive by sunlight!
His massive arms instantly shrank back to their original size, and then his entire right hand transformed into a blade shape, slashing viciously at the charging Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Having the ability to constantly change your body like that is really troublesome…" Hikigaya Hachiman blocked Muzan's attack with his blade, but in the next instant, Muzan's hand turned into a long whip and lashed toward his head.
Helpless, Hachiman had to retreat.
But how could Muzan, in his furious state, let him go so easily? Moving at a speed far beyond Hachiman's, Muzan flashed behind him.
With his left hand shaped like a claw, he tried to stab into Hachiman's back and rip out his heart.
Luckily, Hachiman twisted aside just in time to dodge this deadly strike, leaving only a claw scratch on his body.
Still, the near-death terror and intense pain made his heart race and cold sweat break out all over.
"Your blood…" Muzan, a neat freak, instinctively tried to shake the blood off his claws. But a strong fragrance wafted from the blood into his nose, making his eyes suddenly brighten.
Impatiently, he put Hachiman's blood-covered hand into his mouth and wore an expression of intoxication.
When he opened his eyes again and looked at Hachiman, only greed and madness remained.
"Looks like my ability to attract hatred is pretty strong…"
Seeing Muzan's fiery gaze fixed on him, Hikigaya Hachiman's nerves instantly tensed.
But at that moment, Kamado Tanjuro arrived and stood side by side with him.
This sobered Muzan's mind quite a bit and also relieved some tension from Hachiman.
Looking at the two humans standing together, Muzan frowned.
He knew it was hard to deal with them cooperating, especially with dawn approaching soon. His best choice would be to retreat and return to kill them once night fell again.
Looking at Tanjuro panting heavily and then at Hachiman whose wounds still dripped sweet blood, Muzan couldn't bear to leave just like that.
Today, he had lost six Lower Moon demons and countless minions just to push these two to this point!
If he gave up such a good opportunity, who knew what changes might happen after they rested in the daytime?
While Muzan hesitated whether to continue attacking, Kamado Tanjuro and Hikigaya Hachiman exchanged a glance and understood each other's plan.
Tanjuro, in his Transparent World state, was nearly as fast as Muzan.
Therefore, he had to take the main frontal attack.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman was not idle either.
Thanks to cultivation techniques, he had recovered much of his spirit energy.
To distract Muzan, he raised his hand and unleashed a spirit flow attack at Muzan.
At the same time, he deliberately tore open his nearly healed wounds again to let fresh blood flow, attracting Muzan's attention.
As expected, after smelling Hachiman's fresh blood, Muzan's focus shifted completely toward him.
Then, to dodge the spirit flow attack, Muzan wasted a few seconds sidestepping.
"This is the chance!"
Seeing the time Hachiman created for him, Tanjuro's eyes lit up.
He became a fleeting shadow over the snow and charged directly at Muzan.
Holding his sword tightly, the white blade emitted white smoke from the high heat.
Hearing the whooshing sound by his ear, Muzan quickly turned his head.
What appeared before his eyes was the Nichirin blade almost pressed against his face, and Tanjuro's murderous gaze!
The scorching hot blade pierced Muzan's body with a sizzling sound like frying oil.
Although the system had previously warned that killing Muzan now was nearly impossible, Tanjuro decided to try anyway.
Enacting the twelve forms of the Sun Breathing: Circle Dance, Blue Sky, Blazing Sun Mirror, Phantom Sun Rainbow, Fire Train, Burning Bone Flame, Radiant Blossom Thrust, Flying Wheel Sun Flame, Oblique Sun Turn, Glorious Light, Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance, Flame Dance!
Within a few seconds, the snow was scattered with no intact flesh of Muzan left.
"Should be dead, right?"
Tanjuro stood in the snow, leaning on his sword, looking at the pile of broken flesh.
But the system's kill notification sound never came.
His heart instantly plummeted.
The side effects of using all twelve Sun Breathing forms at once kicked in.
Tanjuro felt his blood surge violently, forcing him out of Transparent World while coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.
"If the side effects are this severe, why rush to use it?"
Muzan's faint voice echoed from all directions.
Then, the shredded flesh on the ground began writhing and gathering.
Slowly, the flesh formed into a humanoid shape.
Soon, Muzan's face full of hatred appeared before Tanjuro.
Before Muzan could open his mouth to continue his harsh words, a strong sunlight suddenly enveloped them both.
Looking at the sunlight shining on him, Muzan froze for a moment, clearly confused about where the light came from before dawn.
Then, he let out a piercing, fearful scream and instantly fled into the distant dense forest.
Tanjuro was also stunned by the sudden sunlight.
While he was still puzzled, Hikigaya Hachiman ran over, grabbed him onto his back, and shouted for Tanjuro's family to run down the mountain together.