CHAPTER 24 - Battle of Takeshi's Castle: Part 1

"Don't tell me this old man is…" Uzui was taken aback.

"That's right. You saw his technique." Tomioka replied, giving an obvious look.

"Jigoro Kuwajima, the Thunder Pillar!" Uzui bellowed, "I thought he was dead!"

"Uh, it's a long story." Tomioka was impatient.

It so happened that Karaku the Upper Demon had fled the scene after Sekido's downfall, following his demon radar giving warning jolts from the Takeshi's Castle.

"We can't make small talk whilst an Upper Demon Moon slipped past us." Tomioka reminded, getting up from his sitting crate.

"I know where that demon went." Uzui said, "It's been quite some time but I guess we'll find Roronoa and Kanao Tsuyuri whilst at it."

"Tsuyuri? Shinobu's tsuguko?" Tomioka asked surprised.

"That's right."

"More the reason we shouldn't let them wait." Tomioka said, leading atop one of the nearby houses. Uzui and Master Kuwajima followed suit describing the castle far to their sight.

"I couldn't sense anything from here. Roronoa and Shinobu's tsuguko are taking their sweet time." Uzui said.

"They could've gotten into trouble." Tomioka said concerned, "Come on."

The three of them made way through the rooftops taking possible shortcuts, whilst cutting time.

They found the main route to the castle situation on an elevation compared to the rest of the town. Broken boulders and redundant traps lying about all the way until they found a thin unsafe bridge without any guardrails.

"For some reason, this bridge was made to keep us out." Tomioka mentioned.

"Agreed." Uzui said.

Without further ado, the three of them made attempt to cross over. The river flowed below with its strong currents, something the Demon Slayers onboard the bridge tried not to think about. Without the annoying demon bats, the trip was smooth sailing to the other end. They observed the wrecked left by the demons on the wake of both the encounters against Zoro.

"This looks recent." Tomioka mentioned, "We are close."

"And I thought everything was done in the plan. Why is this not so?"

"I… I'm sorry. Ubuyashiki's Pillars showed up and then that swordsman." trembled Urogi, one of Hantengu's clones.

"Silence! You are a coward."

Urogi, the clone of 'delight' showed quite the contrary to his usual emotion and demeanour, cowering in front of the audience and the fellow who was throwing rage upon him.

"That man…" Shinobu trembled from the aura.

Zoro understood her concern, ever vigilant of the threat ahead. He made quick observations finding Kanao in the same boat as her big sister. Even the cold-steeled Kanae Kocho showed concerns.

"That him?" Zoro asked.

He needn't a reply from his companions. The fellow alongside Urogi faced him, taking off his hat.

"I have heard a lot about you." he said.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm flattered." Zoro was sarcastic.

"I don't think it's a good idea to underestimate him, Zoro-san." Kanao said.

"I am not underestimating him. I know he's strong." Zoro acknowledged, facing the hat-fellow, "So, you are the boss, huh?"

At the same moment, Karaku had shown up from inside the castle.

"Hey, what are you waiting for?" Urogi bellowed to him.

Both of them made contact, combining their cloned forms into a single Upper Moon. Everyone on the human side felt the sharp increase of aura in the combined demon. Shinobu knew that it had turned into a true Upper Demon, the No. 4's true form.

To her surprise, Kanao found Zoro smirking with anticipation. Kanae observed the same understanding his excitement over the situation.

"That's right." the hat-man revealed, "I'm Muzan Kibutsuji."

"He has finally shown up." Shinobu said. Zoro observed her concern unlike before.

"A true enemy." Zoro patted her shoulder. She looked at him.

"That's unlike you to lose your cool." he said, "We'll handle him. Don't let your worry hamper your skills. Leader or not, we have to get past them ahead."

Shinobu acknowledged his calm demeanour helping her regain composure.

"That goes for the two of you, as well." he told Kanao and Kanae.

"I know." Kanae replied.

"Kanao, I hope you wouldn't mind me using your blade?" Zoro asked.

"No, of course not." Kanao replied.

"Uh… I won't ask anyone of you to accompany this fight. From all I've known on this land, this Kibutsuji has been after me just because his henchman happened to cross blades with me. Let me handle this alone."

"Nonsense!" Shinobu retorted, "I don't know what you must think trying to take Kibutsuji all on your own, but I won't let that. I know how strong you are, but it shouldn't mean we are backing down just because he's the most formidable Demon. We are called Demon Slayers for a reason."

The others were in the same boat, despite their fears.

"You have made your point. I won't stop you." Zoro declared.

"I believe you want to handle Kibutsuji all by yourself?" Kanae asked.

"I'm fine either way. You guys have bones to pick with him, so it's your choice."

Kanae shook her head, "I can see by the look on your face. We'll keep the Upper Moon off your path."

"Fine, you can relish your blades against him." Shinobu agreed with hesitation.

"Very well." Zoro said. He bit down on his Wado Ichimonji, drawing out his Shusui and Kanao's Nichirin blade.

"How foolish." Kibutsuji remarked, "No human has ever laid an injury on me for centuries."

"Well, that'll change tonight." Zoro replied.

"You guys should get ready." Zoro said.

The others drew their blades.

"I'll give you the slip. Get to the Upper Moon." Zoro swung his blades, "Three Sword Style…"

Kibutsuji and the combined Upper Moon Zohakuten focused on him.

"1080 Pound Phoenix!"

A full-on 1080 Pound Flying Blade zipped through the swords, creating a large wall of severing pressured winds.

"Go!" Zoro yelled. Shinobu, Kanae, and Kanao made a rush for the Upper Moon. Zoro made his dash rushing in towards Kibutsuji. The latter blocked the 1080 with his bare hands, holding the pressure from overthrowing himself. Zoro realised of his opponent's hard skin.

"Three Sword Style…" Zoro closed in. He found Kibutsuji's eyes shifting towards his left.

"What the…" Zoro leaped sideways, following a jolt from his Observation Haki. Trying his best attempt to make it in time, his blades sparked upon a heavy clash against Kibutsuji's tentacle arms, protruding out of his body like monstrous spears. The Demon boss was heading in for Shinobu and the others. Zoro was able to deflect Kibutsuji's tentacles.

"Are you alright?" Shinobu asked.

"Don't worry. I'll deal with him." Zoro said.

The others moved ahead, leaving Zoro to handle Kibutsuji alone.

Kibutsuji was amazed that the man lived up to his reputation and more. A monster of a swordsman, capable of going par with Kokushibo.

"I won't let you after them." Zoro mentioned, "Better get used to that."

"Is that the reason you are fighting me alone? To protect them?" Kibutsuji asked.

"They don't need me to protect them. I just don't have the habit of letting go of my prey." Zoro retorted.

"I guess you've earned the right to fight me." Kibutsuji said, letting out another jet of tentacle bursts.

Zoro saw them coming, dodging the sharp blades zooming in like bullets. Amidst the flurry, he made his way ahead, until he was a mere few metres away from the Demon Lord. He leaped right at that moment.

"Three Swords…" He pulled his hand blades behind his back.

"Ultra Tiger Trap!" Zoro yelled, clashing blades with Kibutsuji defending with his arms. The blow was ferocious. Kibutsuji's hard skin began making cracks. The ground began to cave from the impact. A ferocious move, Kibutsuji acknowledged and knew the swordsman showed no signs of restraint. Zoro's strength grew, digging the ground from sheer pressure.

"It's best to suppress you whilst you are here." Kibutsuji said, "Black Blood… Brambles!"

Black wires grew out of Kibutsuji's body flying overhead and wrapping in with quick movements. Zoro observed the spiked-patterns within the wires.

"You can't escape." Kibutsuji reassured.

"Dragon Twister!" Zoro made a quick change of stance. A strong gust of air blades drove overhead wrecking the wires with tremendous force. Zoro leaped back avoiding further traps he thought lying in wait amidst Kibutsuji's body.

"Two Sword Style…" Zoro sheathed his blades the next moment. He was cautious not to let the enemy gain a ground, "Iai… Rashomon!"

To Kibutsuji's surprise, both his arms as well as the added tentacles were diced without his notice. Zoro was found behind him, sheathing his blades. And followed him was the after-effects. Kibutsuji torso was cut in half with two strong slashes.

"I commend you swordsman." he said. Zoro turned around to find the body alive despite the decapitation. And there was a heart shown out from the upper torso beating as nothing had happened. The tentacles grew back connecting the severed sections and regenerating in great speed. Zoro was surprised by the Demon's formidability.

"You are indeed someone worth my time." Kibutsuji made a mad smirk, "Tell you what, why don't you come to our side?"

"Yeah, right." Zoro replied.

"You don't know what you are missing. With a body like yours, you'll be able to live and command under me till eternity."

"Thanks, but no thanks." Zoro said, "I'd best like to remain human for all I can care."

"But why?" Kibutsuji asked.

"To destroy monsters like you." Zoro replied, with his devious smirk.

The Battle of Takeshi's Castle has begun.

TO BE CONTINUED...