Kanae turned to the side, bowing slightly to Kagaya in the main seat.
"Master, please allow me to spar briefly with the Wind Pillar. We'll stop at first touch, without damaging our friendship."
Kagaya, seeing the confidence and determination in Kanae's eyes, and looking at the calm-faced Phaethon beside him, understood in his heart.
He nodded slowly and said gently.
"If that's the case, then I'll allow it, but be careful not to hurt your comrade."
"Thank you, Master."
Kanae bowed again.
Seeing this, everyone in the main hall immediately stepped back, quickly clearing enough space for the two to maneuver.
The Pillars formed a semicircle, watching the two in the center with various expressions.
They were all curious about this once gentle Flower Pillar.
After experiencing that incident and reportedly receiving divine power, what kind of transformation had she undergone?
Sanemi flexed his wrist, producing a series of crackling bone sounds.
Grinning to reveal a set of white teeth.
"Good, now let me show you what real power is!"
He fiercely drew the Nichirin blade at his waist, its body showing a unique green color, the blade covered with serrated patterns, emanating a sharp aura like a wild wind.
"Wind Breathing, First Form—Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
Sanemi didn't hold back at all, his form instantly charging forward like a wild wind, his Nichirin blade raising a piercing sound through the air.
Transforming into a green tornado blade, slashing toward Kanae!
Its force was fierce enough to easily cut through steel!
Faced with this violent strike, Kanae didn't even blink.
She didn't even draw her own Nichirin blade, just standing quietly in place, as if completely disregarding the opponent's attack.
Just as that sharp green wind blade was about to reach her—
Kanae moved.
Her movement wasn't fast, it could even be described as somewhat slow. But just as she raised her hand, fingers pointed like a blade, and lightly slashed forward—
Skill activated—[Swift Shadow Slash]!
Hum——!
A light pink stream of light that seemed to transcend time and space flashed like lightning!
That stream was so fast, so fast that all the Pillars present.
Including the strongest, Rengoku and Gyomei, only felt a blur before their eyes, unable to see clearly what Kanae had done!
And Sanemi, who was at the forefront, had his pupils suddenly contract!
He only felt an extremely sharp aura brush past his neck, bringing a cold sting!
The next second, his violently charging form came to an abrupt halt, his entire body stiffly stopped in place.
The Nichirin blade in his hand also dropped powerlessly, his face full of disbelief, shock, and bewilderment.
He instinctively touched his neck, where there was no wound.
But in that instant just now, he clearly felt that death had brushed past him!
If she had wanted to, just by shifting that stream of light a fraction more, his head would probably have been separated by now!
And what terrified him even more was that he even felt his blood flow and muscle strength within his body had been forcibly stagnated by some invisible power in that instant!
As if all his bodily functions had been paused, making him completely lose the ability to resist or dodge!
What... what kind of power is this?!
The main hall fell into dead silence.
All the Pillars stared at the scene in shock, their minds blank.
Just one move!
She didn't even draw her sword!
That Sanemi, known for his violence and speed, was just... defeated like this?
And defeated so thoroughly, so without suspense!
"This... how is this possible?"
Tengen, the Sound Pillar, exclaimed in shock, his glamorous expression replaced by astonishment.
"So... so fast!"
Mitsuri, the Love Pillar, covered her mouth, her eyes full of disbelief.
"What was that just now? I couldn't see it clearly at all..."
Muichiro, the Mist Pillar, rarely showed such a serious expression.
Even the strongest Flame Pillar, Rengoku, now had a cold sweat on his temple.
He asked himself honestly, if he had faced that strike.
If it had been him, he probably couldn't have withstood it either!
That speed, that strange stagnating power, had completely exceeded his understanding of strength!
"This is... the new power Kanae received from the deity."
As everyone was shocked, Kagaya in the main seat gave a small applause.
His gentle voice sounded again, explaining to the Pillars present:
"Does anyone still have doubts? Last night, Kanae successfully slew Upper Moon Two, Doma, with this power."
The Upper Moons, they were nightmares that had loomed over the Demon Slayer Corps for hundreds of years!
Each Upper Moon possessed strength far beyond ordinary Pillars, beings that the Demon Slayer Corps struggled to shake despite countless sacrifices!
And Doma, Upper Moon Two, was one of the best among them, second only to Upper Moon One, Kokushibo!
This terrifying demon had been slain by Kanae alone!
This meant that the power bestowed upon followers by this deity named Phaethon had reached a terrifying level that could overturn the existing balance of power!
"Hmm! What remarkable power!"
Rengoku, the Flame Pillar, was the first to recover from the shock, his bright eyes looking toward Phaethon.
Full of blazing light, he even joked loudly:
"My Lord Deity, since your power is so great, could you also bestow the same power on me? If possible, I'd go cut off Muzan Kibutsuji's head right now!"
Though his words had a joking component, they truly reflected the hearts of all Pillars present!
If they could really obtain such powerful strength, wouldn't the demon problem that had troubled the Demon Slayer Corps for a thousand years be extinguished in no time?
Faced with the Flame Pillar's passionate gaze and slightly joking request, Phaethon merely smiled slightly and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but that's not possible."
Phaethon shook his head, without much explanation.
The Pillars present were almost all men, and wouldn't trigger a response from the Primordial Light at all.
Only women seemed able to gain the Primordial Light's recognition, which was a rather strange preference.
But this way, wouldn't the future Phaethon Familia become a group of beautiful girls?
Thinking about the future, with powerful and distinctive beautiful female followers surrounding him.
Phaethon couldn't help but feel that far away in another mythological world, Loki, that goddess famous for collecting beautiful girls in her harem.
If she knew about this, she would probably be gnashing her teeth with envy and jealousy, wouldn't she?
Hmm... that might not be such a bad thing?
Phaethon's lips curled into a subtle arc.