Isekai Adventure in the Dimensional Cube

The serene and peaceful courtyard suddenly roared like a hurricane, making flowers and trees sway, little bridges and streams wobble, and the entire cozy atmosphere turned utterly violent, revealing a hint of danger.

Shinazugawa Sanemi held his Sun Wheel Blade, pointing it at Reiger, and the wind swirling around him was so ferocious that it surpassed even the force generated by Reiger's use of "Wind Spirit Swift Walk," causing the stones on the ground around him to roll about.

The pillars, watching Shinazugawa Sanemi, were mostly indifferent, except for Rengoku Kyoujurou.

Clearly, they were all curious about the outcome of Shinazugawa Sanemi's probing attack.

"Hey, aren't you going to draw your sword?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi shouted in Reiger's direction.

However, Reiger just looked at him, appearing completely unguarded, without even the shadow of a blade on his person.

This made veins pop up on Shinazugawa Sanemi's forehead, as if feeling belittled, he became enraged.

"If you won't draw your sword, then go die!"

With those words, Shinazugawa Sanemi made his move.

"Boom!"

The hurricane surged violently, and the Demon Slayer Corps' Wind Pillar transformed into a tornado-like force, howling as he charged toward Reiger.

"Stop it, Shinazugawa!"

Naturally, Rengoku Kyoujurou could not stand idly by and watch his friend be attacked by his comrade. Just as he was about to step forward, he was suddenly stopped.

"Just watch from here, Rengoku."

Iguro Obanai appeared behind Rengoku Kyoujurou at some point, his hand on Kyoujurou's shoulder, stopping him.

With Iguro Obanai's interference, the tornado-like hurricane aggressively advanced towards Reiger, causing his kimono to flutter wildly.

Within the hurricane, Shinazugawa Sanemi did not hold back, as his Sun Wheel Blade ruthlessly hacked down, carrying with it the fierce wind, aiming at Reiger's chest.

This slash was genuinely powerful. Its strength was not inferior to that of Rengoku Kyoujurou, and its speed was even faster, making it seem as though a Wind Blade had actually slashed through, capable of cutting through the entire courtyard.

That single strike was enough to prove that Shinazugawa Sanemi's strength as the Wind Pillar was definitely not weaker than Rengoku Kyoujurou's.

But then—

"Ding!"

When a crisp bell-like sound rang out, Shinazugawa Sanemi's slashing stopped, his hacking blade also halted, the howling hurricane dissipated, and he stood in front of Reiger, stripped of all momentum.

"What?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi's expression dramatically changed.

"Impossible!"

The other pillars were also taken aback, unable to believe their eyes.

Reiger still stood there, his kimono that had been disturbed by the wind finally settling down.

As expected, he was completely unharmed, without even moving an inch, only extending a hand towards Shinazugawa Sanemi.

Between two fingers of that hand, he firmly pinched a piece of the blade.

It was Shinazugawa Sanemi's own blade.

"You...!?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi shouted at Reiger, his eyes still full of shock.

This guy, did he really block his slash with just two fingers?

That's impossible!

"Are you satisfied now?"

As Shinazugawa Sanemi felt incredulous, Reiger finally spoke up.

"Though I don't think I need to prove anything to you, being bothered by your childish questions is rather annoying. Let's say this is reciprocity."

Saying so, Reiger released the blade of Shinazugawa Sanemi's sword.

"Bang!"

The next second, with a booming sound, Shinazugawa Sanemi was kicked flying.

Reiger, with a speed that no one could react to, like a flash of lightning, kicked Shinazugawa Sanemi, sending the Wind Pillar flying backward at an even greater speed than he had come, crashing into a rockery in the yard and shattering it.

"Shinazugawa!"

Many of the pillars cried out in alarm at this spectacle.

Even some moved against Reiger right away.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Two figures simultaneously cut through the air, appearing on either side of Reiger.

"Sound Breathing·First Form·Boom!"

Uzui Tengen, with his muscular arms tensing, drew the blade slung on his back. The golden short sword chopped down, bringing forth an immense roar, its power astonishing.

"Snake Breathing·First Form·Coiling Snake Curved Slash!"

Iguro Obanai twisted his body mid-air, striking an inconceivable angle, his hand holding the curved, snake-shaped double-edged blade. As he twisted his body and swung his arm, the blade also snaked through the air, delivering a snake-shaped slash that struck from the side at Reiger.

The simultaneous attacks of two pillars, both in momentum and power, were nothing short of earth-shattering.

Uzui Tengen and Iguro Obanai, like opposite forces, one with a flamboyant attacking style, the other dark and sinister, one bright and one dark, sealed off all of Reiger's escape routes.

Yet Reiger's response was completely unexpected.

He still stood motionless, simply waving his kimono sleeve.

With that one wave, he created a powerful current and Qi Force that sent both attacking pillars flying.

Then, Reiger flipped his hand, catching two small pebbles that the current had brought in front of him. With a flick of his fingers, he shot them out like bullets.

"Bang!"

"Boom!"

Accompanied by two muffled sounds, the stone bullets successively hit Uzui Tengen and Iguro Obanai, who were sent flying backward. They fell to the ground on the spot, even crying out in pain.

"————"

Suddenly, the entire courtyard fell silent.

All the Pillars looked at Uzui Tengen and Iguro Obanai, writhing in pain on the ground, then at Shinazugawa Sanemi struggling to get up from the rubble of the rockery, and they lost their own voices.

"To think they were brought down so easily, all three Pillars...?"

Kanroji Mitsuri couldn't help covering her small mouth in shock.

"...Amitabha."

Himejima Gyoumei brought his hands together and chanted a Buddhist invocation, but his tears stopped flowing.

"Oh dear."

Kochou Shinobu gave Reiger a deep look, her smile still unfading.

Even Tomioka Giyuu and Tokitou Muichirou, who had been acting like mere bystanders from the beginning, tensed up and looked at Reiger with a grave expression in their eyes.

Only Kyoujurou ceased his movement, letting out a sigh.

"In the end, I was too late to stop it."

Indeed, he had known all along that it would turn out this way.

As a joke, he had not only seen Reiger demonstrate his strength but also had fought against Upper Moon Three, Akaza. How could he not know the level of Reiger's strength?

When fighting Akaza, Kyoujurou could clearly feel that he was no match for that Upper Moon demon.

Akaza was stronger than himself, or to put it another way, the Upper Moon Three was stronger than him, the Flame Pillar. This was something Kyoujurou was absolutely certain of.

Yet, such a strong Akaza, such a powerful Upper Moon Three, was defeated by a single slash from Reiger.

After one slash, Upper Moon Three, Akaza, was defeated.

Therefore, by calculation, he would likewise be unable to withstand a single slash from Reiger.

Among the current Pillars, except for one whom Kyoujurou could definitely feel was beyond his match, the rest were at best on par with him, and some Pillars were even clearly weaker than him.

Wind Pillar Shinazugawa Sanemi, Serpent Pillar Iguro Obanai, and Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen, although not weak and certainly among the top in the Pillars, still, judged individually, Kyoujurou did not feel weaker than any of them.

Those like them, even if they were to attack together, how could they possibly be a match for Reiger?

At most, it would merely change from one slash to three.

Kyoujurou wanted to stop them, not only because he didn't want to see Reiger troubled by the Pillars but also because he didn't want them to be embarrassed afterward.

Sadly, he wasn't able to do so.

It could be said that they had brought this upon themselves.

Of course, the three Pillars who had been humiliated to this extent were certainly not willing to let the matter rest.

"Damn it...!"

"This is not elegant at all!"

"Tch..."

Shinazugawa Sanemi, Uzui Tengen, and Iguro Obanai got up one after another, glaring at Reiger.

In response, Reiger simply said calmly,

"Let it go, that's enough," Reiger said, "Without awakening the Mark, without awakening the Red Blade, and not even having awakened to see through the world, you couldn't possibly be my opponents."

Reiger's words left the Pillars stunned.

"Mark?"

"Red Blade?"

"See through the world?"

The Pillars frowned, glancing at each other in confusion, as if they didn't understand what Reiger was talking about.

Reiger didn't explain but turned his gaze toward the direction of the mansion.

"You should have seen enough by now, can you come out?"

As soon as these words came out, the Pillars no longer had the chance to ponder the meaning of Reiger's words just now.

They turned their attention to the direction of the mansion, seemingly finally realizing something.

Then, a voice came from inside,

"Sorry, I meant no harm. I just wanted to see what the legendary Sun Breathing was like, but it seems I won't have my wish fulfilled."

The voice had a light, stable, and soothing quality, which made one feel refreshed and at ease.

As the voice began, someone was also being helped out from the mansion, coming onto the corridor that connected to the courtyard.

"My lord!"

Upon seeing this person, all the Pillars present, whether it was the Wind Pillar and Serpent Pillar who previously held hostile attitudes, or the silent Water Pillar and Mist Pillar, all knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.

This was the utmost courtesy, the highest form of respect.

Reiger became the only one still standing in the courtyard, his eyes slightly stirring as he watched the person.

It couldn't be helped.

The appearance of the person before him was truly surprising.

He was well-dressed, with an elegant and noble demeanor that immediately revealed him as a high-ranking person, and moreover, a ruler with considerable benevolence.

Yet, this benevolent sovereign had his face above the nose severely disfigured, his eyes also seemed to have gone blind, and his body emitted a sickly aura, appearing extremely frail.

With just one glance, Reiger could tell.

This person, his life would not last much longer.