Uzui Tengen arrived at the battlefield and saw Tanjiro already injured, facing an Upper Rank demon and another demon resembling the Seven Deadly Sins.
"Kamado boy, Pig Assault boy, you two take that little one and leave. The rest is up to me. I'm sorry, my intelligence calculation was mistaken." Although Uzui Tengen outwardly disliked these brats, he cared for the lives of his juniors. He quickly urged Tanjiro and his companions to retreat.
Tanjiro remembered his last encounter with Upper Rank Three. If he had been stronger, Rengoku-san wouldn't have almost died. This time, he would not back down, no matter what. He had to sever the demon's head!
"Uzui-san, we'll stay and assist you. There are two demons here, we'll handle the other one, and the remaining one is yours."
Tanjiro clearly stated his intention to stay, and Inosuke on the side also declared his readiness to fight. Zenitsu then stood up, though his eyes remained closed, in a sleeping posture.
Uzui Tengen laughed heartily, "Then let's have a magnificent battle!"
Risen, with a sinister grin, said, "Apologies, there aren't two demons here, but three. Gyutaro, come out and fight!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gyutaro crawled out from Daki's back. He had shed his former frail appearance, and the black spots on his face had vanished. He could be considered quite handsome now.
"What! I still have to fight? Then I'll take care of this Hashira!" Gyutaro said impatiently, clutching his face.
Tanjiro on the side was shocked. There was still another demon hidden. He wondered why there were two Upper Rank Six demons. Did Upper Rank Six have more than one member?
Uzui Tengen reacted swiftly, his Nichirin blade aimed at Gyutaro's neck. However, Gyutaro's reaction was even faster, his blood scythe slashing an injury across Uzui Tengen's chest.
On the other side, Inosuke attacked first, charging towards Risen, shouting "Pig Assault!"
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't intend to fight. You guys fight with Daki, don't worry, you won't die, hehe!" Risen chuckled, kicked Inosuke away, and then sat on a nearby rock to watch.
"Blood Demon Art, Flying Blood Scythes!"
Risen had seen this move many times. In his opinion, it was nothing special. However, facing these countless flying blood scythes, Uzui Tengen seemed to be struggling.
"Is this an Upper Rank demon? They are indeed on a different level from Lower Ranks. However, the magnificent Tengen-sama will not be defeated! Let me magnificently sever your head!" Uzui Tengen roared with laughter, clearly overexcited.
Risen could see that Gyutaro's previous strike had poisoned Uzui Tengen. He was merely forcing himself to be excited to prevent the poison from reducing his combat power. He was worthy of being one of the Hashira, his adaptability was truly strong.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunder Flash, Sixfold!" Suddenly, a yellow lightning bolt streaked towards Risen. Risen leaped high, pressing down on Zenitsu's head with one palm, his body in an inverted pose.
"I told you I wouldn't get involved in your fight, why are you still attacking me? Do you look down on Daki?"
Although Zenitsu was asleep, he could still speak. "You force me to play the shamisen every day, I hate you!"
At this moment, Tanjiro and Inosuke were fighting Daki. Seeing Zenitsu pinned by Risen, they couldn't help but worry.
"Zenitsu!"
Daki, however, was displeased. "You dare to be distracted while fighting me, you brats! Don't look down on me!"
"Blood Demon Art, Hundred-Fold Chipper!"
Hundreds of sashes flew down from the sky. Inosuke, caught off guard, had his abdomen pierced, and Tanjiro was also struck in the thigh.
"See, if you don't help your companions, they will die. It won't be too late to challenge me after you defeat Daki. I'm not participating, go on!" Risen said, then slapped Zenitsu away. Zenitsu reacted quickly, using the momentum to employ his breathing technique and swiftly slashed towards Daki.
"Mr. Gojo, are you here to kill me?" Daki muttered, wisely not speaking Risen's true name.
Risen awkwardly scratched his head, "Sorry, sorry, it was just an accident. You guys continue!"
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Clear Blue Sky!"
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunder Flash, Sixfold!"
"Beast Breathing, Third Fang: Rip and Tear!"
The three attacked Daki simultaneously. Although they were all injured, it wasn't a serious problem. Inosuke, who was the most severely injured, could alter his organs, and since he wasn't struck in a vital spot, it wasn't a major issue.
"Blood Demon Art, Thousand-Fold Chipper!" Daki's strength was different from before. If it were in the past, she might have been killed. Now, she was handling it with ease, all thanks to the strength Risen had helped her improve.
After Daki unleashed her Blood Demon Art, Tanjiro and the others had only focused on attacking, not expecting Daki's sashes to be so numerous. The dense sashes cut into their bodies, leaving all three of them bleeding.
Seizing this opportunity, Daki wrapped them tightly in her sashes, even absorbing their blood qi. Tanjiro clearly felt a sense of powerlessness, his strength draining away.
"Move! Move! I absolutely cannot die here! Move quickly!!!" Tanjiro shouted in his mind.
Suddenly, Tanjiro's body temperature soared, his heart pounded, and his body felt as if it were on fire. He felt his strength increase by more than a notch, and he quickly broke free from the sashes.
Following suit, Inosuke and Zenitsu also broke free, just like Tanjiro. Yellow lightning-like patterns appeared on Zenitsu's face and neck. Inosuke's markings were on his hands, resembling fangs, while Tanjiro's appeared at the wound on his forehead. His deep red patterns, combined with his deep red hair, strongly resembled Yoriichi Tsugikuni of the past.
"Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Scorching Crimson Radiant Sun!"
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunder Flash, Godspeed!"
"Beast Breathing, Third Fang: Rip and Tear!"
The three attacked Daki simultaneously once more. Daki was also surprised. The strength of these three had suddenly increased by more than a notch. What was going on?
Risen watched from the side with great satisfaction. All three of them had awakened their marks, which was beyond his expectations. He had only thought Tanjiro would be able to do so, but it turned out all three were very talented.
"Daki, they've awakened their marks!" Risen reminded her from the side.
He was reminding Daki to be cautious, and at the same time, signaling to her that the battle was about to end.
Daki nodded, understanding why the three's strength had suddenly increased so much. So, Risen-san had been using them and her brother as sparring partners. Although she felt a little displeased, she had to continue the act.
"Blood Demon Art, Thousand-Fold Chipper!" Daki unleashed thousands of sashes again, but the situation suddenly changed. Red flames erupted from the sashes, and Daki was shocked. What was happening?
"Blood Demon Art, Exploding Blood!"
The original Nezuko, she had been watching her brother's battle, waiting for the best moment for a killing blow, which was why she only revealed herself now.
Tanjiro, seeing the familiar flames, instantly understood. It was Nezuko's Blood Demon Art.
"Impossible! How can there be a Blood Demon Art that counters demons?" Daki cried out as the flames touched her skin, causing her pain that couldn't be instantly healed.
It was at this moment of Daki's shocked exclamation that the Nichirin blades of Tanjiro and the other two slashed down. Daki's neck was severed by their combined efforts.
Although Daki had intended to be beheaded, she had never imagined it would be a passive act. At the very least, she should have offered herself for decapitation! Unwilling to accept this! Before feigning to turn into ash, Daki launched a final attack, shattering Tanjiro's Nichirin blade.