NEW CHALLENGER Location the Demon Slayer-verse, Japan-Mugen Train-wreck Site, Inside a Barrier Dome
In the morning, within a domed barrier, in between the forest and the Mugen train-wreck. Both men, Akaza and Ranma stood within this barrier. As Akaza glared with a crazed look on his face. He was still panicking, and worried that the Sun will kill him at any moment. Gyutaro started chuckling, before laughing full out. Earning everyone, including his friends attention. The newly ascended, sickle-devil, he spoke, "Ohh Akaza. Don't worry the barrier, won't let you die of the Sun. My friend, Ranma, he's a martial artist like you. From what I told him, about you. Plus what we've watched, he's eager to face off against you. Should you win you get to leave alive...fat chance of that!!" as he laughed again. Making Laharl, Issei, Sona, and Rias shake their head. Knowing there's still a bit of that sadistic streak within Gyutaro. The veins of Akaza's head, bulged in response of his anger. Thinking of "how dared this traitor, make conditions to him?" But Akaza knew, he's at the mercy of Gyutaro and these rogue ancient demon. He has to win, escape, and report this to master Muzan. As he turned to this Ranma, that started stretching leisurely in front of him. Not waiting for him. Akaza struck. Disappearing in a blur, and reappearing beside Ranma. Mid-air, with a back spinning kick, aimed at Ranma's head, wanting to end this fight before it begun. In a massive impact. Akaza's kick connected to Ranma's head. Without showing any sign of damage, and clearly standing unharmed. Shocking the Upper Rank. As Ranma glanced at his opponent, and said with a smirk, "Hey!! I'm also excited for a fight!! But one has to have some honor. (swiftly changing his stance, and even crouching slightly.) But since you wanna get things started, let me repay that cheapshot!!! Shoryuken!!!" just like Ranma exclaimed. He hit Akaza, with a high spinning uppercut, the shoryuken, connecting right to Akaza's jaw. Sending the Upper Moon Three, soaring upward and slamming onto the top of the barrier. Destroying Akaza's jaw, bleeding and in pain. Akaza bended his body, so he can jump off the barrier. Landing in front of Ranma, seeing this demon in a new light. Instead of anger or panic. There's a look of excited curiosity on his face, he'd though Rengoku was strong. But this Ranma...might be a better challenge in many ways, as a smile creeped on the fighting demon's face. Taking his Soryu stance, seems that Akaza's fighter spirit has ignited. Especially facing a fellow demon, martial artist. Something even being forced as a demon, hasn't left Akaza's soul. Ranma saw this and smile. Getting in his loose stance of the Anything Goes Art. The devil saw this and smirked, this is Ranma's demonic instincts fuel by the sin of pride, he's align to. Added the desire to fight strong martial artists, Issei even let a comment that Ranma will go crazy in the Kengan Baki-verse. Nobody disagreed with the Red Emperor's statement...except Rias, since she's not that attracted to martial art/fighting manga and anime, without supernatural themes. Rias just looked confused, making a note to herself to ask, "what a Kengan Baki is?" Apart from that the match between Ranma and Akaza is about to start. All the while the fully healed Rengoku watched, analyzing everything he's hearing and watching. This unknown demon faction, practically...or in his understanding...confirmed that Muzan, isn't the only ancient demon. These...devils, might be what Muzan always wanted to be. Powerful, immortal, immune to the Sun, and clearly dangerous. Rengoku stopped Inosuke and Tanjiro, from daring to attack the demons. As they watched the fight that is about to happen. Akaza spoke to Ranma, "Aside the situation...I'll admit, my blood hasn't boil this much for a fight in ages!! You're Ranma Saotome right?" Ranma nods to Akaza's question. Then Akaza confessed he has waiting a very long time, for a demon that he can rip apart endlessly, and fight nonstop. Ranma just kept smiling, as he started their fight finally.
RANMA VS AKAZA
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Ranma used his Joudan Sokutou Geri. He stomps forward, delivering a powerful high-blade kick. Akaza barely blocked the attack. As he was brutally kicked by Ranma, feeling his arms being completely destroyed, under the force. Akaza's arms regenerated, only to be punched on the face, belly, and again on the face. In a flash, he was hit three times, and Akaza couldn't see the attacks. Akaza struck. Throwing several punches at Ranma, connecting the stream of strikes. But like the surprise kick, he did before. Ranma wasn't showing any damage or discomfort. As Ranma hit Akaza with high rising kick, striking at Akaza's chin. Once again, destroying his jaw, utterly torn off from the blow of the Saotome heir. But Akaza is a Upper Moon, and centuries long, martial arts master. He spun in the air, deliver a brutal heel strike, on top of the head of Ranma. Causing a shockwave, blowing dirt and dust, from around the two martial artists. Then Akaza backflips out of the dustcloud. Barely avoiding Ranma last attack. So Ranma pushed forward, chasing after Akaza. Just like the fighting demon wanted. Getting in a stance, as a blue snowflake manifested, at the feet of Akaza. Saying out the name of his technique, "Destructive Death: Air Type!!" throwing punches, blasting shockwaves at Ranma. Ranma took the flurry of Akaza's Air Type, flying punches. He tanked the onslaught, as Ranma's aura was shielding all the damage that Akaza was throwing at him. Meanwhile everyone outside the barrier, watched with awe. Issei, Rias, and Sona were cheering for their friend Ranma, Laharl and Gyutaro are watching the fight, with utter excitement. While the slayers, both Tanjiro and Inosuke are awestruck, can't believing the power that these demons possess, all the while, Rengoku, he stood proud, and focused. Making sure that he records, everything of this battle. This will serve of great importance for the Corp. Back inside the dome, Akaza continue firing punches at his opponent. Utterly excited, and even laughing. Because regardless of his attacks and vicious assault, Ranma hasn't showed any sign of weakness. A truly impressive opponent, who hasn't bleed once. Or needed to regenerate from damage. This made all of Akaza's former panic and desperation, completely banished, not only that by continuing this fight, he'll evolved further, maybe Akaza can finally surpass Upper Two and One. More and more. Akaza speed-up his onslaught of Air Type blasts. After a while, he threw one more Air Type, wanting to see what Ranma does against him, and also seeing if his barrage had any affect. Ranma stopped tanking Akaza's attack, laughing a bit, before speaking to Akaza, "Nice move...let me help you, feel what's it like to be hit by it." Using his martial art skills, combined with devil imagination magic, to replicate Akaza's technique. By using wind magic, mixed with ki and high physical abilities to recreate the Air Type technique. He channeled that magic throughout his arm, throwing a punch, blasting a shockwave. Hitting Akaza right in the chest, leaving a critical wound in the spot that...Ranma's Air Type struck. Akaza spat out blood. Completely shocked. He's technique...his blood demon art, was actually copied. Just as his body was regenerating, when Ranma said with a smile, "I'm not done yet, tattoo boy!!" throwing another Air Type. Blasting off Akaza's right hand. Then another air type punch, then another and another. As Ranma's fists started blurring, in a flurry of punches, blasted multiple highspeed punches at his opponent. Fully inspired by Issei's suggestion to combined with new technique, Air Type or Kūshiki, with highspeed technique of the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken. Creating the Kūshiki Tenshin Amaguriken. Blasting Akaza apart. Issei watching what's happening, he pumped up his arm into the air. Having been the source of Ranma's new technique, Gyutaro looked a bit tired. Looking off the side, waving his hand, as he said to Issei, "Yes, yes, good for you. You finally said something useful, and not perverted. Good for you, little lizard." his words, made all the devils laugh. Issei told Gyutaro to "screw himself", at that moment, Ddraig then commented at Issei, "Well partner, the sickle guy isn't wrong." Issei started groaning. Mentally complaining that his friends are too cruel to him. Laharl patted Gyutaro's back, telling him he had a "good one", making Gyutaro giggle. Asia, Sona...and regrettably Rias, scooted over to Laharl, as the fight was getting more and more amusing. So returning to said fight, now Ranma was blasting away at Akaza, making the Upper Rank focus on defense, and forcing his regenerative ability to it's limit. He was being overwhelmed. This is a very foreign experience for the Upper Moon Three, as he always fought to win, as it's rarely, if not never has his fight turn to a fight for survival. As he's body was blasted apart, then regenerated, then blasted to chunks again. Akaza gritted his teeth, trying to find any opening to turn this fight around. But instead of anger, the fighting demon felt joy. Cause it's been centuries, since he ever have a fight, quite at this level. In his eyes, he saw a massive inferno, covering Ranma's body. A literal manifestation of his opponent's fighting spirit.
While Compass Needle let's him see and track the shifting fighting spirit of a opponent, it proves mostly useless, when the opponent is as capable of a fighter, like himself. To everyone shock, Akaza lowered his guard. And started firing Air Type, back at Ranma. Causing shockwaves to burst in the air, as most of Akaza's air punches, were colliding with Ranma's own air punches. Those Air Type, that fired through the onslaught between the two, literal demonic martial artists. Hitting one another. Akaza still being blasted apart and regenerating, while Ranma's Aura was being pummeled. Rengoku saw this and actually, unconsciously swallowed some of his spit. He couldn't believe, what he's watching. The flame hashira, has seen various types of fights, from masters clashing, fellow slayers facing off monsters, and more. But what he's watching...is a literal combination of all those things. Realizing that those demons that once appeared in Tokyo, and Mt. Natagumo are clearly in a whole new tier, that none of the current slayers are capable to match these demons. Then a thought passed through Rengoku's mind, "If this is the level, that Muzan can reach? No!! These demons can't fall to Kibutsuji, the Corp must be informed!!!" making a whistle. A crow flew over to the flame hashira, landing on his shoulder. Without shifting his gaze, Rengoku reported to the messenger crow. Telling the crow to fly fast, reporting what he said to the Corp. Asia noticed the black bird, asking worriedly out loud, "Laharl-kun...should we do something?" Laharl responded, by wrapping his arm on his nun-devil love, consoling and calming her. Telling her, that aside the Rui crap, they don't have to be subtle anymore. They saved Rengoku, and a couple more slayers as well, during the Spider Mountain Arc, meaning that the Corp is more capable of dealing with the upcoming challenges. Now they just have to use a bit of devil magic to help Tanjiro awaken the Slayer Mark. As the whole Entertainment District Arc is already shattered, with Daki and Gyutaro being apart of their group and family. So instead they'll just draw in the Sound Hashira, Tengen to come to that district, with the main trio, and play a different fight. Which will awaken Tanjiro's mark, make him, Zenitsu, and Inosuke stronger. And not interfere as the Swordsmith Village Arc plays out...maybe they'll dungeon crawl, or send some of Rias' peerage members to help. That's a deeper conversation for later. Right now, they'll watch the fight between Ranma and Akaza still ongoing. Still wondering what Ranma will do to Akaza, at the end of this fight. Not that the Krichevskoy heir care or will interfere, as it's Ranma's decision to make. As the two demonic martial artists, are still blasting air punches at one another. But then Ranma stopped his Kūshiki Tenshin Amaguriken, and he rushed in. Seeing Ranma doing this, and he does the same. Meeting in the middle. Throwing punches, kicks, sweeps, chops, and elbows at each other. Eventually in a complete surprise, Akaza used one of his techniques against Ranma. Yelling out, "Destructive Death: Disorder!!", which involves punching rapidly at the Ranma. Akaza performs a barrage of punches, causing a stream of large shockwaves, which usual destroy anything in front of him. But instead the brutal, point-blank onslaught, it surprisenly broke Ranma's aura. Even letting some of the technique to actually connect, forcing Ranma to quickly counter with a high kick to Akaza's head, followed by a sweep knocking off his feet. Then delivering a brutal one-inch punch to Akaza's chest. Obliterating the bones of his chest and rib, as once again Akaza was launched against the barrier. Ranma smiles, as he says to himself, "Yeah this fight is really getting exciting now."