Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 263: Heavenly Might

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"Stop pushing the issue back and forth. I never said there was only one Rejuvenating Pill."

Aoki interrupted their polite debate, waving his hand again. Three more anti-aging pills appeared, floating in front of Rie, Kanae, and Shinobu.

"Well, don't hesitate. Everyone gets one," he said with a faint smile.

The women were stunned.

An anti-aging pill that could preserve youth for a hundred years was already a rare treasure. To have not just one but multiple of them?

Shinobu blinked in surprise. "We're getting one too?"

Aoki nodded. "Consider it an apology for being out of touch for the past year."

Shinobu burst into laughter but hesitated, asking, "Isn't this too valuable?"

"Oh? You don't want it?" Aoki teased, pretending to take the pill back.

"Yes, of course, I want it!" Shinobu quickly grabbed the gem-like pill, then nudged her sister. "Sister, since Takina and Aunt Rie already have theirs, we should take ours too. At worst, we can work as his slaves in the future!"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Shinobu?" Kanae scolded her, though her tone was gentle. She solemnly accepted the pill. "Then I'll gratefully accept it."

The four women didn't hesitate any further and consumed the Rejuvenating Pills on the spot.

"I don't feel any different," Shinobu murmured, examining herself in the mirror.

Rie touched her face, her expression lighting up with surprise. "Huh? The crow's feet at the corners of my eyes are gone!"

"I think I notice some changes too," Kanae added, her voice tinged with amazement.

Aoki chuckled, knowing exactly what was happening.

The Rejuvenating Pill had additional effects, such as detoxification, beautification, and balancing yin and yang.

For Shinobu, who was in her physical prime, the improvements were subtle and almost unnoticeable.

For Rie, who had just started to show signs of aging, the results were most apparent.

As for Kanae, her observation was likely psychological.

---

As the night deepened, Rie retired to her room, leaving Aoki and the other three women in the courtyard. They sat together, sharing stories of their experiences over the past year.

Takina broke the comfortable silence. "Aoki, when are you planning to leave again?"

Kanae and Shinobu also turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

Aoki closed his eyes briefly, sensing the flow of time.

"Probably in a year," he replied.

The last time he traveled between worlds, his mark had already been fully charged. Now, he understood the charging time for the Demon Slayer world—it was slower than One Piece but still manageable.

This gave him a solid opportunity to enhance his Nature's Spirit abilities.

"One year?"

Relief spread across their faces. It was longer than they had anticipated.

Suddenly, Shinobu stood up, a determined look in her eyes.

"Aoki, I want to challenge you!"

Aoki blinked, caught off guard. "Are you serious?"

Shinobu slowly drew the long sword at her waist, her movements precise and deliberate.

"Of course. There may not be any demons left, but I haven't been slacking off these past few years. I've been preparing for this day.

I know I probably can't defeat you, but I have to at least touch the hem of your clothes!"

Aoki's attention shifted to the weapon in her hand. "You've changed your sword?"

Shinobu smirked proudly. "Didn't I tell you? I haven't been lazy all this time.

With no need to kill demons anymore, I modified my breathing technique. I abandoned the poison-based techniques and focused on enhancing speed and explosive power."

"Impressive," Aoki admitted, his tone sincere.

He held deep respect for those who reached the pinnacle of their abilities.

While the strength of individuals varied across worlds, their talent and dedication were undeniable.

Despite her petite frame and limited physical strength, Shinobu had become a Hashira, a testament to her extraordinary skill and ingenuity.

It happened so long ago, yet I still remember it vividly.

It's remarkable how such a strong competitive spirit is hidden within that small frame.

Under the bright moonlight, the two stood facing each other. Shinobu Kocho's expression was serious, while Aoki remained relaxed, his stance casual.

Takina broke the silence. "Kanae, who do you think will win?"

Kanae didn't hesitate. "Shinobu doesn't stand a chance! When Aoki fought Muzan Kibutsuji, he was already incredibly strong. And now, it seems like he's grown even stronger."

"Be careful!" Shinobu warned, gripping her sword tightly.

"Bring it on!" Aoki replied, activating his Observation Haki. This would be the perfect opportunity to refine the ability, which had not performed as well as he'd hoped in previous tests.

Shinobu darted forward, her movements swift and precise. She launched herself like an arrow, her purple sword tip gleaming as it transformed into streaks of lightning.

Aoki's eyes remained calm.

Even in his human form, where his strength was significantly reduced, his nearly three-digit attributes were far beyond what Shinobu could match.

Sweat began to bead on Shinobu's forehead, soaking into her clothes as her speed gradually slowed. Despite her determination, each of her attacks failed to land. After one final attempt, she stopped, breathing heavily.

"As I thought… it's still impossible," she muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment but not defeat.

She had known this outcome was inevitable. This was her limit—her peak.

Even so, she had challenged Aoki, not out of mere unwillingness to accept her inferiority, but for reasons she couldn't quite explain, even to herself.

She sheathed her sword, ready to speak, but something caught her eye. Her gaze fixed on Aoki's feet, and she blurted out, "Your feet… they haven't moved at all?"

"Hmm." Aoki opened his mouth to explain, but Shinobu shook her head, cutting him off.

"Forget it. I already knew you were a pervert. It's just a matter of whether you're a big pervert or a super big pervert."

Aoki frowned. "I don't really like that nickname."

Shinobu sat down, her innocent eyes wide as she smiled mischievously. "What does that have to do with me?"

Takina, intrigued, asked, "Aoki, how strong are you now?"

Kanae and Shinobu leaned in slightly, their curiosity piqued.

"How strong?" Aoki repeated, genuinely stumped.

If he were in the One Piece world, he could compare himself to the Pirate Emperors. But in the Demon Slayer world, there was no equivalent for reference.

After a moment of thought, he said, "How about I show you a magic trick instead?"

"Magic?" the three women echoed, confused.

Aoki didn't elaborate.

The stone slabs beneath their feet suddenly rose into the air.

Takina instinctively grabbed Aoki's arm, while Kanae and Shinobu exchanged curious glances.

"Is this the same ability you used to make the Rejuvenating Pill float? Is this magic related to that?" Shinobu asked.

Aoki nodded, then shook his head. "It's similar, but this is just so you can see more clearly."

Their curiosity deepened.

The slab stopped mid-air, and Aoki raised his hand.

"Look," he said simply.

The three women looked around, puzzled. They saw nothing unusual.

Just as doubt began to creep in—

Snap!

A bolt of blue lightning struck the sky.

It was only the beginning.

A second bolt followed, then ten, then a hundred, then a thousand. In the blink of an eye, countless lightning bolts filled the heavens, stretching for miles. They converged into a vast thunderstorm, forming a purgatory of lightning suspended in the air.

The sheer power of the scene was overwhelming, a display of nature's fury in its purest form.

The small slab they stood on was surrounded by the electric storm, the blue light casting eerie shadows across their faces.

Takina, Kanae, and Shinobu stared in awe, their eyes wide and mouths agape as they took in the breathtaking sight.